>> i would like to thank mayor booker for his interjection. yes worked closely with me and has amazing energy. everything we need in this country. thanks to all of you for such a warm welcome. it's great to be in new york. [applause] it's great to be here with my husband because the truth is -- [applause] we rarely get to travel together anymore. they separate us. so this is like our date night. [laughter] i would like to thank all of you for planning such a lovely, and met evening for the two of us. [laughter] a little dinner, police chickees is a nice touch. -- alicia keys is a nice touch.

who knows what might happen? [applause] in all seriousness, it's a pleasure to be here to introduce my husband tonight. i'm used to talking about him because when i go out on the road, folks always ask about him and ask how he is doing and how is he holding up, how is he different after two and half years as president in the white house, how has he changed? the only difference i can think of is the salt is starting to catch up with the pepper. [laughter] i think it's quite sexy, but it is coming. i have to that's, tell you that so much is a constant about my husband from the time i first met him back at our law firm in chicago.

we have some people here tonight. you may have heard about our story, the skinny kid with a funny name who had the audacity to ask his former mentor out on a date. then his idea of a date was . king me to a church basement that guy back then was pretty special and i saw at in him than in that church basement in chicago. i sought when he was talking with a group of south seiters about the world as it is and the world as it should be. that was the first thing that touched me about him. i saw the way those folks lives matter to him all the way back then and the way he connected with them. that is what i fell in love with. i saw how it trawler him up to see laid-off workers, single mothers -- tore him up to see laid-off workers, single mothers

who had their communities turned upside down and not know where to turn. i saw how those stories stuck with him and how he dedicated his life to fighting for folks like him. i have to tell you that i still see that connection, that fire, every single day, it is still there. i share this with some of you -- we had a good at gathering today, didn't we, women? fire it up. after a long day in the oval office, when the girls have gone to bed, barack spends at the night poring over all letters from folks all across the country and he reads their stories word for word -- the

woman dying of cancer because of health insurance would not cover care. the young person with some much promise and is a much opportunity, the man nearing retirement to just lost his job and is struggling to pay his family's bills. i see the concern on his face just like in those church basement. he tells me these folks are going through stuff you would not believe. he says we have so much more to do and when he gets up in the morning, those people stories are the first thing on his mind. as he continues to travel throughout the country, they are with him when he is fighting to put folks back to work and working to give our middle-class a renewed sense of security. when he is pushing congress to finally pass a jobs bill. connection that brought him back again and again

to that church basement. it's at the same man who won me over all of those years ago and the same man who so many of you worked so hard to elect as president of the united states. i want you all to remember when i first came out on the campaign trail, i ask you all for one thing. i personally ask you all, many of you here, if i'm going to let my husband to this crazy thing and give him up to the country and to the world, that i'm going to need you to have his back. you promised me that. you have to have his back. tonight, four years later, i'm going to say it again because the truth is, he cannot do this alone. i have to ask you again, do you

have his back? are you fired up? are you ready to go? if that is the case, i am proud to introduce my husband, the president of the united states of america, barack obama. [applause] hello, everybody. hello, new york. i am in a new york state of mind. [applause]

thank you. thank you. what do you think about michelle obama? [applause] she's not bad. everybody, please have a seat. do you notice how she is getting cuter? [laughter] she is a remarkable. it is the reason i have remarkable kids and i have improved my gene pool. [laughter] and it is true that this is the closest we get to date. i'm going to have to fix that and about 14 months. is wonderful to see all of you.

thank you for being here tonight. there are couple of people want to make sure to acknowledge. first of all, the remarkable alicia keys. [applause] one of the finest public servants in the country, cory booker. [applause] the outstanding former mayor of new york city, david duncan. [applause] the new york city public advocate, bill defazio, and my dear friend, the dnc treasurer. [applause]

the truth is, this is not my idea of a date night. usually our dates don't end with me being before 400 of our closest friends. but is wonderful to be here and i am here because i need your help. i need your help just like i needed your help in 2008. i need your help to finish what we started in 2008. [applause] back then, we started this campaign, not because we thought it was a sure thing. i just want to remind everybody of that. the odds were not good. this was not going to be a cakewalk. my name was barack hussein

obama. he did not need a poll to know that was an issue. we forged ahead because we have an idea about what this country is, what it has been, and what it can be. most of the people in this room, many of our parents, grandparents, we grew up with a faith in america where hard work and responsibility paid off. if you stepped up and did your job and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and benefits. he might get a raise, and you have an assurance life would be better for your kids and grandkids. over the last decade, that was shaken.

it seemed as if the rules changed. the deck kept getting stacked against middle-class americans and nobody seemed willing or able to do anything about it. in 2007, all of this culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis. a crisis that has been much worse and much longer than your average recession. something most of us have not seen in our lifetimes. from the time i took office, we knew that because this crisis had been building for years, it was going to take us years to fully recover. the question now is not whether people are still hurting, of course people are still hurting. as michele was saying, i read letters and e-mail every night. i talk to people when i am on the road and their stories are

heartbreaking. men and women who poured their lives into a small business, perhaps a business that has been in their family for generations has closed. folks who have to cross off items from the grocery list so they can pay for gas to get to the job, if they have a job. parents to postpone retirement so their children don't have to drop out of college. fathers who write to me and say do you know what it's like to have to come home and explain to your family have lost your job and spent month after month looking for a job? then those resumes go unanswered and you start losing confidence in yourself and you don't want to look your kids in the eye. the question is not whether this

country is going through hard times. the question is where does this country go next? we can go back to the ideas we tried in the last decade or corporations got to write their own rules and the most fortunate among us got all our tax break and jobs got shipped overseas and in comes and wages flat line as the cost for everything went up and the society became less equal and opportunity was diminished for too many. or, we can build the america we talked about in 2008. an america where everybody gets a fair shake and everybody does their fair share. that is what this election is about. that is what we spent the last two and half years fighting for.

every decision i have made called all of the work we have done has been based on a simple idea and that is that everyone should have a shot. burton's should be shared and opportunities should be shared. -- burdens should be shared and opportunities should be shared. when we wanted to save the auto industry from bankruptcy, there were those who said was a waste of time and waste of money, but we did it anyway and we saved thousands of jobs. today, the american auto industry is stronger than ever and they're making fuel- efficient cars, stamped with the proper words, made in america. [applause] what we wanted to pass wall street reform to make sure crisis like this never happens

again, the lobbyists and special interests spent millions to make sure we did not succeed and we did it anyway. we passed the toughest reform in history that prevents consumers from getting ripped off by mortgage lenders and credit-card companies. that is why there are now more hidden credit card fees or unfair rate hikes. most of the republicans voted against it. but we made it happen. [applause] we were able to cut $60 billion out of taxpayer subsidies to big banks and use the savings to make college more affordable to millions of kids who want to go to college. instead of giving tax breaks to the biggest corporations, we gave tax breaks to middle-class

families. the first lot i signed was a bill to make sure women burn equal pay for equal work because i have daughters and i want to make sure they have the same chance as the your sons. [applause] and yes, we passed health care reform so that no one in america will go bankrupt because they get sick because this is the united states of america and we are better than that. [applause] one other thing we did that is worth mentioning -- i just met backstage with young americans who were discharged from the military because of don't ask, don't tell. as of today, that will never happen again. [applause] as of today, no one needs to hide who they are to serve the

country that they love. as of today. [applause] all of these were tough fights. but they're making a difference all across the country. we have got more fights that we've got to win. we've got a long way to go to make sure everybody in this country gets a fair shake. that the vision that mobilized us in 2008 is realized. making sure every american has a chance to get ahead. that is where i need your help. we've got a lot of work to do.

about one week ago, i sent to congress a bill called the american jobs act. some of the might have heard about this. -- some of you might have heard about this. as i said before a joint session of congress, everything in there has been supported by democrats and republicans in the past. everything will be paid for. it will put people back to work, it will put more money back into the pockets of working people and congress should pass that jobs bill right away. we of millions of construction workers who do not have jobs right now and this bill says let's put those men and women to work rebuilding our roads, bridges, highways and schools. i don't want the best airports and railroads being built in china. i want them here in the united states of america. [applause] there is work to be done. we have workers ready to do it.

we have to tell congress to pass these jobs bills -- this job bill now. in places like south america -- places like south korea, they cannot hire teachers fast enough. they call the nation builders. they know it's the key to competing in a global economy. here, we are laying off teachers in droves. it's unfair to kids, it undermines their future, and if we pass this jobs bill, thousands of teachers and every state will be back in the classroom where they belong. that is why we have to tell congress to pass this jobs bill. [applause] if we pass this bill, -- if we pass this bill, companies will get tax breaks for hiring american veterans. we ask these men and women to spend -- to suspend their careers and risk their lives to protect this country.

they should not have to beg for a job when they come home. [applause] the jobs that will cut taxes for virtually every worker in america and virtually every small business owner and give an extra tax cut to every small business who hires more workers or give their workers an increase in wages. we don't just talk about america's job creators, do something for america's job creators. don't make a pledge you will never raise taxes except when it comes to middle-class taxes or when obama proposes a tax cut. be consistent and pass this jobs bill. [applause] a lot of folks from congress

have said we're not going to support and nieces -- any spending that's not paid for. i agree. i think it's important. yesterday, i laid out a plan to pay for the american jobs at and that brings down our debt over time. it adds to the one trillion dollars in spending cuts i signed this summer and makes it one of the biggest spending cuts in history, but it does not hurt our recovery now. the plan says if we want to close the deficit and pay for this jobs plan, we've got to ask the wealthiest americans and the biggest corporations to pay their fair share. [applause] the republicans say they are in favor of tax reform, let's go, let's reform the tax code and

let's reform it based on a very simple principle -- warren buffett's secretary should not be paying a higher tax rate than warren buffett. it's a simple principle. [applause] in the united states of america, a teacher, nurse or construction worker makes $50,000 a year should not pay a higher tax rate than someone pulling in $50 million. it is not fair, it is not right, and it has to change and a vast majority of americans agree it has to change. [applause] nobody wants to punish success. that's what you hear when they tried to respond. to what should be some pretty obvious logic. nobody wants to punish success in america. that's what's great in america

-- the belief that anybody can make it if you try. anyone can open a business, have a great idea and make millions, make billions, as the land of opportunity. it's why people came to new york. all i am saying is that those who've done well, including the majority of people here tonight, we should pay our fair share in taxes and contribute to the nation that made our success possible and pass it on. [applause] pass on opportunity. i think most wealthy americans would agree if they knew this would help us grow the economy and deal with the debt that threatens our future and put people back to work. this is a completely unbiased sam [laughter] blank.

-- completely unbiased sampling. you already here republicans dusting off the old talking points. you can write their press release. class warfare, they say. you know what? if asking a billionaire to play -- to pay the same rate as a plumber makes me a warrior for the middle-class, i wear that charge as a badge of honor. [applause] seennly class warfare i've is the ballot has been waged against middle-class folks in this country for a decade now. [applause] this is what it comes down to. it's about priority. it's always been about

priorities and choices. if we want to pay for this jobs plan, invest in our future, the money has to come from somewhere. don't tell me you want good schools, don't tell me once safe road, don't tell me you believe in medical research and then refuse to pay for it. we have to make choices. would you rather keep tax loopholes for oil companies or the you want to put construction workers and teachers back on the job? would you rather keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, where do you want to invest in new schools? medical research? training more engineers shouldn't we -- should we ask seniors to pay thousands of dollars more for medicare or should we ask the biggest corporations to pay their fair share? that's what this debate is about. that is what is at stake right

now. this notion that the only thing we can do to restore prosperity is to let corporations write their own rules and give tax breaks to the wealthiest few and tell everyone else you are on your own, this idea the only way we compete in a global economy in the 21st century is to make sure we have cheap labour and dirty air, that is not who we are. we are better than that. that is not the story of america. we are rugged individualists, we are self-reliant, it has been the drive and initiative of workers and entrepreneurs that made this economy the engine and the and the of the world, but there has always been and other thread that says we are in this together. we are connected. there are some things we can only do together as a nation.

[applause] that is not a democratic idea or a republican idea, that's an american idea. lincoln believed in that idea and eisenhower believed in that idea. that is why this country gave millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, the chance to get a college on the gi bill. that is why a place like new york city has enjoyed the incredible vibrancy, because people fought 20 -- people fought, 20, 30 years ahead, let's build a park in the middle of this metropolis. a cost money, but it will make this city special. let's invest in great universities. it might cost a little bit, but think about all of those young

minds that will be shaped. what wonders they are going to create. it is the reason michele and i had the chance to succeed beyond our wildest dreams. look at where we came from. a little black girl on the south side of chicago. a little mixed kid in honolulu. [laughter] a single mom. [applause] we are only here because somebody passed on this incredible notion, this exceptional american idea that it doesn't matter where you come from. it doesn't matter who you are born to. if you are willing to put in that effort, if you are willing to make sacrifices, you have got a shot. you've got a chance.

i was on a bus tour through iowa and minnesota and my home state, illinois. rural country. corn everywhere. beans. small towns. we would roll through on that bus, through these little towns. everybody would be lining up along the road. these were rural communities, conservative, many of them i probably did not get a lot of votes. but everybody was lined up, little kids with the american flags, grandparents out and their lawn chairs, people waiting and guys standing out in front of the auto shop, wiping their hands off and waving in their overalls. we stopped by high-school football game and talked to the

coach. we went by public-school and met with some of the kids. for all of them -- for all thevenom and shouting in washington, you got this incredible sense of what the coreit is about this incredible decency. and the belief that no matter how some things are sometimes, if we pull together we will get through it. in these little towns you will see black faces and brown faces.

he can see new waves of immigrants filling in pockets that had previously been aging and new generations are starting again. what is amazing is you come here to manhattan and as you're driving by any of it the bases, you sense that same spirit, the same hopeful energy. everyone is saying you will make that happen. we have big dreams. we're not going to make things mall. those things are connected. this country, as divided as it seems some time, the core idea is there. that is what we tapped into it

in to thousand eight. it was not mean. it was all of you. the country is insisting that we can do better than this. all that keeps hoping -- al changey" stuff as they say was real. we were not being cynical about that. [applause] that was real. you could feel it. you knew it. it is still there. even in the middle of this hardship. it is hard. when i was in grant park the other night i warned everybody. this is going to be hard. this is not the end.

this the beginning. over the last 2.5 years we have had some tough times. understandably, sometimes you get discouraged. they lose sight of of what launches on this thing in the first place. we started to feel discouraged. hopes are is to fade. at the you what. you talk to the american people. that spirit is still there. it gets knocked around. i get knocked around. it is there. it is worth fighting for. it is worth fighting for. that is why i need your help. i need everybody out here to be willing to fight for it. i need everybody here to understand that america was not

built by any single individual. we built it together. we've always been one nation under god with liberty and justice for all. we have been a nation of responsibility to ourselves and to one another. we have to meet those responsibilities right now. maybe some people and congress would rather settle these -- is at the ballot box. i would rather. i intend to win next time. i have better ideas. we have better ideas. in the meantime, that is 40 months away. did the american people do not have the luxury of waiting that long. let's get to work right now. let's act right now. let it pass that jobs bill. let's reform the tax code. let's fix some schools. let's rebuild our roads. but the teachers back to work. let's invest in our basic research.

let them invest in america. let's rebuild america. let's think bake. let's dream big. let's shake off the discouragement with it to work. let's get busy. i'm ready to fight. i hope you are too. god bless you. god bless the united states of america. thank you. [cheers and applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] a said

>> the president made a campaign stop are there today in seattle. tamara he heads to california with the events scheduled in san diego and los angeles. he will take part in a town hall meeting in california. earlier this month devi wasserman schulz and build the democratic side of the national convention. we would hear from the committee cochair mayor anthony foxx. and the ceo steve kerrigan. this will run the week of

september 3. this is just under 50 minutes. ki>> please welcome the executie director of the committee for charlotte. >> good morning. what a great day for charlotte. i want to thank you. i want to welcome you to our kickoff in 2012 democratic national convention here in

charlotte, north carolina. i am dan murray. i am happy to serve as the local committee for charlotte. thank you for coming out and supporting our efforts today. it is great to see such a huge crowd out here even with the weather threatening. i knew people would show up. that is one of the reasons i love this city. it is one of the reasons i chose to move here. i know that you love this city, too. [applause] i am excited to have the opportunity to show the rest of the world what a great city this is, why we chose to move here. why we chose to raise our families here. why we chose to work here. not to charlotte but the carolinas and the region at large. we're going to take advantage of this opportunity.

we have a great group of people to speak to you today. i'm honored to introduce our first speaker, eliza hernandez. she was born in the bronx. she moved to chapel hill. she's now a senior at unc charlotte or she is head of the north carolina college democrats. come on up, eliza. >> let's see here. all right. thank you everyone. welcome to the official kickoff for the 2012 democratic national convention. i am allies to hernandez. i am director of the college director of democrats. we welcome the commission to charlotte.

when i enrolled at the university of north carolina in 2008, i became involved in the college democrats. before i knew it, outstanding in line in the freezing rain on november 3, 2008. the day before election day waiting for president obama to speak at my very own university. he is a little befuddled toughin i devoted myself and the to do everything i can to support the man standing before me and to keep dissidents around me as passionate as they were that day. -- the students around me as passionate as they were that day. it is hard to have a voice when you're 21 years old.

there's a belief that you're too young or too inexperienced to make contributions to powerful government. president obama recognizes this by involving all americans in the democratic process. we can promote this. i developed this personally and professionally. i learned how our democracy works incident excepting the outcome. president obama has inspired me to become a practices of our great country. we know that this will be a huge undertaking. we're going to need a lot of help. the democrats want to invite all of you to join us. it is your chance to be part of our democracy.

you can go to the web site to site as a volunteer. this is your chance to be part of history and should the rest of the world what charlotte can do. can we do this? can we do this/ [yes we can] thank you everyone. >> let's hear it for the college democrats. >> had the pleasure of introducing some new does not need an introduction. he has demonstrated a lifetime of leadership. he served the city as mayor from 1983-1987. he was the first african

american mayor of charlotte. iner receiving his master's city planning from massachusetts institute of technology in 1971, he co-founded this. his legacy has been felt throughout the city for his civic leadership. he is helping the box and leading the efforts of putting on the democratic national convention. everyone welcome mayor harvey gantt.

>> thank you for being here today. they told me the republicans have a few dozen people. this looks like a few thousand people here today. that is absolutely fantastic. it is great to see so many of you. yet to celebrate our 60 in the 2012 democratic national convention. most of you who know me know that i am very proud of charlottes and what it has accomplished over the years. i have been proud of this great city. let me tell you something. this is the next step to leading

to more prosperous future. we are ready. we are ready to seize the opportunity and to market the queen city to the entire world. -if there is one thing that charlottes and the south does very well it is that hospitality thing. here in the south will only invite a guest to our house, we invite the ceos to our home. we want to welcome them in. we want to put our best foot forward for them. this is not just one guess coming to charlotte. it is 35,000 people including

the vice president of the united states and the president of the united states of america. in order for us to put our best face forward, it is going to take a commitment of everyone of you here. i am asking you to help make sure that charlotte hosts the best convention in the history of the democratic party. i am hoping we will let the rest of the world know what kind of a city we are and what we're all about. you probably heard the number out there. you have heard this number out there. $36 million.

that is a lot of money. that is what the host committee needs to raise for this convention. we're going to raise this money differently than any other convention in history or any other convention taking place in 2012. the only other one is going to be in tampa, flaorida. this will be the first convention in history to be funded by the people. for the people. by the people.

to the lobbyists. to the political activity. just like president obama's campaign, we will not be seen accepting funds from any of these sources. this convention will be funded by y'all. the grassroots. the grassroots. i am asking you today. i'm asking you today to help me ensure that charlotte has the resources it needs to host the most successful convention in history by your donating to the host committee. there's no amount too small. even $5 to make a difference. if you have more than $5, we will gladly accept that, too. take this down. you can go to

www.charlottein2012.com to make your donation. you can go to www.charlottein2012.com to make your donation. in just a short time, debbie wasserman schulz will unveil the official 2012 democratic national convention logo. when the event concludes, all of you right here in in room will be the first in country to be able to buy official convention merchandise and the official logo of the convention. all of those proceeds from you folks will go toward this

convention. this will be a people convention supported by your contribution. this is not about politics. this is about what charlotte can do. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, are invocation will be given by dr. wayne walker, pastor of the little walk lion -- little rock line in church. >> a good morning. let us pray.

dear god, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home, we thank you for the privilege we have been afforded to assemble in this place. we come from different places and different experiences. different ethnicities. all with a common desire to have a stronger nation that offers opportunity to all of its citizens regardless of race, creed, and color. we gather at a concern for our future as well as the struggles and challenges we face every day. we pray for our president, barack obama, his family, his covenant, and all who govern this great land. we also pray for peace in world, protect our troops, and provide for their families while they are away. we pray that your presence will

provide us all with the courage, commitment, and a determination to find ways to work together for the common good of all americans. and the world in which we live. amen. [cheers and applause] >> good morning, charlotte. this is a great sight to see here. i'm really excited to be here. i thank everyone for coming here today. we're excited to see all of north carolina here. i want to thank a few folks who participated in the program. elisa hernandez did a great job. dr. duane walker, thank you. who must come here

today. come on. let's hear it for anne marie. she is an amazing job. my dear friend dan murray. and mayor harvey gantt is just a living legend. i am proud to call him my friend. jim rogers cannot be here today. he is a supporter. he has been throughout the entire process. we're grateful for him. we're thankful for all the work he is doing. fouad sinora mayor foxx in a little bit -- i will say more about mayor foxx in a little bit. we want to make sure we think

our friends in texas who are suffering today. we will go forward. i want to give them our careers. i want to thank the livingstone college drama. they did a great job. they did a great job. thank you very much been having great supporters. our 9county commissioners, thank you. members of the general assembly. i have to thank the chair of the north carolina democratic party. thank you gramm much. -- thank you very much.

i am steve care again. i'm the executive officer of the democratic national committee. thank you. i am honored to call myself a ian.lott our staff is becoming a part of this community. we're looking forward to working with all of our neighbors and friends to plan the most successful convention our party has ever had. i am excited to have you here today and celebrate this convention and community. the people of charlotte are a huge part of why we chose to come to charlotte and what will make this convention a huge success. the energy and enthusiasm we feel for the people in this room and across north carolina are the fuel for all of the work we have to do in the next year.

we have the mission of carrying out president obama's vision for making this the most open and successful convention in history. this will be about more than just what happens in this arena. this to be more about political meetings. we're going to include americans in ways that no convention has ever done before. today is one part of that effort. we're taking off a year of convention planning. this is not about special interests. it is about you. the grass roots of our community, our party, and our country. thank you for joining in because with us. we really hope to engage people

from across the country there out the next year as we prepare for this convention. next of timber a want to invite you, your family, your friends and everyone in charlotte and across the carolinas to come here to take part in the festivities. uptown charlotte will be open for business next september. it is my privilege to introduce someone who does not need an introduction in this town. i got to know him was leading this. his enthusiasm was a key factor. his support for the city and his love for his community was a huge part of driving this effort. when a lot of work ahead of us in the next year. i'm thrilled to have a partner.

he has a passion for public service. it makes an incredible mayor. >> hello, everybody. thank you. thank you everybody for coming out here. on behalf of the city of charlotte, i want to thank and welcome the democratic national convention committee. i want to welcome debbie wasserman schulz.

let me also think president obama once again for picking charlotte to host this convention. and want to thank my host committee cochairs. within the next has 65 days, there of the democratic national convention here in charlotte. did you hear that? i have been asked whether i was surprised that charlotte was

selected. the answer is no. i was not surprised. yes, we are a southern city filled with the southern charm one would expect. minoan mistake about it. -- make no mistake about it. we refuse to take no for an answer when we set our eyes on a goal. we like to believe you never had a choice. un three process. one year from now, our fellow americans and their neighbors around the world learn a lot about our city, about our region. one thing they will learn is

that nothing we have done in the way of achievements have occurred by accident. like our nation, charlotte in north carolina has been built by hard-working men and women, many times against the odds to dare to reach for a better future. history provides some of that context. during the american revolution, before the american revolution, people of charlotte reach out and decided we're going to rebel against the british. we found this to be a hornet's nest of rebellion. back then they were reaching for a better future. since the early 19th century,

our economy has experienced many transitions from being a simple trading post to gold mining to energy production to health care and to many other industries. they have reached for a better future. in the late 1960's and 70's when cities across the country has five confrontations, the largely denied did this. the quietly leaned into the issues and work together to desegregate lunch counters and schools. we reached for a better future. we have been hard at work listing our ambitions

beyond a small southern city to a vision of the news out. we today are a city of 731,000 people in with the fastest- growing states and one of the fastest-growing regions. we are reaching for the future. it can eventually connect five corridors. we are still reaching. working with leaders of not only in north carolina but in south carolina. 17re working to build a county greenway known as the carolina trailed here -- trail.

we launched a major public- private effort called project lift to improve public education here in our community is raising $55 million in effort to close the achievement gap. working with our school system and our community to give our children the education they deserve. we close out $83 million private fund-raising campaign to support the center for the arts, a signature cultural and science

this initiative. we did something that no city on the planet has ever endeavored to do. we said that we can reduce the carbon footprints of our buildings 20% over the next five years. we're asking public communities to join us. these are just examples of why this city is the special and why at this moment it is of particular relevance. we know because we have lived it that great futures happen when we set the bar high. we are still reaching for a better future. in this context, there's the

potential to be more than a dent. it can be galvanizing moment. over the next year, i challenge the city to do what we have always done, pull together to call on our ingenuity and the creativity of all come here improve the great futures. my fellow americans are just like us. they want a vibrantly for center economy. they want their children to walk into a world in which there " with the knowledge and skills to compete. they want to transition our culture from being one of energy consumption to one of sustainability. charlotte is unique to serving

as an example of how to do it. over the next year, we will challenge our self to improve our own community in doing so, we will reinforce the magnificent story by allowing our actions to speak just as loud. today we make commitments to the future. we will engage our youth and make them active part of this effort. the committee is determined to give the opportunities to participate in this convention so they can build viable experience and job skills. we will set a goal of involving

1000 or more young people in what will be a job skills development opportunity. >> we will help our children and our families and to help their lives. it is sticking powerful steps to draw attention and urgency to reducing childhood obesity. children grow up to face a greater risk of diabetes and heart disease and other health problems. to enter out of obesity by

working together over the next year and implementing the platinum standard for the city initiative. i'm getting ahead of myself. we will promote the business community by helping diverse businesses participate. we want this to be a cheer economic driver. including women of businesses and other diverse businesses. the host committee started the ball rolling last week.

the 18 to sign up. you have an opportunity to business with this convention here further, it is my hope that the relationships established by businesses steering this convention will go on long after this convention is over. finally, we will continue this is his leadership on energy issues and make charlotte more sustainable and energy- efficient. when a commitment to the world just last year. we will make our city a model of sustainability.

we cannot do is for buyers self. we must were do by ourselves. we must work in partnership as we have always done. this will involve thousands of people. i would like to thank all of our local partner set up this to this point. we invite the entire community to join in this effort. you can sign up to get involved with these and other projects at the same web address, charlottein2012.com. every day will make a difference. everyone of us will do something to change this for the better. over the next several weeks and months, they will be rolling out more specific opportunities in each of these areas to all of you. i want to remind you that generations of people in in our community have treated the future.

when faced with challenges, they met. now also will be. now to the nation in the world, welcome to the 2012 national convention. welcome to the carolinas and the future. >> thank you. thank you so much. we certainly share your vision. we're honored to join in this effort. it is now my great honor to introduce a woman who works hard each and every day. debbie wasserman schulz has

dedicated almost 20 years of life to serving people. they represent the 20th district. in may, she was sworn in as the chair of the dnc. we are delighted to have heard today. she has been itching to get in here. i do not want to delay it any longer. it join me in welcoming the chair of the democratic party, a congresswoman debbie wasserman schulz. >> thank you very much. good afternoon. good afternoon, charlotte. hello, charlotte. i am so pleased to be here to join them for their kickoff of the democratic national convention. thank you so much for that kind introduction and for all the work you're doing to make

charlotte 2012 the best dnc convention ever. i am proud of you. we have to do a little politics. i would be remiss if i did not knowledge my fantastic n.c. dnc members who are here. david parker, the vice chair of the democratic party. have all joined us today. thank you so much. thank you for the party. i also want to think the co-

chair of the 2012 close committee the cannot be with us this afternoon. jim rogers has been doing a fabulous job with the entire committee. i am absolutely thrilled to be here today. this is not my first visit to charlotte. it is my first visit as dnc chair. i'm pretty excited about it. what better time to be here than to kick off the 2012 democratic national convention? we are just one year away from the day that president obama will once again accept our party's nomination as president of the united states of america? let me thank everyone at the democratic national convention committee for organizing an

event that truly reflects the spirit of charlotte and the vision of president obama. thank you for your efforts to lead this fine city. thank you for your support, and your leadership, an incredible guidance. thank you very much. many thanks to my congressional colleagues. it is a thrill to be here in the district of my colleagues. and in the home state he does a fabulous job representing this community. he is an incredible representative for the state of north carolina. thank you to the city council members and all the other elected officials. i want to thank you for your enthusiasm.

i do not need to tell you how important north carolina is going to be carrie? your involvement will make a huge difference. keep northere we will carolina blue and return president obama to the white house. we can start right here on november 8 of 2011 and make sure everyone gets out in boats and their local election. president obama, thank you. president obama and the dnc

chair charlotte because charlotte has a story to tell the represents with america is all about. charlotte is a vibrant committed see, a city that reflects american in the 21st century. the story is an example of how it can help a committee build a better future and rebuild this economy in way that creates opportunity. the city came together to reinvent the economy. charlotte is strengthening and diversifying the community their investment in education, research and development and operation in russia -- and entrepreneurship. thank you. the democratic convention will give charlotte the opportunity to showcase this dynamic, endeavors, and vibrant city.

it will prepares for the future. it is the aspirational style of leadership and the determination of people like mayor foxx. thank you. i do not have to tell anyone here that there were many who had their doubts. the pundits at their bets on other cities. remember? yacht captains of people that you? you prove them wrong. i know a little something about proving naysayers wrong.

i was 25 when i first ran for the florida house of representatives. i was involved in the primary. the competition was fierce. i was not deterred. i knew that even though i did not have a lot of money, known as one to outwork me. what i did to prove them wrong since is i knocked on the doors of all my constituents. i not to defy thousand doors. this caught me two things. there is no substitute for good old-fashioned hard work.

second, do not take no for an answer. this is what charlotte did when you decide to go to the democratic national convention. people said you did not know for an answer. yes we can. that is right. it is time for charlotte to show the rest of the world what you and i already know. charlotte is a world-class city. let's go. it does the rest of the world to get to know charlotte on a first name basis. after this convention, everyone will know where charlatanism what we stand for. in just a few moments, we will unveil the 2012 logo. it represents what this convention is all about.

we're not kicking off the convention by opposing some special interest and by only event. we are kicking off by bringing people from all across starlets and the carolinas together and then open event. this is how we do things. this is about more than renominating president obama. it is about americans coming together to commit ourselves. it creates more opportunity. this success will be invested on engaging the american spirit in the bottom people who want to put their shoulders to the will and change the will for the

better. this will be different. it to not look like any other that we have ever seen. president obama said a high bar that we will meet. we will make this the first convention in history that will not accept this from the political action committees. this'll be the first modern political convention funded by the people. does that make our job harder? bid does. we're committed to funding this in a way that represent the values of our party and our president and as the american people in charge. when president obama was running this campaign, he did not do it by falling the same playbook. this is what you will see in this. i would like to invite steve

kerrigan and dan murray to join me on the stage. the officialveil logo, please join us in counting down from five. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. thank you charlotte. thank you so much. there ought to agree history. birdie we are off to a great -- we're off to a great history. thank you. >> next, and look of the results of saturday's straw poll in florida and the 2012 republican presidential campaign.

>> we want to take a moment a look at what is happening in politics. herman cain had a big wind. it is a second place finish. he came into this with some positive feelings. he worked the crowd. who's able to get a solid debate performance. he gave effective speeches. three. did not do as well with his speeches. he certainly did not have the intimate conversations that paine had. >> how much of it is a hands-on

experience tax you talk about working the crowd and leaving the personal touch. to the fare better? >> absolutely. he came in fourth place. he probably invest more time in working its. he was talking to every single. they were beating out this. talk about michelle bought them. cabbagy fairfax >> shoes dead last. i heard her when in ames last month. to avoid this the rest of the year. it was a big loss for her. >> how important was the florida straw poll? >> very influential.

what was it that you heard from people that they liked? >> they're sick of politicians. that is why they voted for rick scott. it is why a lot of businessmen candidates are doing well. they're looking to cut federal personal income taxes. they're really connected people. >> this is from the associated press. herman cain captures some of the boat.

he is coming in second at 15.4%. rick mommy -- mitt romney in third. what do you take away from this? you mentioned that came in -- cain get all the momentum. wish to use the impacted the most that is that someone like rick perry? >> it is clearly perry. he had a lot riding on this. he brought in most of the political establishment's. they did not expect to lose by 22%. he had very little organizational background. only one state legislator or is there. this is a huge loss for perry. his is a failure to connect.

>> he left florida early. how does this bear? >> it is fourteens term. he played it of there. this is romney. he has to be happy that carry did not hit a home run. they are leading in the polls. his support comes from florida. this is still on the game. thank you so much. >> as the u.s. begins to transition out, we will get an update on the training of afghanistan's security from kabul. that is live at 1030 in the morning on c-span. morning on c-span.