Return to Transcripts main page

WOLF

Obama Speech. Aired 1-1:30p ET.

Aired September 20, 2017 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a threat that may define the contours of this century more than just about anything else.

Here is the interesting thing. Bill saw this not simply as a challenge but also as an opportunity. And I remember him in, sort of, a matter of fact way, saying, well, we're going to just have to go ahead and invent some new technologies which I said, I agree. Let's do that. Although he knows more than me about inventing new technologies. But his tone was, yes, this is hard but we can figure it out. It's hard but it can be done.

And that spirit, a spirit that says, to quote, I guess, myself, yes, we can, rather than -- that spirit rather than a spirit of despair is the motor by which we've been able to see real progress and reducing the pace of carbon emission increases here in the U.S.

And even if, at the current moment, the federal government is not as engaged in these efforts as I would like, nevertheless, progress continues because of the efforts of people like Bill and a whole host of entrepreneurs and universities and cities and states.

They are making change around energy policy in America separate and apart from what government is doing. And that gives me confidence that we can continue to make progress.

And my broader point here is that you tend to believe when Bill says we can do something that we can do it. And when all of you stand up and say, this is something we can do, that spirit is infectious. And it's exactly what we need right now.

We do face extraordinary challenges. You've heard of many of them in your discussions today. You know the nature of these challenges from your work. Growing economic inequality, changing climate, terrorism, mass migration, still too much extreme poverty, still too many girls who are denied an education, the rise of nationalism and xenophobia, and a politics that says it's not we but us and them. The politics that threatens to turn good people away from the kind of collective action that has always driven human progress.

So, these are real challenges and we can't sugar coat them. They're going to take a long time to solve. But that can't discourage any of us from the belief that, individually and collectively, we can make a difference. We can make things better.

And rather than be daunted by those challenges, those challenges should inspire us and excite us, because it gives us an opportunity to make our mark on the world in ways that we haven't even yet scratched the surface of.

We have to reject the notion that we're suddenly gripped by forces that we cannot control. We've got to embrace the longer and more optimistic view of history and the part that we play in it.

And if you are skeptical of such optimism, I will say something that may sound controversial. I used to say this to my staff in the White House, young interns who would come in, any group of young people that I met with. And that is that by just about every measure, America is better and the world is better than it was 50 years ago, 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago. And I know that statement doesn't jive with the steady stream of bad news and cynicism that we're fed through television and Twitter.

But think about it. I was born -- I mean I know I have gray hair but I don't consider myself that old. But I was born at a time when women and people of color were systematically, routinely excluded from enormous portions of American life.

Today, women and minorities have risen up the ranks of business and politics and everywhere else. And even if we still have miles to travel and innumerable laws and hearts and minds to change, the shift in what this country is and what it means is astonishing, remarkable.

[13:05:13] And it's happened when you measure it against the scope of human history in an instant. Just since I graduated from college, crime rates, teen birth rates, dropout rates, the share of people living in poverty have dropped. And in some cases, dropped dramatically.

The share of Americans with college education is up, despite a massive global recession. In the final years of my presidency, the uninsured rate reached a new low. Median household income reached a new high. That's here in the United States.

Worldwide, our progress is even more remarkable. And Bill can rattle off these statistics better than I can.

But over the past 100 years, we've come from a world where only a small fraction of women could vote to a world where almost every woman can.

Since the 1950s, the global average life expectancy has grown by more than 20 years. Since 1990, we have cut extreme poverty and childhood mortality in half. Keep in mind, I was in law school in 1990. It seems like yesterday.

Since 2000, we evolved from a world without marriage equality to one where it's a reality of more than two dozen countries. All of this has happened in such a steady march that sometimes we have a tendency to take it for granted.

But I often ask when I meet with young people, if you had to choose any moment in history in which to be born, and you didn't know in advance whether you were going to be male or female, what country you were going to be from, what your status was, you'd choose right now. Because the world has never been healthier or wealthier or better educated or, in many ways, more tolerant or less violent than it is today.

Fewer people are dying young. More people are living not only longer but better. More girls are in school. More adults can read. More children get the vaccines that they need.

Despite the enormous conflicts that break our hearts around the world, it's demonstrable that fewer people are being killed in wars and conflicts than ever before. This would be the time you'd want to be showing up on this planet.

And these trends are real. They do not make us complacent, but had he should spur us to action because it shows, despite the naysayers and the cynicism, that, in fact, change can happen.

They're not the result of mysterious forces of chance. They happen because countless people, like you, toiling for many years chose to make this progress. Some, like Bill and Melinda, have enormous wealth and influence.

Others, like Justin Trudeau, who I know addressed you earlier, have formal political offices. But the majority of people who made these advances were citizens, doctors, nurses, entrepreneurs, clergy, moms, community leaders, activists, union leaders who mobilized and organized and voted and innovated and pushed for change.

And, by the way, they knew that at every step of the way, that they would not get everything they wanted as fast as they wanted. They knew that progress required struggle and perseverance and discipline and faith. They knew that sometimes for every two steps forward, you'll take a step back. But they made things better.

And this is something I always had to emphasize to my staff when I was president, better is good. Yes, you laugh but sometimes people forget that. I will take better every time.

So, that's what's needed today. The engagement of everyone who wants to see a better future for our children.

And it can be frustrating. I'll take an example here in the United States over the past eight years, thousands upon thousands of Americans threw themselves into the collective effort of reforming our health care system.

[13:10:03] Those of you who live in countries that already have universal health care are trying to figure out what's the controversy here. I am, too. These people --

But, you know, the folks who did the work, it wasn't just policy wonks. It wasn't just politicians. It was moms and dads. People who had the experience of a sick child or crushing medical bills that threatened to bankrupt them. Maybe a parent who was lost to cancer that had that person got a regular checkup might have been caught earlier.

And those voices, from every walk of life in every corner of the country, against all odds, made a difference. And, for the first time, more than 90 percent of Americans know the security of health insurance. Paying more for insurance or being denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition or because you are a woman, that's not a thing anymore. We got rid of that.

And people are alive today because of it and that's progress. Now, the legislation that we passed was full of things that still need to be fixed. It wasn't perfect. It was better. And so, when I see people trying to undo that hard-won progress for the 50th or 60th time with bills that would raise costs, or reduce coverage, or roll back protections for older Americans, or people with pre-existing conditions, the cancer survivor, the expecting mom, or the child with autism or asthma, for whom coverage, once again, would be almost unattainable, it is aggravating.

And all of this being done without any demonstrable economic or actuarial or plain common-sense rationale, it frustrates. And it's certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents.

But, typically, that's how progress is won. And how progress is maintained on every issue, we have to stand up for each other. Recognize that progress is never inevitable. That it often can be fragile. It's in need of constant renewal. And our individual progress and our collective progress depends on our willingness to roll up our sleeves and work and not be afraid to work.

So, in conclusion, each of us can make a difference, and I know I'm preaching to the choir here because otherwise you wouldn't be a goalkeeper. But many of you are young and maybe have only seen forward momentum and may not have seen backward momentum yet. Many of you may confront hurdles and road blocks and disappointments in the future.

And when that happens, that's the test. The test is not how do you feel when things are going good or when you are at a cool conference in New York with Bill and Melinda Gates. And will I am. The test is when you're in the field and you're on the ground and you are doing work and people are resisting, or misunderstanding, or purposely undermining efforts that you know can make a difference.

And how do you respond to that? And what I'm suggesting here today is that your response has to be to reject cynicism and reject pessimism and push forward with a certain infectious and relentless optimism. Not blind optimism. Not one that ignores the scale and the scope of challenges but that hard-earned optimism that's rooted in the stories of very real progress that have occurred throughout human history. And the recognition that our successes, even though sometimes they're small or incomplete, accumulate. They build.

[13:15:00] And they create a trajectory that's better. And will mean some girl somewhere getting an education that otherwise she wouldn't have had.

That'll mean some farmer being able to cultivate a crop to feed his family and, if enough of them do it, feed a nation. That's what you're fighting for at every moment.

Because each new generation stands on the successes of the previous generation. It's like a relay race that we're running. Each generation reaches up, standing on that previous generation and bends that arc of history in the direction of more freedom, and more opportunity, and more justice.

That's why I spent so much when I was president convening young leaders on every continent that I visited. That's why in my post- presidency my emphasis is going to be on training the next generation of leaders to take their own crack at changing the world through the Obama Foundation, which will be based in Chicago, but will have projects, programs, and digital networks all across the globe.

And I'm hoping I get a chance to work with some of you, because I have great faith in you, just as I know Bill and Melinda have great faith in you. And I'm certain that if you keep pushing forward, then America and the world are going to be just fine.

Thank you very much.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The former President Barack Obama delivering a major speech, an optimistic speech but clearly criticizing the current president of the United States, the Republican Congress for going after the Affordable Care Act, his health care legacy.

A very strong statement from the president saying, yes, the legislation that he says the U.S. passed was not perfect, but certainly made things better. 90 percent, he said of the American people now at least have health care insurance, having said it's very aggravating, very frustrating that Republicans in Congress once again trying to change that.

Let's bring in our CNN politics reporter, editor-at-large Chris Cillizza, who was with us, our CNN politics editor Juana Summers and our CNN political director David Chalian.

So, David, up to you first to give us your assessment.

It's not often we're hearing from President Obama nowadays. But we did hear from him. Didn't mention Trump by name, didn't mention the Republicans by name but his message was clear.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: But he does know the name of the health care law and he knows his is on it. It's ObamaCare. He understands it as his legacy. You can hear it in the way he describes it. I mean, what I sort of envisioned when he was talking about his aides, sometimes having to tell them that better is good, and that they shouldn't be -- you know, any kind of progress shouldn't be the enemy of the perfect. There were many battles like that as he was trying to put this bill together and get this passed.

And he is so -- you are so right to note that he has been so reluctant to immerse himself in the political to and fro of the day, of what's going on in Capitol Hill or the latest Trump tweet on something. But his aides have always said throughout the entirety of the Trump presidency thus far that when some of his legacy items are on the line, he's going to step in. And they understood as the president, the former president did the timing of this as the Republicans are trying to rush this through right now.

You see the democratic grassroots are just beginning to mobilize to once again try to keep this at bay and Barack Obama understood keenly the power of his voice adding to this argument at this moment of time and sought to do it.

I don't think we're going to -- I don't think this signals some new Barack Obama is going to weigh in all the time on stuff, but he clearly saw that now is the moment to get this message out with his very loud voice.

BLITZER: Because, Juana, there is a possibility that this Graham- Cassidy legislation in the Senate potentially could pass, could get 50 votes, get the vice president to break a tie, move to the house of representatives. It would pass presumably then if the speaker and the president have their way and the president would sign it into law in effect changing so much of what he worked so hard to achieve, the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare.

JUANA SUMMERS, CNN POLITICS EDITOR: Absolutely, Wolf. It's very clear from listening to former President Obama speaks that he understands the gravity of the moment.

He described that there was no economic auctorial, no human rationale for what Republicans which he did not name want to do to this legislation. I think it shows that he's also keenly aware of the timing. They are fewer than two weeks to make this happen.

Republicans have gone home. They will be trying to figure out what makes sense for their district. All lawmakers will. So I think that former President Obama weighed in because he realizes that there is so little time.

And it's not just some Republicans. We've heard some of the outliers like Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky talking about this. There are a number of industry groups out there as well, in the medical field that we have said. You know, we have concerns about this.

We've heard a number of Republican governors, moderates, who are concern that this could in fact leave millions in their state without insurance. So this is certainly a pressure cooker moment for Washington. [01:35:00] BLITZER: So the deadline, as you know, Chris, is September 30th. After September 30th, you don't need 50 votes, you need 60 votes and Democrats are not on board.

CHRIS CILLIZZA, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: And they are not just going to get 60 votes. I mean, there's no health care thing that involves --

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: There's a way to get 50.

CILLIZZA: Right, they can get 50. If you have repeal and replace, then it's not getting 60 votes.

One thing sidebar but important, I think, Wolf, you would think given the dynamic of the 2018 Senate playing field, which is ten democratic senators up in the states that Donald Trump won, five of whom are up in states that he won by double digit.

You would think that there would be pressure if we started this debate over again. That they would feel pressure, some of them to maybe find a way to be for something on health care. They're not.

Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly -- all these people don't seem compelled at all.

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: They have to be for something, Chris.

CILLIZZA: But not this.

CHALIAN: This bill has been so unpopular...

(CROSSTALK)

CILLIZZA: That's right.

CHALIAN: That the pressure -- they are also pressured to do so because there's no pressure from home.

CILLIZZA: And in fact, after Manchin -- to Dave's point, after Manchin, he was against the last one in July, his poll numbers went up.

So one other thing I was struck by it in the Obama speech, this is less nuts and bolts and more big picture.

Obama was elected on the two most 50,000 foot themes possible. Hope and change. He is going to change politics in this country.

What's fascinating and this is not the first time he's made this argument. In a way his legacy that he views it is incrementalism, not huge change but better than when I started.

It's a fascinating thing because a guy who got elected on huge ideas, and I think in his own mind this idea that he was going to break the Washington system and rebuild it is now saying better is good.

And I think that certainly in the second half of his time in office was his -- the way in which he thought about getting things done. That perfect is never attainable in a Washington anything close to what we have now.

BLITZER: Perfect be the enemy of the good. That's what Bill Clinton used to say all the time, too, when he was president of the United States.

Very optimistic speech by the president. Things have improved. Still a long way to go. Don't change health care. That's his bottom line message right now.

Why he decides to do something unusual at least during these first eight, nine months of the new president speak out and be rather critical of what's going on.

Guys, thank you very much.

There are other major events unfolding right now. We're watching desperate rescues under way in Mexico City for survivors of the deadly earthquake there.

These are some pictures from outside a school where people are desperately looking for kids missing since the quake struck.

Also, a monster hurricane is now slamming Puerto Rico. The most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years. Maria making landfall as a category 4 storm. We'll go there live. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:27:00] BLITZER: We want to go right to Miguel Marquez.

It looks like a dramatic moment. They're trying to rescue children at this school in Mexico City.

Miguel, you're there on the scene for us. Update our viewers.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hope here is measured by silence. I want to show you what's happening right now. You can see people with their hands in the air.

The rescuers have asked the entire crowd, hundreds and hundreds of people around these blocks to be quiet. It is pin drop quiet in this area right now. You will hear the sound of whistles blowing just down the block where they are trying to get the attention of anybody under that rubble.

They believe there's a young girl who is still alive. Here's -- so then it's business as usual. It now goes back to business as usual. The entire crowd completely quiet and then goes back to business as usual.

They have a thermal scanner under there. They believe that a young girl is still alive under the rubble. 21 children have perished in this particular location. Three are still missing as well as one adult. And it is -- again, we go back to silence.

This has been happening now very, very rapidly in the last say half hour. They will be silent for a few minutes and then they get back to work. Clearly, they think they are getting close to somebody under that rubble and they hope against hope that whoever it is is still alive.

Wolf?

BLITZER: Miguel, this presumably is going on not just in Mexico City but elsewhere around Mexico. This earthquake that has so devastated the country coming on the heels of an even bigger earthquake only a week and a half earlier.

Give us a sense of the mood where you are there in Mexico City.

MARQUEZ: It is amazing to drive through the streets here. The streets, parts of Mexico are completely normal like nothing happened and then you're driving down the street and you see an enormous crowd of volunteers and marines -- Mexican marines and soldiers and people digging and they surround a building that is completely pancake and they are trying to get in there, literally hand by hand, bucket by bucket.

In this particular location, they're very, very organized. They have carpenters at the ready. They have heavy equipment at the ready. And when they need something, they shout out for it here. And suddenly it appears and goes into the -- into the rubble and tries to -- they try to shore it up and help get a little bit deeper.

Every single inch clearly matters at this point. They have not been using the heavy machinery so far on the building itself. Just loading it up and then dumping it into dump trucks here.

But, you know, every minute that goes by is critical and they clearly think that they have -- that they are on to something there because every few minutes, they ask for silence and then they begin digging again. And then it's silence and then digging again. Hope is silence in Mexico today.

Wolf?

BLITZER: dozens of buildings in Central Mexico collapsed. At least 225 people have been killed in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake.