REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY TO CHILDREN ON THE NORAD SANTA TRACKER CALL Via Telephone MRS. OBAMA: Hi, Lilli! LILLIANA: Hi. MRS. OBAMA: How old are you, Lilli? LILLIANA: Huh? MRS. OBAMA: How old are you? LILLIANA: Eleven. MRS. OBAMA: Eleven, yeah. You sound like the mature one in the group. LILLIANA: No. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Okay, what’s your question? LILLIANA: I saw the TV show when everybody was decorating the White House. About how many Christmas trees do you think that there are around the whole White House? MRS. OBAMA: Around the entire White House we have 54 Christmas trees this year. LILLIANA: Wow. MRS. OBAMA: A lot, yeah. We had a lot of Christmas trees. And it’s a pretty big house, and they have trees in every part of the White House. There is a tree in the Oval Office where the President works. And there’s trees outlining all the entrances of the White House. So we have a lot of trees, so it’s very exciting. One day you have to come and visit us during the Christmas holidays because the house is really pretty. You think you could do that one year? MRS. THOMAS: She would love—yes, she would love that. ABIGAIL: I would, too! MRS. OBAMA: Well, you all should come. So do you want to know where Santa is? Because I’m working with—I’m looking at the satellite right now and they told me that when they last spotted Santa he was over Italy. So now he’s in Europe, in Italy. And he’s going to be in Palermo for a few seconds, but then he’s heading to Naples, Italy. And right now, according to my sources, he’s delivered more than 3 billion gifts already. Can you believe that? ABIGAIL: Wow! I looked at it and the numbers were rising like every millisecond. MRS. OBAMA: They are moving so fast. It’s amazing, but that’s how fast Santa Claus is. I mean, it’s like magic what he can do. Well, you know what, guys, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, okay? Because I can tell you guys have been good this year, haven’t you? MRS. THOMAS: They try. (Laughter.) MRS. OBAMA: Trying counts, right? MRS. THOMAS: Yes, it does. MRS. OBAMA: Trying counts. LILLIANA: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Bye! MRS. OBAMA: Oh, it was great talking to you guys. Try to get to bed early, okay? I know it’s hard, but try to close your eyes and get some rest. LILLIANA: Okay, thank you! MRS. OBAMA: All right, you guys have a merry Christmas. It was great talking to you. CHILDREN: And a happy new year! (Laughter.)

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
TO CHILDREN ON THE
NORAD SANTA TRACKER CALL

Via Telephone

MRS. OBAMA: Hi, Lilli!

LILLIANA: Hi.

MRS. OBAMA: How old are you, Lilli?

LILLIANA: Huh?

MRS. OBAMA: How old are you?

LILLIANA: Eleven.

MRS. OBAMA: Eleven, yeah. You sound like the mature one in the group.

LILLIANA: No. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Okay, what’s your question?

LILLIANA: I saw the TV show when everybody was decorating the White House. About how many Christmas trees do you think that there are around the whole White House?

MRS. OBAMA: Around the entire White House we have 54 Christmas trees this year.

LILLIANA: Wow.

MRS. OBAMA: A lot, yeah. We had a lot of Christmas trees. And it’s a pretty big house, and they have trees in every part of the White House. There is a tree in the Oval Office where the President works. And there’s trees outlining all the entrances of the White House. So we have a lot of trees, so it’s very exciting. One day you have to come and visit us during the Christmas holidays because the house is really pretty. You think you could do that one year?

MRS. THOMAS: She would love—yes, she would love that.

ABIGAIL: I would, too!

MRS. OBAMA: Well, you all should come. So do you want to know where Santa is? Because I’m working with—I’m looking at the satellite right now and they told me that when they last spotted Santa he was over Italy. So now he’s in Europe, in Italy. And he’s going to be in Palermo for a few seconds, but then he’s heading to Naples, Italy. And right now, according to my sources, he’s delivered more than 3 billion gifts already. Can you believe that?

ABIGAIL: Wow! I looked at it and the numbers were rising like every millisecond.

MRS. OBAMA: They are moving so fast. It’s amazing, but that’s how fast Santa Claus is. I mean, it’s like magic what he can do. Well, you know what, guys, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, okay? Because I can tell you guys have been good this year, haven’t you?

MRS. THOMAS: They try. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Trying counts, right?

MRS. THOMAS: Yes, it does.

MRS. OBAMA: Trying counts.

LILLIANA: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Bye!

MRS. OBAMA: Oh, it was great talking to you guys. Try to get to bed early, okay? I know it’s hard, but try to close your eyes and get some rest.

LILLIANA: Okay, thank you!

MRS. OBAMA: All right, you guys have a merry Christmas. It was great talking to you.

CHILDREN: And a happy new year! (Laughter.)

“I will use all the powers of this office to help advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. We won’t prevent them all—but that can’t be an excuse not to try. It won’t be easy—but that can’t be an excuse not to try. And I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. Ultimately if this effort is to succeed it’s going to require the help of the American people—it’s going to require all of you. If we’re going to change things, it’s going to take a wave of Americans—mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, pastors, law enforcement, mental health professionals—and, yes, gun owners—standing up and saying ‘enough’ on behalf of our kids. It will take commitment and compromise, and most of all, it will take courage. But if those of us who were sent here to serve the public trust can summon even one tiny iota of the courage those teachers, that principal in Newtown summoned on Friday—if cooperation and common sense prevail—then I’m convinced we can make a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place for our children to learn and to grow.” — President Obama at a news conference today

“I will use all the powers of this office to help advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. We won’t prevent them all—but that can’t be an excuse not to try. It won’t be easy—but that can’t be an excuse not to try.

And I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. Ultimately if this effort is to succeed it’s going to require the help of the American people—it’s going to require all of you. If we’re going to change things, it’s going to take a wave of Americans—mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, pastors, law enforcement, mental health professionals—and, yes, gun owners—standing up and saying ‘enough’ on behalf of our kids.

It will take commitment and compromise, and most of all, it will take courage. But if those of us who were sent here to serve the public trust can summon even one tiny iota of the courage those teachers, that principal in Newtown summoned on Friday—if cooperation and common sense prevail—then I’m convinced we can make a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place for our children to learn and to grow.”

— President Obama at a news conference today

“Since I’ve been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting. The fourth time we’ve hugged survivors. The fourth time we’ve consoled the families of victims. And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big cities all across America—victims whose—much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. “We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law—no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. “But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that—then surely we have an obligation to try.” — President Obama at yesterday’s vigil in Newtown, Connecticut

“Since I’ve been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting. The fourth time we’ve hugged survivors. The fourth time we’ve consoled the families of victims. And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big cities all across America—victims whose—much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law—no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.

“But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that—then surely we have an obligation to try.”

— President Obama at yesterday’s vigil in Newtown, Connecticut

As I was coming over here, I was hearing about a guy named Willie. Now, in case you haven’t heard of him, they actually call him ‘Pretty Willie.’ Now, I got to say you got to be pretty tough to have a nickname like “Pretty Willie.” He’s tough.

On Wednesday, Willie will celebrate 60 years working at Detroit Diesel—60 years. Willie started back on December 12, 1952. I was not born yet. Wasn’t even close to being born. He made $1.40 an hour. The only time he spent away from this plant was when he was serving our country in the Korean War. So three generations of Willie’s family have passed through Detroit Diesel. One of his daughters works here with him right now—is that right? There she is.

In all his years, Willie has been late to work only once. It was back in 1977. It’s been so long he can’t remember why he was late—but we’re willing to give him a pass.

So Willie believes in hard work. You don’t keep a job for 60 years if you don’t work hard. Sooner or later, someone is going to fire you if you don’t work hard. He takes pride in being part of something bigger than himself. He’s committed to family; he’s committed to community; he’s committed to country. That’s how Willie lives his life. That’s how all of you live your lives.

And that makes me hopeful about the future, because you’re out there fighting every day for a better future for your family and your country. And when you do that, that means you’re creating value all across this economy. You’re inspiring people. You’re being a good example for your kids. That’s what makes America great. That’s what we have to stay focused on.

President Obama yesterday at the Daimler Detroit Diesel Facility in Redford, Michigan