"The People of This Country Work Hard to Meet Their Responsibilities. The Question Tonight Is Whether We’ll Meet Ours"

"These men and women grew up with faith in an America where hard work and responsibility paid off. They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share--where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in a while. If you did the right thing, you could make it. Anybody could make it in America.
"For decades now, Americans have watched that compact erode. They have seen the decks too often stacked against them. And they know that Washington has not always put their interests first."

The New York Times prints the transcript of President Obama's speech to Congress in favor of the American Jobs Act.