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Obama for America

"Happy Father's Day from First Lady Michelle Obama" +
  3:22 web video from June 17, 2012.

[Music] Michelle Obama: One of the things that Barack is successful at is giving his children the kind of stability and continuity that he didn't have.

Obama (Chicago, 2008): When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me.  How do I make it in the world; how do I become successful; how do I get the things I want?  But now my life revolves around my two little girls.

Michelle Obama: Barack is a very hands-on dad.  He works every day to be the kind of father that he didn't have.  He takes his responsibilities as dad very seriously.  He puts our girls first.

Obama (Election Night, 2008): Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House.

Michelle Obama: They know that their dad is the president of the United States, but when it all comes down to it he is there for them.  I don't think he has missed a parent-teacher conference their entire lives.  He's at everything he possibly can—every concert, every game that he can make.  He knows that it's so important for girls to know the love and support of the most important man in their life and that's their father.

We have dinner together almost every night.  That means his work stops, he comes home and we sit down together as a family, and when we're sitting around the dinner table he's not Barack Obama, president of the United States; he's Malia and Sasha's dad, and I think that helps to ground him.  I know that it keeps him focused on where we need to go as a country, that we need to make sure that we're giving families, all families in this country the kind of economic support and opportunities so that they can be the best parents that they can be.

Obama (Chicago, 2008): And what I think about is what kind of world am I leaving my two little girls, and what I've realized is that life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children, all of our children, a better world, even if it's difficult, even if the work seems great.  That's our responsibility as fathers and as parents.

Michelle Obama: So I'm proud of Barack not just because he's a wonderful president but because he's a very engaged father.

I feel pretty lucky.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.  We love and appreciate all of you.  Thank you.


Notes: Lots of photos and clips of Obama and his kids (some with Instagram effects) and narration by Michelle Obama.