奥巴马8月8日白宫演讲全文：美国永远是AAA

　　8月8日，美国总统奥巴马在白宫就标普下调美国主权信用评级对媒体发表讲话。奥巴马说，无论评级机构给予美国信用什么评级，“市场依然确认我们的信用是世界上最安全的，我们面临的挑战是需要解决长期的赤字”。以下为讲话的英文全文：

　　REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

　　State Dining Room

　　1:52 P.M. EDT

　　THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. On Friday, we learnedthat the United States received a downgrade by one of the credit ratingagencies -- not so much because they doubt our ability to pay our debtif we make good decisions, but because after witnessing a month ofwrangling over raising the debt ceiling, they doubted our politicalsystem's ability to act. The markets, on the other hand, continue tobelieve our credit status is AAA. In fact, Warren Buffett, who knows athing or two about good investments, said, "If there were a quadruple-Arating, I'd give the United States that." I, and most of the world'sinvestors, agree。

　　That doesn't mean we don't have a problem. The fact is, we didn'tneed a rating agency to tell us that we need a balanced, long-termapproach to deficit reduction. That was true last week. That was truelast year. That was true the day I took office. And we didn't need arating agency to tell us that the gridlock in Washington over the lastseveral months has not been constructive, to say the least. We knew fromthe outset that a prolonged debate over the debt ceiling -- a debatewhere the threat of default was used as a bargaining chip -- could doenormous damage to our economy and the world's. That threat, comingafter a string of economic disruptions in Europe, Japan and the MiddleEast, has now roiled the markets and dampened consumer confidence andslowed the pace of recovery。

　　So all of this is a legitimate source of concern. But here's thegood news: Our problems are imminently solvable. And we know what wehave to do to solve them. With respect to debt, our problem is notconfidence in our credit -- the markets continue to reaffirm our creditas among the world's safest. Our challenge is the need to tackle ourdeficits over the long term。

　　Last week, we reached an agreement that will make historic cuts todefense and domestic spending. But there's not much further we can cutin either of those categories. What we need to do now is combine thosespending cuts with two additional steps: tax reform that will ask thosewho can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments tohealth care programs like Medicare。

　　Making these reforms doesn't require any radical steps. What itdoes require is common sense and compromise. There are plenty of goodideas about how to achieve long-term deficit reduction that doesn'thamper economic growth right now. Republicans and Democrats on thebipartisan fiscal commission that I set up put forth good proposals.Republicans and Democrats in the Senate's Gang of Six came up with somegood proposals. John Boehner and I came up with some good proposals whenwe came close to agreeing on a grand bargain。

　　So it's not a lack of plans or policies that's the problem here.It's a lack of political will in Washington. It's the insistence ondrawing lines in the sand, a refusal to put what's best for the countryahead of self-interest or party or ideology. And that's what we need tochange。

　　I realize that after what we just went through, there's someskepticism that Republicans and Democrats on the so-called supercommittee, this joint committee that's been set up, will be able toreach a compromise, but my hope is that Friday's news will give us arenewed sense of urgency. I intend to present my own recommendationsover the coming weeks on how we should proceed. And that committee willhave this administration's full cooperation. And I assure you, we willstay on it until we get the job done。

　　Of course, as worrisome as the issues of debt and deficits may be,the most immediate concern of most Americans, and of concern to themarketplace as well, is the issue of jobs and the slow pace of recoverycoming out of the worst recession in our lifetimes。

　　And the good news here is that by coming together to deal with thelong-term debt challenge, we would have more room to implement keyproposals that can get the economy to grow faster. Specifically, weshould extend the payroll tax cut as soon as possible, so that workershave more money in their paychecks next year and businesses have morecustomers next year。

　　We should continue to make sure that if you're one of the millionsof Americans who's out there looking for a job, you can get theunemployment insurance that your tax dollars contributed to. That willalso put money in people's pockets and more customers in stores。

　　In fact, if Congress fails to extend the payroll tax cut and theunemployment insurance benefits that I've called for, it could mean 1million fewer jobs and half a percent less growth. This is something wecan do immediately, something we can do as soon as Congress gets back。

　　We should also help companies that want to repair our roads andbridges and airports, so that thousands of construction workers who'vebeen without a job for the last few years can get a paycheck again. Thatwill also help to spur economic growth。

　　These aren't Democratic proposals. These aren't big governmentproposals. These are all ideas that traditionally Republicans haveagreed to, have agreed to countless times in the past. There's no reasonwe shouldn't act on them now. None。

　　I know we're going through a tough time right now. We've been goingthrough a tough time for the last two and a half years. And I know alot of people are worried about the future. But here's what I also know:There will always be economic factors that we can't control –-earthquakes, spikes in oil prices, slowdowns in other parts of theworld. But how we respond to those tests -- that's entirely up to us。

　　Markets will rise and fall, but this is the United States ofAmerica. No matter what some agency may say, we've always been andalways will be a AAA country. For all of the challenges we face, wecontinue to have the best universities, some of the most productiveworkers, the most innovative companies, the most adventurousentrepreneurs on Earth. What sets us apart is that we've always not justhad the capacity, but also the will to act -- the determination toshape our future; the willingness in our democracy to work out ourdifferences in a sensible way and to move forward, not just for thisgeneration but for the next generation。

　　And we're going to need to summon that spirit today. The Americanpeople have been through so much over the last few years, dealing withthe worst recession, the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s, andthey've done it with grace. And they're working so hard to raise theirfamilies, and all they ask is that we work just as hard, here in thistown, to make their lives a little easier. That's not too much to ask.And ultimately, the reason I am so hopeful about our future -- thereason I have faith in these United States of America -- is because ofthe American people. It's because of their perseverance, and theircourage, and their willingness to shoulder the burdens we face -–together, as one nation。

　　One last thing. There is no one who embodies the qualities Imentioned more than the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.And this weekend, we lost 30 of them when their helicopter crashedduring a mission in Afghanistan. And their loss is a stark reminder ofthe risks that our men and women in uniform take every single day onbehalf of their county. Day after day, night after night, they carry outmissions like this in the face of enemy fire and grave danger. And inthis mission –- as in so many others -– they were also joined by Afghantroops, seven of whom lost their lives as well。

　　So I've spoken to our generals in the field, as well as PresidentKarzai. And I know that our troops will continue the hard work oftransitioning to a stronger Afghan government and ensuring thatAfghanistan is not a safe haven for terrorists. We will press on. And wewill succeed。

　　But now is also a time to reflect on those we lost, and thesacrifices of all who serve, as well as their families. These men andwomen put their lives on the line for the values that bind us togetheras a nation. They come from different places, and their backgrounds andbeliefs reflect the rich diversity of America。

　　But no matter what differences they might have as individuals, theyserve this nation as a team. They meet their responsibilities together.And some of them -- like the 30 Americans who were lost this weekend –-give their lives for their country. Our responsibility is to ensurethat their legacy is an America that reflects their courage, theircommitment, and their sense of common purpose. Thank you very much。

　　END 2:03 P.M. EDT