| 00:12:123 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Merry Christmas, everybody! |
| 00:12:152 sec. |
AUDIENCE
Merry Christmas! |
| 00:12:176 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Happy holidays. We are just thrilled to have all of you here. |
| 00:12:2324 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Thank you, Secretary Salazar, for the kind introduction and for all that you’re doing to protect our national parks and our public lands for the future... |
| 00:12:4717 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
I want to thank Pastor Darrell Morton for that wonderful invocation, and of course, thanks to Common and all of tonight’s performers for joining us... |
| 00:13:0429 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
This is a very proud holiday tradition. Snow or shine, in good times and in periods of hardship, folks like you have gathered with Presidents to light... |
| 00:13:3323 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
Often, the ceremony itself has reflected the pain and sacrifice of the times. There were years during the Second World War when no lights were hung,... |
| 00:13:5627 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
But without fail, each year, we have gathered here. Each year we’ve come together to celebrate a story that has endured for two millennia. It’s... |
| 00:14:2316 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
It’s a message that says no matter who we are or where we are from, no matter the pain we endure or the wrongs we face, we are called to love one... |
| 00:14:3928 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
And so during a time in which we try our hardest to live with a spirit of charity and goodwill, we remember our brothers and sisters who have lost a... |
| 00:15:0718 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
On behalf of Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Marian -- who’s our grandmother-in-chief -- (laughter) -– and Bo -- don’t forget Bo -- (applause) -- I wish... |
| 00:15:2526 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
And now I’m going to invite the entire Obama crew up here to help me light this Christmas tree. (Applause.) |
| 00:15:5110 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
All right, everybody, we’re going to count from five -- five, four, three, two, one. |
| 00:16:0113 sec. |
Obama, Barack - President
(The tree is lit.) (Applause.) |
| 00:16:1444 min. |
Obama, Barack - President
Merry Christmas, everybody! |