English subtitles for clip: File:West Wing Week- 12-24-10 or "AKA Santa Claus".webm
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1 00:00:00,166 --> 00:00:01,296 ♪♪ (Bugle Corps playing) ♪♪ 2 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:03,270 Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's 3 00:00:03,266 --> 00:00:05,996 happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 4 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,070 This week, the President focused on the important legislation 5 00:00:08,066 --> 00:00:10,566 coming out of Congress before the end of the session, 6 00:00:10,567 --> 00:00:13,197 including tax cuts for the middle class and the repeal of 7 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:14,600 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." 8 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,100 That's December 17th to the 23rd, or "AKA Santa Claus." 9 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:21,500 Santa Claus: Boy, George was nothing but trouble as a kid, you know what? 10 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:22,930 Nothing but trouble. 11 00:00:22,934 --> 00:00:24,534 See you all later. 12 00:00:24,533 --> 00:00:27,063 Narrator: On Friday, December 17th, President Obama went to the Long 13 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:29,936 Branch Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, 14 00:00:29,934 --> 00:00:31,104 where he was given a high-pitched, 15 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:33,830 enthusiastic welcome. 16 00:00:33,834 --> 00:00:35,634 The President was there to read to students, 17 00:00:35,633 --> 00:00:38,433 first from "Of Thee, I Sing," a book he wrote and dedicated to 18 00:00:38,433 --> 00:00:39,663 his daughters. 19 00:00:39,667 --> 00:00:41,697 Proceeds from the book go to a scholarship fund for the 20 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:44,430 children of fallen and disabled service members. 21 00:00:44,433 --> 00:00:46,363 The President also read a holiday classic -- 22 00:00:46,367 --> 00:00:48,697 "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore. 23 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:52,000 The President: "With a little old driver, so lively and quick, 24 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,830 I knew in a moment it must be -- ?" 25 00:00:53,834 --> 00:00:55,064 Children: "St. Nick!" 26 00:00:55,066 --> 00:00:56,466 The President: It's St. Nick! 27 00:00:56,467 --> 00:00:59,397 AKA, Santa Claus. 28 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,170 Narrator: The President also met with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and 29 00:01:02,166 --> 00:01:05,136 leaders from some the nation's largest labor organizations to 30 00:01:05,133 --> 00:01:07,963 discuss how the partnership with labor is essential to growing 31 00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:10,137 our economy, continuing our recovery, 32 00:01:10,133 --> 00:01:11,803 and creating good jobs. 33 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,070 The President: I'm not going to speak long at the front end -- 34 00:01:13,066 --> 00:01:14,296 I want to spend more time listening, 35 00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:15,830 so let me just cut to the chase. 36 00:01:15,834 --> 00:01:18,034 Secret Service Agent: We'll pick up the V.P., walk across the street -- 37 00:01:18,033 --> 00:01:19,863 Narrator: Friday evening, the President went to the South Court 38 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:22,997 auditorium to sign the Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill. 39 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,730 Because members of both parties came together to get this done, 40 00:01:25,734 --> 00:01:28,034 families across the country no longer have to worry about a 41 00:01:28,033 --> 00:01:29,903 massive tax hike next year. 42 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:32,030 The President: You guys did extraordinary work quickly, 43 00:01:32,033 --> 00:01:36,663 so I just want to say to both Democrats and Republicans who 44 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:39,567 are here: I think this is good for the economy; 45 00:01:39,567 --> 00:01:41,497 it's good for the country. 46 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:45,370 I know that both sides took hits in order to get it done, 47 00:01:45,367 --> 00:01:47,797 but I think the country thinks it's the right thing. 48 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,970 This is real money that's going to make a real difference in 49 00:01:50,967 --> 00:01:52,867 people's lives. 50 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:57,167 And I would not have signed this bill if it didn't include other 51 00:01:57,166 --> 00:02:00,566 extensions of relief that were also set to expire -- 52 00:02:00,567 --> 00:02:03,297 relief that's going to help families cover the bills, 53 00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:06,900 parents raise their children, students pay for college, 54 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:10,430 and business owners to take the reins of the recovery and propel 55 00:02:10,433 --> 00:02:11,803 this economy forward. 56 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,630 Narrator: On Monday, December 20th, the President signed the Child Abuse 57 00:02:14,633 --> 00:02:17,403 Prevention and Treatment Act and the Family Violence Prevention 58 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,370 Services Act into law. 59 00:02:19,367 --> 00:02:22,137 The President: You know, to have strong bipartisan support on something 60 00:02:22,133 --> 00:02:26,503 like this is just exactly how this place should work, 61 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:28,970 and I think you all should be very proud. 62 00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:31,897 Narrator: The legislation gives states new tools to work with at-risk 63 00:02:31,900 --> 00:02:34,670 families to prevent child abuse and improve services for 64 00:02:34,667 --> 00:02:37,367 children exposed to domestic violence. 65 00:02:37,367 --> 00:02:38,837 Secretary Locke: Mr. President! 66 00:02:38,834 --> 00:02:40,034 I've got something for you! 67 00:02:40,033 --> 00:02:40,963 The President: That's what I hear -- 68 00:02:40,967 --> 00:02:43,297 Narrator: On Tuesday, December 21st, President Obama received the 69 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:46,600 2010 Census Report from Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, 70 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,430 tracking U.S. population growth. 71 00:02:48,433 --> 00:02:52,263 Secretary Locke: You are the 44th President and this delivery has occurred only 72 00:02:52,266 --> 00:02:55,296 22 other times in U.S. history. 73 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:57,600 Narrator: He also made calls to senators about the need to pass the new 74 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,600 START Treaty as soon as possible, 75 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,800 and met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus 76 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,730 about a host of issues, including passage of the DREAM 77 00:03:03,734 --> 00:03:06,404 Act and comprehensive immigration reform. 78 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:07,270 The President: Everybody have a seat. 79 00:03:07,266 --> 00:03:08,096 This is -- 80 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:09,100 Audience Member: Thank you, Mr. President! 81 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:10,130 The President: You are welcome. 82 00:03:10,133 --> 00:03:11,363 (cheering and applause) 83 00:03:11,367 --> 00:03:12,897 This is a good day. 84 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:15,630 Narrator: On Wednesday, December 22nd, President Obama signed the bill 85 00:03:15,633 --> 00:03:18,463 repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevents gay 86 00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:21,267 Americans from serving openly in the U.S. military. 87 00:03:21,266 --> 00:03:22,396 The President: This is done. 88 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,970 (cheering and applause) 89 00:03:25,967 --> 00:03:31,167 This law I'm about to sign will strengthen our national security 90 00:03:31,166 --> 00:03:34,466 and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk 91 00:03:34,467 --> 00:03:36,537 their lives to defend. 92 00:03:36,533 --> 00:03:43,663 As Admiral Mike Mullen has said, "Our people sacrifice a lot for 93 00:03:43,667 --> 00:03:47,337 their country, including their lives. 94 00:03:47,333 --> 00:03:50,903 None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well." 95 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:53,070 (applause) 96 00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:54,696 Narrator: The President then boarded Marine One and headed for 97 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:57,530 Hawaii, where he'll spend the holidays with his family. 98 00:03:57,533 --> 00:03:59,603 To find out more information on any of these topics or to see 99 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,700 complete videos of these events, go to whitehouse.gov. 100 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:05,100 And thanks again for checking out your West Wing Week. 101 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:06,670 Santa Claus: How's it going? 102 00:04:06,667 --> 00:04:07,537 Good to see you! 103 00:04:07,533 --> 00:04:09,263 Oh, ho, ho! 104 00:04:09,266 --> 00:04:10,466 (indiscernible) up for Santa! 105 00:04:10,467 --> 00:04:11,737 Hey, little (indiscernible) ! 106 00:04:11,734 --> 00:04:12,534 Speaker: Hey! 107 00:04:12,533 --> 00:04:13,633 Santa: Oh, ho, ho! 108 00:04:13,633 --> 00:04:14,733 Speaker: Pretty good.