This time he’s in East Peoria, Illinois, at a Caterpillar Plant.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Drunkdeded

I was at the Sterling Brothers — Sterling Family Restaurant today — Sterling Brothers? — Sterling Family, yes, run by two brothers.

Let Me Finish!

Before I do, I want to thank Congressman Ray LaHood. He’s been bugging me ever since I got elected President — (applause) — I didn’t tell you what he’s bugging me about. He’s bugging me to come to Peoria.

You’ll Need A Translator

I want to spend some time explaining that to the American people why competition is important.

Has Got Product

Caterpillar has great workers because it has got good training programs. Caterpillar can employ new people because it makes good product that people want.

What Trade Is

Trade is an important subject here at Caterpillar, and the reason why is because a lot of the product you make here, you sell to somebody else, sell overseas to another country. That’s trade.

I Think I Know

I think it would be — I know it would be a mistake for Caterpillar workers to do that. I think it would be — I know it’s a bad mistake for the country to lose our confidence and not compete.

Behind The Numbers Is People

Now, in order to export something, somebody has to make it. In other words, when I talk about numbers, behind the numbers is people who are providing the service and/or making the product.

It’s Sure Is

These are new eras and it’s exciting times.

A “We Got” Avalanche

In order to compete, we got to have an education system that makes sure all children from all walks of life have skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century; we got to be confident and open up markets so that our companies that produce products, goods and services that people want are able to sell them overseas; we got to have a tax code that keeps taxes low on the people who are working for a living; we got to have a health care system that is patient-centered, not government-centered; and we got to make sure that we don’t lose our confidence.