Rahm Emanuel

This is the personal account of former @USAmbJapan and Chicago's 55th Mayor. Views shared are personal opinions. Follow @MayorRahm for a City Hall archive.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

In 2008, Barack Obama gave a worn-out country a reason to lift its head, find its footing, and fight for a better future. This month the Obama Presidential Center opens on the South Side.

That’s its rightful place. The South Side shaped Barack and Michelle — and now they are paying it back with a generational investment.

President Obama did for our generation what John F. Kennedy did for his, making us believe that public service is noble, that citizenship is a duty, with responsibilities not just rights, and that a little faith in this country can go a long way.

Please go visit the Obama Presidential Center. Let it remind you what this country has been—and what it can still be. Then get off the sidelines, roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work changing America.

Learn more here: https://t.co/2flUiN6qpT

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

The Spin-Free Tour took me across New Hampshire. Four days of biking and talking with people in backyards, living rooms, and their local coffee houses.

Natural scenery. But really great people — independent, free-thinking, and always showing up for one another.

I'll be honest about what stuck with me, and it's something I hear everywhere I go. Parents are afraid their kids will be worse off than they are.

We can and need to change that by restoring a path to a middle class life for every American, not just the select few.

Thank you, New Hampshire. See you next trip.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

I won’t be winning the FIFA Peace Prize anytime soon, but that’s OK.

For the ‘privilege’ of Chicago hosting games this historically corrupt organization wanted taxpayers to assume all of the risk, while FIFA got all of the reward.

I told FIFA: no way. Go pound sand.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Tough times require a tough leader— and nobody's ever gotten in an arena with me who didn't walk out with a broken nose.

When President Clinton wanted to create healthcare for 10 million children, pass an assault weapons ban and the Brady Bill, I got the ball and the bat.

When President Obama wanted both banking reform and healthcare for people with pre-existing conditions, I got the call again.

When Chicago had the shortest school day and shortest school year in the country without universal kindergarten, I took charge and we moved our graduation rate from 56 to 83% — and Stanford called us the single best system in the top 100.

I get the anger. I’m angry, too. We can channel that anger into fixing our schools or exacting political revenge. I’m for education.

And my fight is going to be focused on the future and clearing a path to a middle-class life for more Americans — not about scoring points.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

As Mayor of Chicago, I held a set of economic principles that I was never going to violate. Chief among them: don’t allow taxpayers to be treated as the dumb money at the table.

We’ve brought the NFL Draft, NHL Draft, and NBA All-Star Game to Chicago on our terms.

FIFA wanted to take the reward from the World Cup games while our city received the promise of ‘marketing dollars’ with no intrinsic value. I've passed 8th grade math and the numbers don't work. Not happening.

Chicago is a world-class host for sporting events, theatre, the arts, and the culinary world without needing to screw over middle-class Chicagoans.

https://t.co/2mRuTVmqDt

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Adults should be raising our adolescents, not algorithms.

In every school I’ve been to that’s banned phones in the classroom, we have seen material improvement in kids’ social interactions with other kids.

That’s why I support banning social media for kids under 16.

Australia has done it. Spain has done it. France is doing it. Germany is on their way. Now, the UK is moving to implement it.

It’s time we do the same.

https://t.co/1fRG4BtBTb

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

This weekend, @Stefany4NH and I had an open and honest conversation with a group of Granite Staters in Manchester, NH about what’s at stake for our country.

The pathway to the American Dream is closing for too many children. And Donald Trump’s talking about ballrooms and UFC fights instead of calling his Education Secretary about the fact that 50% of our kids can’t read at grade level.

That’s unacceptable.

And I’m at a point in my life where I'm not going to tell you what I think you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what you need to hear.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Just spent three days biking across New Hampshire, listening to people talk about the most critical issues facing them in their every day lives.

And I keep hearing the same thing: there are too many roadblocks when it comes to establishing a middle-class life in America.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

New Hampshire, you’re known as the Granite State and for your independence, but you should also be known for your kindness, warmth, and for showing up for one another.

From a farm in North Hampton to a living room in Epping to Lucky's Coffee Garage in Lebanon and the QC Bike Collective in Manchester — I spoke with people who work hard, play by the rules, and look out for their neighbors.

But, Granite Staters feel like Washington has forgotten how to do the same.

They're not asking for much. Lower costs. Good schools. Affordable healthcare. The ability to save for retirement and a government that actually shows up for them.

That’s why I came to New Hampshire — and I’ll keep showing up, telling the truth, and fighting to clear a path to a middle class life for every American.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

I’m here to tell the truth about what’s happened to the American middle class life.

Education is supposed to be your ticket to opportunity. But it’s become your burden, not your benefit.

The average age of buying a home is now 40, when it used to be 26.

Healthcare costs are crushing families — and it’s become impossible for Americans to save for a secure retirement.

While the top of society is doing well, we’ve left everyone else behind.

Enough is enough. It’s time to take action and restore confidence that the middle class dream is alive and well.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

I was fortunate enough to spend time with two great school principals, Leah Wheelan at Hanover Street School and Katie Roach at Mount Lebanon Elementary School.

Both principals are beating the odds in helping kids become strong readers during their early years. They told me just how critical it is for children to develop these reading skills at an early age.

I couldn’t have been more impressed with these educators and we must do more to support principals like them.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

There’s nothing ailing America that can’t be made right by what’s working in America.

If Texas or Mississippi has cracked the code to an energy or education problem that’s holding the rest of us back, we should want to know how they did it.

Our challenges aren’t red or blue— and neither are our solutions. They’re homegrown, and we should be stealing and scaling every one of them to bring down costs and open up opportunity.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Warner, NH📍

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Today, I joined Congresswoman Goodlander @MaggieG603 in a Concord, NH backyard with neighbors.

We discussed how families in the area feel financially squeezed and struggle to pay their rent, mortgage, and other bills. Families are taking money out of their 401Ks just to make it to the end of the month. That’s so wrong on so many levels.

Meanwhile, the children of wealthy parents are attending weekend seminars to learn how to manage their inheritance.

Think about that for a second.

To fix our broken politics, we need to give more Americans a path to a middle class life: a path to homeownership, a path to affordable healthcare, a path to quality education for their children, and a path to a secure retirement.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Stopped in to say hello to IBEW Local 490 in Concord.

Skilled trade workers built this country, and they’ll help us rebuild the middle class. We need more young people learning a trade, earning a real wage, and building a life without a mountain of student debt.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Thank you to everyone who donated to support our cause. Because of you, we were able to give 113 kids their first bike.

@qc_bike has done a tremendous job establishing community and giving kids independence right here in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Providing a young person the joy of their first bike ride empowers our children and gives them the freedom to get outside and expand their community.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Stopped in Epping, NH, where I met with State Rep. Mark Vallone and 40 of his neighbors for a conversation about our kids’ and America's future.

My grandfather came to this country at 14. He was a meat cutter, a truck driver, and a steelworker.

His grandson became Chief of Staff to President Obama and mayor of our hometown, Chicago. That's only possible in this country.

The deal: work hard, play by the rules, and your kids and grandkids will do better than you did.

The middle-class life has become unaffordable and inaccessible - and as a result, our politics have become unstable. Let's restore the middle-class life for the American people not just the fortunate few.

[Rahm Emanuel @RahmEmanuel]

Kicking off my Spin Free Tour right here in Portsmouth. 🚴‍♂️

Three days biking through the backroads of New Hampshire and stopping in diners, living rooms, and backyards. 

Portsmouth to Hanover. 113 Miles. Let’s go!