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General Dempsey: Okay, ladies and gentlemen, how
are you this afternoon?
(applause)
Please hold your applause for the Muppets.
No, not really.
Hold your applause for the First Lady,
who I will introduce here in a moment.
I'm really excited to be here with my wife, Deanie,
who is sitting over here.
And we want you to know how much we love the
children of our men and women
who serve in uniform.
You guys are terrific.
And really, we couldn't do what we do without you.
So it's really a great honor
for me to be here today.
And I know what you really want to do is see this
movie, but I do want to see if you're awake and
ready and alert to watch the movie.
So I have three questions I want to ask you, and I
-- if you know the answer, just yell it out.
So the first one is: Why are teddy bears never hungry?
Participant: Because they're always stuffed.
General Dempsey: Because they're always stuffed.
You're right.
(laughter)
What do you call a pig that knows karate?
Audience: Pork chop.
(laughter)
General Dempsey: Pork chop.
You guys are all over it.
You're ready for the movie.
And, finally, what is a frog's favorite kind of music?
Participant: Hip hop.
(laughter)
General Dempsey: Hip hop, you got it.
(laughter)
Give yourselves a round of applause.
(applause)
Well, I know this movie is going to be funnier than
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
And so what I want to do now is introduce someone
very special to us as a military family, someone
who has spent her time in office with her husband
making sure that we can take care of you.
And with that -- hi, Bonnie -- with that as all
the introduction she really needs, it's my
great honor to introduce the First Lady of the
United States, Michelle Obama.
(applause)
The First Lady: Well, hello, everyone.
How are you guys doing?
Audience: Good!
The First Lady: Welcome to the White House.
Isn't this cool?
General Dempsey, those were some pretty good jokes.
General Dempsey: Not bad.
The First Lady: Not bad.
What did you guys think of the jokes -- pretty funny?
(applause)
Yes.
Well, we're not going to talk long because we know
why we're really here, but I just wanted to take
a moment to make sure you understand why we're doing
this, why it was so important
for us to make it possible for you guys to see this movie here.
Do you know why?
Because we are incredibly proud of you,
first of all.
I know we have military moms and dads.
We have some Gold Star families.
But most importantly, we have our military kids.
And I get to travel all around the country
and I meet a lot of kids.
And let me tell you, I am most impressed
by our military kids, because I know you guys have
a lot on your plates.
When your parents are deployed, you have to be
big boys and girls.
You have to get your homework done.
You have to stay out of trouble.
You have to help out with your brothers
and sisters, right?
You have to behave.
You have to be strong and brave.
And the thing I'm always impressed is that you do
all this and you do it in a way that makes us proud.
Do you know that, that we are so proud of you?
You guys are heroes.
Do you know that?
I want you to know that.
That's why you're at the White House, because you
are our special guests and our heroes.
So we thought you should be some of the first kids
in the entire country that sees one of the best,
coolest movies on the planet.
(applause)
Yes, yes.
But guess what?
Also, I've got another little surprise.
Because you were so cool, and we wanted you to see
the "Muppets Most Wanted," we thought that it would
be fun to invite an extra special guest with us.
And I would like to take a moment to introduce our
extra special -- it's Kermit the Frog, everyone.
(applause)
Kermit The Frog: Oh, thank you.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am.
Good to see you again.
The First Lady: Oh, it's wonderful to see -- oh,
thank you, Kermit.
Thank you so much.
Kermit The Frog: Thank you.
That's what they do in Europe.
The First Lady: Yes, very fancy.
It's great to have you here.
Kermit The Frog: Well, it's wonderful to be here.
I did get to take pictures with everybody earlier,
but it took me a while to get through security.
And I still don't understand how a frog with
no clothes could set off
a metal detector, but -- (laughter).
General Dempsey: You ought to see -- try to get
through with this on.
The First Lady: Yes.
(laughter)
Kermit The Frog: I can imagine.
I can imagine.
That must be tough.
The First Lady: Well, we are just happy
to have you here, and we're so delighted.
Kermit The Frog: Yes.
Well, I am thrilled to be here.
And, by the way, I'm just wondering, do you mind --
we sort of know each other.
Could I call you Michelle?
The First Lady: Oh, please do.
Please do.
Kermit The Frog: Yes, it's mostly because
I have to call Miss Piggy Her Highness.
(laughter)
You guys will know what I mean when you
see the movie.
But I just want to say a couple of things.
It's true that I'm here today because
of all you kids.
I always say it's not easy being green, and that
sometimes it's not easy for you guys -- for your
moms and dads who wear a green uniform or a blue
one or a white one.
But you guys have to be just as tough
as them, you know?
We understand what that means.
And kids like you are moving from town to town
every couple of years sometimes, and you might
have to keep making new friends.
But I know you wish your mom and dad could be
around more than they are.
But because of all of you and your -- because of
that you're all strong and brave and very grown up.
And that's very cool.
And I wish I had been that cool when I was a tadpole.
(laughter)
The First Lady: Well, Kermit, I think you're
very cool and I think you're very smart too.
Kermit The Frog: Well, thank you, thank you.
And I think you are very nice,
much nicer than Miss Piggy.
(laughter)
The First Lady: Oh, well, that's kind of a low bar.
(laughter)
Kermit The Frog: You're right.
You're right.
She doesn't raise it very high.
General Dempsey: Well, I would like to take this
opportunity to make a special presentation
to Kermit, because of what Kermit
has done for all of you.
I'd like to give Kermit, as the senior Muppet,
a coin from the senior military officer.
Kermit The Frog: Oh, my goodness.
The First Lady: Oh, wow.
General Dempsey: So, Kermit, on behalf of the
Armed Forces, and especially on behalf
of this group of great soldier, sailor, airman,
Marine spouses and children,
I'd like to give you this coin.
Kermit The Frog: Yes, sir.
Oh, my goodness.
That is wonderful.
Thank you.
(applause)
I feel so honored and I can't wait
to show this to the gang.
The First Lady: Well, that is a very big privilege --
Kermit The Frog: It sure is.
The First Lady: -- for a very big frog.
Kermit The Frog: For a very small frog.
(laughter)
The First Lady: Well, I think you're pretty big.
But this is a good time.
Don't you think it's time
for us to get the movie started?
It's ready.
Kermit The Frog: Yes, yes, yes.
(applause)
And thanks again to all of you
military families for everything that you do.
You are all amazing.
So here goes, if I may.
The First Lady: Please.
Kermit The Frog: I may not be a Marine,
but I am marine life.
(laughter)
I salute you.
(applause)
The First Lady: Oh, thanks, Kermit.
Kermit The Frog: See you later.
The First Lady: And thank you, everyone.
Enjoy the show.
We are so proud of you and we are blessed to have you
on our team.
You guys have fun.
Bye-bye.
Kermit The Frog: Bye-bye.
Enjoy the movie.
(applause)