posted on July 27, 2004 07:10:17 AM new TRANSCRIPTS of All speeches at the Democratic Convention can be found here. ( prnewswire)
The Honorable William J. Clinton
Democratic National Convention
Monday, July 26, 2004
BOSTON, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech
by William J. Clinton at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, July
26, 2004:
Thank you. I am honored to share the podium with my Senator, though I
think I should be introducing her. I'm proud of her and so grateful to the
people of New York that the best public servant in our family is still on the
job and grateful to all of you, especially my friends from Arkansas, for the
chance you gave us to serve our country in the White House.
I am also honored to share this night with President Carter, who has
inspired the world with his work for peace, democracy, and human rights. And
with Al Gore, my friend and partner for eight years, who played such a large
role in building the prosperity and progress that brought America into the
21st century, who showed incredible grace and patriotism under pressure, and
who is the living embodiment that every vote counts -- and must be counted in
every state in America.
Tonight I speak as a citizen, returning to the role I have played for most
of my life as a foot soldier in the fight for our future, as we nominate a
true New England patriot for president. The state that gave us John Adams and
John Kennedy has now given us John Kerry, a good man, a great senator, a
visionary leader. We are constantly told America is deeply divided. But all
Americans value freedom, faith, and family. We all honor the service and
sacrifice of our men and women in uniform in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the
world.
We all want good jobs, good schools, health care, safe streets, a clean
environment. We all want our children to grow up in a secure America leading
the world toward a peaceful future. Our differences are in how we can best
achieve these things, in a time of unprecedented change. Therefore, we
Democrats will bring the American people a positive campaign, arguing not
who's good and who's bad, but what is the best way to build the safe,
prosperous world our children deserve.
The 21st century is marked by serious security threats, serious economic
challenges, and serious problems like global warming and the AIDS epidemic.
But it is also full of enormous opportunities-to create millions of high
paying jobs in clean energy, and biotechnology; to restore the manufacturing
base and reap the benefits of the global economy through our diversity and our
commitment to decent labor and environmental standards everywhere; and to
create a world where we can celebrate our religious and racial differences,
because our common humanity matters more.
To build that kind of world we must make the right choices; and we must
have a president who will lead the way. Democrats and Republicans have very
different and honestly held ideas on that choices we should make, rooted in
fundamentally different views of how we should meet our common challenges at
home and how we should play our role in the world. Democrats want to build an
America of shared responsibilities and shared opportunities and more global
cooperation, acting alone only when we must.
We think the role of government is to give people the tools and conditions
to make the most of their lives. Republicans believe in an America run by the
right people, their people, in a world in which we act unilaterally when we
can, and cooperate when we have to.
They think the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in
the hands of those who embrace their political, economic, and social views,
leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on matters like health care
and retirement security. Since most Americans are not that far to the right,
they have to portray us Democrats as unacceptable, lacking in strength and
values. In other words, they need a divided America. But Americans long to be
united. After 9/11, we all wanted to be one nation, strong in the fight
against terror. The president had a great opportunity to bring us together
under his slogan of compassionate conservatism and to unite the world in
common cause against terror.
Instead, he and his congressional allies made a very different choice: to
use the moment of unity to push America too far to the right and to walk away
from our allies, not only in attacking Iraq before the weapons inspectors
finished their jobs, but in withdrawing American support for the Climate
Change Treaty, the International Court for war criminals, the ABM treaty, and
even the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Now they are working to develop two new nuclear weapons which they say we
might use first. At home, the President and the Republican Congress have made
equally fateful choices indeed. For the first time ever when America was on a
war footing, there were two huge tax cuts, nearly half of which went to the
top one percent. I'm in that group now for the first time in my life.
When I was in office, the Republicans were pretty mean to me. When I left
and made money, I became part of the most important group in the world to
them. At first I thought I should send them a thank you note -- until I
realized they were sending you the bill.
They protected my tax cuts while:
-- Withholding promised funding for the Leave No Child Behind Act, leaving
over 2 million children behind
-- Cutting 140,000 unemployed workers out of job training
-- 100,000 working families out of child care assistance
-- 300,000 poor children out of after school programs
-- Raising out of pocket healthcare costs to veterans
-- Weakening or reversing important environmental advances for clean air
and the preservation of our forests.
Everyone had to sacrifice except the wealthiest Americans, who wanted to
do their part but were asked only to expend the energy necessary to open the
envelopes containing our tax cuts. If you agree with these choices, you should
vote to return them to the White House and Congress. If not, take a look at
John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democrats.
In this year's budget, the White House wants to cut off federal funding
for 88,000 uniformed police, including more than 700 on the New York City
police force who put their lives on the line on 9/11. As gang violence is
rising and we look for terrorists in our midst, Congress and the President are
also about to allow the ten-year-old ban on assault weapons to expire. Our
crime policy was to put more police on the streets and take assault weapons
off the streets. It brought eight years of declining crime and violence. Their
policy is the reverse, they're taking police off the streets and putting
assault weapons back on the streets. If you agree with their choices, vote to
continue them. If not, join John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democrats in
making America safer, smarter, and stronger.
On Homeland Security, Democrats tried to double the number of containers
at ports and airports checked for Weapons of Mass Destruction. The one
billion dollar cost would have been paid for by reducing the tax cut of
200,000 millionaires by five thousand dollars each. Almost all 200,000 of us
would have been glad to pay 5,000 dollars to make the nearly 300 million
Americans safer-but the measure failed because the White House and the
Republican leadership in the House decided my tax cut was more important -- If
you agree with that choice, re-elect them. If not, give John Kerry and John
Edwards a chance.
These policies have turned the projected 5.8 trillion dollar surplus we
left-enough to pay for the baby boomers retirement-into a projected debt of
nearly 5 trillion dollars, with a 400 plus billion dollar deficit this year
and for years to come. How do they pay for it? First by taking the monthly
surplus in Social Security payments and endorsing the checks of working people
over to me to cover my tax cut. But it's not enough. They are borrowing the
rest from foreign governments, mostly Japan and China. Sure, they're competing
with us for good jobs but how can we enforce our trade laws against our
bankers? If you think it's good policy to pay for my tax cut with the Social
Security checks of working men and women, and borrowed money from China, vote
for them. If not, John Kerry's your man.
We Americans must choose for President one of two strong men who both love
our country, but who have very different worldviews: Democrats favor shared
responsibility, shared opportunity, and more global cooperation. Republicans
favor concentrated wealth and power, leaving people to fend for themselves and
more unilateral action. I think we're right for two reasons: First, America
works better when all people have a chance to live their dreams. Second, we
live in an interdependent world in which we can't kill, jail, or occupy all
our potential adversaries, so we have to both fight terror and build a world
with more partners and fewer terrorists. We tried it their way for twelve
years, our way for eight, and then their way for four more.
By the only test that matters, whether people were better off when we
finished than when we started, our way works better-it produced over 22
million good jobs, rising incomes, and 100 times as many people moving out of
poverty into the middle class. It produced more health care, the largest
increase in college aid in 50 years, record home ownership, a cleaner
environment, three surpluses in a row, a modernized defense force, strong
efforts against terror, and an America respected as a world leader for peace,
security and prosperity.
More importantly, we have great new champions in John Kerry and John
Edwards. Two good men with wonderful wives-Teresa a generous and wise woman
who understands the world we are trying to shape. And Elizabeth, a lawyer and
mother who understands the lives we are all trying to lift. Here is what I
know about John Kerry. During the Vietnam War, many young men -- including the
current president, the vice president and me-could have gone to Vietnam but
didn't. John Kerry came from a privileged background and could have avoided it
too. Instead he said, send me.
When they sent those swift-boats up the river in Vietnam, and told them
their job was to draw hostile fire-to show the American flag and bait the
enemy to come out and fight-John Kerry said, send me. When it was time to
heal the wounds of war and normalize relations with Vietnam-and to demand an
accounting of the POWs and MIAs we lost there-John Kerry said, send me.
When we needed someone to push the cause of inner-city kids struggling to
avoid a life of crime, or to bring the benefits of high technology to ordinary
Americans, or to clean the environment in a way that creates jobs, or to give
small businesses a better chance to make it, John Kerry said send me.
Tonight my friends, I ask you to join me for the next 100 days in telling
John Kerry's story and promoting his plans. Let every person in this hall and
all across America say to him what he has always said to America: Send Me. The
bravery that the men who fought by his side saw in battle I've seen in the
political arena. When I was President, John Kerry showed courage and
conviction on crime, on welfare reform, on balancing the budget at a time when
those priorities were not exactly a way to win a popularity contest in our
party.
He took tough positions on tough problems. John Kerry knows who he is and
where he's going. He has the experience, the character, the ideas and the
values to be a great President. In a time of change he has two other
important qualities: his insatiable curiosity to understand the forces
shaping our lives, and a willingness to hear the views even of those who
disagree with him. Therefore his choices will be full of both conviction and
common sense.
He proved that when he picked a tremendous partner in John Edwards.
Everybody talks about John Edwards' energy, intellect, and charisma. The
important thing is how he has used his talents to improve the lives of people
who -- like John himself -- had to work hard for all they've got. He has
always championed the cause of people too often left out or left behind. And
that's what he'll do as our Vice President.
Their opponents will tell you to be afraid of John Kerry and John Edwards,
because they won't stand up to the terrorists -- don't you believe it.
Strength and wisdom are not conflicting values -- they go hand in hand. John
Kerry has both. His first priority will be keeping America safe. Remember the
scripture: Be Not Afraid.
John Kerry and John Edwards, have good ideas:
-- To make this economy work again for middle-class Americans;
-- To restore fiscal responsibility;
-- To save Social Security; to make healthcare more affordable and college
more available;
-- To free us from dependence on foreign oil and create new jobs in clean
energy;
-- To rally the world to win the war on terror and to make more friends
and fewer terrorists.
At every turning point in our history we the people have chosen unity over
division, heeding our founders' call to America's eternal mission: to form a
more perfect union, to widen the circle of opportunity, deepen the reach of
freedom, and strengthen the bonds of community.
It happened because we made the right choices. In the early days of the
republic, America was at a crossroads much like it is today, deeply divided
over whether or not to build a real nation with a national economy, and a
national legal system. We chose a more perfect union.
In the Civil War, America was at a crossroads, divided over whether to
save the union and end slavery -- we chose a more perfect union. In the
1960s, America was at a crossroads, divided again over civil rights and
women's rights. Again, we chose a more perfect union. As I said in 1992,
we're all in this together; we have an obligation both to work hard and to
help our fellow citizens, both to fight terror and to build a world with more
cooperation and less terror. Now again, it is time to choose.
Since we're all in the same boat, let us chose as the captain of our ship
a brave good man who knows how to steer a vessel though troubled waters to the
calm seas and clear skies of our more perfect union. We know our mission. Let
us join as one and say in a loud, clear voice: Send John Kerry.
I think he (and Jimmy Carter) did a wonderful job. Powerful. I especially love Jimmy Carter's subtle chastising of this administration. See, it can be done without naming names.
What was it with that woman who talked about medical benefits and insurance? She almost put me to sleep. I had to leave the room to wake up. LOL!
A friend of mine (our state rep) is at the convention and is supposed to call in a day or two to give me the low down. Can't wait!
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on July 27, 2004 07:49:26 AM new
Laughable... like I said comedy central should be showing this convention...
considering that during his administration, books were cooked and wages were artificially inflated... with President Bush trying to clean up his mess....
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
Homosexuality is a choice that can be corrected...
posted on July 27, 2004 08:13:52 AM new
Wanted to add that Carter was one the WORST presidents this country has ever has the misforutne of enduring... you notice how quick his ass got voted out...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
Homosexuality is a choice that can be corrected...
posted on July 28, 2004 04:33:15 AM new
What a great speech. Thanks for posting the text Helen.
___________________________________
Beware the man of one book.
- Thomas Aquinas
posted on July 28, 2004 05:02:39 AM new
That was a very good speech. I am sorry I missed it. He shoulda threw in there, "for lack of knowledge, men perish. Let's not let anymore of our citizens perish".
...lol! hey I need a job, anybody want to hook me up with some speechwriters!! hahaha!
posted on July 28, 2004 05:59:25 AM new
Speaking of speechwriters, neroter...while Clinton was President...
By John F. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 19, 1999; Page A6
Six years into the Clinton presidency, speechwriter Michael Waldman knows better than to fall in love with a first draft. More than once he has walked into the Oval Office, proud of what he thought was a nicely polished piece of prose, only to have the effort dismissed with a familiar, cutting phrase.
"Words, words, words," President Clinton will say wearily, his way of signaling that a speech draft is too heavy on rhetoric and light on substance.
How much input does Clinton have on a speech?
It is a rare day when the President will stand up and read what we've written word for word. He is a terrific speechwriter and a careful editor and very interested in the process itself. On the podium he is a remarkable guy to watch — he will add or improvise as he goes along. We all genuinely regard him as being the best speech writer in the audience — and no one knows an audience like he does. Reagan saw the importance of speeches, whereas Bush failed to appreciate them as much.
Do you have much personal contact with Clinton
Yes we do. He's a very accessible president to all the people that work in the building. Reagan hardly ever saw his speechwriters. We all take it for granted. It's important because we spend the majority of our time trying to inhabit his head, so contact is vital. If I write a speech, I will go and brief the President personally. On a big speech one might have several meetings with him.
Are there any bad points to your job? The least gratifying experiences are when the President gets up and says to an audience, 'You know I've got this speech here, but I'd really just like to talk to you guys.' He will push it to the side of the podium and all that work is effectively for nothing.
End of excerpt....
Can you imagine the handwringing behind the curtain if Bush chose to do that?
Helen
posted on July 28, 2004 06:02:59 AM new
Helenjw, All the Democrats are making stupid people like twelvetoes shake in their cowboy boots. All one has to do is read their desperate and stupid comments to realize how classless these people really are. Like Bill Clinton said if you want our government run by people like twelvetoes you should vote republican.
[ edited by bigpeepa on Jul 28, 2004 06:04 AM ]
posted on July 28, 2004 09:26:23 AM new
Helen, Clinton is a very good speaker! His speeches rarely sound like political point bullets but more like he is talking to someone one on one. Seems to me, he got that part of it down a long time ago!
I am going to lend myself out to the Bush camp - I think he seriously needs my assistance {chuckles}. But first I will have to get myself familiar with some Texan style colloquialism to throw in there a
bit. Then we'll take it from there. hahah!
ed for spelling, now if speechwriting depended on that,good gawd- I'd be a horrible one!!
[ edited by neroter12 on Jul 28, 2004 09:36 AM ]
posted on July 28, 2004 11:29:25 AM new
That '90s Show
A return to Clintonism wouldn't be a return to peace and prosperity.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004 12:01 a.m. EDT
Ah, the glorious, roaring 1990s. Bill Clinton got elected, raised taxes on the rich so that the budget deficit and interest rates fell, and thus kicked off one of the great booms in economic history. Then Al Gore lost the 2000 election--sorry, had it stolen--President Bush cut taxes, and the economy more or less immediately went to hell.
In case you've missed the speeches, this is one of the major story lines emerging from this week's Democratic conclave in Boston. As Mr. Clinton boasted in his Monday stemwinder, he left America in 2001 with "peace and prosperity." So elect John Kerry, we are told, and he'll take us back to the Clinton policies, starting once again with a tax increase that will reduce the deficit and return us to the happy days before Osama bin Laden, Enron, and the "middle-class squeeze."
This all sounds so good that even we'd like to believe it. There's just the small matter that it isn't even close to being the real economic history of the 1990s. Allow us to recall a few of the missing details amid this nostalgia trip, starting with the fact that the Clinton years began by inheriting a recovery that was finally gathering steam. The economy grew by more than 4% in 1992, including 4.5% in the fourth quarter, too late to re-elect George H.W. Bush but enough to give the Clinton era a running start.
Mr. Clinton did pass a tax increase in the summer of 1993, but only after Senate Democrats stripped out his new BTU tax and Senate Republicans killed his spending "stimulus." The expansion stumbled in early 1993, no doubt partly on tax-hike uncertainty, then revived late in the year. In 1994 stock markets were flat but interest rates actually rose throughout the year, peaking on the very day in 1994 that Republicans took Congress. That turned out to be the real start of the 1990s boom.
In economic policy, the rest of the decade was a stalemate between Mr. Clinton and the GOP majority on Capitol Hill. The Republicans prevailed on a capital-gains tax cut and the balanced budget, which Mr. Clinton first resisted and then embraced in part to block (successfully) GOP entitlement reforms. Congress actually cut discretionary federal spending in 1995, for the first time since 1981, and defense spending continued to fall.
A kind of virtuous Beltway gridlock took hold, with Washington doing little to get in the way of the private-sector's natural animal spirits. As the telecom and tech bubbles expanded, taxes from rising capital gains and stock-option payouts boosted federal revenues to a post-World War II high as a share of GDP (20.9%). And with budget surpluses rolling in, both parties began to spend like liberals once again after 1998.
Then the bubble burst--not in 2001, but starting in 2000. The tech-heavy Nasdaq peaked in March of Bill Clinton's final year in office. The National Bureau of Economic Research now says the economy shrank by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2000--albeit too late for voters to feel it that November. After a fourth quarter blip in growth, the economy slipped into recession by the formal definition (at least two consecutive quarters of declining GDP) in the first half of 2001.
In other words, the "Bush recession" began for all practical purposes on Mr. Clinton's watch. The spectacular popping of the dot-com bubble also meant that at least some of the wealth created in the late 1990s had been an illusion. While productivity gains and much of the growth were real, the over-investment in telecom and other areas was so great that it has taken years to recover.
As we later learned, the corporate scandals that burst into public view in late 2001 also began in the 1990s. Set aside who and what caused them, this timing meant that the Bush Administration had to clean up after the scandals, and the regulatory costs associated with that cleanup (Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.) caused a further delay in the recovery of business confidence and spending.
With all of this, as well as the aftermath of 9/11 and the war on terror, the amazing thing is that the recession was so short and mild by historical standards. The economy has now been expanding since late-2001, moving to more rapid growth in mid-2003 after the Bush marginal rate tax cuts were accelerated. There have been mistakes (too much non-defense spending) and budget deficits have returned, but the U.S. has led the rest of the world out of the doldrums. Despite the current political fighting over jobs, today's national jobless rate of 5.6% is about where it was (5.4%) when Mr. Clinton took credit for prosperity while campaigning for re-election in 1996.
All of this is relevant today because the Kerry Democrats want Americans to remember the 1990s as a Periclean-Clinton Age, while blaming the Bush Administration for the costs of cleaning up after the bubble and fighting the war on terror. If only we'll return to the Clinton mix of tax hikes to finance more spending on health care and education, they now say, the boom will return. As you can see, that wasn't--and wouldn't be--the half of it.
"The natural family is a man and woman bound in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:
*the continuation of the human species,
*the rearing of children,
*the regulation of sexuality,
*the provision of mutual support and protection,
*the creation of an altruistic domestic economy, and
*the maintenance of bonds between the generations."
