My universal health care hero,
Yes we can, and, finally, yes we will!
Senator Kennedy's remarks to the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, Monday, August 25, 2008:
Yes we can, and, finally, yes we will!
Senator Kennedy's remarks to the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, Monday, August 25, 2008:
Thank you. Thank you, Caroline
My fellow Dems, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here [laughter], and nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight
I have come here tonight to stand here with you to change America to restore its future, to rise to its best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama the next president of the united States.
As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days, and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat, but we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country, and a newer world, and I pledge to you -- I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate for me to give a great -- [final word drowned out by applause and cheering, chanting "Teddy, Teddy", laughter].
For me, this is a season of hope. New hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few. New hope -- and this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guaranty that every American -- north - south, east - west, young- old -- will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama. Yes we can, and, finally, yes we will! [Cheers, applause]
My fellow Dems, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here [laughter], and nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight
I have come here tonight to stand here with you to change America to restore its future, to rise to its best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama the next president of the united States.
As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days, and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat, but we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country, and a newer world, and I pledge to you -- I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate for me to give a great -- [final word drowned out by applause and cheering, chanting "Teddy, Teddy", laughter].
For me, this is a season of hope. New hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few. New hope -- and this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guaranty that every American -- north - south, east - west, young- old -- will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama. Yes we can, and, finally, yes we will! [Cheers, applause]
Barack Obama will close the book of the old politics of race, and gender, and group against group, and straight against gay. And Barack Obama will be a commander in chief who understands that young Americans in uniform must never be committed to a mistake but always to a commitment worthy of their bravery. [Cheers, whistles, applause]
We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high principle and bold endeavor, but when John Kennedy thought of going to the moon, he didn't say, 'It's too far to get there, we shouldn't even try.' Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon. [Cheers, applause] Yes, we are all Americans, this is what we do, we reach the moon, we scale the heights. I know it, I've seen it, I have lived it, and we can do it again.
There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass through we will reach our destination. Not merely victory for our party, but renewal for our nation, and this November, the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. So, with Barack Obama, and for you, and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on. [Cheers, applause]
You are still the one, Teddy, and I hope it won't take another 3 decades of repeating this refrain, this promise, this commitment for it to become a reality:
That every American -- north - south, east - west, young- old -- will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right, and not as a privilege.
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2 commentaires:
I cried a little during the whole Ted Kennedy section of the convention broadcast last night. I was so worried about him. And the complicated look Caroline Kennedy had playing on her face, flashing through until she lowered her eyes in distinctly Jacqueline Kennedy fashion, when she mentioned how Obama reminded people of her father. And how Maria Shriver could barely keep herself from crying. What is it about the Kennedys (well, some of them) that makes me want to protect them, make them feel better, like they're relatives or old family friends, not a large and powerful and wealthy political family?
His speech was so inspiring, but also terrifying. This country desparately needs Ted Kennedy, for his passion, his eloquence, his hope, his deep and abiding faith in our country and ourselves, his bone-set need to do what's right for America.
I don't want to lose "Uncle Teddy" any more than Maria or Caroline do, but, watching them deal with the complex emotions involved in introducing Senator Kennedy to the stage and watching him speak, I think I ached just as much for their personal potential loss as I did for the country's political loss.
I hope he can keep his promise. I hope his fire and determination are enough to keep him going. I found myself beliving it was, by the end of his impassioned speech. (God bless you and keep you safe, Senator Kennedy.)
By the way, his speech and Michelle Obama's speech (man, was that good!) were the only time the conventioners collectively shut the hell up and listened. It made me so angry when they talked loudly through the speech given by that nice Amtrak machinist from Iowa, Mike Fisher, who was obviously nervous (though not as much as his poor, sweet wife, who looked so proud and yet so terrified to be there). It was so rude of the conventioners not to listen to them just because they weren't familiar faces. Yeah, yeah, I know every convention is like that, but it still ticked me off. While he was speaking from a script, you could tell he meant what he was saying when he spoke of his experience with and impression of Obama. I'm sure his wife would have spoken if she wasn't so scared; just being there on stage with her husband as he spoke seemed to be as much as she could do. Those two were being so brave, and no one was paying attention! Rrg!
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