Thank you all very, very much. Thank you for that amazing
welcome. Thank you all for the great convention that we've had. And Chelsea, thank you.
I'm so proud to be your mother and
so proud of the woman you've become. Thanks for bringing Marc into our
family, and Charlotte and Aidan into the world.
And Bill, that conversation we started in the law library 45
years ago is still going strong. It's lasted through good times that
filled us with joy, and hard times that tested us. And I've even gotten a few
words in along the way. On Tuesday night, I was so happy to see that my
"Explainer-in-Chief" is still on the job.
I'm also grateful to the rest of my family and the friends
of a lifetime. To all of you whose hard work brought us here tonight.
And to those of you who joined our campaign this
week. And what a remarkable week it's been.
We heard the man from Hope, Bill Clinton. And the
man of hope, Barack Obama. America is stronger because of President
Obama's leadership, and I'm better because of his friendship. We heard
from our terrific vice President, the one-and-only Joe Biden, who spoke from
his big heart about our party's commitment to working people. First
Lady Michelle Obama reminded us that our children are watching, and the
President we elect is going to be their President, too.
And for those of you out there who are just getting to know
Tim Kaine -- you're soon going to understand why the people of Virginia keep
promoting him: from city council and mayor, to Governor, and now Senator.
He'll make the whole country proud as our Vice President.
And I want to thank Bernie Sanders. Bernie, your
campaign inspired millions of Americans, particularly the young people who
threw their hearts and souls into our primary. You've put economic and social
justice issues front and center, where they belong.
And to all of your supporters here and around the country: I
want you to know, I've heard you. Your cause is our cause. Our country
needs your ideas, energy, and passion. That's the only way we can turn our
progressive platform into real change for America. We wrote it together -- now
let's go out there and make it happen together.
My friends, we've come to Philadelphia -- the birthplace of
our nation -- because what happened in this city 240 years ago still has
something to teach us today.
We all know the story. But we usually focus on how it turned
out -- and not enough on how close that story came to never being written at
all When representatives from 13 unruly colonies met just down the road
from here, some wanted to stick with the King. Some wanted to stick it to the
king, and go their own way. The revolution hung in the balance. Then
somehow they began listening to each other … compromising, finding common
purpose. And by the time they left Philadelphia, they had begun to see themselves
as one nation. That's what made it possible to stand up to a King. That
took courage. They had courage. Our Founders embraced the enduring truth that
we are stronger together.
America is once again at a moment of reckoning. Powerful
forces are threatening to pull us apart. Bonds of trust and respect are
fraying. And just as with our founders, there are no guarantees. It
truly is up to us. We have to decide whether we all will work together so
we all can rise together. Our country's motto is e pluribus unum: "out of
many, (we are) one."
Will we stay true to that motto? Well, we heard Donald
Trump's answer last week at his convention. He wants to divide us --
from the rest of the world, and from each other.
He's betting that the perils of today's world will blind us
to its unlimited promise. He's taken the Republican Party a long
way from "Morning in America" to "Midnight in
America." He wants us to fear the future and fear each
other. Well, a great Democratic President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, came
up with the perfect rebuke to Trump more than eighty years ago, during a much
more perilous time. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Now we are clear-eyed about what our country is up
against. But we are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as
we always have. We will not build a wall. Instead, we will build an
economy where everyone who wants a good paying job can get one.
And we'll build a path to citizenship for millions of
immigrants who are already contributing to our economy. We will not ban
a religion. We will work with all Americans and our allies to fight
terrorism. There's a lot of work to do. Too many people haven't had a
pay raise since the crash. There's too much inequality. Too
little social mobility. Too much paralysis in Washington. Too many threats at
home and abroad.
But just look at the strengths we bring to meet these
challenges. We have the most dynamic and diverse people in the
world. We have the most tolerant and generous young people we've ever had.
We have the most powerful military. The most innovative entrepreneurs. The most
enduring values.
Freedom and equality, justice and opportunity. We
should be so proud that these words are associated with us. That when
people hear them -- they hear… America. So don't let anyone tell you
that our country is weak. We're not. Don't let anyone tell you we
don't have what it takes. We do. And most of all, don't believe
anyone who says: “I alone can fix it.” Those were actually Donald Trump's
words in Cleveland. And they should set off alarm bells for all of us.
Really? 'I alone can fix it?'
Isn't he forgetting? Troops on the front
lines. Police officers and fire fighters who run toward
danger. Doctors and nurses who care for us. Teachers who change
lives. Entrepreneurs who see possibilities in every problem. Mothers who
lost children to violence and are building a movement to keep other kids safe.
He's forgetting every last one of us. Americans don't say: “I alone
can fix it.” We say: “We'll fix it together.” Remember: Our Founders
fought a revolution and wrote a Constitution so America would never be a nation
where one person had all the power. Two hundred and forty years later, we still
put our faith in each other.
Look at what happened in Dallas after the assassinations of
five brave police officers. Chief David Brown asked the community to support
his force, maybe even join them. And you know how the community
responded? Nearly 500 people applied in just 12 days. That's
how Americans answer when the call for help goes out. 20 years
ago, I wrote a book called “It Takes a Village.” A lot of people looked at
the title and asked, what the heck do you mean by that? This is what I
mean: None of us can raise a family, build a business, heal a community or
lift a country totally alone.
America needs every one of us to lend our energy, our
talents, our ambition to making our nation better and stronger. I believe
that with all my heart. That's why “Stronger Together” is not just a
lesson from our history. It's not just a slogan for our campaign.
It's a guiding principle for the country we've always been and the future
we're going to build. A country where the economy works for everyone, not just
those at the top. Where you can get a good job and send your kids to a
good school, no matter what zip code you live in. A country where all our
children can dream, and those dreams are within reach. Where families are
strong, communities are safe, and yes -- love trumps
hate. That's the country we're fighting for. That's the future we're
working toward.
And so it is with humility, determination, and
boundless confidence in America's promise, that I accept your nomination
for President of the United States.
Now, sometimes the people at this podium are new to the
national stage. As you know, I'm not one of those people. I've been your
First Lady, served 8 years as a Senator from the great State of New
York, I ran for President and lost. Then I represented all of
you as Secretary of State. But my job titles only tell you what I've
done. They don't tell you why. The truth is, through all these years
of public service, the “service” part has always come easier to me than the
“public” part.
I get it that some people just don't know what to make of
me. So let me tell you. The family I'm from, well, no one had their
name on big buildings. My family were builders of a different kind.
Builders in the way most American families are. They used whatever tools they
had -- whatever God gave them -- and whatever life in America provided -- and
built better lives and better futures for their kids. My grandfather worked in
the same Scranton lace mill for 50 years, because he believed that if he gave
everything he had, his children would have a better life than he did. And he
was right.
My dad, Hugh, made it to college. He played football at Penn
State and enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor. When the war was over
he started his own small business, printing fabric for draperies. I remember
watching him stand for hours over silk screens. He wanted to give my brothers
and me opportunities he never had. And he did. My mother, Dorothy, was
abandoned by her parents as a young girl. She ended up on her own at 14,
working as a house maid. She was saved by the kindness of others. Her
first grade teacher saw she had nothing to eat at lunch, and brought extra food
to share.
The lesson she passed on to me years later stuck with
me: No one gets through life alone. We have to look out for each other and
lift each other up. She made sure I learned the words of our Methodist faith: “Do
all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as
long as ever you can.” I went to work for the Children's Defense Fund,
going door-to-door in New Bedford, Massachusetts on behalf of children with
disabilities who were denied the chance to go to school. I remember
meeting a young girl in a wheelchair on the small back porch of her house. She
told me how badly she wanted to go to school -- it just didn't seem
possible. And I couldn't stop thinking of my mother and what she went
through as a child. It became clear to me that simply caring is not
enough. To drive real progress, you have to change both hearts and
laws. You need both understanding and action. So we gathered facts.
We built a coalition. And our work helped convince Congress
to ensure access to education for all students with disabilities.
It's a big idea, isn't it? Every kid with a disability
has the right to go to school. But how do you make an idea like
that real? You do it step-by-step, year-by-year… sometimes even
door-by-door. And my heart just swelled when I saw Anastasia Somoza on
this stage, representing millions of young people who -- because of those
changes to our laws -- are able to get an education. It's true... I sweat
the details of policy -- whether we're talking about the exact level of lead in
the drinking water in Flint, Michigan, the number of mental health facilities
in Iowa, or the cost of your prescription drugs. Because it's not just a detail
if it's your kid - if it's your family. It's a big deal. And it should be
a big deal to your President.
Over the last three days, you've seen some of the people
who've inspired me. People who let me into their lives, and became a part
of mine.
People like Ryan Moore and Lauren Manning. They told
their stories Tuesday night. I first met Ryan as a seven-year old.
He was wearing a full body brace that must have weighed forty
pounds. Children like Ryan kept me going when our plan for universal health care
failed and kept me working with leaders of both parties to help create the
Children's Health Insurance Program that covers 8 million kids every year.
Lauren was gravely injured on 9/11. It was the thought
of her, and Debbie St. John, and John Dolan and Joe Sweeney, and all the
victims and survivors, that kept me working as hard as I could in the Senate on
behalf of 9/11 families, and our first responders who got sick from their time
at Ground Zero. I was still thinking of Lauren, Debbie and all the others
ten years later in the White House Situation Room when President Obama made the
courageous decision that finally brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
In this campaign, I've met so many people who motivate me to
keep fighting for change. And, with your help, I will carry all of your
voices and stories with me to the White House. I will be a President for
Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. For the struggling, the striving
and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don't.
For all Americans.
Tonight, we've reached a milestone in our nation's march
toward a more perfect union: the first time that a major party has
nominated a woman for President. Standing here as my mother's daughter, and my
daughter's mother, I'm so happy this day has come. Happy for grandmothers
and little girls and everyone in between. Happy for boys and men, too --
because when any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for
everyone. When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit. So let's keep
going, until every one of the 161 million women and girls across America has
the opportunity she deserves. Because even more important than the history
we make tonight, is the history we will write together in the years
ahead. Let's begin with what we're going to do to help working people in
our country get ahead and stay ahead. Now, I don't think President Obama
and Vice President Biden get the credit they deserve for saving us from the
worst economic crisis of our lifetimes.
Our economy is so much stronger than when they took office.
Nearly 15 million new private-sector jobs. Twenty million more Americans with
health insurance. And an auto industry that just had its best year ever. That's
real progress.
But none of us can be satisfied with the status quo. Not by
a long shot.
We're still facing deep-seated problems that developed long
before the recession and have stayed with us through the recovery.
I've gone around our country talking to working families. And I've
heard from so many of you who feel like the economy just isn't
working. Some of you are frustrated -- even furious. And you know
what? You're right. It's not yet working the way it should. Americans
are willing to work -- and work hard. But right now, an awful lot
of people feel there is less and less respect for the work they do. And less
respect for them, period. Democrats are the party of working people, but
we haven't done a good enough job showing that we get what you're going
through, and that we're going to do something about it.
So I want to tell you tonight how we will empower Americans
to live better lives.
My primary mission as President will be to create more
opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States, from
my first day in office to my last. Especially in places that for too long
have been left out and left behind. From our inner cities to our small
towns, from Indian Country to Coal Country. From communities ravaged by
addiction to regions hollowed out by plant closures.
And here's what I believe. I believe America thrives
when the middle class thrives. I believe that our economy isn't
working the way it should because our democracy isn't working the way it
should. That's why we need to appoint Supreme Court justices who will get money
out of politics and expand voting rights, not restrict them. And we'll pass a
constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United! I believe American
corporations that have gotten so much from our country should be just as
patriotic in return. Many of them are. But too many aren't. It's wrong to
take tax breaks with one hand and give out pink slips with the other. And I
believe Wall Street can never, ever be allowed to wreck Main Street
again. I believe in science. I believe that climate change is real and
that we can save our planet while creating millions of good-paying clean energy
jobs. I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants
contributing to our economy, it would be self-defeating and inhumane to kick
them out. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy and keep
families together - and it's the right thing to do. Whatever party you belong
to, or if you belong to no party at all, if you share these beliefs, this is
your campaign.
If you believe that companies should share profits with
their workers, not pad executive bonuses, join us.
If you believe the minimum wage should be a living
wage, and no one working full time should have to raise their children in
poverty… join us. If you believe that every man, woman, and child in
America has the right to affordable health care… join us. If you believe
that we should say “no” to unfair trade deals... that we should stand up to
China, that we should support our steelworkers and autoworkers and
homegrown manufacturers…join us.
If you believe we should expand Social Security and protect
a woman's right to make her own health care decisions… join us. And yes,
if you believe that your working mother, wife, sister, or daughter deserves
equal pay… join us.
Let's make sure this economy works for everyone, not just
those at the top. Now, you didn't hear any of this from Donald Trump
at his convention. He spoke for 70-odd minutes -- and I do mean odd. And he
offered zero solutions. But we already know he doesn't believe these
things. No wonder he doesn't like talking about his plans. You might
have noticed, I love talking about mine. In my first 100 days, we
will work with both parties to pass the biggest investment in new, good-paying
jobs since World War II. Jobs in manufacturing, clean energy, technology
and innovation, small business, and infrastructure. If we invest in
infrastructure now, we'll not only create jobs today, but lay the foundation
for the jobs of the future. And we will transform the way we prepare our young
people for those jobs. Bernie Sanders and I will work together to make college
tuition-free for the middle class and debt-free for all.
We will also liberate millions of people who already have
student debt.
It's just not right that Donald Trump can ignore his debts,
but students and families can't refinance theirs. And here's something we
don't say often enough: College is crucial, but a four-year degree should not
be the only path to a good job. We're going to help more people learn a
skill or practice a trade and make a good living doing it. We're going to
give small businesses a boost. Make it easier to get credit.
Way too many dreams die in the parking lots of banks. In
America, if you can dream it, you should be able to build it. We're
going to help you balance family and work. And you know what, if fighting for
affordable child care and paid family leave is playing the “woman card,” then
Deal Me In! (Oh, you've heard that one?) Now, here's the thing, we're
not only going to make all these investments, we're going to pay for every
single one of them. And here's how: Wall Street, corporations, and the
super-rich are going to start paying their fair share of taxes. Not because we
resent success. Because when more than 90% of the gains have gone to the top
1%, that's where the money is. And if companies take tax breaks and then
ship jobs overseas, we'll make them pay us back. And we'll put that
money to work where it belongs … creating jobs here at home! Now I know
some of you are sitting at home thinking, well that all sounds pretty good. But
how are you going to get it done?
How are you going to break through the gridlock in
Washington? Look at my record. I’ve worked across the aisle to pass laws
and treaties and to launch new programs that help millions of people. And
if you give me the chance, that’s what I’ll do as President. But Trump,
he's a businessman. He must know something about the economy.
Well, let's take a closer look. In Atlantic City, 60
miles from here, you'll find contractors and small businesses who lost
everything because Donald Trump refused to pay his bills.
People who did the work and needed the money, and didn't get
it -- not because he couldn't pay them, but because he wouldn't pay them.
That sales pitch he's making to be your President? Put
your faith in him -- and you'll win big? That's the same sales pitch he
made to all those small businesses. Then Trump walked away, and left working
people holding the bag. He also talks a big game about putting
America First. Please explain to me what part of America First leads him to
make Trump ties in China, not Colorado. Trump suits in Mexico, not
Michigan. Trump furniture in Turkey, not Ohio. Trump picture frames in
India, not Wisconsin. Donald Trump says he wants to make America great
again -- well, he could start by actually making things in America again.
The choice we face is just as stark when it comes to our
national security. Anyone reading the news can see the threats and turbulence we
face. From Baghdad and Kabul, to Nice and Paris and Brussels, to San Bernardino
and Orlando, we're dealing with determined enemies that must be
defeated. No wonder people are anxious and looking for reassurance.
Looking for steady leadership. You want a leader who understands we are
stronger when we work with our allies around the world and care for our
veterans here at home. Keeping our nation safe and honoring the people who do
it will be my highest priority. I'm proud that we put a lid on Iran's nuclear
program without firing a single shot -- now we have to enforce it, and keep
supporting Israel's security.
I'm proud that we shaped a global climate agreement -- now
we have to hold every country accountable to their commitments, including
ourselves.
I'm proud to stand by our allies in NATO against any threat
they face, including from Russia. I've laid out my strategy for defeating
ISIS. We will strike their sanctuaries from the air, and support local forces
taking them out on the ground. We will surge our intelligence so that we
detect and prevent attacks before they happen. We will disrupt their
efforts online to reach and radicalize young people in our country. It
won't be easy or quick, but make no mistake -- we will prevail.
Now Donald Trump says, and this is a quote, “I know more
about ISIS than the generals do….”
No, Donald, you don't. He thinks that he knows more than our
military because he claimed our armed forces are “a disaster.”
Well, I've had the privilege to work closely with our troops
and our veterans for many years, including as a Senator on the Armed
Services Committee. I know how wrong he is. Our military is a national
treasure. We entrust our commander-in-chief to make the hardest decisions
our nation faces. Decisions about war and peace. Life and death.
A President should respect the men and women who risk their
lives to serve our country -- including the sons of Tim Kaine and Mike Pence,
both Marines.
Ask yourself: Does Donald Trump have the temperament
to be Commander-in-Chief? Donald Trump can't even handle the rough-and-tumble
of a Presidential campaign. He loses his cool at the slightest
provocation. When he's gotten a tough question from a reporter. When he's
challenged in a debate. When he sees a protestor at a rally. Imagine him
in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not
a man we can trust with nuclear weapons. I can't put it any better than
Jackie Kennedy did after the Cuban Missile Crisis. She said that what
worried President Kennedy during that very dangerous time was that a war might
be started -- not by big men with self-control and restraint, but by little men
-- the ones moved by fear and pride. America's strength doesn't come from
lashing out. Strength relies on smarts, judgment, cool resolve, and the
precise and strategic application of power.
That's the kind of Commander-in-Chief I pledge to be.
And if we're serious about keeping our country safe, we also
can't afford to have a President who's in the pocket of the gun lobby.
I'm not here to repeal the 2nd Amendment. I'm not here to take away
your guns. I just don't want you to be shot by someone who shouldn't have
a gun in the first place. We should be working with responsible gun owners
to pass common-sense reforms and keep guns out of the hands of criminals,
terrorists and all others who would do us harm.
For decades, people have said this issue was too hard to
solve and the politics were too hot to touch. But I ask you: how can we just
stand by and do nothing? You heard, you saw, family members of people killed by
gun violence. You heard, you saw, family members of police officers killed
in the line of duty because they were outgunned by criminals. I refuse to
believe we can't find common ground here.
We have to heal the divides in our country. Not just on
guns, but on race, immigration, and more. That starts with
listening to each other. Hearing each other. Trying, as best we can, to
walk in each other's shoes. So let's put ourselves in the shoes of young
black and Latino men and women who face the effects of systemic racism, and are
made to feel like their lives are disposable. Let's put ourselves in the shoes
of police officers, kissing their kids and spouses goodbye every day and
heading off to do a dangerous and necessary job.
We will reform our criminal justice system from end-to-end,
and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they
serve. We will defend all our rights -- civil rights, human rights and
voting rights, women's rights, and workers' rights, LGBT rights and
the rights of people with disabilities. And we will stand up against mean
and divisive rhetoric wherever it comes from.
For the past year, many people made the mistake of laughing
off Donald Trump's comments -- excusing him as an entertainer just putting on a
show. They think he couldn't possibly mean all the horrible things he
says -- like when he called women “pigs.” Or said that an American judge
couldn't be fair because of his Mexican heritage. Or when he mocks and mimics a
reporter with a disability. Or insults prisoners of war like John McCain
--a true hero and patriot who deserves our respect. At first, I admit, I
couldn't believe he meant it either.
It was just too hard to fathom -- that someone who wants to
lead our nation could say those things. Could be like that.
But here's the sad truth: There is no other Donald
Trump...This is it.And in the end, it comes down to what Donald Trump doesn't
get: that America is great -- because America is good. So enough with the
bigotry and bombast. Donald Trump's not offering real change. He's
offering empty promises. What are we offering? A bold agenda to
improve the lives of people across our country - to keep you safe, to get you
good jobs, and to give your kids the opportunities they deserve. The
choice is clear.
Every generation of Americans has come together to make our
country freer, fairer, and stronger. None of us can do it alone.
I know that at a time when so much seems to be pulling
us apart, it can be hard to imagine how we'll ever pull together
again. But I'm here to tell you tonight -- progress is possible. I
know because I've seen it in the lives of people across America who get knocked
down and get right back up. And I know it from my own life.
More than a few times, I've had to pick myself up and get back in the
game. Like so much else, I got this from my mother. She never let me
back down from any challenge. When I tried to hide from a neighborhood bully,
she literally blocked the door. “Go back out there,” she said. And she was
right. You have to stand up to bullies.
You have to keep working to make things better, even when
the odds are long and the opposition is fierce. We lost my mother a few
years ago. I miss her every day. And I still hear her voice urging me to keep
working, keep fighting for right, no matter what. That's what we need to
do together as a nation. Though "we may not live to see the
glory," as the song from the musical Hamilton goes, "let us gladly
join the fight."
Let our legacy be about "planting seeds in a garden you
never get to see." That's why we're here...not just in this hall, but
on this Earth. The Founders showed us that. And so have many others
since.They were drawn together by love of country, and the selfless passion to
build something better for all who follow. That is the story of America.
And we begin a new chapter tonight. Yes, the world is watching what we
do. Yes, America's destiny is ours to choose. So let's be stronger
together. Looking to the future with courage and confidence. Building
a better tomorrow for our beloved children and our beloved country. When
we do, America will be greater than ever.
Thank you and may God bless the United States of America!
(Source: Americanrhetoric.com)
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