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"I thought you would enjoy my comments, made
Wednesday, June 30 before the Southwest Florida Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber was kind to invite all of the the GOP candidates and
me to speak before their monthly meeting."
If this region wants to attract first-rate companies
that pay their employees family-supporting wages, we have to take
care of business first by committing to:
- Improved job training programs
- Improved urban neighborhoods
- Improved public schools
- Improved health care for women and children
This Chamber should take a lead role in advocating employee job
training programs which are vitally required by the growth sectors
of the economy. My stated position on economic development hinges
on our ability to attract major employers, those businesses that
pay their workers family-supporting jobs. And by family-supporting
jobs, I’m talking about those that include attractive benefits
packages.
Make no mistake about it. Fortune 500 companies will not consider
relocating to this congressional district until they see an affirmation
that we are making investments in our entire community. They’re
looking for:
a. Commitment to training a high-quality and stable work force.
b. Commitment to investment in our urban neighborhoods.
c. Commitment to improving education in our public schools.
d. Commitment to improving a wide spectrum of community services.
If you want the best companies that pay the best wages with benefits,
we have to make the public policy commitment that will attract
the best.
As your Congressman, I will support full funding for job training,
especially for training in the emerging sectors of our economy.
I will also vote to fully fund Urban Block Grants and the Super
Fund.
And you can count on my vote to reverse all of the cuts that
jeopardize our public schools.
Finally, I’ll vote to restore federal funds for community
services – especially those that benefit women and children.
Quality employers are attracted to vibrant communities –
and that’s good business for all of us.
I had the distinct honor and pleasure of addressing Democrats
in Charlotte County on Flag Day, in support of John Kerry and
all other Democrats on the ballot. I hope that you take time to
read and to enjoy my remarks
GOOD AFTERNOON, FELLOW DEMOCRATS!
IT’S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ON THE SHORES OF THE GULF OF
MEXICO, OBSERVING FLAG DAY IN THE COMPANY OF OLD AND NEW FRIENDS.
WHAT A DAY TO BE AN AMERICAN!
WHAT A DAY TO BE A FLORIDIAN!
WHAT A DAY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE GREATEST POLITICAL PARTY IN
FLORIDA OR IN ANY OTHER STATE - THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!
DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?
AS A DEMOCRAT, AND AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS,
I’M DELIGHTED TO STAND WITH YOU, IN SUPPORT OF JOHN KERRY
-- OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
IF ONLY LAWTON CHILES COULD BE HERE.
I BELIEVE -- AS I’M SURE YOU DO – THAT OUR BELOVED
FORMER SENATOR AND GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM
POLK COUNTY TO ENGLEWOOD, JUST TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT FOR JOHN KERRY’S
CANDIDACY.
I KNOW THAT SENATOR KERRY HAS THE WISDOM TO CHOOSE A RUNNING
MATE WHO EMBODIES AN IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT, A LOVE FOR AMERICA,
AND A FIRM BELIEF IN OUR PARTY’S PRINCIPLES. HAD HE BEEN
WITH US STILL, LAWTON CHILES WOULD HAVE BEEN A STRONG CONTENDER.
I KNOW THIS: “WALKIN’ LAWTON” WOULD NEVER,
EVER, ALLOW REPUBLICANS TO DISTORT HIS LONG RECORD OF DISTINGUISHED
PUBLIC SERVICE AND PATRIOTISM. AND NEITHER WILL JOHN KERRY.
MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO OVER THE NEXT 140 DAYS OR
SO, LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION.
THE CHOICES ARE CLEAR:
- WILL OUR FAMILIES PROSPER?
- WILL OUR CHILDREN INHERIT A SAFER WORLD?
- WILL OUR GRANDCHILDREN BE FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF NATIONAL
DEBT?
- WILL WE STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE?
- WILL WE WIN BACK OUR INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE, AND THE TRUST
OF OUR ALLIES?
- WILL HONESTY AND INTEGRITY RETURN TO OUR POLITICAL PROCESS?
FRIENDS, I DON’T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE THE BEST
ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. AFTER ALL, WE WROTE THE BOOK!
BUT WE MUST WORK TIRELESSLY, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, TO GET
THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THE VOTERS.
AS A DEMOCRAT, THAT’S OUR JOB.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS, TO TAKE BACK THIS COUNTRY AND OUR STATE FROM
THE SPECIAL INTERESTS NEXT NOVEMBER.
WE HAVE TO DEFANG REPUBLICAN STRATEGY THAT’S DESIGNED TO
DISTORT AND CONFUSE THE PUBLIC REGARDING OUR PARTY’S MESSAGE.
I KNOW ONLY ONE WAY TO CUT THROUGH THE OPPOSITION’S TACTICS
OF DECEIT AND DISTRACTION.
AND THAT’S TO BE CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT ABOUT THE TRUTH.
LET’S BE RELENTLESS IN DELIVERING OUR PARTY’S MESSAGE
FOR A BETTER VISION OF AMERICA.
I’M FED UP WITH RIGHT-WINGERS AND NAY-SAYERS.
I’VE HAD IT WITH THEIR BASHING OF DEMOCRATS AND THEIR CAMPAIGN
OF CALCULATED DECEIT – ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR OWN LEADER,
GEORGE W. BUSH, LACKS THE COURAGE:
- TO DEFEND HIS OWN ACTIONS REGARDING THE WAR IN IRAQ;
- TO COME CLEAN WITH AMERICA ON THE FEDERAL DEFICIT;
- AND LACKS THE COURAGE TO DEAL HONESTLY WITH THE CONSEQUENCES
OF HIS OWN FAILED DOMESTIC POLICIES.
REPUBLICANS WANT BILLIONS FOR MARS LANDINGS, WHILE WOMEN IN-NEED
ARE TOLD THAT THERE’S NO MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THEIR MAMMOGRAMS.
REPUBLICANS MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR TRILLION-DOLLAR
RAID ON THE U.S. TREASURY, WHILE HARD-WORKING FAMILIES STRUGGLE
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
REPUBLICANS MUST TELL US WHY THEY HAVE REVERSED YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY, IN FAVOR OF SPECIAL INTERESTS.
AND YET, AS WE EXPOSE THEIR MEAN-SPIRITED AGENDA, REPUBLICANS
SET SPENDING RECORDS ON TV ADS AND ON THE RADIO, CROWING ABOUT
LEADERSHIP.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE REAL, UNVARNISHED TRUTH ABOUT
BUSH AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY – NOT A CONSTANT BARRAGE OF
DECEIT AND MISINFORMATION.
LIKE SNAKE OIL SALESMEN, REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE GUIDED BY THE
OLD SAYING:
“TELL ‘EM THE SAME OLD LIE OVER AND OVER, AND THEY’LL
START BELIEVING IT.”
AS DEMOCRATS, WE WON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT. WE’LL
WORK HARD, IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IF NECESSARY, TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT.
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF GEORGE W. BUSH, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THIRST
FOR THE TRUTH. AFTER YEARS OF REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF ONE OR BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP.
MY FRIENDS, AMERICANS DEMAND THAT THEIR LEADERS PROJECT AN EVEN
GREATER VISION FOR AMERICA.
THAT’S WHAT OUR PARTY IS ABOUT – AND IT’S TIME
TO TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT BY STANDING UP FOR OUR PRINCIPLES.
AS DEMOCRATS, LET’S TALK ABOUT OUR VISION FOR AMERICA.
AND LET’S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE SAY.
WHEN ANYONE ASKS YOU: “WHAT DO DEMOCRATS STAND FOR?”
TELL THEM THIS:
- WE STAND FOR A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE, WITH A STRENGTH THAT
ARISES FROM OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND FROM OUR FABRIC OF
CULTURAL DIVERSITY. REPUBLICANS SEEK TO CUT BACK ON OUR LIBERTIES,
AND THEN THEY DISPARGE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.
- WE STAND FOR QUALITY, FULLY-FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION TO PREPARE
OUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE -- WHILE REPUBLICANS WEAKEN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH VOUCHERS AND SLASHED FUNDING.
- WE STAND FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FOR AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION -- WHILE REPUBLICANS STAND SILENT ABOUT GLASS CEILINGS,
NARROW OPPORTUNITY AND STACKED DECKS.
- WE STAND FOR STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION -- WHILE REPUBLICANS
WEAKEN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY EVERY CHANCE THEY GET.
- WE STAND FOR SOUND NATIONAL ENERGY POLICIES -- WHILE REPUBLICANS
SIDE WITH BIG OIL, FEDERAL LAND-GRABBERS, AND POLLUTERS.
- WE STAND FOR A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE -- WHILE REPUBLICANS
SEEK TO CRIMINALIZE A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOICE.
WE ALSO STAND WITH WOMEN WHO NEED AND DESERVE QUALITY HEALTH
CARE – WHILE REPUBLICANS SLASH CRITICAL FUNDS FOR MAMMOGRAMS,
OB-GYN AND CHILD WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS THAT, ON THE BOTTOM LINE, DEMOCRATS STAND WITH
THE PEOPLE. AND THAT’S PRETTY SOLID GROUND!
LET THE REPUBLICANS HANG OUT OVER THERE, IN THE SAND, WITH BIG
MONEY DONORS, BIG OIL, MIS-GUIDED PATRIOTS, THE RADICAL RIGHT,
AND ALL OF THE OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS.
FRIENDS, JOHN KERRY AND I CAN’T DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO
THE VOTERS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY OURSELVES.
WE’LL NEED YOUR HELP.
I’D ADD THIS: EVERY DEMOCRAT ON THE BALLOT NEXT NOVEMBER
NEEDS YOUR FULL SUPPORT -- ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE FOURTEENTH DISTRICT.
LET’S TELL THE GOP: THE DAYS OF YOUR PARTY’S BALLOT
DOMINANCE ARE OVER.
AND THEN, LET’S BACK IT UP BY HAVING DEMOCRATS RUNNING
FOR EVERY POSITION IN NOVEMBER.
LET’S SHOW THE GOOD PEOPLE OF CHARLOTTE, LEE AND COLLIER
THAT THEY FINALLY HAVE A CHOICE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, IN THIS ELECTION.
AND WE’LL LET THJEM KNOW THAT WE CAN WIN.
AFTER ALL, WE HAVE THE BEST MESSAGE.
WE HAVE THE BEST VISION FOR OUR FUTURE. AND WE HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE.
DON’T LISTEN TO THE GOP NAY-SAYERS.
YOU’VE HEARD IT ALL FROM THEM BEFORE: “YOU’RE
OUT-NUMBERED AND YOU CAN’T WIN.” POLITELY TELL THEM
THAT THEIR FREE RIDE IS OVER.
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT VICTORY WON’T COME EASILY, AND THAT WINNING
TAKES SOME HARD WORK.
REMEMBER, WITH JOHN KERRY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET RIGHT ON THROUGH
TO THE BOTTOM:
- WE HAVE THE BEST MESSAGE.
- WE HAVE THE BEST VISION.
- WE HAVE THE BEST PARTY.
- AND WE HAVE THE BEST CANDIDATES.
ADD IT ALL UP, MY FRIENDS, AND IT SPELLS VICTORY IN NOVEMBER!
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