DENVER, Aug. 27 DNCC-Rodriguez-Rmks
DENVER, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript
of a speech, as prepared for delivery, by Xiomara Rodriguez at the Democratic
National Convention on Wednesday, August 27, 2008:
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/DNCCLOGO )
Scheduled for delivery: August 27, 2008 - 6:00-7:00 pm MT
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Xiomara Rodriguez
Democratic National Convention
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
My name is Xiomara Rodriguez, and I am a proud delegate for Senator Barack
Obama from the city of Reno and the great state of Nevada. But my story, and
why I support Barack Obama, begins where I was born and raised-in Puerto Rico.
Hola, Puerto Rico.
I could not vote in the United States, but for 20 years as a member of the
U.S. Coast Guard, I served the United States. Like others who have worn the
uniform, I know what it is like to serve in harm's way-you need the right
leadership, the right equipment. And I know that after eight years of George
Bush, our military cannot afford being overstretched and underequipped. And
John McCain is more of the same.
Our military cannot afford more of the same. They need a Commander-in-
Chief Barack Obama who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the start
and is determined to end the war and bring our troops home and win the fight
against the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11.
I know how hard it is to serve your country while raising your family, in
my case, a daughter and stepdaughter. At times, duty took me away. Other
times, I stayed at home when my husband, David, also in the Coast Guard,
deployed overseas. And I know that after eight years of George Bush, our
military families cannot afford the long, repeat deployments and short visits
home. And John McCain is more of the same.
Our military families need a change. They need a Commander-in-Chief Barack
Obama who will ease the burdens on their families, support spouses back home
and ensure that military paychecks can support military families.
Barack Obama is the change we need. Now that both my husband and I are
retired, we know it is not enough for a president to simply be a veteran; we
need a president who truly serves veterans.
We cannot afford John McCain. He thought a new GI Bill for today's veterans
was too generous. He wants to limit health care at the VA to only combat
injuries.
We need a commander-in-chief Barack Obama committed to a world-class
education and affordable health care for every veteran. As a veteran, I know
something else-true patriots, like Barack Obama, never challenge the
patriotism of others for political gain.
For America, the stakes are high. For us veterans, the choice is clear. We
need Barack Obama as the next commander-in-chief, the next President of the
United States of America.
Thank you, gracias.
SOURCE 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee
