DENVER, Aug. 28 DNCC-Schakowsky
DENVER, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript
of a speech, as prepared for delivery, by Jan Schakowsky at the Democratic
National Convention on Thursday, August 28, 2008:
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/DNCCLOGO )
Scheduled for delivery: August 28, 2008 - 6:00-7:00 pm MT
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
In 145 days, George W. Bush will no longer be President of the United
States. And if we do everything we must do for the next 67 days, my friend of
many years, Barack Obama, will take his place.
Imagine that day: January 20, 2009. You are on the West Lawn of the
Capitol, warmed by the throngs of excited people, all ages and colors. With
his hand on the Bible that Michelle holds, Barack Obama takes the oath of
office as the 44th President of the United States.
At that moment, the narrative about our country instantly changes.
For the family on the verge of losing their home, the uninsured dad who
prays each night his kids don't get sick, the waitress struggling with the
rising cost of everything-for them, and millions more middle-class Americans
who are barely holding on, this moment can't come too soon.
The choice is clear: continue the failed Bush-McCain policies of the past
eight years or head in a new direction for the change we need.
There's John McCain, who feels the pain of big oil executives worried
about losing their multi-billion dollar tax breaks. And then there's Barack
Obama who feels the pain of the mom or dad who fears their child will be part
of the first generation of Americans to have less opportunity than the
previous one.
Barack Obama believes the best is yet to come for America.
Those of us who served with him in the Illinois state legislature, worked
with him in the U.S. Senate, have seen how he gets things done, know that he
is the leader who can deliver the change we need.
Now it's up to us.
The outcome of this historic election is within our reach and in our
hands. In 2000, we came just 537 votes short of preventing the national
nightmare of the Bush years. 537 more knocks on the door or 537 more
registered voters could have changed the outcome. Just a handful of volunteers
could have changed the course of history.
Tonight, each one of us must pledge to take responsibility to register
every last voter, knock on every last door, call every list twice, recruit
everyone we know. Each of us needs to believe that we could be the person who
decides the outcome of this election and the future for our children.
Tomorrow we'll fan out across this country, an army of everyday Americans
who will accomplish something most extraordinary. Together we will rekindle
the American dream and elect Barack Obama President of the United States of
America.
SOURCE 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee
