爱德华兹在美国全国代表大会上的演讲

[dvnews_page]JohnEdwards’eechat20__DemocraticNationalConvention

7月28日晚，副总统候选人约翰·爱德华兹在现场进行了30分钟的激情演讲，全力赞扬克里并简要阐述了他与克里的政治纲领，博得了全场的一再欢呼。

JohnEdwards:

Thankyou.Now,youknowwhyElizabethissoamazing.

Iamaluckyman:tohavetheloveofmylifeatmyside.Wehavebeenbleedwithfourbeautifulchildren:Wade,Cate,EmmaClaire,andJack.

Mymotherandfather,WallaceandBoieEdwardsareheretonight.YoutaughtmethevaluesthatIcarrywithmeinmyheart:faith,family,reoibility,andoortunityforeveryone.Youtaughtmethatthere’sdignityandhonorinaharddayswork.Youtaughtmethatyoulookoutforyourneighbors,youneverlookdownonanybody,andyoutreateveryonewithreect.

ThosearethevaluesJohnKerryandIbelievein,andnothingmakesmeprouderthanstandingwithhiminthiscampaign.IamsohumbledtobeyourcandidateforVicePresidentoftheUnitedStates.

Iwanttotalkaboutournextpresident.Forthosewhowanttoknowwhatkindofleaderhe’llbe,Iwanttotakeyoubackaboutthirtyyears.WhenJohnKerrygraduatedcollege,hevolunteeredformilitaryservice.HevolunteeredtogotoVietnamandtocaptainaswiftboat,oneofthemostdangerousdutiesyoucouldhave.Andasaresulthewaswoundedandhonoredforhisvalor.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionaboutwhathe’smadeof,youneedtoendthreeminuteswiththemenwhoservedwithhimthenandstandbyhimtoday.

Theysawupclosewhathe’smadeof.Theysawhimreachdownandpulloneofhismenfromtheriverandsavehislife.Andintheheatofbattle,theysawhimdecideinanitanttoturnhisboataround,driveitstraightthroughanenemyposition,andchasedowntheenemytosavehiscrew.

Decisive.Strong.Aren’tthesethetraitsyouwantinaCommanderinChief?

Wehearalotoftalkaboutvalues.WhereIcomefrom,youdon’tjudgesomeone’svaluesbasedonhowtheyusethatwordinapoliticalad.Youjudgetheirvaluesbaseduponwhatthey’veenttheirlifedoing.

Sowhenamanvolunteerstoservehiscountry,andputshislifeonthelineforothers—that’samanwhorepresentsrealAmericanvalues.

ThisisamanwhoispreparedtokeeptheAmericanpeoplesafeandtomakeAmericastrongerathomeandreectedintheworld.

Johnisamanwhoknowsthedifferencebetweenwhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Hewantstoserveyou—yourcauseishiscause.AndthatiswhywemustandwewillelectJohnKerryasournextpresident.

Forthelastfewmonths,Johnhasbeentalkingabouthispositive,optimisticvisionforthecountry—talkingabouthisplantomovethiscountryintherightdirection.

Butwe’veseenrelentlenegativeattacksagaitJohn.Sointheweeksahead,weknowwhat’scoming—don’twe—morenegativeattacks.

Aren’tyousickofit?

Theyaredoingalltheycantotakethiscampaignforthehighestofficeinthelanddownthelowestpoibleroad.

Thisiswheyoucomein.BetweennowandNovember—you,theAmericanpeople—youcanrejectthetired,old,hateful,negative,politicsofthepast.Anditeadyoucanembracethepoliticsofhope,thepoliticsofwhat’spoiblebecausethisisAmerica,whereeverythingispoible.

IamheretonightbecauseIlovemycountry.AndIhaveeveryreasontolovemycountrybecauseIhavegrownupinthebrightlightofAmerica.

IgrewupinasmalltowninruralNorthCarolina.Myfatherworkedinamillallhislife,andIwillneverforgetthemenandwomenwhoworkedwithhim.Theyhadlintintheirhairandgreaseontheirfaces.Theyworkedhardandtriedtoputalittlesomethingawayeveryweeksotheirkidsandtheirgrandkidscouldhaveabetterlife.Theyarejustliketheautoworkers,officeworkers,teachers,andshopkeepersonMainStreetsallacroAmerica.

Mymotherhadanumberofjo.Herlastjobwasworkingatthepostofficesomyparentscouldhavehealthcare.Andsheownedherownsmallbusine—refinishingfurnituret ohelppayformegotocollege.

Ihavehadsuchincredibleoortunitiesinmylife,andIwasbleedtobethefirstpersoninmyfamilytogotocollege.Iworkedmywaythrough,andIhavehadoortunitieswaybeyondwhatIcouldhaveeverimagined.

Andtheheartofthiscampaign—yourcampaign—istomakesurethateveryonehasthosesameoortunitiesthatIhadgrowingup—nomatterwhereyoulive,whoyourfamilyis,orwhatthecolorofyourskinis.ThisistheAmericawebelievein.

IhaveentmylifefightingforthekindofpeopleIgrewupwith.Fortwodecades,IstoodwithfamiliesandchildrenagaitbigHMOsandbigiurancecompanies.AndasaSenator,IfoughtthosesamefightsagaittheWashingtonloyistsandforcauseslikethePatients’BillofRights.

IstandheretonightreadytoworkwithyouandJohntomakeAmericastrongagain.

Andwehavesomuchworktodo.Becausethetruthis,westillliveintwodifferentAmericas:oneforpeoplewhohavelivedtheAmericanDreamanddon’thavetoworry,andanotherformostAmericawhoworkhardandstillstruggletomakeendsmeet.

Itdoe’thavetobethatway.WecanbuildoneAmerica

WecanbuildoneAmericawherewenolongerhavetwohealthcaresystems.Oneforpeoplewhogetthebesthealthcaremoneycanbuyandthenoneforeverybodyelse,rationedoutbyiurancecompanies,drugcompanies,andHMOs—millioofAmericawhodon’thaveanyhealthiuranceatall.

Itdoe’thavetobethatway.

WehaveaplanthatwilloffereveryonethesamehealthcareyourSenatorhas.Wecangivetaxbreakstohelppayforyourhealthcare.AndwewillsignintolawarealPatients’BillofRightssoyoucanmakeyourownhealthcaredecisio.

Weshouldn’thavetwopublicschoolsystemsinthiscountry:oneforthemostaffluentcommunities,andoneforeverybodyelse.

Noneofusbelievethatthequalityofachild’seducationshouldbecontrolledbywheretheyliveortheaffluenceoftheircommunity.

Itdoe’thavetobethatway.

Wecanbuildonepublicschoolsystemthatworksforallourchildren.Ourplanwillreformourschoolsandraiseourstandards.Wecangiveourschoolstheresourcestheyneed.Wecanprovideincentivestoputqualityteachersintheplacesandthesubjectswhereweneedthemthemost.Andwecaneurethatthreemillionkidswithasafeplacetogoafterschool.Thisiswhatwecandotogether.

Weshouldn’thavetwodifferenteconomiesinAmerica:oneforpeoplewhoaresetforlife,theirkidsandgrandkidswillbejustfine,andthenoneformostAmericawholivepaychecktopaycheck.

AndyouknowwhatI’msaying.Youdon’tneedmetoexplainittoyou,youknow—youcan’tsaveanymoney,canyou?Takeseverydimeyoumakejusttopayyourbills,andyouknowwhathaeifsomethinggoeswrong—achildgetssick,somebodygetslaidoff,orthere’safinancialproblem,yougorightoffthecliff.

Andwhat’sthefirstthingtogo.Yourdreams.

Itdoe’thavetobethatway.

Wecanstrengthenandliftupyourfamilies.Youragendaisouragenda—soletmegiveyousomeecifics.

First,wecancreategoodpayingjoinAmericaagain.Ourplanwillstopgivingtaxbreakstocompaniesthatoutsourceyourjo.Itead,wewillgivetaxbreakstoAmericancompaniesthatkeepjohereinAmerica.Andwewillinvestinthejoofthefuture—inthetechnologiesandiovationtoeurethatAmericastaysaheadofthecompetition.

Wewilldothisbecauseforusajobisaboutmorethanapaycheck—it’saboutdignityandselfreect.Hardworkshouldbevaluedinthiscountryandwe’regoingtorewardwork,notjustwealth.

Wedon’twantpeopletojustgetby;wewantpeopletogetahead.Soletmegiveyousomeecificsabouthowwe’regoingtodothat.

Tohelpyoupayforhealthcare,ataxbreakandhealthcarereformtoloweryourpremiumsupto$1,000.Tohelpyoucovertherisingcostsofchildcare,ataxcreditupto$1,000tocoverthosecostssoyourkidshaveasafeplacetogowhileyouwork.AndtohelpyourchildhavethesamechanceIhadandbethefirstpersoninyourfamilytogotocollege,ataxbreakonupto$4,000intuition.

Sonowyouaskhowarewegoingtopayforthis?Well,here’showwe’regoingtopayforit.Letmebeveryclear,fo r98percentofAmerica,youwillkeepyourtaxcut—that’s98percent.Butwe’llrollbackthetaxcutsforthewealthiestAmerica,closecorporateloopholes,andcutgovernmentcontractorsandwastefulending.Wecanmoveourcountryforwardwithoutpaingthebillandtheburdenontoourchildrenandgrandchildren.

Wecanalsodosomethingabout35millionAmericawholiveinpovertyeveryday.Here’sthereasonweshouldnotjusttalkaboutit,butdosomethingaboutmillioofAmericawhostillliveinpoverty,becauseitiswrong.Wehaveamoralreoibilitytoliftthosefamiliesup.

Imeantheveryideathatinacountryofourwealthandourproerity,wehavechildrengoingtobedhungry.Wehavechildrenwhodon’thavetheclothestokeepthemwarm.WehavemillioofAmericawhoworkfull-timeeverydayforminimumwagetosuorttheirfamilyandstillliveinpoverty—it’swrong.

Thesearemenandwomenwhoarelivinguptotheirpartofthebargain:workinghardandtakingcareoftheirfamilies.Thosefamiliesaredoingtheirpart;it’stimewedidours.

WewilldothatwhenJohnisintheWhiteHouse.Wewillraisetheminimumwage,finishthejobonWelfareReform,andbringgoodpayingjototheplacesthatneedthem.AndwewillsaynoforevertoanyAmericanworkingfull-timeandlivinginpoverty—notinourAmerica,notinourAmerica.

LetmetalkaboutwhyweneedtobuildoneAmerica.IsawupclosewhathavingtwoAmericasdoestoourcountry.

FromthetimeIwasveryyoung,Isawtheuglyfaceofsegregationanddiscrimination.IsawyoungAfrican-Americankidssentutairsinmovietheaters.Isawwhiteonlysigonrestaurantdoorsandluncheoncounters.Ifeelsuchanenormousreoibilitywhenitcomestoiuesofraceandequalityandcivilrights.

Ihaveheardsomediscuioanddebatesaboutwhere,andinfrontofwhataudiencesweshouldtalkaboutrace,equality,andcivilrights.Well,Ihaveanawertothatquestion.Everywhere.

ThisisnotanAfrican-Americaniue,notaLatinoiue,notanAsian-Americaniue,thisisanAmericaniue.It’saboutwhoweare,whatourvaluesare,whatkindofcountrywewanttolivein.

WhatJohnandIwant—whatweallwant—isforourchildrenandourgrandchildrentobethefirstgeneratiotogrowupinanAmericathat’snolongerdividedbyrace.

WemustbuildoneAmerica.WemustbeoneAmerica,strongandunitedforanotherveryimportantreason—becauseweareatwar.

NoneofuswilleverforgetwherewewereonSeptember11th.Wesharethesameterribleimages:theTowersfalling,thePentagoninflames,andthesmolderingfieldinPeylvania.Andwesharetheprofoundsadneforthenearlythreethousandliveslost.

AsamemberoftheSenateIntelligenceCommittee,Iknowthatwehavetodomoretofightterrorismandprotectourcountry.Andwecandothat.WearearoachingthethirdaiversaryofSeptember11th,andIcantellyouthatwhenwe’reinoffice,itwon’ttakeusthreeyearstogetthereformsinourintelligenceweneedtoprotectourcountry.Wewilldowhateverittakes,foraslongasittakes,tomakesurethatneverhaeagain,nottoourAmerica.

WhenJohnispresident,wewilllistentothewisdomoftheSeptember11thCommiion.Wewillbuildandleadstrongalliancesandsafeguardandsecureweapoofmadestruction.Wewillstrengthenourhomelandsecurityandprotectourports,safeguardourchemicalplants,andsuortourfirefighters,policeofficersandEMT’s.WewillalwaysuseourmilitarymighttokeeptheAmericanpeoplesafe.

AndwewillhaveoneclearunmistakablemeageforalQaidaandtherestoftheseterrorists.Youcaotrun.Youcaothide.Andwewilldestroyyou.

JohnunderstanDSPersonallyaboutfightinginawar.Andheknowswhatourbravemenandwomenaregoingthroughinanotherwar—thewarinIraq.

Thehumancostandextraordinaryheroismofthiswar,itsurroundsus.Itsurroundsusinourcitiesandtow.Andwewillwinthiswarbecauseofthestrengthandcourageofourownpeople.

SomeofourfriendsandneighborssawtheirlastimagesinBaghdad.Sometooktheirlastste outsideofFallujah.Andsomebuttonedtheiruniformforthefinaltimebeforetheywentouttosavetheirunit.

Menandwomenwhousedtotakecareofthemselves,theynowcountonotherstoseethemthroughtheday.Theyneedtheirmothertotietheirshoe.Theirhuandtobrushtheirhair.Andtheirwife’sarmtohelpthemacrotheroom.

Thestarsandstripeswaveforthem.Thewordherowasmadeforthem.Theyarethebestandthebravest.Theywillneverbeleftbehind.Youunderstandthat.Andtheydeserveapresidentwhounderstandsthatonthemostpersonallevelwhattheyhavegonethrough—whattheyhavegivenandwhattheyhavegivenupfortheircountry.

Tous,therealtestofpatriotismishowwetreatthemenandwomenwhoputtheirlivesonthelineeverydaytodefendourvalues.Andletmetellyou,the26millionveterainthiscountrywon’thavetowonderifthey’llhavehealthcarenextweekornextyear—theywillhaveitalwaysbecausetheytookcareofusandwewilltakecareofthem.

Buttoday,ourgreatUnitedStatesmilitaryisstretchedthin.Morethan140,000areinIraq.Nearly20,000areservinginAfghanistan.AndIvisitedthemenandwomenthereandwe’reprayingforthemastheykeepworkingtogivethatcountryhope.

Likeallofthosebravemenandwomen,Johnputhislifeonthelineforourcountry.Heknowsthatwhenauthorityisgiventothepresident,muchisexpectedinreturn.That’swhywewillstrengthenandmodernizeourmilitary.

WewilldoubleourecialForces,andinvestinthenewequipmentandtechnologiessothatourmilitaryremaithebestequiedandbesttrainedintheworld.Thiswillmakeourmilitarystrongersowe’reabletodefeateveryenemyinthisnewworld.

Butwecan’tdothisalone.Wehavetorestoreourreectintheworldtobringouralliestousandwithus.It’showwewontheWorldWarsandtheColdWaranditishowwewillbuildastableIraq.

Withanewpresidentwhostrengtheandleadsouralliances,wecangetNATOtohelpsecureIraq.WecaneurethatIraq’sneighborslikeSyriaandIran,don’tstandinthewayofademocraticIraq.WecanhelpIraq’seconomybygettingothercountriestoforgivetheirenormousdebtandparticipateintherecotruction.WecandothisfortheIraqipeopleandoursoldiers.Andwewillgetthisdoneright.

Anewpresidentwillbringtheworldtoourside,andwithit—astableIraqandarealchanceforpeaceandfreedomintheMiddleEast,includingasafeandsecureIsrael.AndJohnandIwillbringtheworldtogethertofaceourmostdangerousthreat:thepoibilityofterroristsgettingtheirhandsonanuclear,chemicalorbiologicalweapon.

Withourcredibilityrestored,wecanworkwithothernatiotosecurestockpilesoftheworldsmostdangerousweapoandsafeguardthisdangerousmaterial.WecanfinishthejobandsecureallloosenukesinRuia.AndwecanclosetheloopholeintheNuclearNoroliferationTreatythatallowsroguenatioaccetothetoolstheyneedtodeveloptheseweapo.

That’showwecanaddrethenewthreatsweface.That’showwecankeepyousafe.That’showwecanrestoreAmerica’sreectaroundtheworld.

Andtogether,wewilleurethattheimageofAmerica—theimageallofuslove—Americathisgreatshininglight,thisbeaconoffreedom,democracy,andhumanrightsthattheworldlooksupto—thatthatbeaconisalwayslit.

Thetruthiseverychild,everyfamilyinAmericawillbesaferandmoresecureifyougrowupinaworldwhereAmericaisonceagainlookeduptoandreected.That’stheworldwecancreatetogether.

Tonight,aswecelebrateinthishall,somewhereinAmerica,amothersitsatthekitchentable.Shecan’tsleep.She’sworriedbecauseshecan’tpayherbills.She’sworkinghardtopaytherentandfeedherkids.She’sdoingeverythingright,butshestillcan’tgetahead.

Itdidn’tusetobethatwayinherhouse.HerhuandwascalledupintheGuardandhe’sbeenservinginIraqformorethanayear.Shethoughthe’dbehomelastmonth,butnowhe’sgottostaylonger.

Shethinksshe’salone.Buttonightinthishallandinyourhomes—youknowwhat?She’sgotalotoffriends.Wewanthertoknowthatwehearher.Andit’stimetobringoortunityandanequalchancetoherdoor.

We’reheretomakeAmericastrongerathomesoshecangetahead.Andwe’reheretomakeAmericareectedintheworldsothatwecanbringhimhomeandAmericansoldiersdon’thavetofightthewarinIraqandthewaronterroralone.

Sowhenyoureturnhome,youmightpaamotheronherwaytoworkthelate-shift—youtellher……hopeisontheway.

Whenyourbrothercallsandsaysthathe’sworkingallthetimeattheofficeandstillcan’tgetahead—youtellhim……hopeisontheway.

Whenyourparentscallandtellyoutheirmedicalbillsarethroughtheroof—youtellthem…...hopeisontheway.

Whenyourneighborcallsyouandsaysthatherdaughterhasworkedhardandwantstogotocollege—youtellher……hopeisontheway.

WhenyoutalktoyoursonordaughterwhoisservingthiscountryandprotectingourfreedomsinIraq—youtellthem……hopeisontheway.

Andwhenyouwakeupandsitwithyourkidsatthekitchentable,talkingtothemaboutthegreatpoibilitiesinAmerica,youmakesurethattheyknowthatJohnandIbelieveatourcorethattomorrowcanbebetterthantoday.

Likeallofus,Ihavelearnedalotofleoinmylife.Twoofthemostimportantarethatfirst,therewillalwaysbeheartacheandstruggle—youcan’tmakeitgoaway.Buttheotheristhatpeopleofgoodandstrongwill,canmakeadifference.Oneleonisasadleonandtheother’siiring.WeareAmericaandwechoosetobeiired.

Wechoosehopeoverdeair;poibilitiesoverproblems,optimismovercynicism.Wechoosetodowhat’srightevenwhenthosearoundussay“Youcan’tdothat.”Wechoosetobeiiredbecauseweknowthatwecandobetter—becausethisisAmericawhereeverythingisstillpoible.

Whatwebelieve—whatJohnKerryandIbelieve—isthatyoushouldneverlookdownonanybody,thatweshouldliftpeopleup.Wedon’tbelieveintearingpeopleapart.Webelieveinbringingpeopletogether.Whatwebelieve—whatIbelieve—isthatthefamilyyou’rebornintoandthecolorofyourskininourAmericashouldnevercontrolyourdestiny.

Joinusinthiscause.Let’smakeAmericastrongerathomeandreectedintheworld.Let’seurethatonceagain,inouroneAmerica—ouroneAmerica—tomorrowwillalwaysbebetterthantoday.

ThankyouandGodbleyou.