克林顿在美国全国代表大会开幕式上的讲话

名人演讲稿

PresidentBillClinton:版权所有

Thankyou.IamhonoredtosharethepodiumwithmySenator,thoughIthinkIshouldbeintroducingher.I’mproudofherandsogratefultothepeopleofNewYorkthatthebestpublicservantinourfamilyisstillonthejobandgratefultoallofyou,especiallymyfriendsfromArkansas,forthechanceyougaveustoserveourcountryintheWhiteHouse.

IamalsohonoredtosharethisnightwithPresidentCarter,whohasinspiredtheworldwithhisworkforpeace,democracy,andhumanrights.AndwithAlGore,myfriendandpartnerforeightyears,whoplayedsuchalargeroleinbuildingtheprosperityandprogressthatbroughtAmericaintothe21stcentury,whoshowedincrediblegraceandpatriotismunderpressure,andwhoisthelivingembodimentthateveryvotecounts—andmustbecountedineverystateinAmerica.

TonightIspeakasacitizen,returningtotheroleIhaveplayedformostofmylifeasafootsoldierinthefightforourfuture,aswenominateatrueNewEnglandpatriotforpresident.ThestatethatgaveusJohnAdamsandJohnKennedyhasnowgivenusJohnKerry,agoodman,agreatsenator,avisionaryleader.WeareconstantlytoldAmericaisdeeplydivided.ButallAmericansvaluefreedom,faith,andfamily.WeallhonortheserviceandsacrificeofourmenandwomeninuniforminIraq,Afghanistanandaroundtheworld.版权所有

Weallwantgoodjobs,goodschools,healthcare,safestreets,acleanenvironment.WeallwantourchildrentogrowupinasecureAmericaleadingtheworldtowardapeacefulfuture.Ourdifferencesareinhowwecanbestachievethesethings,inatimeofunprecedentedchange.Therefore,weDemocratswillbringtheAmericanpeopleapositivecampaign,arguingnotwho’sgoodandwho’sbad,butwhatisthebestwaytobuildthesafe,prosperousworldourchildrendeserve.

The21stcenturyismarkedbyserioussecuritythreats,seriouseconomicchallenges,andseriousproblemslikeglobalwarmingandtheAIDSepidemic.Butitisalsofullofenormousopportunities—tocreatemillionsofhighpayingjobsincleanenergy,andbiotechnology;torestorethemanufacturingbaseandreapthebenefitsoftheglobaleconomythroughourdiversityandourcommitmenttodecentlaborandenvironmentalstandardseverywhere;andtocreateaworldwherewecancelebrateourreligiousandracialdifferences,becauseourcommonhumanitymattersmore.

Tobuildthatkindofworldwemustmaketherightchoices;andwemusthaveapresidentwhowillleadtheway.DemocratsandRepublicanshaveverydifferentandhonestlyheldideasonthatchoicesweshouldmake,rootedinfundamentallydifferentviewsofhowweshouldmeetourcommonchallengesathomeandhowweshouldplayourroleintheworld.DemocratswanttobuildanAmericaofsharedresponsibilitiesandsharedopportunitiesandmoreglobalcooperation,actingaloneonlywhenwemust.

Wethinktheroleofgovernmentistogivepeoplethetoolsandconditionstomakethemostoftheirlives.RepublicansbelieveinanAmericarunbytherightpeople,theirpeople,inaworldinwhichweactunilaterallywhenwecan,andcooperatewhenwehaveto.

Theythinktheroleofgovernmentistoconcentratewealthandpowerinthehandsofthosewhoembracetheirpolitical,economic,andsocialviews,leavingordinarycitizenstofendforthemselvesonmatterslikehealthcareandretirementsecurity.SincemostAmericansarenotthatfartotheright,theyhavetoportrayusDemocratsasunacceptable,lackinginstrengthandvalues.Inotherwords,theyneedadividedAmerica.ButAmericanslongtobeunited.After9/11,weallwantedtobeonenation,stronginthefightagainstterror.Thepresidenthadagreatopportunitytobringustogetherunderhissloganofcompassionateconservatismandtounitetheworldincommoncauseagainstterror.

Instead,heandhiscongressionalalliesmadeaverydifferentchoice:tousethemomentofunitytopushAmericatoofartotherightandtowalkawayfromourallies,notonlyinattackingIraqbeforetheweaponsinspectorsfinishedtheirjobs,butinwithdrawingAmericansupportfortheClimateChangeTreaty,theInternationalCourtforwarcriminals,theABMtreaty,andeventheComprehensiveNuclearTestBanTreaty.

Nowtheyareworkingtodeveloptwonewnuclearweaponswhichtheysaywemightusefirst.Athome,thePresidentandtheRepublicanCongresshavemadeequallyfatefulchoicesindeed.ForthefirsttimeeverwhenAmericawasonawarfooting,thereweretwohugetaxcuts,nearlyhalfofwhichwenttothetoponepercent.I’minthatgroupnowforthefirsttimeinmylife.

WhenIwasinoffice,theRepublicanswereprettymeantome.WhenIleftandmademoney,Ibecamepartofthemostimportantgroupintheworldtothem.AtfirstIthoughtIshouldsendthemathankyounote—untilIrealizedtheyweresendingyouthebill.

Theyprotectedmytaxcutswhile:

·WithholdingpromisedfundingfortheLeaveNoChildBehindAct,leavingover2millionchildrenbehind

·Cutting140,000unemployedworkersoutofjobtraining

·100,000workingfamiliesoutofchildcareassistance

·300,000poorchildrenoutofafterschoolprograms

·Raisingoutofpockethealthcarecoststoveterans

·Weakeningorreversingimportantenvironmentaladvancesforcleanairandthepreservationofourforests.

EveryonehadtosacrificeexceptthewealthiestAmericans,whowantedtodotheirpartbutwereaskedonlytoexpendtheenergynecessarytoopentheenvelopescontainingourtaxcuts.Ifyouagreewiththesechoices,youshouldvotetoreturnthemtotheWhiteHouseandCongress.Ifnot,takealookatJohnKerry,JohnEdwardsandtheDemocrats.

Inthisyear’sbudget,theWhiteHousewantstocutofffederalfundingfor88,000uniformedpolice,includingmorethan700ontheNewYorkCitypoliceforcewhoputtheirlivesonthelineon9/11.Asgangviolenceisrisingandwelookforterroristsinourmidst,CongressandthePresidentarealsoabouttoallowtheten-year-oldbanonassaultweaponstoexpire.Ourcrimepolicywastoputmorepoliceonthestreetsandtakeassaultweaponsoffthestreets.Itbroughteightyearsofdecliningcrimeandviolence.Theirpolicyisthereverse,they’retakingpoliceoffthestreetsandputtingassaultweaponsbackonthestreets.Ifyouagreewiththeirchoices,votetocontinuethem.Ifnot,joinJohnKerry,JohnEdwardsandtheDemocratsinmakingAmericasafer,smarter,andstronger.

OnHomelandSecurity,DemocratstriedtodoublethenumberofcontainersatportsandairportscheckedforWeaponsofMassDestruction.Theonebilliondollarcostwouldhavebeenpaidforbyreducingthetaxcutof200,000millionairesbyfivethousanddollarseach.Almostall200,000ofuswouldhavebeengladtopay5,000dollarstomakethenearly300millionAmericanssafer—butthemeasurefailedbecausetheWhiteHouseandtheRepublicanleadershipintheHousedecidedmytaxcutwasmoreimportant-Ifyouagreewiththatchoice,re-electthem.Ifnot,giveJohnKerryandJohnEdwardsachance.

Thesepolicieshaveturnedtheprojected5.8trilliondollarsurplusweleft—enoughtopayforthebabyboomersretirement—intoaprojecteddebtofnearly5trilliondollars,witha400plusbilliondollardeficitthisyearandforyearstocome.Howdotheypayforit?FirstbytakingthemonthlysurplusinSocialSecuritypaymentsandendorsingthechecksofworkingpeopleovertometocovermytaxcut.Butit’snotenough.Theyareborrowingtherestfromforeigngovernments,mostlyJapanandChina.Sure,they’recompetingwithusforgoodjobsbuthowcanweenforceourtradelawsagainstourbankers?Ifyouthinkit’sgoodpolicytopayformytaxcutwiththeSocialSecuritychecksofworkingmenandwomen,andborrowedmoneyfromChina,voteforthem.Ifnot,JohnKerry’syourman.

WeAmericansmustchooseforPresidentoneoftwostrongmenwhobothloveourcountry,butwhohaveverydifferentworldviews:Democratsfavorsharedresponsibility,sharedopportunity,andmoreglobalcooperation.Republicansfavorconcentratedwealthandpower,leavingpeopletofendforthemselvesandmoreunilateralaction.Ithinkwe’rerightfortworeasons:First,Americaworksbetterwhenallpeoplehaveachancetolivetheirdreams.Second,weliveinaninterdependentworldinwhichwecan’tkill,jail,oroccupyallourpotentialadversaries,sowehavetobothfightterrorandbuildaworldwithmorepartnersandfewerterrorists.Wetriedittheirwayfortwelveyears,ourwayforeight,andthentheirwayforfourmore.

Bytheonlytestthatmatters,whetherpeoplewerebetteroffwhenwefinishedthanwhenwestarted,ourwayworksbetter—itproducedover22milliongoodjobs,risingincomes,and100timesasmanypeoplemovingoutofpovertyintothemiddleclass.Itproducedmorehealthcare,thelargestincreaseincollegeaidin50years,recordhomeownership,acleanerenvironment,threesurplusesinarow,amodernizeddefenseforce,strongeffortsagainstterror,andanAmericarespectedasaworldleaderforpeace,securityandprosperity.

Moreimportantly,wehavegreatnewchampionsinJohnKerryandJohnEdwards.Twogoodmenwithwonderfulwives—Teresaagenerousandwisewomanwhounderstandstheworldwearetryingtoshape.AndElizabeth,alawyerandmotherwhounderstandstheliveswearealltryingtolift.HereiswhatIknowaboutJohnKerry.DuringtheVietnamWar,manyyoungmen—includingthecurrentpresident,thevicepresidentandme—couldhavegonetoVietnambutdidn’t.JohnKerrycamefromaprivilegedbackgroundandcouldhaveavoidedittoo.Insteadhesaid,sendme.

Whentheysentthoseswift-boatsuptheriverinVietnam,andtoldthemtheirjobwastodrawhostilefire—toshowtheAmericanflagandbaittheenemytocomeoutandfight—JohnKerrysaid,sendme.WhenitwastimetohealthewoundsofwarandnormalizerelationswithVietnam—andtodemandanaccountingofthePOWsandMIAswelostthere—JohnKerrysaid,sendme.

Whenweneededsomeonetopushthecauseofinner-citykidsstrugglingtoavoidalifeofcrime,ortobringthebenefitsofhightechnologytoordinaryAmericans,ortocleantheenvironmentinawaythatcreatesjobs,ortogivesmallbusinessesabetterchancetomakeit,JohnKerrysaidsendme.

Tonightmyfriends,Iaskyoutojoinmeforthenext100daysintellingJohnKerry’sstoryandpromotinghisplans.LeteverypersoninthishallandallacrossAmericasaytohimwhathehasalwayssaidtoAmerica:SendMe.ThebraverythatthemenwhofoughtbyhissidesawinbattleI’veseeninthepoliticalarena.WhenIwasPresident,JohnKerryshowedcourageandconvictiononcrime,onwelfarereform,onbalancingthebudgetatatimewhenthoseprioritieswerenotexactlyawaytowinapopularitycontestinourparty.

Hetooktoughpositionsontoughproblems.JohnKerryknowswhoheisandwherehe’sgoing.Hehastheexperience,thecharacter,theideasandthevaluestobeagreatPresident.Inatimeofchangehehastwootherimportantqualities:hisinsatiablecuriositytounderstandtheforcesshapingourlives,andawillingnesstoheartheviewsevenofthosewhodisagreewithhim.Thereforehischoiceswillbefullofbothconvictionandcommonsense.

HeprovedthatwhenhepickedatremendouspartnerinJohnEdwards.EverybodytalksaboutJohnEdwards’energy,intellect,andcharisma.Theimportantthingishowhehasusedhistalentstoimprovethelivesofpeoplewho—likeJohnhimself—hadtoworkhardforallthey’vegot.Hehasalwayschampionedthecauseofpeopletoooftenleftoutorleftbehind.Andthat’swhathe’lldoasourVicePresident.

TheiropponentswilltellyoutobeafraidofJohnKerryandJohnEdwards,becausetheywon’tstanduptotheterrorists—don’tyoubelieveit.Strengthandwisdomarenotconflictingvalues—theygohandinhand.JohnKerryhasboth.HisfirstprioritywillbekeepingAmericasafe.Rememberthescripture:BeNotAfraid.

JohnKerryandJohnEdwards,havegoodideas:

·Tomakethiseconomyworkagainformiddle-classAmericans;

·Torestorefiscalresponsibility;

·TosaveSocialSecurity;tomakehealthcaremoreaffordableandcollegemoreavailable;

·Tofreeusfromdependenceonforeignoilandcreatenewjobsincleanenergy;

·Torallytheworldtowinthewaronterrorandtomakemorefriendsandfewerterrorists.

Ateveryturningpointinourhistorywethepeoplehavechosenunityoverdivision,heedingourfounders’calltoAmerica’seternalmission:toformamoreperfectunion,towidenthecircleofopportunity,deepenthereachoffreedom,andstrengthenthebondsofcommunity.

Ithappenedbecausewemadetherightchoices.Intheearlydaysoftherepublic,Americawasatacrossroadsmuchlikeitistoday,deeplydividedoverwhetherornottobuildarealnationwithanationaleconomy,andanationallegalsystem.Wechoseamoreperfectunion.

IntheCivilWar,Americawasatacrossroads,dividedoverwhethertosavetheunionandendslavery—wechoseamoreperfectunion.Inthe1960s,Americawasatacrossroads,dividedagainovercivilrightsandwomen’srights.Again,wechoseamoreperfectunion.AsIsaidin1992,we’reallinthistogether;wehaveanobligationbothtoworkhardandtohelpourfellowcitizens,bothtofightterrorandtobuildaworldwithmorecooperationandlessterror.Nowagain,itistimetochoose.

Sincewe’reallinthesameboat,letuschoseasthecaptainofourshipabravegoodmanwhoknowshowtosteeravesselthoughtroubledwaterstothecalmseasandclearskiesofourmoreperfectunion.Weknowourmission.Letusjoinasoneandsayinaloud,clearvoice:SendJohnKerry.