Sunday, August 30, 2009

What Kennedy Said About Obama

Senator Kennedy made what he knew might be his last major public speech at the Democratic national convention exactly a year before his death, to support the candidacy of Barack Obama for President, as he had done at a crucial moment in the Democratic primaries. From his speech at the convention:
"I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States...We have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world...
"For me, this is a season of hope: new hope for a just and fair prosperity for the many, not just the few. New hope--and this is the cause of my life--new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American-- north, south, east, west, young, old--will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama--yes we can, and finally, yes we will.
"There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination--not merely victory for our party but renewal for our nation. And this November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans, and so with Barack Obama and for you, and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on."

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