We Will Right The Wrongs, Make Our Nation The Way We Want It To Be – That’s America Rising
As he opened an eight-day bus tour across the state this afternoon, there were reminiscent strains of his 2004 message in the air at the Polk County Convention Center as he presented his closing theme for this campaign: “America Rising.”
I wrote a Diary that was very important to me and heartfelt. And this new 8 day bus tour only reinforces my assertion that John Edwards is going to do all he can to make the system work for everyone again, not just those who have the money and power to influence the process, but those who go to bed hungry, those who don’t dream of going to college because of money, those who worry about how they will pay their next mortgage payment and those who are doing well today but could find themselves financially ruined because of a catastrophic illness or accident.
This campaign is more about America than it is about John Edwards and it’s more about lifting up those who have been held down for far too long. I sincerely believe that Edwards has seen how the power of the Government has been abused by the few at the cost of the many.
John Edwards needs every single voter to rise to the occasion and make a choice. We need to stand up and be heard, as Edwards in the past has so eloquently said, “I think our voices together are more powerful than our voices alone.” That too is America Rising.
America Rising
December 10, 2007
Excerpts From prepared remarks“I grew up in a family where my grandmother walked to work at the mill every day wearing her apron. My grandfather, who was partially paralyzed, hauled rolls of cloth using one arm. My dad worked in those mills for 36 years, my mom worked too – all of them for one reason – to give us a chance to rise up and have a better life.
“That’s the greatness of America – the promise that every generation will give its children the chance to rise higher, dream bigger, live greater. I took the chances my parents gave me and spent my life fighting to make sure that people just like the people I grew up with had a real chance in the world. When indifferent, irresponsible corporations knocked them down, I was there to help them rise up.
“And that’s what drives me now. When I talk about the Two Americas, this is what I mean – the very wealthiest and most powerful have manipulated our government for their own ends. They use their wealth and their power to keep themselves wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyone else. And when they do that, they’re holding America back.
“But that’s about to change. You can feel it here in Iowa. Because America can’t be held back. Because America belongs to us.
“When we face obstacles, you know what we do? We get up. We rise up. We right wrongs and we make our nation the way we want it to be. That’s what’s happening in this election. That’s what’s happening here in Iowa. America is rising.
“When we lift 37 million Americans out of poverty – that’s America Rising. When we guarantee universal health care for every man, woman, and child in America – that’s America Rising. When we stop reckless trade deals that send American jobs overseas and create great jobs here – that’s America Rising. When we can look James Lowe in the eye and say with conviction, what you lived through will never happen again in our America – that’s America Rising.”
Toward the end, he said: “Are we going to be looking for careful political calculation, or are we going to be looking for bold, strong leadership for the United States?”
That’s a very important question, what are we looking for? I’m looking for someone who is not afraid to take a stand, who is not afraid to say “I was wrong” and who is not afraid to ask the tough questions.
And for those who have counted Edwards out, I have this for you:
As candidates prepare to chart their last movements across Iowa – selecting the itineraries for their bus tours, crafting the message of their final arguments – Mr. Edwards has an institutional memory that other candidates must rely on their strategists to provide. Yes, there are as many differences as similarities between the race of 2004 and 2008, but the ingrained experiences for Mr. Edwards should not be overlooked.
“You’ve got to believe there’s going to be some movement,” Mr. Edwards said, recalling his “dramatic rise” at this point in the campaign four years ago. Asked how that experience helps, he added: “I know these people. I know what they care about.”
“Rigged” features John Edwards speaking directly to New Hampshire voters about how the system in Washington is corrupt and rigged against hardworking Americans on behalf of the moneyed corporate interests.
John Edwards’ latest television ad airing in New Hampshire:
“We don’t have universal health care because of drug companies, insurance companies, and their lobbyists in Washington, D.C.”
This is my reason for standing up, Charlotte, a happy, healthy little girl who has so much ahead of her. She doesn’t have a care in the world, this was her this Saturday at the Southern California GCN Christmas Party. What’s that? It’s the Gay Christian Network and I’m a proud Christian Ally for the gay, lesbian and transgender community, I want to stand up for those who don’t have many of the legal rights that many take for granted. Why bring my daughter? Because I want her to know many different people and understand the blessing it is to have a varied community. I guess you could say they are part of my village. So I’m rising for Charlotte, I want her to have all the opportunities that I’ve had and more.
By the way, that’s her with a bit of table decor in her mouth, she’s by far the silliest person I know. Why do I share this? Because this is a personal choice and we all have our own reasons, I want people know that my personal choice has to do with this person in my life.
