Senator Kennedy's address to the party convention.

[paineinthearse]

You'll find this a bit more partisan than his floor speeches, but consider it was to 3000 party loyalists. He even did a little dance with Niki at the end (see Sunday's post with link to the NECN video)!

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http://www.tedkennedy.com/mass/77/senator-kennedy-addresses-massachusetts-dem-convention

Senator Kennedy Addresses Massachusetts Dem Convention

Senator and Mrs. Kennedy took part in the Massachusetts Democratic Convention on Saturday, May 14th in Lowell, MA. Introduced by Niki Tsongas, widow of former Senator Paul Tsongas, Senator Kennedy spoke at the convention, addressing many of the major issues that the people of Massachusetts and America are most concerned about, and outlined a vision for our future – “a vision not just for Democrat or Republicans or for red states or blue states – but a way forward for all our people.” A rallying cry for Democrats everywhere, Senator Kennedy’s remarks are below.

“Hello Democrats!

Thank you so much, Niki, for the warm introduction. Didn’t she do a great job?

I also commend our outstanding State Chairman Phil Johnston. We might have come up a little short in other states last year, but because of Phil’s hard work – and all your hard work – the Massachusetts Democratic Party is as strong as ever.

It’s such a privilege for Vicki and me to be here with you all today in Lowell’s state-of-the-art Tsongas Arena. It’s such a fitting tribute to Paul’s state-of–the-art mind and his extraordinary vision.

It’s also a special honor to be introduced by Niki, who has been such a friend to all of us for so many years.

And so have Paul’s sisters Thaleia and Vicki, and Paul and Niki’s three wonderful daughters – Katina, Ashley, and Molly.

Paul never stopped pressing us to think about the future in new ways. He left a powerful legacy for our Commonwealth and our country.

He sounded a clarion call in the 1980’s that America’s soaring debt was choking our economy, and we responded in the 1990’s by turning the record budget deficits into record surpluses – and creating tens of millions of jobs.

But George Bush has turned his back on all that. Oh, how we could use Paul’s strong voice again today!

Lowell was always home – the place he loved the most. We’re grateful for his vision of this city. Where others saw decline, Paul saw renewal – and he made it happen here in countless ways.

Today, we see a city reborn and vibrant due to his tireless dedication. The city of the National Park – the Lowell Spinners – the Lock Monsters – the Memorial Auditorium – the American Textile Museum – and the list goes on and on.

As I look out across the convention hall, I see so many people who have shared our causes across the years – friends who were with Jack and Bobby and me in campaigns and who’ve done so much for our communities and our Commonwealth.

My family has always believed profoundly in public service. My parents taught us from the beginning that each of us has the ability and the responsibility to make our community, our country, and our world a better place. As President Kennedy said, “ Each individual can make a difference, and all of us must try.”

That belief is the defining spirit of the Democratic Party – and it’s alive and well today in Massachusetts.

I know my brothers would be proud of all of you here for your dedication and your outstanding support of the Democratic Party. In large part because of so many of you, our Party is living up to its ideals, and we’re doing it more effectively than ever here in Massachusetts.

Across the state, we have fought and won many important battles together – creating the Riverwalk and National Park here in Lowell – cleaning up our brownfields across the state for new industries and new jobs – supporting our fishing families in Gloucester, Cape Cod, and New Bedford – restoring Boston Harbor for the generations to come – investing in our hi-tech corridor along Route 128 and I-495 – building transit centers in Pittsfield, Brockton, Lowell, and Lawrence –and transforming Worcester into a new vibrant, and growing center in the life sciences and medical research industries.

And yesterday, we saw further proof that our efforts are bearing fruit. We stood by our communities as they made the case for preserving our military bases. And we’ll continue to make the case for Otis. But it’s a tribute to the hard work of the people of Massachusetts that at a time when the Pentagon is closing bases all over the country, they not only want to keep Hanscom open, they propose to expand it.

That’s eleven hundred good new jobs that will make a difference for hundreds of our families. Now that’s how Democrats define progress.

As Democrats, we intend to stand up for our principles and speak out for our priorities.

We’ve done it before, and with your help, we’ll keep on doing it more effectively than ever. I say to all of you, we will never give up and we will never give in.

In the years ahead we’ll continue to fight for better schools, so that every child has a fair start in life and a fair chance to go to college. We’ll keep on fighting for better jobs and better job training – safer working conditions – a reasonable minimum wage – a cleaner environment – and to end all forms of discrimination in the workplace.

And we’ll be fighting for full civil rights here at home for all Americans – and for full human rights for those in other lands.

Unlike the Republican Party, we believe our values unite us as Americans, instead of dividing us. In fact, our values are still our greatest strength.

Despite hardships and setbacks over the years, our values have brought us closer than ever to the ideal on which America was established – that all people are created equal.

And when Democrats say “all,” we mean all. Don’t we?

Our friends in the other party want us all to believe that the last election was some far-reaching mandate for them to pursue an agenda of division, exclusion, and single-minded ideology.

They’ve convinced themselves – and are trying to convince the American people – that 60,000 votes in Ohio is a license to do anything they want.

Well I say they have no license – none at all – to dismantle Social Security, the most successful government program ever created.

We don’t have to destroy Social Security in order to save it.

They have no license – none at all – to pack the courts with reactionary judges.

Loyalty to extreme, right-wing ideology is no substitute for loyalty to the law.

They have no license – none at all – to keep giving larger and larger tax give-a-ways to the wealthiest individuals and corporations in the country, when the nation’s debt is soaring beyond all records and when more children than ever are sliding into poverty.

They have no license to protect the profits of pharmaceutical companies, when millions of Americans are struggling to pay the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs.

They have no license to deny an increase in the minimum wage, or eliminate the 40-hour workweek, or get rid of overtime pay for millions of working men and women.

They have no license to destroy the environment by giving carte blanche to big oil to drill in our most precious areas, or to let the timber industry start new chain saw massacres in our national forests.

And they have no license to make a farce of our bankruptcy laws, by putting credit card company profits above the American people.

The American people didn’t vote for any of these Republican pet causes last November, and now they are counting on us to stand up to them – and they are counting on us to stop them.

And let me tell you also, they had no license for their shameful and relentlessly negative attacks on our friend and true American hero, John Kerry.

In the face of their arrogant and reckless tactics, we won’t be intimidated. We won’t retreat.

The last thing America needs is two Republican parties – one is already too many.

When they seek to divide America, we’ll seek to unite it behind our progressive vision.

A vision not just for Democrat or Republicans or for red states or blue states – but a way forward for all our people.

Our pledge is to see that the next generation of Americans lives in a better, safer world, and that every American, regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation is guaranteed a fair chance at the Great American Dream.

It’s an agenda based on hope that embraces the values and aspirations of our people now, and for the coming generations – and it recognizes that we must all move forward together.

It’s an agenda fit for these times of extraordinary challenge and uncertainty, but it’s true to the timeless ideals born right here in Massachusetts on the fields of Lexington and Concord at the founding of our nation.

We renew our commitment to that great ideal now.

And in doing so, we recognize that our first obligation is to the brave young men and women who sacrifice so much for us overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many of these brave women and men, and it’s always a very moving experience.

They do so much for all of us – and the least we can do for them is to see that they have the best equipment possible to protect their lives.

Here at home, we renew our commitment to building a stronger America for all our citizens.

We are determined to build a future in which America competes with others – not by lowering wages or standards but by raising skills and leading the world in innovation.

We want a national education strategy to see that all American students can advance in the 21st Century – enough of the tin cup budgets from the White House.

We want a college education available not only to the privileged, but affordable for any qualified student no matter what their income.

We want to put thousands more math and science teachers in our public schools, by forgiving college loans for any students willing to become teachers.

We want to invest in research and development so that the high technology jobs of the future will continue to have a home here in Massachusetts for generations to come.

We want to connect every home – and every school – and every business – in this state and in this nation to the global marketplace though broadband technology – because no man, woman, or child should be shut out because of where they live.

We want to strengthen our nation’s security, by rebuilding strained relationships abroad and creating an effective coalition to keep the most dangerous weapons out of the hands of madmen.

We want to improve mass transportation to bring vitality to our urban areas and to cut down on congestion that is degrading our air quality and undermining the health of our children.

We want to stop this Administration from distorting science and manipulating environmental laws. We won’t let them turn the Environmental Protection Agency into the Environmental Pollution Agency.

And let’s stop wasting the talents of Americans with disabilities, by vigorously eliminating barriers and opening new doors to their full participation in our society.

Let’s defend the rights of gay Americans to live their lives with dignity, respect, and with the full protection of their constitutional rights. And let’s not retreat from that.

And last – but far, far from least – let’s commit to provide affordable health care for all the American people.

Today 45 million Americans have no health insurance – five million more than when George Bush was elected – and one third are children.

The costs of our neglect are out of sight. Half of all bankruptcies in the United States are caused by medical expenses. Millions of American families are just one major illness from complete financial devastation.

Hospitals are needlessly strained because millions without insurance have no choice but to go to the local emergency room, it’s their only family doctor!

This is an enormous moral issue, and it’s major economic issue. Sick children can’t learn in school, and sick parents can’t earn on the job.

And let there be no doubt – this is a Democratic issue.

I’m proud that Massachusetts is poised to lead on this issue this year, and hope something great can be accomplished. State Senate President Bobby Travaglini and Speaker Sal DiMasi deserve a great credit for their commitment to this issue.

As we reach the 40th Anniversary of Medicare this July, it’s time to extend that comprehensive coverage to every American citizen from birth through the end of life.

What Medicare has done for senior citizens, Medicare can do for all our citizens.

I call it “Medicare for All,” and it will be.

The American people aren’t asking much from their government. They want a decent job with decent pay and safe conditions, and a secure pension and retirement.

They want to tear down the walls of discrimination, and they want decent housing, clean air, and clean water. They want safe neighborhoods and a strong national defense.

Above all else, they want more of what matters.

They want time to spend with their families, an opportunity to serve their communities, and the chance to build a stronger future for their children.

Are they asking too much? Of course not.

And we as Democrats want that for all our people, not just the few of wealth and privilege.

We may be a minority in the US Congress, but we speak for the majority of Americans across the country – and in November 2006, we’ll be speaking again for a majority in Congress too.

I look forward to working with all of you – the strongest Democrats in the entire country – to fulfill that promise of America in the years to come for all our citizens.

It’s the greatest honor of my life to serve all of you and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States Senate.

And I hope you’ll visit my website – TedKennedy.Com – as we prepare to meet our great challenges together.

The course ahead is calling us, and we’re ready to respond. Fellow Democrats, full speed ahead.”