Remarks at the Democratic National Convention

Federal News Service

HEADLINE: REMARKS BY SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY) AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

LOCATION: THE FLEETCENTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

BODY:
SEN. SCHUMER: (Applause, cheers.) Well, thank you. And thank you, New York. (Applause, cheers.) And thank you, America. (Applause, cheers continue.)

Now, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, delegates, before I begin, I want to mention someone who we New Yorkers, and all Americans, miss dearly at this convention, and that is Daniel Patrick Moynihan. (Applause, cheers.) Senator Moynihan was one of the greatest intellectual leaders in government that our country has ever seen, and he would have wanted nothing more than to see John Kerry elected president. (Applause.) Pat, we miss you.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, this November America will hold its first presidential election since those horrendous terrorist attacks of September 11th that so deeply affected our country, especially my home state of New York. So many of us in New York think of those attacks every day. We think of them because we know that we must do everything we can to prevent them from ever happening again.

Here in this hall, we have no doubt who will make America safer, stronger and more secure-John Kerry and John Edwards. (Applause, cheers.) We know that John Kerry is a decorated war veteran who boldly served and sacrificed for his country. We know that John Kerry is a tough leader who can make those tough decisions; a passionate patriot who won't shrink from doing what is necessary to keep us safe.

John Kerry understands that we need a strong foreign policy to prevent terrorists from taking advantage of the openness that we cherish. We must prevent them from continuing to attack us. But he also knows that we need a multilateral foreign policy, because no country, no matter how strong, can fight this war on terror alone. John Kerry is for strength, but he's for bringing all the nations of the world together.

John Kerry also understands that to win the war on terror, we need a president who will focus on the war overseas and dedicate far more resources and far more effort to defend our homeland, our ports, our railways, our bridges. But when we proposed protecting commercial airplanes from shoulder-launched missiles, this administration said no. John Kerry will say yes. When we proposed providing detection devices to keep nuclear materials out of our ports, they said no. John Kerry says yes. When we proposed efforts to protect our subways and trains and mass transit, they said no. John Kerry will say yes. (Applause, cheers.)

And one final thing: veterans. Veterans can rest assured that John Kerry-unlike this administration, John Kerry will never forget the service they have rendered to our country. He says to veterans he will never short-change you on health care or cut corners on your benefits. He will honor our nation's dead for your service, veterans.

So ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to a stronger, safer and more secure America, the choice is clear. John Kerry will keep America safe. John Kerry will keep America strong. And John Kerry is the right choice for America's safety, security and strength. God bless you, and on to victory in November.