Remarks By Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) at the Democratic National Convention

Federal News Service July 29, 2004 Thursday

HEADLINE: REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD MARKEY (D-MA) AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

BODY:

(Cheers; applause.)

REP. MARKEY: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ed Markey. (Cheers; applause.) And as someone who grew up across the Mystic River in Malden, Massachusetts, I am proud to stand before you today to help nominate my friend, John Kerry, to the highest office in the United States of America. (Cheers; applause.)

President Bush once said that he wanted be a uniter and not a divider. Well, congratulations, Mr. President, you have united the Democratic Party in a way that we have not seen in a generation. (Cheers; applause.)

Tonight, we Democrats are reaching out not just to our own party, but also to Republicans and Independent voters who are asking some very basic questions: Are we as strong as we can be at home? Do our friends respect us abroad? Are we making the right choices about spending precious dollars on war, on homeland security, on domestic needs? For more and more Americans, the answer to these questions is a resounding no.

AUDIENCE: No!

REP. MARKEY: So we're gathered here to say yes to a stronger, safer America, an America which gains friends instead of enemies; an America which creates jobs instead of sending jobs off-shore; an America which invests in the future instead of saddling our children with crippling debt.

It is time to give our hospitals, our nursing homes, our seniors the resources they need to cope with diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's.

When hope for the sick is at stake, it is time for a new leader. (Cheers, applause.)

We must clean up our environment. Smog in the air is becoming asthma in the lungs of our children and elderly. When clean air and clean water are at stake, it is time for a new leader.

We must stop nickel-and-diming our homeland security heroes, our firefighters and our local police. We need to protect our ports, our chemical plants and nuclear facilities. When the safety of our homeland is at stake, it is time for a new leader.

Instead of thumbing our noses at treaties and abandoning international cooperation with a doctrine of "leap before you look" preemption, it is time to return America to the community of nations. If we want fewer nuclear weapons around the world, we must stop building new nuclear weapons here at home. (Cheers, applause.) When our credibility with our allies is at stake, it is time for a new leader.

Two centuries ago, just a stone's throw from this podium, freedom-loving Minutemen from every Massachusetts village and town gathered in Lexington and Concord, and with hope in their hearts, they stood with their brave captain, John Parker, when he declared, "Let it begin here."

Are we ready to stand with our own captain, John Kerry, when tonight he declares "Let it begin here"? (Cheers, applause.)

For 44 million uninsured Americans, let it begin here! For affordable prescription drugs for the elderly, let it begin here! For an energy future free from dependence on Mideast oil, let it begin here! For protecting the civil rights of ALL Americans, let it begin here! For a country united by hope, not fear, let it begin here!

Now is the time! This is the place! You are the people! And Kerry-Edwards is the ticket! Let it begin --

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Here.

REP. MARKEY: -- here!

Thank you all so, so much. (Cheers, applause.)