Obama's speech
Text of Hillary Clinton's speech
Los Angeles, August 2000 14.
Hillary Clinton (AP)
(CBS) The following is the text of hillary rodham clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night:
Thank you very much for your warm welcome. Thank you, Senator Mikulski and all the female senators, who have brought important voices and new ideas to our public life.
I am very happy to be with my mother and family, and to meet so many old friends.
Thank you for your support to my husband. His visionary leadership and hard work have brought America into the 2 1 century.
We are a stronger and better country than 1992.
Eight years ago, when Bill, Al, Tipper and I got on that bus after the convention, we started our journey through the heart of America. Along the way, we saw the faces of hope, but also the faces of despair. Father lost his job, mother fell into welfare, and children's medical needs were not met.
I remember a group of children holding a sign: "Please stop. If you give us eight minutes, we will give you eight years. "
Okay, we stopped. We listened. Eight years have passed!
At this extraordinary moment, the most peaceful, prosperous and promising moment in the history of our country, I am proud to stand here.
How can we continue the progress of America? Elect Al Gore and Joe Lieberman as the next President and Vice President of the United States!
Even before Al became vice president, I admired his leadership in the Senate. His understanding of the future; His pioneering efforts to fight environmental threats for our children; He and Dipper work together to promote responsible parenting. What great parents they are!
I regard him as Bill's trusted partner in the White House. Together, they made difficult decisions to revive our economy and our national spirit; Promote democracy and defend freedom all over the world.
I can't wait to see Al Gore sworn in on October 20th, 2006.
Standing next to him will be his wife and my dear friend. She inspires us through her work for the homeless and her advocacy for health. Mary elizabeth will be a great first lady.
Moreover, the country once again saw Gore's leadership role in choosing Joe Lieberman.
I first met Joe Lieberman 30 years ago when Bill and I were law students. We have seen what America is seeing now-a man of extraordinary wisdom and integrity. I admire Joe's work in reducing media violence. I appreciate his firm support for women's right to choose.
He was accompanied by his outstanding wife Hadassah, who was the immigrant daughter of the Holocaust survivors. Their stories tell our children that there is no dream that we can't realize in America.
1992, Bill and Al promised to put people first. This only means that when people fulfill their responsibilities, we should also fulfill our responsibilities and give them the tools and opportunities they need to create a better life. This is the basic condition of the American dream.
From a stronger economy to more Americans going to college to a cleaner environment, Bill Clinton and Al Gore put people first. Not only that, they put their children first.
More children are out of poverty.
More children receive preschool education, childcare and after-school care.
More children have been immunized against diseases than ever before.
Parents of more children can take home leave and sick leave to take care of them.
More neglected and abused foster children are adopted by caring permanent families.
Children like Diana attended the ceremony I held at the White House and emphasized the needs of foster children. Only 12 years old, not much younger than Chelsea at that time, she spent most of her life moving from one house to another.
She was so shy that she hardly dared to look up when she said that she longed for a home and family of her own.
While listening, I thought, "How can we let any child grow up in our country without a safe and loving home?"
I worked with a bipartisan alliance to help double the number of adopted children. When the president signed the new adoption law, I remembered the first foster child I represented in law school.
I thought of what my own mother experienced in her childhood. She was born in adolescence and her parents couldn't take care of her. When she was eight years old, she and her little sister were put on a cross-country train alone and stayed with relatives. On 14, she went to take care of a family's children. Her employer is a kind woman. She sees her true value and shows her what a loving family is like.
I thought of Diana, and I saw her grow into a cheerful and confident young woman, because her loving parents opened their hearts to her. She finally has what every child needs-a family that puts her first.
For me, this is everything.
A few years ago, when I worked in the Children's Protection Foundation, we had a trademark: No Child Left Behind.
We have made great progress in the past eight years, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Because when a child cannot go to school without fear of guns and violence, the child is left behind. When a child's illness cannot be treated because hard-working parents can't afford health insurance, the child is left behind. When a child studies hard in a crowded classroom, he is left behind.
Don't let anyone tell you that this election is irrelevant. 1 1 month is the biggest bet for the smallest of us.
How can we ensure that no child in America is left behind in the 2 1 century?
This requires responsible parents who put their children first.
It needs all of us teachers, workers, business owners, community leaders and people of faith.
You know, I still believe that this needs a village.
This of course requires Al Gore and Joe Lieberman.
They made a difference. They will do whatever it takes.
In the past eight years, I have talked with my parents in the front porch, factory workshop and hospital ward. I witnessed my parents' joy and anxiety about our children.
I remember a teacher with tears in her eyes because she had only one textbook suitable for the whole classroom. It's time for all our students to have a chance to succeed in the new economy by modernizing our schools, setting high standards and hiring more qualified teachers.
I shook hands with parents who lost their children because of gun violence. It's time to commemorate their suffering through common sense gun safety laws and keep guns away from children and criminals.
I heard that parents were distressed by a culture that glorified violence too much. Why can't all of us, including the media?
Let parents better control what their children watch on TV, movies, the Internet and video games?
I have met my parents who work full-time in fast food restaurants, supermarket checkout counters and other hard jobs, but they are still poor. It is time to make the basic agreement serve all Americans by raising the minimum wage, enforcing strict child support laws and ensuring equal pay for equal work.
I heard from doctors and nurses that if their parents could afford health insurance, they would see children who could have been treated earlier every day.
You may remember that I have some ideas about health care. Since then, I have learned something. But I didn't give up my goal. That's why we keep working hard step by step to provide insurance for millions of children through the children's health insurance program. That's why it's time to pass a real patient rights bill to provide affordable medical care for every child and family in this country.
However, if we put children on a debt that they didn't create, we will never be able to accomplish what we need to do for them. Franklin roosevelt said that Americans of his generation had an appointment with fate. I think our generation shoulders the responsibility. It's time to protect the next generation, use our budget surplus to repay the national debt, save social security, modernize medical insurance with prescription drug benefits, and provide targeted tax cuts for families in greatest need.
At this moment of great potential, let's not squander our children's future. Let's elect a leader who won't let any child fall behind. Leaders who don't just talk, but act: leaders like Al Gore and Joe Lieberman.
The other day, Bill and I were looking at pictures of our daughter eight years ago, when the journey began. It has also been an amazing eight years for Chelsea. We want to thank the American people for giving her room to grow up.
Bill and I are closing a chapter in our lives, and soon we will start a new chapter.
For me, it will be up to the people of new york to decide whether I have the privilege to serve them in the United States Senate.
In the past eight years, I will always be deeply grateful to all of you and the American people.
Really, the most important thing I can say tonight is: thank you.
Thank you for giving me the most rare opportunity to work on the most important issues for children, women and families at home and around the world. Thank you for your trust and support in prosperity and adversity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, the honor and blessing of my life.
Good night, and God bless you.