2008 Democratic National Convention: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Tom
Harkin, U.S. Senator, Iowa
DENVER, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a
speech, as prepared for delivery, by Tom Harkin at the Democratic National
Convention on Monday, August 25, 2008:
Scheduled for delivery: August 25, 2008 - 5:00-6:00 pm MT
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/DNCCLOGO )
(In American sign language) I'm happy to see so many people with disabilities
here. I am proud to have your support for the Democratic Party.
(Spoken) We Iowans have a strong, vibrant, two-party political system.
However, we do not genuflect to blind ideology. We value thoughtful discourse
rather than slogans and posturing we hold dear our freedom.
As our state motto declares: "our liberties we prize, and our rights we will
maintain." We are willing to do what's right, not what is easy. And nobody
exemplifies the Iowan spirit more than Jim Leach-our thoughtful, respected,
long-time former Republican congressman from Iowa City.
Back in the early 1970s, Jim was a Foreign Service officer in the Nixon
Administration who served as a delegate to the Geneva disarmament conference
and the United Nations General Assembly. But when Richard Nixon fired his
attorney general and the independent counsel investigating Watergate in 1973,
Jim resigned in protest. Two years later, he ran for Congress and won.
Over the next 30 years, Jim stood for election 14 more times. He served three
decades in the House. He chaired two committees. He ran two national
organizations dedicated to Republican causes. He did all of these things as a
strong, proud, influential Republican.
At a time when some would have us believe that America is a nation divided by
red state and blue state, Jim is here today because he knows that red and blue
are not nearly as important as red, white, and blue.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce a fellow Iowan, a
thoughtful lifelong Republican, and a proud supporter of Barack Obama as the
next President of the United States-Jim Leach.
SOURCE 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee
Democratic National Convention Press Office, +1-720-362-2006
