Speech to the Maine Democratic Party Convention: May 22, 2010
May 25, 2010
ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY?
JIMMY CARTER’S CHIEF OF STAFF HAMILTON JORDAN WROTE A POWERFUL BOOK CALLED “NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DAY.” JORDAN SUFFERED FROM CANCER, HAD PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT TREATMENT. BUT HE NEVER WAIVERED. HE NEVER WANTED TO QUIT. HE HELD EVERY DAY PRECIOUS. HE LEARNED THAT IF YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DAY.
SO I ASK YOU AGAIN, ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY?
WELL, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A GOOD DAY? YOU CAN WORK IF YOU HAVE A JOB. YOU CAN REST EASY IF YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE YOU CAN READ IF YOU HAVE A DECENT EDUCATION YOU CAN HUNT, FISH, BOAT, AND HIKE IF YOU PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
YOU CAN DRIVE IF YOU FIX THE ROADS
YOU CAN DREAM IF LIFE HASN’T BEATEN YOU DOWN
YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES IF YOU WANT TO BE DEPRESSED OR YOU CAN COME HERE AND CHANGE THE WORLD, IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT.
I AM NOT RUNNING AGAINST MY FELLOW DEMOCRATS. I AM RUNNING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO THINK OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LOST ITS WAY. I AM RUNNING AGAINST THE GEORGE BUSH REPUBLICANS.
THEY SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LOST ITS WAY.
TELL THAT TO CHELLIE PINGREE AND MIKE MICHAUD. TELL THEM THEY LOST THEIR WAY ON THE WAY TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
TELL THEM THEY LOST THEIR WAY WHEN THEY VOTED FOR THE STIMULUS MONEY THAT SAVED OUR ECONOMY.
TELL THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA THEY LOST THEIR WAY WHEN THEY ELECTED BARACK OBAMA OUR PRESIDENT.
DO YOU THINK OUR PARTY HAS LOST ITS WAY?
NO, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, MY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS NOT LOST ITS WAY. WE ARE ON OUR WAY. AND THANKS TO OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY THE DAY WILL SOON BE HERE WHEN NO ONE ELSE NEED EVER DIE IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE OR GO BANKRUPT UNDER MOUNTAINS OF MEDICAL BILLS.
NOW IN AMERICA PEOPLE CAN’T BE DENIED COVERAGE BECAUSE OF PREEXISTING CONDITIONS – AND MAINE LED THE WAY.
NOW IN AMERICA PEOPLE CAN’T BE THROWN OFF COVERAGE WHEN THEY GET SICK – AND MAINE LED THE WAY.
NOW, IN AMERICA, THERE WILL BE NO LIFETIME CAPS ON INSURANCE BENEFITS, AND MAINE LED THE WAY.
SO DID WE LOSE THE WAY OR DID WE LEAD THE WAY?
WELL, IF YOU AGREE WITH SIX OUT OF THE SEVEN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR THAT HEALTH CARE IS A PRIVILEGE, THEN MAYBE WE LOST THE WAY.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE WITH ME THAT HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT AND YOU WON’T SLEEP UNTIL EVERY PERSON IN MAINE CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT RIGHT, THEN YOU ARE LEADING THE WAY. YOU ARE IN MY PARADE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD TOGETHER.
SO IF MAINE WAS SO RIGHT SO EARLY ON HEALTHCARE, WHY ARE THEY SAYING WE MADE A MESS IN AUGUSTA?
REPUBLICANS SAY HEALTH CARE IS A PRIVILEGE. DOES GOOD HEALTH CARE CREATE A MESS?
REPUBLICANS SAY WE ARE TOO BROKE TO BOND FOR THE FUTURE. DO BOND ISSUES THAT CREATE JOBS CREATE A MESS?
REPUBLICANS SAY THAT TEACHERS HAVE NO BUSINESS DECIDING HOW TO MEASURE GOOD TEACHING. DOES RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION AND INTELLIGENCE OF OUR TEACHERS CREATE A MESS?
REPUBLICANS SAY IT IS OK TO CUT THE INCOME TAX, BUT IT IS NOT OK TO PAY FOR IT. THEY WANT TO REPEAL THE TAX CUT. DOES CUTTING MAINE TAXES CREATE A MESS?
YOU WANT A MESS? ELECT A GOVERNOR FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU’LL HAVE A STATE WHERE, LIKE ONE OF THEIR CANDIDATES, SOME BUSINESSES WILL REFUSE TO PAY DECENT WAGES FOR FEAR THAT IT WILL PUSH THEIR EMPLOYEES OFF GOVERNMENT PAID HEALTH INSURANCE – AND THEN BLAME THE GOVERNMENT. TALK ABOUT A MESS.
YOU’LL HAVE A STATE WHERE, HEALTH CARE IS A PRIVILEGE. TALK ABOUT A MESS.
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES (EXCEPT ONE) BRAG ABOUT NO EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT. WELL, IF YOU BELIEVE GOVERNMENT IS THE ENEMY, LIKE RONALD REAGAN DID, LACK OF EXPERIENCE SOUNDS LIKE A PLUS.
THE LAST TIME I WENT FOR SURGERY, I DID NOT ASK FOR A MEDICAL STUDENT. YOU DON’T ENTRUST AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO AN ENSIGN AND YOU DON’T GIVE THE SHIP OF STATE TO A SURFBOARDER.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT IS BEST WHEN IT IS SAVING LIVES, WHEN IT IS EDUCATING CHILDREN, WHEN IT IS BUILDING ROADS AND SAVING RAILROADS, WHEN IT IS NOT THE ENEMY BUT THE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, YOU MUST BE A DEMOCRAT. DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT IS A GOOD THING.
DO WE WANT A BUSINESSMAN AS GOVERNOR WHO HAS NEVER DEALT WITH MEDICAID OR SOMEONE WHO HAS FOUGHT THE BUDGET WARS TO EXPAND HEALTH COVERAGE?
DO WE WANT A GOVERNOR WHO THINKS MAINE IS A BUSINESS? I VOTE FOR THE EFFICIENCY PART BUT THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS NOT PROFIT.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS HEALTHY, EDUCATED CHILDREN.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS QUALITY CARE FOR OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS TAKING CARE OF OUR ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAILS.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS EQALITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS–INCLUDING SAME SEX COUPLES WHO WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE FAMILIES.
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR GOVERNMENT IS NOT PROFIT BUT PROGRESS.
LET ME TELL YOU, HANNAH PINGREE DID NOT CAUSE THE MELT DOWN ON WALL STREET.
LIBBY MITCHELL DID NOT CAUSE GREECE TO DEFAULT.
JOHN BALDACCI DID NOT CAUSE THE MORTGAGE MARKET IN CALIFORNIA TO FALL OFF THE CLIFF.
SO IF YOU BUY INTO THE MYTH THAT THE CAREER POLITICIANS IN AUGUSTA CREATED THIS MESS, YOU HAVE YOUR RIGHT TO THAT BELIEF. BUT IF YOU, LIKE I, THINK THAT WE CAN RESERVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE BLAME FOR GEORGE BUSH, THEN JOIN ME TO FIGHT THIS DANGEROUS MYTH. SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
WE MUST STAND TOGETHER TO FIGHT THIS MOVEMENT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND EVEN IN MAINE THAT IS BASED ON FEAR.
BASED ON FEAR, SOME PEOPLE REWROTE THE MAINE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM A FEW WEEKS AGO. THEY HAD THEIR TEA PARTY. OK THAT’S FINE, BUT I AM HERE TO INVITE YOU TO MY TEA PARTY, MY DEMOCRATIC TEA PARTY.
MY TEA PARTY IS GOING TO BE AFTER HOURS, BECAUSE MY GUESTS WILL HAVE JOBS.
MY TEA PARTY WILL NOT BE ABOUT FEAR BECAUSE MY GUESTS WITH HAVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
MY TEA PARTY WILL HAVE PRINTED INVITATIONS BECAUSE MY GUESTS WILL HAVE A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION. IN FACT, AT MY TEA PARTY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ENTIRE ROUND TABLE TO DISCUSS EDUCATION POLICY, AND YOU KNOW WHO WILL BE AT THE TABLE ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE? THE TEACHERS.
WELCOME TO MY TEA PARTY. WE WILL HAVE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS AND MUSLIMS AND BUDDHISTS.
YOU KNOW WHO WILL BE WELCOME AT MY TEA PARTY?
GAY COUPLES WITH CHILDREN. THAT’S WHO.
OLD PEOPLE WITH DECENT HOUSING, THAT’S WHO.
MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WITH DECENT COMMUNITY SERVICES. THAT’S WHO.
PROFESSORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND SCIENTISTS WITH MAINE MADE WINDMILLS. THAT’S WHO.
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS WHO COME HOME TO MAINE BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE VALUES HERE. THAT’S WHO.
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WITH A FIRST CLASS EDUCATION AND FOLKS WHO WANT A COLLEGE EDUCATION. THAT’S WHO.
AND I WILL HAVE AN ENTIRE ROOM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DREAMS. EVERY ONE OF MY CHILDREN CAME HOME TO MAINE TO MAKE THEIR LIVINGS AND RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. IF YOU WANT THAT FOR YOUR FAMILY, THEN WELCOME TO MY TEA PARTY!
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IS INVITED. YOU WILL BE INVITED TO AN ASTONISHING VICTORY IN NOVEMBER. MAINE’S FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR, MAINE’S FIRST CLEAN ELECTIONS GOVERNOR.
IN THE LAST 8 YEARS, UNDER A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE, MAINE HAS:
· INCREASED HEALTH INSURANCE FOR WORKING PEOPLE
· EXPANDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
· PROTECTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND
· INCREASED EDUCATION FUNDING
· ENACTED CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION FOR GAY PEOPLE
· AND, IN THE PROCESS, LOWERED OUR TAX BURDEN
WHILE OTHER STATES STRUGGLED (AND SOME SHUT DOWN)
WHILE WASHINGTON FELL INTO PARTISAN STALEMATE
WE IN MAINE PASSED RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS
INVESTED IN THE FUTUREAND DID IT WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I AM PROUD OF THE ROLE I PLAYED AS SENATE PRESIDENT IN HELPING LEAD US THROUGH TOUGH TIMES WITH MY EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER-HANNAH PINGREE.
I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE HARD TO IMAGINE THE RECOVERY
WITH ALL OF THE HARDSHIP WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING, WE NEED TO BUILD A NEW MAINE. TRUE TO OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES OF HARD WORK, LOYALTY, LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS, AND INGENUITY.
BUT IN TUNE WITH THE WORLD OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
SIGNS POSTED AT THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD PROCLAIM: PROUD OF OUR PAST. READY FOR THE FUTURE.
ONCE MAINE WAS A WORLD LEADER IN BUILDING WOODEN SHIPS.
BUT WOODEN SHIPS WENT OF OUT OF STYLE IN THE LATE 1800′S.
THEN BATH IRON WORKS CAME ALONG AND BUILT STEEL SHIPS.
AND TODAY A NEW KIND OF MATERIAL (CREATED AT OUR UNIVERSITY) IS USED IN BOATS-COMPOSITES. AND BIW AND KENYWAY AND LYMAN MORSE AND HODGDON YACHTS ARE LEADNING THE WAY AGAIN.
THAT’S THE TRANSFORMATION THAT MUST HAPPEN THROUGHOUT MAINE’S ECONOMY.
FROM FARMING APPLES AND POTATOES TO VALUE ADDED ORGANIC AND LOCAL FOODS.
FROM CABINS NEXT TO THE LAKE TO ECO AND HERITAGE TOURISM.
FROM OIL-FIRED POWER PLANTS TO WIND TURBINES.
FROM TINKERING IN THE BARN TO INVENTING AND STARTING NEW BUSINESSES.
THE STORM IS PASSING. THE WATERS ARE CALMING.
MAINE IS READY TO SET OUT TO SEA ONCE AGAIN.
AND THE REASON I WANT TO BE GOVERNOR—-
I WANT TO LEAD US OUT OF THE HARBOR.
I WANT TO LEAD OUR SCHOOLS
TO REDUCE DROPOUTS, LIKE JACKMAN SCHOOLS
TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO BUSINESSES AND LOVE OF LEARNING, LIKE KING MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PORTLAND
TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO COLLEGE AND SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGE
TO GET MORE ADULTS – BACK TO SCHOOL
TO GIVE ALL OUR CHILDREN EARLY EDUCATION
IN THE END, OUR SUCCESS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MAINE ISN’T ABOUT LAND OR FINANCES OR SEWER LINES.
IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE.
DO WE HAVE THE SKILLS?
DO WE HAVE THE CONFIDENCE?
DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
DO WE HAVE THE ENCOURAGEMENT?
THIS IS WHAT A GOVERNOR CAN DO BEST. THIS IS WHY I WANT TO BE MAINE’S “EDUCATION GOVERNOR.” I WANT TO BUILD UP OUR MOST PRECIOUS ECONOMIC RESOURCE — OUR PEOPLE.
WHEN I GREETED WORKERS AT A MILL GATE IN JAY, I ASKED THE LAST PERSON THROUGH THE GATE, “ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY?” SHE REPLIED, “LIBBY, EVERY DAY YOU HAVE A JOB IS A GOOD DAY.”
SO IF WE LISTEN TO HAMILTON JORDAN AND HIS CANCER STORIES, WE KNOW THAT IN SOME WAY THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DAY. BUT FOR ME, FOR MAINE, FOR MY DEMOCRATS– THIS STORY FROM THE MILL GATE IN JAY IS THE ONE I REPEAT TO MYSELF EVERY NIGHT. EVERY DAY WITH A JOB IS A GOOD DAY. AND LET ME PLEDGE TO YOU, I WILL NOT SLEEP, I WILL NOT REST, I WILL NOT TIRE UNTIL EVERYONE IN MAINE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER.
WELCOME TO MY TEA PARTY
LET’S ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
