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2008 DNC: Al Gore Speech for Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
This page contains both the video and the text of the speech delivered by Al Gore at August 28, 2008, in which he asks America so seize the opportunity to change course and elect Barack Obama the next President of the Unites States.
Following is the full text of the 2008 DNC Al Gore Speech:
One of the greatest gifts of our democracy is the
opportunity it offers us every four years to change course.
It’s not a guarantee; it’s only an opportunity. The question
facing us is, simply put, will we seize this opportunity for
change? That’s why I came here tonight: to tell you why I feel
so strongly that we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack
Obama President of the United States.
Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference
between the nominees of the two major parties and it didn’t
really matter who became president. Our nation was enjoying
peace and prosperity. Some assumed we would continue both, no
matter the outcome. But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt
anyone would argue now that election didn’t matter.
Take it from me, if it had ended differently, we would not be
bogged down in Iraq, we would have pursued bin Laden until we
captured him. We would not be facing a self-inflicted economic
crisis; we would be fighting for middle-income families. We
would not be showing contempt for the Constitution; we’d be
protecting the rights of every American regardless of race,
religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. And we
would not be denying the climate crisis; we’d be solving it.
Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000,
though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a
man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly
endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and
promising to actually continue them. The same policies all over
again?
Hey, I believe in recycling, but that’s ridiculous. With John
McCain’s support, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have
led our nation into one calamity after another because of their
indifference to fact; their readiness to sacrifice the long
term to the short term, subordinate the general good to the
benefit of the few and short-circuit the rule of law.
If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain’s your man.
If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Barack Obama is telling us exactly what he will do: launch a
bold new economic plan to restore America’s greatness; fight
for smarter government that trusts the market, but protects us
against its excesses; enact policies that are pro-choice,
pro-education and pro-family, establish a foreign policy that
is smart as well as strong; provide health care for all and
solutions for the climate crisis.
So why is this election so close? Well, I know something about
close elections, so let me offer you my opinion. I believe this
election is close today mainly because the forces of the status
quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama
represents.
There is no better example than the climate crisis. As I have
said for many years throughout this land, we’re borrowing money
from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways
that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of
that has to change. Oil company profits have soared to record
levels, gasoline prices have gone through the roof and we are
more dependent than ever on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels.
Many scientists predict that the entire north polar ice cap may
be completely gone during summer months in the first term of
the next president. Sea levels are rising, fires are raging,
storms are stronger. Military experts warn us our national
security is threatened by massive waves of climate refugees
destabilizing countries around the world, and scientists tell
us the very web of life is endangered by unprecedented
extinctions.
We are facing a planetary emergency which, if not solved, would
exceed anything we’ve ever experienced in the history of
humankind. In spite of John McCain’s past record of open
mindedness on the climate crisis, he has apparently now allowed
his party to browbeat him into abandoning his support of
mandatory caps on global warming pollution.
And it just so happens that the climate crisis is intertwined
with the other two great challenges facing our nation: reviving
our economy and strengthening our national security. The
solutions to all three require us to end our dependence on
carbon-based fuels.
Instead of letting lobbyists and polluters control our destiny,
we need to invest in American innovation. Almost a hundred
years ago, Thomas Edison said, “I’d put my money on the sun and
solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to
wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” We
already have everything we need to use the sun, the wind,
geothermal power, conservation and efficiency to solve the
climate crisis—everything, that is, except a president who
inspires us to believe, “Yes we can.”
So how did this no-brainer become a brain-twister? Because the
carbon fuels industry—big oil and coal—have a 50-year lease on
the Republican Party and they are drilling it for everything
it’s worth. And this same industry has spent a half a billion
dollars this year alone trying to convince the public they are
actually solving the problem, when they are in fact making it
worse every single day.
This administration and the special interests who control it
lock, stock and barrel after barrel, have performed this same
sleight-of-hand on issue after issue. Some of the best
marketers have the worst products; and this is certainly true
of today’s Republican Party. The party itself has on its rolls
men and women of great quality. But the last eight years
demonstrate that the special interests who have come to control
the Republican Party are so powerful that serving them and
serving the national well-being are now irreconcilable choices.
So what can we do about it? We can carry Barack Obama’s message
of hope and change to every family in America. And pledge that
we will be there for Barack Obama—not only in the heat of this
election, but in the aftermath as we put his agenda to work for
our country.
We can tell Republicans and Independents, as well as Democrats,
why our nation needs a change from the approach of Bush, Cheney
and McCain. After they wrecked our economy, it is time for a
change. After they abandoned the search for the terrorists who
attacked us and redeployed the troops to invade a nation that
did not attack us, it’s time for a change. After they abandoned
the American principle first laid down by General George
Washington, when he prohibited the torture of captives because
it would bring, in his words, “shame, disgrace and ruin” to our
nation, it’s time for a change.
When as many as three Supreme Court justices could be appointed
in the first term of the next president, and John McCain
promises to appoint more Scalias and Thomases and end a woman’s
right to choose, it’s time for a change.
Many people have been waiting for some sign that our country is
ready for such change. How will we know when it’s beginning to
take hold? I think we might recognize it as a sign of such
change, if we saw millions of young people getting involved for
the first time in the political process. This election is
actually not close at all among younger voters – you are
responding in unprecedented numbers to Barack Obama’s message
of change and hope.
You recognize that he represents a clean break from the
politics of partisanship and bitter division. You understand
that the politics of the past are exhausted, and you’re tired
of appeals based on fear. You know that America is capable of
better than what you have seen in recent years. You are hungry
for a new politics based on bipartisan respect for the ageless
principles embodied in the United States Constitution.
There are times in the history of our nation when our very way
of life depends upon awakening to the challenge of a present
danger, shaking off complacency to rise, clear-eyed and alert,
to the necessity of embracing change.
A century and a half ago, when America faced our greatest
trial, the end of one era gave way to the birth of another. The
candidate who emerged victorious in that election is now
regarded by most historians as our greatest president. Before
he entered the White House, Abraham Lincoln’s experience in
elective office consisted of eight years in his state
legislature in Springfield, Illinois, and one term in Congress
– during which he showed the courage and wisdom to oppose the
invasion of another country that was popular when it started
but later condemned by history.
The experience Lincoln’s supporters valued most in that race
was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a
time of impasse. He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a
great orator, with a passion for justice and a determination to
heal the deep divisions of our land. He insisted on reaching
past partisan and regional divides to exalt our common
humanity. In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of
an era with a mandate from history to launch another new
beginning. And once again, we have a candidate whose experience
perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition.
Barack Obama had the experience and wisdom to oppose a popular
war based on faulty premises. His leadership experience has
given him a unique capacity to inspire hope, in the promise of
the American dream of a boundless future. His experience has
also given him genuine respect for different views and
humility, in the face of complex realities that cannot be
squeezed into the narrow compartments of ideology. His
experience has taught him something that career politicians
often overlook: that inconvenient truths must be acknowledged
if we are to have wise governance.
The extraordinary strength of his personal character – and that
of his wonderful wife, Michelle – is grounded in the strengths
of the American community. His vision and his voice represent
the best of America. His life experience embodies the essence
of our motto – e pluribus unum – out of many, one. That is the
linking identity at the other end of all the hyphens that
pervade our modern political culture. It is that common
American identity – which Barack Obama exemplifies, heart and
soul – that enables us as Americans to speak with moral
authority to all of the peoples of the world, to inspire hope
that we as human beings can transcend our limitations and to
redeem the promise of human freedom.
Late this evening, our convention will end with a benediction.
As we bow in reverence, remember the words of the old proverb:
“when you pray, move your feet.” Then let us leave here tonight
and take the message of hope from Denver to every corner of our
land, and do everything we can to serve our nation, our
world—and most importantly, our children and their future—by
electing Barack Obama President of the United States..
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2008 DNC: Al Gore Speech: Seize the Oppurtunity to Change Course - Vote for for Barack Obama- 28 August 2008: Al Gore addresses the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado and asks to seize the opportunity to change course and elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States of America.
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© 2008 Barack-Obama-Timeline.com
