Kerry's Speech at Grinnell College: Kerry Tells Students to SPEAK OUT!

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Speaks to Students at Grinnell: Defends Right to Dissent, Discusses Iraq Plan, Helps Mobilize Students For Real American Agenda
May 6th, 2006 @ 12:39 pm

Today, John Kerry spoke to students at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa on Iraq and the right to dissent (see earlier post and OP/ED here). His speech, similar to the one he delivered at Boston’s Fanueil Hall recently, implores to the students of Grinnell to “speak out” and “to get off our rear ends – go out – and make it right today.”

Below are Kerry’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Senator John Kerry: “Patriotism Means Telling the Truth, Making America Stronger”
Grinnell College - Grinnell, Iowa

Thirty-five years ago this spring, I testified before the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate, and called for an end to the war I had returned from fighting not long before.

It was 1971 – twelve years after the first American died in what was then South Vietnam, seven years after Lyndon Johnson seized on a small and contrived incident in the Tonkin Gulf to launch a full-scale war—and three years after Richard Nixon was elected president on the promise of a secret plan for peace. We didn’t know it at the time, but four more years of the War in Vietnam still lay ahead. These were years in which the Nixon administration lied and broke the law—and claimed it was prolonging war to protect our troops as they withdrew—years that ultimately ended only when politicians in Washington decided they would settle for a “decent interval” between the departure of our forces and the inevitable fall of Saigon.

We must insist now that patriotism does not belong to those who defend a President’s position—it belongs to those who defend their country. Patriotism is not love of power; it is love of country. And sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power. This is one of those times.

When I testified thirty five years ago, I asked the question: ‘where are the leaders of our country?’

It’s time we ask that question again – and time we say clearly it’s not just in Iraq but on every issue where Washington has either failed to lead – or misled America in the wrong direction.

Rarely has there been a moment more urgent for all Americans to step up and define our country again.

Some people suggest we don’t have any ideas. You know, I have to laugh at that. If by ideas they mean running the debt up to nine trillion dollars, losing America’s manufacturing base, denying children after-school programs, cutting kids from Medicaid, and privatizing Social Security; if by ideas they mean violating the law, ignoring international treaties and forgetting diplomacy; if by ideas they mean filling the trough of the special interests’ pig pen – giving the money changers their bankruptcy bill, giving the oil industry their energy bill, and giving the big pharmaceutical companies their prescription drug bill — then they’re right: those are bad ideas being shoved down the throats of the American people by a Washington of bankrupt values and I’m proud we stood up and said no to them every step of the way.

We don’t have a selfish agenda masquerading as ideas and facilitated by those who refuse to hold them accountable and speak the truth.

In fact, the Administration’s agenda of the last years has so distorted America’s politics that now, straightforward, little ideas have become big ones.

So what do we say yes to? What are our ideas?

How about starting with this: tell the American people the truth!

Then, full-on fire the incompetents!

Make America secure with energy independence.

Value work, not wealth, and make our tax code fair for the middle class and people struggling to join it.

Export products, not jobs.

Make health care accessible and affordable for all Americans.

Do something about global warming and, while we’re at it, clean up our lakes and rivers so people can fish and swim in the United States.

Set a deadline for Iraqis to run Iraq and bring our troops home.

These are real ideas. I believe that was an agenda worth fighting for in 2004, and it’s even more urgent today and America will be better off if we start getting these things done now.

But these ideas will only become powerful if you give voice to your values.

We need you to make your issues the voting issues of this nation.

So we need you to speak out. Speak out if you want an America that is finally and forever independent of Mideast oil – an America that relies on its ingenuity and innovation – not the Saudi royal family.

Speak out so that instead of making a mockery of the words No Child Left Behind when China and India are graduating tens of thousands more engineers and PhDs than we are, we build an America where college education is affordable and accessible for every student willing to work for it.

Speak out so that instead of letting a few ideologues get in the way of progress that can cure Parkinson’s, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and AIDS, we build an America where the biology students here today will do the groundbreaking stem cell research tomorrow.

Speak out if you want to restore a politics of big ideas, not small-minded attacks.

Speak out if you’re tired of seeing America divided into red states and blue states, because you know we can be one America — red, white, and blue.

Dissent from this unacceptable status quo because you know the job of leadership is to prepare for your future - not ignore it. The people who run Washington today give in to special interests and rob future generations. Real leadership stands up to special interests and sets the course for future generations. You must demand leadership that works to solve problems - not create them.

Our challenge today is to speak out so loudly that Washington has no choice but to make choices worthy of the sacrifice of our neighbors here at home and our troops all around the world.

When we protested the war in Vietnam some would weigh in against us saying: “My country right or wrong.” Our response was simple: “Yes, my country right or wrong. When right, keep it right and when wrong, make it right.” That’s our mission – to get off our rear ends – go out – and make it right today.

FULL TEXT & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2891

[Dr Fate]

1. Kerry "gets it"-free speech is NOT "disrespectful" - thanks JK! n/t

n/t

[xchrom]

2. terrific! i'm doin a little of this right now...

:woohoo:

[Stevepol]

3. If he would apply the "Speak Out" to election fraud and the DREs,...

I'd believe him, but it rings hollow when he's been faced again and again with the facts about the 04 fraud and he won't speak out about it. Why didn't he use his army of lawyers to demand audits and recounts where justified (in OH, NM, and FL e.g.)?

[karynnj]

8. I wonder what topic he will chose at Kenyon College in Ohio

where he is giving the commencement address, I think next weekend. This was thecollege where kids waited more as long as 10 hours to vote. (I don't know anything of course - it may be similar to this speech, but location suggests he will likley say something.) Incidently, DU definition of "facts" is not the legal definition of "facts".

[eppur_se_muova]

41. Saturday, May 20th, actually.

http://www.kenyon.edu/x13462.xml

[karynnj]

43. Thanks, I knew it was this month but couldn't find the post with the date

[LeahD]

50. And, I wonder too, because I hope to be there! n/t

[karynnj]

52. Lucky person

Are you a Kenyon college student?

As one lucky enough to go to the Faneuil Hall speech and having read this one, I imagine that the students will have a commencement they will long remember.

I love to see a post on how it goes!

[LeahD]

63. No, I'm about 40 years too old to be a Kenyon student,

but I grew up a hop, skip, and a jump from there!

When the 2004 election results were rolling in, I was shocked to hear that one of the biggest stories of the night was about the broken machines and long lines at Kenyon (a small, liberal arts school in the middle of rural, conservative, Central Ohio). I was proud of those students who were willing to stand in line, didn't just call it a day and go back to their dorm rooms.

Funniest thing..... a few miles away, the students at the Nazarene college didn't experience similar problems.

Those students had John Kerry's back on Nov. 2, and he knows it! I anticipate that JK will give one heckuva speech.

[globalvillage]

53. I hope you can go.

Please post for the rest of us if you do.

[LeahD]

64. I plan to post, but it won't be until I return home, a few days later.

By then, everyone will have read the text, but I hope to comment on the audience's reaction, the electricity of the moment!

[kerrygoddess]

14. I think he will "speak out"

about this subject in the future.

[blm]

33. I sure hope so - Kerry, Waxman and Conyers should grab machine fraud and

turn it inside out - the machines are easily rigged - the people are READY to hear the truth about BushInc.

[Dr Fate]

15. I've parsed this speech- he is speaking directly to web activists here.

He even used the "truth to power" phrase which web-activists seem to be using a lot in the past few days- I think it is a reference to the reception we gave to Colbert...

Earlier during his filibuster attempt he has used the "keep your powder dry" phrase in the context that web-liberals are using it in.

It's not that he is copping our language that is so great- its that he is LISTENING to us that is what I like. What I'm saying is that out of all the house-hold name DEMs-Kerry is the one who seems to be LISTENING to web-activists.

Dont be suprised if if does adress election fraud- I'm with you- I think he should adress election fraud too- one thing you can be sure of- he knows we are talking about it.

If he does bring it up- he will need to be prepared for the media to compare him to "The X-Files" and to accuse him of "Sour grapes."

[karynnj]

23. "Truth to power" is a much earlier phrase

It was used a lot in the 60s/70s, but even then it was a very old reference. I suspect he is listening, but before there were web activists there were activists - and Kerry was one - on the environment and other issues as well as the VN war.

Even on the Senate floor, Kerry has always been passionately in favor of activism as a part of what our values are. The following show this to some degree - Kerry was speaking for his and Wellstone's Clean Elections bill. (from the Seantate Record in Thomas)


"Each time we have debated campaign finance reform in this Senate, too many of our colleagues have safeguarded the status quo under the guise of protecting the political speech of the Fortune 500. But today we must pass campaign finance reform to protect the political voice of the 250 million ordinary, working Americans without a fortune. It is their dwindling faith in our political system that must be restored.

Twenty five years ago, I sat before the Foreign Relations Committee, a young veteran having returned from Vietnam. Behind me sat hundreds of veterans committed to ending the war the Vietnam War. Even then we questioned whether ordinary Americans, battle scarred veterans, could have a voice in a political system where the costs of campaigns, the price of elected office seemed prohibitive. Young men who had put their life on the front lines for their country were worried that the wall of special interests between the people and their government might have been too thick even then for our voices to be heard in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.

But we had a reserve of faith left, some belief in the promise and the influence of political expression for all Americans. That sliver of faith saved lives. Ordinary citizens stopped a war that had taken 59,000 American lives.

GPO's PDF Every time in the history of this republic when we have faced a moral challenge, there has been enough faith in our democracy to stir the passions of ordinary Americans to act--to write to their Members of Congress; to come to Washington and speak with us one on one; to walk door to door on behalf of issues and candidates; and to vote on election day for people they believe will fight for them in Washington.

It's the activism of citizens in our democracy that has made the American experiment a success. Ordinary citizens--at the most critical moments in our history--were filled with a sense of efficacy. They believed they had influence in their government.

Today those same citizens are turning away from our political system. They believe the only kind of influence left in American politics is the kind you wield with a checkbook. The senior citizen living on a social security check knows her influence is inconsequential compared to the interest group that can saturate a media market with a million dollars in ads that play fast and loose with the facts. The mother struggling to find decent health care for her children knows her influence is trivial compared to the special interests on K Street that can deliver contributions to incumbent politicians struggling to stay in office.

But I would remind you that whenever our country faces a challenge, it is not the special interests, but rather the average citizen, who holds the responsibility to protect our nation. The next time our nation faces a crisis and the people's voice needs to be heard to turn the tide of history, will the average American believe enough in the process to give words to the feelings beyond the beltway, the currents of public opinion that run beneath the surface of our political dialogue?

In times of real challenge for our country in the years to come, will the young people speak up once again? Not if we continue to hand over control of our political system to the special interests who can infuse the system with soft money and with phony television ads that make a mockery of the issues. "

[Dr Fate]

24. I realize it is an old phrase- but that is what I read into the speech.

After the Colbert smack-down-a lot of web activist over the past few days have been talking about "speaking out", having the guts to do so, "truth to power" etc.

I've noticed that Kerry seems to follow our themes- so that is why I think he was doing it again this time.

I think he listens & responds to us more than he is given credit for- and more than many of the others who are considered viable '08 candidates.

Kerry is not perfect- who is? But this speech is great.

Oh- when I say "web-activists"- I am assuming we are all "activists" when we leave our key-boards as well- at least I hope so. :)

[karynnj]

28. I agree with you

and was trying to make the point that, in some ways, Kerry's personality could mesh very nicely with the netroots. Many people (in various articles) have said exactly what you did - Kerry does listen, actually process what is said (not snarky -this is rare for someone at his level) and he does react and respond. This is a very attractive characteristic.

The one thing I would say is that this speech has the same theme (and some of the same words) as the 4/22 Faneuil Hall speech (on Johnkerry.com), which preceded Colbert.

I really don't think Kerry is perfect, but I do think he is great. I love your pointy that we should be activists when not here - and I admit that it was the Kerry blog and Kerry emails that made me somewhat active in the real world.

[robbedvoter]

4. Like he did about the stolen election 2004?

[Dr Fate]

20. Or like he did during Alito or in the live speech you just read.

Dont get me wrong- I want him to speak out more on election fraud as well as media bias.

But can we admit that this was a killer pro 1st Amendment speech?

[Sydnie]

5. Is there going to be a video of this somewhere .... do you know?

How was the reaction by the students? I would love to see this speech!

[Dr Fate]

13. I would like to SEE these speeches too. We need video.

Somthing we can pass around- text is great, but kind of old-school.

[karynnj]

21. Not today's , but the same topic from Boston (4/22)

The video is really good for the 40 minute speech here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/

[kerrygoddess]

25. Checking to find out

may not know for while - if there is I will post it.

[IndyOp]

30. Kerry has been doing a good job of posting videos

at their own websites. Kucinich, too -- I think it is an excellent way to get past the corporate media censors and past soundbites to the expression on entire ideas!

:kick:

[stillcool]

6. excellent speech....I thought I'd gotten here...

early enough to miss the Kerry-bashers, but not so. It's getting more difficult to absorb all the self-righteous, judgemental, small-minded freaks around here....perhaps it's time for me to move on...

[karynnj]

9. Actually it is time for THEM to move on,

It does seem strange that they demand that Democrats speak out, but attack Kerry who is speaking out at least as much as anyone else. It would be nice if they praised your Senator when he does good.

[stillcool]

17. Instead of it getting easier...

to 'ignore' it's actually irritating me more than ever. I suppose before, and after the election I could understand some of the frustration. Now, the lack of principles... the lack of any sense of humanity, or self-knowledge disgusts me. If any person looked inside themselves and measured their impact on society, how would they fair? Why is he less human than they?

[karynnj]

29. It has been noticed by many in the Kerry group,

that the more good things he does, the more some people here bash him. I find it pretty disgusting that some people spend so much energy to attack someone who has an incredible record for doing the right thing. I spent most of the first half of 2005 hiding in the John Kerry group. We were all as dissapointed in the election as anyone, but respected Kerry at least as much on Nov 3,2004 as on Nov 1, 2004.

[wildflowergardener]

45. What Kerry Group?

Hi. I noticed you mentioned a Kerry group. When the John Kerry message board closed after the election, I came over here. Is there another one I don't know about. The Kerry board sort of became the common ground board,which I left after they started charging you to post, but if there is a just Kerry board I'd like to know about it. It would be nice to have a Kerry bash free place if one exists. Thanks.

Meg

[karynnj]

47. It's part of DU -go to DU Groups, then to Democrats, then to John Kerry

The group is a friendly group of people who support Kerry - and bashing isn't allowed.

[wildflowergardener]

49. Thanks!

Thanks to you, and the three who sent me messages. I can't believe I've been here two years and haven't looked around enough to find it - I suppose the way I read messages (latest and greatest most of the time) does have it's disadvantages.

Meg

[_dynamicdems]

61. These few freaks wouldn't be here whining in such force if John Kerry

weren't doing something right. And damn straight he is: 1000 people came out to see him at Grinnell today! The last time he spoke at Grinnell before the election, he only had 400 people in attendence. Doesn't sound like a has been to me.

Kerry's tougher, stronger, smarter and angrier than he was in 2004. His e-mail list has increased. He generates more money than anyone else in the Democratic Party and he gives more of it to other Dems too. He's generating HUGE crowds wherever he goes.

Now who would be threatened by this? I can't imagine. :sarcasm:

[BlueManDude]

7. Iowa - must be a coincidence.

relax relax

[karynnj]

11. yeah, and on April 22 - he spoke on the same issue in MA

Is there something wrong with him speaking in NH or Iowa - do I see snarky posts when Clark or Edwards spend time there?

Oh, did you like the speech?

[Dr Fate]

18. God forbid- the man actaully gets out there and speaks truth to power.

I guess that is considered selling out or something?- I dont get it.

The speech was terriific- if I was to choose to criticise Kerry- my only beef would be that he needs to say this on more TV shows where more people can hear it.

[BlueManDude]

35. I'm not a stalking horse for Clark or Edwards n/t

[blm]

32. He was invited to speak at a college - he's been tapped for commencements

at other colleges, too. Just as he's done for decades.

[pacalo]

10. Excellent speech. It should be said at every college campus!

[Dr Fate]

16. It should be said in front of televison cameras. n/t

n/t

[karynnj]

19. Doc - The Faneuil Hall speech is on the front page of Johnkerry.com

The full speech video is great. That speech was similar and I'm sure that the reason he has it on the front page of his web site is to make it easy for people to send to their friends. He did get it on CSPAN, but the reality is that he's not going to get a 40 minute speech on network tv. We need to help by being part of the distribution network.

He has spoken about these topics recently on the Sunday shows. He got coverage in Boston with the speech there and I assume he'll get some coverage in Iowa. He is working to get his ideas out.

[Dr Fate]

22. Oh good- at least there is actual video- thanks.

I'll pass it around to friends.

[karynnj]

31. I hope they add a video of this speech as well

The end part of it really really would be fantastic to see.

[Ecumenist]

12. HOT DAMN!! It's about time

This has been too long in coming and it's about time that someone from the sane world reminded what America REALLY STANDS FOR...

:bounce: :toast: :headbang: :woohoo: :woohoo: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :headbang: :toast: :bounce:

[blm]

34. Some Dems say this type of stuff often and media ignores them.

Some people in Des Moines will hear about it, but the American public gets SQUAT from the national media.

[Ecumenist]

38. Ah but the difference now is that the bush, that sensational simian...

is falling faster than a fat man in laundry chute wearing lead shoes and with the continuing additions of corruption to high heaven coming to the public's attention almost daily, the press smells blood.

[blm]

54. The press smells blood - theirs - if they don't keep Bush propped up for

corporate masters.

[Ecumenist]

57. I respecctfully and humbly disagree

They knnow that bush is dead in the water and that not only the wheels are off the wagon, hell, there's only a couple of planks and a few nails left.

[blm]

58. Tell that to GE/NBCs. And House of Saud's CNN.

.

[Ecumenist]

59. In a VERY real way, The corporate media is no longer

relevant. I'm sure the powers that be would be delighted to find that everything would continue to go their way and that there would be mo dissent or straying for the corprate party line. Fortynuately, that is no longer the case. There are well known rw radio pundits in megalopolise of LA who have OPNLY TURNED AGAINST THIS REGIME AND MORE AND MORE CONTINUE TO TURN, OPENLY AND VOCALLY!! The corporate media have made themselves obsolete and in fact the more they fuel the party line, the more people, by the second turn away from them or find that their thoughts are shared far and wide. Nope depsite your studied position I can understand why you feel that way,instead of riding along in that coach that bushco has been, they're rolling down the hill at a high rate of speed nad headed for a boulder strewn ravine.

[kerrygoddess]

26. PHOTOS...

[globalvillage]

36. Great pics, KG, thanks.

Looks like they needed a bigger hall.
This is a wonderful speech. It would be nice to see, too. Wouldn't it be great for the general public to see this, instead of that crap bush* spewed today?
Here's a quote from today's bush* speech for your entertainment:

"When I graduated from school, cars drank gasoline."
-GWB 05/06/2006
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060506-2.html

Please let us know if you find video of Sen Kerry's speech.

:yourock:

[kerrygoddess]

39. There should be a video

eventually. Grinnell taped and will send a copy to JK's office so hopefully when they get it they will post it.

[Sydnie]

37. Thanks for the pics!

any word on audience reaction yet? Was it as well received as it was in Boston?

[jillan]

60. Check out that crowd!

thanks for posting KG!

[emulatorloo]

27. kick and nominating n/t

[wiley]

40. I feel like I'm being spammed.

[Dr Fate]

42. You can post info concerning your candidate of choice...

One thing about DU- equal time is there for those who want it.

[wiley]

46. Thank You

[WildEyedLiberal]

48. And yet you made the decision to click on this thread.

:eyes:

See that little grey box? Click on it. That way the rest of us who want to know what our favorite Democrats are up to can get the news without someone spamming the thread with whiny bullshit.

[wiley]

51. I had no idea.

Thank You!

[WildEyedLiberal]

56. Well now you know.

So I fully expect to not see another useless comment like yours above on a thread you don't have any interest in.

[blm]

55. Democrats have to tout ALL positive moves by our own - the corpmedia won't

That's why it's so easy for the GOP message machine to get away with saying Dems have no plans all the time.

Surely you don't PREFER that storyline perpetuated?

[wisteria]

44. Good speech, a call to action and a call to speak up and be heard. n/t

[seabeyond]

62. thats my man. i love this guy. love the pictures further up the thread

thank you