Kerry Endorses Villaraigosa: A Day of Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry Endorses Villaraigosa: A Day of Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations
30 April 2005

Through out John Kerry’s 2004 campaign the resounding theme was hope for the future. Today I stood at Los Angeles Valley College and listened once more as John Kerry talked about hope for the future. That hope he said, for Los Angeles residents was in Antonio Villaraigosa.

"There are the issues on the ballot when you vote for mayor of this city, and that's why I'm here to endorse your next mayor," Kerry told the thousand or more Villaraigosa supporters at the rally.

"I'm not here against anybody," Kerry said, perhaps referring to the contingent of Hahn supporters off to the side who were there to show their dissent, "I'm here for somebody -- I'm here for a set of hopes, dreams and aspirations that we know can make a difference in the quality of our lives."

“We made a difference in 2004 and Antonio will make a difference in Los Angeles,” Kerry said. “Antonio will make Los Angeles safer.”

I spent a lot of time from August ’03 through to Election Day covering Kerry events here in Los Angeles and during that time, I witnessed the mutual respect and friendship between John Kerry and Antonio Villaraigosa. Today was one of those full circle moments, when John Kerry had the opportunity to do for Antonio Villaraigosa, what Villaraigosa had done for Kerry. It wasn’t a Kerry has the limelight day, though plenty of Kerry supporters where there and more than once the crowd chanted the familiar “Kerry, Kerry, Kerry” chant.

Kerry did take the opportunity to point out the issues that are central to Antonio’s campaign and he tied them into the issues that were central to his own campaign in 2004. For truly those are the issues that important to Americans all across our country. After all, who doesn’t want healthcare, public safety and a good education for their kids? In every city and every small town across this country, we all want the same things.

While Kerry did not directly mention the Kids First Act today, which he will be holding events on later this week, he did mention the need for healthcare for kids and the fact that it can make a huge difference in the lives of kids who do not have healthcare now. No doubt, many of the millions of kids with out healthcare in this country live right here in the city of Los Angeles.

LOT'S MORE - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=810

[Tigress DEM]

1. Kerry, Kerry, Kerry!

On that sweet note, goodnight! er.. morning.

[kerrygoddess]

2. It was awesome to hear that today!

There's a few photos here - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/kerry_villaraigosa_endorsement.htm

[Helga Scow Stern]

3. I didn't see this in the LA Times.

Did anyone else?

[Pinboy]

4. Event was Saturday; story in Sunday LAT:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayor1may01,0,2496121.story?coll=la-home-local

LOS ANGELES ELECTIONS

Hahn, Villaraigosa Take Campaigns to the Valley

The mayor opens a new police station and his challenger receives Sen. Kerry's endorsement.

By Patrick McGreevy and Henry Weinstein
Times Staff Writers

May 1, 2005

Taking their campaigns for Los Angeles mayor to the key battleground of the San Fernando Valley on Saturday, incumbent James K. Hahn opened a new police station in Mission Hills while challenger Antonio Villaraigosa held a rally in Van Nuys with former Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry.
<snip>

Sen. Kerry was one of more than a dozen elected Democrats on a balloon-festooned outdoor stage to urge support for Villaraigosa in front of a boisterous crowd of more than 450 at Valley College.

The Massachusetts lawmaker thanked Villaraigosa for his service as national co-chairman of the Kerry presidential campaign and said the councilman is just what Los Angeles needs to solve its problems with schools, crime and traffic.

"He wants to put additional police officers in the streets of Los Angeles to help make those streets safer for people. That's why you want to elect him mayor," Kerry said. "As a mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa will open up the doors of healthcare opportunity to all of the citizens of Los Angeles."

[kerrygoddess]

5. Thanks...

Typical MSM piece.

[Pinboy]

6. Both Times and AP were disappointing. YOUR story gets my vote.

[blogbear]

7. I admire and am thankful for the renewed spirit of reaching out to

help needy and children by the Kerry team and others despite the outcome of the '04 election..

[Paul Dlugokencky]

8. Kerry keeps on keepin' on

Whether it is about continuing his life of giving service to this nation, or part of keeping himself viable for 2008, I'm grateful.



http://www.cafepress.com/kickindemocrats

[blogbear]

11. Me too!

[k j]

9. Wonderful...

piece of reporting, KerryGoddess!

I love it... Kerry, Clark and Edwards are still out there, still talking, still reaching people. They didn't go away.

What a "beautiful day" that was for you to experience again, KerryGoddess!!!

[liberalitch]

10. How do you say that phonetically?

my Spanish is rusty

[JI7]

12. his name ?

you say "villa" as in a "spanish villa" and "rai" which rhymes with spy and "go" just as you would say "go" and add the "sa" at the end.

villa-rai-go-sa

from what i read the last name is a result of combining his last name with his wife's last name when they got married.

i think his last name was Villar and his wife's last name was Raigosa.

[liberalitch]

13. Thanks...

I can do that

[kerrygoddess]

15. Phonetically

"rai" - as in "ray"

He did combine his last name with his wife's which is very cool in my book.

[Catamount]

17. How romantic! (In putting the name together!)

Kerry Kerry Kerry!

[cestpaspossible]

16. Hey, that was my question

looks like I was pronouncing it correctly.

[rocktivity]

14. If Bob Dole can endorse a male enhancement drug, I guess Kerry can, too.

Oh, wait--Villaraigosa is the name of a candidate? Never mind.

:crazy:
rocknation

[GetTheRightVote]

18. Thank you for the story and photos, glad to see Kerry helping other Dems

:kick:

[K8-EEE]

19. I Was There And Kerry Was GREAT!!!

I was suspicious of the supposed "Hahn" supporters out there as they seemed seething over ALL the Dems in attendance from Gloria Molina to Delores Huerta to Kerry. I thought they seemed like BushCo sponsored thugs and they were trying to bullhorn/disrupt the procedings and were NOT successful.

The greatest thing was when Kerry's mic went out. The thugs siezed the moment and started booing and poor Kerry was up there trying to shout his speech outside (with helicopters overhead) when somebody (I think Villaraigosa's kid??) started The Star Spangled Banner which shut down the thugs!! Then when it was over the mic was back on. Great moment, great rally and having never seen Kerry all up close and personal before I hope nobody gets annoyed if I comment that he's really CUTE! Much more so than on TV.

[AlmightyTallest]

20. Aww

Very clever, I love those unscripted moments like that. I hope he comes to NY soon, I'm assuming he will for Kids First or to help out Hillary in 06.

[Cha]

21. Looks like a great day in

LA! The talking vermin on tv running down Kerry saying no one likes him..Ha! Kerry has tons of admirers..they need to shut up their lies!

[K8-EEE]

22. Kerry Got A Rock Star Reception!

I was there with 2 teenaged girls vying for his autograph -- one of whom was successful, they were very cute and so excited to see Kerry. Our new friend (DU connection!) who is 16 managed to get through the crowd & got his signature on the DVD of "Going Upriver" we were all so thrilled. We even saw some college-aged kids with "Kerry 2008" T-shirts on and a lot of them were shouting "you won" and "Bush cheated" during the applause breaks in the speech.

[kerrygoddess]

23. He always does get the Rock Star Reception!

People can't get enough of him!

[ginnyinWI]

25. ...and you'd never know it listening to the pundits

Everyone on tv acts like Kerry's done, no second chances. They want to move on to a fresh story, I guess. It's almost like a taboo--you don't mention the losing candidate. But the people think differently, it would seem. I think a lot of people are going to be in for a surprise, starting with the pundits.

[kerrygoddess]

26. It's called the Republican Noise Machine!

Surprise surprise! The pundits will spin it though.

[europegirl4jfk]

24. WOW!

I didn't speak to my daughter yet because I'm still in London. But I'm glad to hear that she got her autograph. I will call her when I'm back in France tomorrow. Thanks again for taking her.

Tina (still jealous LOL)

[K8-EEE]

27. Hey Tina....

Your daughter is a star herself...what a pleasure to meet such a smart, fun, happy young lady who is so interested and involved in what's going on in the world. All the young people at this event gave me so much hope for the future. I've been smiling all weekend.

I've met the NICEST people via DU.