PHILADELPHIA, PA — Hillary for America released a selection of excerpts from the prepared remarks of speakers who spoke at the Democratic National Convention Thursday in Philadelphia.
Excerpts from select speeches from tonight's program are included below:
Openly lesbian Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez
When my officers report for duty, they have no idea what might come up that day….They don't know whether the next 911 call will be their last. But they keep showing up. They keep answering the call. They keep putting their lives on the line. They are doing the best they can to protect our communities. We put on our badges every day to serve and protect, not to hate and discriminate
Violence is not the answer. Yelling and calling each other names is not going to do it. Talking within our own group in a language only our group understands leads nowhere. We have to start listening to each other.
Valdez also mentioned her girlfriend in her remarks.
Open lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin also spoke to the crowd, focused on healthcare. Illinois Senate hopeful, Rep. Tammy Duckworth, also spoke, among dozens of elected and appointed officials.
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin and staffer Sarah McBride also spoke Thursday night—McBridge as the first open transgender person to do so.
North Carolina Reverend William Barber brought down the house with his radically inclusive ministry, speaking about welcoming all, including LGBT.
Khizr Khan and his wife were incredible in their support of Clinton and the Democratic Party. Their son, Humayun S. M. Khan, was a University of Virginia graduate and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Khan was one of 14 American Muslims who died serving the United States in the ten years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The elder Khan pulled out a copy of the U.S. Constitution and challenged Trump to fully understand its meaning.
U.S. Representative Tim Ryan ( Ohio )
But Donald Trump? He's been stabbing workers in the back for years. Trump got rich ripping people off. Stiffing small businesses and contractors. Now he says he's gonna bring back our jobs? Hey, Ohio — don't buy it! This guy cut deals to make the Trump line of products in China, Mexico, Bangladesh! Not Youngstown, not Akron, not Niles! If he really cared about our jobs, he would have hired some of our people!
As a Catholic school boy, my favorite Bible verse became Isaiah 6:8. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? …here I am; send me." At every stage of her life, Hillary has said… "send me". When our children needed health care, Hillary said, "send me." When our first responders in New York and New Jersey needed support after 9/11, Hillary said, "send me". When President Obama needed a Secretary of State to rebuild America's standing in the world, Hillary said, "Send me." And each of these times she got it done! So now it's our turn
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
Thirty years ago, almost to the day, I lost my job. Whether it's being laid off, downsized, or fired, it's not funny, and not a reality show punchline when it happens to you.
Now—I've never hosted a reality TV show—but I know that the true mark of a successful businessman is not the number of times you say "you're fired", it's the number of times you say "you're hired."
That's right, I'm a business guy. But unlike that other candidate's businesses, my business didn't go bankrupt six times.
I've spent time with Hillary, and I can tell you—from a small business perspective, she gets it……She's going to make the largest investment in jobs since WW II. She'll cut red tape and taxes so it's easier to start and grow a small business. Hillary Clinton is going to work for the young entrepreneur who wants to open a brewpub, or launch a start-up, or even create a drapery business - just like her dad, Hugh Rodham, did all those years ago in Chicago.
Dave Wills — North Carolina — A teacher from NC with $40,000 in student debt
None of us are looking for guaranteed success — just a fair chance at it. That's why I'm so proud to support Hillary Clinton. She's going to make college debt-free for all, and help millions of people like me with existing debt save thousands of dollars. I don't know her. But, it feels like she knows me. Hillary Clinton has our backs
Beth Mathias — Ohio - OHIO - Beth works two jobs and her husband works the nightshift at a factory in Ohio. Hillary met Beth at a roundtable in Marion.
Four months ago, Hillary Clinton sat with me in a doughnut shop in Marion, Ohio. And she asked to hear my story. I told her that my husband and I work three jobs just to make ends meet…… We work hard, and yet it feels like the world is against us. But I told Hillary Clinton that even though every day is a struggle, we don't want a handout. We want a hand to help us up.
And she understood—because she believes that America is strongest when we look out for one another. When no one who works full-time has to choose between making a car payment and feeding their children. That's why I'm here—taking time off from both of my jobs - to ask you to put in the time to elect Hillary Clinton, and help make life better for me and millions of people just like me.
I believe we can do it. And I believe in Hillary Clinton.
JENSEN WALCOTT AND JAKE REED — Two friends, Jensen and Jake, were both hired on the same, for the same job at the same pizza store. When Jensen found out she was being paid less than Jake, she called her new boss to ask if it was a mistake. He fired both her and Jake on the spot for discussing their wages.
JENSEN: We couldn't believe it when Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for me and shared our story. I may have lost my job, but I'm proud that I spoke up for myself. And I'm glad that Jake stood with me. And we're both glad that Hillary Clinton stood with us.
JAKE: Our story isn't just about fighting for equal pay. It's about doing the right thing and having each other's back. Because if we don't do that, nothing will change.
JENSEN: It doesn't matter how old you are. We all need to be brave enough to speak up for ourselves and stand up for each other. That's what this country is all about. We are stronger when we stand together.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf
Donald Trump? He runs businesses so that they only help — you guessed it — Donald Trump. In his six bankruptcy filings, he used the process to protect himself and even enrich himself while his employees were left out of luck.
As President, Hillary Clinton will reward companies that share profits with employees, not just executives. Under her proposal, companies will get tax credits worth 15 percent of the profits they share with their employees.... Because Hillary believes that if you work hard, you should share in your company's success!
At this moment, when we need to restore the fundamental American idea that if you work hard, you can get ahead and stay there, we need a President who recognizes that an economy that doesn't work for everyone, doesn't work at all. We need a President who believes that our society can only succeed when economic prosperity is shared broadly. We need Hillary Clinton.
Doug Elments - Former Reagan Administration official
I haven't just voted Republican. I worked in President Reagan's White House. I recently led an effort to place a statue of Ronald Reagan in California's Capitol. I'm here tonight to say: I knew Ronald Reagan; I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan.
This year's Republican platform is the most alarming I've ever seen. It's laced with anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-women positions that do not represent the views of most Americans. That is why this year, I will vote for a Democrat for the first time.
To my fellow Republicans: if you, like I do, believe loyalty to our country is more important than loyalty to party; if you want a President with a good judgment, a steady hand, and the temperament to represent our Nation to the world — and our children; I ask you to join me in voting for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.
General John Allen ( ret. USMC ), former Commander, International Security Assistance Forces, and Commander, United States Forces - Afghanistan
I am joined by my fellow generals and admirals, and with these magnificent young veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. They went there and risked their lives because they love this country.
From the battlefield to the capitals of our allies, friends, and partners… the free peoples of the world look to America as the last best hope for peace and for liberty for all humanity… for we ARE the greatest country on this planet. So we stand before you tonight to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States of America.
We trust her judgment. We believe in her vision for a united America… With her as our Commander in Chief, America will continue to lead in this volatile world.
