The most presidential lorem ipsum in history.
John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. But I also get the sense that there's a hunger that's deeper than that - a hunger that goes beyond any single cause or issue. The President vetoed a similar plan, but he doesn't have the last word, and we're going to keep at it, until we bring this war to an end. We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work. They could've heard words of anger and discord. We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that's when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom. That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest.
That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe. Even for those blacks who did make it, questions of race, and racism, continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways. For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect.
I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
I'm not talking about blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't think about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. Consensus and compromise will not come easy. These people are a part of me. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough." These are my heroes. And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we're wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.
God bless you.