2008 Democratic National Convention: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Jan Schakowsky, Member of the US House of Representatives, Illinois

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/DNCCLOGO )

    Scheduled for delivery: August 28, 2008 - 6:00-7:00 pm MT

    EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY

In 145 days, George W. Bush will no longer be President ofthe United States. And if we do everything we must do for the next 67 days, my friend of many years, Barack Obama, will take his place.

Imagine that day: January 20, 2009. You are on the West Lawn of the Capitol, warmed by the throngs of excited people, all ages and colors. With his hand on the Bible that Michelle holds, Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th President ofthe United States.

At that moment, the narrative about our country instantly changes.

For the family on the verge of losing their home, the uninsured dad who prays each night his kids don't get sick, the waitress struggling with the rising cost of everything-for them, and millions more middle-class Americans who are barely holding on, this moment can't come too soon.

The choice is clear: continue the failed Bush-McCain policies of the past eight years or head in a new direction for the change we need.

There's John McCain, who feels the pain of big oil executives worried about losing their multi-billion dollar tax breaks. And then there's Barack Obama who feels the pain of the mom or dad who fears their child will be part of the first generation of Americans to have less opportunity than the previous one.

Barack Obama believes the best is yet to come for America.

Those of us who served with him in theIllinois state legislature, worked with him in the U.S. Senate, have seen how he gets things done, know that he is the leader who can deliver the change we need.

Now it's up to us.

The outcome of this historic election is within our reach and in our hands. In 2000, we came just 537 votes short of preventing the national nightmare of the Bush years. 537 more knocks on the door or 537 more registered voters could have changed the outcome. Just a handful of volunteers could have changed the course of history.

Tonight, each one of us must pledge to take responsibility to register every last voter, knock on every last door, call every list twice, recruit everyone we know. Each of us needs to believe that we could be the person who decides the outcome of this election and the future for our children.

Tomorrow we'll fan out across this country, an army of everyday Americans who will accomplish something most extraordinary. Together we will rekindle the American dream and elect Barack Obama President ofthe United States of America.

SOURCE 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee

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