AFL-CIO Debate - June 4th, 2007

Opening Remarks

Hello everyone. I'm Patrick Murphy. I've heard some talk about an open seat for Congress and I'd like to fill that vacancy.

In truth, the leadership of our nation has been vacant for quite some time.

Politicians are too willing to let the end justify the means, and too often mistake the means for ends: for most politicians, electoral success is the end and endlessly they seek to achieve it; for fewer still, legislative success is their goal and if their bill or bills have passed they may pat themselves on the back and move on; but rare is the leader with wisdom and persistence enough to see to it that his or her decisions are made for the benefit of this nation, and that the actions he or she takes makes a difference in the lives of people.

What we have instead is an utter lack of vision, a case of the blind leading the blindfolded. We've a war in Iraq authorized by Democratic congressmen and Republican alike, prosecuted by a Republican president, and continuing as we speak because members of a Democratic Congress have shied away from asserting its constitutional authority and shirked their responsibilities as leaders of this country. We've an education policy that purports to leave no child behind without any idea where we might or ought to be going. We've a sick policy of rationing health care on the basis of wealth and denying it to those who most need it. We've an energy policy responsible, in large measure, for the bloodshed in Iraq and the lack of any environmental policy. For many other issues from burgeoning national debt to dwindling social security, we've no policy at all because to address these would require honesty and courage enough to confront the tough choices we face, and a commitment to the now unobserved role of Congress to deliberate and compromise and produce legislation that actually strengthens our nation.

Our leaders say they seek to spread democracy throughout the world, but everywhere including here at home it slowly ebbs away. But we cannot watch and wait for a great sea change to arrive and so I dive into this race now to turn the tide.

I will run independent of any donor, or group of donors, of any party or political organization, of pundits, pollsters, and political consultants. I hold no office, no title, neither a famous family name nor enormous personal wealth. Yet I plan to raise not money, but issues, relying instead on the strength and depth of my ideas and energy and the people of this district to sustain our campaign for Congress. This I humbly offer as my contribution to our political process. I hope you will join me.

Closing Remarks

We hear members of the media all talk about the great divisions we have in this country-vast simplifications about red and blue blocs of voters, who will take the women vote, or labor vote, or who will take the black vote, the white-collar vote, the green vegetarian vote, the "values" vote, the much overlooked and underestimated nonvoting vote, and on and on. And they point to a Congress deeply polarized as proof of these divisions.

But the House of Representatives is as unrepresentative of the people of this country as Mickey Mouse is to mice everywhere. The reality is that people vote not as cartoonish blocs but as independent-minded individuals, who share so much more in common: a need and longing for meaningful and fulfilling work, a good education, good health care, a secure future and a safe, clean environment in which to live and work and raise a family.

And to achieve this kind of society, we must work hard. For democracy is never a finished issue. The labor struggle has taught us that hard-won gains are easily lost. And so we must, in each and every generation, strive toward our democratic ideal, for it is in the very act of striving that we achieve greater democracy and positive change in our lives. We cannot let up. Nor can we accept the belief that we are simply a nation of conflicting and competing interests. Whether as members of corporations or unions, as individuals or groups of citizens, we must forever see that our private endeavors ultimately serve a public purpose and a common good-the good of our greatest union, the United States of America.

I am not here today to ask for your union's endorsement. It is far too early for that. I am here instead to enlighten and enliven the debate about the direction of our country, and if-after all ideas have been aired and all concerns have been heard-the members of your union come to believe that I am the one who can best represent them in Congress, I will ask for their support but also indeed for that most important of endorsements, your vote on October the 16th. Thank you.