Kerry'seechofAcceptance(演講視頻)

ARemarkablePromise(克里記錄片)

第四篇：米歇爾2012民主黨大會演講

Thank you so much, Elaine.… We are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice … and we will always have your back.Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others … flying across the country to put out a fire … driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families … in wounded warriors who tell me they're not just going to walk again, they're going to run, and they're going to run marathons … in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, “… I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.” Every day, the people I meet inspire me … every day, they make me proud … every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.Serving as your first lady is an honor and a privilege … but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we'd begun.While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country, … and I was certain he would make an extraordinary president, … like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known? Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys: … Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house … and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls.… I deeply loved the man I had built that life with, … and I didn't want that to change if he became president.I loved Barack just the way he was.You see, even though back then Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate … to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door.… He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a Dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family — that's when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable: their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis多發性硬化癥 when my brother and I were young.And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain.… I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.And when he returned home after a long day's work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him, … watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work.… He and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, … and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life — being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank, … and she moved quickly up the ranks.… But like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.And for years, men no more qualified than she was — men she had actually trained — were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus, … arriving at work before anyone else, … giving her best without complaint or regret.And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”

Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did.… In fact, they admired it.They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.That's how they raised us.… That's what we learned from their example.We learned about dignity and decency, that how hard you work matters more than how much you make, … that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.We learned about honesty and integrity.That the truth matters, … that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules.… And success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.We learned about gratitude and humility.That so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean — … and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.Those are the values Barack and I — and so many of you — are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became president.Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are — it reveals who you are.You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones — the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer.… The judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.And as president, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president all you have to guide you are your values and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.That's why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.這就是為什么他簽署了萊德貝特公平報酬法，以幫助婦女獲得平等的同工同酬。

That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again — jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically — that's not how he was raised — he cared that it was the right thing to do.He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine.… Our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick, … and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care … that's what my husband stands for.When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could've attended college without financial aid.And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political.They're personal.Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it, … and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, … you do not slam it shut behind you.… You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.He's the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work, … because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.He's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills, … from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care, … from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes, … and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, “You won't believe what these folks are going through, Michelle.… It's not right.We've got to keep working to fix this.We've got so much more to do.” I see how those stories — our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams — I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago, … even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard — especially when it's hard.I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as “us” and “them” — he doesn't care whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above.… He knows that we all love our country, … and he's always ready to listen to good ideas.… He's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it — when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost — Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward … with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here, … and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my dad, … folks like Barack's grandmother, … men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will.… Maybe my grandchildren will.”

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love, … because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming — or even impossible — let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation.… It's who we are as Americans.… It's how this country was built.And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us, … if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button, … then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.And if so many brave men and women could wear our country's uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights, … then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights.… Surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire, … if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores, … if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, … if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time, … if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream, … and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love, … then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country — the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.That is what has made my story, and Barack's story, and so many other American stories possible.And I say all of this tonight not just as first lady, … and not just as a wife.You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.” My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what's best for our girls.Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters, … if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, … if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility — that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it — … then we must work like never before, … and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward: … my husband, our president, President Barack Obama.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

第五篇：克林頓 1992年民主黨全國代表大會上接受總統候選人提名的演講

1992年民主黨全國代表大會上接受總統候選人提名的演講

威廉·杰弗遜·克林頓 1992.7.16.于紐約

理查茲州長、布郎主席、狄更斯市長——我們熱情的東道主、我的代表伙伴們、我的美國同胞們、我為之驕傲的阿爾·戈爾：

戈爾他說今晚他來到這里，是因為在電視直播之前他總是要做些“熱身運動”。而我今年參加總統競選有一個而且只有一個原因：我希望回到這個大會并且完成我四年前開始的那個演講。

昨天晚上，馬里奧·柯默教給我們應怎樣作一個真正的接受總統候選人提名的演講，他也讓我們明白為什么我們必須使我們國家的航船馳向新的航道。今晚，我要跟你們談談我對于未來的希望，我對于美國人民的信念，以及我對于我們將共同建設的那種國家的憧憬。

我要向我在競選活動中的杰出的同事們致敬：湯姆·哈金、鮑勃·克里、堂·懷爾德、杰里·布郎和保羅·桑賈斯。

懸在我們共同搭建的講臺上的那名話表明了一切：美國所能采取的政策——最重要的家庭政策、城市政策、勞工政策、少數民族政策、以及外交政策，必然是促使那能帶來更多高技術高報酬的就業機會的自由經濟進一步擴展的政策。因此，以所有那些勞作納稅、養育子女、奉公守法的人民的名義，以所有那些構成了我們被遺忘的中產階級的勤奮工作的美國人的名義，我驕傲地接受美國總統候選人的提名。

我是中產階級的產兒，當我成了美國總統，你們將不再被遺忘。

我們——你們和我——相逢在一個特殊的歷史時刻：冷戰已經結束，蘇維埃共產主義已經崩潰；我們的價值觀——自由、民主、人權、自由競爭——已取得全球性的勝利。然而，就在我們于海外贏得冷戰的同時，我們卻輸掉了在國內創造平等的經濟機會和爭取社會正義的戰役。

既然我們已經改變了世界，是時候了——讓我們改變美國。

我要告訴那些貪婪的勢力和現狀的維護者：你們的時代曾經到來但已經過去，現在是改變美國的時代！

今天晚上，我的數以千萬計的美國同胞沒有工作，數千萬的人們更辛苦的工作只能換來更低廉的報酬。我們的現任總統說，在經濟復蘇開始之前，失業人數總會有些增加。我想，失業人數必須再增加一個，真正的經濟復蘇才能開始。那個人就是你，總統先生！

這次選舉就是要把權力交還到你們的手中，就是要使政府站回到你們一邊，就是要把人民放在第一位。

你們知道，這些話我說遍全國。無論何時，只要我這么說，總有人靠進我——就像本周在曼哈頓東區亨利街住宅區的一次社區會議一個年輕人所做的那樣。

他說：“那些聽起來不錯，比爾。但是，你是政客，我為什么要相信你呢？

今晚，我要盡可能坦率地告訴你們，我是誰，我信仰什么，我要把美國引向何方。我從未見過我父親。在我出生前三個月，他駕車從芝加哥趕往阿肯色去看望我媽媽，一路上下著雨，他在汽車失事時喪生。

那以后，媽媽必須獨自撫養我們。因此當她返回路易斯安那州學習護理專業時，我們只能同外祖父外祖母住在一起。直到今天，我依然清晰地記得透過當時只有三歲的眼睛所目睹的情形：媽媽她跪在站臺上，哭著把我交給坐在開往阿肯色的列車上的外祖母，媽媽忍受了那痛苦，因為她知道，只有做出犧牲才能給我更好的生活。是媽媽教育了我。她教我懂得家庭、勤奮工作和犧牲的真諦。她鎮定地承受一次又一次災難的打擊，她領著全家——我哥哥和我——共同渡過艱苦的歲月。

作為孩子，我曾目睹她每天離家上班，而那時代對一個在職媽媽來說并不總是那么容易。作為成人，我又目睹她戰勝乳腺癌，在如何保持勇氣方面再給我上了一課，她總是，總是要我去奮斗。

這就是為什么，我將為之奮斗以創造高收入的工作機會，使今天的父母能支付撫養子女的費用。

這就是為什么，我為之奮斗以確保每一個美國人都能得到那拯救了我母親生命的醫療保障，確保婦女在醫療保障上能得到和男子一樣的重視。

這就是為什么，我決心為之奮斗以確保婦女在這個國家享有尊嚴，受到尊重——不管她們是操持家務、外出工作，還是身兼二任。

你們想知道我的戰斗精神從何而來？它全都源自我的媽媽。謝謝你，媽媽。我愛你！每當我想起全體美國人的機會平等，我就想起我的外祖父。他經營我們霍普小鎮的一家鄉村雜貨店。那時還沒有政府發放的食品票，所以當他的顧客——不管他們是白人或黑人，只要他們努力工作盡其所能——他們身無分文走進小店，呃，他總是給他們食物，他只是隨便記上一筆。遇到此類情況，我也是照此辦理。

還在我長大到足以獨力照看柜臺之前，我已從他那里學會如何去尊重那些通常被人蔑視的人們。

我外祖父只念了高中——普通高中，然而在那鄉村雜貨店里，關于什么是上帝眼中的平等，他比喬治城大學所有的教授教給我的還要多；關于每一個體的基本價值，他比牛津大學所有的哲學家教給我的還要多；關于法律下公平審判的必要性，他教給我的比耶魯法學院所有的法學家還要多。

如果你想知道，我那要不分種族把全體人民團結起來的承諾的熱情從何而來。它全都源自我的外祖父。

從另一個人身上，我也獲益良多。有這么一個人，她勤奮工作逾二十年來幫助我們的孩子們：她犧牲大量的時間以確保我們的學校不會誤人子弟；她用一年時間走遍全國，傾聽、學習、研究，出席家庭教師協會、學校董事會以及市政廳的有關會議，推出了得到各地區驗證的學校改革的一攬子計劃。同時她在律師界奠定了良好的事業基礎，她又是一位了不起的充滿愛心的母親。

那個人就是我妻子。

希拉里告訴我，她告訴我，所有的孩子都能學習，我們每個人都有義務幫助他們。因此，如果你們想知道為什么我如此關心我們的孩子們我們的未來，這一切都源自希拉里。我愛你。

坦白說，我對那些向我們宣講家庭價值的華盛頓的政客們感到厭倦。我們的家庭是有價值的，但我們的政府卻一錢不值。

我要這樣一個美國，在那里，家庭的價值活在我們的行動中，而不只是停留在我們的演說里。我要這樣一個美國，她包容每一個家庭——每一個傳統的大家庭，每一個雙親的或單親的家庭，每一個收養的家庭，所有這些家庭。

對我們國家中那些選擇放棄他們的孩子，忽視對孩子的撫養義務的父親們，我想說幾句話：擔負起撫養孩子的義務來，否則我們將強迫你們這樣做。因為政府不能撫養孩子，而父母卻能，你們責無旁貸，今晚，我要告訴美國的每一個孩子——那些失去父親或母親正在長大成人的孩子——我了解你們的感受，你們也是獨一無二的。

你們對美國很重要。你們不能聽任別人告訴你們，說什么你們不能成為你們所希望成就的那種人。如果別的政治家讓你們覺得你們不屬于他們的家庭，來吧，成為我們之中的一員。

過去十二年的所有錯誤中最讓我憤怒的莫過于我們的政府將我們所珍視的價值棄如敝 2 屣，而我們的政治家卻把它們掛在嘴上喋喋不休，我煩透了這個。

我從小就相信，“美國夢”應該建立于“努力工作，必有回報”的基石之上。我們看到的卻是華盛頓的家伙把這一道德信條拋諸腦后。

太久了，那些奉公守法保持信仰的人得到的是不公正的待遇，那些投機取巧弄虛作假的人卻往往好處占盡。

人們工作得比以往更辛苦，他們陪伴孩子的時間比以往更少。以往參加家庭教師協會或童子軍活動的時間被擠占，取而代之的是夜間和周末的加班。他們的收入不斷下降，他們的稅負持續上升，而醫療保健、住宅和教育的開支更是漲上了天。

與此同時，越來越多的最優秀的人正在陷入貧困，盡管他們每周工作四十個小時。我們的人民呼喚改革，但政府卻擋在道上——它已經被特權階層的私利所劫持。它忘了就站在這里的那些真正為政府“埋單”的人們。我們必須超越華盛頓那僵化的政見，給人民一個他們應得的政府，一個為他們服務的政府。

總統，一個總統應該是推動進步的強大力量。但只是在今天，我才體會到林肯總統的感受——內戰期間，當麥克萊將軍不愿進攻時，林肯問他：“如果你不用你的軍隊，我能借用它嗎？”

同樣地，我說，喬治·布什，如果你不用你的權力來幫助美國，站一邊去，讓我來吧！我們的國家正在落后。總統成了一種失敗的經濟理論的俘虜。自從羅納爾多·里根和布什執政以來，我們的工資收入已從世界第一滑落到第十三。

四年前，總統候選人布什說：“美國是一個特殊的地方，不是在聯合國的名冊處于阿爾巴尼亞和津巴布韋之間的隨隨便便的一個什么國家。”今天，在現任總統布什的領導下，我們的經濟已然可悲地落到了德國和斯里蘭卡之間。

對絕大多數美國人而言，總統先生，比起你的政府執政以前，生活變得更少仁愛，更少溫暖。

聽聽他們的呼聲，在這方面多一些努力！

我們的國家滑落得如此之遠，如此之快，以致幾個月前，日本首相竟然說，他“同情美國”。“同情”？當我成了你們的總統，這世界上其他地方，其他地方的人們將不再憐憫地俯視美國，而是再一次懷著敬意仰視我們。

為解決我們的經濟問題，喬治·布什做了什么呢？

呃，四年前今天，他許諾要帶來一千五百萬新的就業機會，現在他卻造成了超過一千四百萬的職位短缺。阿爾·戈爾和我能做得更好。

他增加那些駕駛皮卡貨車的人們的稅負，卻為那些乘坐豪華轎車的人們減稅。我們能做得更好。

他承諾要平衡預算，卻始終光說不練。事實上，他向國會提交的預算案使我們的負債翻了將近一番。更糟的是，他浪費數十億美元并削減我們在教育以及創造就業機會方面的投資。我們能做得更好。

因此，如果你厭惡并倦怠于一個不努力創造就業機會的政府，如果你厭惡并倦怠于一個機關算盡來對付你的稅收系統，如果你厭惡并倦怠于債務的急劇增長和對未來投資的持續削減；或者，像人權先驅范尼·婁·哈默所說，你只是厭惡并倦怠于總是“厭惡并倦怠”，那么，加入我們，讓我們一同工作一同勝利，我們能夠使我們的國家成為真正意義上的國家。

眼下，喬治·布什正在談論一個美妙的“競賽”，可他卻沒有任何“競賽”計劃來重建美國——從城市到郊區到鄉村——以使我們能夠參與全球經濟的競爭并再次贏得勝利。但是，我有。

他不敢同龐大的保險公司、官僚機構較量以控制醫療保健的成本，給我們一種所有美國人都支付得起的保健服務。但是，我敢。

他甚至不愿采納他自己的艾滋病防治委員會的建議；但是，我愿。

他不會提高政府效率改變其工作方式，裁減十萬官員給美國城市的街道增加十萬新警官；但是，我會。

他從未平衡過政府預算，但是我已經平衡了十一次。

他不想打破特殊利益集團對選舉的束縛，不想排除各種游說團體對政府的干擾；但是，我想。

他不愿讓父母們有起碼的機會在他們的孩子出生或他們的雙親患病時享受帶薪假期；但是，我讓。

我們正在以驚人的速度失去我們的農莊，但他卻不肯承諾讓家庭保住他們的農莊；但是，我承諾。

關于毒品他說了很多，他卻不肯幫助第一線的人們發動緝毒滅罪的戰役；但是，我肯。他不能帶頭保護環境并利用環保科技為二十一世紀創造新的工作機會；但是，我能。你們知道嗎？他沒有阿爾·戈爾；但是，我有。我怕，我怕你們沒注意到——“戈爾”的最后一個字母是“E”。

并且，喬治·布什，喬治·布什不愿保證婦女選擇的權利；但是，我保證。聽我說，我并不贊成“流產”；我只是堅決贊成“選擇”。我相信那艱難而痛苦的選擇應該留給美國的婦女去做。

我希望個人的隱私權能夠得到保護而且我們無須在政治論壇上再來討論這個問題。然而我的年齡足以讓我記得羅伊·佛·威德以前的情形，我不想回到那把人工流產的婦女和她們的醫生看作罪犯的時代。

就業機會、學校教育、醫療保健，這些不是掛在我嘴上的承諾，而是我畢生的工作。“何者優先”必須清楚——我們將再次把人民放在第一位。然而這種“優先”若無清晰的行動計劃就只是空洞的言辭。要將美麗的言辭變成現實，我們就必須徹底改變政府的處事方式。否則，我們將繼續把數十億美元扔進下水道。

共和黨人反對大政府的選戰已經持續了一個時代。但是你們注意到沒有，他們竟然將這個政府運行了整整一個時代而未作任何改變！他們不想穩定政府，他們還是要發動選戰來反對它，這就是全部事實。

但是，我的民主黨伙伴們，是時候了，讓我們明白我們也必須做出某些改變。政府并沒有一個解決所有問題的萬全之策。如果我們要讓政府幫助人民，我們就必須讓它再次運轉起來。

因為我們承諾在這次大會在這個講壇上做出這些改變。用羅斯·佩羅自己今天的話來說，我們是新生的民主黨，新生的民主黨人。

我十分清楚，數十萬人正聚集在羅斯·佩羅的旗幟周圍，組成了一支要求變革的愛國者的大軍。今晚，我要對他們說，加入我們吧，讓我們一起使美國獲得新生。

眼下，我還沒有全部的答案，然而我確信老一套行不通。積極投資的經濟理論已經破產。龐大的官僚體系——無論是私營的還是公立的——都失敗了。

這就是為什么我們要給政府找一條新的途徑。一個更多授權而非集權的政府；一個給在校的——在公立學校的——年輕人更多的選擇，給接受長期保健的老年人和殘疾人更多的選擇的政府；一個更像引導者而非定義者的政府；一個增加機會而非擴充官僚機構的政府；一個明了就業機會只能來自活潑的生機勃勃的自由企業體系的政府。

我把這條新的途徑叫做“新的契約”——一個人民和政府之間的莊嚴的協議，它并不簡單地立足于我們能從國家索取什么，更立足于我們必須向國家奉獻什么。

我們提供基于傳統價值之上的新的選擇。我們提供機會，我們要求責任。我們將重建美國社會。我們提供的選擇，既不是保守主義的，也不是自由主義的；從更豐富的層面看，甚 4 至既不是共和主義的也不是民主主義的。它是截然不同的，它是全新的。它將有效。它所以有效，因為它深深地植根于美國人民所信守的價值和美國人民對未來的憧憬之中。

喬治·布什說過的話中我不能同意的，可能也是最讓我厭煩的，是他對美國人民尋求和探索更美好的未來這一傳統的嘲笑和貶低。他嘲笑這憧憬是“泡影”。

然而，我們只要想想圣經的教諭：“沒有憧憬，人民便趨于滅亡。”

我希望，我希望，今晚，在這個大會堂，在我們這個可愛的國家，沒有誰在邁向明天時心里沒有憧憬。我希望沒有誰在養育子女時心里沒有憧憬。我希望沒有誰在開始自己的事業或在地里種植莊稼時心里沒有憧憬。因為，“沒有憧憬，人民便趨于滅亡。”

這個國家如此多的孩子在如此多的方面陷入如此多的麻煩，原因之一，便是他們看到的是如此少的機會，如此少的責任心，如此少的充滿愛和關懷的社區。以致他們甚至無法想象我們召喚他們去過的那種新的生活。

因此，我要重申：沒有憧憬，美國將趨于滅亡。

那么，我們和未來的新的契約中包含怎樣的憧憬呢？

一個有著數百萬新的就業機會的有著十多個新興產業的，自信地邁向二十一世紀美國。一個這樣的美國，她向企業家和生意人宣告：我們將提供比以前更多的激勵和機會讓你們提高工人的技能，在全球經濟中為美國創造更多的就業機會更多的財富；但是你們必須做好你們的本分，你們必須盡自己的責任。美國的公司必須再次像美國公司那樣行動——輸出我們的產品而不是就業機會。

這就是新契約的應有之意。

一個這樣的美國，在那里，高校的大門將再次為速記員和煉鋼工人的子女們敞開。我們將宣布：每個人都可貸款進入高校，但是你們必須盡你們的本分：你們必須償還，用你們未來的薪金——或者更好一些——回到你們的家鄉服務于你們的社區。

只要想想，想想這樣一幅圖景：千千萬萬精神充沛的青年男女服務于他們的國家——維護治安，教育兒童，看護病人照顧老人殘疾人，或幫助年青人使他們遠離毒品和幫派。它必然給我們所有人一種感覺，一種充滿無限可能和希望的感覺。

這就是新契約的應有之意。

一個這樣的美國，在那里，醫療保健是基本權利而非特權；在那里，我們要告訴我們的人民：“你們的政府終于有勇氣挑戰醫療保健行業的奸商，提供每個家庭能夠支付得起的醫療服務。” 但是你們必須盡你們的本分。做好預防工作——搞好妊娠衛生，搞好兒童免疫；珍惜生命，節約金錢，避免家庭悲劇的發生。

這就是新契約的應有之意。

這樣一個美國，中產階級的收入而非他們的稅負將持續增長。這樣一個美國，是的，在那里少數最富的人那些年收入超過二十萬美元的人將被要求承擔公平的稅負。這樣一個美國，在那里富人不只是濕濕鞋，中產階級也不會淹死——責任必須從最上層開始。

這就是新契約的應有之意。一個這樣的美國，在那里我們將如根據我們的了解為社會福利規定限度。我們要對那些依靠福利的人說：你們將享有，你們也應該享有——機會，完備的訓練和教育，完善的兒童撫育和醫療保障以充分發掘你們的潛能。但是那以后，只要可能你就必須工作，因為社會福利只是輔助的手段，而不是生活方式。

這就是新契約的應有之意。

一個這樣的美國，它擁有世界上最強大的防衛力量，必要時它能夠并且愿意使用武力。一個這樣的美國，它站在維持和保護我們公共環境增加全球植被的最前線。一個這樣的美國，它不會縱容暴君——從巴格達到北京。一個這樣的美國，它支持自由和民主的事業——從東歐到南非，在我們自己所在的半球 5 在海地在古巴。

冷戰的結束，允許我們在保持世界最強大的防衛力量的同時削減國防開支，但是我們必須把削減下的每一個美元都用于在國內創造就業機會。我深知世界需要一個強大的美國，但是我們都認識到力量源自國內。

然而，這個新的契約不僅涉及你們和你們家庭的機會和責任，它更涉及我們共同的社會。今晚，你們每一個人都深知我們有太多的分歧。是時候了，讓美國“痊愈”。

因此，我必須告訴每一個美國人，超越那些使我們盲目的陳腐偏見。我們彼此需要——我們所有人——我們彼此需要。我們沒有一個多余的人。但是太久了，政客們總是說我們中的多數都做得不錯，真正對美國有害的只是剩下的那些人——他們。

他們，少數族裔；他們，自由主義者；他們，窮人；他們，無家可歸者；他們，殘疾人；他們，同性戀者。

我們已經快要被“他們”置于死地。他們，他們，他們！但是，這里是美國，這里沒有“他們”，只有“我們”！

“上帝庇佑之下，一個不可分割的國家，自由正義屬于所有的人。” 這就是我們的《效忠誓言》，這就是新契約的應有之意。

為何我知道我們能聚合起來讓變革發生？因為我已看到它發生在我自己的州。在阿肯色，我們同心協力并取得了進展。不，沒有什么阿肯色奇跡，只有許多奇跡般的阿肯色人。因為他們，我們的學校更好，我們的工資更高，我們的工廠更忙，我們的水源更清，而且我們的預算平衡。我們正在穩步向前。

我希望能對現任總統治下的美國說同樣的話。他領導了世界上最富有的國家卻讓她走了下坡路。我們接管的是美國最窮的州，但是我們讓她向上走。

所以我要對那些在這選戰正酣的時節試圖批評阿肯色的人們說：住口！尤其對那些來自華盛頓的家伙，我要說，住口！的確，你們將看到我們正在努力奮斗以解決一些尚未解決的問題，你們也將看到那么多杰出的人正在從事令人驚訝的工作，從中你們也許可以學到一些東西。

說到底，我的美國同胞們，這個新的契約只是要求我們再次成為真正的美國人，新時代的傳統的美國人——機會、責任、社會。

只要我們團結起來，就將推動美國向前。回顧這個國家的全部歷史，我們一次又一次地看到，只要我們萬眾一心，我們前進的步伐就無可阻擋。

我們能夠抓住這個時刻，讓作為美國人再次成為令人激動精神煥發無上光榮的事情。我們能夠重建我們的信念，我們能夠重建舉國一致的認識。

正如圣經所說：“我們所能成就的，非我們的眼睛所曾見過，非我們的耳朵所曾聽聞，非我們的頭腦所能想象。”

然而，我不能單打獨斗，沒有哪個總統能。我們必須同心協力。它并不輕松，也不會很快完成。我們不是一夜之間陷入困境的，我們也不可能一夜之間擺脫困境。憑著承諾、創造、多樣性和無窮的動力，我們能夠完成。

我們能夠完成。我們能夠完成。我們能夠完成。

我要求這個會場的每一個人，這個國家的每一個人，伸出手來，和我們一起開始新的偉大的冒險，勇敢地描繪我們輝煌的未來。

作為十幾歲的少年，我曾聆聽約翰·肯尼迪呼喚公民權利義務的演講。那以后，作為喬治城大學的學生，我又聆聽了卡羅爾·奎格利教授對此所做的闡釋。他告訴我們，美國是歷史上最偉大的國家，因為我們的人民堅信兩條：

一、明天會比今天更好；

二、我們每一個人 6 都在道德上都有責任讓它成為現實。

那樣，那樣一種未來，在我們的女兒切爾西降生之時走進了我的生命。當我站在產房之中，我被一個想法所壓倒：上帝給了我一個我父親不能領會的祝福——把自己的孩子抱在懷里。

此刻，在美國的某個地方一個孩子正在降生。讓它成為我們的事業：給那孩子一個幸福的家園，一個健康的家庭，一個充滿希望的未來。讓它成為我們的事業：給那孩子一個機會，實現上帝賦予她的全部潛能。

讓它成為我們的事業：看護那孩子，讓他健壯、安全，讓他在家庭和朋友的支持下迎接生活的挑戰而從不單槍匹馬，讓他樹立一個信念——在美國，沒有誰被遺棄，沒有誰落在后面。

讓它成為，讓它成為我們的事業：只要那孩子能夠，她將做出回報，回報她的孩子、她的社區、她的國家。讓它成為我們的事業：給那孩子一個日益團結而不是趨于分裂的國家，一個充滿無限希望無窮夢想的國家，一個再次振奮人民激勵世界的國家。讓它成為我們的事業我們的承諾我們的新的契約。

我的美國同胞們，今晚我在這里結束我的演講，一切將從這里開始。我始終相信一個地方——它就是希望。

上帝保佑你們，上帝保佑美國。