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Public Comments - Speeches
Oregon Democratic Convention
June 3, 2006Thank you for that kind introduction.
It is humbling to share this stage with Superintendent Castillo, Congresswoman Hooley, and Governor Kulongoski.
Not long ago I was in Iraq. I didn’t imagine then that I would have this honor.
And this morning, as I thought about what I was going to say to you tonight, I was drawn to a poem that all of us know.
I decided that the last three lines of his famous poem would be relevant for this evening.
Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood – and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
I believe we are all here tonight because we have taken the road less traveled.
Each of us could be somewhere else; it is a beautiful evening – all of us have friends, family, and other interests.
But we chose – and continue to choose – to be involved in something larger than ourselves; we have made a decision to take the less traveled path because we share something in common.
We are here because we are kindred spirits; true believers.
We believe that Oregon is worth our time, talent, and treasure; we believe that Our Oregon is something special – we believe that the Oregon we love is not yet dead.
We believe we can do better because too much is at stake.
Tonight, I am here to answer three questions every candidate should be ready to provide at all times: who is this guy? Why is this guy running? And, why does it matter?
To begin with, I am a former mayor, soldier, volunteer firefighter, and teacher.
After serving in the USAF I returned to Monmouth and was elected to serve as mayor; I was the last mayor of a dry town in Oregon.
In fact, I was serving as mayor when we were attacked on September 11, 2001.
My unit was recalled to involuntary active duty for twenty-four months; after that time with a marriage lost, a job that had been given away, and a political career that had been put on hold – I decided to stay on active duty for an additional two years to help out.
Now I want to take a moment and explain something. For veterans, 9-11 has a unique, painful, significance.
You see, for most of us – we wore the uniform, did all kinds of things, and took in stride because we believed that somehow doing what we did – would keep our families safe, our communities secure.
9-11 changed all that. They attacked my Tower; my Pentagon.
Simply put, this fight is personal – I lost a man on the way to Baghdad in 2003 – I have served throughout the nation working to secure our homeland; I am frustrated by the lack of progress – we are less secure than we should be.
Some here also know that I have spent time in Wyoming - protecting the Vice-President at his secret locale - on the golf course.
When disaster struck New Orleans, there was an opportunity for our unit to lead-turn and provide additional support for the relief effort.
We weren't allowed to do that because the Vice-President decided to continue his vacation after making the media rounds; that isn't leadership - that isn't patriotism - that was a failure of conscience.
Sadly it was both representative - and symbolic - of an administration that has lost touch with what, and who matters most - the people.
I am running for the Oregon Senate because we need change; it is the center of gravity for the issues that I can best advance – I am running because I returned home to an Oregon that is at risk.
And I am running because I am tired of our friends of the other side of the aisle suggesting that Patriotism is a Republican value.
Let me tell you something, Patriotism isn’t a Republican value – it is an American value.
We must focus on educational security; making our schools safer, making our classrooms smaller, and providing the support structure for children to be able to learn.
We must focus on infrastructure; we must build the roads, communications, and high tech instruments necessary to support private sector development – we must build a growing economy.
And we must focus on developing disaster response capacities that will keep us safe. We must not have another Katrina – not on my watch.
This year we have the opportunity to begin the hard work of turning our ship of state - we have a precious little time left to change course - to reclaim our promise.
Thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight; thank you for allowing me to share this hall - this moment - with men and women of passion and conscience.
Let us begin anew.
