The Honorable Jack Ford's Speech Before the Democratic National Convention Thursday, July 29, 2004

/EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY OF SPEECH, SCHEDULED FOR 4:16 P.M. EDT TODAY, JULY 29/

BOSTON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by the Honorable Jack Ford at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, July 29, 2004:

Hello Democrats and a special salute to my fellow Ohioans! I bring you greetings from Toledo, home of the Toledo Mud Hens and the world-famous Jeep! We Ohioans know something about electing presidents. No Republican president in recent history has won an election without Ohio.

Well, you know what Ohio Democrats must and will do in November? Win Ohio!

As mayor of the great city of Toledo, I have seen first hand the impact the last four years have had on our cities and our working families. In Toledo and all across America, middle-class families are being squeezed.

More than anyone else, working families are shouldering the burden of spiraling health care premiums, higher gas prices, rising child care expenses and wages that don't keep up with what it takes to make ends meet. The middle class and those families who strive to make it to the middle class can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But, let me assure you brighter days are ahead for America when we elect John Kerry and John Edwards. You and I must be unrelenting every single day to make this happen. Victory depends on the fight we wage town to town, ward to ward, precinct to precinct, door to door, hand to hand because John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to make America stronger at home and respected in the world.

They will revive both Ohio's and America's manufacturing sector, create new jobs and protect existing ones. They will work to stop the unconscionable practice of exporting American jobs overseas. And they will push fair trade practices that help American workers not hurt them.

Health care will no longer be a privilege. It will be a right. And urban America will finally get a truly fair housing policy, a common-sense approach to fixing our economy and an administration that works with us not against us.

Now, more than ever, we need a president who stands for America and our working families. Now, more than ever, we need a president who understands how to get the economy running and bring back jobs to our community.

Fellow Democrats, the time for talk is over. The hour of action is upon us. And tonight, the man and the hour will meet. And that man will be the next president of the United States-John Kerry! Thank you.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/