The Honorable Gary Locke's Speech Before the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, July 29, 2004

/EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY OF SPEECH, SCHEDULED FOR 5:43 P.M. EDT TODAY, JULY 29/

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

Good evening. From the great state of Washington, hello Democrats! I stand before you tonight as a child of immigrants. Like so many of you, our family came to America in search of freedom, opportunity, and a better life.

My father served his adopted country in World War II, landing at Normandy Beach with the U.S. Army. I learned English when I entered kindergarten, at the same time that my Mom learned English to become a U.S. citizen.

Through hard work and education, our family's dreams were rewarded. We found an America where reaching the middle class was within everyone's grasp, where every generation could go farther than the generation before.

We found a land respected and admired all over the world. That's the real America. That's the real America our families came in search of and aspired to. And that's the real America we will restore and reclaim when we elect President John Kerry and Vice President John Edwards.

John Kerry and John Edwards will build an America that is stronger at home and respected around the world. They will fight to create good paying middle- class jobs. John Kerry and John Edwards will work to make sure every American has access to affordable, quality health care.

John Kerry and John Edwards understand that to be truly independent as a nation, we must end our reliance on Middle Eastern oil. They know that for America to effectively lead the world, we must be respected around the world.

They have the experience, the commitment, and the credibility to make America's foreign policy one of inclusion, not exclusion. A safer America is not an America standing alone. It's an America standing with our allies standing inside, not outside the family of nations.

America has the technology, the inventiveness, and the spirit to realize the dreams and aspirations of every American family. What we need is leadership and vision. And John Kerry and John Edwards are those leaders and they have that vision.

Our parents and grandparents and ancestors came to these shores in search of freedom and opportunity and a better life. Together, working with the American people, John Kerry and John Edwards will restore those values, restore those dreams, and restore the real America we all love and admire.

God bless America and God bless you all!

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

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

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