Speech for campaign rally at the Brooklyn Community Center, Cleveland, OH, November 5, 1984.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/1035/thumbnail.jp

Ferraro, Geraldine

English

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law SchoolFLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and HistorySpeeches 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign11-5-1984Cleveland Rally Speech, Brooklyn CommunityCenterGeraldine FerraroFollow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984Part of the Law CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign at FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. It has been accepted for inclusion in Speeches by an authorized administrator of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. For more information, please contact tmelnick@law.fordham.edu.Recommended CitationFerraro, Geraldine, "Cleveland Rally Speech, Brooklyn Community Center" (1984). Speeches. 36.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/36BROOK! YN COMM!INTTY CENTER -- Cl FVEI AND. OHIO NOVEMBER 5. 1984 THANK YOU, MARY RosE, FOR THAT TERRIFIC INTRODUCTION. You KNOW, !'VE BEEN BACK TO OHIO AGAIN AND AGAIN SINCE WE BEGAN THIS CAMPAIGN THREE MONTHS AGO, AND ONE OF THE REASONS l KEEP COMING BACK IS MY COLLEAGui;IMARY RosE DAKAR.;' IN MARY ROSE, THE PEOPLE OF BROOKLYN -- AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF OHIO ~HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE WHO FIGHTS FOR YOUR FAMILIES EVERY DAY./ IT'S ALSO WONDERFUL TO SEE YOUR GREAT GovERNOR, DICK CELESTE, HERE THIS MORNING./AND I- WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS ' TO MAYOR COYNE OF BROOKLYN, WHO IS GOING TO SWING CUYAHOGA (KA'I•A•HO•GA) COUNTY INTO THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN TOMORROW WITH THE SAME SKILL THAT HE USES TO BUILD THIS GREAT CITY, Now I KNOW IT'S STILL A LITTLE EARLY IN THE MORNING -- BUT YOU LOOK LIKE A PRETTY ALERT GROUP TO ME, AND THOUGH THE ~ POLLS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS CHANCE TO TAKE MY ~ SCIENTlF,IC, OB~ECTIVE SURVEY, ARE WE GOING TO WIN OHIO TOMORR~ ARE WE GOING TO SEND WALTER MoNDALE TO THE WHITE HouSE AND RONALD REAGAN BACK TO THE RANCH? BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 2 You BET WE ARE. THIS ELECTION IS NOT A DUEL BETWEEN PERSONALITIES. You CAN LIKE RONALD REAGAN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR HIM. MR. REAGAN MAY BE CHARMING, FUNNY, AND PLEASANT. BUT THERE'S NOTHING CHARMING ABOUT CUTTING CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS, THERE'S NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT TOXIC WASTE THAT CAUSES CANCER. AND THERE'S NOTHING PLEASANT ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND MINORITIES. TOMORROW, WHEN YOU VOTE, LOOK BEYOND THE PERSONALITIES. AND WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE BOOTH~THINK ABOUT WHAT MEAN TO y~ G~Tioo/ TO YOUR CHILDREN./ANo CHILDREN. -YOUR VOTE WILL TO YOUR CHILDREN'S ---I FEEL A SPECIAL KINSHIP WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS AUDITORIUM THIS MORNING BECAUSE, LIKE MANY OF You/ MY PAREPff6 tc.~. CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM ANOTHER LAND. lk Mv FA-TH&R CAME TO AMERICA THINKING THE STREETS WOULD BE PAVED WITH GOLD.~HE FOUND NOT GOLD, BUT GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES,,;' WHEN HE DIED, MY MOTHER WENT TO V..ORK IN NEW YORK'S GARMENT DISTRICT SO THAT I COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRY TO GET AHEAD IN THE V..ORLD, MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME THAT THERE IS NO GREATER GOOD, NO FINER REWARD, THAN TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 3 THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN, TO OBEY THE LAW, TO \;llCRK HARD, TO GET ALONG WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, AND TO LOVE OUR COUNTRY, FAMILIES TEACH THE BEDROCK VALUES, So WHEN GOVERNMENT TOUCHES FAMILY LIFE -'AND IT DOES EVERY DAY AND EVERY HOUR -/wE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT SUPPORTS, NQJ -W~ENs/ AMERICAN FAMILIES./ HUBERT HUMPHREY, WHO STOOD IN THIS ROOM SIXTEEN YEAR5 AGO, I TOLD US THAT THE MOST CRITICAL TEST OF ANY SOCIETY IS HOW IT TREATS THOSE PEOPLE IN ~DAWN AND SUNSET OF LIFE, /AND IN THE -LAST FOUR YEARi RONALD REAGAN HAS FA!~ THAT TEST AGAIN AND AGAIN .. RONALO REAGAN T~KS ABOUT FAMILY(BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, WHEN YOU SL.ASH CHILD NUTRITION,~DAY CARE FUNDS;' AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR H·~NDICAPPED CHILDREN,/,-HAT DOESN'T HELP FAMILIES,/ IT HURTS THEIR ABILITY TO PROVDE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I WHEN YOU GUT THE STUDENT LOAN PROGAM,/THAT DOESN'T HELP FAMILIES.~!T DEPRIVES MANY FAM~LIES OF THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE TO SEE THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS GO TO COLLEGE AND GET AHEAD IN LIFE. RONALD REAGAN'S IDEA OF HELPING EDUCATION IS TO SEND A BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 4 TEACHER INTO SPACE, BUT I SAY WE HAVE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HERE ON EARTH, 3w1 WHEN YOU TRY TO~ THE CHILD ABUSE ACT, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT HELPING FAMILIES, THAT'S PERMITTING THE CRUELEST, MOST SHAMEFUL ANTI-FAMILY ACT OF ALL -- VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN, AND WHEN YOU TRY TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS,/THAT DOESN'T HELP FAMILIES, ~ONE OF RONALD REAGAN'S CHIEF ADVISORS HAS CALLED SOCIAL SECURITY JUST/11ANOTHER TAX AND BENEFIT PROGRAM."/ DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAY KNOWN BETTER. SocIAL SECURITY Is AJOND } C.0 .. 11~ BETWEEN GENERATIONS~ A ~IP WHICH MUST NOT BE BROKEN, A CONTRACT WHICH FRITZ MONDALE AND I WILL FOLLOW TO THE LETTER. RONALD REAGAN ISN'T ~ SURE WHERE HE STANDS ON SOCIAL SECURITY,/ ASK HIM WHERE HE ~LD CUT THE BUDGET AND HE SAYS/ J-~~ ~ ~ \I y.v-- ' /, LOOK AT WHAT I WANTED TO CUT BUT tHE CONG~ESS STOPPED, (AND THE FACT rs: ONE OF THE FIRST PROGRAMS RONALD REAGAN WENT AFTER WAS SOCIAL SECURITY(' CONGRESS STOPPED MAJOR ATTACKS, //BUT THIS PRESIDENT STILL CUT LUMP-SUM DEATH BENEFITS~ ELIMINATED EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORs,/DELAYED BENEFITS FOR NEW/ RECIPIENTS/ AND ROUNDED PAYMENTS ~~~THE NEAREST DOLLAR/EVEN AS HE ROUNDED THE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS '\DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION ue TO THE NEAREST MILLION, I SAY, LET'S NOT ROLL THE DICE WITH THE LIVES OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. LET'S HAVE RONALD REAGAN COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 5 BACK IN CALIFORNIA, RATHER THAN CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY IN WASHINGTON. To BUILD OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FUTURE,~E MUST ALSO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT AMERICA BACK TO WORK~GAIN.~lAST FRIDAY, MR • ... REAGAN GAVE THE PEOPLE OF CLE'J11ELAND A SNEAK PREVIEW OF HIS SECOND TERM/ HE SAID: "You A:N'T SEEN NOTHING YET."/ AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER AIR FORCE ONE TOOK OFF/LEAVING A TRAIL OF HOLLo.I PROMISE?7 ANOTHER FOUR HUNDRED OHIO STEELWORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS -- PERMANENTLY/ ______,.. - ---- -IF THAT'S WHAT FOUR MORE YEARS WILL BRING,/r, FOR ONE, DON'T WAN:T TO SEE THE SEQUEL.j"'WHEN YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS LOSE THEIR J0Bs;1' IT'S TIME FOR THIS PRESIDENT TO LOSE HIS.~ AND I HAVE NEWS FOR HIM: DIVIDING THIS NATION INTO "HAVES" AND "HAVE-NOTS" WON'T STRENGTHEN THIS COUNTRY, I WAS IN SILICON VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA TWO WEEKS AGO, SPEAKING TO THE EMPLOYEES OF A COMPUTER COMPANY. ANO I TOLD THEM WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU: WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A MORE COMPETITIVE ECONOMY, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. As THE WORKERS OF OHIO KNOW, WHEN ONE SEGMENT OF THE ECONOMY COLLAPSES, IT TAKES OTHER SEGMENTS DOWN WITH IT. WHEN ONE INDUSTRY IS IN TROUBLE, ALL INDUSTRIES ARE THREATENED. LET . BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 6 OTHERS TRY TO DIVIDE AMERICA REGION AGAINST REGION, IN MY BOOK IT'S NOT A COMPLETE RECOVERY UNTIL WORKERS EVERYWHERE HAVE RECOVERED THEIR JOBS, ()...... RONALD REGAN SAYS AMERICA IS BACK AND STANDING TALL, " 8UT ALMOST 80,000 MEN AND WOMEN lN AND AROUND CLEVELAND WANT -~ TO WORK AND CAN'T FIND JOBS~ I SAY AMERICA IS NOT BACK AND -STANDING TALL UNTIL THE STEELWORKERS OF OHIO, THE AUTOWORKERS OF ---MICHIGAN, AND THE FARMERS OF OUR NATION ARE ALSO STANDING TALL, --WE CANNOT LEAVE ANY INDUSTRY OR REGION BEHIND, AND WE MUST NOT PREVENT ANY PERSON FROM SUCCEEDING, EVERY TIME WE LOWER A BARRIER, OUR NATION IS STRONGER, EVERY TIME WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TALENTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED, OUR NATION IS RICHER, WALTER MoNDALE AND I WANT A COUNTRY THAT JUDGES PEOPLE NOT BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. AND WE WANT A COUNTRY THAT KEEPS FAITH WITH WOMEN. WHEN I TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR MY SECOND TERM AS VICE PRESDIENT, I WANT TO SWEAR TO UPHOLD A CONSTITUTION THAT INCLUDES THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, HELPING OUR FAMILIES ALSO MEANS LEVELLING WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT THE TAXES THEY HAVE TO PAY. FOR THREE MONTHS, WE BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 7 e. HVAE TOLD YOU THAT RONALD ~GAN HAS A SECRET PLAN TO RAISE TAXES. TIME AND AGAIN, SINCE THIS CAMPAIGN BEGAN, HE DENIED IT. WELL, FRIDAY --~E SAME DAY HE TOLD US THAT WE AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET h WE FOUND OUT THE TRUTH IN A LEAK FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT./IT TURNS OUT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO ELIMINATE YOUR DEDUCTION FOR STATE AN7D LOCAL TAXES.;'THAT INCLUDES INCOME TAXES AND REAL ESTATE TAXES. AND THAT MEANS UNDER RONALD REAGAN'S PLAN YOU'LL BE TAXED TWICE ON WHAT YOU EARN. /JusT THINK WHAT TH/AT WOULD MEAN FOR AVERAGE AMERICANS WHO WANT TO BUY A HOME. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT RONALD REAGAN WANTS TO TAX ALL "UNEMPLOYMENT AND INORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS. Now THAT'S HivTING BELOW THE BELT. I SAY IT'S UNFAIR TO INCREASE THE BURDEN ON THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HURT OR JOBLESS. EVEN N™, THE PRESIDENT INON'T LEVEL WITH you/ HE KEEPS PEDDLING PHONY STATISTICS ABOUT OUR DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN. lauT c::::::' - / WHEN HE WAS ASKED ON FRIDAY ABOUT .l::ilS. TAX PLANS HE SAID: "I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT UNTIL I HAVE THE REPORT."/ WHAT HE DIDN'T SAY IS~HAT HE WON'T GET THAT REPORT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. 1 . I SAY IT'S TIME TO STOP THE SURPRISES AND END THE RUN-AROUND. !T'S TIME FOR THE TRUTH. AND IF PRESIDENT REAGAN WON'T LEVEL WITH US, LET'S ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL, BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 8 llr!Li £14e el!!JA F:9:t1-il!!H!S ALSO l'IEAl'JS PROIECI ING Ot::J" !fhI~8PJP1mtlTz -b'e ':J .. PJ IT HAVE ANY K BjQ QF FUll'l!Qi I 'I'fil letH Tl Ii 5 FCAIQ! I • ':J!! 11:2' 'E rq ot.LSER 9' IA I °D'li; @1?!11( ChtC:e"f!Ph otlld Q!IQ ls:f\'ii FA!! I i(djij Te><Ie -'O"#lc8Tmiu *""DOPP' :AiflLidLANS ALREJ1t9\' fll!l!T uue""' J1t!l61?!1T Tlli :':IR TllFY )5,..zA I HE, ?I I! )tJJll'f'I!!" Tl 1!!7:' BA Il4K.. AIQD I A£ CAIJ! Tl ICY i\Jfh T111s AoMllUSIRAI IDIQ RAS Tl!slSl"EP rrs P 0 '¥1< 8PJ TlleP1: T11ev LEI"" a.rte I A£ y I )liq I lsEEB T8 I lilsfP L.;881811!! 8811881!! QiiliRHiT8 RSMQ"&i 0 iiliiT'iii FRefl sefll!! JJ .. eee POBLM @el 1881sli ,. Ri'1iJ1Bifh 11119 IS IRE :9:t!P1IPJiliTliHTI!14 IAAI GAVE OS dAi•iES \JATT 0'4CI!!.. AIQD ANNE !ORI e"o 1\J! 8f I I si•o 1Je r4zzo AN Ao11Irne•"'•c?1er. T11Ar TJ1tlll!i P8LLl?lT!"s T8' 88~~T; rtlfCD Ice• T8 i!:!lfJii I 0 AND FINALLY .. THERE'S NO GREATER GIFT WE CAN GIVE OUR FAMILIES THAN THE GIFT OF PEACE./' AND LIVING UP TO THAT GREAT GOAL MEANS ENDING THE ARMS RACE. PRESIDENT REAGAN IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT SINCE HooVER NOT TO MEET WITH HIS SOVIET COUNTERPART. HE IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAWN OF THE NUCLEAR AGE NOT TO SIGN AN ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT. l SAY WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL CALL ON THE SOVIET LEADER BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 9 TO NEGOTIATE ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, NOT ON THE FIRST DAY OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, I SAY WE NEED A LEADER LIKE WALTER MONDALE. FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT WALTER MONALE FROM THE REPUBLICANS. Now IT'S MY TURN. I'VE KN°""" WALTER MONDALE FOR SIX YEARS. BUT I'VE KN°""" ABOUT HIS RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE FOR 20 YEARS. IT'S A RECORD ANYONE CAN BE PROUD OF, AND FEW CAN MATCH. HE'S A GOOD MAN, HE'S A COURAGEOUS MAN, AND WHEN HE ASKED ME TO BE HIS RUNNING MATE, HE DID MORE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN ONE DAY THAN RONALD REAGAN HAS DONE IN FOUR LONG YEARS. You KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN WHERE HE'S BEEN. HE WROTE THE FAIR HoUSING ACT. HE WROTE THE LANDMARK CHILD CARE ACT OF THE EARLY 1970's. HE'S FOUGHT FOR ~CONTROL HIS WHOLE PUBLIC LIFE. NAME A CAUSE THAT STRENGTHE AMERICAN FAMILIES~ANO WALTER - -MONDALE HAS LED THE FIGHT. I SAY IF WE WANT CARING AND STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR AMERICA, THE TIME THAS COME TO STAND UP AND FIGHT -- AND VOTE -- FOR WALTER MONALE. ON SATURDAY, GEORGE BUSH SAID (QUOTE) "I'D HATE TO BE ON A -BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 10 TICKET WITH WALTER MONDALE THIS YEAR," WELL, GEORGE, LET ME PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE. WE WOULDN'T HAVE YOU. YESTERDAY MORNING, A R~RTER ASKED ME FOR MY RESPONSE, HE ASKED ME IF ! COULD RUN ON A TICKET WITH RONALD REAGAN. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ! TOLD HIM: ! COULDN'T BE A CHEERLEADER FOR THE COVET WAR IN NICARAGUA. ! COULDN'T SING THE PRAISES OF STAR WARS OR THE ARMS RACE, AND I COULDN'T FOLLOW ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BURY THE ERA AND ROLL BACK DECADES OF PROGRESS TOWARD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. I HAVE MY INTEGRITY. I HAVE MY PRINCIPLES, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT. WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO WIN THIS ELECTION, WE ARE GOING TO ~ PROVE THAT AMERICANS ARE NOT A SELFISH PEOPLE. WE ARE GOING TO SHOW THAT THE ARMS RACE CAN AND MUST BE STOPPED. WE ARE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AMERICANS BELIEVE IN HUMAN RIGHTS, WE ARE GOING TO PROVE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED, FOR ALL THOSE COUNTED OUT BEFORE THEIR TALENTS WERE ADDED UP, FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT NOTHING MORE THAN A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THAT IF WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO ANYTHING, \ BROOKLYN CENTER/CLEVELAND, OH PAGE 11 AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVE ONE MORE THING: THE POLLS ARE WRONG. SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS ELECTION CANNOT BE WON. l SAY IT CAN BE. I SAY IT MUST BE. AND l SAY, WITH YOUR HELP, IT WILL BE. THANK YO! I VERY Ml ICH I -- END --

Cleveland Rally Speech, Brooklyn Community Center

https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&amp;context=vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984

Cleveland Rally Speech, Brooklyn Community Center

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