For Kerry, a nonspeech
By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist | May 24, 2004
US Senator John F. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is considering forgoing accepting his party's nomination at the convention this July. I offer this early draft of Senator Kerry's nonacceptance speech:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, delegates. Thank you, you suckers from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and FOX, for attending our nominating -- pardon me, our four-day "unity conference."
As you know by now, there are four magic words I cannot utter this evening. But they really don't matter, my friends, because we all know why we're here tonight. I know how you feel, and you know how I feel. We don't have to say it out loud.
I'd like to say a few words about my good friend Tom Menino, the mayor of this great city. Mayor, all Democrats owe you a debt of gratitude for your tireless efforts in shaking down everyone in town to raise money for this fabulous shindig. People will say it was all for nothing, that nothing is really taking place here, and frankly, they're right.
But just because I can't accept that thing I can't accept here in my hometown, just because there's a traffic jam outside from Lowell to the Sagamore Bridge, just because you're being picketed by dozens of unions without contracts, doesn't mean that we haven't accomplished a great thing together.
Thank you, mayor, for this wonderful showcase for my campaign's stunning indecision and ineptitude. Teresa and I will never forget it.
To my longtime colleague Edward Kennedy, who is at home in Hyannis tonight -- and why shouldn't he be? -- let me just say that we don't need a convention to tell everyone how much Massachusetts means to the Democratic Party. It's true that we've never had a convention without a nominee before. But, as we both know, Massachusetts is a state of "firsts."
My friends, we're gathered here to begin a great journey. Well, not to begin it -- we don't want to give the Federal Elections Commission the wrong idea. Let's just say we're here to take a major step.
I know all of us stand together in deploring the role of money in politics. My friends, we will return politics to the people. We will break the stranglehold of the wealthy and powerful on our government.
The thing is, we can't return politics to the people just yet. We can't stop collecting millions until the Republicans do. We need every dime we can get our hands on, to make sure we can explain to the American people exactly how we're different from our competitors.
Some people say it's bizarre, a nominating convention without a nomination. Slaves to convention! We aren't afraid to think outside the box, and that is the kind of leadership America is hungry for.
I know what some of you are thinking by now: Why are we here? That is a good question, and I think it's important to answer it. We are here to celebrate Boston. I hope you get to the Aquarium and to Legal Sea Foods, and take a ride or two on the T.
Also, we are here to bask in being Democrats together. The nomi -- that thing I can't accept tonight, that is just a technicality. Conventions are about unity, and here we are, united.
Finally, and let's not mince words, we're here because we had four nights of prime-time coverage that we weren't about to give up. And besides, it would set a terrible precedent, to trample centuries of tradition by giving up the convention.
You may be wondering when you're going to vote on a nominee. That's a good question, too, and we'll be getting back to you.
But first, we have a few million dollars to raise and spend. As you know, taking back the country from the special interests and the rich is an awfully expensive proposition.
Thanks so much for stopping by. And remember, don't drive this week unless it's absolutely necessary.
God bless you, and God bless America. Good night.
Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at walker@globe.com.
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