Every Vote Counts

Anyone who knows me is aware of how I have been a part of the draftgore movement over the last year. (I wish there was a better word to use than "draft.") I along with several others laughed, cried and hoped that Gore would somehow get into this race and take back the White House to be the President we need right now. Well, it didn't happen. Not the way we wanted it to anyway and as Gore took the stage tonight the tears flowed. My heart aches for what could have been but I know we must go on. Here is a link and snippet of Gore's speech.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/07/26/text_of_gores_speech_at_dnc/

Friends, fellow Democrats, fellow Americans, I'll be candid with you. I had hoped to be back here this week under different circumstances, running for re-election.

But you know the old saying: You win some, you lose some. And then there's that little-known third category.

I didn't come here tonight to talk about the past. After all, I don't want you to think I lie awake at night counting and recounting sheep.

I prefer to focus on the future because I know from my own experience that America is a land of opportunity, where every little boy and girl has a chance to grow up and win the popular vote.

In all seriousness, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity you have given me to serve America. I want to to thank you as Democrats for the honor of being your nominee for president four years ago. And I want to thank the American people for the privilege of serving as vice president.

And most of all, I want to thank my family with all my heart my children and grandchildren, and especially my beloved partner in life, Tipper.

I love this country deeply, and even though I always look to the future with optimism and hope I do think it is worth pausing for just a moment as we begin this year's convention, to take note of two very important lessons from four years ago.

The first lesson is this: Take it from me -- every vote counts.

In our democracy, every vote has power. And never forget: that power is yours. Don't let anyone take it away or talk you into throwing it away.

And let's make sure that this time every vote is counted. Let's make sure not only that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, but also that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court.

The second lesson from 2000 is this: What happens in a presidential election matters. A lot.

The outcome profoundly affects the lives of all 293 million Americans and people in the rest of the world too. The choice of who is president affects your life and your family's future.

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