Sen. Richard Gephardt's Speech Text

Aug. 16 -- House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt addressed the Democratic National Convention tonight, telling the delegates they need to put their party back in power in Congress. Read a full transcript of his prepared remarks here.

Sen. Richard Gephardt:

The people I’m honored to represent in Missouri and all over the country want leaders to address their kitchen table everyday problems.

This election presents them with a clear choice, a clear choice with consequences.

We can pass laws that help people or we can continue to frustrate the hopes and dreams of working families.

I believe with all my heart that Al Gore and Joe Lieberman will make the right choices for all Americans.

Jane and I have been friends with Al and Tipper Gore for almost twenty-five years.

Al Gore is a good man. He is a decent, caring man. He listens to his heart and his head. He loves his family. He loves this country. He could be the best President this country will ever have.

He knows that making the right decisions requires more than a President.

It requires a majority in Congress that will also make the right decisions for America’s families — a Congress that will put families first.

The present leadership in Congress has been totally unwilling to consider — much less decide — issues that are very important to millions of people.

They have been unwilling to do a Patients’ Bill of Rights, a Medicare prescription benefit, reducing class size, campaign reform, and gun safety. Every day in every way the Republican leadership has been one-sided — intolerant of other views — unbending to compromise and consensus.

When I was majority leader, we met with the Republican leadership almost daily — to communicate, to find consensus, to overcome our disagreements so we could actually do something.

In the last 6 years — with them in the majority — we’ve met maybe once a year to discuss important issues.