Mr. Chairman. Fellow Democrats. Fellow Americans. If I had to deliver a nominating speech this week, it would go something like this:
Mr. Chairman. Fellow Democrats. Fellow Americans.
Tonight’s the night.
Tonight’s the night, in this mile high city, when dreams are unfurled. Tonight’s the night all of us join together and sing a melody of a party, the melody of a man.
Tonight’s the night that tomorrow begins in America.
Throughout this historic year, we have described, defended and depicted the ideas of a nation, the ideas of a party, the ideas of hope.
We have rallied around energy independence, ending war and eradicating poverty. We have stood together, supporting safe streets, stabilizing Social Security and stopping silly schemes.
We have raised our voices in singing a song about a party committed to lifting all of us to new levels, to lifting spirits to new clouds and to lifting the American dream to a higher note.
And we act, not from scheme, but from commitment, not for recreation, but for re-creation. We do this because we are composers, in the midst of creating a song about America in the new century.
We do this because our music has made America beautiful; our lyrics have created miracles in our land through the years of Roosevelt, Kennedy and Clinton.
But my friends, this song is not finished…it has only just begun. We need a new conductor at this moment in time, as our history tells us.
The Republicans, however, will attempt to describe, verse by verse, the doom and gloom they believe fill the streets and sofas of our land. There is a constant cloud which hovers over their words, doing nothing but raining on the American people.
A bitter and battered Republican party must not be given the keys to lock us out of our White House for four more years.
America must be transformed, reformed and renewed.
But on this stage, in the streets and in the cities, we must boast louder than ever, more energized than ever, more empowered than ever.
Why?
Because we’re on to something good. Because we have a man who is ready to fill that role of writing the next great stanzas in the American song. He is a dedicated man, a uniquely American man filled with confidence and complexity like so many Americans.
This is a man who has the experience necessary to mobilize the American choirs.
What will this American and his administration accomplish?
--protecting America from our enemies both with diplomacy and force.
--new schools for our children to learn in.
--healthcare that works for working families and all Americans.
--a secure Social Security.
--environmental and law enforcement.
--closing of the income, innovation and education gaps.
--invigorating, even further, the technological progress of this country and this world.
Elections are always about choices, and in this historic year, the choice between parties has never been greater. Again, do we continue with progression, or do we slip into regression, putting our futures at risk with debts and deficits?
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s the night we invite a man to be our nominee for the highest office in this country, the highest office in this world. This is no small accomplishment.
This man has embraced, extolled and energized millions of Americans to do the great tasks this country was founded on.
Tonight’s the night that we designate, delegate and nominate the next president of the United States.
Fellow Democrats, fellow Americans, we must let freedom ring from coast to coast and border to border in this great land of ours. We are in an ideal place on this night, in a city above all cities so we can see clearly from coast to coast. What kind of leader do we want as our voices become more diverse?
Well, that is up to all of us, from families to farmers, from entrepreneurs to educators, from soldiers to scientists.
If this living mosaic wants a real leader, let it raise its voice and shout support for the Democratic party, the party of progress, the party of all the people, the party of America’s future.
Tonight’s the night…and November 4th is when we’re going to make it happen.
Ladies and gentlemen, with my heart behind my voice, and with "Yes we can" as my chorus, I nominate Barack Obama from Illinois as our nominee for President of the United States.