Just got the following email from Brian Moran's office:Attached to this email is a copy of House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran's remarks at this weekend's State Central Committee meeting of the Democratic Party of Virginia.The full text is after the jump. If you have your own reports on this speech or anything else from the DPVa meetings, please visit the comments!
The Remarks of The Honorable Brian Moran, Democratic Caucus Chairman, Virginia House of Delegates Before The Central Committee Of the Democratic Party of Virginia
December 1, 2006
Staunton, VirginiaGood morning! Thank you Chairman Cranwell for inviting me to be with you today.
I have one question for you today GÇô what color is Virginia?
I canGÇÖt think of a better place to celebrate Senator WebbGÇÖs election than with all my friendsGÇÖ right here in this room.
What a great time to be a Democrat!
What a great time to be a Virginian!
We gather today in the wake of a great victory on Election Day 2006.
This year the voters of Virginia made it clear that we no longer live in a solid GÇÿred stateGÇÖ.
We should all be proud because GÇô yet again GÇô our Virginia Democrats helped author a new chapter for our nationGÇÖs history and a new direction for our country.
On Election Day 2006 GÇô Virginia chose between the status qou GÇÿstay the courseGÇÖ and making real progress ---- and progress won.
Virginia Democrats have a new national reputationGÇôwhen the hour is late GÇôthe cause is just GÇô and you need just one more vote to gain the majority GÇô come to the Commonwealth. And, weGÇÖll give you at least 9,329 reasons to celebrate.
And celebrate we should GÇô for a moment GÇô then, it is time to get back to work.
Sure an unpopular president and even more unpopular war built support for Jim Webb. But as my Dad used to say when he coached football, games arenGÇÖt won on the playing fields of November but rather on the practice fields of August.
The playbook for this victory was written thanks to the results-oriented leadership of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Virginia voters keep rewarding one party that is presenting candidates who are problems solvers GÇô focused on kitchen table issues GÇô grounded by common sense values.
And we are that party.
We offer a vision GÇô of what Virginia can be.
We offer a hope GÇô of what Virginians together can accomplish.
We offer a promise GÇô of what true leadership means for our Commonwealth and our Country
But GÇô as we saw on election night, the challenge is tough.The forces of intolerance successfully passed an unprincipled and contemptible amendment designed to divide us. We came closer than anyone would have expected GÇô nearly 1 million of us Virginians voted no.
I was proud to vote against, speak against, and campaign against this measure.
But I remain confident that time will prove we were on the right side of history GÇô and IGÇÖm reminded that GÇÿthe moral arc of the universe is long but it does - indeed - bend towards justice.GÇÖ
As I campaigned across Virginia this year, I discovered a renewed interest in our CommonwealthGÇÖs future GÇô a renewed hope in the Virginia we can build together GÇô and a solid interest in the leadership that our party might provide.
Over the summer and fall, I logged 35,000 miles traveling the highways of Virginia GÇô speaking out for our candidates GÇô recruiting leaders for next fall races GÇô And building a legislative agenda for 2007.
Our party continues to attract the attention of VirginiaGÇÖs voters.
Now it is time to demonstrate that in the General Assembly we can lead Virginia forward.
Recent sessions of the Virginia General Assembly have shared one constant GÇô Virginia Democrats uniting to tackle tough issues GÇô while Virginia Republicans bicker, stall and delay GÇô they have been the roadblock to progress.
Our agenda is one of bold strokes GÇô and embracing the possible. WeGÇÖll again be the problem solvers and House Democrats will provide results oriented leadership.
So today let me be clear.
This January we will advance the interests of VirginiaGÇÖs families as we push a blueprint for progress.
We will unite behind Governor KaineGÇÖs healthcare reform commission GÇô because VirginianGÇÖs of all ages deserve a good quality of life with respect and dignity.
We will fight for families who work each and every day to put food on the family dinner table by raising the minimum wage.
We will support those Virginians who day-in and day-out secure our lives with their service as police officers, sheriffs, firefighters and other first responders.
We will unleash the power of stem cell research to cure those incurable diseases like AlzheimerGÇÖs and cancer GÇô to provide hope to millions.
We will reward the contributions made everyday in the classrooms of our public schools by fighting to raise teacherGÇÖs salaries to the national average.
We will assume responsibility for our environment - exploring opportunities in alternative energy, preserving the Chesapeake Bay, and protecting our god-given natural treasures.
We will secure VirginiaGÇÖs families GÇô with a strong commitment to homeland security.
And finally, our agenda - will tackle the tough issue of transportation.
We will make the choice clear to VirginiaGÇÖs voters GÇô by asking one simple question GÇô do you want to spend more time with your family each night or more time sitting in traffic?
If you understand that our highways are roads GÇô not parking lots GÇô vote for Virginia Democrats.
If you understand that the roadways in rural Virginia are economic development trails of hope GÇô not rural pipedreams GÇô vote for Virginia Democrats.
If you know that mass transit and rail hold the greatest chance to move the most number of people GÇô vote for Virginia Democrats.
Because while one party in Virginia is unable to reach a conclusion about the transportation needs in the Commonwealth, we Virginia Democrats are prepared to lead the way.
Our party is the party of progress GÇô and this legislative session we will produce an agenda to show it.
Five years ago I was elected as the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
At the time, we had fallen to our lowest point in history.
IGÇÖm proud to report that weGÇÖve consistently picked up seats in every election since and a number of special elections.
In 2003 GÇô we won back seats . . . in special elections GÇô we won back seats . . . in 2005 GÇô we won back seats . . . . Now we are the GÇÿfighting 40GÇÖ in the House of Delegates but we need your help to keep going.
While we know we have a tough year ahead GÇô and that the challenge will be great GÇô we are eager for the mission.
The choice in 2007 will be clear - voters will embrace our responsible leadership, our willingness to work together, and our ability to get things done.
Each and every day I work hard to make a better Virginia for my young son and daughterGǪand I know that by electing Governor Tim Kaine in 2005 they got a better Commonwealth, by electing Jim Webb in 2006 they got a strong nation and by changing the General Assembly in 2007 theyGÇÖll get a brighter future.
It wonGÇÖt be easy. But we have the momentum GÇô and progress is on the way.
Thank you for having me here with you today. God Bless.
Go Brian!
and where will our other nominees come from? these guys are already elected.
Note to politicians. when you are speaking to me , don't look over your shoulder at the next vote. It won't come from me if you do this.
Jim Webb looks you in the eye.
Creigh Deeds doesn't. Takes a lot away from the politician.
Interesting to see how the health issues fall out. Looks like Pre-k is off the table for now.