The following is a superb speech I heard on June 21, 2005, the occasion of which was a fundraiser for Eric Massa, a Republican-turned-Democrat running for Congress from western New York State's 29th District. The speaker is Lisa Feinberg Duckett, county chair of the Allegany County Democratic Committee, but aside that just an ordinary citizen from a working class, beautiful, rural part of the state (sort of like Southwest Virginia). I thought that Lisa's speech was very powerful and deserved to be shared with a wider audience, even though it was specifically intended to endorse Eric Massa (a great candidate, by the way, who has General Wesley Clark's strong backing). So, here it is; enjoy! (bolding added by me)
Eric asked me to come here tonight and explain who we are in the district.My name is Lisa Feinberg Duckett, I live in Wellsville, NY in Allegany County. We are located in the Southwest corner of the other New York. Extremely rural, extremely beautiful and extremely poor.
We?re the New York that few people know exist including the folks from New York City. We are the poorest County in New York State, yet due to our eroded tax base and the high percentage of residents receiving Medicaid we have one the highest property taxes in the state.
We are the working poor, holding 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet, but still have no health insurance. We are America, but Washington does not hear our voice.
We are the farmers whose family farms have put food on your tables for generations, and are now being sold at auctions. We are America, but Washington doesn?t hear our voice.
We are the well trained machinists, engineers and assembly workers who put our hearts and souls into the Dresser Rand plant only to lose our jobs to areas with untrained workers and cheaper costs, resulting in large bonuses for Chief Executives.
We are the teachers who educate, train and nurture our students only to watch them move elsewhere because no opportunities exist for them here. We are America, but Washington doesn?t hear our voice.
We are the towns where schools are closed during the first week of hunting season so that families may hunt together, fill their freezers and have meat for the coming year. We are America, but Washington doesn?t hear our voice.
We are the senior citizens who worked hard to build and support this country but can no longer afford our medicine, and are in danger of losing our homes due to high property taxes. We are America, but Washington doesn?t hear our voice.
We are the people who still believe Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the 4th of July are three of the most important days of the year. We are the towns where behind almost every front door you will meet someone who has served or is serving in the military, because it?s their honor to do so, and now having to apply for food stamps and are in danger of losing their precious health benefits promised to them by the government. We are America, but Washington doesn?t hear our voice.
I became involved in politics when I was 8 or 9 and a store front opened with volunteers for John F. Kennedy. I walked in and asked if I could help. But lately I?ve just been thinking of giving up. And then one day, I received a call from man named Eric Massa who told me he was interested in running to represent our district in Congress. We met, talked and he told me about himself. How he?s a guy who spent the majority of his adult life serving his country in the military ? he could now get a fancy job, fancy house, but instead wants to serve his country again, by representing one of the largest, poorest and most overlooked areas in the New York State. He asked would we do him the honor, of allowing him to represent us.
So I say to you tonight, that just as we trusted Commander Eric Massa to lead, guide and keep safe under his command, our most precious sons and daughters, won?t you please help us, help Eric do the same for our district. When you leave and talk to your friends, family and co-workers, please ask them to work and support Eric so that he can be our voice, for we are America, and Washington must hear our voice.
As I said, this was a great speech, even better delivered in person. As you can see, Lisa Duckett spoke powerfully and eloquently on the powerful them: ?we are Americans too, but Washington doesn?t hear us.? She spoke about how people like her are patriotic folks who love their country deeply and passionately, yet have suffered greatly in recent years from Republican economic policies ? an outsourced economy, rising health care costs, lack of educational opportunities, and the war in Iraq. She spoke about how working class folks are not able to be major campaign contributors, so when they speak, they are not heard like rich folks and powerful lobbyists from major industries. Yet, this woman powerfully stated, the voices of working folks are no less important than those from Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Big Money in general.
In the final analysis, this is a strong, passionate, populist and progressive message that should resonate across America. This is the essence of what it means to be a Democrat. This is a speech that could have been given by FDR or RFK. Now, if only today's Democrats would give speeches like this and follow through on their words, they'd win a lot more elections than they do now. More importantly, our country would be a far better place to live.