The Speech Heard Around Virginia

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This weekend, Brian gave what the Washington Post said may be the "speech of his career." Brian defined the stakes of this race for Governor and called on Virginia Democrats to live up to their grassroots principles. Virginia, he said, needs a proven fighter for the people.

You can download the speech and read it below.

Remarks of Brian Moran to the

Democratic Party of Virginia’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner

As prepared for delivery.

February 7, 2009

Fighting for People

My fellow Democrats:

I have been coming to this JJ Dinner for over 20 years… But could any of us have predicted 20 years ago, or even a few years ago, that in 2009, we’d have a Democratic Governor, two Democratic Senators a majority Democratic congressional delegation, and have the honor of being led by President Barack Obama?

It’s no accident that these leaders have brought victory to our party. Each has a long history of fighting for Virginia. They are grounded in our Commonwealth and connected to our people.

Today, at the dawn of a new political season, we Democrats must decide…. We must decide who is best to carry our banner forward… who will give us the best chance to win and continue to lead.

We must decide what our party stands for…

Will our party be built from the bottom up… or from the top down?

Will our party be about public service…. or will it be about personal gain?

Will our party be dominated by big money and those who raise it…. or will we be the party of the people?

I believe my opponents in this primary are good men.

But let there be no mistake: The Republicans are hungry. They will come after us. And there’s no amount of money that can stop their relentless attacks unless we nominate someone who has been fighting for Virginians each and every day.

This race will be about who stood with Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Not who sat on the sidelines.

This campaign will be about who will fight for people, not corporations.

This campaign will be about who can win in November.

It took us a generation to build this party – you, the party faithful… you, the small donor…My brothers and sisters in organized labor… the volunteers, the bloggers. You did it. You got us to this mountain top. You elected Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Jim Webb. And you gave us President Barack Obama… who in just two short weeks ensured equal pay for women and expanded health insurance to millions of children. This is what you worked for. That is why elections matter.

Victory last November was no fluke. Victory this November is no guarantee. The politicians on the other side of the Potomac may have just noticed our work, but you and I have been working here for years. This was no overnight success -- the real leaders of our party served and fought for people first.

Mark Warner ran Doug Wilder’s campaign for Governor twenty years ago. Tim Kaine was Mayor of Richmond a decade ago. Bobby Scott and Rick Boucher were in the state Senate. My brother Jim was a mayor. And my friend Creigh Deeds has been serving the people of Bath County since 1992.

They learned from those who had come before – Robb, Baliles, and Wilder.

They earned the trust and loyalty of Virginians through their works, not their words.

Mark and Tim – they didn’t just show up when it was easy and the battles had already been won. They were here when it was hard to be a Virginia Democrat. It’s one thing to say you’ll govern like

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine; It’s another to have fought the Republicans, each and every day, for the Warner-Kaine agenda.

Ours is the party of the people. Mark Warner fought for your jobs and demanded honesty in your government. Tim Kaine is fighting for children’s’ education and public health. Jim Webb was born fighting.

I have fought for the people of this Commonwealth since I joined the Arlington Prosecutor’s office – 20 years ago. …fought as a legislator and a Democratic Leader.

…Electing more Democrats than at any time in a generation.

…Partnering with Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

…Protecting a women’s right to choose.

…Ensuring equality for every Virginian.

…Fighting for the minimum wage.

…Raising teacher pay.

…Expanding healthcare

We need a fighter, not a fundraiser.

In my 200,000 miles of travel across this Commonwealth, I have seen the faces and heard the stories of the teachers and their students... the nurses and their patients. I have fought for the high tech worker and the union laborer, alike. That is why Virginia needs a Governor who wakes up every morning to fight for them. We need a governor who cares more about the family dinner table than the corporate board room.

A fighter in the Governor’s office builds our economy by investing in people -- in small businesses and entrepreneurs… A fighter gives you the best educated workforce in the country. And creates tens of thousands of green jobs. We’ll do it like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine did it - by fighting for people. This is about more than the battles of the past; it’s about the fight for the future.

As our President said, the problem with the “textbook campaign” is that the textbook is wrong. For too long it has created well scripted, well rehearsed candidates with clever soundbites and slogans.

But the politics of our future isn’t about the politicians. It’s about the people we’re fighting for. It is grassroots driven, honest and principled. And its powered by real ideas. That is what we have done in Virginia and what I will do as governor.

My campaign will be run on strong progressive solutions. That’s why I’ve proposed a bold plan to protect our environment and build a new energy economy… I am the only candidate who opposes offshore drilling; the only candidate who’s demonstrated the vision and courage to build a 21st century energy economy. The only candidate with the proven experience to win.

Now, Bob McDonnell may be a good man, but we’re not going to govern in this century with worn out ideas from the last one.

Bob, when we talk about a woman’s right to choose, we don’t mean her right to select the college of her choice.

Bob, when we refer to constitutional rights, we’re not talking about a right turn off Constitution Avenue in DC.

And Bob, SCHIP is a children’s healthcare program, not a 70s TV show about the California Highway Patrol.

Bob, with your track record, if you really want to move Virginia forward, well, then you better just vote for me.

Let me make one promise here tonight: If you nominate me to be your candidate for Governor, I will beat Bob McDonnell.

I will beat Bob McDonnell because I will be the governor who fights to strengthen our economy.

I will be the Governor who fights for a teacher’s fair pay.

I will fight for the college student drowning in debt.

… for the veteran who’s given years in service to a grateful nation.

I’ll fight for every single child without healthcare.

… for every senior who wants to live out their lives in the comfort of their own home.

These Virginians must be our priority… and as Governor, they will be mine.

Our choice in this election is clear and I ask for your support. I have been fighting for Virginians for 20 years… and today, I need you to fight with me. Together, we have battled in the trenches, we have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, we have carried the legislative water. We have been here in good times and bad. We have tasted defeat and we have savored victory. We have come this far with a vision for the future. And we can’t get there without you.

Public service is not about the politicians… it’s about the people. That’s what my parents taught me. It’s what I’ve done my entire life. And it’s what I’ll do as the next Governor of Virginia.

Thank you and God Bless you all.