Deval Patrick in 2012 Democratic National Convention speeches

On Budget & Economy: Trickle-down fantasies got us into recession to begin with

Today we're out of the deficit hole Gov. Romney left. Today--with labor at the table--we've made the reforms in our pension and benefits systems.

We have much more still to do. But we are on a better track because we placed our faith not in trickle-down fantasies and divisive rhetoric but in our values and common sense.

The same choice faces the nation today. All that today's Republicans are saying is that if we just shrink government, cut taxes, crush unions and wait, all will be well. Never mind that those are the very policies that got us into recession to begin with! Never mind that not one of the governors who preached that gospel in Tampa last week has the results to show for it.

But we Democrats owe America more than a strong argument for what we are against. We need to be just as strong about what we are for. We believe in an economy that grows opportunity out to the middle class and the marginalized, not just up to the well connected.

Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech Sep 4, 2012

On Civil Rights: Today in Massachusetts, you can marry whomever you love

We Democrats owe America more than a strong argument for what we are against. We need to be just as strong about what we are for. Today in Massachusetts, you can also marry whomever you love. We Democrats believe that freedom means keeping government out of our most private affairs, including out of a woman's decision whether to keep an unwanted pregnancy and everybody's decision about whom to marry. We believe that we owe the next generation a better country than we found and that every American has a stake in that. We believe that in times like these we should turn to each other, not on each other. We believe that government has a role to play, not in solving every problem in everybody's life but in helping people help themselves to the American dream. That's what Democrats believe. Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech Sep 4, 2012

On Technology: Don't just talk about it; invest in life sciences & biotech

Mitt Romney talks a lot about all the things he's fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn't one of them. He's a fine fellow and a great salesman, but as governor he was more interested in having the job than doing it.

When I came to office, we set out on a different course: investing in ourselves and our future. And today Massachusetts leads the nation in economic competitiveness, student achievement, health care coverage, life sciences and biotech, energy efficiency and veterans' services. Today, with the help of the Obama administration, we are rebuilding our roads and bridges and expanding broadband access. Today we're out of the deficit hole Mr. Romney left, and we've achieved the highest bond rating in our history. Today--with labor at the table--we've made the reforms in our pension and benefits systems, our schools, our transportation system and more that Mr. Romney only talked about.

Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech Sep 4, 2012

On War & Peace: Obama ended war in Iraq & is ending war in Afghanistan

We shape our own future. Let's start by standing up for President Barack Obama. This is the president who delivered the security of affordable health care to every single American after 90 years of trying. This is the president who brought Osama bin Laden to justice, who ended the war in Iraq and is ending the war in Afghanistan. This is the president who ended "don't ask, don't tell" so that love of country, not love of another, determines fitness for military service. Who made equal pay for equal work the law of the land. This is the president who saved the American auto industry from extinction, the American financial industry from self-destruction, and the American economy from depression. Who added over 4.5 million private sector jobs in the last two-plus years, more jobs than George W. Bush added in eight. The list of accomplishments is long, impressive and barely told. Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech Sep 4, 2012

The above quotations are from Speeches at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte NC, Sept. 4-6, 2012. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Deval Patrick. Click here for Deval Patrick on all issues.
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Page last updated: Jul 18, 2019