It is my great pleasure to introduce Governor Bill Richardson, who is on his way down. Excellent. Until he gets here I'll just say Bill Richardson is a long-time friend of the Democratic Leadership Council, the Progressive Policy Institute. And I'll elaborate in just a second on ways in which he's shown that friendship. And we got the news today that he has just been named the chairman of our national convention in Boston -- (applause) -- the convention in which we're going to pick the candidate who is going to stun yet another George Bush. (Applause.)
In our ceaseless quest for new and innovative ways to do things at the Democratic Leadership Council, we're going to start with the keynote last instead of first, as you would normally expect, and then hope that Governor Richardson is going to be able to retroactively set the tone for this day of discussion. I assume he'll be here in just a minute. (Pause.) Well, we can be forgiven one glitch in an otherwise flawlessly produced performance.
I guess I ought to take advantage of this lull in this conversation to thank Debbie Boyland and the tremendous crew at DLC who's put this together. It's bigger and better than ever. (Applause.) How many people this year, Chuck? -- 700, 800 people, and really amazing growth, as Doug Duncan said, that we recall the days when there were 35 to 40 people around a very intimate table in Washington as this conversation began, and it's really blossomed into the most important thing that the DCL does every year.
There he is. Now it is actually, and genuinely, my pleasure -- (applause) -- and tremendous relief to introduce Governor Bill Richardson, who is, as you all know, the governor of New Mexico and one of the nation's leading Hispanic elected officials. He is the quintessential New Democrat. As I said, he's been a long-time friend of the Democratic Leadership Council, but as governor and in his previous career as a member of Congress he has always been a champion of fiscal discipline, of public charter schools, one of the great New Democrat innovations and themes, of clean energy policies.
He recently finished a legislative session in New Mexico where the legislature there passed more than 97 percent of his agenda. He cut personal taxes and cut capital gains taxes, but unlike President Bush, he actually paid for his tax cuts and at the same time found money to raise teachers' salaries and expand childcare for working mothers and access to healthcare and to strengthen anti-discrimination laws. So he's had a tremendously successful legislative session.
That's the public record that we all know, but I do want to shed some light on some fascinating little-known facts about Governor Richardson. He was a pitcher with a wicked curve ball apparently, was actually drafted in 1967 by the Kansas City Athletics and, before he blew out his elbow, undoubtedly headed for a Hall of Fame career there. But that injury didn't keep him from earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for shaking more hands than any other politician alive -- 13,392 in one day during his gubernatorial race -- (applause) -- shattering the previous record held by Teddy Roosevelt.
But seriously, Bill Richardson is one of America's most versatile and accomplished public servants. He was for almost 20 years the congressman from New Mexico. In 1997 Bill Clinton picked him to be our ambassador to the United Nations, and the next year, I guess as a reward, he picked him to be a secretary of Energy. That was a considerably more challenging assignment in some ways. But throughout his career he's shown a special talent for diplomacy. Even as a member of Congress in New Mexico he was a special envoy on many sensitive international missions. Bill Richardson won the release of hostages, of American servicemen and prisoners in North Korea, in Iraq and Cuba, and throughout those diplomatic missions showed a really deft touch, a way with ruthless dictators that was really rather remarkable. That is possibly the result of having served in the House with Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay.
Governor Richardson needed all those skills in 1992 when President Clinton tapped him to be his envoy to the platform drafting committee. Many of us did work on that platform. It wasn't quite like negotiating with the North Koreans, but we had the paleo-liberals and the New Democrats together in a room for the first time trying to find common ground on issues, and it wasn't always easy. But somehow he held it together, and there was always really a radical departure. If you ever want to grasp how much this party changed in the last decade, just look at the 1992 platform overseen by Governor Richardson and compare it to any one in the 80s, but the 84 one is good.
Some people say party platforms don't matter. I think they're wrong. They faithfully mirror a party's mind, where it is at a given point, and this 1992 platform signaled a dramatic course change for the party, which of course underpinned our most successful period of presidential governance in my lifetime.
And I should say that Governor Richardson embodies a Democratic tradition of muscular internationalism. He actually has a diplomatic education and training. But he believes in the energetic use of American power to lead the world toward peace and prosperity and democracy. He backed NAFTA, not always a popular position for Democrats to take. He backed a war to oust the Saddam regime. He's a tireless advocate of human rights and democracy, once headed up Freedom House. Nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
That's terribly important to us today, as our party has to reclaim our great foreign policy traditions and to offer a real alternative to this administration on national security, and frankly, to allay some of the doubts the public has about this party's toughness and resolve when it comes to facing down foreign threats. The Republicans have given us a tremendous opening with their temptation to act in an imperial way, with their unilateralism, with their militarization of U.S. foreign policy, which has isolated America and made it harder, not easier, for us to advance our key national interests. So we have to seize that advantage.
I think New Democrats who have supported a strong defense, who have been willing to use force to protect our people and our interests but also who understand that we're stronger when we build alliances with others, when we build global institutions that are dedicated to defending and advancing political and economic freedom, or as Tony Blair put it in this superb address to Congress, recently, "The spread of freedom is the best security for the free." And I think that this party understands that America has to lead the world and not try to dominate it. That's an argument we can win. The public's on our side. The public does not believe in going it alone. Americans are instinctive internationalists, and they understand that what we need are political leaders who are capable of inspiring not just fear in our enemies but also admiration and loyalty in our friends. And I think Governor Bill Richardson is such a leader, and it's my pleasure to welcome him today. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you. I want to first apologize for -- by the way, well, thanks for that great introduction. You read it just like I wrote it. (Chuckles.) That was very, very generous. But I apologize to all of you. I just saw Governor Napolitano leave for Arizona as I was coming in. But I also this morning -- the reason I'm late, the reason I'm not here earlier -- and I wanted to be here for the full two days -- was that earlier this morning we did make a little history. The first DLC governor, Bill Richardson, I'll be chairing the Democratic Convention next year. (Applause.) And the reason -- there was an announcement in Boston that Terry McCauliffe and Senator Kennedy -- and the reason this is important to you, I'm the person to see about passes -- (laughter) -- floor passes.
But, you know, right before I left Terry said, well, what are you going to talk about? And I said, well, I want to talk about -- not just thank the DLC for its leadership in invigorating the Democratic Party with a lot of good ideas over the last 15, 20 years -- and I remember that 1992 platform committee, which was virtually written by some of the key players in the DLC. I remember Will and Al and Bruce Reed, and we kind of hijacked it in the middle of the night. And at the time we had a great candidate that was pushing those new ideas, basically saying that the Democratic Party should not go left or right but it should go forward. And I think it's so propitious. Years later, a positive sign for the future that a Democratic leadership governor, a New Democrat, an Hispanic governor -- I may not sound like one -- (speaks in Spanish) -- the only Hispanic governor will chair the convention.
I'm also -- I want you to listen to this because some of you are going to squirm a little bit. I'm also the only governor in the country that's cut taxes: personal income tax, capital gains -- (scattered applause) -- and we did it to be competitive, not as a philosophy, with our surrounding states. Governor Napolitano and Colorado and Arizona were taking our jobs and our engineers and our high tech away because we were not competitive. We're also proud to be the state that in the first seven months raised teachers' salaries higher than any state: 6 percent. (Applause.) We restored collective bargaining to state workers, to teachers, to firefighters, to police.
And I know many of you are coming from states where your economies are weak and budget deficits, but you know, when you get a chance like this -- and I'm so proud of my state, I'm going to do a little bragging. New Mexico, the only one of two states in the country to show positive job growth and the only one of three states with a budget surplus; and most importantly, a state that is led by a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature. And I'm very proud here to recognize the president of the New Mexico state senate, who is my equal partner, Senator Richard Romero, a Hispanic. (Applause.) And I think what we're showing in New Mexico is we can build a high-wage economy, balance our budget and pay for tax cuts. I know that because we're doing it.
You know, I also see faces that I didn't used to see before at DLC meetings, faces of America's emerging minorities, and I think that's good because I remember the criticism of the old days of the DLC, but the fact that we have entrepreneurs and scientists and young people, and so many of you that have helped our party, elected officials, 43 states represented, shows the vibrancy of this organization that has withstood the dramatic changes that our party has undertaken.
So I'm proud to be the first Hispanic governor since 1986, recognizing that for Hispanics it is important that we also heed a DLC message; that we cannot just be talking about immigration and civil rights, but that we have to be talking about empowerment and entrepreneurship and homeownership, putting money in people's pockets. Hispanics are the fastest-growing market for entertainment in America, for sports, and that that is the assimilation of an American dream that is happening.
But I came here to talk to you a little bit about the national situation, to share with you some reflections on the opportunities and challenges we Democrats face in the crucial election next year. And I think you've been talking about this for two days, so what I'm going to say is not new, but maybe I can say it in a way that you can see somebody that is actually doing this in our state; trying every day to bring that hope and opportunity to the American people.
The first point I want to make is that we Democrats need to be more positive about our country. We live in a great country -- it's an enormous opportunity. We can't just be a party that criticizes. We've got to talk about the inherent optimism and good things that are happening and that we in our states are doing. Did you know that 53 percent of the American people are represented by Democratic governors? Now, having California helps a lot. I hope we keep that. But what is important is that there are these kinds of successes and that it's important that we talk positively -- optimistic, patriotism -- the good things that we as a country do. And we can win if we stand for positive, individual, economic empowerment; for homeownership; for entrepreneurship.
We can also win by sending another strong message, and that is that we are, as Democrats, capable in maintaining and defending our country. We have to be able to use force when diplomacy fails and when our national security is threatened. Unless we cross those two thresholds: one, that we stand for economic growth and economic empowerment; or that we can have a viable national security policy, we will not win.
Our role, as I said, should not be just as critics, but leaders that offer a positive vision with concrete steps, with fiscally sound policies, how we move forward abroad and overseas. And we need to lead -- and I'm very proud to be serving with a whole series of new governors, many women, that are balancing budgets, that are retaining the social fabric of this country. I was elected in the freshman class with Governor Granholm of Michigan. I don't know if she's here. Well, look at that; that is a wonderful governor. Please take a huge round of applause. (Applause.) I've got to mention Eddie Rendell or he will physically kill me. (Laughter.) I don't know if Eddie is still here, but he's another great Democrat who is moving this state.
This is where we need to stand in 2004, and that vision has to begin with national security. And I've spent some years on this national security issue at the U.N., in the Congress on the Intelligence Committee, the Department of Energy. And I think Al was very generous; he said I had a few challenges at the Department of Energy. I had more than that, but since you're not nodding you've forgotten, and that's good.
We need to show Americans that we care and understand national defense. We need to propose a more effective approach to the terrorist threat that will secure the peace and protect America's children. We need to explain the importance of stronger diplomacy and strengthening our global position so we can build and rebuild the international alliances that we seem to have lost. We have to find ways to dismantle the terrorists and their secret networks around the world. And we have to remember that two Democratic presidents, Woodrow Wilson and FDR, led this country to victory in both the First and the Second World War. They did so because they were tough and strong, because they understood the importance of building strong alliances, finding common cause with our friends. They understood the importance of a strong military, and they understood the importance of even stronger diplomacy. They planned not just for war, but also for the peace and found common ground with our allies to win both.
We need to show the American people that there is a tough and multilateral possibility built on the solid foundation of NATO, of the United Nations, the alliances that have kept the peace for a generation. It's not just our function as Democrats to present such possibilities, it's our patriotic duty to do so, but also we say the United Nations needs to be revitalized. That it needs to have a stronger role in dealing with international terrorism, with AIDS, with tribal and ethnic conflicts like in Yugoslavia, like an environmental degradation. And we need to challenge it to be better, but not to ignore it. And NATO, the most successful alliance America has ever had; today in Iraq, absent. We should be proposing viable, multilateral policies to deal with the reconstruction of Iraq, but not just America -- that the burden should be shared.
We're a party of shared, progressive values and shared responsibilities, but also clear, sensible principles. We need to show the world that we have a party of sound principles and sound values.
You know, I know everyone talks about the election -- doesn't look good. Well, let me tell you something. If we present the American people with a pragmatic and optimistic Democratic vision with a strong candidate, we can win. This election will be won on ideas. The long-term economic health of our country is going to be determined by sound fiscal policies that grow our economy and balance our budgets. Why not talk about the important issues that no one is talking about? Healthcare, and finding ways that we give tax credits and incentives to those people that put their families on a healthcare plan, or give tax credits to employers that are taking those steps. What about education? If you do a poll -- and I know we pay a lot at the DLC for great pollsters -- education is an issue that nobody talks about: paying our teachers better but demanding more, early childhood education, family and medical leave to balance family and work, finding ways that we deal with truancy. One of the biggest problems with America is kids not going to school and parents not taking responsibility. And I'm here to talk to you about my state because we're actually taking these steps.
Democrats. We've shown that it's possible to pursue a progressive Democratic agenda which cuts taxes and provides economic incentives for business while at the same time improving education, exploding childcare availability, protecting the environment, and fighting discrimination, and balancing the budget. You know, in New Mexico Republicans can't call us anti-business because we're not, because today in an effort to reform New Mexico's education system it is business leaders that have joined the Democratic Party in passing massive education reform that moves money from administration and bureaucracy into the classroom, into computers, into kids learning. We restored collective bargaining for our hard-working state employees to show them that they have to be partners in rebuilding our state. We moved teachers' salaries from 49th to 29th in the country in one fell swoop. And this is how we paid for it: we said to school administrators and bureaucracy, this money is not going to come out of the New Mexico budget; it's going to come out of your administration and your bureaucracies and it's going to go and add to 6 percent and every teacher is going to get that raise. And that happened.
So what can we be as Democrats that perhaps is a lesson in New Mexico? In New Mexico Democrats are pro-environment, pro-education, pro-affirmative action and pro-business. And business, as I said, is becoming increasingly Democratic. Businesspeople trust us because we have been fiscally responsible. We paid for these tax cuts. We've brought government efficiency, making those tough, tough decisions.
So I'm here to say to you that with new ideas and a vision and hard work and the electioneering capabilities that I know the DLC has -- and DLC leaders that I know stretch across all regions of the country, but are addressing problems -- that we can win this election. And that the DLC, by making a huge outreach to minorities, as I see here, is an ingredient for success, but recognize too that minorities in this country -- it is unacceptable that there is one Hispanic governor. It is unacceptable that there are no African-American United States senators. It is unacceptable that women have not achieved the highest levels of leadership in our party. So we have to unite around the many things we believe in. Whether we call ourselves liberals or we call ourselves moderates, we have to be a party of values, of inclusiveness, of environmental sanity, of gender and racial equality. We're the parties of JFK and FDR and Bill Clinton, of clean air and water, and we should be proud of it. We also should be proud to be the moderate party of sound economic management and fiscal responsibility and a friend of the economic engines -- the businesspeople of this country.
So to the DLC -- I know you're winding up; I can tell by your faces. (Laughter.) Your great hope, that this late New Mexico governor finish up because you've got a wrap-up session and you've got things to do. Well, there are many in this room that have helped me over the years, that have been there when I needed financial support, that were there when I ran for governor. There are many here that helped me through those challenging days at the U.N. and the Department of Energy, but let me just say to Al and Will and Bruce that this governor appreciates you in so many ways -- in so many ways, that you are always there with the new idea or, come on, Richardson, get on that plane and get over here, or you were there with the key contact that allowed me to do an event in state X. But most importantly, Al and Bruce and Will, you've given this party a foundation of ideas, and that's what's going to make us win.
So to all of you, thank you. My greatest gift to you now is that I have concluded. Thank you.
