John Kerry Delivers Kenyon College Commencement Address

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Delivers Kenyon College Commencement Address
May 20th, 2006 @ 7:37 am

Today, John Kerry spoke to students at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, delivering their commencement address. Thanks to record student voter participation, Kenyon College was among the last polling places in the nation to close on Election Day 2004.

NOTE: Kenyon will also feature a live webcast of Kerry’s remarks on their website, www.kenyon.edu, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern today.

Senator John Kerry, Commencement Address
Kenyon College - Gambier, Ohio
As Prepared for Delivery

Class of 2006 — fellow survivors of November 2, 2004. I’m happy to be here at this beautiful school, which had my admiration long before that night when the country wondered whether I would win — and whether you would vote.

Your website has a profile of a very smart math major in the class of 2006. Joe Neilson. He said that once, after a statistics course here, he realized “the probability of any event in our lives is about zero.” “I probably spent a week,” Joe said, “annoying my friends by saying: “What are the odds?” Well Joe, what were the odds that we’d be linked by those long hours – not that I keep track – 560 days ago? Like everyone that night, I admired the tenacity of Kenyon students. But what you did went far beyond tenacity.

My wife, Teresa, is honored by the degree you grant her, today. But she’s also here to honor you because when you grow up in a dictatorship as she did, when you don’t get a chance to vote until you’re thirty-one , when you see your father voting for the first time in his seventies, you know what a privilege it is to cast a ballot.

Through that long night, we in Massachusetts watched you in Gambier. We were honored. We were inspired. We were determined not to concede until our team had checked every possibility. If you could stay up all night to vote, we could certainly stay up that next day to make sure your vote would count. In the end, we couldn’t close the gap. We would have given anything to have fulfilled your hopes.

And I also thank those who cast a ballot for my opponent. I wish all Republicans had been just like you at Kenyon — informed, willing to stand up for your views — and only 10 percent of the vote. Actually, all of you, through your patience, and good humor showed Americans that politics matters to young people. And so I really do thank every student here.

I especially want to thank someone who isn’t a student. Because at the meeting Hayes was kind enough to mention – and I did take notes — the alums made it clear how much they’d been influenced by great friends, great teachers. Or a great coach.

I know what it’s like to be on a team before an important game. I know how crucial that last practice can be. For the field hockey team, that November 2nd was the last day before the Oberlin game. Winning meant getting into the league championship – and from there to the NCAAs. So I can understand why players were upset after hours waiting in line at the polling place that afternoon. When Maggie Hill called her coach to ask if she should come back to practice — you’d expect the coach to say ‘you better believe it.’

FULL TEXT - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3054

[Hand]

1. My Alma Mater!

Hell, maybe I'll even give them some money this year.. :woohoo: :toast: :party:

ON EDIT: However, "Nobody gets drunk at commencement"????? Things have gone downhill since my day... :rofl:

[cmd]

23. Hey Kenyon alum

Another Kenyon alum is running against Bob Ney in the Ohio 18th district.


http://www.zackspace.org/

[Hand]

30. How very cool!

Kick his crooked ass, Zack Space! :toast: :yourock:

[Catchawave]

2. Nice speech !

"...fellow survivors of Nov 2, 2004..." :rofl:

Love that JK's humor :loveya:


On edit: date :silly:

[globalvillage]

3. Thanks for posting the text, kg.

Great speech, and very well received. Quite a contrast from the reception McCain got at New U.
I was impressed that Sen Kerry met with Kenyon alums to prepare for this.

:applause:

for Sen Kerry

:applause:

for the Kenyon grads

:applause:

for THK, who also received an honorary degree today

:applause:

for you, for posting.

[karynnj]

4. Great speech

The graduate who introduced him spoke of how he met with a group of Kenyon grads to learn more about the school last week (and pretty much blew them away).

I really think this is by far the best graduation speech I ever heard, full of hope, a call to action and very very personal. (Sure beats McCain going to a school where probably less than 10% of the kids would even consider voting for him and giving a speech HE KNEW they would hate filled with condescention. He didn't even make an effort to challange them intellectually.)

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Beautiful speech!!! Wonderful school. Thanks, Senator. nt

[knitter4democracy]

6. I wish he'd spoken at my alma mater.

Then again, Mount Vernon Nazarene College across town isn't exactly welcoming to Dems. It was a part of the story that night, though, considering they had more than enough machines.

You know, I was there through both of Clinton's elections, and I don't remember people voting there. They talked in chapel about how we needed to get absentee ballots or drive home to vote (many students live within a decent drive). It's weird that they had all those machines for voting in 2004--could all the students vote there?

I'll never forget sitting in the third row in chapel the day before the election in 1992 with a powerful Ohio Dem's niece listening to a rabid evangelical preach on and on about how a vote for Clinton was a vote for a murderer since he was pro-choice. Students actually walked out in the back, but we were down front and mere frosh, so instead we helped her arrange her coat and backpack with huge Clinton/Gore stickers so he had to look at them when he looked out on the audience. It's hard being a moderate or liberal at the Naz, I can tell you that.

[IndyOp]

7. Well, JK, in spite of all the good you've done and will do in future -

I will not support you, except as a last resort.

"We were determined not to concede until our team had checked every possibility. If you could stay up all night to vote, WE COULD CERTAINLY STAY UP THE NEXT DAY to make sure your vote would count. In the end, we couldn’t close the gap. We would have given anything to have fulfilled your hopes."

You were willing to stay up the 'next day'? The 'next day'? This is how you 'have our backs'? This is how you 'make sure each and every vote is counted'?

YOU, JK, DID NOT GIVE ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE EVERY VOTE WOULD COUNT -- YOU DIDN'T EVEN GIVE IT A MOTHERFUCKING 48 HOURS.

DAMN IT!
DAMN IT!
DAMN IT!

Willful Ignorance Is Cowardice, Senator.

None are so blind as those who will not see.


Do I seem ANGRY? Well -- see, I believed the John Kerry faithful who posted here that "Kerry was working behind the scenes in November & December of 2004." I don't want to hear a bleeping word about the amicus briefs Kerry/Edwards filed in support of OTHER PEOPLE'S LAWSUITS. I don't want to hear a word about legislation proposed and passed by the good Senator to protect future votes.

DAMN IT - TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED!! FIND OUT THE WHOLE TRUTH AND TELL IT!!

Sanity is complete commitment to truth. I AM SICK OF THIS INSANE COUNTRY!!

So many people are feeling 'betrayed' by Jason Leopold this week. I don't think that feeling could touch how betrayed I feel by "I've got your back" Kerry.

You do so much good Senator - speaking out against the war boldly; pushing for legislation that could make a world of difference for people who are suffering right now in America; working to heal our environment; co-sponsoring Senator Feingold's motion to censure the pResident. You have done and will continue to do so much good.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD,
FOR THE LOVE OF THE EARTH,
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL PEOPLE'S ON THIS EARTH - PARTICULARLY THE INNOCENT ONE'S KILLED IN THE US WAR ON THE THIRD WORLD,

COULD YOU PLEASE - I AM BEGGING - COULD YOU PLEASE TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR STOLEN ELECTIONS?

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. Did that little rant make you feel better?

Did it?

You want something that is impossible. You want proof of a stolen election for which no proof exists.

What the fuck, pray, would you have Kerry do? THERE IS NO PROOF. "Proof," of course, being defined as something admissible in a court of law, not something that people on a far left website think is shady.

Do you have ironclad proof? If so, please do present it in court.

For all this misplaced anger and rage, your rant doesn't supply one shred of PROOF about a stolen election.

And all your little temper tantrums won't change that.

[IndyOp]

24. Mark Crispin Miller, Greg Palast, Steven Freeman,

David Cobb, Bob Fitrakis, Harvey Wasserman, Richard Hayes Phillips, and others have been publishing article after article, book after book about how Election 2004 was stolen - not just in Ohio, but by stealing votes from across the nation.

In one analysis, Richard Hayes Phillips has examined the ballots of 4 precincts in Warren County, Ohio (the place where the homeland security alert was a '10' on election evening) -- he has published photographs of some ballots that reveal ballot-box stuffing and other ballots strongly suggest vote-shifting (ballots cast in precincts for Kerry were tabulated as votes for Bush in other precincts in which the order of candidates was reversed.)

Lawsuits have been won in New Mexico on behalf of disenfranchised Native American and Hispanic voters --

There are 100's of articles on the subject. Mark Crispin Miller has done the best at pulling all of the information together and writing a comprehensive, palatable book.

Sorry that no deep throat has come forward.

Sorry they don't have an exact count of how many votes Kerry did not get because of disenfranchised voters.

Sorry they haven't been able to demonstrate how many Kerry votes were switched to *.

They only way to prevent future stolen elections, the only way to provide justice to the voters whose votes were stolen, who were denied their citizenship right to vote -- is for the truth to come out. The first step toward solving any problem is telling the truth.

Who will tell the people the truth? The corporate media won't. Politicians who don't want voters to worry so much about stolen elections that they will stop voting won't tell the truth.

The Senator's staff -- who are well-known and justly admired for having investigated and revealed the BCCI scandal among other 'tinfoil hat' scandals -- they could lead on this, but they aren't. People who are speaking out don't get coverage and/or they are attacked. Others are afraid to speak out because they are afraid to lose their jobs or lose respect of others who are uninformed about election theft.

The theft of elections is THE elephant in the room.

Sorry my post upset you. It is how I feel.

The bizarre thing is that I had really gotten ready to forgive and forget and believe that Kerry is no more responsible than any other American to reveal the theft of the election.

Then, this single sentence in the address returned me to my rage about the theft of the 2004 Election: "If you could stay up all night to vote, we could certainly stay up that next day to make sure your vote would count."

My God. My God. The blood, sweat, and tears that 1,000's (perhaps 10,000's) of people put into investigating and reading and writing and calling and faxing and screaming to have Ohio State electoral votes challenged so that the truth would someday be revealed -- and Kerry 'stayed up that next day'.

Perhaps you could reply to me with what you would consider 'proof' that the election was stolen?

Have you read Crispin Miller's "Fooled Again"?

[ProSense]

28. This is not a thread about election fraud, but if Miller has the proof

he can present it to any of the lawyers involved and they can take it to court!

[karynnj]

33. Miller doesn't really prove the election was stolen

I had a high school trigonometry teacher who defined "proof by intimidation" as when a student would start on a side of the equation he was to prove and make as many changes as he could think of. Then, stuck and unable to go further, would write, " Therefore, and put the quantity on the other side of the equation. The teacher said he would accept proof by induction or deduction, not intimidation.

Miller's book reminded me of proof by intimidation. He lists the very many thinks that were shady, irregular or questionable - some of these, unfortunately, are legal. After covering many of these - he shifts to saying the election was stolen as if it was proven. He has no clear cut proof.

Kerry and people associated with him have spoke of some of this. Kerry's focus is how do you prevent this in the future. On the Stephanie Miller show he said that if he had proof of course he would have fought it.

[TayTay]

34. What is proof?

Affadavits from people involved in planning, executing and covering up the tampering, re-coding or pre-programming of a voting machine.

Affadavits from anyone involved in election fraud that will stand up in a court of law.

Anyone coming forward who will speak on the record about same. That will stand up in a court of law.

There were lawsuits in Ohio. The LWV still has one. The lawsuit that the Kerry/Edwards campaign backed that specifically asked to get a look inside those machines was denied and dismissed.

Again, what proof do you have that will stand up in a court of law? Did you bother to follow the debate on this in the Senate Rules Committee last year? Did you hear the actual arguments that people used to dismiss this fraud?

Or would you rather rant because you want someone to blame. Someone who has pursued lawsuits and is still funding them.

Again, you are ducking the question. What proof exists that will be admitted to a court of law? What witnesses are willing to swear out affadavits admitting that fraud and a coverup happened. If you have knowledge of same, let us know. People have been looking for them.

[ProSense]

9. You are wrong and your post is offensive!

http://www.kerrysupport.com/media/stephanie_miller_john_kerry-051706.mp3

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1015710&mesg_id=1015710

[_dynamicdems]

38. Very inappropriate too.

The photo is objectionable and nobody has any business posting this kind of photo on a Democratic support board.

[kerrygoddess]

13. I doubt the students at Kenyon

would have ranted the way you did. Even though they were up half the night waiting to vote. Honestly, is it SO hard to have some respect for this in the context of what it is? A friggin commencement speech!

[blm]

25. They didn't have the NUMBERS or the PROOF to turn it around. They knew it

and tried every angle - why don't you rant against the REAL CULPRITS regarding the vote - the Clinton/MacAuliffe DNC did NOTHING to secure the voting machines before the vote because they DIDN'T BELIEVE in machine fraud. AFTER is too late with rigged machines.

Now.... who is your candidate who is working with Dean's DNC to secure the machines NOW or BEFORE the next election?

[femrap]

36. I think the Stolen Elections are the

elephant in the room as well. The more people are aware of their dirty tricks and electronic stealing of votes, the better IMHO; it just might make the pugs a tad less inclined to continue their criminal behavior. Or at least not be so brazen.

Alas, even DUers want to deny that their democracy is hanging by a thread. People just can't seem to face the awful truth that Elections have been stolen....it's just to terrible to consider.

John Conyers considered it....even wrote a book about this. Did everyone read it?

I feel the '06 Election may be the most important one that this nation has ever faced....and if the thievery continues in November and we don't win either the House or Senate, I believe this nation may be done. This beautiful little experiment called Democracy will be over and we will just be like the old Soviet Union (but on steroids).

So all I ask of Democrats is to at least consider the possibility of stolen elections in '00 and '04.....and take a look at the elections in Georgia in 2002.....Diebold went into every county and Dems were 'voted' out of office after going into the election with 10, 15, and even 17 point leads.

If the '06 is stolen, people on DU, MoveOn, DailyKos, etc. are going to find themselves terrorized and possibly in jail....that is the next step by these neocons. Rove has studied what the Nixon Administration did wrong...and he ain't making those same mistakes. And now with technology so much further advanced than in 1973....the neocons can make your life miserable beyond your wildest imagination. Dissent of any kind will not be tolerated.

If we don't get the House in '06, get your passport in order. I won't be able to watch the death of our Democracy and the shredding of our Constitution.

And BTW, after leaving Kenyon, Kerry (without Teresa....damn) came down to the Branstool Farm in Utica, Ohio where I saw him give a great speech. He was relaxed and open. I got the opportunity to thank him for his work against the Alito (I lie too) nomination. He responded that he just doesn't understand how his fellow Dem Senators can say they don't want Alito on the Court, but go ahead and vote for his approval. Shit, if he can't figure it out, how the hell am I? I told him this behavior by these Dems has led Daniel Elsberg and myself to declare ourselves self-hating Democrats....he got a good laugh out of that.

He was asked if he planned on running again....his answer....'I'll wait and see what happens after the November Election.' I think he feels this upcoming Election is a turning point as well.

[MH1]

39. What an asinine post. Kerry has been telling the truth. You just aren't

listening.

For example just last Wednesday:

http://www.stephaniemiller.com/bits/2006_0517_kerry.mp3

(election discussion is in the latter half of the interview)

The more people divert attention from the REAL problem - VOTER SUPPRESSION - the REAL problem, the OBVIOUS problem, AND THE PROBLEM THAT THE LAW DOES NOTHING ABOUT, and the problem which the LWV lawsuit is fighting, to get enforceable laws on the books -

the more people divert attention from this REAL, OBVIOUS fraud with other unproven allegations, the longer the Republicans - AND unsavory Democrats - will continue to get away with it.

What are YOU doing to prevent voter suppression?

[politicasista]

10. Kicking for Kerry and Momma T

:kick: :applause: :yourock:

[kerrygoddess]

14. Speaking of Momma T - Here's some pics from today

[knitter4democracy]

22. I love Teresa. She's so awesome.

*sigh* She'd be so much better in the East Wing.

[mtnsnake]

11. How on earth does a generic speech like this get 9 votes for GP? LOL!

What, because it's Kerry that said it, it automatically gets voted to Greatest Page or something? Good golly miss molly!

[ProSense]

12. I listened and really enjoyed it! So, you don't approve, LOL! n/t

[mtnsnake]

16. 'Course I approve of the speech

I guess I must've missed what was so moving about it, though. Maybe you had to be there?

[_dynamicdems]

45. It was fantastic! I watched about six other commencement speeches

on C-span yesterday and they were horrible! Kerry's was the only one that generated any measure of enthusiasm from the audience. The other speeches were run of the mill and lackluster. Senator Kerry was on target and the speech was very well received. He certainly owned the audience. They loved him.

That's something you don't hear about often, but it's true: audiences respond to John Kerry. I've heard him speak many times and every time I have, there were nothing but attentive, enthusiastic faces all around me. And lots of cheering, applause and standing ovations. The MSM and the pundits (who themselves are about as exciting as cold oatmeal) will have you believe otherwise. Don't. They lie.

[mtnsnake]

47. It really was a very good speech

although I would call it a "4 vote for Greatest Page speech" not a "21 vote for Greatest Page speech". (j/k) ;)

My official mtnsnake rating of Kerry's speech: 6.5 out of 10 (I rarely rate speeches above 7.5, so this is pretty good)

Hey, I'm just jealous that Hillary's speeches don't get so many votes. The only speeches of hers that would ever get 21 votes on DU are the ones where she says something that upsets everyone! :evilgrin:

[_dynamicdems]

51. Something tells me you might have liked his Emerson speech better.

THAT speech was really funny. :D

[karynnj]

15. It was NOT a generic speech

I've seen tons of less meritorious things get Greatest page - including rumors debunked an hour later. But thanks for mentioning it, I forgot to recommend - and now will. :)

[mtnsnake]

17. "John Kerry kissed a baby while wearing Maui Jims"...23 votes!

"I've seen tons of less meritorious things get Greatest page"

Very true.

Remember that thread "John Kerry closes his eyes while sleeping" and how it got 62 votes?

Okay, okay, j/k :evilgrin:

[ProSense]

18. Are you begrudging the Senator's support? n/t

[mtnsnake]

19. Nah

All in fun ;)

[_dynamicdems]

46. What are Maui Jims, btw? They sound rather beachy.

[mtnsnake]

48. Beachy they are. Maui Jims are quality polarized sunglasses, and cool.

So damned expensive though. I've never had a pair of expensive sunglasses all my life, but last year I finally sprung for a pair and got Maui Jims, mostly for using on the water.

[_dynamicdems]

50. LOL! I was thinking they were some kind of swim trunks.

:blush: Now, that would make for a rather interesting commencement.

[Mass]

20. Just added a Recommend too. Now, I will read the speech.

[mtnsnake]

27. LOL!

:toast:

[blm]

21. You didn't read the speech did you? Kerry PERSONALIZED the speech for this

particular group. BIG DIFFERENCE. Few speakers at multiple colleges would personalize a speech to this degree.

[mtnsnake]

26. Yeah, I did read it and he did personalize it, just like other commencment

speakers often do. It wasn't a bad speech though.

Hey, blm, ya gotta promise me one thing. You know in that picture at the bottom of the page where he's in his cloak at the podium? Any chance you can tell him to stop doing that thing where he clenches his fist and holds one thumb up? He did that all during the campaign, too. Tell him it would look much better if he keeps the thumb down and just clenches his fist instead, or if he can't stop putting his thumb up so much to at least not do it so often. Thanks

[karynnj]

32. Not "just like all commencement speakers do"

I've heard that where they swap the name of the school and replace a phrase describing the phyisical location. This was a speech that interwove the school's values and philosopy, their role in 2004, and values that Kerry has for the country. Very few lines were from the powerful speech Kerry has been giving - at Faneuil, Grinnell, and American University.

The school's role in 2004 is why Kerry spoke and why he did so much to make the speech fit - he totally respects what these kids did - waiting hours to vote.

[TayTay]

35. No, that's my favorite gesture he makes.

I like the thumbs up gesture. It's my second favorite hand gesture that I have seen the Senator make.

This was a good speech. I am more partial to the Emerson speech but that's cuz it was funnier.

[mtnsnake]

41. Oh geez, I hope your first favorite one isn't the one I'm thinking of,

the heart one, where he puts his hands to his chest and then extends them outward to someone as if he's sending his heart out there or whatever it is that's supposed to mean. I've seen Teresa do it, too. She does it okay but Kerry looks awkward when he does it.

Same with how he does the thumbs up thing. First, you shouldn't be doing thumbs up all the time simply when you're talking.

Second and more importantly, if you're going to do it, you gotta do it right. Here we've got a big strong man in Kerry, but he does thumbs up like a little kid. He's got his thumb bent at a 45 degree angle and practically resting on his index finger. Looks real weak and we all know he isn't weak. Next time you see John, tell him if he's going to do thumbs up to hold that thumb back as far as he can...at a 90 degree angle from the top of his hand!

I shouldn't be giving you all these tips. It could cost my guy the primaries if Kerry gets in because he learns how to do thumbs up correctly!

:thumbsup:

[blm]

40. Read McCain's and other multiple commencement speakers - THOSE are generic

speeches.

[mtnsnake]

42. I haven't even read The Da Vinci Code yet!

How am I supposed to find time to read McCain and everyone else?!?

Although the way it rains around here lately, it's not like I can spend much time outdoors doing much of anything else in my spare time.

Reading McCain's commencement speech will be on the bottom of my To Do list. I'd rather watch that TV documentary about the demise of the grain crop in China than I would to read McCain's commencement speech!

[MH1]

44. Heh heh I'm with you on that.

I don't think I could handle reading a McCain speech without either falling asleep or puking.

But there have been plenty of news reports that McCain gave the same cookie cutter speech at three very different colleges.

Kerry didn't. Kerry personalized each speech, but especially this one. The story about the coach cancelling practice was especially wonderful.

So, this wasn't "just any" commencement speech.

[karynnj]

49. McCain gave the same speach at New School that he gave at Liberty

and is now whining that the New School kids were rude. He was rude to not even try to reach them at all - he used them as props and they allowed themselves to be used - so he can claim that he was willing to talk to them and they were rude. What on earth was Kerrey thinking.

Probably the best they could have done was to sit in absolute silence after applauding their student speakers.

[karynnj]

29. Exactly the point - this was a speech celebrating the Kenyon College

graduates who showed the nation that voting was worth standing in line for 11 hours. Senator Kerry, per the student who introduced him, took the time to meet with Kenyon College allumni to learn more about the school. The very affectionate speech had a large amount of advice and encouragement for the kids and clearly respected them.

If you want to see the polar opposite, McCain chose to speak at New School, Columbia University, and Liberty University. He gave essentially the same speech. He made no attempt to reach out to the kids, to understand them, or even to challange them intellectually. The speech was all about McCain, the kids might as well not have been there. (In fact he likely wanted the New School kids to heckle him so they are trashed for disagreeing with a speaker they never wanted on their commencement day.)

[howmad1]

31. Geez, kinda like......

....the speech that straight talking asshole McCain gave to Jerry Falwell and crowd. :sarcasm:

[LeahD]

37. I was at Kenyon today,

and Senator Kerry knew his audience and delivered a personalized speech, honoring the students, their parents, and faculty. The students at Kenyon valued their right to vote on Nov. 2, 2004, and he let them know he was humbled by their actions. He encouraged them to speak out and act out, and by doing so, they can be the impetus for change.

[blm]

43. That is GREAT to hear - I value the personal reports. They are what DU is

all about to me.

[LeahD]

52. Plan to post more when I return home.

I traveled across the country for a mini-vacation and to hear him speak. I also attended a small dem gathering in Licking County, OH...Kerry spoke and did Q & A.

[blm]

53. I love his Q and A's. I think Kerry and Clark do Q and A with the greatest

intention of fully answering the question out of respect for the intelligence of their audiences. I rarely hear any political gamesmanship out of them.