CNN.com International
The Web    CNN.com      Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ON TV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TRANSCRIPTS


 

Return to Transcripts main page

CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL

Wesley Clark Addresses Supporters

Aired February 3, 2004 - 23:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Wesley Clark is now speaking to his supporters. Let's listen in to Wesley Clark. A very, very close race, with 99 percent of the vote in Oklahoma, and he's slightly ahead right now over John Edwards.
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I'll tell you what, as an old soldier from Arkansas, I just couldn't be prouder of your support in this first election that I've ever won. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you for your support. Thank you for standing by me. Thank you for working so hard as we passed by Iowa. We won the non-New England portion of New Hampshire.

(APPLAUSE)

And we came to Oklahoma and we won.

(APPLAUSE)

And thank you for working so hard, members of the draft movement, members of the Democratic Party, to take the White House back for its rightful owners: the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Wes.

CLARK: Well, we love you, too, Oklahoma.

(APPLAUSE)

As a matter of fact, we've been here every day for the last week. And I've loved every minute of it. In every corner of the state, we've met some of the most wonderful people in the world. You've made me feel so welcome and so at home, and my family too.

And I want to thank the volunteers who made the phone calls...

(APPLAUSE)

... who licked the envelopes...

(APPLAUSE)

... and who knocked on the doors day after day.

(APPLAUSE)

We wouldn't be here if it weren't for people like you.

You know, today, across the country, Democrats went to the polls. And tonight the people have spoken. And the message they sent couldn't be clearer: America wants a higher standard of leadership in Washington.

(APPLAUSE)

And there is no party more committed to that, no party more committed to the American people, no party more committed to lifting people up than this party, my party, this Democratic Party.

(APPLAUSE)

George W. Bush has had three years to keep our country moving forward. He's moved it in the wrong direction. He set us back: 3 million lost jobs, 44 million Americans without health insurance and an unnecessary war that's resulted in a mess in Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

It's time we brought real Democratic values back to America.

(APPLAUSE)

It's time we built a better America. It's time we built an America where we don't just talk about family values, but we value families.

(APPLAUSE)

It's time we built an America where a job and education and health care are not just luxuries for the few. They're what we mean when we say family values. And they're for every American -- every American.

(APPLAUSE)

We want to live in an America where we don't just preach our faith, we practice it...

(APPLAUSE)

... and where those who have the most reach out to help those who have the least.

(APPLAUSE)

We want an America where everyone has a shot at the American Dream, no matter where they're from, no matter what their background is, and where we include everyone, recognizing that our diversity is our strength. (APPLAUSE)

And we want an America in which we all understand that debate and dissent, that questioning your leaders and holding them accountable is the highest form of patriotism, especially in a time of war.

(APPLAUSE)

AUDIENCE: Go, Wes, go. Go, Wes, go. Go, Wes, go.

CLARK: And we want an America in which being patriotic means using force only -- only, only -- as a last resort, never as a political tool for an election.

(APPLAUSE)

We want an America in which we can look up to our leaders and trust our commander in chief; where the national interests, not special interests, rule the day.

(APPLAUSE)

You see, these are the values we must champion. And this is the America that we must build. Together, we can do it.

But before I go, I want you to know that I leave Oklahoma even more full of hope and even more committed to building a better America than when we began this journey five months ago. And that's because of each of you. And I can't thank you enough.

From the bottom of my heart: I love Oklahoma.

(APPLAUSE)

You're wonderful.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




CNN US
On CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNN AvantGo CNNtext Ad info Preferences
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.