Congressman Steve Kagen Election Night Victory Speech [Transcript]
VICTORY SPEECH
November 4, 2008
Riverside Ballroom - Green Bay, Wisconsin
Thank you to everyone for coming out tonight on this very historic night. On this night, November 4th, 2008, America made history. Not only because of Barack Obama, but also because of the candidacy of John McCain, a war hero we all have come to respect. This is a night we will all remember, for the history that’s being made, not just here but across the county. This is a night we’ll remember, November 4th, 2008, the day we began to take our country back, because we won’t back down.
Two years ago, I did something for the very first time in my life. I ran for public office, because like most people here in the country and Northeast Wisconsin, I believed we needed a positive change. And after 30 years of caring for patients all across the district, I thought it was time to go to Washington and heal the wounds there as well.
But tonight, tonight across the district, our independent- minded people have voted and made it clear. They want me to continue working hard for them in Washington.
Your strong show of support across the district has made it clear. And you’ve said in one collective voice, “Hey Doc, you know what? You got a good start, but now let’s get back to basics and begin to change Washington. And don’t ever let Washington change you.”
We’ve got that start. You made it clear tonight. You’ve made it very clear tonight that you agree that by working together, we’re going to begin to build a better nation for all of us. And we’ve turned the page on American history here tonight.
But it’s not just about shouting; it’s not just about voting; it’s about all of us and what we’re going to do together for by working hard together to really bring about all the changes that we need.
And you’ve made that clear tonight: the mandate for change has rung out not just tonight here in Northeast Wisconsin. It’s rung out in the White House, in the State House and through the Court House.
You and you and everyone up on this stage have made it abundantly clear - what you want now is change, a positive change.
You want less partisanship and more partnership.
You want economic security and you want comprehensive reform in our health care system in this country and by working together we’ll guarantee access to affordable care for everyone.
But it isn’t just about our economic security and higher wage jobs. It’s also about bringing about balanced trade deals to secure the jobs that remain and to restore the ones that we’ve recently lost in Kimberly and Niagara - because I’m drawing a line in Kimberly and Niagara.
Everyone in America understands what NAFTA and CAFTA have done to our country. We don’t want fair trade. We want balanced trade, and we want it now.
But you also want something higher. In the same vein that Barack has expressed: a higher message for all of us to begin to join hands together.
You want us to work together, now more than ever. And tonight is that night, that historic night, when we begin to renew the spark that remains within America, to reinvigorate our spirit, and to recommit ourselves to the goal of making certain that we build a better nation for all of us as soon as we can.
It is a historic night. But this election was not about Steve Kagen. This election was not about my opponent, John. This election was about all of you and all the good work we’re going to do together.
Now, will we get there? I’m more convinced tonight than ever before that Together, We Will!
And now begins our greatest challenge for all of us. Let’s begin to put our minds together and do what we must do to guarantee that we will succeed in bringing about all the changes that we need.
For on this historic evening, I ask for your ongoing commitment for positive change and say it with me,
Together, We Will!
Thank you, Thank you very much. Enjoy your evening, for tomorrow we go back to work.
Steve Kagen, M.D.
Member of Congress
Wisconsin - District 8
