For Immediate Release: March 15, 1999 |
House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt H-204, U.S. Capitol |
"I've seen him in all kinds of situations, legislative situations as a public servant; I've seen him react as a father and a husband; I remember clearly when his son was injured tragically, I saw how he responded; how much he loved his family; how much he worked to overcome adversity.
"I was at his father's funeral in Tennessee and heard him give the most moving eulogy I think I ever heard. He talked about the values, he talked about the decency that his father and his mother had given him. He is a wonderful human being, and we would all be proud to have him as President of the United States.
"I've seen him lead. I've seen him lead on education, on children, on families, the most important thing in our lives. I've seen him lead on health care. And I've seen him lead on Social Security and Medicare.
"And I will remind all of you that part of the reason we have the best economy of our lifetime is because the Congress under President Clinton in 1993 passed a balanced budget which was hard to pass, and Al Gore cast the deciding vote for that budget in 1993.
"But I also see him as a human being who has a vision, a leader who has a vision for where our country needs to go now. He sees an America where every American achieves economic success in their family's life. He sees an America where education and children are our national passion and our national obsession.
"He believes that every child in this country must be a productive citizen, and we will not rest until that's done. He sees an America where quality health care is afforded for every American family without qualification.
"Let me finally say that he really cares. I believe with all my heart that he cares most deeply about what happens to all of our people and what happens in the future of this country.
"He has made his fight to reclaim the agenda for the values of the American people in the House of Representatives; I'm here today to say that I want to make my fight putting Al Gore into the presidency of the United States."
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