This is the kind of summation I'd like to hear our prosecutor, John Kerry, make in the debates.
Tonight, I would like to talk to you about leadership. Being a leader means taking a stand, even when it's not a popular choice. It means standing up for the weak against the strong. It means doing the right thing before the conventional wisdom says the time is right.
As a young man, I chose to serve my country in an unpopular war. I could have asked my father to pave the way for duty here at home as many members of my class did but I chose to fight and yes, even kill for my country.
When I returned, I could have got on with my life. Instead, I took a stand against what I perceived to be a war we could not win. Why should even one more man die for a mistake? Not everyone met my choice with approval but someone had to speak truth to power. I did.
When I was a prosecutor in Middlesex County, I went after people that preyed on others. Sometimes these people were wealthy or connected but that didn't matter. Someone had to speak for the little guy.
As a senator, I joined with John McCain to look into the POW/MIA situation in Vietnam. The wounds from this conflict were still open but we felt that the families deserved some closure. It was time for us to heal.
In the 80's, I opened investigations into the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), a Saudi backed organization that was laundering terrorist money. My work shut this organization down. I also led the investigation of Iran-Contra, a case where rogue elements in our government were selling arms to fighters in Central America in exchange for the release of American hostages held by Iranian terrorists. It was not right to negotiate with terrorists but that was what was happening. Neither of these investigations was popular with my colleagues on either side of the aisle. Both implicated people very high in the private and public sector. But I did it anyway because it was the right thing to do.
George Bush, on the other hand, does not make a habit of making the tough choices.
He could have fought in Vietnam but he did not. He could have been grateful for an easy stateside assignment in TANG but instead he did not fulfill his obligations. In the end, a pilot just back from Vietnam had to complete his assignment for him.
As president, he could have showed true leadership with the war on terrorism. He did not. He stood on a pile of rubble and vowed revenge to a roaring crowd. But not unlike his National Guard service, he lost interest in Afghanistan and scaled back the action before Al Qaeda was cleaned out of every corner. He claims he's killed or captured 3/4 of Al Qaeda leadership. What he doesn't tell you is that every one of those guys has been replaced.
A true leader would have demanded to know how 9/11 could have happened in the first place. George Bush did not. He blocked an investigation until the 9/11 families forced his hand. Then he stonewalled the commission. He stood in the way of their work. He refused to testify to them under oath.
A leader would have done everything in his power to prevent another attack. George Bush did not. When the Democrats proposed a Homeland Security bill designed to protect all of us from future attack, George Bush would have none of it. He only relented when polls showed the idea was popular.
George Bush has occasionally shows flashes of leadership. When it came to sending our young men to fight and die for Middle East oil, George Bush was resolute. George Bush rushed in without allies, without financing, without a plan for the peace. But he stood up for what he believed in.
When it came to financing the war, George Bush was bold. He was decisive. He cut taxes for the wealthy, the connected and the campaign contributor. He presented the bill to your children and grandchildren. George Bush knew what was right.
When it became clear that intelligence prior to the war was false or exaggerated, George Bush was not curious as to how such a thing could happen. Once again he fought the good fight, fought to block a panel to look into these matters. Finally, he relented but the group has yet to meet and start sifting through the evidence.
It appears there are rogue elements in the Pentagon that has fed this Administration misinformation from the beginning. They unquestioningly took the lies of foreign operatives intent in using U.S. power and resources for their own advantage. Not one of these neocons has been held to account for their poor or deliberately misleading advice. George Bush knows when to be loyal.
And so this year, you have a choice. You can choose someone who will take a stand against all odds. Or you can choose someone who takes a stand when the polls, the focus groups and the advisors say the time is right.
Thank you and good night.