My fellow Americans, it's times like today that we really have to look deep down inside ourselves and ask: what kind of country do we really want to be? I'm standing here with you today to continue our conversation about where we want our country to go and how I'll fight for you to make that happen. That's as true today as it was yesterday -- and it'll be just as true tomorrow.
There's been much furor lately over some remarks I've made on the campaign trail that have been called inaccurate or even untrue. Now I've attempted to deal with these comments by explaining that I simply misspoke. While this is certainly a believable and understandable occurence in the middle of a difficult campaign season, I think it's important that our nation discuss what those remarks really spoke to, and the important issues they raise for us all.
These days we're often faced with difficult decisions in our daily lives. Like so many of you, I find that often I'm left in situations where I have to overcome tremendous difficulties to accomplish my goals. You all know what that's like! Sometimes to overcome the obstacles in our paths, we're called upon to make difficult ethical decisions. Leadership is about making the right choice.
Sometimes inconvenient situations can arise because the facts simply aren't conducive to your cause. I'm sure you all remember the many times we've watched President Bush and his press secretaries deal with situations where the facts simply weren't on their side. You know, watching them I've always been struck about what a disappointment that must be to the American people.
This campaign is about doing better for the American people, and that's not simply about providing better health care, better schools and better security. It has to be about more than that. Today if we, as Democrats, are going to lead we're going to need to promise the American people that we'll tell better lies than the Bush administration.
You know how it is -- many Americans tell egregious lies to win promotions, keep spouses and avoid insider trading convictions. Those Americans will know they have a strong advocate in the White House in my administration. Those of you who embellished a resume or lied on job applications will know that I understand you and I'll fight for you.
We must have the freedom to make deliberately opaque statements of unverifiable truth. America needs to have the liberty of ambiguity of meaning. We must be free to ask what the definition of is is. Like I stood by my husband years ago, I'm asking America to stand up for with me today. I may not always have been truthful with you, but I love you and it's the last time--I promise!
To the matter at hand, I'm sure it's clear from the press footage played endlessly on the Internet and the news that I might not have the facts entirely on my side. While that's an important issue, it's not what the American people should be most concerned about. What the American people need to know is whether they believed me before the facts made that impossible. I think it's clear that they did -- news coverage ignored the incident for almost a week!
That's the standard we've got to hold ourselves to. That's what you can expect of me. Leadership in these difficult times is about who's able to answer the phone at 3 in the morning, and if necessary tell a heck of a whopper. I'm sure it's clear to Pennsylvanians that they need a person they can trust to make plausible statements of indeterminate truth. I know if you really look at my record, I am that candidate.
Thank you, and good day.
(please excuse my pathetic attempt at sarcastic humor. trying to "do" hillary is more difficult than i anticipated. that said, i take hillary at her word that she misspoke. there's some willing suspension of disbelief involved in that statement but hey -- we're all democrats here, right?)