Chicago, IL – In the history of the United States, no major political party had ever nominated a minority woman to its presidential ticket – until now.
On August 22, Vice President Kamala D. Harris accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party of the United States for the job currently served by her boss, President Joseph R. Biden. Originally, Biden himself was running for reelection. However, after a disastrous debate against his opponent – former President Donald J. Trump – Biden was pressured to end his campaign and “pass the torch” to the 59-year-old Harris. The Party wanted the change in the hopes that it would boost fundraising efforts and change the narrative from Biden being too old at 81, to Trump being too old at 78.
Here now are excerpts of Harris’ historic acceptance speech.
“Good evening. To my husband, Doug, thank you for being an incredible partner to me and father to Cole and Ella. And happy anniversary. I love you so very much.
“To Joe Biden – Mr. President. When I think about the path we have traveled together, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show. And your character is inspiring. Doug and I love you and Jill. And I am forever thankful to you both.
“And to Coach Tim Walz, you are going to be an incredible Vice President. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign – your support is humbling.
“America, the path that led me here in recent weeks, was no doubt … unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys…
“…I grew up immersed in the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement. My parents had met at a civil rights gathering. And they made sure we learned about civil rights leaders, including lawyers like Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley.
“Those who battled in the courtroom to make real the Promise of America. So, at a young age, I decided I wanted to do that work. I wanted to be a lawyer.
“And when it came time to choose – the type of law I would pursue – I reflected on a pivotal moment in my life.
“When I was in high school, I started to notice something about my best friend Wanda. She was sad at school. And there were times she didn’t want to go home.
“So, one day, I asked if everything was alright. And she confided in me that she was being sexually abused by her stepfather. And I immediately told her she had to come stay with us.
“And she did. That is one of the reasons I became a prosecutor.
“To protect people like Wanda. Because I believe everyone has a right: To safety. To dignity. And to justice.
“As a prosecutor, when I had a case, I charged it not in the name of the victim. But in the name of. ‘The People.’
“For a simple reason. In our system of justice, a harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us. I would often explain this, to console survivors of crime. To remind them: No one should be made to fight alone. We are all in this together.
“Every day in the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge and said five words: ‘Kamala Harris, for the People.’ And to be clear: My entire career, I have only had one client. The People.
“And so, on behalf of The People, On behalf of every American. Regardless of party. Race. Gender. Or the language your grandmother speaks.
“On behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey. On behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with. People who work hard. Chase their dreams. And look out for one another. On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth. I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a New Way Forward. Not as members of any one party or faction. But as Americans. I know there are people of various political views watching tonight. And I want you to know: I promise to be a President for all Americans.
“You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America’s fundamental principles. From the rule of law. To free and fair elections. To the peaceful transfer of power.
“I will be a President who unites us around our highest aspirations. A President who leads. And listens. Who is realistic. Practical. And has common sense. And always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to the White House, that has been my life’s work…
“…Fellow Americans, this election is not only the most important of our lives. It is one of the most important in the life of our nation.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious. Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election.
“Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite. He fanned the flames.
“And now, for an entirely different set of crimes, he was found guilty of fraud by a jury of everyday Americans. And separately, found liable for committing sexual abuse.
“And consider what he intends to do if we give him power again. Consider his explicit intent to set free the violent extremists who assaulted those law enforcement officers at the Capitol. His explicit intent to jail journalists. Political opponents. Anyone he sees as the enemy. His explicit intent to deploy our active-duty military against our own citizens.
“Consider the power he will have – especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled he would be immune from criminal prosecution.
“Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails. How he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States. Not to improve your life. Not to strengthen our national security. But to serve the only client he has ever had: Himself.
“And we know what a second Trump term would look like. It’s all laid out in ‘Project 2025.’ Written by his closest advisors. And its sum total is to pull, our country back into the past.
“But America, we are not going back. We are not going back to when Donald Trump tried to cut Social Security and Medicare. We are not going back to when he tried to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. When insurance companies could deny people with pre-existing conditions.
“We are not going to let him eliminate the Department of Education that funds our public schools. We are not going to let him end programs like Head Start that provide preschool and child care.
“America, we are not going back. We are charting. A. New. Way. Forward…
“…As President, I will bring together: Labor and workers, Small business owners and entrepreneurs, And American companies. To create jobs. Grow our economy. And lower the cost of everyday needs. Like health care. Housing. And groceries.
“We will: Provide access to capital for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and founders. We will end America’s housing shortage. And protect Social Security and Medicare.
“Compare that to Donald Trump. He doesn’t actually fight for the middle class. Instead, he fights for himself and his billionaire friends. He will give them another round of tax breaks, that will add 5 trillion dollars to the national debt.
“All while he intends to enact what, in effect, is a national sales tax – call it, a Trump tax – that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost 4 thousand dollars a year.
“Well, instead of a Trump tax hike, we will pass a middle class tax cut that will benefit more than 100 million Americans.
“Friends, I believe America cannot truly be prosperous unless Americans are fully able to make their own decisions about their own lives. Especially on matters of heart and home.
“But tonight, too many women in America are not able to make those decisions. Let’s be clear about how we got here. Donald Trump hand-picked members of the United States Supreme Court to take away reproductive freedom. And now he brags about it. His words: Quote – ‘I did it, and I’m proud to have done it.’ End quote.
“Over the past two years, I have traveled across our country. And women have told me their stories. Husbands and fathers have shared theirs. Stories of: Women miscarrying in a parking lot…Getting sepsis…Losing the ability to ever have children again…
“All because doctors are afraid of going to jail for caring for their patients. Couples just trying to grow their family…cut off in the middle of IVF treatments. Children who have survived sexual assault, potentially forced to carry the pregnancy to term.
“This is what is happening in our country. Because of Donald Trump. And understand, he is not done.
“As a part of his agenda, he and his allies would: Limit access to birth control, ban medication abortion, and enact a nationwide abortion ban with or without Congress.
“And. Get this, he plans to create a National Anti-Abortion Coordinator. And force states to report on women’s miscarriages and abortions. Simply put. They are out of their minds…
“…America, let us show each other – and the world – who we are. And what we stand for. Freedom. Opportunity. Compassion. Dignity. Fairness. And endless possibilities.
“We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world. And on behalf of our children and grandchildren, and all those who sacrificed so dearly for our freedom and liberty, we must be worthy of this moment. It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done. Guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love.
“To fight for the ideals we cherish. And to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth. The privilege and pride of being an American.
“So, let’s get out there and let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there and let’s vote for it. And together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.
“Thank you. God bless you. May God bless the United States of America.”
While Democrats are excited about the pros of Harris and running mate Tim Walz running the country, the GOP has been quick to point out the cons. Among them are Harris’ record as “border czar”, which Harris and some in the media have denied but in 2021 she was indeed called the “border czar.” Also, some are wary of Harris and Walz possibly being “too liberal” in their policies.
