I think in 2004 we have an opportunity to rebuild this party, the Democratic party, by rebuilding a movement based on real progressive vision in this country.  I think that if we do that that those Americans, the majority of Americans who are not voting, will come into the process because it is in their interest.

As long as we are locked in club houses, as long as we're locked in the Beltway, as long as we're not hearing and representing what people really want and continue to compete for a dwindling group of conservative, small-minded people, we will continue to lose.

I want us to expand the party.  I want us to go back and represent what America really believes in.  I want us to stop this backwards step toward the repealing of hman and civil rights, toward giving tax cuts and deregulation to big business.  I want this country to stand by and represent what it should.

So I'm not talking about  just a political candidacy, I'm talking about a political movement.  It was those movements that opened the door for women, for minorities, for gays and lesbians in the first place.  And I think we must stop apologizing for making America what it is.  We need to be proud of it.  We need to duplicate it; we need to finish the mandate of those generations that put us in these positions in the first place.  Many of us sit in positions of influence and act as though we got there on our own.  We got there because people fought for women and fought for minorities to be able to [inaud.] those positions.  [last three sentences inaud. due to applause.].