REMARKS: HICKENLOOPER SPEAKS TO IOWA HALL OF FAME DINNER
"Pragmatists don't say no, they figure out how to get big things done"
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Today, Governor Hickenlooper will deliver remarks at the Iowa Hall of Fame Dinner. The former Colorado governor and Democratic presidential candidate will echo his remarks from the California Democratic Party Convention that Democrats must embrace progressive pragmatism if they want to defeat Donald Trump and achieve big progressive goals. Excerpts from the speech follow.
"Donald Trump is the worst President our country has ever had. But, defeating him is far from guaranteed. We have to take the right approach. We must be progressive, but also pragmatic. We need a dreamer, but also a doer. We must present a bold vision for the future, but we also must acknowledge that the most effective charge Republicans can level against us is 'socialism.'"
"Now, that does not mean that Democrats should shy away from big progressive goals. Far from it. A pragmatist doesn’t say no to big ideas, they figure out how to get them done. I know this because it’s what we did in Colorado. Today, Colorado has near universal health care. All 64 counties have access to reliable broadband service. We’ve had the number one economy in the country for three consecutive years."
Full remarks follow. Remarks are as prepared.
Hello, Iowa Democrats!
Thank you so much for having me.
I would like to acknowledge Fred and Charlotte Hubbell, and all those receiving awards tonight.
You all do the hard work – knocking on doors in the snow and the heat, phone banking late at night.
It is difficult, and often thankless work, but it is essential work.
You all are on the front lines of the resistance. You protect our democracy.
President Trump reminds us every day that our democracy is something we neglect at our own peril.
We now live in a country where children are taken from their mothers and put in cages.
A woman’s right to control her own body is under constant assault.
The sick and the elderly have to chose between paying their medical bill, or paying their utility bill.
Donald Trump is the worst President our country has ever had.
But, defeating him is far from guaranteed.
We have to take the right approach.
We must be progressive, but also pragmatic.
We need a dreamer, but also a doer.
We must present a bold vision for the future, but we also must acknowledge that the most effective charge Republicans can level against us is “socialism.”
Now, that does not mean that Democrats should shy away from big progressive goals.
Far from it.
A pragmatist doesn’t say no to big ideas, they figure out how to get them done.
I know this because it’s what we did in Colorado.
Today, Colorado has near universal health care.
All 64 counties have access to reliable broadband service.
We’ve had the number one economy in the country for three consecutive years.
We were the first state to compel the oil and gas industry to eliminate methane emissions.
We beat the NRA and became the first purple state to pass universal background checks and magazine limits!
When other states were limiting reproductive rights, we provided long-acting reversible contraception to any woman who wanted it. And we cut abortion and unintended pregnancy among young women by almost two-thirds!
I am the only person running who has actually done what everyone else is talking about.
So I can tell you, you don’t do big things with Big Government.
You do big things by bringing everyone to the table --- by making the table bigger.
When I am President, we will make affordable healthcare a right, not a privilege.
We will do it by creating a public option – so the more than 100 million Americans who like their insurance can keep it, and the millions who do not will have another choice.
When I am President, we will unite the world to save our planet.
America will not only rejoin the Paris Accord - but we will exceed its goals!
We will work with private industry and non-profits to do the massive research and development that we will need to effectively, and quickly address our climate crisis.
When I am President, every American will have the opportunity to create their version of the American Dream.
We will make college more affordable, and we will also provide a path for the 65 percent of Americans who won’t get a four-year college degree.
I will work with unions and businesses to do the biggest expansion of apprenticeships in our country’s history. One million apprenticeships a year!
I am proud to be part of a political party that over decades has rallied to the call of so many dreams and dreamers.
I am proud to be in the party that not only dared to dream big dreams but had the persistence to get them done - from creating Social Security and Medicare to putting a man on the moon.
I am a dreamer and a do-er.
And we need both to make real progress.
Not just big ideas but making them happen -- finding common ground when it sometimes seems like there’s nothing there but mountains between us.
That’s my record.
And that will be my promise as President.
Thank you.
