Tammy Baldwin for President: The Right Direction, Together
May 11, 2015 -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
"Thank you! Thank you all so much! It's so great to be out here in the lovely city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on what I can only hope will be a monumental and momentous day for the future of this country.
Folks, there is no shred of doubt in my mind that our nation is better off now than it was eight years ago. By virtually every economic indicator, our country is thriving under the leadership of President Obama, especially in comparison to what we were left with following the 2008 election. However, we've come through quite a lot, and you can see it on the resolute, dirt-specked faces of the hard-working men and women in this country who have seen their wages stagnate for as long as they can remember, while the media lauds news of a bump in the Dow Jones or yet another month of growth for the 1%.
That's why I'm asking for your vote to be the next President of the United States. It's time for us to take the progress we've made over the past eight years, and carry the torch for millions of Americans left behind to fight for their own while the richest of the rich bask in their economic recovery. We need an economic recovery for each and every single American, regardless of their economic status.
Ladies and gentleman, it's far past time for us to pass an increase in the federal minimum wage to at least $10.10. States and localities across the country have taken the lead on this popular issue, with predictably rewarding results. Putting more money in the pockets of the working class will inevitably lead to more revenue for our businesses and industries here in America, therefore boosting our economy in the process.
We need to enact legislation to ensure equal pay for equal work for women in this country! I understand I'm the first candidate in this race to bring up this front-and-center issue so far, and I will proudly take charge as a candidate and as a President to ensure that no simple difference in chromosomes can prevent you from receiving the hard-earned day's pay you deserve.
We've got to work to improve bad trade deals that harm American workers and families, while ensuring that our products are able to make their way through the global market efficiently. It's high time for us to expand Social Security to protect our seniors; I will not hop on the so-called "entitlement reform" bandwagon, which has proven itself time and time again to be a movement dedicated solely to slashing benefits for the folks in this country who have damn well earned them over their lifetimes. And we must stand up and say enough is enough when it comes to tax breaks and loopholes for big businesses and the wealthy that allow them to skate around paying their fair share and encourage them to ship jobs overseas to nations like China, while middle-class Americans back home are thrown under the bus.
The late Senator and progressive champion Paul Wellstone of our neighboring state of Minnesota once coined the phrase, "We all do better, when we all do better." Boy, isn't that the truth? America flourishes when we stand side-by-side in solidarity with our fellow citizens, in our ongoing struggle for a better future for us, our children, and generations onward. Run with me, Milwaukee! Run with me, Wisconsin! Run with me, America! It's time to bring our bold, progressive blueprint for our continued American renewal to each and every corner of this country, from sea to shining sea! My friends, let's get to work!"
