Rep. Wasserman Schultz
Surrogate for Sen. Barack Obama
Hadassah National Convention – July 14, 2008
Los Angeles, California

Good morning Hadassah!!! It is great to be back in the company of my Hadassah mishpucha!           

Thank you Bonnie Lipton, for your thoughtful introduction.

President Nancy Falchuk and Executive Director Morlie Levin, thank you both for your steadfast leadership of the largest volunteer organization and the largest women’s organization in America!

And, I must recognize members of Hadassah from the Sunshine State of Florida, especially those from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

Thank you so much for your long standing support through the years.

I also ask us all to give a round of applause to a woman whose guidance is relied upon by me and every other Democratic member of the House of Representatives.

Someone who stands up for working Americans and who has shown her steadfast support for Israel and women everywhere: Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

For 94 years, Hadassah has remained unwavering in its devotion to Judaism, Zionism, and American ideals. Your passion to move this country in a new direction inspires, motivates and strengthens me every day to fight for what’s right for America.

This type of passion has also created a new movement for Change in America change that embodies our heritage and hope as a nation!

Although he was unable to be here, Senator Obama wants to make sure that we all know that he shares our passion and dedication to the issues we hold so dear and that he looks forward to meeting with you in the near future.

As some of you may recall, three years ago, as a newly elected member of Congress, I was invited to speak at our national convention. It was a defining moment for me on so many levels.

As a daughter of Hadassah, and a proud, card-carrying LIFETIME member, I considered it a great privilege to address you.

But, let me tell you, I was incredibly honored when our next President, Senator Barack Obama, asked me to speak on his behalf at our 94th National Convention!

Now, many of you may know that I was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton. I supported Hillary Clinton because she stood for the same issues that I do as an American, but more importantly as a Mom with three young children.

I dreamed of being able to point to the White House and tell my two daughters and my son- “a woman works there.”

But let ME BE VERY CLEAR:

I stand 100% behind Barack Obama.

I know that some of you have your doubts.

Some of those doubts have been planted by insidious, untrue emails and a vicious whisper campaign that is patently untrue and unfair.

As Jews, we know the harm that unfounded rumors and smears, born of hatred, have had in our history.

You know who I am and what I stand for.

As an American Jew who represents a largely Jewish constituency, I work with my Jewish colleagues in the House and Senate each and every day. And I have seen Barack Obama’s leadership in the Senate and I would not be here today if I had ANY doubt about his commitment to a pro-Israel agenda.

I feel this way because I firmly believe that Barack Obama shares the core values that we as sisters of Hadassah are committed to BARACK OBAMA is committed to the health and education of women, children and families. BARACK OBAMA is committed to the protection of our rights and our liberties as Americans. BARACK OBAMA is committed to the safety and security of Israel.

It is these shared core values that drive me to take every opportunity to campaign on his behalf.

Sisters, and associate brothers, I am strongly supporting Barack Obama because I believe that we stand at a crucial point in our nation’s history.

A point in history where we can Embrace our tradition of religious tolerance, a right to privacy, and the separation of powers, Or Enter into an uncertain future where the founding principles of our Democracy are tested on a daily basis.

We are at a point in history where America can lead the world in a fight against religious intolerance and extremism by providing an alternative of hope, freedom and prosperity, Or Linger in an uncertain future where hope is replaced by fear, freedom is replaced by an imperialist Presidency, and peace is replaced by war.

A point in history where America can further peace in the Middle East and the long-term security of Israel, Or Continue in uncertainty, where instability in the Middle East and a misguided war emboldens the enemies of Israel, while weakening the ability of America to build consensus against extremism.

Sisters, these are challenging times. The last seven years of the Bush Administration have threatened the values which we embrace to a greater extent than at any point in my lifetime.

So I come to you, today because, you need to know that Barack Obama will always stand up for the core values that unite us in America, in Israel and around the world!

Together, united, Hadassah has come so far since 1912 when Henrietta Szold founded our organization. Back then, one of our objectives was to create a Jewish state.

This year we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Israel.

Back then, women didn’t have the right to vote.

Yesterday we heard from the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

94 years later, we stand united because we still believe in the core values and principles of opportunity, promise, and hope.

I stand before you today to tell you that we have an unwavering ally in Senator Obama as we work to realize our vision for a stronger, healthier, and more just society for us all!

OUR work as Hadassah members our missions to Israel, our anti-poverty, youth and education programs will be strengthened under an Obama Administration

And Senator Obama’s steadfast support for women’s reproductive rights, health care for all Americans, and a lasting social security program. Is vital to our strength as a nation.

First and foremost, Senator Obama has expressed, in no uncertain terms, a deep, sincere connection and understanding of why we must ALWAYS, ALWAYS stand by our ally Israel in her pursuit of peace and security.

When Senator Obama visited Israel, he saw first-hand, how Israelis grappled with the challenges of trying to live a normal life under anything but normal circumstances.

He witnessed the courage of Israeli children whose simple act of boarding a bus to school was an extreme act of bravery and determination

And he learned the fear of parents wondering if today their worst nightmare could occur.

Through speaking with families affected by terror, and seeing first-hand, Israel’s strategic landscape and physical challenges, Senator Obama understands the unshakable resolve and tenacity of a people to build and sustain a democratic society in a sea of extremism.

These experiences have dramatically shaped Senator Obama’s views on Israel and the Middle East.

And so, by every objective measure voting records, statements, actions Senator Obama has PROVEN to be an unwavering friend to the State of Israel and a formidable foe to the forces of extremism and anti-Semitism.

As many of you know, Senator Obama has announced that he intends to return to Israel this summer, before the Democratic National Convention.

His visit is a message to the world that as President, Barack Obama will support the nation of Israel and everyone that stands for democracy and freedom in the face of terror, hatred, bigotry and extremism.

You see, as an African American, combating hatred is at the very core of Senator Obama’s being.

He knows that hate is hate whether it comes from the President of Iran directed at the Israeli people or the Sudanese Janjaweed and their systematic genocide in Darfur.

Senator Obama knows this the same way that we understand that the hatred of home-grown supremacist organizations do not distinguish between a synagogue and a black church.

He knows that murderous ideologies have no place in the peaceful future that we all work towards and his support for Israel’s security, longevity and strength reflects this understanding.

He knows the threats, he understands the hatred. And he has said before AIPAC and others that: “we cannot relent, we cannot yield, and as President I will never compromise when it comes to Israel’s security.”

Senator Obama’s voting record on Israel is impeccable, and he has worked hard in the Senate to advance a pro-Israel agenda.

In fact, Senator Obama had the foresight to oppose holding the Palestinian elections in 2006 with Hamas on the ballot.

The Bush Administration pushed ahead and we now see the result of Hamas’ victory an illegal takeover of the Gaza strip and an unmitigated ability to launch rockets into Israel.

On the efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Senator Obama has spoken out with clarity, resolve and sound policy.

He has called for the international community, especially Arab states, to stand by those Palestinians who wish to build a better future.

He said they must step up, as America has done, to bolster the Palestinian economy and help build the infrastructure for Palestinians to create jobs, health care, and a decent education for their children free from hate and incitement.

Senator Obama has stated that any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

My sisters, these are dire times for Israel, continually threatened by terrorists in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, she now faces the unthinkable, the possibility of a nuclear Iran with missile capability.

Much of the current situation has been exacerbated by the Bush Administration’s flawed foreign policy.

America has lost credibility on the world stage and now has less leverage with which to exert influence over countries that could become our partners for peace.

Israel needs America now, more than ever, to begin to repair the damage caused by eight years of George W. Bush’s failed foreign policy. And this is something that Barack Obama understands.

Senator Obama has unequivocally stated that the danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and “my goal will be to eliminate this threat.”

And Senator Obama has taken action to reel in Iran. In the Senate he introduced the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, which authorizes state and local governments to divest from companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

This is not some fluffy “Sense of Congress” resolution. This is legislation with teeth. By curtailing investment in Iran, it will weaken Iran’s ability to fund terrorist activities and increase the economic pressures on the regime until they cease to pursue nuclear armament.

Senator Obama offers a clear course of action, one in which strong diplomacy and sanctions are used in combination to strangle Iran’s economy to keep it from pursuing nuclear weapons.

While leaving the military option on the table, he also knows that the use of force is more effective if used as a last resort, after we have exhausted diplomatic efforts in cooperation with the international community.

Now, the current Administration seems to have forgotten this, but America can only be strong internationally if we are strong here at home.

Clearly, America is facing extremely difficult and challenging problems.

The challenges facing our country are many; 49 million Americans without health insurance, millions of children in an education system that leaves them unprepared, skyrocketing gas prices, falling housing prices and a looming credit crisis, all of these threaten our nation.

Barack Obama, as the son of a single mom, as a working dad himself with two young daughters, and as someone who left the pull of Wall Street to be a community organizer in the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago, knows personally what is at stake, Nothing less than the health and strength of America.

Whenever our economy turns south, the first to feel it are those less financially secure.

Since women in America continue to make roughly 77 cents to every dollar men make, women are feeling the economic downturn particularly hard.

Women are one third more likely to be facing foreclosure than men, yet Senator McCain’s housing bill would leave behind 40 percent of families facing foreclosure.

Sixty percent of minimum wage earners are women, and yet, last year Senator McCain voted against the first increase of the minimum wage in more than a decade.

As I said before, women make 77 cents to every dollar men make, and yet, Senator McCain failed to support the Lily Ledbetter Act, critical legislation to advance women’s right to equal pay.

Barack Obama has an economic plan for America’s working women.

He will expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which will benefit at least five million working women and help ensure that low-wage working parents are not forced to raise their children in poverty.

He will provide seven days of paid sick leave which will help twenty two million working women, and as any mom will attest, those sick days are a necessary fact of life.

He will increase retirement savings opportunities for the forty five million working women who lack an employer retirement account.

And he will fight to close the gender wage gap; offer affordable health care to the 21.5 million women who lack health insurance, and help 8.7 million women business owners grow their businesses.

But economic stability is not all that is at stake for women.

As a woman, and a mom, I know that Senator Obama’s firm support for protecting a woman’s right to choose is essential.

America needs a President who will make sure that as women, our rights will be protected, our choices will be preserved and our bodies will be our own.

John McCain supports a constitutional amendment to ban abortion and the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

As a religious minority in the United States and as women, we have to consider the future beyond the term of the next President.

We must consider, what affect will another Republican President have on the ideology of the Supreme Court?

We are at a crucial point in our nation’s history and for the plight of women in America and across the globe.

At the founding of Hadassah in 1912, we came together not just as Jews but as women, to address the challenges that lay before us, the creation of a Zionist state, Equal rights for women, Religious freedom for Jews

Today, as I stand before you nearly 100 years later, we still face many challenges before us; Protection of a Jewish state, Protection of women’s rights, Equal pay for equal work, The continued separation of church and state

The choices we have before us could not be more clear.

When it comes to Hadassah’s long standing principles, we have a strong and unwavering ally in Barack Obama.

Barack Obama will stand with us in our support of Israel and Barack Obama will stand with us to provide a better future for our children and our grandchildren.

And as a daughter, a mother, and an American Jewish womanthese are the reasons I stand with Barack Obama and his courageous ideas to take this country in a new direction!

WE ARE THE WOMEN OF HADASSAH.

WE HAVE SET OUR SITES AMONG THE STARS AND WE WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY.

WE WILL SHINE FOR ISRAEL.

WE WILL SHINE FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT.

WE WILL SHINE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN.

THANK YOU!