Debate Speech at Hofstra University

As promised, I’m posting the speech I gave before the final 2008 Presidential Debate on October 15 at Hofstra University in Long Island.

Paul and I arrived early, sharing a cab from the train station with two suited lads of no fixed political leanings (at least none that they cared to relay). The cabbie, however, was decidedly “Pro-bama,” and repeated a few impromptu mantras as we drove like, “Less money for war, more money for programs.”

When Paul and I reached the Public Area where the speakers were gathered, we found that it wasn’t nearly as crowded as we thought it would be. There was a cheerfully rowdy group of Pro-choicers at the front. Lingering in a pace-y cluster behind them were about four priests and a handful of Pro-lifers.

Besides the cops that were dotting the periphery of the area, the few staff members that were manning the platform and microphone, and a tall African-American man (with his three kids) who was taping all the speeches for his own records, it was just Paul and me.

By the time I got up to speak (I offered to go early since they were ahead of schedule), I had lost the Pro-choicers and was now preaching to a very different sort of the converted. But that’s what I wanted, anyway. Although it would have been nice to get a few cheers of encouragement. As it was, the only cheer I got was from an immediately bashful woman who whooped when I mentioned the name “Sarah Palin.”

I’m not sure I made a difference. Doubtful. But maybe one of those Christian Right folks remembered a little something of what I said when they took their morning shower the next day…and then immediately forgot it. But we do what we can do…

So, here’s the speech as it was read on Wednesday night:

RECLAIMING AMERICA FROM THE CABINET OF OZ

Thank you to Hofstra University for offering the public this space and opportunity to gather and speak during the final Presidential debate. My name is Rachel Astarte Piccione. I am a writer, peace worker, and president of gentlefish productions, a company that provides writing services for globally conscientious businesses and individuals.

I am not necessarily pro-Democrat or Pro-Republican. I am, however, honored to have been born in America. Our nation’s diversity and tolerance has always made me proud. But things are changing. I’m here today because I am afraid. Not of the threat of further terrorism or even the state of our suffering economy. I am afraid that the intelligence of the American people is being insulted, and what’s worse, we’re letting it happen.

There seems to be a powerful group at work behind the scenes of the President and his cabinet. I call this mysterious body of national decision-makers “The Cabinet of Oz.” (Others might call it the Council for National Policy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the CNP only comprises one part.)

What kind of power does The Cabinet of Oz wield? The Cabinet of Oz was responsible for manipulating the last two elections, placing -- and then securing -- George W. Bush into the position of (figurehead) President. The Cabinet of Oz started the war in Iraq instead of smoking out Osama bin Laden and bringing him to justice after the terror attacks seven years ago.

Most recently, The Cabinet of Oz strongly urged John McCain to name Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, although she was not McCain’s first choice. And I don’t think they’re done with her yet.

The Cabinet of Oz had Bush feed us eight years of crude one-liners and cowboy politics. What respectable President would actually incite enemies of U.S. troops to attack by announcing publicly, “Bring them on,” as Bush did in 2003? Thankfully, Bush’s time is up, but the Cabinet of Oz is panicking. Someone has to take his place.

As we’ve all witnessed, the media has treated Sarah Palin as though she, and not John McCain, may be the next President of the United States. Because there is concern about McCain’s health, of course the next logical step is to question Palin’s validity as President. “Heartbeat away from the presidency” has become a talking point because of the Palin-as-President scenario.

Made delirious by our incredulity with the fact that someone so impossibly far-fetched could have been tapped as VP –- and possibly President -- we’ve been lured into some kind of 24-hour reality TV freakshow, glued to the television and the Internet, obsessively sucking up every morsel of information we can about Sarah Palin.

There’s a kind of prophetic energy about the press she’s receiving. It’s almost implied that McCain couldn’t possibly make it through a term, so when you see Palin, think President. And that would be fine, if she were an appropriate choice for a running mate. But we’ve seen clearly that she isn’t.

During the Vice Presidential debate, Palin announced she was now going to address “just every day American people.” She gave her shout-out to “Joe Six-pack” and the “Hockey Moms.” She didn’t seem to realize -– nor did she think we’d catch -- that “Joe” and “Mom” are not the only “every day” people of this nation. Is she implying that those of us who are educated, intelligent, and articulate are not “every day” Americans?

When did it become admirable to celebrate mediocrity? At what point did we as a nation decide that it would be perfectly acceptable for the commander-in-chief of the United States military to be just a Regular Joe, and actually proud of it?

The Cabinet of Oz has a clear plan: Talk down to Americans. Create fear in their hearts, then position a sanctioned government as the saviors of the people. Spout patriotic slogans and give Americans a pretty face to look at on the nightly news. Lock in loyalty. That’s the formula for total domination. And it’s insulting.

With our collective intelligence being offended on a daily basis, the current political situation has shifted from unfortunate to downright frightening. And if the offenders do take power -- legitimately or otherwise -- what will we do about it?

At what point will we stop sighing about the state of things, turn off the television, step away from the computers, and make a change? What will it take to motivate us to stop shaking our heads and start shaking the earth with our feet and our voices?

This is a critical time in American history, when it is no longer a matter of being a good sport should the opposing team win. Americans are suffering from a collective national Stockholm Syndrome, numbed over the years to a level of resigned complacency.

Demand better. Demand a president who is articulate, intelligent, and compassionate. One who does not condone verbal or physical violence from his or her supporters. Demand a president who can pronounce the word “nuclear.” Demand a leader who does not lie, and whose ethics are unchallenged. Demand a president who will catch us up with the rest of the developed world in the areas of health care, the environment, and the economy, and who will represent our nation honorably among foreign leaders.

This is a new millennium. Greed is out. We’re seeing other nations join together to heal the planet and its inhabitants. At the very least we Americans need to begin by turning our attention to reclaiming the integrity of our fellow countrymen and women.

When you vote on November 4th, make it a vote that shows the intelligence of the American People. Let your vote say that we will no longer be insulted by incompetence and puppetry, no matter how reassuringly provincial the package it comes in. These deceiving personas are not worth our attention, are not acceptable, and they do not belong in our White House. Thank you.