WATCH: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at 2024 DNC | 2024 DNC Night 1

Summary

In this impassioned speech, the speaker reflects on her journey from a waitress to a Congresswoman, emphasizing the struggles of working-class Americans. She endorses Kamala Harris for president, highlighting Harris's middle-class background and commitment to addressing the needs of everyday citizens, from rent to reproductive rights. The speaker calls for unity to elect Harris and a strong Democratic majority to champion policies that support working families and rejects Donald Trump's self-serving leadership.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The speaker expresses gratitude to Chicago, Harris Tim Wall, and Joe Biden for their vision and leadership.
• 🍳 The speaker reflects on her personal struggles, working as a waitress without health insurance and facing family financial hardships.
• 🌟 She credits democracy and community for her election to Congress from the Bronx and Queens, highlighting the power of the people's choice.
• 🇺🇸 A strong endorsement for Kamala Harris and Tim Walls as the next President and Vice President, emphasizing their connection to the working class.
• 🏠 The speaker emphasizes Kamala Harris's understanding of middle-class issues such as rent, groceries, and prescriptions.
• 🛡️ Commitment to reproductive and civil rights, as well as fighting corporate greed, is highlighted as key aspects of Kamala Harris's platform.
• 🕊️ Efforts to secure peace and bring hostages home demonstrate Kamala Harris's dedication to global issues and diplomacy.
• 💰 The speaker criticizes Donald Trump, suggesting he would sell out the country for personal gain and benefit his Wall Street friends.
• 🤝 A call to action for unity in supporting Kamala Harris, emphasizing the importance of electing a strong Democratic majority in Congress.
• 👷‍♀️ The speaker identifies with working-class Americans, advocating for leaders who understand and fight for their needs.
• 🚀 A final rallying cry to make history on November 5th by organizing communities and electing Kamala Harris, with an emphasis on the collective effort required.

Q & A

What was the speaker's occupation six years ago?

The speaker was taking omelet orders as a waitress in New York City.

What challenges did the speaker's family face at that time?

The speaker's family was fighting off foreclosure, struggling with bills after her father passed away unexpectedly from cancer, and they did not have health insurance.

What did the speaker perceive as the attitude of the politics at that time?

The speaker perceived the politics as cynical and blind to the realities of working people.

How did the speaker's life change after being elected to Congress?

The speaker was elected by the people of the Bronx and Queens, which marked a significant change in her life and political career.

What qualities does the speaker believe Kamala Harris possesses as a leader?

The speaker believes Kamala Harris is committed to the middle class, understands the urgency of everyday needs, is dedicated to reproductive and civil rights, and is actively working on global issues such as securing a ceasefire in Gaza and bringing hostages home.

What is the speaker's view on Donald Trump's presidency?

The speaker views Donald Trump as someone who would sell the country for personal gain and favors the wealthy and big businesses over the working class.

How does the speaker respond to the Republicans' comments about her bartending background?

The speaker proudly states that there is nothing wrong with working for a living and uses it as a point of pride and connection to the working class.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience?

The speaker calls for the audience to help elect Kamala Harris and Tim Waller to the presidency and vice-presidency, and to work towards strong Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

What message does the speaker want to send by organizing communities and electing Kamala Harris?

The speaker wants to send a message that the people of the nation will not go back to the old ways and are choosing a new path for the people, by the people.

What is the significance of the date November 5th mentioned in the script?

November 5th is the date of the election, which the speaker refers to as the day to make history by electing Kamala Harris to the presidency.

How does the speaker describe the type of leaders needed in the White House?

The speaker describes the needed leaders as those who understand the value of work, are committed to the well-being of all people, and fight for everyday Americans.

Outlines

00:00

🗽 From Waitress to Congress: A Call for Change

The speaker reflects on her journey from being a waitress without health insurance to a member of Congress, highlighting the struggles faced by working-class Americans. She emphasizes the importance of electing Kamala Harris and Tim Walls as the next President and Vice President, who understand the needs of the middle class and are committed to fighting for civil and reproductive rights, as well as against corporate greed. The speaker calls for unity against the current administration, which is accused of prioritizing personal gain over the welfare of the people.

05:01

🚩 Mobilizing for a Democratic Victory

The speaker urges the audience to actively participate in the upcoming 78 days, emphasizing the importance of not only electing Kamala Harris and Tim Walls to the White House but also securing a strong Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate. She outlines the need to support policies that benefit working parents, seniors, and immigrant families, and calls for collective action to elect Kamala Harris as a symbol of a new direction for the nation, one that is inclusive and dedicated to the people.

Keywords

💡Middle Class

The term 'middle class' refers to the socio-economic group that falls between the working class and the upper class, typically characterized by moderate to stable income levels. In the video's context, it is emphasized that Kamala Harris is for the middle class because she is from the middle class, indicating her understanding and commitment to issues that affect this demographic, such as rent checks, groceries, and prescriptions.

💡Foreclosure

Foreclosure is a legal process in which a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments by forcing the sale of the property used as the collateral for the loan. In the script, the speaker's family was fighting off foreclosure, highlighting the financial struggles faced by many Americans and the need for political representation that understands these hardships.

💡Health Insurance

Health insurance is a type of insurance coverage that pays for medical expenses incurred by the insured. The lack of health insurance is mentioned in the transcript to illustrate the challenges faced by the speaker as a waitress, and it underscores the broader issue of healthcare accessibility in the United States.

💡Cynical Politics

Cynical politics refers to a political environment where there is a general distrust or skepticism about the motives and actions of politicians, often perceived as self-serving rather than serving the public interest. The speaker mentions being tired of cynical politics that seemed blind to the realities of working people, indicating a call for a change in political attitudes and practices.

💡Bronx and Queens

The Bronx and Queens are boroughs of New York City. The speaker mentions being elected by the people of the Bronx and Queens to Congress, signifying the importance of local representation and the trust placed in the speaker by these communities.

💡Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is a prominent figure in the script, mentioned as a candidate for the presidency of the United States. Her name is used to rally support for her campaign and to highlight her qualifications and commitment to various social and political issues.

💡Corporate Greed

Corporate greed refers to the excessive pursuit of profits by corporations, often at the expense of ethical considerations or the well-being of others. The speaker states that Kamala Harris is committed to taking on corporate greed, suggesting a platform that opposes the exploitation inherent in some business practices.

💡Working Families

Working families are households where at least one member is employed, often struggling to make ends meet. The term is used in the script to describe the demographic that the speaker and Kamala Harris aim to support, emphasizing policies that benefit those who work hard but still face economic challenges.

💡Democratic Majorities

Democratic majorities refer to a situation where the Democratic Party holds the majority of seats in legislative bodies such as the House and Senate. The speaker calls for the election of strong Democratic majorities to deliver on an agenda that supports working families and various social issues.

💡Union Buster

A union buster is a person or entity that works against labor unions, often by trying to prevent the formation of unions or by undermining their effectiveness. The term is used in the script to criticize an opposing figure, suggesting that the speaker believes in the importance of labor unions and the rights of workers.

💡Patriotism

Patriotism is the love for one's country and the willingness to support it, especially in times of conflict. In the script, the speaker challenges the notion of patriotism being exclusive to those who fight for the wealthy and big business, arguing that true patriotism involves fighting for all people, including everyday working Americans.

Highlights

Gratitude expressed to Harris, Tim Wall, and Joe Biden for their vision and leadership.

Speaker's personal story of struggle with health insurance, foreclosure, and bills after father's death.

Election to Congress from the Bronx and Queens, representing the aspirations of working people.

Endorsement of Kamala Harris and Tim Walls as presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Kamala Harris' background from the middle class and understanding of middle-class issues.

Commitment to reproductive and civil rights, and fighting corporate greed.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home.

Criticisms of Donald Trump's potential to sell out the country for personal gain.

The importance of fighting for all people, not just the wealthy and big businesses.

The dignity of working for a living and the speaker's past as a bartender.

The need for strong Democratic majorities in the House and Senate to deliver on the agenda.

Support for working parents trying to afford rent and childcare.

Support for seniors who had to return to work due to insufficient retirement funds.

Support for immigrant families starting their American journey.

The call to action for organizing communities and electing Kamala Harris on November 5th.

The message of not going back, choosing a new path, and opening the door to a new day for the people.

Transcripts

Chicago Your G

Thank you

Harris Tim Wall

Your vision

Thank you Chicago for your energy. Thank you, Kamala Harris and Tim

Walls for your vision. Thank you Joe Biden

for your leadership.

No, 6 years ago. I was taking omelet orders as a waitress in New

York City. I didn't have health insurance.

My family was fighting off foreclosure.

And we were struggling with bills after my dad passed away unexpectedly.

From cancer. Like millions of Americans.

We were just looking for an honest shake.

And we were tired of a cynical politics that seemed blind to the

realities of working people. It was then.

Only through the miracles of democracy and community that the good

people of the Bronx and Queens chose someone. Like me. To elect them

in Congress.

And America

In my heart I know from that same cloth of hope and aspiration, we

will also elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walls as presidents and vice

presidents of the United States of America.

Here tonight

Because America

before us a rare and precious opportunity.

In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for

the middle class. Because she is from the middle class.

He understands the urgency of rent checks and groceries and prescriptions.

She is as committed to our reproductive and civil rights as she is

to taking on corporate greed.

And she is working tirelessly. To secure a ceasefire in Gaza and

bringing hostages home.

In Carmela

See a leader who understands. I see a leader with a real commitment

to a better future for working families.

In Chicago we have to help her win.

Because we know that Donald Trump would sell this country for $1

if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his

Wall Street friends. 41 and tired about hearing

about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot

than the woman who fights. Every single day to work. People

traveling

Way of life

Truth is

You cannot I love this country. If you only fight for the wealthy

and big business. To love this country is to fight

for its people, all people, working people, everyday Americans like

bartenders and factory workers and fast food cashiers who punch a

clock. are on their feet all day in some of the toughest jobs out

there.

I know

Ever since I got elected. Republicans have attacked me.

By saying that I should go back to bartending.

But let me tell you. I'm happy to any day of the week because there

is nothing wrong with working for a living.

Imag Hi

Imagine having leaders in the White House who understand that. Leaders

like Kamalat. 10

But Chicago

Just because the choice is clear to us, does not mean that the path

will be easy. Over the next 78 days we will have to pour every ounce,

every minute, every moment into making history on November 5th.

But

We cannot And Carmela and Tim to the White House alone.

Together we must also elect strong democratic majorities in the House

and in the Senate. Can deliver

agenda

People

Alright working parents trying to afford rent and childcare.

is for you. If you are a senior who had to go back to work because

your retirement didn't stretch far enough, Kamala.

For you. If you're an immigrant's family just starting your American

story, Kamala is for you.

America

When we knock on our neighbor's door. Organize our communities and

elect Kamala Harris to the presidency on November 5th. We will send

a loud message that the people of this nation will not go back. We

choose a new path and open the door to a new day, one that is for

the people. by the people. Thank you.