Our Strategy in 2014

[Alan Grayson]

A month ago, at the Florida Democratic Party Convention, Congressman Alan Grayson gave this moving speech on the Democratic Party's strategy for 2014:

Let me tell you what our strategy is, what the strategy of the Democratic Party will be, for next year. Reach into your pocket. Take out a coin, any coin, and you'll see our strategy for next year.

Every coin in America says this: "E Pluribus Unum" – out of many, one.

Look to the person to one side of you. Go ahead. He or she is not exactly the same as you, unless you happen to be twins.

Look to the person on the other side of you. Again, not exactly the same as you.

Out of many, one. That is our strategy. Because the Democratic Party is not the White Party, nor is it the Black Party. The Democratic Party is not the Straight Party, nor is it the Gay Party. The Democratic Party is not the Party of Men, nor is it the Party of Women. The Democratic Party is not the Party of English Speakers, nor is it the Party of Spanish Speakers.

The Democratic Party is the Party of All.

Now there are still, even at this point in the year 2013, people who hate the ones who are different from them.

Hate them; despise them; abhor them.

They're still in our midst. There are people who think our differences are something to overcome.

I disagree. I don't think our differences are something to be tolerated. I think our differences are something to be cherished.

The things that make us special are not the things that make us the same. They are the things that make us different from each other. And we should cherish those things.

And that is our secret going into the 2014 election. And in the 2014 election, because we are the Party of Everyone, we will take back the U.S. House of Representatives. We will take back the Governor's mansion, and we will turn this State blue.

We will set a new standard for public life and for private life – a standard where we enjoy our differences. Not where we hate each other, not where we fear each other, but where we say to each other on -- our left and on our right, on both sides of us (go ahead, turn to the person next to you): "I respect you; I admire you; I love you."

Thank you very much.

To see the video of Alan's poignant speech, or to contribute to our campaign to help us cherish our differences, click here.