Subject: Approval: DWS Unity Medium
From: "Domino, Cate" <[email-masked]>
To: ContentApprovals_D <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Simonds, Tessa" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2016 13:10:48 -0700

The Chair’s office requested that we convert her speech to ASDC into a Medium post – here it is. Once Comms and Research have signed off, I’ll pass it on to her office for further review.

TITLE: An Open Letter to my Fellow Democrats
BYLINE: Debbie Wasserman Schultz

I was just in Philadelphia, the city where in just 66 days, we’ll nominate the 45th President of the United States. As Democrats from all across this great country make their plans to travel to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, I’m looking forward to seeing them energized, united, and focused on making sure that we continue to build upon the progress we’ve made under President Obama.

[IMAGE<https://slack-files.com/T02J9QW71-F115TAS1J-4911b8ba68> – Philly Skyline]

Democrats all want a strong and safe future for our children and grandchildren. We all want to keep growing the economy and creating good-paying jobs. And we all know that moving our country forward must include every American, not just the wealthy or well-connected. It’s why we came together in 2008 and 2012 to elect President Obama, and it’s why I have no doubt in my mind that we will elect a Democrat, once again in 2016.

My own experience gives me confidence that we are united in our goals and will be united in our actions. As you all know, in 2008, I supported Hillary Clinton. If there was a way that she could be our nominee, I was going to stand with her to the end.

[IMAGE<https://www.facebook.com/RepDebbieWassermanSchultz/photos/pb.6444958138.-2207520000.1463772036./9236018138/?type=3&theater> – DWS at Clinton event in 2008]

Senator Clinton ended her candidacy on a Tuesday. I was incredibly sad watching her speak, thinking about what might have been if she had been successful. But when I woke up on Wednesday morning, I knew what had to be done. I propelled myself through all five stages of grief that day. And on Thursday afternoon, I went on TV to support Barack Obama. For the next six months, I fought like hell for him. And after then-Senator Clinton nominated him at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, I was honored to second that nomination.

[IMAGE<https://www.facebook.com/RepDebbieWassermanSchultz/photos/pb.6444958138.-2207520000.1463772017./24334183138/?type=3&theater> – DWS at Denver convention]

My fierce support for Hillary Clinton did not mean that I could never support Barack Obama. What it meant was that originally, I had a strong preference, but I knew what my priorities were – A Democrat in the White House who would fight for progressive values. And because Democrats came together, we made that happen.

[IMAGE<https://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/3008253119/in/album-72157608716313371/> – Obama family on Election Night 2008]

Eight years later, I have admired the campaigns of both Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton as they and their supporters have argued the issues and brought real solutions to the table. In the Democratic Party, disagreement  is healthy. New voters and independents sharing our progressive ideals make our party stronger.

But on the other side, there are daily reminders of their candidate’s knee-jerk recklessness, lack of judgment, and unstable temperament. We are up against Donald Trump: a man who has vowed to slash taxes for those at the top while refusing to release his own tax returns. He refuses to address his well-documented history of misogyny. He has insulted our allies in the UK and legitimized a despotic dictator in North Korea.

[EMBED TWEET<https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status/727669824067911680> – America is better than Donald Trump]

We can’t gloss over the genuine concern that, as President Obama has said, too many Americans are still worried about their own pocketbooks and our place in the world. While Trump is promoting anxiety and fear as ways to ease people’s concern, our candidates are promoting thoughtful, respectful, and effective solutions. I am confident that we will channel the passion and energy from our primary into unity behind a common purpose—to continue the progress we’ve made under President Obama and to keep the White House out of Donald Trump’s hands.

Today I will make this pledge to you: I will always stand up for party activists because they bring us energy and ideas. I will always stand up for the leaders of this party because they volunteer their precious time to guide our progressive future.

But here’s what I’m asking of you, in return: When the work is hard, and passions run hot, and the road looks long, never forget the Americans we are fighting for.

This week, while reporters were writing story after story about party discord, marked the first time in our nation’s history that more than 90% of Americans have access to affordable healthcare. Because we elected a Democrat in 2008 and 2012, 20 million Americans have health insurance who didn’t before. And this month, we celebrated 74 consecutive months of private-sector job growth, generating over 14 million news jobs for American workers. When we come together as Democrats, we can accomplish great things for honest, hard-working people from every walk of life.That’s what’s important. That’s what we cannot let out of our sight.

I’m excited for the future of our party, and I’m proud of every Democrat working for a brighter future.  On to victory!

[EMBED TWEET<https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status/727896439372824576> – Hillary or Bernie for President]