My Acceptance of the Vice Presidential Position in the Gilbert Campaign

Most of you are confused with Carol Bengle Gilbert's selection of me as her Vice Presidential running mate. This confusion takes on many forms. I have never held elective office. I have no influential ties with either world leaders or big business. I am neither a Constitutional scholar nor a decorated war veteran. I seemingly have no qualifications for the job whatsoever.

All of the above, which the pundits claim causes confusion, instead makes me the perfect candidate.

Let's look at some of Vice Presidential candidates from the recent past and see what they brought to the table.

Dick Cheney helped shape our policy in Iraq, gave government contracts to companies based solely on his past history with them and shot a man. I will be a step up.

John Edwards was a self-made millionaire with an impressive political resume and Breck Girl good looks. And he could not deliver his home state. I will be a step up.

Joe Lieberman is at best a centrist and at worst a Republican with his views on the War in Iraq and support for Big Oil's energy bill. Plus he is only 5'9 in platform shoes and we know the general public does not trust short men in political roles. I will be a step up, this time both literally and figuratively.

Dan Quayle existed to make George Bush look presidential by comparison. Quayle's qualifications for the job besides that were dubious. He was best known for his permanent deer-in-the-headlights expression, his inability to spell the word "potato" and his decision to compare himself to John F. Kennedy. I will be a step up.

Traditionally, the Vice President serves two main roles during the election. He helps balance the ticket and he also does the dirty work of the campaign, attacking the opposition on any and all issues, allowing the Presidential candidate to keep her hands clean.

I will not be a traditional Vice Presidential candidate in this regard.

Carol Bengle Gilbert spoke of vision in her acceptance speech. I share that vision, but I am not going to be a rubber stamp. Because I think that if two people agree all of the time, one is not necessary. Part of my role is to help put meat on the skeleton of our platform. As the Vice President, it will be my job to help formulate policy and help present it to our fellow Americans so they can see what we are offering is prime rib and not bottom round.

A presidency takes on meaning from its context and consequences. My role as Vice President will be to help supply perspective from the point of view of someone not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I will help our party re-connect with its working-class roots.

The Democratic Party has no shortage of advisors who can predict what voters will say they want and which issues will reverberate with the electorate in each state. But there has been a void in how to take this information and apply it so that Joe Six Pack, Jane Soccer Mom and Grandpa What's in it for Me can all recognize the policy's benefits in both an individual and group way.

I will become our nation's first Vice President of the common man and of common sense.

One of my political heroes is James K. Polk. Before becoming President of our great land, Polk had almost zero name recognition. But he articulated his vision in no uncertain words and then did everything in his power to turn that vision into reality. He went from a no-name candidate to one of the finest Presidents our country has ever had.

It is from that model that I will base my work as a Vice President. Here are ten issues I will address in the campaign and during the Gilbert Administration.

From now on a third-generation American will help shape our policy on immigration instead of someone who traces their ancestry back to when the Anglos met the Saxons.

From now on a person who understands the frustration of sitting in an Urgent Care facility on a weekend will help shape our health care system instead of someone with their own stable of private physicians.

From now on a product of the public school system will help shape our policy on education instead of somebody who had Princeton as their safety school.

From now on a man who contributes money to Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and The Nature Conservancy will help shape our policy on the environment instead of somebody who was a drinking buddy of Joseph Hazelwood.

From now on a man denied an apartment because of the color of his skin will help shape our policy on housing instead of somebody with houses in six different states.

From now on a man fired without cause will help shape our policy on employment instead of somebody who set up off-shore shell companies to avoid U.S. taxes and regulations.

From now on a man who has done shrooms will help shape our policy on drug enforcement instead of somebody who claimed to have never inhaled.

From now on a man who has paid for an abortion will help shape our policy on reproductive freedom instead of somebody who hasn't had sex since the first term of the Reagan Administration.

From now on a person locked out of his house and threatened with a knife by a jealous ex-lover will help shape our policy on domestic abuse instead of somebody whose spouse tolerates extra-marital affairs.

From now on a person who protested Shearon Harris will help shape our policy on energy instead of somebody who took campaign contributions from power companies.

You are already familiar with these campaign issues and others laid out by Carol Bengle Gilbert. We have an inclusive, progressive and aggressive platform that covers the gamut of issues our country faces today. The nation supports our vision for America. It is our job as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to keep that vision clear, concise and concrete so that there really is little doubt as to which party can lead our nation forward.

I proudly accept the nomination for Vice President of the United States.