THE RUNNING MATE

	August 8 , 2000
	That official Lieberman announcement made at a rally in Nashville this afternoon. It began with tipper Gore introducing Hadassah Lieberman, and noting that Mrs. Lieberman is the daughter of Holocaust survivors who fled communist Czechoslovakia when she was three years old.

TIPPER GORE: To me, she's not only a friend, but she represents what America is all about. I would like you to welcome Hadassah Lieberman. (Cheers and applause) HADASSAH LIEBERMAN: I say this to all of you here and all of you who are watching this on television, and this is real: Whether you and your family immigrated from Europe, Africa, Mexico, Latin America, or Asia, I am standing here for you. This country is our country. (Cheers and applause) This land is your land and anything is possible for us. (Applause) AL GORE: When I set out to choose a running mate, I said from the start that I had three simple tests. First, and most importantly, I wanted someone who had the experience, the character and the judgment to become President on a moment's notice, should that ever become necessary. Second, I wanted someone who could work with me as a partner, someone who shares my values and believes in the promise of America as I do. And third, I wanted someone who would fight right alongside me for the people, not the powerful -- (Cheers and applause) for you. Joe Lieberman has the experience and the integrity, he has the courage and the commitment, and for all his public life, Joe Lieberman has stood for working families. He's the right person. No one is better prepared to be Vice President of the United States of America. Next week, when our party meets in Los Angeles, we will recall the last time we met there, at the convention where we nominated John F. Kennedy. That year, we voted with our hearts to make history by tearing down an old wall of division, and when we nominate Joe Lieberman for Vice President, we will make history again. We will tear down an old wall of division once again. SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN: Dear friends, I am so full of gratitude at this moment. I ask you to allow me to let the spirit move me, as it does, to remember the words from Chronicles, which are to give thanks to God... (Cheers) ...To give thanks to God and declare his - (network difficulty) -- I have been friends for almost 15 years now-- personal friends. And I can tell you that before the nation knew Al Gore as a Vice President, I knew him as a man of family and a man of faith. He has never, never wavered in his responsibilities as a father, as a husband, and yes, as a servant of God Almighty. Those are qualities... Those are qualities that make him a great man and will make him the next great President of the United States of America. (Cheers and applause) Forty years ago, when I was 18 years old, I remember so clearly watching in awe as John F. Kennedy-- the inspiration and hero of my political life-- became the first Roman Catholic President of the United States. (Cheers and applause) To me, that election said so much to me about the courage and the character and the fairness of the American people. And I want to say to you today that choosing me as his running mate says the same thing about the courage and character and fairness of Al Gore of Tennessee. (Applause) You know, there are some people who might actually call Al's selection of me an act of chutzpah. (Laughter) I cannot express with words the gratitude that I feel in my heart today as the first Jewish American to be honored to be a major party candidate for the Vice Presidency of this blessed United States of America of ours. (Cheers and applause) I think we can say with certainty here in Nashville today that the American dream is alive, and it is well. (Applause) You might almost say that you could call this ticket the American dream team. Now, eight years ago... eight years ago, the American dream was not alive and well. Remember? And what strikes me as incredible is that today, the same people who let this nation drift are trying to convince us that the last eight years have been squandered. Can you believe it? AUDIENCE: No! SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN: Our opponents have done all they can to blur the differences, but we're not going to let them get away with it, are we? AUDIENCE: No! SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN: No. Yesterday they even responded to the news that Al Gore had picked me by saying that George Bush and I think alike. (Laughter) With all due respect... I think that's like saying that the veterinarian and the taxidermist are in the same business because either way, you get your dog back. I know that as good as life in America has become during the last eight years, Al Gore-- and no one else is close-- Al Gore is America's best hope for an even better future. So together, let us go forward to build that better future. Thank you. God bless you.