Senator John Kerry’s Concession Speech

WaPo has live video feed. A transcript will follow.

Update (1445): No transcript as of yet, but “Captain Ed” Morrissey has a live blog. I never could get the video to work. Various media reports have President Bush giving his speech at 3 Eastern–fifteen minutes from now.

Update (1447): Wow–that was fast. NYT has transcripts up already.

TRANSCRIPT: Remarks by Edwards on Presidential Election

Transcript: Senator Kerry’s Concession

The required sentiments were expressed:

I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need — the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together.

Today I hope that we can begin the healing. In America, it is vital that every vote count, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail. But is now clear that even when all the provisional ballots are counted, which they will be, there won’t be enough outstanding votes for us to be able to win Ohio. And therefore we cannot win this election. My friends, it was here that we began our campaign for the presidency and all we had was hope and vision for a better America. It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you. I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

FILED UNDER: 2004 Election, The Presidency, , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Mike says:

    Going out with some dignity. Thank you, Senator Kerry.

  2. McGehee says:

    For the last year there hasn’t been a week gone by he didn’t find a way to infuriate me. Today he managed to make up for … well, most of it.

  3. Bithead says:

    THe call for Unity falls on some rather skeptical people who have watched the Kerry and his party spending the last 3 years plus and several million dollars. trying to help Usama BinLaden tear this country apart.

    Sorry, Senator, no sale.

    Oh, and Senator, you might wanna speak to Koz… who came up with this as you were going on fr your consession speech:

    “Second, gut any Bush hopes for legitimacy. Find the places in Florida and Ohio and every other state where a plausible argument for Republican vote fraud can be made. It doesn’t matter whether it did happen or not. What matters is if it can be plausibly alleged to marginal Bush supporters and to the media. We also have to let the issue go where it’s implausible. Hammering on voter fraud where it’s not at least plausible on that level is only going to hurt our credibility. We have to sink our fangs into Republican ankles and hang onto them for dear life on the legitimacy issue. We have to make him “Bush the only American President who was never elected” whether it’s true or not. “

    Sorry Senator. No sale.

  4. jackscrow says:

    just glad that THIS soros/lewis presidential bid failed.

  5. sackajewea says:

    Senator Kerry is a very fine, respectable and qualified man. I’m devastated beyond belief that he lost. But his concession speech was very eloquent and dignified, and I’m gratful for all he has done.

  6. dissappointed says:

    Thank you Senator Kerry, for all that you are, and for all that you gave. I am proud to have had you lead the democratic party. You gave me hope and promise, and now all that is left is a deep sense of sadness. I don’t know what in the world people were thinking re-electing someone who has repeatedly lied and served his own interests.