Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
09/25/2007
Pelosi Receives People for the American Way’s Spirit of Liberty Award
“Thank you for that kind introduction Jim, and thank you
People for the
“It is a particular honor to receive this award from Jim
Hormel. As Ambassador to
“And thank you Ralph Neas, for leading the way defend
democracy. You have shown great
leadership and patriotism.
“We gather tonight to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
People for the
“220 years ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in
“They gathered as disrupters of the status quo and with
great faith in the future.
“They shared optimism often uniquely found among young
people – because many of them were young.
The youngest, Jonathan Dayton, was just 27 when he took pen to parchment
– and just 35 when he became the 4th Speaker of the House.
“In fact, more than one quarter of the drafters of our
Constitution were in their twenties and thirties. Alexander Hamilton was only 32, and James
Madison was only 36.
“And thank heavens they made our Constitution amendable.
“With the impatience of youth, these young leaders founded
our democracy – and today, the Young People For, the Young Elected Officials
network, and Democracia
“In my recent travels as Speaker, I have met with
presidents, prime ministers, and kings.
But I have been most impressed and inspired by my encounters with young
people like you.
“Young people around the world are hungry for progress. They want to know if their leaders have the
courage to stop war. They want equality,
democracy, and freedom.
“Young people at home want us to stand up for the American
way.
“It is the American way to protect and defend our
Constitution while we protect and defend the American people.
“It is the American way to demand an independent and fair
judiciary.
“It is the American way to defend religious freedom and
safeguard the separation between church and state.
“It is the American way to recognize that every vote counts,
and every vote must be counted.
“And it is the American way to honor our nation’s founding
principle: all of us are created equal; all of us are God’s children.
“So with the determination of our Founders, the confidence
of our youth, and the optimism of the American people, let us preserve and
expand the spirit of liberty – that is the American way.
“Thank you People for the