Good morning fellow Democrats. We are today participating in a process vital to our Democracy. We all have a right to be proud of that.

We will leave here today as Ambassadors, taking our individual visions for America's future back to the wider world, as we resume our roles in our daily lives. How might we most effectively spread that vision?

FIRST, remember that you are responsible for representing your views and no one else's. Not mine, not John Kerry's, not Dennis Kucinich's, not Dean's, Clark's, Edwards', or anyone else's, but yours. And that's the first suggestion: stay true to yourself, because if you stay true to what you know in your heart, people can tell.

SECOND, if we're going to be effective, we've got to expand our circle. Too often we seek out like minded acquaintances to grouse about the latest outrages perpetrated by the Bush Administration, but we remain mute in the company of everybody else. While it is important to share information and ideas with our Democratic friends, simply insulating ourselves where we can complain without fear of challenge does nothing to gain votes come November.

This does not mean that we should go picking fights with stalwart Republicans. Some are so immersed in the talking points of right-wing talk radio, that no amount of argument will have any impact. But I submit that this year, more than any other year in my adult lifetime, there are lifelong Republicans who are deeply troubled by the current direction of the Administration. They may be more open than we suspect to alternative points of view. Don't make the mistake of assumption by association. Just because we know that John Doe is unapproachable, doesn't mean that John's friends, or members of the same church or civic group share his political dogmatism.

As ordinary citizens we have a big advantage over politicians. Any candidate has to stay on message while being concerned about all potential constituencies. We have much more freedom. People who know you and respect you will listen to you when you speak from the heart.

THIRD, be strategic. There is nothing dishonest about selecting a portion of our message to share based on our knowledge of who we are talking to.

We are unlikely to change people's most deeply held views. There's no point in discussing a woman's right to choose with someone whose convictions on the subject are well known to us. But that same person may be just as outraged as we are about sweatshop labor, the loss of innocent lives in Iraq, or blowing the cover of CIA operatives for political payback. Nor are fiscal conservatives likely to be swayed by any spending program, no matter how noble. But it's a great year to be talking to them. Simply produce a graph of the federal deficit over the last 15 years.

This ought to be a landslide year for our party. Not just for the Presidency, but for Congress, Statewide races, and State Legislatures across the country. Many of us have friends and family in other districts or other states. Think about people you know. Are they cynical about politics? Have they sat out many elections in the past? Call them! But before you do, find out what Congressional District they're in, find out whether there is a Senatorial election in their state, find out about their Legislative District. It's amazing the information that's at our fingertips these days. You may actually convince some people to vote who have sat out for years. Or you may discover that they already are planning to vote for the first time in years. Tell them how important their vote for a Democrat for Congress might be. Even if their incumbent Republican is not so bad, inform them of the implications of continued Republican control of the body -- in terms of rules and the chairing of all committees.

The cynics will tell you it's all about money. Whoever can flood the airwaves with the most ads will drown out any real message. But ultimately individual Americans will walk into that voting booth, or mail in that ballot. And those individuals carry with them all the human interactions and conversations of their lives. Many of them know you.

So be true to yourself, expand your circle, be strategic with your message. But most of all be vocal. We can make a difference this year. Together, let's make it our year. Thank you!