Colmon's Comments [6.08]

Now the real work begins. Having a nominee is but one part of our extraordinary journey to take back America and elect Barack Obama President. After eight years that began with a stolen presidency, a misguided foreign policy, an economic policy that has seen the rich continue to prosper and the poor continue to suffer, it is past time for real leadership in Washington.

Last weekend our party came together to set our course for the next four years. Several Young Democrats are now on the State Central Committee and while there are still some hard feelings from a hard-fought campaign primary season, I saw Kentucky Democrats come together in a way that lets me know we can win Kentucky in November and win back the White House. As excited as I am about having our nominee be Barack Obama, there are some things that we have got to do here to make winning in November a reality.

In the coming weeks we will have a conversation as an organization both in Fayette County and statewide as to how we move forward and put together the best ground game for Senator Obama. We know that the primary season was an extraordinary testament to the power of young Democrats nationwide. Let us translate all that we have learned into real political capital as we work tirelessly to put Barack Obama in the White House.

Governing is not easy, though. In my work, I can tell you first hand how much easier it is when the Chief Executive can govern with friends. This weekend I got to hear Heather Ryan, who is running for Congress against Ed Whitfield. She was fired from her job by Mitch McConnell and his cronies for asking the Senator a tough question about the war in Iraq. She calls herself a "mom and unemployed candidate for Congress." We need to help elect her and all of our candidates to the U.S. House and Senate to help President Obama pass an agenda that will allow America to be America again.

I want to also say something about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have had the pleasure of knowing her and her family for several years now. I can tell you I know of no other person or family that cares as much about America than the Clintons. The campaign Senator Clinton ran was nothing short of extraordinary and she has forever changed the nature of politics in our country. Wherever her path leads her, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Clinton for her service and her resilience.

We are one party now! Let us move forward with a dedication to work together to take back Washington and take back Kentucky. We hold the key to victory and together we can change America.