This is not an "I would like" request or a "It sure would be nice" request. This is a flat out demand that I get asked on that greatest of all convention stages to pour my heart and soul into getting this man elected President of these United States.
My emotions are crying out for the opportunity to blend my voice with others and answer the call, but first the question must be asked. It MUST be asked! Can we..........? Because my throat has been aching with the need to shout to the world "Yes We Can! Yes We Can!"
Oh I know the pundits and the advisors are all for toning it down. For giving the wonkish speech before the viewers who aren’t the believers. For sounding calm and cool and collected, and I agree, but not without that call for participation, that call for unity of purpose, that reach for the moon moment.
I can’t handle the talking points about the $1000 rebate here, the scholarships for community service there. I’ve seen that stump speech a hundred times now and because it takes too long to explain the logic behind it and the rational and the expectations it falls on my tin ear. I loved, loved, loved the Iowa acceptance speech and every time I hear you speak I’m listening for that moment again. I need it.
I NEED the question. Because I NEED to give the answer.
Sure if you want to cloak the wonkishness in something I’ll let you, but the question must BE asked.
Ask me if I can work with you to provide outstanding education to rural and urban school children. Oh Yes We Can!
Ask me if I’m willing to invest in dependable energy sources that reduce our reliance in carbon based fuels. Yes I Am!
Ask me if we can get the troops out of Iraq. Yes we must!
Ask me if I will have your back when you have to make a call that you know I may not like. Ask me if I will trust you. Yes I Will!
Ask me. I’m begging you to ask me in that speech you will give before millions. Ask me. Ask Them. Ask Us.
Ask us if we believe in that most improbable of journeys so we can say Yes We Believe!
Please don’t leave me out in the cold on this speech of all speeches. Oh yes, I know you give wonderful speeches and I’ve been moved to tears by them too. But you need me, you need them, you need us.
And most of all you need to close the sale.
You know the rules. Commit me to your task, cement me to your cause. We, yes We, have to win this thing as if our very lives depended on it. Because they really do. The life of my eight year old son may be in the crosshairs of some ill-conceived and ill-fated conflict if we don’t figure out another way to deal with the world. Someone has to be watching the store and you are who I trust.
So please, please Ask Me and give time for my answer to echo around the world. Ask me to join you, ask me to believe in us, ask me if we can change the world.
I need to say it out loud, I need the question to be asked or I can’t give the answer. I know it may sound hokie, it may be awkward to work into a speech, it might be playing to the crowd. But I’m telling you I NEED it.
Please
Please
Ask me if WE can.