That was an impressive group of Congressional candidates.  I am proud to be running on the ticket with them.



Bill
Gluba mentioned that Nussle refers to himself as the “architect” of
economic policy.  Charles Grassley calls himself the “architect”
of the recently passed Medicare bill.  I don’t know about you, but
if I hired an architect and he built things that always leaned strongly
to the right, I would get myself a new architect.





Ok.  Six minutes.



My kids say I better talk fast.



And I don’t want to tell you things you know or can easily find out.





That is
why we put together the newspaper that has been handed out to
you.  It lays out my background and my positions on the
issues.  [See some of the humorous excerpts here.]





You can
see on the front page what is going to happen in November, “Democrats
Sweep Elections;” Art Small Trounces Grassley.” 



I am perhaps the only candidate for the U.S. Senate who has this ability to see into the future.  We can make that happen.



In the
middle section you can read about the issues.  On the back page
you can find out about Art Small.  There are even pictures. 
There is one of me a few years ago before the Bush administration came
into office.  Note I had a full head of hair back then.  That
shows how bad this administration has been on us.

There is
also a photo of me on my motorcycle.  That was taken in 1957 when
I was in the Army in Germany.  That was the same year that Charles
Grassley first ran for office.  He has been in office continuously
since 1958.  A career politician.





But I don’t need to tell you all that.





Do I
need to tell you George Bush and Chuck Grassley with their tax cuts for
the wealthy have helped most those who need help least?



‘Course
not.  Warren Buffett who received an additional $310 million from
those tax cuts said they were unfair. Buffett said this: “We do have
class warfare in America – and my class is winning.



Do I
need to tell you that George Bush and Chuck Grassley claim to be for
senior discounts but passed a Medicare bill that …well, discounts
seniors?



Do I
need to tell you that George Bush and Chuck Grassley pushed through
programs that helped America lose more jobs than in any administration
since World War II – 38,000 in Iowa?



Do I
need to tell you that when we should worry about protecting the rain
forests in the Amazon, Chuck Grassley took $50 million to create an
indoor rain forest in Coralville?



That won him an unusual honor: The Citizens Against Government Waste “Soaking the Taxpayer” award



And do I need to tell you that this record is why on November 2 Democrats are going to win?



Win in the Iowa House and Senate?



Win the House of Representatives? 



Win in the United States Senate?



And win the White House we won in the year 2000?



Didn’t think so.  I don’t need to tell you that.



Because Iowa Democrats have a history of knowing what’s happening.



Since I
came to this state, I’ve seen Democrats lead the way when it came to
jobs, healthcare, education, helping those who need help.



We don’t
think government is something to shrink.  Democrats have a
different view.  We know government can help people who need help.



I saw
that when I went to college on the GI Bill.  I saw that in my 16
years in the Legislature when I saw Democrats build great universities
and schools and revitalize communities.



And I saw it in the long tradition of great Senators.  Harold Hughes.  Dick Clark.  John Culver.



And Tom Harkin.



Right
now my wife, Mary Jo, is handicapped. There isn’t a day when she isn’t
helped by the ADA that Tom Harkin worked and pushed and passed in
Washington.



That’s leadership!   Real leadership!



But what has Chuck Grassley done about the sad record of George Bush?



Tax breaks for the rich?  Runaway deficits? A free ride for polluters? Cowboy diplomacy?



He’s
carried the White House water every time.  He has voted with the
Bush administration 99% of the time.  I didn’t even agree with my
sainted mother 99% of the time.



He’s no leader.  Just a cheerleader for George W. Bush.



Well, we can turn that around.



We can have an America where jobs move not overseas but into Iowa.



We can have an America where health care costs go down – and those with health insurance go up.



We can have an America shaped not by economics of the radical right but economic development right for Iowa and this country.



We can end the diplomacy of deceit, and distortion! 

You know
– I’m 70 years old.  The youngest candidate in this race. 
That’s why I ask folks to “GIVE THE YOUNGER MAN A CHANCE.”



But some people ask why I want to take on this race when I could be playing with my grandchildren.



Well, I want to see America move forward, not lag behind.



I want my grandchildren to have the opportunity I had when I was growing up.



I want those who have no jobs to know that if they stay in Iowa our factories, farms and businesses will have work for them.



I want
those who worry about getting the health treatment they need to be able
to get it.  I’m working to make certain that every American has
health insurance.  Countries that have universal health insurance
spend half – HALF – what we do per capita on health care.  It is
time we caught up with them.



I’m not interested in class warfare that gives ever more money to the powerful.  I want the powerless to get an even break.



I don’t have a great speaking voice.  But I will speak for those who have no voice.

If I have your help.



This is not my race for the U.S. Senate.  It is OUR race.





(LOOKS AT WATCH)



Gotta finish up.



Grassley’s
tough to beat.  He’s very well financed – he’s the $6 million
dollar man – loads of special interest money.  He’s received more
money from the tobacco folks than any other senator.  More money
from sugar interests than any other Senator.  A half million from
drug companies and health insurance companies.



He’ll be
all over the airwaves using his special interest money.  Telling
us he’s just a simple old hog farmer working for us.  SURE. 



I
remember a WWI song – actually I don’t really remember it; I read about
it.  It went like this:  How you gonna keep them down on the
farm, after they’ve seen Paree.



Well, I’ve changed it a little bit.  It now goes like this:



[sings] How we gonna get Chuck back on the farm, after he’s seen D.C?



How we gonna keep the lobbyists away, and let the people have their say?



How we gonna chuck Chuck back to the farm



After he’s seen D.C?



We can win on the ground.

A victory not for special interests … but for the people’s interests!



Thank you, and remember:

THINK BIG – VOTE SMALL

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[I nominate Art Small for the best slogan ever.]

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Read more about Art Small for U.S. Senate.



Art Small does not accept special interest contributions.  To contribute to the Art Small for U.S. Senate campaign, go here.

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