Address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention - Aug. 25, 2008

first-hand that America's middle class families desperately need change. This is especially true for minorities. We cannot afford four more years the gridlock and that stagnation that currently reigns in Washington.

There's an old Mexican saying: "dime con quien andas, y te dire quien eres." "Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are." Senator McCain has voted lockstep with Bush 90 percent of the time. Anyone who is a friend of Bush 90 percent of the time isn't a friend of America’s working families. We need more than 10 percent change. We need 110 percent change. We need Barack Obama!

Senator Obama's clear vision and strong record will move our great nation in a positive new direction. He's done more to change the course of this country in four short years than John McCain has done in 26 long years.

Under Bush, Latinas make only 57 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts, and one—listen to this—one out of every three Latinos lacks health insurance. In response to these tragic disparities, Senator Obama co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act in order to close the gender pay gap. He proposed a national health care plan to provide affordable, quality health care coverage for every American who needs it, and he co-authored the Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act.

Senator Barack Obama is the change that we in American need. He is standing up for us, and we must stand up for him. Let's get our country back on track by electing Senator Barack Obama as our best president of the United States in November.

Votemos por Obama para Presidente! Vote for Senator Barack Obama!

Speech from http://www.knoxviews.com/node/8827 and revised to match speech as delivered.