Excerpts from DNC Chairman Howard Dean's Address Before the National Council of La Raza Annual Conference

Philadelphia, PA - Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean today addressed the National Council of La Raza's annual conference. The following are highlights from his remarks as prepared for delivery:

"The Democratic Party has led the way in promoting minority leadership at the local, state and national level, that's why 92% of Latino elected officials are Democrats, and Democrats will continue to lead the way...

"Republicans control everything...the White House, both chambers of Congress, and look at what they've done. The Republicans in Washington talk about moral values, but under their watch we have record deficits…Hispanics have faced increases in unemployment, cuts to small business loans, declines in home ownership, and more and more Hispanics don't have health insurance...

"They talk about moral values, but a culture of corruption has taken over in Washington.

"Take this whole Karl Rove affair. President Bush said that he would hold his staff to the highest ethical standards. Well, now he faces a test - a test of leadership. Will he hold White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to the standard that he set? Is President Bush more interested in protecting CIA operatives working on the front lines of the war on terror or protecting his favorite Texas political operatives? The national security of our nation should rise above partisanship. So, will you keep your promise, Mr. President, or will you protect your old friend?

"The outlook is not good. The White House originally said that if anyone in this Administration was involved in disclosing an undercover CIA operative's identity, they would 'no longer be in this Administration.' Now, he seems to be changing his standard of accountability, saying this week that if someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my Administration. This is not the type of leadership that Americans expect from their Commander-in-Chief...

"The President has announced that he will identify his Supreme Court nominee tonight at nine o'clock. This is a tremendous opportunity to unite the country that he has divided. It is a tremendous opportunity for the President to nominate a justice who all Americans trust to protect their rights and freedoms over special interests..."

"I challenge the Republican Party to renew the Voting Rights Act next year..."

"Now let me make it clear...as Democrats, we have to do more than point out the failed legacy of the Republican Party in Washington. We have to talk about our values, and about the vision Democrats offer America...

"We can't continue to let Republicans define our values for us. We have to talk about our moral values and about our fundamental beliefs.

"We believe that government is supposed to work for ordinary Americans, not the special interests...

"We don't have to change our core values; we have to change the way we talk about our values...

"Cuidando a las personas débiles y pobres...That's a moral value...

"Ayudando a la gente a tener éxito...That's a moral value...

"Trabajando para que nuestros niños tengan cuidado médico...That's a moral value...

"Haciendole más facil a cada persona cuidar a su familia...That's a moral value...

"As Democrats, we believe in responsibility, fiscal...economic...social...civic...and personal. We believe in possibility, we believe in opportunity. And we don't just talk about these values - we live them...

"Our moral values, Latinos and Democrats, are much more similar than some would have us believe...

"And while we're talking about moral values...it's not a moral value to scapegoat undocumented immigrants. President Bush won't stand up to the anti-immigrant forces in his own Party...

"The President's absolute lack of leadership on the issue has caused an atmosphere of hostility and fear that's keeping us from real and comprehensive immigration reform. His own party doesn't know where he stands and even the alleged moderate Scwarzenegger is embracing the Minutemen...

"The Republican leadership targets minorities to advance their own party agenda, but in elections they look for ways to divide us. It was African-Americans in 2002, gays in 2004, and it's going be immigrants in 2006, you wait and see. There's no place for discrimination in America. Democrats will never divide Americans to win elections.

"As Democrats, we believe that when we come together around shared goals and common principles, great things are possible. And that when you attack any of us, you attack all of us. We want to bring people together around the common good, the values that we all share...

"A couple of weeks ago I announced that from August 5th through 7th, the DNC will host its 3rd annual Hispanic Leadership Summit in San Antonio. The summit will provide an arena for important dialogues on how to build and maintain a lasting national Democratic Party network within the Latino community...

"Los Demócratas ofrecemos más... Los Demócratas lo podemos hacer mejor... y lo haremos..."

"But we need your help. Necesitamos su ayuda. We need you to talk to your friends, neighbors and co-workers about what we stand for.

"Juntos...elección por elección... estado por estado... puerta a puerta... recuperaremos nuestro país."