how do we fix our politics let’s start by taking a look back in 1946 29
by taking a look back in 1946 29
by taking a look back in 1946 29 year-old John F Kennedy ran for his
year-old John F Kennedy ran for his
year-old John F Kennedy ran for his first public office US Congress anyone
first public office US Congress anyone
first public office US Congress anyone today we think of course he won he was a
today we think of course he won he was a
today we think of course he won he was a Kennedy but in 1946 the Kennedys were
Kennedy but in 1946 the Kennedys were
Kennedy but in 1946 the Kennedys were not the political dynasty that they are
not the political dynasty that they are
not the political dynasty that they are now JFK’s primary selling point was not
now JFK’s primary selling point was not
now JFK’s primary selling point was not as family or his pedigree it was his
as family or his pedigree it was his
as family or his pedigree it was his service in the Navy on the strength of
service in the Navy on the strength of
service in the Navy on the strength of his service he won a 10-way Democratic
his service he won a 10-way Democratic
his service he won a 10-way Democratic primary and then a general election he
primary and then a general election he
primary and then a general election he himself would say I was elected to the
himself would say I was elected to the
himself would say I was elected to the House right after the war because I was
House right after the war because I was
House right after the war because I was the only veteran in the race upon
the only veteran in the race upon
the only veteran in the race upon arriving to Congress in 1947 JFK was not
arriving to Congress in 1947 JFK was not
arriving to Congress in 1947 JFK was not alone about 60% of the new members were
alone about 60% of the new members were
alone about 60% of the new members were military veterans and they would join a
military veterans and they would join a
military veterans and they would join a congress where over half of its members
congress where over half of its members
congress where over half of its members had a shared experience of service to
had a shared experience of service to
had a shared experience of service to the nation
the nation
the nation over the next decade and a half
over the next decade and a half
over the next decade and a half these servant leaders would find common
these servant leaders would find common
these servant leaders would find common ground and work together to move this
ground and work together to move this
ground and work together to move this country forward
country forward
country forward they passed the first Clean Air Act
they passed the first Clean Air Act
they passed the first Clean Air Act created an interstate highway system and
created an interstate highway system and
created an interstate highway system and pass a Marshall Plan which rebuilt a
pass a Marshall Plan which rebuilt a
pass a Marshall Plan which rebuilt a post-war Europe now let’s be clear this
post-war Europe now let’s be clear this
post-war Europe now let’s be clear this was not some idyllic time that we need
was not some idyllic time that we need
was not some idyllic time that we need to longingly look back at we know things
to longingly look back at we know things
to longingly look back at we know things were not perfect but despite our
were not perfect but despite our
were not perfect but despite our challenges and shortcomings as a country
challenges and shortcomings as a country
challenges and shortcomings as a country our political leaders work together they
our political leaders work together they
our political leaders work together they understood that there are stewards of a
understood that there are stewards of a
understood that there are stewards of a democracy and a set of values that make
democracy and a set of values that make
democracy and a set of values that make everything in this country possible
everything in this country possible
everything in this country possible after all they had risked life and limb
after all they had risked life and limb
after all they had risked life and limb to protect those before and now they
to protect those before and now they
to protect those before and now they were doing it again in Washington so
were doing it again in Washington so
were doing it again in Washington so after 15 years since a young Navy
after 15 years since a young Navy
after 15 years since a young Navy veteran was elected to
veteran was elected to
veteran was elected to Congress he ascended to the presidency
Congress he ascended to the presidency
Congress he ascended to the presidency and inserted a new ethic in his
and inserted a new ethic in his
and inserted a new ethic in his inaugural address a concept that service
inaugural address a concept that service
inaugural address a concept that service a country was not just for wartime but
a country was not just for wartime but
a country was not just for wartime but could be a common Creed among all
could be a common Creed among all
could be a common Creed among all citizens in peacetime as well we all
citizens in peacetime as well we all
citizens in peacetime as well we all know the line even today ask not what
know the line even today ask not what
know the line even today ask not what your country can do for you ask what you
your country can do for you ask what you
your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country so let’s fast
can do for your country so let’s fast
can do for your country so let’s fast forward a few years to a very different
forward a few years to a very different
forward a few years to a very different time that’s me
time that’s me
time that’s me as a natural blonde no as a young
as a natural blonde no as a young
as a natural blonde no as a young college graduate I decided that I wanted
college graduate I decided that I wanted
college graduate I decided that I wanted to serve my community so I became an
to serve my community so I became an
to serve my community so I became an AmeriCorps member and spent my year of
AmeriCorps member and spent my year of
AmeriCorps member and spent my year of service at an organization called City
service at an organization called City
service at an organization called City Year here in Boston and that year
Year here in Boston and that year
Year here in Boston and that year changed my life I served on a team with
changed my life I served on a team with
changed my life I served on a team with people from all different backgrounds
people from all different backgrounds
people from all different backgrounds and despite our differences we worked
and despite our differences we worked
and despite our differences we worked together and spent every waking hour
together and spent every waking hour
together and spent every waking hour trying to improve public education in
trying to improve public education in
trying to improve public education in Boston I was so transformed by my
Boston I was so transformed by my
Boston I was so transformed by my service experience that I spent the next
service experience that I spent the next
service experience that I spent the next several years working to grow and build
several years working to grow and build
several years working to grow and build the service movement in this country and
the service movement in this country and
the service movement in this country and I honestly thought that’s what I would
I honestly thought that’s what I would
I honestly thought that’s what I would do for the rest of my life but then
do for the rest of my life but then
do for the rest of my life but then something happens in 2009
something happens in 2009
something happens in 2009 senator Kenney passed away leaving
senator Kenney passed away leaving
senator Kenney passed away leaving vacant his Senate seat that he had held
vacant his Senate seat that he had held
vacant his Senate seat that he had held since 1962 his death also left a void in
since 1962 his death also left a void in
since 1962 his death also left a void in leadership as he himself had been a
leadership as he himself had been a
leadership as he himself had been a champion of service and of the belief
champion of service and of the belief
champion of service and of the belief that you can stand by your values and
that you can stand by your values and
that you can stand by your values and work across the political spectrum to
work across the political spectrum to
work across the political spectrum to get things done Allen KZ co-founder of
get things done Allen KZ co-founder of
get things done Allen KZ co-founder of city air and my boss at the time decided
city air and my boss at the time decided
city air and my boss at the time decided that he wanted to run for the US Senate
that he wanted to run for the US Senate
that he wanted to run for the US Senate seat and to carry on that legacy and
seat and to carry on that legacy and
seat and to carry on that legacy and that makes sense right Allen had spent
that makes sense right Allen had spent
that makes sense right Allen had spent the prior 20 years promoting the idea of
the prior 20 years promoting the idea of
the prior 20 years promoting the idea of service and his organization city air
service and his organization city air
service and his organization city air had become the model for AmeriCorps
had become the model for AmeriCorps
had become the model for AmeriCorps however that was not the reception that
however that was not the reception that
however that was not the reception that Allen’s candidacy receives he was
Allen’s candidacy receives he was
Allen’s candidacy receives he was dismissed from the start as an unserious
dismissed from the start as an unserious
dismissed from the start as an unserious amateur
amateur
amateur and truth be told we didn’t actually
and truth be told we didn’t actually
and truth be told we didn’t actually really know how to run a campaign and
really know how to run a campaign and
really know how to run a campaign and Alan not being political didn’t know
Alan not being political didn’t know
Alan not being political didn’t know everything that it took to be a
everything that it took to be a
everything that it took to be a candidate so he started out with 2% name
candidate so he started out with 2% name
candidate so he started out with 2% name recognition and ended which was 13% of
recognition and ended which was 13% of
recognition and ended which was 13% of the vote working on Alan’s campaign was
the vote working on Alan’s campaign was
the vote working on Alan’s campaign was my first time into politics and it blew
my first time into politics and it blew
my first time into politics and it blew my mind and I learned two very important
my mind and I learned two very important
my mind and I learned two very important but tough lessons about modern politics
but tough lessons about modern politics
but tough lessons about modern politics first our political system has
first our political system has
first our political system has significant barriers to entry that
significant barriers to entry that
significant barriers to entry that prevent even the most talented and
prevent even the most talented and
prevent even the most talented and transformative leaders from successfully
transformative leaders from successfully
transformative leaders from successfully running for office
running for office
running for office it is really counterintuitive and
it is really counterintuitive and
it is really counterintuitive and difficult to figure out second our
difficult to figure out second our
difficult to figure out second our political culture is toxic and very
political culture is toxic and very
political culture is toxic and very cynical and oftentimes it drives away
cynical and oftentimes it drives away
cynical and oftentimes it drives away the service-oriented leaders that we
the service-oriented leaders that we
the service-oriented leaders that we need the most so it’s no wonder then
need the most so it’s no wonder then
need the most so it’s no wonder then that less than 20% of Congress has
that less than 20% of Congress has
that less than 20% of Congress has service backgrounds the lowest in our
service backgrounds the lowest in our
service backgrounds the lowest in our nation’s history we have a congress and
nation’s history we have a congress and
nation’s history we have a congress and to be honest entire body of politics
to be honest entire body of politics
to be honest entire body of politics that is paralyzed by partisanship and
that is paralyzed by partisanship and
that is paralyzed by partisanship and political norms that push us into our
political norms that push us into our
political norms that push us into our corners rather than bringing our leaders
corners rather than bringing our leaders
corners rather than bringing our leaders together at the negotiating table so I
together at the negotiating table so I
together at the negotiating table so I was so transformed and inspired by this
was so transformed and inspired by this
was so transformed and inspired by this experience on Alan’s campaign that I
experience on Alan’s campaign that I
experience on Alan’s campaign that I decided to address the servant
decided to address the servant
decided to address the servant leadership deficit in our politics so I
leadership deficit in our politics so I
leadership deficit in our politics so I founded an organization called new
founded an organization called new
founded an organization called new politics our vision is to bring a new
politics our vision is to bring a new
politics our vision is to bring a new generation of leadership into politics
generation of leadership into politics
generation of leadership into politics by helping promising service veterans
by helping promising service veterans
by helping promising service veterans run for public office we believe that
run for public office we believe that
run for public office we believe that these leaders can reinvigorate democracy
these leaders can reinvigorate democracy
these leaders can reinvigorate democracy and we think that recruiting them and
and we think that recruiting them and
and we think that recruiting them and send them up for success is a single
send them up for success is a single
send them up for success is a single most important thing we can do to
most important thing we can do to
most important thing we can do to transform our politics we will bring the
transform our politics we will bring the
transform our politics we will bring the talent it’s where it is most needed
because here’s the thing
because here’s the thing the lack of political leadership in this
the lack of political leadership in this
the lack of political leadership in this country is not due to a lack of leaders
country is not due to a lack of leaders
country is not due to a lack of leaders we know exactly where they are
we know exactly where they are
we know exactly where they are AmeriCorps Peace Corps in the military
AmeriCorps Peace Corps in the military
AmeriCorps Peace Corps in the military graduates someone most talented and
graduates someone most talented and
graduates someone most talented and transformative leaders this country has
transformative leaders this country has
transformative leaders this country has ever produced but they are not running
ever produced but they are not running
ever produced but they are not running for office and we need to fix that
for office and we need to fix that
for office and we need to fix that so I piloted this idea in 2013 by
so I piloted this idea in 2013 by
so I piloted this idea in 2013 by recruiting a young bright marine named
recruiting a young bright marine named
recruiting a young bright marine named Seth Moulton to run for Congress in
Seth Moulton to run for Congress in
Seth Moulton to run for Congress in Massachusetts it took some convincing
Massachusetts it took some convincing
Massachusetts it took some convincing because he was not political but he
because he was not political but he
because he was not political but he finally said yes and we helped build
finally said yes and we helped build
finally said yes and we helped build this campaign and supported his race and
this campaign and supported his race and
this campaign and supported his race and guess what he challenged an 18 year
guess what he challenged an 18 year
guess what he challenged an 18 year Democratic incumbent anyone and we see
Democratic incumbent anyone and we see
Democratic incumbent anyone and we see the difference in Congress
the difference in Congress
the difference in Congress seth is a real servant leader and in his
seth is a real servant leader and in his
seth is a real servant leader and in his short time in Washington we see the
short time in Washington we see the
short time in Washington we see the impact already last year 1,500 bills
impact already last year 1,500 bills
impact already last year 1,500 bills were introduced into Congress only 82
were introduced into Congress only 82
were introduced into Congress only 82 were signed into law of the 82 only 11
were signed into law of the 82 only 11
were signed into law of the 82 only 11 were authored by Democrats two of those
were authored by Democrats two of those
were authored by Democrats two of those 11 were authored by Seth and he is
11 were authored by Seth and he is
11 were authored by Seth and he is ranked at one of the top 10 percent
ranked at one of the top 10 percent
ranked at one of the top 10 percent bipartisan members of Congress however
bipartisan members of Congress however
bipartisan members of Congress however we don’t think servant leadership is a
we don’t think servant leadership is a
we don’t think servant leadership is a partisan issue that’s why we were also
partisan issue that’s why we were also
partisan issue that’s why we were also proud to support Wisconsin Republican
proud to support Wisconsin Republican
proud to support Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher in his run for Congress
Mike Gallagher in his run for Congress
Mike Gallagher in his run for Congress last year Mike is also a marine veteran
last year Mike is also a marine veteran
last year Mike is also a marine veteran as well and he has just been in Congress
as well and he has just been in Congress
as well and he has just been in Congress since January but due to his independent
since January but due to his independent
since January but due to his independent voice he has already been talked about
voice he has already been talked about
voice he has already been talked about as a national future leader Seth and
as a national future leader Seth and
as a national future leader Seth and Mike and this short time had developed a
Mike and this short time had developed a
Mike and this short time had developed a friendship and that makes us really
friendship and that makes us really
friendship and that makes us really excited for a future where they’re
excited for a future where they’re
excited for a future where they’re joined by dozens of other servant
joined by dozens of other servant
joined by dozens of other servant leaders in the years ahead and we’re
leaders in the years ahead and we’re
leaders in the years ahead and we’re working hard to make sure that happens
working hard to make sure that happens
working hard to make sure that happens our roster is growing of experienced
our roster is growing of experienced
our roster is growing of experienced leaders who are committed to working on
leaders who are committed to working on
leaders who are committed to working on problems that are putting the country
problems that are putting the country
problems that are putting the country first and with the right kind of support
first and with the right kind of support
first and with the right kind of support we can see them blossom as candidates
we can see them blossom as candidates
we can see them blossom as candidates this year we have AmeriCorps alum Juana
this year we have AmeriCorps alum Juana
this year we have AmeriCorps alum Juana Matias in Massachusetts Marine veterans
Matias in Massachusetts Marine veterans
Matias in Massachusetts Marine veterans like Dan McReady for running for
like Dan McReady for running for
like Dan McReady for running for Congress in North Carolina Teach for
Congress in North Carolina Teach for
Congress in North Carolina Teach for America alum Mike Johnston running for
America alum Mike Johnston running for
America alum Mike Johnston running for governor in Colorado and former Navy
governor in Colorado and former Navy
governor in Colorado and former Navy pilot Mikey Sherrill running for
pilot Mikey Sherrill running for
pilot Mikey Sherrill running for Congress in New Jersey and they’ll be
Congress in New Jersey and they’ll be
Congress in New Jersey and they’ll be joined with more than 40 servant leaders
joined with more than 40 servant leaders
joined with more than 40 servant leaders nationwide running for office this year
nationwide running for office this year
nationwide running for office this year we are training them to run from city
we are training them to run from city
we are training them to run from city council to Congress and in the near
council to Congress and in the near
council to Congress and in the near future
future
future when there is a school committee or City
when there is a school committee or City
when there is a school committee or City Council election in your town you will
Council election in your town you will
Council election in your town you will see an AmeriCorps alum stepping forward
see an AmeriCorps alum stepping forward
see an AmeriCorps alum stepping forward and talking about how her experience in
and talking about how her experience in
and talking about how her experience in underperforming schools makes her the
underperforming schools makes her the
underperforming schools makes her the best person to improve local education
best person to improve local education
best person to improve local education and when Congress decides whether or not
and when Congress decides whether or not
and when Congress decides whether or not to send our children into war you will
to send our children into war you will
to send our children into war you will see this weighty decision debated by
see this weighty decision debated by
see this weighty decision debated by those who have put their own lives on
those who have put their own lives on
those who have put their own lives on the line for this country overseas from
the line for this country overseas from
the line for this country overseas from Town Hall to the Statehouse to Capitol
Town Hall to the Statehouse to Capitol
Town Hall to the Statehouse to Capitol Hill they will be servant leaders
Hill they will be servant leaders
Hill they will be servant leaders answering the call we live in
answering the call we live in
answering the call we live in challenging times in our democracy and
challenging times in our democracy and
challenging times in our democracy and the response on both sides of the aisle
the response on both sides of the aisle
the response on both sides of the aisle has been to retreat it’s a partisanship
has been to retreat it’s a partisanship
has been to retreat it’s a partisanship and division and for many of us for the
and division and for many of us for the
and division and for many of us for the first time in our lives we can envision
first time in our lives we can envision
first time in our lives we can envision our country giving way to its demons and
our country giving way to its demons and
our country giving way to its demons and sinking into chaos but that’s not how it
sinking into chaos but that’s not how it
sinking into chaos but that’s not how it has to be we can grow and build a real
has to be we can grow and build a real
has to be we can grow and build a real political pipeline nationwide a new
political pipeline nationwide a new
political pipeline nationwide a new movement of Americans who have solved
movement of Americans who have solved
movement of Americans who have solved problems and always put people in
problems and always put people in
problems and always put people in country first and someday soon when
country first and someday soon when
country first and someday soon when these proven leaders step forward and
these proven leaders step forward and
these proven leaders step forward and raise their hand to serve their country
raise their hand to serve their country
raise their hand to serve their country again in elected office their bold ideas
again in elected office their bold ideas
again in elected office their bold ideas empathy for others and deep sense of
empathy for others and deep sense of
empathy for others and deep sense of patriotism will not be seen as political
patriotism will not be seen as political
patriotism will not be seen as political liabilities but as prerequisites for the
liabilities but as prerequisites for the
liabilities but as prerequisites for the job it’s time for a new generation of
job it’s time for a new generation of
job it’s time for a new generation of leadership it’s time for a new politics
leadership it’s time for a new politics
leadership it’s time for a new politics thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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