(Downers Grove, IL) November 4, 2018 – This afternoon, Sean Casten joined former President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates JB Pritzker, Juliana Stratton, Kwame Raoul, Lauren Underwood and Democrats up and down the ballot for a Get Out the Vote rally in Chicago. Sean Casten delivered the following remarks:

 

Remarks as delivered

“Thank you all. Big thanks first of all to President Obama for reminding us what it was like to have a person of grace, and dignity, and integrity in the White House.

“Thank you to Senator Duckworth, Senator Durbin – we got the two best Senators in the country.

“My name is Sean Casten. I am not a politician – though I’ve been known to play one on television.

“What I am is a scientist and clean-energy entrepreneur.  And in those lines of work, you have to work with facts. And I’m going to share some facts with you:

“Number one: we can lower CO2 emissions and grow the economy. And I know that cause I’ve done it.

“Number two: we can have lower cost, higher quality, universal health care. And we know that cause every country that’s done it has proven it.

“Number three: it is in our national interest to provide equal opportunity for all. Character doesn’t discriminate, and we shouldn’t, either.

“What’s at stake in Illinois’ 6th District is that my opponent does not share these values.

“Peter Roskam calls climate change “junk science.”

“Peter Roskam voted 60 times to repeal Obamacare.

“Peter Roskam voted against the Violence Against Women Act – and doesn’t believe that gay people should not be subject to discrimination.

“His tax bill is bankrupting the Treasury, and he had the gall to say that he’s going to fix that by taking by taking a hard look at “entitled” individuals – his words, not mine. 

“You know who I think is entitled?  Someone who hasn’t held an open town hall in ten years and thinks he deserves your vote.

“Because here’s the thing. His values aren’t my values. His values aren’t your values. His values aren’t our values.  

“Because our values cherish the ideals of our founders. Cause we still hold these truths to be self-evident:

“That all men… and women… were created equal.  

“That facts are non-negotiable and the “alternative” to a fact is a lie.

“That the post-WWII order is worth defending.

“That immigration and innovation are what has truly made America great.

“But we have also seen how fragile those ideals are when we have a demagogue in the White House and Congress that sits in silent complicity.

“So this Tuesday, we can send a clear message –- we’re better than this.

“Democracy is an incredible tool but you have to use it. So I’m asking… I’m imploring you; vote.

“Get your friends out and vote. Get your neighbors out and vote.

“Work harder than you’ve ever worked and then work a little bit harder.

“Because the goal is not just to win an election. The goal is to restore our national faith in the values that we share.

“This is not a referendum on a political party. It’s a referendum on our values and our character.

“Politics may be the art of compromise but we do not compromise on values.

“So I’m going to close with Mavis Staples: ‘We gotta have 100, 99 and a half – it just won’t do’.”