2004 Programs & Events
Election Breakfast Remarks
November 3, 2004
Thank you all for joining us at this early hour. Of course it's an important day, and I'm sure some of you were up a good part of the night following the elections and keeping track of the results. We know that this election in the United States is a topic of keen interest here in France, which is amply demonstrated by your presence this morning.
First, I want to thank our friends at the International Herald Tribune for co-sponsoring this breakfast with the Embassy. In particular, I'd like to thank publisher Michael Golden and editor-in-chief Walter Wells for their support. I also want to express appreciation to RTL's Robin Leproux, and LCI's Jean-Claude Dassier for their work and the support of their organizations in providing coverage of our election watch to their many viewers and listeners.
The Hotel Intercontinental has been most gracious in its assistance and cooperation. We thank them and I want to mention in particular, Dagmar Woodward and her colleagues.
American law limits my ability to comment on politics in the United States from a partisan perspective, or to engage in what might be viewed as "campaigning," even when the campaign is over! So I will not express my personal views of the elections or the results as they are reported. Anything that you can read from my face, I will, of course, deny.
Let me make a few remarks on the nature of our elections, and on the tradition of democracy that we are fortunate to have in the United States.
All eyes are naturally on the presidential race, but it is important to take into account the results of the numerous elections taking place across the country, in order to evaluate what this election says about the current direction of American politics. Thousands of local elections took place yesterday, and all of them contribute to the fabric of American politics. Every seat in the House of Representatives and a third of those in the United States Senate were decided. As you know, our Congress plays a key role in determining national policies and in controlling the budget.
The American people also elected many thousands of state, county, municipal, and local officials. These ranged from governors in several states, state legislators, and mayors, judges, district attorneys, school board members, and many other positions across the country. All of these officials, chosen by their constituents, will become a part of the American body politic. In many places, citizens voted directly for specific initiatives and budgetary measures.
Most of you are familiar with the Electoral College and its role in selecting the President of the United States. The Electoral College is and has been a subject of debate in our country. The Electoral College was established because of the importance the states, as unique and separate political entities, have always held in our Federal system. The Constitution reserves for the states all powers not expressly conferred on the national government. The Electoral College ensures that each state has a substantive voice in selecting the president by protecting states with smaller populations from being overwhelmed by those with larger populations. When considering politics in the United States, it is always good to keep in mind the autonomy and importance that the individual states possess within the Federal structure.
As we observe American democracy in action this morning, it reminds me that one of our highest foreign policy objectives is to help others develop their own democratic institutions and traditions. A functioning democracy affords the greatest protection for individual freedom and I believe most of our allies, partners and friends around the world share this thought. One of the reasons the United States and France have been allies and friends over so many years is our shared devotion to democracy and the right of our citizens to choose their leaders.
As President Bush stated recently at the United Nations:
Because we believe in human dignity, peaceful
nations must stand for the advance of democracy.
No other system of government has done more to
protect minorities, to secure the rights of labor, to
raise the status of women, or to channel human
energy to the pursuits of peace.
Thank you for joining us this morning to watch American democracy at work. Because France and the United States are the world’s two greatest democracies, it is particularly appropriate that we have joined together in this election vigil.