- Rep.
Seth
Moulton.(D-MA) « Calendar
| Pre-Primary
Period « Seth
Moulton Ends Campaign
Seth Moulton for America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August
23, 2019
CONTACT: Matt Corridoni
Hello DNC! Thank you so much—for having me here today, and for all that you do.
I have only been in this race since April—I got in later than many of the other candidates—but I couldn’t be more proud of what our team has accomplished over these last several months.
We have been challenging Donald Trump where he’s weakest—as Commander in Chief—and showing this country that Democrats are the party of making America strong overseas and safe here at home.
We have been running to take back patriotism from the Republican party. Because as we all know here in this room, true patriotism isn’t about hugging the flag, but about fighting to make sure the flag stands for something.
We have put forward the most aggressive call to national service in a generation, asking all 33 million young Americans to serve here at home and tackle the biggest challenges of today like climate change.
And this campaign has even helped me face a few of my own fears.
For the first time in my life, I talked publicly about dealing with post-traumatic stress from my four combat tours in Iraq.
… about how I sought help to deal with my post-traumatic stress—help that has made me a better public servant and a better husband and father.
And our team put forward a plan that will end the stigma around mental health—the same stigma that kept me silent for so long, and that kept every presidential candidate before me from talking about mental health struggles themselves.
That’s what this campaign has been about, and I’m so proud of what we’ve done.
But today, I want to use this opportunity, with all of you here, to announce that I am ending my campaign for president.
Though this campaign is not ending the way we hoped, I am leaving this race knowing that we raised issues that are vitally important to the American people and our future.
I couldn’t have done any of this without my amazing wife Liz and daughter Emmy behind me.
I couldn’t have done it without my extraordinary team, who worked incredibly hard for a longshot candidate because they believed in me and our mission like they believe in our country.
And I definitely couldn’t have done it without everyone who supported me and came out to events and donated and volunteered for this campaign all across this country.
Each of you reminds me, everywhere and every day, of what truly makes America great.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
…
While this is the end of my campaign, it is certainly not the end of our efforts.
I will once again be running for Congress in the 6th District of Massachusetts, my home, and I can’t wait to get back at it.
I will be relaunching my organization, Serve America—which helped take back the House last cycle by electing 21 service-driven Democrats in tough districts across America—to work with all of you to keep the House, to flip the Senate, and to win back statehouses across the country next November. Because those down-ballot races are every bit as important as the Presidential.
And most of all, I will be campaigning my ass off for whoever wins our nomination in 2020.
Donald Trump is going to be harder to beat than most people think. But we can, and we must, beat him—because our country, our values, and our future depend on it.
As a party, we need to spend these next months doing everything we can to determine who our strongest nominee will be. And as we do so, we can’t be distracted by the latest outrage on Twitter or the reality show politics of the day.
We need to stay grounded in what it’s going to take to win over voters—all kinds of Democrats, Independents like the Obama-Trump voters, and even disaffected Republicans—and bring the country together around beating Donald Trump.
Because you can be a Democrat, or a Republican, or an Independent. But if you’re an American, you know that we’re better than this.
And we’re going to prove it at the ballot box in 2020.
…
Now before I go, I want to say one more thing.
My mentor in college, Reverend Peter Gomes, once said, “Hope is the stuff that gets us through and beyond when the worst that can happen, happens.”
And oftentimes, in these past couple of years, and even in these past couple of weeks, it’s felt like the worst that could happen in America has happened.
But when I traveled the country and district over these last several months, I found hope.
I found hope in the veterans I met who are working to end the stigma around mental health by sharing their stories for the very first time.
I found hope in the kids who are walking out of school demanding progress on climate change and guns.
I found hope in the teachers and reporters who have been striking for basic pay.
I found hope in the women who have been marching for basic respect.
I found hope in the amazing, diverse, talented group of leaders we have running for president.
And I find hope here in this room, and in rooms like it across America, where Democrats are banding together—despite all of our differences—to beat Donald Trump.
And to fight for who we are.
That hope is what gets us, as individuals, through the darkest of times.
And it is what will lead our country through the darkest of times as well.
You know, I often say that in the men and women I served with in Iraq, I saw the best of America in the worst of circumstances. In the midst of a war many of us disagreed with—a war I spoke out against—we always knew that despite the failures in Washington, we were fighting for each other.
We had each other’s backs.
And we believed in our values so much that they were willing to fight for them.
Well, I saw the same thing in this campaign.
I saw Americans from all backgrounds, all races, all religions, standing up and fighting for our values because they believe in our country—even when it lets them down.
Especially when it lets them down.
Because THAT is when the country needs us most.
We have a lot of work to do, and some tough months ahead of us, but we can do this. We wake up tomorrow in the America that we make. And I’m so proud to be making it better with all of you.
CONTACT: Matt Corridoni
RELEASE: Moulton to End Presidential Campaign During Speech At DNC Summer Meeting
San Francisco, CA - During his speech this morning at the Democratic National Committee's Summer meeting, Seth Moulton will be ending his campaign for president. Seth will be speaking at approximately 10:45 AM PST / 1:45 PM EST. His remarks as prepared can be found below.Hello DNC! Thank you so much—for having me here today, and for all that you do.
I have only been in this race since April—I got in later than many of the other candidates—but I couldn’t be more proud of what our team has accomplished over these last several months.
We have been challenging Donald Trump where he’s weakest—as Commander in Chief—and showing this country that Democrats are the party of making America strong overseas and safe here at home.
We have been running to take back patriotism from the Republican party. Because as we all know here in this room, true patriotism isn’t about hugging the flag, but about fighting to make sure the flag stands for something.
We have put forward the most aggressive call to national service in a generation, asking all 33 million young Americans to serve here at home and tackle the biggest challenges of today like climate change.
And this campaign has even helped me face a few of my own fears.
For the first time in my life, I talked publicly about dealing with post-traumatic stress from my four combat tours in Iraq.
… about how I sought help to deal with my post-traumatic stress—help that has made me a better public servant and a better husband and father.
And our team put forward a plan that will end the stigma around mental health—the same stigma that kept me silent for so long, and that kept every presidential candidate before me from talking about mental health struggles themselves.
That’s what this campaign has been about, and I’m so proud of what we’ve done.
But today, I want to use this opportunity, with all of you here, to announce that I am ending my campaign for president.
Though this campaign is not ending the way we hoped, I am leaving this race knowing that we raised issues that are vitally important to the American people and our future.
I couldn’t have done any of this without my amazing wife Liz and daughter Emmy behind me.
I couldn’t have done it without my extraordinary team, who worked incredibly hard for a longshot candidate because they believed in me and our mission like they believe in our country.
And I definitely couldn’t have done it without everyone who supported me and came out to events and donated and volunteered for this campaign all across this country.
Each of you reminds me, everywhere and every day, of what truly makes America great.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
…
While this is the end of my campaign, it is certainly not the end of our efforts.
I will once again be running for Congress in the 6th District of Massachusetts, my home, and I can’t wait to get back at it.
I will be relaunching my organization, Serve America—which helped take back the House last cycle by electing 21 service-driven Democrats in tough districts across America—to work with all of you to keep the House, to flip the Senate, and to win back statehouses across the country next November. Because those down-ballot races are every bit as important as the Presidential.
And most of all, I will be campaigning my ass off for whoever wins our nomination in 2020.
Donald Trump is going to be harder to beat than most people think. But we can, and we must, beat him—because our country, our values, and our future depend on it.
As a party, we need to spend these next months doing everything we can to determine who our strongest nominee will be. And as we do so, we can’t be distracted by the latest outrage on Twitter or the reality show politics of the day.
We need to stay grounded in what it’s going to take to win over voters—all kinds of Democrats, Independents like the Obama-Trump voters, and even disaffected Republicans—and bring the country together around beating Donald Trump.
Because you can be a Democrat, or a Republican, or an Independent. But if you’re an American, you know that we’re better than this.
And we’re going to prove it at the ballot box in 2020.
…
Now before I go, I want to say one more thing.
My mentor in college, Reverend Peter Gomes, once said, “Hope is the stuff that gets us through and beyond when the worst that can happen, happens.”
And oftentimes, in these past couple of years, and even in these past couple of weeks, it’s felt like the worst that could happen in America has happened.
But when I traveled the country and district over these last several months, I found hope.
I found hope in the veterans I met who are working to end the stigma around mental health by sharing their stories for the very first time.
I found hope in the kids who are walking out of school demanding progress on climate change and guns.
I found hope in the teachers and reporters who have been striking for basic pay.
I found hope in the women who have been marching for basic respect.
I found hope in the amazing, diverse, talented group of leaders we have running for president.
And I find hope here in this room, and in rooms like it across America, where Democrats are banding together—despite all of our differences—to beat Donald Trump.
And to fight for who we are.
That hope is what gets us, as individuals, through the darkest of times.
And it is what will lead our country through the darkest of times as well.
You know, I often say that in the men and women I served with in Iraq, I saw the best of America in the worst of circumstances. In the midst of a war many of us disagreed with—a war I spoke out against—we always knew that despite the failures in Washington, we were fighting for each other.
We had each other’s backs.
And we believed in our values so much that they were willing to fight for them.
Well, I saw the same thing in this campaign.
I saw Americans from all backgrounds, all races, all religions, standing up and fighting for our values because they believe in our country—even when it lets them down.
Especially when it lets them down.
Because THAT is when the country needs us most.
We have a lot of work to do, and some tough months ahead of us, but we can do this. We wake up tomorrow in the America that we make. And I’m so proud to be making it better with all of you.
___________________
Memorandum RE: Seth
Moulton’s Impact on the
Race
To: Interested Parties
From: Moulton for
America
Date: August 23,
2019
Seth ran a bold and
honorable campaign, bringing several unique perspectives to a field of
unprecedented size. Entering the race late and with lower name ID than
other candidates, he
always faced long odds. But as the only candidate in the field who has
led troops in combat, Seth was uniquely qualified to take on Donald
Trump not just as president, but as commander in chief—something he
will continue to do because it’s where Trump is weakest. Throughout the
course of this race, Seth drove the debate on issues no one else was
talking about before he raised them, and he always campaigned with
integrity.
Seth Refused to Let Republicans Own Foreign Policy and Patriotism
- Seth drove the
national conversation on foreign policy, national security, and defense
and redefined what a Democratic
message on these issues can look like.
- He unveiled a bold, next-generation
foreign
policy
agenda; called
for an increase in cyber security and the creation of a “cyber wall;”
outlined a comprehensive plan to counter China, including by creating a
Pacific version of NATO; and called
on a new generation of leaders to modernize our arms and alliances
moving forward.
- It was said of Seth that "he
has brought veterans issues to the forefront in his campaign...he has a
robust platform on [national security and foreign policy]...something we barely saw come up in the debates." - Seth’s proven leadership skills, “character,” and his next generation thinking on foreign policy and defense earned him the endorsement of retired United States Army four-star general and leading national service advocate Stan McChrystal. This was the only major endorsement from a respected leader in national security in the 2020 cycle.
Seth Impacted the Policy Discussion and Was A Leader on Issues Important to Voters
- Even before entering the race, Seth was taking strong
positions important to voters that solidified him as a progressive
voice on issues including climate change, gun safety, and
reforming our democracy. He called
for abolishing the electoral college and Senate filibuster, a new
Voting Rights Act, and redefined
the
Green
New
Deal
in
economic terms.
- As a candidate, Seth introduced the boldest national service plan in the field, called for the restoring of benefits to LGBTQ service members who had been dishonorably discharged because of their orientation, and became the first presidential candidate in history to speak personally about mental health when he described dealing with post-traumatic stress when he came home from the Iraq War. He also introduced the boldest mental health agenda of any presidential candidate ever.
- Recently, Seth
has been using his platform to call for impeachment—something
he
voted
for
almost
two
years ago, before any other candidate in the
field. While others have been giving the same stump speech across the
county, Seth has been making the case for putting country over party and constitution over politics.
- As the only candidate in the race who receives single-payer healthcare (through the VA), Seth spoke with authority about ways to strengthen and improve Obamacare, by incorporating a single-payer option that competes with private options in a regulated market, as opposed to forcing Americans onto a single, government-run plan.
Seth Showed He Can Successfully Campaign In Places Democrats Lost in 2016—and He Took That Message Everywhere
- Following
the
success
of
his
efforts through Serve America last cycle,
Seth
went
places Democrats have been ignoring, and he received a warm
reception. Whether in Northern New Hampshire, Greenville, South
Carolina, or American Legion Halls in Las Vegas, Seth showed he wasn’t
afraid to show up where we lost in 2016 and have honest, frank
conversations about Democratic values.
- In the last few weeks, Seth has
also used his campaign to lift up down-ballot candidates in early states—the
type
of
party
building
we
need in order to not just win in 2020, but to
secure the majority for years to come.
- Seth also wasn’t afraid to take his message directly to
conservative voters. He appeared
frequently on FOX
News as
part
of
an
aggressive,
all-access,
press strategy that included
non-traditional outlets and podcasts. Seth helped redefine the audience
Democrats are speaking to, something that will help us be successful in
the coming months and years ahead.
Going forward, Seth
plans to continue to play a forceful role in the Democratic Party and
the national debate. He is focused on his work as a
Massachusetts Congressman and will be running to represent his district
again in 2020. During these past few months, it has become even more
clear how important this election is—up and
down the ballot—and that is why Seth will be
re-launching his Serve America PAC with a new and aggressive focus that
will help Democrats win in 2020 and beyond.
Seth is going to invest in the places we need to win back, and he’ll
continue to be a leading voice in the party on foreign policy and
national security, mental healthcare, national service, gun reform, and
veterans issues in the process. And he will never stop fighting to lift
up a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party.
Although
it might not have been Seth’s year, he leaves the race with an enhanced
national profile, having
proved himself to be a next-generation foreign policy leader in the
Democratic Party who has broad appeal. We are very proud of the
campaign we ran, the issues we championed, and the opportunity we had
to introduce Seth to America. It was noted that Seth is a “pioneer
in politics”
and that “no
other
candidate
is
presently
offering
anything close to [the] level of
[foreign policy] analysis” that Seth
did. To
quote one Iowa caucus-goer, “If it’s
not now, his time will come. I think he’s really something.”
###
Seth Moulton for America
August 24, 2019
Here’s What People Are Saying About Seth Moulton’s 2020 Campaign
“Moulton
Campaigned
On
Themes
Of
Strengthening
National
Defense
And
Promoting
Public Service”..”Long List Of Accomplishments”...”A Real American
Hero”...”Thank You Rep. Seth Moulton For Running.”... A Rising Star In
The Democratic Party”
VIDEO: MSNBC on Seth's DNC Speech
New York Times Headline: Seth Moulton Ends 2020 Presidential Campaign with a Warning
The Boston Globe: After Seth Moulton Drops Out of Race, He Has No Regrets
MSNBC (Video): “[Seth has] been touted as a rising star in the Democratic Party”
New York Times: “A combat veteran who served in the Iraq War, Mr. Moulton campaigned on themes of strengthening national defense and promoting public service, and criticizing Mr. Trump for damaging the country’s most vital alliances. In May, he revealed that he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from war, and called for new policies to attend to the mental health issues of soldiers and veterans. Stanley McChrystal, the retired general who led American forces in Afghanistan, endorsed Mr. Moulton’s campaign.”
Boston Globe: “As he criss-crossed America, he found a profound disconnect between the media world and the real world. He said his Serve America initiative to increase awareness of and participation in national service was very popular with ordinary folks if not the media...Moulton shrugs criticism off, noting that most of the people in John Kennedy’s book ‘Profiles in Courage,’ indeed many of the people given the award named for that book, defied their own party to do what they think is right. He’s got a point. When the loud and proud congresswomen nicknamed The Squad threw some shade on Pelosi, they were hailed as courageous truth-tellers by other progressives. When Moulton argued that Pelosi and her leadership team, almost entirely men, had run the party into the ground and presided over historic losses, he was dismissed as sexist and ageist. The double standard is glaring, and it blinds a lot of progressives when it comes to Moulton. After all, he has been outspoken in calling for President Trump’s impeachment, while Pelosi has demurred. So, who’s the real progressive?”
ABC News: “Combat veteran Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., who wanted to add ‘president’ to his long list of accomplishments -- four tours of duty in Iraq, three Harvard degrees, four years in the U.S. Congress -- announced on Friday that he's dropping out of the 2020 presidential race...During his 123-day presidential bid, Moulton campaigned in nine states where he held at least 56 events and focused mostly on national security, national service and mental health. The Bronze Star recipient brought an unmatched passion for service to the 2020 presidential race by continuously hosting veteran and military themed events: roundtables with JROTC students, military family groups, town halls with veterans, American Legion and VFW visits and most recently, Moulton visited the Veterans Community Project, a Kansas City based nonprofit that builds tiny houses for homeless veterans….Opening up about his own experience with PTS (post-traumatic stress), Moulton launched a ‘Veterans Mental Health’ tour and released a mental health plan that advocated for a national mental health hotline, routine mental health check-ups for active duty military personnel and veterans, and called for funding for yearly mental health screenings for high schoolers. Moulton also used these past four months, in part, to repeatedly point out President Trump’s lack of military experience, with the most recent comment being at the Iowa State Fair last week when a fairgoer yelled ‘Go Trump!’ and the Marine replied ‘If you want a draft dodger, he’s your guy.’”
CNN: “Moulton has told staff and friends that he plans to continue pushing the Democratic Party on issues that motivated his campaign, like issues facing veterans, the need to incentivize national service and the importance of a comprehensive strategy around national defense Those efforts will commence on Monday when Moulton hosts a town hall for veterans in Fairfax, Virginia, alongside General Stanley McChrystal, a military leader who endorsed Moulton's 2020 bid. Aides to the congressman said they hope that he could be in line for a host of administration posts, should a Democrat in the White House in 2020, including secretary of veterans affairs, defense secretary and United Nations ambassador.”
NBC News: “‘I will continue to fight for a new generation of leadership in our party and our country,’ the Iraq War veteran [said] in remarks to a Democratic National Committee meeting in San Francisco. ‘And most of all, I will be campaigning my a-- off for whoever wins our nomination in 2020.’ For Moulton, the campaign had presented an opportunity to raise his profile a little bit, create a larger network of donors and — his allies clearly hope — put himself in position to possibly join the administration if a Democrat wins the presidency.”
Buzzfeed: “Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, rose to some prominence in politics for recruiting other Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans to run for Congress over the last few elections.”
Washington Examiner: “Through his presidential campaign, Moulton condemned the Democratic Party’s move leftward, opened up about his challenges with post-traumatic stress disorder, and challenged former Vice President Joe Biden to apologize for his Iraq War vote. In May, Moulton said that the U.S. is not a socialist country and that a socialist candidate would not win the presidential race.”
POLITICO: “The three-term congressman plans to say in a speech later on Friday that he feels confident that he ‘raised issues that are vitally important to the American people and our future,’ and he will pledge to campaign vigorously for the eventual Democratic nominee.”
Bloomberg: “Moulton is an Iraq War veteran and focused his campaign on national security issues. That earned him the endorsement of retired General Stanley McChrystal, who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan.”
Robert Wolf @RobertWolf32: Thank you @sethmoulton for being a strong voice on issues such as fun reform & healthcare. Thank you for spearheading Serve America promoting veteran candidates.
Charlotte Clymer @cmclymer: In my brief discussion with Congressman @SethMoulton in June, in which I expressed disagreements with him, he carefully listened to what I had to say and meaningfully engaged. I greatly appreciate his service to our country, past and ongoing. He's a fantastic human being.
Willie Geist @WillieGeist: [Moulton is] a United States Marine who chose military service after graduating from Harvard. He was a platoon leader during his four tours in Iraq, during which he earned the Bronze Star and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Valor.
Elise Jordan @Elise_Jordan: Of all the military vets turned politicians, Moulton’s service is among the most impressive and intense - Marine infantry entering Baghdad, battles of Najaf and Nasiriyah, tribal liaison during Anbar Awakening.
Mia Farrow @MiaFarrow: Rep. Seth Moulton is a US Marine veteran who served 4 tours of duty in Iraq. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor. He "fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire" as his platoon was pinned down under heavy fire. Awarded Bronze Star
Roger Dean Huffstetler: @rdhjr: Truman once said that if you want a friend in politics, get a dog but that’s just not true. @sethmoulton is my friend, & I’m proud of the attention his service-oriented campaign brought to a national service plan, post-traumatic stress recovery, and national security. Semper Fi!
Pam Kieth @PamKeithFL: @sethmoulton Best wishes on your forward journey. Thank you for being an important voice in our debate. Fair winds and following seas.
Lee 8772 @Lee8772: @sethmoulton Thank you for all your service to US. You're young, so please don't give up. America is going to need great leaders...stick with US.
Travis Akers @TravisAkers: Thank you Rep. Seth Moulton for running & using your voice to raise awareness for #PTSD-related issues & the need for expanded mental health programs in the United States. I know as a fellow veteran, @sethmoulton will continue fighting for those who have worn our nation's cloth.
Laurie Ruettiman @lruettimann: Hey @sethmoulton I was proud to donate to your race because I like what you have to say about veterans issues, the Middle East, and a new generation of leadership. Whatever happens next, good luck.
Lauren Young @ThisIsLaurenY: Thank you to Seth Moulton for running a great campaign. He and his incredible team brought important issues to the national stage and they should be very proud! @sethmoulton is still one to watch
Carlos Cardona @NhCardona603: Thank you @sethmoulton for running and showing America that it is about all of us, not just some of us. Thank you for your service. #nhpolitics #fitn
Jason Cipriano @iamjasoncip: Wishing the best for @sethmoulton - he brought a different (and needed) perspective to the campaign. Enjoyed meeting him/ hearing his vision for the country. I'm confident he will continue to serve as a driving force in our democracy for years to come. #politics @mattcorridoni
John Delaney @JohnDelaney: .@sethmoulton served four tours of duty and is a true American patriot, you [Trump] are a coward.
Pete Buttigieg @PeteButtigieg: .@sethmoulton is a patriot who defended our nation and our values as a Marine and as a Congressman. He understands the urgency of this moment, and I'm grateful for his voice and for his service.
Tim Ryan @TimRyan: Seth Mouton:
-Seven years in the Marine Corps
-Captain Rank
-Two Bronze Stars
-Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with Valor
-Dedicated public servant in the U.S. House
Donald Trump:
-Cameos in 12 films and 14 television series
-Failed steak business
-Very tiny hands
Andrew Yang @AndrewYang: Congrats and thank you @sethmoulton for fighting for our country and for better treatment of veterans in particular. Many more fights ahead.
Beto O'Rourke @BetoORourke: .@SethMoulton is a real American hero; and I know his service to our country has only begun. Thank you, Congressman, for showing the courage to open up about post-traumatic stress on this campaign—and for all of your leadership.
Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar: Whether it's his tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine, or his time in the House representing Massachusetts, @SethMoulton has served, and continues to serve, his country and his community with honor. Thanks for your good work Seth but I will miss you in those New Hampshire parades!
John Fugelsang @johnfugelsang: Seth Moulton is someone who served in the US military, didn’t inherit everything from his dad, lacks a 40 yr history of documented racism and actually gives a damn about the people who will be hurt by the stock crashes you inspire.
Peter Alexander @PeterAlexander: For the record: Seth Moulton is a former Marine, an Iraq War veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star for valor after he “fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire” during weeks-long battles with Iraqi insurgents in 2003 and 2004.
Jamie Primak @JamiePrimak: Hi @realDonaldTrump - @sethmoulton is a US Marine veteran who served 4 tours of duty in Iraq. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor. He "fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire" as his platoon was pinned down under heavy fire. Awarded Bronze Star
Joe Walsh @walshfreedom: .@sethmoulton received the Bronze Star for valor for “fearlessly exposing himself to enemy fire” in battles against Iraqi insurgents. Donald Trump made up “bone spurs” to avoid service in Viet Nam.
Ted Lieu @TedLieu: Hey @realDonaldTrump, the Dow actually dropped over 623 points today.
Also, @sethmoulton served in combat & received a bronze star. You received fake deferments because of your daddy. In other words, Rep Moulton remains a hero. And you remain a frickin coward. #FridayThoughts
###
Copyright © 2019 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
All rights reserved.