Exclusive: Senator Hagel's Remarks at the 2008 ADC National Convention

posted on: Feb 14, 2013

We are sure you are aware of the outrageous media reports and Senate statements regarding Defense Secretary-designate Chuck Hagel and his participation in our 2008 ADC National Convention. If you remember, Senator Hagel delivered remarks at our convention gala on Saturday, June 14, 2008 before an audience of about one thousand people. On that same day, ADC also presented Senator Hagel with our Outstanding Public Service Award for his more than forty years of dedicated service to the United States. We spent the last couple of days searching the ADC archives for video footage. This afternoon we posted that video to our website (<a href=”http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tEd22ukVRJYCEOZomvXocgUsDPOXdY39″>view here</a>).

There has been a media campaign, orchestrated by controversial anti-Arab figures, aimed at smearing and intimidating the Arab American community. ADC has been accused of being “controversial” because of our stance on Arab American issues, especially on Palestine. Senator Hagel has been attacked over and over merely for speaking to Arab Americans. If speaking at the ADC National Convention is considered controversial, then does that make former President Bill Clinton controversial? What about Secretary of State Colin Powell, Senator John Sununu, Senator Bob Dole, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Russ Feingold, Senator George Mitchell, Congressman John Conyers, Congressman John Dingell, Congressman Barney Frank, Congressman Dan Kildee, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and Congressman Nick Rahall… ADC’s list of keynote speakers also includes international dignitaries such as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Nelson Mandela.

There is nothing controversial about speaking to or working with the Arab American community. Rather than questioning the integrity of Arab Americans, it is time to question the integrity of those that perforate hate and division amongst all Americans — ADC will continue to combat tactics that attempt to silence our voice. Our organization and our convention has been under attack because we provide an open space for the free exchange of ideas. Send a strong message to those who want to isolate us by participating in this year’s ADC National Convention on June 13-16, 2013 in Washington, DC. Remember, it starts with you!