Many speakers at last night's session alsohammered home the point that Democratic candidatesare pro-choice on adortion.
The keynote speakers, Sen. Bill Bradley(D.-N.J.), Georgia Gov. Zell Miller and formerTexas Representative Barbara Jordan, all spoke ofthe "American dream," specifically in relation toeconomic issues.
Bradley and Miller both quoted from the poetLangston Hughes.
"Let America be America again. Let it be thedream it used to be," Bradley quoted. "Let it bethe dream it can be."
Bradley, who once played basketball for the NewYork Knick in Madison Square Garden, saidPresident Bush has "waffled and wiggled andwavered" on important issues.
"Tonight in America, wages are flat,unemployment is up, the deficit grows and healthcare and college costs skyrocket. What did you doabout it, George Bush?" Bradley asked.
Miller said, "For millions, the American dreamhas become what the poet [Hughes] called a 'dreamdeferred'".
"Americans have seen plants closed down, jobsshipped overseas and our hopes fade away as oureconomic position collapses right before our veryeyes...And George Bush doesn't get it," Millersaid.
Jordan also touched on the subject, saying,"The American dream is not dead. It is gasping forbreath, but it is not dead." She said theDemocratic party and Clinton will enact thechanges that can restore the dream.
Many speakers went negative, slamming Bush forincompetence, inefficiency, inaction andindifference.
"The evidence of this administration'swillingness to inflame the wounds that it shouldheal is everywhere," Bradley said. "Fear, divisionand the death of hope--these are the fruits ofRepublican rule."
Texas Gov. Ann W. Richards made reference toher now-famous keynote address from 1988, ("GeorgeBush was born with a silver foot in his mouth.")
"I spoke to you all four years ago," Richardtold the delegates, "And I really hate to say it,but I told you so."
But the speakers didn't confine their assaultsto Bush. Quayle's misspelling of "Potato" lastmonth was mentioned half a dozen times. AndMiller, who was raised by his mother, agreed withthe vice president that it is good for children tohave two parents.
"You bet it is," Miller said. "It would be goodif they could all have trust funds, too. But wecan't all be rich and handsome and lucky. That'swhy we have a Democratic party."
Miller was the only keynoter to attack RossPerot, saying the Texas multibillionaire has beenmanipulating the government for his financialself-interest since the early 1970s.
"Instead of shaking the system up, Mr. Perot'sbeen shaking the system down," Miller said. "Hesays we ought to clean out the barn, but he's boonknee-deep in it for years."