Rep. Aaron Pena’s Seconding Speech

Another Democrat who spoke in the House yesterday aside from Richard Raymond was State Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg).

While he was seconding the nomination of House Speaker Tom Craddick—someone that Democratic bloggers do not support—it cannot be said that he didn’t give a good speech.

I wanted to include it as well because I think it speaks to why some Democrats supported Craddick. I’ve bolded those parts I believe speak to that, and I’ll comment more after the speech:

Mr. Secretary, members, distinguished guests, family, and friends.

The currents of history are constantly crashing around us.  Throughout it all this Texas House and the Texas ideals and values it represents remain.  In 2003 after 130 years, not since the aftermath of the Civil War, had this institution seen those currents bring such change that came with the election of Tom Craddick as Speaker.

A lot has happened in the past 4 years. Say what you want about this period but often missed in the headlines and greater issues of the day is one of the single greatest achievements of this administration and in the advancement of Texas.  In unprecedented numbers, the diversity that is Texas has gained a significant role in the leadership of their government.

People like me and the people I represent for the first time in significant and meaningful numbers have assumed leadership roles in the Texas House these past two sessions.

It is no mistake that I, a son of the border, am addressing you today.  I have also not failed to note that the others who also rise to speak with me are part of the new face of Texas.  I stand here because the people I represent do not have the luxury to tilt at windmills. We were not elected to be partisans, to war with each other over questions of style. We were elected to create substance, to work on improving the lives of the people of Texas and the state we love.  We come looking for a seat at the table, not as adversaries but as brothers and sisters, diverse in our perspectives but singular in our purpose.

We see hope in a new partnership, not blinded by illusion, placing our full faith in the pragmatic politics of reality.  Whereas the pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.  History tells us that when the crusaders entered the holy land, they came as conquerors to dominate the land and its people.  Their experience left them however more changed by the people they sought to dominate.  This maxim of history is not forgotten here, to change the direction of policy not through confrontation and partisanship but rather through the time honed value of pragmatic politics - respect, trust and honor - placing value in a man’s word.  Above all values, the reason I am here is because one man extended his hand and I responded with my word and my honor.

Mr. Secretary, fellow members. It is my great honor to second the nomination of Tom Craddick for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

I believe that the “tilting at windmills” remark is very telling. Some of those representatives don’t have the luxury of being “back benched,” because their constituants needs are so great.

Aside from that, as someone who has recently read a lot of the speeches in the House Journal for speakership elections, I can tell you that there are good ones and bad ones. I think that Pena’s speech will go down as one of the good ones in terms of the rhetorical quality of nomination and seconding speeches. After all, these speeches are kind of like the “innaugural addresses” for the House.
One of my all time favorites is the W.W. Bridgers nomination speech for Claude H. Gilmer in 1945.

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