CPAC 2014
Written by Juliana Simone
National Harbor, MD –
The annual Conservative Political Action Conference was held this past March 6th, 7th and 8th and brought to the event most of the strongest voices in the Republican Party, whether current or former elected officials, political commentators or lesser known advocates who work hard behind the scenes in leadership roles. The big draws are Republicans who are considering seeking the Presidential nomination to run for their party in 2016. They usually have the biggest and boldest speeches that make audience members rise to their feet.
The first day of CPAC 2014 showcased these men: Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Wisconsin representative Paul Ryan, who ran as the vice president candidate along with GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, and New York businessman Donald Trump also spoke. Of this list of speakers, Rubio, Christie and possibly Jindal have their eye on a run for the Oval Office in 2016.
Thursday, March 6th, 2014
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
Cruz, another favorite with CPAC attendees and libertarians, known for his brave posturing in the Senate and his filibustering, opened the convention with a roar. His spirited speech and fiery delivery awakened any audience member who stayed up too late after checking in to their hotel room or just got off the red eye.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida)
Senator Rubio used his time to address the young members of the audience reminding them of what communism was as a man whose mother and father fled Cuba and its communist dictator for Florida to live the life of freedom in the United States. He also talked about the veterans of World War II and how the young people did not remember this war now and how our country’s soldiers and so many others fought and lost their lives to keep the world free.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R)
At the CPAC convention you can always tell when someone important is about to take the stage because there’s suddenly standing room only. It was this way when Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) stepped out to address the conservative audience. How one is covered in the press in a year’s time can make a big difference on how you’re perceived both to your own caucus as well as the other. In 2013, Christie wasn’t even invited to speak at CPAC since many Republicans had soured on the Governor with all the feel-good footage of him walking with President Obama on the shores of New Jersey discussing the major hurricane damage on the homes there. Some felt this helped Obama look good during a pivotal Presidential election year, instead of the party’s own candidate. (Mitt Romney)
Now, with the overly obsessive coverage the mainstream media latched on to for days if not weeks, which led to Gov. Christie firing a staff member for telling a DOT friend to close down traffic lanes on a bridge as payback for the town’s mayor not endorsing Christie. The Governor told the press later he did not expect that mayor to endorse him and never sought his endorsement since he was a democrat. What became known as ‘bridgegate,’ conservative journalists wondered if the overinflated story was really more about the fact Christie had just come out ahead of Hillary Clinton in a major poll asking who people would vote for to be the next U.S. President.
Things like this can make the tide turn with how party members see you as a candidate and elected official. Clearly there to impress, Christie wore a more conservative hat than usual and took repeated jabs at the President he so merrily walked down the coastline with in 2012, on his poor handling of budget negotiations, and Obama’s belief that there is income inequality in America. The Governor also took a strong stance on a touchy social issue by proclaiming he was pro-life, even though he governed a blue state, but believed in being pro-life from leaving the womb until death.
He informed the audience that as a new Governor he fought public employee unions and tamed out of control labor. In advice to his party, Christie urged fellow Republicans that our ideas are better than their ideas and we need to start saying what we’re for and not against.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R)
Bright and assertive as always, CPAC regular Bobby Jindal failed to disappoint once again. Sharp insight, direct words and clear points keeps him a strong contended and viable candidate for the President of the United States anytime in the future. The popular Louisiana Governor, whose state boasts one of the strongest economies, here is an excerpt of his speech:
“President Obama is the most liberal and incompetent President in my lifetime ever since Jimmy Carter (D). Having witnessed the events abroad these last several days, as we see the President of Russia invade a neighboring country, our President wants to downsize our military; Our President brags about the increased spending on food stamps. Seeing a President that doesn’t understand a strong America leads to a peaceful more stable world; a weak America leads to instability. Seeing a President who doesn’t understand our allies and enemies alike need and want a strong America.
We have long thought and said this President is a smart man. It may be time to revisit that assumption – or at least make a distinction to being book smart and truly wise. So today, let it be heard, and I hope he’s watching, to President Carter, I want to issue a sincere apology. It is no longer fair to say he was the worst President of this great country in my lifetime. President Obama has proven me wrong.”
Friday, March 7th 2014
The second day of the convention had more big draws to regale their party loyalists. Among them Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, all three of whom have sought their party’s nomination to run for President before – Perry and Santorum in 2012 and Huckabee in 2008 – and CPAC favorite Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), son of beloved CPAC participant, newly retired U.S. Representative Ron Paul Potential Republican Party presidential candidates.
Texas Governor Rick Perry (R)
Governor Perry opened the day’s itinerary with a lively speech which was well received bringing the crowd to its feet. The longest serving Governor in the state of Texas, though not seeking reelection this year, still may have his eyes on another run for his party’s nomination to be on their Presidential ticket in 2016. If he keeps the energy and ideas up he gave here, he may have a shot. His speech crescendos right until the end. Here is the final portion:
“It is time for Washington to focus on the few things the Constitution establishes as the federal government’s role. Defend our country, provide a cogent foreign policy, and what the heck, deliver the mail, preferably on time and on Saturdays.” (Loud applause) Perry charged: “Get out of the health care businesses, get out of the education business, and create prosperity again. My fellow conservatives, the future of this nation is upon you, it belongs to you! You have the power to change America. You are the path to the future, a light on a distant shore. And you represent the renewed hope that America can be great again!”
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas)
Former Governor Huckabee, who also hosts the most popular Saturday talk show on Fox News, took the podium with his usual good natured manner of the man of faith he is, and delivered a mix of goal and insight. Sharing with viewers he only had ten minutes to speak he joked that Barack Obama uses just this much time to complaining about Fox News before every press conference he holds. Huckabee delivered his speech with most of his insights starting with the words, “I know” where he would then add some other fact he was sure of.
“I know there’s a God and I know this country would not exist if he was not the midwife at its birth,” he began, adding “there is no other way to explain our history but by the hand of his providence.” The former Governor remembered how when Barack Obama was first campaigning (he assured Americans in terms of foreign policy) “he would charm the snakes back into the basket, but the snakes are everywhere.” “We don’t have one country we have a better relationship with in the five years he’s been President,” Huckabee observed. “I know you can’t keep your doctor,” he continued in regards to Obamacare, and “I know parents raise their children better than the government.”
“I know four Americans were murdered in Benghazi and it had nothing to do with some video…and with all due respect to Hillary Clinton, “it does make a difference.” “I know the IRS is a criminal enterprise,” declared the popular cable television host. He proposed as a solution “to enact a fair tax and eliminate the IRS once and for all.” (Applause)
“I know life begins at conception, and a society that sacrifices its own children are no better than the Philistines.” Huckabee also asserted he knows all men are created equal and no one is better than anyone else, and that respect for our military soldiers should be given on their return and through their care.
“I know a government that spies on its peoples and lies to its people is putting us in the direction of tyranny.” “I know the only time Putin shivers is when he takes his shirt off on a cold winter day.” “I know no one fears us; no one.” “I know Israel has been terribly mistreated by this government. They get more pressure to stop building bedrooms in a land given to them by Abraham than Iran does to stop pointing weapons at us.” He said it was for government to make us more secure, not less.
Addressing the first amendment, Huckabee said, “I know it is prohibitive of the government to say how much faith we can have – religious freedom should be unimpeded in this nation!” Addressing the second amendment, he said he believed it was the right of all Americans to own guns to protect themselves.
In parting, he said to tell conservatives to stop fighting with each other to save our country. “That’s the fight.”
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum
2012 Presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania veteran Senator Rick Santorum, who was one of the last to stay on a populated stage for his party’s nomination before losing the convention to former Governor of Massachusetts businessman Mitt Romney, spoke with his usual even toned and serious list of facts and objectives.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky)
Electrifying the crowd was CPAC convention-goers leading conservative, Rand Paul. In jeans, blazer and tie, Paul opened his speech asking the audience to “imagine a time when liberty again spread coast to coast; imagine a time when our great country is again governed by the Constitution; imagine a time when the White House is once again occupied by a friend of liberty.”
Showing his libertarian roots, Paul then added, “You may think I’m talking about electing Republican’s, I’m not. I’m talking about electing lovers of liberty. It isn’t good enough to elect the lesser of two evils. We need to elect men and women of principal and conviction and action who will lead us back to greatness.”
“There is a great and tumultuous battle underway for the future – not of the Republican party, but the future of the entire country,” Paul warned. “The question is, will we be bold and proclaim our message with passion, or will we be Sunshine Patriots retreating under adverse fire?”
Connecting the Constitution throughout his speech to illustrate the basic freedoms Americans are losing every day, the Senator’s speech also referred to famous quotes and history from many revered figures throughout our country’s past for emphasis: William Lloyd Garrison, the Sons of Liberty, John Adams, Daniel Webster, and James Madison.
Addressing the fourth amendment, Paul proclaimed. “As our voices rise in protest, the NSA monitors your every phone call. If you have a cell phone then you are under surveillance. I believe what you do on your cell phones is none of their damn business!” (Applause) He wondered can a single warrant be applied to millions of Americans phone records, emails and credit cards. The fourth amendment is very clear: warrants must be issued by a judge; warrants must be specific to the individual; a single warrant for millions of American phone records hardly sound specific to the individual; warrants are supposed to be based on evidence, a probable cause, that an individual’s committed a crime; generalized warrants that don’t name an individual and seek the records of millions of individuals goes against the very fabric of the fourth amendment.”
Paul exclaimed, “There is a great battle is going on. It’s for the heart and soul of America. The fourth amendment is equally as important as the second amendment and conservatives cannot forget this.” He posed to convention members, “Will we sit idly by and let our rights be trampled upon? Will we be like lemmings rushing to the comfort of Big Brother’s crushing embrace? Or will we stand like men and women of character and say we are free, and no man, no matter how well intentioned, will take our freedom from us.”
Moving on to trial by jury, Paul spent a good portion of his almost twenty minute long address on this topic and condemning President Obama for his lack of leadership in this front as well as the NSA. “A great President would have protected us from the prying eyes of the NSA; a great President would have proclaimed I will not abide it. The Constitution will not abide it.” Paul continued detailing it isn’t so much what President Obama has done with his power, but it’s the procedure of lawlessness that will follow – amending legislation, recessing Congress, writing laws because one has a pen and a phone – then government becomes noting short of tyranny
“We must stop this President from shredding the Constitution!” Paul cried. (Applause/cheers)
“It isn’t just the harm this President is causing. It’s the future harm that he allows by destroying the checks and balances that once restrained each of the branches of government. Progressives by their own assertion don’t want to be bound by any original intent of the Constitution or its authors. They believe the Constitution is whatever the majority says it is. Progressives believe a majority may separate you from your rights. Paul gives a few examples of this with Jim Crowe and the Japanese internment. “Our rights come from our Creator and no government can take them from us!”
Coming to a close, the Kentucky Senator told his supporters, “Our future hangs in the balance. You can’t have prosperity without freedom. America’s greatness will not flicker if we believe in ourselves.” “It’s going to take a National revival of our liberty…It’s a Republic that restrains the government not the individual.” He asked people to stand with him and reminded them when he heard about the NSA he took a stand, filibustered, and sued the President! (Cheers) “It is decidedly not a time for the faint of heart,” Paul reminded his fellow Americans.
Dr. Ben Carson
Introducing Dr. Carson, was Tim Goeglein, from the group Focus on the Family. He reminded the room that our forefathers disagreed on a few things: whether we should have a constitution, a federal bank, and what our standing army should be – but one thing they agreed on was Judeo-Christian values.
With his usual cheerful spirit, Dr. Ben Carson began his speech describing America as the land of dreams and that it’s fulfilled the dreams of so many. He recounted how as a youth he always knew he wanted to be a doctor, and with the luck of a ‘no excuses’ and ‘I believe in God’ mother he was able to accomplish his dream. Retiring from practicing medicine last year as a neurosurgeon, he told the convention room he thought he would learn to play the organ and golf, but God had a different plan. Carson said he didn’t know what it was yet, but for now he was enjoying traveling around the country talking to large crowds with his wife Candy.
Dr. Carson went on to muse “I am not a fan of political correctness. I hate political correctness. I still believe marriage is between a man and a woman.” (Cheers and applause) He explained the political correct police have beaten the people into submission and use their tactics of making the majority think they’re wrong and old-fashioned in how they think. “It is time for the people to stand up for what they believe and stop being bullied!” he asserted. “The only people who can stop the ideologues’ is us!”
“Of course gay people should have the same rights as everyone else – but they don’t get extra rights. They don’t get to redefine marriage.” (Applause) Talking to supporters about how the mainstream media takes all of his statements out of context he used his time to repeat what the media reported he said, and then in contrast, what he actually said. One of these was a statement about President Obama. Carson said he said “Obama’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to us since slavery.” “We need to put the power back in the hands of the American people to keep it there.”
In regards to the media and their twisting of his words, he said, “the left repeats these lies because they cannot argue the facts. Americans need to understand the tactics they use. Referring to the book “Rules for Radicals” Dr. Carson said it’s all in there, citing one example where the book tells radicals never to talk to an adversary because it will humanize them, and you need to demonize them.
He said recently a place that was going to have him talk to their youth was being pressured to cancel his visit, saying he will tell them poison. Is teaching self-reliance and self-respect poison, he wondered…telling minorities to turn the money over a few times in their own community before turning it out because this is what creates wealth…the value of education…the importance of putting what God says in front of you…is this poison?
Dr. Carson appealed to the government to save our healthcare. He asked viewers to go to the American Legacy PAC he is associated with now and to sign the petition. He addressed the country’s seventeen and a half trillion dollar debt and explained, “The only reason we can do that is because we can print money.” He noted, “Greece can’t print money or it wouldn’t be in trouble. They could once, but they were irresponsible, and look what happened to them.” “We’re in a ship that’s going over the Niagara Falls,” he warned. People would look at the ship and say, oh, but there are barnacles all over the bottom – we need to get rid of them first – no, Carson defined; we need to right the ship first and keep it from going over the falls.
About future elections, he told the convention crowd, “when it’s time to vote, if your guy didn’t get it, you can call him whatever you want – a RINO, a teabagger – but vote for them! We need them in there.” He reminded the audience “don’t let the left shut you up” and that everybody needs to talk to everybody about all of these issues and our country and its direction. He said to include old people in your discussions because maybe the greatest generation can save this country once again.
His final words remembered World War II as an example of why are nation was great – how the whole world was about to go under tyranny – except for our country, who sent our boys to fight and our women to build weapons in factories. Carson believes on D-Day our soldiers didn’t shot on that beach and step over their dead comrades for leaders to pick and choose laws we will follow…this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. “Remember we cannot be free if we are not brave.”
Saturday, March 8th, 2014
Representative Michelle Bachmann
The third and final day had the convention’s always popular Rep. Bachmann kick off the proceedings. The tax attorney reminded convention members that it was the Republican party who first put a female on a presidential ticket in the last century, and the same party who had a female candidate for President in 2012 (Bachmann) who ran against Obamacare and no nuclear weapons for Iran. She added if the democrat party has a woman on its ticket this time for President she’s going to have a lot of questions to answer including Benghazi among other scandals the former First Lady, New York Senator and former Secretary of State is tied to while filling these roles.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton
Bolton gave a wise and provocative speech that asked very direct questions. His overview consisted of the contrast between former President Reagan and how he knew strength was what kept peace, and former President Theodore Roosevelt (the Republican one, as Bolton noted) believed we had to make the world safe for us. Bolton perceived Obama as one who weakens our military and foreign policy; one who allowed the representative of our President in Benghazi to be murdered and who has done nothing to retaliate his murder; and has shown enemy countries you can murder our representatives and fear no repercussion.
Panel discussion: Will, Corbin and Keene
A panel consisting of columnist George Will, U.S. Senator Corbin (R-OK), and David Keene gave the convention a thorough discussion of some common political issues like term limits, limited government and more control to the states.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Former House Speaker and former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, the second big draw for convention goers this third and last day, came on after noon. With occasional offside yells of “Neewwttt” which come from his supporters, Newt laid down his ideas with his customary pattern of emphasis and repetition.
Quoting Texas Governor Rick Perry from his appearance the day before, Gingrich reminded members Perry said ‘it’s time for a little rebellion on the battlefield of ideas.’ Newt says the only way he would change this, would be to make it a big rebellion. Talking about 2016, the former house speaker says electing Hillary Clinton would be the same as electing a President for a third term. In terms of party goals, he suggests Republicans should stop being the opposition movement and be the alternative movement.
On Barack Hussein Obama going to Key West during the Ukraine crisis, “The President spent all of last week proving he can be ineffective. He can be as ineffective in Key Largo as he is in the White House.” Gingrich pointed out much of Russia’s PM Vladimir Putin’s power comes from the price of oil. He suggested ways to change this scenario.
What Newt coined as ‘prison guards of the past’ where these guards block the road to the future, he explained he is trying to set up a conversation among all of us so by 2016, Hillary Clinton is the biggest prison guard of the past. The Republican Party will show we will restore the healthy economy and regain national security that no other country can compete with. He brings up the smart phone technology Dr. — has invented that allows many common medical tests to be done by users phones. http://www.youtube.com/embed/r13uYs7jglg
Gingrich lauded Kahn academy for having ten million visitors a month for free.
“We stand for an effective limited government.”
CPAC Straw Poll Results
At CPAC, the one big agenda item that does not have a famous speaker on stage is the announcement of the annual Straw Poll winner, now almost thirty years old since it was established in 1986. The winner this year, Rand Paul (R-Ky), was no surprise. With 2, 459 people voting, the popular senator came in first at 31%. Coming in second, was conservatives number two favorite, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx) coming in still well behind Paul with 11%.
Third place showed a different outcome from the previous afternoon when preliminary totals were showing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was taking the number three spot. An extra day of voting put Dr. Ben Carson ahead by one percent, for him to take third with 9%. Christie took fourth receiving 8% of the tally. Tying for fifth was noteworthy Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who took hold of the Executive Branch of a traditionally blue state, and former Senator and 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum at 7%.
An interesting change in the tide, showed Florida Senator Marco Rubio coming in seventh, at 6% this 2014 convention, when only a year earlier he placed second. This noticeable downhill slide can most likely be attributed to the amnesty issue. In eighth place, was Wisconsin representative Paul Ryan, who ran as the vice president candidate on the 2012 republican ticket with Mitt Romney at 3%. Texas Governor Rick Perry also received 3% of the vote.
Last but not least by any means, receiving 2% of the votes were: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. GOP pollster, Tony Fabrizio, said there were write-in votes, as well, which included former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Calvin Coolidge.
Who voted? Fabrizio acknowledged almost half of the almost 2500 CPAC attendees voting were between the ages of 18 and 25. Good news for all Republicans and/or conservatives that our youth today does not only consist of indoctrinated young men and women lacking in morals with no clear goals of how to keep America free and prosperous.
Former Alaska Governor and 2008 VP Candidate Sarah Palin
Closing the event and virtually burning down the house with her scorching commentary, was the tea party’s favorite girl, 2008 Vice President Candidate and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Rightfully so. In previous posts about Mrs. Palin, it’s been written how impressive and entertaining she is to see in person. The liberal mainstream media, how has dogged her since day one over little to nothing except their own jealousy and fear of her accomplishments, makes average citizens assume she is all these negative things their news assures them of almost nightly – but, it’s actually the complete opposite. She’s smart, she’s confident, she’s amusing and she’s a true patriot.
Taking the stage, she thanked our military for our freedom. She chided the young members of the convention calling them Obamacare suckers – that they were the change Obama campaigned for and now they had the change Obama and his administration were looking for – in their pockets and in tens and twenties. She reflected on the greatness of this venue; CPAC was where it all started for so many of our finest voices – Ronald Reagan who appeared on this convention stage in 1975 and now Dr. Ben Carson last year. Palin also thanked the audience and viewers for their commitment to making this event continue.
The former Alaskan Governor said she was feeling happier this year in her appearance. A year ago, she remembered, how our Americans decided to double down on the ‘hopey and changey’ theme of the Obama campaign, and how surprised and in disbelief all of the CPAC attendees were months after the President’s reelection. But from this, she said, something did happen – we became a wiser Republican a year ago.
Recalling great conservatives like Reagan, Friedman and Thatcher, she noted people have learned there is no free lunch, no free ride; someone always pays, and if you don’t know who, that someone is probably you! She told supporters that the government has learned “Americans aren’t quite as obedient as they thought we were,” and when they told us there was nothing to see in Benghazi, and to move along, there was nothing new to see with the IRS – we didn’t jump through those hoops! “It’s like y’all went rogue,” she cheered. {a reference to her own bestselling book title “Going Rogue.”} (cheers)
Palin then thanked Texas for electing Senator Ted Cruz and joked because “congress needs Cruz control!” She lauded Cruz for his filibustering that kept us awake, and told colleagues to use the tools of the Constitution and to keep their campaign promises. She mused at the clever way he filibustered by reading Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham” and admired how he was telling his children at the same time he was thinking of them.
The 2008 vice president candidate reminded viewers she has five children and so she has read this book many times, most recently to her youngest son. To make the familiar rhyming words new and fun to her, she said, she changed the words a bit for her youngest son Trig.
I do not like this Uncle Sam
I do not like this health care plan
I do not like these dirty crooks
And how they lie and cook the books
She continued with many other humorous verses to great cheers and laughter.
Moving on, Palin said, “We are a nation with a government – not the other way around.” She appealed to her constituency that it is time to send them reinforcements, because families are hurting from crony capitalism and income redistribution that benefits the politically favored, not the folks who do the working, serving and taxpaying. (Cheers)
Keeping positive, she mentioned some of the solutions that were heard over the last couple of days by speakers, like proposing how to lift the middle class; that just letting Washington, D.C. control our country and fundamentally change it was not the solution. “I do feel the eyes of America are open,” she said adding some would like you to hit the snooze button and say go back to sleep little lambs – even some in our own Republican party – lay low; stay out of the way; while the economy stutters to a halt and internationally we tick off our allies. She cheered the military and then party loyalists by saying “we’re going to stop them in 2014 – and those of you shining the boot of Obama – you complacent ones – 2016, too!”
Considering the other side of the aisle, Palin told the convention, she felt sorry for some who just carry the water. Like, Secretary Kerry? “He doesn’t look happy. He looks dazed and confused. No need to ask him why the long face?” (Laughter) Musing about the weak Obama administration’s policies and how Russian leader Putin is reacting she chided about the President’s message to him; ‘don’t mess around because you’re going to feel our flexibility! I’ve got my phone and my pen!’
Returning to President Obama’s original campaign promises, she reminded the audience how he was the guy who promised to insure jobs for the jobless, but the average family in America is now bringing home four thousand dollars less a year than before he was elected. “He’s got Al Queda on the run! Yeah, perhaps towards us! Mr. President – the only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke, is a good guy with a nuke!” (Applause and cheers)
“He promised to heal the planet and stop the oceans from rising, but the only thing rising is Russia!” “Their agenda is failure and fiasco on steroids!” Republicans can’t blow it, she continued in regards to the current mid-term elections and 2016. In her words, any Republican who like the Democrats was raising taxes and agreeing to amnesty – why reward them with your vote, she asked.
GOP beltway boys –
“You didn’t build that. The Tea Party did.”
“Dance with the one that brought you,” Palin said. “And you want another sweep, then grab a broom and join us at the party.”
Palin said the Tea Partiers are stronger, smarter, and hungrier and that is why conservatives must not retreat.
“Reid {Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada} will either be the senate minority leader or a black jack dealer where everything stays in Vegas!” Palin mused.
The former Alaskan Governor talked about the politically correct professionals, and the media minions who are quick to seek them out and show their manufactured outrage. In contrast, growing up she said, they were taught to “buck up or stay in the truck!” Bringing up the number one cable show “Duck Dynasty” she reminded viewers how they made a difference when it came to the lead Phil. Sarah chuckles Phil’s first mistake, of course, was agreeing to do an interview with GQ (Gentleman’s Quarterly) magazine and then his second mistake was to quote from the bible.
Summarizing the popular story, Palin recounted how the network that carry’s the program, canned the devout Christian from the devout Christian show with the devout Christian family. “In another time, Phil would have stayed fired – but not this time – people all over America knew his fight was our fight – and we pushed back and won.” (Applause, cheers)
Moving on to the opposite party, Palin said it was the democrat leaders who were demeaning. “Democrats seem to think women are just cheap dates!” She explained their view was not to bother their pretty little heads with taxes, foreign policy, etc. Asking the men in the room for a moment with her sisters on hand in the convention hall, suggesting they busy themselves with their cell phones or the like, Palin told her fellow females that ‘we know better’ and appealed to them to set their sisters and girlfriends straight and not to vote for someone who puts you in a box and defines you by your body parts. “That’s not liberation but subjection” and this sisterhood fights against that; we fight the mastery.
She asked liberals can you really sing “I Am Woman”? No, donkeys just bray – only Mama Grizzlies can say “hear me roar.” We’re the heirs of {Susan B.} Anthony and (former Prime Minister Margaret} Thatcher; if the boys aren’t up to the challenge women are happy to head the charge. We protect even our little sisters in the womb!”
In closing, former Governor Palin said to stand on the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference was to stand on the shoulders of giants. She brightly informed her fans “the age of Obama is almost over!” (Applause) “The end of an error.” (Applause) “He is the lamest of lame ducks.” (Applause) Cheering on her fellow conservatives, she ended with the uplifting memory of the band of brothers who dumped tea in Boston Harbor and how “we need to be the Band of Brothers again to save the country.” “Stand up and stiffen your spine – the best is yet to come!”
In My Vue 