GOP Convention Primetime Speech Text Embargoed For Delivery

CLEVELAND, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Republican National Convention today released the full text of the prepared remarks for tonight's speakers. Please see below for the text embargoed for delivery

Sharon Day

What an honor it is to be with all of you this evening…and especially to be here in Cleveland…where we have nominated the individual who is GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN….Donald J. Trump!!

As I look around this room at the different delegations…I understand the responsibility each of us has…we need Ohio…my home state of Florida… Pennsylvania… Wisconsin… and each and every state to deliver on Election Day if we are going to save America.

Because just consider for a minute…what would America look like with Hillary Clinton as President?

Our military would have a Commander-in-Chief who has already lied to the families of American soldiers on how…and why…they died in Benghazi.

People who create jobs would continue to be punished…our small businesses would suffer…industries would be destroyed as our fellow Americans across this country continue to lose their jobs.

Honesty…integrity…and ethics would now be taught in history class…because if crooked Hillary is in charge, those values would in fact…become HISTORY.  Hillary Clinton wants you to vote for her simply because she will MAKE history.  But Mrs. Clinton, we don't call that history....we call that  HYPOCRISY!

She repeatedly plays the gender card. In fact she boasts…."deal me in."

Well Mrs. Clinton consider yourself dealt in. As a Senator you paid women staffers LESS than men.

As Secretary of State you lied to the mothers, daughters, and sisters of men who gave their life for our

As head of a Foundation you accepted TENS OF MILLIONS of dollars from foreign countries who enslave women and treat them as second-class citizens.

As a mother…and grandmother…you have no problem supporting policies that terminate the life of the unborn.

And as First Lady you viciously attacked the character of women who were victims of sexual abuse…at the hands of your husband.

I want to see a woman become President one day and I want my GRANDDAUGHTERS to see a woman President..but not that woman…Hillary Clinton…not now…not EVER. America deserves a President they can trust. A President who is worthy of being Commander-in-Chief…a President who tells the truth. A President who doesn't look directly in a camera and lie to the American public about our fallen soldiers.

There is no question – Donald J. Trump is better for my children...my grandchildren…and better for this country than Hillary Clinton could EVER be.

As the citizen activists that our Founding Fathers expected us to be…let's join together in the fight to save our country for the next generation.

Let's stand together as daughters and sons of liberty and fight the oppressive government of Hillary Clinton by electing Donald J. Trump as our next President of the greatest country in the world.

God Bless You. May God bless our proud military men and women and their families…and may God continue to bless this special place we call our home… our United States of America.

Dana White

Good evening.

I'm Dana White, president of the UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. You might be wondering why I'm here.

I'm not a politician. I'm a fight promoter.

To be honest, I was surprised to be invited, but I was honored, and I wanted to show up to tell you about my friend, the Donald Trump that I know.

In 2001, when my partners and I bought the UFC, it was considered a blood sport.

State athletic commissions didn't support us.  Arenas around the world refused to host our events. Nobody took us seriously.

Nobody....… except Donald Trump.

Donald was the first guy that recognized the potential that we saw in the UFC... and encouraged us to build our business.

He hosted our first two events at his venue. He dealt with us personally.

He got in the trenches with us... and made a deal that worked for everyone. And he showed up to the fights and sat in the front row. Yeah, he's that guy. He shows up.

Donald championed the UFC before it was popular, before it grew into the successful business that it is now. I will always be grateful to him for standing with us in those early days.

So tonight, I'm standing with Donald Trump.

Let me tell you three things I respect about this man.

First, Donald has great business instincts. He supports businesses of all sizes.

He'll make it possible for them to grow and succeed, which is the backbone of a strong economy.

Second, Donald is a hard worker.

He will roll up his sleeves, he will work with people, and put in the time to get things done.

And third, for over 15 years, Donald Trump has been a loyal... and supportive... friend.

I know that if I need him, he'll be there for me, just like he was when we first met. Sometimes he'll call just to say, "Hey Dana, I'll be watching the fights this weekend. Good luck," ... and he's always reached out when something good happens in my career.

In 2011, we signed a huge network TV deal with FOX, and there was a big write-up about it in the New York Times.

Donald sent me the article and wrote on the front of it, "Congratulations Dana, I always knew you would do it."

And just for the record, Donald and I are not business partners. His interest in me and my business is personal.

You can really tell a person's true character when they are happy for someone else's success.

And I think that sense of loyalty and commitment will translate into how he will run this country.  And let's honest, we need someone who believes in this  country.

We need someone who is proud of this country, who will fight for this  country.

Let me tell you something: I have been in the fight business my whole life.  I know fighters.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Donald Trump is a fighter. And I know Donald Trump will fight for this country. Thank you.

Governor Asa Hutchinson

Ladies and gentlemen, I hail from the great state of Arkansas; we know from personal experience that we don't need Hillary Clinton in the White House.

I have been in the public arena during the administration of six Presidents.

From federal prosecutor under President Reagan; to Congress; and then Homeland Security after 9/11, I have seen America at its best and I have seen America put to the test.

There has never been a more urgent time for leadership.

-----America's strength and boldness are desperately needed on the world stage.

------and a new energy is demanded at home to build our economy and to defeat terrorism.

Strength, boldness and new energy are not words that describe Hillary Clinton. This is the same Hillary we knew in Arkansas and later in Washington for so many years. Hillary always wanted more government, and her dreams have only gotten bigger.

Regretfully, she offers more of the same. The same uncertain leadership in fighting terrorism;

The same failed….top down approach to health care….where Washington tells the states what to do;

The same nanny state regulations that strangle the economic strength of America. If you like the last 8 years, then Hillary will give you double for  your trouble!

But good things are happening in the states. In Arkansas, we are creating jobs and leading in computer science education.

Unemployment is the lowest in the recorded history of Arkansas and we have a $177 million surplus.   We can do better in our country.

We need a President that values the role of the states, will destroy ISIS, and jump-start our economy.

Experience matters.

On the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton emphasizes her experience. Yes.  Experience matters.  But judgment matters more.

Despite her experience, Hillary Clinton's poor decisions have produced bad results.

Just think about it

Hillary Clinton's radical attempts at so-called "reform" of the nation's healthcare system would have been more destructive than even Obamacare has been.

Hillary Clinton's bad judgment, as you heard last night, left us four dead Americans in Benghazi.

It resulted in instability in Egypt, Syria and Libya; the rise of ISIS; the resurgence of Russia; an emboldened North Korea; inappropriate ties between foreign governments and the Clinton Foundation; and a more dangerous  world.

When it comes to being Commander in Chief, we don't want a President who in the words of the FBI is "extremely careless" in the handling of classified material.

Donald Trump represents a different kind of leadership. He is exactly the kind of transparent, straight-talking leader America needs right  now.

A Hillary Clinton presidency will endanger our national security.  IT:

----will be the wrong direction for our economy

----and will undermine the innovation coming from the states. A Trump Presidency will be about the art of the possible.

Donald Trump is the right leader for our time. Thank you.

Lt. Gov Leslie Rutledge

Good evening. Sometimes, Hillary Clinton has a New York accent. Sometimes, an Arkansas accent.

But y'all….this is what a real Arkansas woman sounds like.

Hillary may not know where she's from, but Arkansans know exactly who she is. Arkansans know who I am.

Raised on a cattle farm, married to a row crop farmer, I'm a Christian, pro-life, gun- carrying, conservative woman.

And, the first female Republican elected Attorney General of Arkansas.

The very same office Bill Clinton held when those two launched their careers of corruption.

Hillary says they were poor when they left the White House.

And while they've made millions, she's still poor in all the ways that really count: poor judgment, poor policies and poor decisions. Hillary is a lawyer, but she acts like the law doesn't apply to her.

Absolutely no good could have come from merging her public service with her private interests…much less her private  server.

What we know about her scandals is bad. What we don't know may be worse.

Why did Bill's speaking fees skyrocket as soon as she was Secretary of State? Why did donors to the Clinton Foundation receive favorable treatment from the State Department?  Deception and dishonesty are all second nature to  Hillary.

As my daddy likes to say, she will lie [even] when the truth would serve her better.

Let's face it: That woman has more baggage than Chicago O'Hare. I broke a glass ceiling.

I know the importance of doing so.

But, a historical milestone need not come at the expense of America. Unlike Hillary, Donald Trump knows that women – and men – are not single issue voters.

We care about jobs, the economy and national security.

As Attorney General, I know this race will shape the Supreme Court for generations.

Do we want the great Antonin Scalia to be replaced by a liberal activist judge? Donald Trump will nominate conservative justices who will uphold the Constitution, support the rule of law and rein in out-of-control federal  bureaucrats.

Frankly, Hillary needs to go to her own house, not the White House…and take Ruth Bader Ginsberg with her.

My fellow Americans, it's time to update your resumes because Donald Trump is growing jobs and putting America back to work.

With Donald Trump as President….America will be closed to overregulation and open for business.

God bless each of you and God Bless America.

Michael Mukasey

Over the years, Hillary Clinton has done a lot and said a lot to show why she should not be president.

But how she treated government secrets as Secretary of State, and what she said before and after she was caught, sums up the case against her.

She sent and received secret, and top-secret, and beyond-top-secret emails on an unsecure private email system instead of on the secure government system – and she did it without authorization.

She said – falsely – that there was no classified information. She said –  falsely – that what she did was authorized.

And what else did she say – falsely? She said, "When we traveled to sensitive places like Russia, we often received warnings from department security officials  to leave our blackberrys, laptops – anything that communicated with the outside world – on the plane, with their batteries removed to prevent foreign intelligence services from compromising them." She said, "Even in friendly settings we conducted business under strict security precautions, taking care when and how  we read secret material and used our technology." That's from her book. The title  of the book -- ironically – is "hard choices."

In reality, we now know that she chose to use her private email overseas, in countries hostile to the United States and that have sophisticated hacking capability. Although her system was so remarkably primitive the FBI could not figure out whether or not it had been hacked, we know that the emails of people with whom she communicated were hacked.

About her emails we have to ask ourselves the infamous question that  she asked about the death of four Americans in Benghazi – "what difference, at this point, does it make?"

Well, it makes a big difference.

This is the only country in the world that was founded on a law – the Constitution.

Hillary is running for an office – the presidency -- whose powers and duties are defined by that law. The most important power that law gives the president is to be commander in chief of the armed forces – to protect the  country.

That law imposes on the president the duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." That law – the Constitution – specifically requires that before taking up those powers and duties, the president swear to "faithfully execute" the office, and "preserve, protect and defend" the  Constitution.

Hillary Clinton took a similar oath before she became secretary of state.

What that means is that Hillary Clinton is asking us, as Americans, to make her the first president to take the oath of office after already violating that  oath.

Our message for anyone watching these proceedings should be simple:  NO WAY

Andy Wist

Thank you.  It's great to be here.

It's been a lot of fun the last few days watching the media speculate about me.

Who's "Andy Wist?" they all asked.

Somebody said I was Batman.

That's Adam West, dummy!

Some of these reporters need to get a life!

Look, you want to know who Andy Wist is?

I'll tell you. I'm living proof that the American Dream is  real.

I grew up in Brooklyn and started a business in my mother's backyard when I was 21… Standard Waterproofing.

We restore building exteriors.

Today we have 140 employees.

Not as big as Mr. Trump's company, but still pretty good, right?

I'm also the trustee of Teamsters Local 522, because like Donald Trump and Mike Pence, I believe that working men and women still matter in this country and we have to look out for them.

After 8 years of President Obama, I don't see the American Dream like I did when  I was starting out.

All I see is too many people out of work… too many jobs shipped overseas… and too many politicians who don't care.

It's a mess

Who's going to fix it?

Hillary Clinton?

After 30 years in public life her only accomplishment is beating the rap every time she breaks the law.

Donald Trump is a builder.

He's a leader who will bring us together

He'll make America work again, so we can believe again.

I'm not a big important person.  I'm just a regular  guy.

I love my family.

I love my country.

I've lived a great life.

But I'm not going to be around forever. Neither will you.

This November, we get to decide what kind of world we leave  behind.

When I'm gone, I want my children, your children, and our grandchildren to be able to live the American Dream like I have.

And the only way we keep the American Dream alive is by electing Donald Trump president.

Thank you!

Senator Ron Johnson

What difference, at this point, does it make? I am the guy that provoked that infamous response from Hillary Clinton by asking a pretty simple question: "Why didn't you just pick up the phone and call the survivors?"

But instead of doing that, she hatched her cover-up story and repeatedly lied to the American people.  She even lied to the surviving family members of America's fallen heroes. Think about that for a moment.

And, of course, Hillary's cold, calculated lying continues. If we can't trust her to tell us the truth, how can we possibly trust her to lead America?

So let me tell you -- and Hillary Clinton -- what difference it does makes when America's leaders cannot be trusted -- when our commander in chief fails miserably by employing a strategy of peace through withdrawal instead of achieving peace through strength.

It makes a difference to the young Yazidi woman I met who was captured and brutalized by ISIS barbarians, the joy of life hauntingly absent in her eyes.

It makes a difference to the travelers, passing through airports in Brussels and Istanbul, who just wanted to get home to their family and friends.

It makes a difference to the ordinary Americans sharing holiday cheer at a Christmas party in San Bernardino.

It makes a difference to the young men and women dancing on a summer night at a club in Orlando.

And it makes a difference to the families watching fireworks at a celebration of freedom in Nice.

These are just a few examples of Islamic terrorists, let me repeat that -- ISLAMIC TERRORISTS -- slaughtering and brutalizing their innocent  victims.

When will America effectively respond to this terrible reality? We certainly won't if Democrats win in November.

In Wisconsin, I'm running against Russ Feingold, who, even after 9/11, voted against giving law enforcement the tools they need to help stop international terror. During his eighteen year Senate career, he also voted against authorizing our military eleven separate times. And now he's asking Wisconsinites to give him a fourth term -- just as Hillary Clinton is asking America to give her Obama's third term.

The world is simply too dangerous to elect either of them. Instead, America needs strong leadership.

Leaders who will jumpstart our economy, secure our borders, strengthen our military, and accomplish the goal President Obama set over twenty-two months ago: We must defeat ISIS, and then remain fully committed to destroying Islamic terrorists wherever they hide.

It doesn't have to be like this -- we shouldn't have to live in fear.

This is a fight for freedom.

It's not someone else's fight, this is our fight. And it is a fight we absolutely must win.

Donald Trump and Mike Pence understand that these must be America's top priorities.

They will be strong leaders, working with Republicans in the House and Senate to achieve a goal that can unite us all: A safe, prosperous, and secure  America.

Our future hangs in the balance.

We must unify, work tirelessly, and together, save this great nation.

So God Bless your efforts, and God Bless America.

Chris Cox

I want to talk to you tonight about a very personal freedom: your right to protect your life.

Because as much as we don't like to think about it…we live in dangerous times.

We're worried, and we have reason to be.

Because we know government has failed to keep us safe.

You have to be able to protect yourself and your family. And that's what the Second Amendment is all about.

Imagine a young mother at home with her baby, when a violent predator kicks in the door.         He's a three-time loser who never should have been  released from prison early. But he was, because some politician wanted to show their "compassion".  So what's she going to do?

She'll dial 911...and pray. The police will do their absolute best to get there quickly.  But their average response time is 11 minutes.

Should she be able to defend herself with a firearm in her own home? My fellow Americans, that question is on the ballot in  November.

Here's why.

Eight years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that we have a fundamental, individual right to protect ourselves and our families with a firearm in our own homes.

They should've ruled it nine-to-nothing, but the Second Amendment survived by just one vote. After Justice Scalia's death, that vote is  gone.

Here's where Hillary Clinton stands.

She said, quote, "the Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment."

Think about that. All the Supreme Court said was you have the right to protect your life in your own home. Hillary says they got it wrong.  It's that simple...a Hillary Clinton Supreme Court means your right to own a firearm is  gone.

Make no mistake: this election isn't about the next four years. It's about the next forty years, so voting for Hillary Clinton, or not voting, is simply not an option.

What's so outrageous is that for the rest of her life, Hillary Clinton will never even think about dialing 9-1-1.

For thirty years, she hasn't taken a walk, a nap or a bathroom break without a good guy with a gun there to protect her.

So it's easy for her to dismiss a right she will never have to use.  But for the rest of us, the choice to own a firearm is ours to  make.

And in America, there cannot be one set of rules for the Clintons, and  another set for us.

But here's Hillary's problem.

American women are the fastest-growing group of gun owners. Millions own firearms.  And millions more are thinking about it.  It's not Hillary Clinton who says women should have that choice. It's Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is a life member of the NRA…and so are his sons, Don and Eric…because we're the largest and oldest civil rights organization in  America.

We fight for the rights of all Americans, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation…because the right to protect your life is the most precious right  you have.

If you agree…you have to vote for Donald Trump.

If you believe women have the right to choose to own a firearm for themselves, you HAVE to vote for Donald Trump.

Friends, the 5 million men and women of the NRA will fight without apology for your right to protect your life.

But we are on the cusp of losing this great American freedom…and with it…this great nation.

The only way we save it, the only way we save it is by electing Donald Trump the next President of the United States.

Natalie Gulbis

Thank you.

I appreciate this incredible opportunity to speak to you about a man that I greatly admire ... a man I have found to be gracious, generous, and inspiring.

I must begin, however, by saying there is a great deal of irony that I am speaking to you tonight because when I earned my Tour Card sixteen years ago, I was told there's only two things you don't talk about in public: Faith ... and politics.

Well, tonight, I am prepared to violate both those admonitions as I stand before you at the Republican National Convention as a Christian woman.

I believe that God's timing is perfect: He puts people in our lives to help us make a positive impact on those around us... and to help us achieve our goals.

One of those people for me, is Donald Trump.

The first time I played golf with him in 2005, I shared two things that I'd told countless CEOs, billionaires, and politicians before him: One, I had a dream to open up a Boys and Girls Club; and two, I was deeply frustrated about being treated differently as a woman ... overlooked and underpaid in business.

These words previously fell on deaf, all-be-it well-intentioned ears ... but that day was different.

They finally fell on ears that cared enough to take action.

I'm proud to tell you, that with Donald's help, I opened up the Natalie Gulbis, Boys and Girls Club.

In response to my frustrations about being treated unfairly as a woman, he adamantly rejected that notion... and instead, offered me a simple idea that changed my life forever: "Never fear challenging the status quo."

He's encouraged me to think of myself not as a female athlete, but as a business person.

"In everything you do, be fearless," he'd remind me. "Be fearless."

As an athlete, fearlessness came naturally to me; but as a business woman, I faced challenges that weren't always on a level playing field. Even today, I face challenges and Donald remains a consistent voice encouraging me to stand up to gender injustices and to LEAN IN to any professional challenges that come my way.

I hope you take these principles about generosity and fearlessness... and that they can have a similar impact for you in your life... like they have had in mine.

Ronald Reagan said, "Status quo is Latin for the mess we're in."

And while I believe that this is the greatest time to be a woman in the greatest country in the history of the world, I have no delusions that there isn't a mess to clean up ... and we desperately need someone to clean up this mess.

That person is Donald Trump.

If one's history of fearlessness and challenging the status quo is an indicator for meaningful progress, then Donald Trump is the person to bring that to America.

Thank you

Senator Mitch McConnell

Ladies and gentlemen, I've been around a while.

And I've been around the Clintons more than anybody should ever have to. A couple years ago, Bill and Hillary camped out in my state telling anybody who'd listen why they ought to vote against me. Tonight I'm here to return the favor.

I am a patient man. As a young child in the South, I was struck with polio and forced to stay off my feet for two years.

That experience taught me an abiding gratitude for my parents. And it taught me how to wait, which comes in handy when you're leading the U.S. Senate.

More than anything, though, my job has taught me the value of trust … how to distinguish between people who are in this to serve others and people who are in it for themselves.

I am here to tell you Hillary Clinton will say anything, do anything, and be anything to get elected president.

And we cannot allow it.

The American People are tired of hearing about the bounty of government while the cost of caring for a family or meeting daily expenses grows out of  reach.

Over the past few years, they've seen government officials abuse their office and get rewarded for it.   They've seen the middle class  shrink.

And in the midst of all this they have raised a simple complaint. Who is looking out for us?

It is not Hillary…

I've had my differences with Barack Obama, but l will give him this. At least he was up front about his plans to move America to the  left.

Not Hillary…

She lied about her emails. She lied about her server. She lied about Benghazi. She lied about sniper fire.

She even lied about why her parents named her Hillary. So I ask a simple question.

At a moment when so many feel betrayed by their government.

Why in the world would Democrats put forward such a candidate?

Hillary has changed her positions so many times it's impossible to tell where conviction ends and ambition begins.

In 2010, she said Iran could enrich uranium. In 2014 she said she's always argued against it.

Once a backer of the Keystone pipeline, last year she opposed it. She used to be against sanctuary cities.

Then she claimed to be for them.  Who knows where she is now.

Friends, not since Baghdad Bob has there been a public figure with such a tortured relationship with the truth.

There is a clear choice before us. And it is not Hillary.

You know what the next four years will look like with Hillary.

And you know that if Hillary is president, we will continue to slide, distracted  by the scandals that follow the Clintons like flies.

Two years ago, voters delivered a clear verdict on the Obama years by   sending a freshmen class of rock star Republicans to the Senate and delivering us a majority that I promised to make you proud of.

We'd never hesitate to confront this President.

But we'd also do the hard work of tackling urgent problems head on. We have delivered on that promise.

We put an Obamacare repeal bill on the President's desk.  He vetoed  it.

Trump would sign it.

We passed a bill to finally build the Keystone Pipeline.  He vetoed it.

Trump would sign it.

We passed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Obama vetoed it. Trump would sign it.

And on that sad day when we lost the great Antonin Scalia, I made another pledge that Barack Obama would not fill this seat. That honor will go to Donald Trump.

With Donald Trump in the White House, Senate Republicans will build on the work we've done and pass more bills into law than any  Senate in years.

We passed the first major education reform in more than a decade, and ended common core.

We made the first significant reforms to Social Security in three decades. We passed a crucial cybersecurity bill.

We imposed sanctions on North Korea

We passed the first major highway bill in more than a decade.

We passed a bill to combat the scourge of human trafficking.

And just last week we passed, and the president signed, the first major law aimed at confronting the heartbreaking explosion of opioid and heroin  abuse.

Keep the Senate in Republican hands and we will continue this work.

And the remarkable public servants that I am proud to lead in the Senate will not let you down.

But put Hillary Clinton in the White House and I promise you this.

She will double down on the cynical approach that Senate Democrats seem to revel in these days.

Here's what I mean.

As we sit here tonight, a terrifying mosquito-borne illness threatens expectant mothers and their babies along the Southern Coast.

And just last week, Clinton Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill aimed at eradicating that virus before it spread.

They blocked a defense funding bill. A bill that would support the brave men and women who are right now defending us overseas.

What do these people think public service is about?  I don't know.

But I know this. If Hillary Clinton is our president, nothing will change. So tonight, I ask you to let us continue our work.

Let's put justices on the Supreme Court who cherish our Constitution. Let's keep the Senate!

And let's elect a President and Vice President who really believe America is exceptional.

Speaker Paul Ryan

Thank you all very much.

Delegates, friends, and fellow citizens: I appreciate the privilege of addressing this forty-first convention of the Party of Lincoln.

As part of my co-chairman duties, let me thank all the people of this beautiful city for looking after us this week. And above all I want to thank the men and women here from law enforcement for your service.

You know, standing up here again, it all has a familiar feel. Students of trivia will recall that last time around I was your nominee for vice president. It was a great honor, even if things didn't work out quite according to plan.

But hey, I'm a positive guy. I've found other things to keep me busy. And I like to look at it this way. Next time there's a State of the Union address, I don't know where Joe Biden and Barack Obama will be. But you'll find me right there on the rostrum with Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump.

Democracy is a series of choices. We Republicans have made ours.

Have we had our arguments this year? Sure we have – and you know what I call those? Signs of life. Signs of a party that's not just going through the motions. Not just mouthing new words for the same old stuff.

Meanwhile, what choice has the other party made, in this incredible year filled with so many surprises?

Here we are, at a time when men and women in both parties so clearly, so undeniably, want a big change in direction for America, a clean break from a failed system. And what does the Democratic Party establishment offer? What is their idea of a clean break?

They are offering a third Obama term, brought to you by another Clinton. And we're supposed to be excited about that?

For a country so ready for change, it feels like we had been cleared for takeoff, and then somebody announced we're all going back to the gate.

It's like we've been on hold forever, waiting and waiting to finally talk to a real person, and somehow we've been sent back to the main menu.

Watch the Democratic Party convention next week – that four-day infomercial of politically correct moralizing. And let it be a reminder of all that is at stake in this election. You can get through four days of it, with a little help from the mute button. But four more years of it?

Not … a … chance. The Obama years are almost over. The Clinton years are way over.

Two-thousand sixteen is the year America moves on.

# # #

 From now to November, we will hear how many different ways progressive elitists can find to talk down to the rest of America … to tell voters that the Obama years have been good for you … that you should be grateful, and now, well, it's Hillary's turn.

But the problem is very simple. There is a reason people in our country are disappointed and restless.

If opportunity seems like it's been slipping away, that's because it has. And liberal progressive ideas have done exactly nothing to help. Wages never seem to go up.

The whole economy feels stuck. And for millions of Americans, middle-class security is now just a memory.

Progressives like our president talk forever about poverty in America. And if high-sounding talk did any good, we'd have overcome these deep problems long ago.

This explains why, under the most liberal president we've had so far, poverty in America is worse – especially for our fellow citizens who were promised better and need it most.

The result is a record of discarded promises … empty gestures … phony strawman arguments … reforms put off forever … shady power plays, like the one that gave us Obamacare … constitutional limits brushed off as nothing … and, all the while, dangers in the world downplayed, even as the threats grow bolder and come closer.

# # #

It's the latest chapter of an old story: progressives deliver everything except progress.

Yet we know better than to think that Republicans can win only on the failures of Democrats. It still comes down to the contest of ideas. Which is really good news, ladies and gentlemen, because when it's about ideas, the advantage goes to us.

Against the dreary backdrop of arrogant bureaucracies … pointless mandates … reckless borrowing … willful retreat in the world … and all that progressives still have in store for us, the Republican Party stands as the great, enduring alternative.

We believe in making government, as Ronald Reagan said, not the distributor of gifts and privilege, but once again the protector of our liberties.

Let the other party go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives – more taxes to pay … more debt to carry … more rules to follow … more judges who just make it up as they go along.

We, in this party, are committed to a federal government that acts again as a servant accountable to the people, following the Constitution, and venturing not one inch beyond the consent of the governed.

We, in this party, offer a better way for our country, based on fundamentals that go back to the Founding generation. We believe in a free society where aspiration and effort can make the difference in every life … where your starting point is not your destiny … and where your first chance is not your only chance.

We offer a better way for America, with ideas that actually work. A reformed tax code that rewards free enterprise, instead of just enterprising lobbyists.

A reformed health care system that operates by free choice, instead of by force, and doesn't leave you answering to cold, clueless bureaucrats.

A renewed commitment to building a 21st-Century military – and to giving our veterans the care they were promised, the care that they have earned.

And we offer a better way of dealing with persistent poverty in this country: A way that shows poor Americans the world beyond liberal warehousing and checkwriting … into the life everyone can find, with opportunity and independence … the happiness of using your gifts, and the dignity of having a job.

And you know what? None of this will happen under Hillary Clinton.

Only with Donald Trump and Mike Pence do we have a chance at a better way.

And, last, let the other party go on and on with its constant dividing up of people … always playing one group against the other, as if group identity were everything.

In America, aren't we all supposed to see beyond class, or ethnicity, or all those other lines drawn to set us apart and lock us in groups?

Real social progress is always a widening of the circle of concern and protection. It's respect and empathy overtaking blindness and indifference. It's understanding that by the true measure we are all neighbors and countrymen – called, each one of us, to know what is right and kind and just, and to go and do likewise.

Everyone is equal … everyone has a place … no one is written off, because there is worth and goodness in every life.

Straight from the Declaration of Independence, that is the Republican ideal – and if we won't defend it, who will?

# # #

So much that you and I care about, so many things we stand for, are in the balance in the coming election. Whatever we lack going into this campaign, we should not lack for motivation. In the plainest terms I know, it is all on the line.

So let's act that way. Let's use the edge we have, because it is still what earns trust and votes. This year of surprises and dramatic turns can end in the finest possible way – when America elects a conservative governing majority.

We can do this, we can earn that mandate, if we don't hold anything back, if we never lose sight of the stakes. Our candidates will be giving their all, their utmost, and every one of us has got to do the same.

So what do you say we unite this party, at this crucial moment when unity is everything?

Let's take the fight to our opponents with better ideas – let's get on the offensive and let's stay there.

Let's compete in every part of America, and turn out at the polls like every last vote matters, because it will.

Fellow Republicans, what we have begun here, let's see it through … let's win this thing … let's show America our best and nothing less.

Thank you, and God bless.

Senator Dan Sullivan

Hello Republicans! I'm Dan Sullivan, from the great state of Alaska.

I'm proud to be standing here tonight with my fellow freshman Senators. This is who we are: Governors and doctors, educators and ministers, CEOs and hog farmers, moms and dads

We have served in the United States Army and the United States Marines.

And now we serve America in the United States Senate. In 2014, YOU made this happen.

Republicans all across the country, coming together, who wanted new energy in the Senate, and who wanted to fire Harry Reid.

And that's EXACTLY what we did.

In 2016, we need to keep that momentum going!

We need to keep the Senate, and win back the White House.

We will put coal miners and oil drillers back to work, not target them for extinction as Hillary promised.

We MUST reignite economic opportunity and the American dream for  everybody.

And TOGETHER we WILL make America great again

Representative Kevin McCarthy

Thank you.

We have listened and you have told us --- ENOUGH. ENOUGH of feeling like your government is ignoring you. ENOUGH of Washington bailouts and handouts.

ENOUGH of feeling less safe and less secure in a more dangerous world where the bad guys are winning and the good guys are  losing.

But I have good news -- in just one hundred and twelve days --- it's over. In this election the stakes have never been higher.

Do we settle for the path we are on? Or do we take a better way?

Republicans believe that families who work hard should get ahead. Republicans believe in an America that isn't divided by race --- religion --- or gender. Republicans believe that America only works if we put your interests above the special interests.

But that's not what has happened over the past eight years.

For eight years we have had a President who promised us so much but delivered so little.  The lies we were told about Obamacare.

The destruction of jobs and entire industries. The empowerment of Iran and the rise of ISIS.  Republicans have a better way.  We have a plan to fix it.

In our Republican agenda --- our enemies will fear us. Our taxes will be fairer.

People can afford the health care they want. The people's voice will be heard. Government will help those who truly need it and allow everyone an opportunity to rise.

So to all those left behind by economic forces out of your control --- we hear you

To those attacked for your beliefs --- we hear you!

To a nation that sees chaos spreading across America and across the globe --- we hear you. And for our men and women in uniform --- we hear you. As a matter of principle you will have the very best America has to  offer.

Those who fought on the front lines should NEVER have to wait in line. There is a better way.

But this Republican agenda can only be realized if we disrupt the status quo. And let's face it -- Hillary Clinton is the definition of the status  quo.

We need a leader who shapes the future.

The Democrats won't bring that future because they are stuck in the past.

When innovation has brought more power to the people --- Democrats want more power for Washington.

When innovation advances technology --- Hillary Clinton uses it to put American secrets at risk.

This is not the path for our country.

In these difficult times I remember the words of President Ronald Reagan when he described America as that shining city upon the hill.

Together --- by electing a Republican Congress --- Donald Trump --- and Mike Pence.

We can build a better America and make that shining city upon the hill bright again.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Chris Christie

I am here tonight not only as the Governor of New Jersey, but also as Donald Trump's friend for the last fourteen years.

We are about to be led by not only a strong leader but by a caring, genuine and decent person.

I am proud to say that the voice of the people of our nation is being heard in this

hall and those voices want Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States. But this election is not just about Donald Trump.

It is also about his Democratic opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In the past few weeks we have seen this Justice Department refuse to prosecute her.

Over the last eight years, we have seen this Administration refuse to hold her accountable for her dismal record as Secretary of State.

Well, tonight, as a former federal prosecutor, I welcome the opportunity to hold her accountable for her performance and her character.

We must present those facts to you, a jury of her peers, both in this hall and in living rooms around our nation.

Since the Justice Department refuses to allow you to render a verdict, let's present the case now, on the facts, against Hillary Clinton. She was America's chief diplomat. Look around at the violence and danger in our world today every region of the world has been infected with her flawed judgment.

But let me be specific so you can render your verdict. In North Africa, she was the chief engineer of our disastrous overthrow of Qaddafi in Libya.

Libya today after Hillary Clinton's grand strategy? Libya's economy in ruins, death and violence in the streets and ISIS now dominating the country.

Hillary Clinton, as a failure for ruining Libya and creating a nest for terrorist activity by ISIS guilty or not guilty? In Nigeria, Hillary Clinton amazingly fought for two years to keep an Al-Qaeda affiliate off the terrorist watch list.

What happened because of this reckless action by the candidate who is the self proclaimed champion of women around the world? These terrorists abducted hundreds of innocent young girls two years ago.

These schoolgirls are still missing today.

What was the solution from the Obama/Clinton team? A hashtag campaign! Hillary Clinton, as an apologist for an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria resulting in the capture of innocent young women guilty or not guilty? She fights for the wrong people.

She doesn't fight for us. She doesn't get the real threats America faces. In China, Hillary Clinton praised the Chinese government for buying our debt to finance President Obama's bloated stimulus plan.

So desperate for Chinese cash, she promised to oppose the Buy American provision in the stimulus bill in exchange for the cash to finance his huge expansion of government spending.

Hillary Clinton, putting big government spending financed by the Chinese ahead of jobs for middle class Americans guilty or not guilty? In Syria, she called President Assad a "reformer" and a "different kind of leader".

With 400,000 now dead…think about that.

Four.

Hundred.

Thousand. Dead.

At the hands of the man Hillary defended.

We must ask this question: Hillary Clinton, as an awful judge of the character of a dictator-butcher in the Middle Eastguilty or not guilty? In Iran, she led the negotiations that brought about the worst nuclear deal in history.

Let me be clear: America and the world are measurably less safe and less respected because of the Iran deal Hillary helped cut.

Period. After she launched those negotiations, she became the biggest cheerleader for it at the end.

A deal that will lead to a nuclear Iran, an Israel that will be less safe and secure and much more dangerous Middle East.

Hillary Clinton, as an inept negotiator of the worst nuclear arms deal in American history guilty or not guilty? In Russia, she went to the Kremlin on her very first visit and gave them the symbolic reset button.

The button should have read, "delete" she is very good at that because she deleted in four years what it took 40 years to build. The next year, she said our goal was to strengthen Russia.

Strengthen an adversary led by a dictator who dreams of reassembling the old Soviet empire? What a dangerous lack of judgment.

Once again, as a flawed evaluator of dictators and failed strategist who has permitted Russia back in as a major player in the Middle East is Hillary Clinton guilty or not guilty? In Cuba, Hillary Clinton supported concessions to the Castro brothers and got almost nothing in return for ending the embargo.

She supported a deal that didn't even require this murderous regime to return a cop killer, JoAnne Chesimard, to face justice.

Chesimard murdered a New Jersey State Trooper in cold blood, fled to Cuba and lives there to this very day.

How do you live with your own conscience when you reward a domestic terrorist with continued safety and betray the family of fallen police officer waiting for decades for justice for his murder? Hillary Clinton as coddler of the brutal Castro brothers and betrayer of the family of fallen Trooper Werner Foerster guilty or not guilty?

Finally, here at home, in one of her first decisions as Secretary of State, she set up a private e-mail server in her basement in violation of our national security.

Lets face it: Hillary Clinton cared more about protecting her own secrets than she did about protecting America's secrets.

Then she lied about it over and over again.

She said there was no marked classified information on her server.

The FBI Director said that was untrue.

She said that she did not email any classified information. The FBI Director said that was untrue.

She said all work related emails were sent back to the State Department.

The FBI Director said that was untrue.

As to Hillary Clinton, putting herself ahead of America guilty or not guilty? Hillary Clinton, lying to the American people about her selfish, awful judgment guilty or not guilty? Time after time the facts, and just the facts, lead you to the same verdict both around the world and at home.

In Libya and Nigeria guilty.

In China and Syria guilty.

In Iran and Russia and Cuba guilty.

And here at home on risking America's secrets to keep her own and lying to cover it all upguilty. Her focus group tested persona, with no genuineness to be found, is a sham meant to obscure all the facts and leave you able to vote for her. We cannot promote someone to Commander-in-Chief who has made the world a more violent and dangerous place with every bad judgment she has made.

We cannot make the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the United States someone who has risked America's secrets and lied about this to Congress and the American people.

We didn't disqualify Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States the facts of her life and career disqualifies her. We in this hall agree with all of this.

But I want to talk to all of you at home, in your living rooms. You are the ones who will decide this election. We have an alternative.

We have a man who is unafraid.

We have a man who wants to lead us.

We have a man who understands the frustrations and the aspirations of our fellow citizens.

We have a man who judges people based on their performance regardless of your gender, race, ethnic or religious background. We do not need to settle for less.

We cannot reward incompetence and deceit. We need to demand more than what Hillary Clinton offers for America.

We know exactly what four years of Hillary Clinton will bring: all the failures of the Obama years, but with less charm and more lies. It is our obligation to stop Hillary Clinton now and never let her within 10 miles of the White House again.

It is time to come together and make sure that Donald Trump is our next President.

I am proud to be part of this team.

Now let's go win this thing.

Kerry Woolard

Donald Trump is a man of vision: he isn't a wide eyed dreamer, but someone who sees what others don't, and turns that vision into reality, making life better for people and communities across the nation.

I have experienced this firsthand at The Trump Winery and Hotel, which I manage.

When Donald Trump purchased the winery in 2011 it was in receivership. Quickly and decisively he went to work: building the hotel, replanting vines, and making it a world class destination and the largest vineyard in  Virginia.

Today we directly employ more than 100 people and support countless other entrepreneurs, contractors, and suppliers throughout the region.

We generate millions in revenue and millions more in taxes, and have a regional economic impact of nearly $50 million a year which has further strengthened and sustained the community in which our employees and I live

At the winery the returns have been impressive, with nearly 100 percent sales growth in just five years. I've not just seen this happen: I've helped make it happen, and I can tell you it would not have happened without Donald Trump and his family.

Let me be clear: it was not easy, and it was not inevitable.

It took a team of hard working, dedicated employees: but it takes more than hard work alone.

Our success would not have come to pass without the leadership and the vision of the Trumps.

You often hear Donald Trump talk, but what you don't see is when he listens. He and his son Eric listen attentively and ask questions that lead to engaged,

informed decisions based on the expert knowledge of those who have earned their trust.

That trust is rewarded not just with compensation but with authority and resources.

The Trumps have also given a gift to those who know them, an approach and an outlook to life by which will always guide me.

Because of them I now think bigger, and in ways I thought might not even be possible.

Donald Trump has told me that a person's own work ethic and drive are the  only limitations to success.

I now believe that and know it to be true.

This isn't just a platitude: at Trump Winery it is real, and I'll tell you it is rare.

It's been accompanied by respect for my accomplishments, and the opportunity to develop and grow professionally.

That is a direct result of the Trumps' leadership: leadership that we now need more today, more than ever, in our country.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito

Good evening. Let me start out with a question.

Are there any Mountaineers in the audience tonight?

I'm Shelley Moore Capito --- the first woman elected to serve the state of West Virginia in the United States Senate.

Ladies and gentlemen --- we face challenging times. Times in which we as leaders must ask how we can secure a future --- that's brighter for our next generation.

That's always the challenge of leadership.

And this election is no different. But with every challenge comes great opportunity.  And that opportunity is what I would like to speak about tonight.

Let me first tell you where I come from --- the Mountain State. I'm a life-long West Virginian.

With our tight knit communities --- our state is just one big small town.

That's never been more evident than in this past month as West Virginia was ravaged by flooding --- that upended communities --- displaced families --- and claimed 23 lives.

As I traveled the flood zones --- I was inspired by people who --- despite losing everything --- sought ways to help and serve others. The stories are tragic but uplifting --- and I am so proud of my state.

In their jobs and communities --- West Virginians work hard and deliver results. And --- in turn --- they expect our country's elected leaders to do the  same.

The constant refrain I hear back home --- is to stop the bickering --- improve  the economy --- and fight for jobs.

Let me tell you something --- they're right. 

The greatest obstacle for West Virginia families --- and families all across America over the past eight years --- has been a president that places left-wing priorities and campaign promises over their livelihoods.

President Obama has hurt the heart and soul of my state --- our proud coal miners and the communities where they live --- work --- and pursue  happiness.

His policies have ripped through the heartland --- creating a cycle of pessimism and disgust.

People around the country feel the Obama Administration has kicked them to the curb with a callousness that's damaged their ability to trust and respect government.

In 2008 --- President Obama famously said --- "If somebody wants to build a coal- powered plant --- they can.  It's just that it will bankrupt  them."

Eight years later --- it's safe to say that his actions match his words.

He's never realized that when you bankrupt a coal company --- you deprive communities of their livelihood.

His recklessness has cost more than 60,000 coal workers their jobs since 2011. That's 60,000 families who are now without work --- without a paycheck --- and without options.

Not to be outdone --- Hillary Clinton has already promised --- "to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business."

She wants to put thousands more Americans out of work.

She has promised to devastate communities and families across coal country.

When I think about Hillary Clinton's pursuit of an anti-coal agenda --- I think about the miner who wakes up before dawn for another ten-hour shift.

I think about the bus driver who drives the miners' children to school. I think about the nurse who cares for the retired  miners.

I think about the loan officer at the community bank. And I think about the hundreds of coal equipment distributors.

I weep for the fabric of my state.

These men and women take pride in their highly skilled --- and good paying jobs that provide for their families and support their  communities.

They work tirelessly to power America.

West Virginia workers are the backbone of this country.

And Hillary Clinton is proudly promising to put them out of work? Now --- we shouldn't be surprised by this.

Because Hillary Clinton understands coal miners and blue-collar workers --- about as well as she understands secure email. 

A day in the life of a coal miner --- and a day in the life of Hillary Clinton --- could not be more different.

For over 25 years --- she's thrived in a world where the rules bend to her. Recently we learned she showed "extreme carelessness" with our nation's secrets.

For others --- the consequences of misusing classified information have  been swift and serious.

Not for Hillary Clinton.

Must be nice to have your husband stop in for a friendly chat with the Attorney General on a tarmac during the final days of an FBI  investigation.

Since the end of her husband's administration --- she's profited from closed-door speeches with fees that could buy homes in West Virginia.

Not only is she out of touch --- her attempts to reach out to the American people often reveal how distorted her reality has become.

In another story from the tarmac --- detailing the harrowing tale of Hillary's 1996 trip to Bosnia.

She recalled that they --- "landed under sniper fire" --- and had to run for cover. But the tape told a very different story.

There were no snipers or hostile forces.

Hillary was greeted by a young girl --- who'd written a poem about peace.

What I find most troubling is that Hillary Clinton --- fails to recognize that her calculated policies affect real people.

Those who want to feed their families --- own homes --- pay for college --- and pursue the American Dream.

These goals should not and cannot fall out of reach.

You may remember --- when President Obama arrogantly proclaimed that he would slow the rise of the oceans --- and heal our planet.

He introduced and implemented sweeping environmental regulations without

Congress' approval --- and without considering the economy.

These unilateral actions are ill informed --- unconstitutional --- and --- un- American.

Right now the burden of government regulations in this country amounts to roughly $15,000 a household.

Let me ask you a couple of questions --- are you  ready?

Is burdening every household in America with a cost of $15,000 --- worth more applause lines at campaign rallies?

Is burdening every household in America with a cost of $15,000 --- worth more campaign cash?

Is burdening every household in America with a cost of $15,000 --- worth a few more one-liners?

I couldn't agree with you more.

And I'm sure you agree with me about the importance of this  election.

One of the many reasons this election is so important --- is that the Democrats have nominated a candidate that Americans overwhelming  distrust.

She's earned this reputation.

Her term at the State Department was shrouded in scandal and  mistrust.

A few weeks ago we watched as the FBI Director called Secretary Clinton "negligent." He questioned her judgment and revealed countless ways she has misled the American people.

Hillary Clinton should be repentant --- or at least humbled by this --- but she's not.

We know that the cornerstone of our global leadership is not just our  awesome military -- it's not just our economic power --- but our credibility.

She's squandered Americans' trust.

Thankfully --- the latest misdeed hasn't slipped past the attention of the American people.

Recent polls showed that voters' distrust of Hillary was deteriorating her support. So it comes down to trust.

She can't be trusted with classified information --- or trusted to play by the same rules as you and me.

And --- without trust --- we cannot feel safe and thrive.

No one who has lost the trust of the American people can serve as  President.

The only thing we can trust Hillary to do is double down on the same failed Obama policies that are hurting Americans.

But who knows maybe she'll feel compelled to pursue the dangerous policies of the socialist wing of her party --- which gave her so much trouble this  spring.

We know she will double down on an economic agenda --- that's led to the lowest workforce participation in decades.

We know she will double down on the war on coal. We know that she will double down on Obamacare.

We know that she will double down on far-left Supreme Court nominees --- who act like appointed legislators --- not as guardians of the  Constitution.

We know that she will double down on the catastrophic foreign policy she herself orchestrated.  Which has emboldened enemies --- weakened alliances ---  and increased risks to our national security.

The contrast between our vision for the future ---- and that of the Hillary Clinton is clear.

Now is the time to turn the tide.

Let's turn the tide. So that unelected bureaucrats no longer mandate regulations that are disconnected from the realities of working  Americans.

Let's turn the tide. From an executive who promotes a radical environmental agenda that will raise costs across the country.

Let's turn the tide. From a Washington that tells us who our doctors should be --- and delivers a lower quality of care.

Let's turn the tide. To a government that respects the Constitution --- and protects the jobs and way of life in rural America.

This is not out of reach.  We can make these visions a reality.

This week we'll officially nominate a candidate ---- who received the most primary votes in the history of our party. A candidate who understands how to create jobs and grow the economy.

With Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans leading Congress, Our party wants to allow businesses to create jobs --- not regulate jobs out of existence.

Our party understands the free market and doesn't try to control  it.

Our party protects and stands up for hardworking Americans --- like West Virginia coal miners.

Our party will strengthen our military --- to face growing  threats.

To ensure our country gets the elected leaders it deserves --- we must carry this momentum to elect Donald Trump --- who speaks directly to rural Americans who have been devastated by the Obama Administration.     West Virginians know he understands their problems --- shares their concerns --- and is going to do things differently.

The American people know that Hillary Clinton has forfeited her trust and has broken her bond with working Americans.

Let's commit to bringing our country together. In the months ahead --- the stakes are both clear and high.

Take the energy from this convention back to your state --- back to your home --- and work to elect Donald Trump, who will make America great again.

Thank you.

Ben Carson

I devoted my career to studying and operating on the brain. This remarkable organ defines our humanity.

It gives us the ability not only to feel and observe, but also to reason. When deciding who to elect as our next president, we owe it to ourselves and our country to make use of this power of reason to evaluate the character, experience, and intentions of the candidates and make an informed decision.

We must resist the temptation to take the easy way out and passively accept what is fed to us by the media or the political  elite.

One of the most dangerous narratives being advanced by some in our own party is the notion that however dreadful a Hillary Clinton administration may be, the effects will be temporary or harmless….

Consider what she already has done in office. Classified information was recklessly revealed.

Intelligence officers were exposed. An ambassador and three other American patriots were slaughtered. That kind of harm is irreversible. It is absurd to think  we can ask our enemies to disregard those emails or leave our operatives alone. And unfortunately, we cannot resurrect the dead.

Now consider what Hillary will do if elected president.

She will appoint justices to the Supreme Court who share her liberal view of an expansive government that is entitled to trample fundamental  freedoms.

The decisions of a Court dominated by Obama-Clinton appointees will effectively set her cancerous policies in stone.

She will perpetuate a system that traps our children in failing schools and promotes poverty instead of empowerment.

This type of malignant neglect leaves indelible scars on these children and gaping wounds in our communities.

The question before us is not whether we should elect a Republican or a Democrat as president of the United States.

The question we must answer is whether we want to retain the ideals upon which this country was founded or succumb to Hillary Clinton's new world order that places government in control of every aspect of our  lives.

Donald Trump understands this very well. He understands that the blessings of this nation come with the responsibility to ensure that they are available to all, not just the privileged few.

This is exemplified by his willingness to take on the establishment against all odds.

It is evident in his passion for the American worker.

It is found in his desire to put his considerable skills to work on behalf of American interests, not self-interest.

I am proud to support Donald Trump -- the extraordinary businessman and the right leader for our time.

Kimberlin Brown

Good evening. Many of you may know me from one of your favorite soap operas, The Young & the Restless, the Bold & the Beautiful, and many other television shows and films.

But, since we only have One Life to Live -- and yes, I had to throw that in -- I decided to follow other dreams.

I'm now an avocado grower for all of you guacamole lovers out there. I also run and operate my own design business.

And, with my husband, Gary – we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary -- Gary and I are partners running a sport fishing business, retail operations, rental operations and assorted other enterprises.

Like millions of women across our nation, I have many responsibilities.

And, because we women have many roles in our lives, I am offended when the media and the Democrats type-cast us a single-issue  voters.

We take care of our families, work inside AND outside the home, pay the bills, manage the costs at home, take care of our parents – all focused on one thing: securing the future of our families.

Like so many parents today, I have great concerns about the direction of our country and what it means for the future of my children.

And, I can't let this election pass by without doing my part in helping get us back on the right track. That is why I'm so grateful and honored to be here with you tonight.

When I look back at my grandparents and my Mom and Dad, I realize that so much of their lives were devoted to one goal: helping me, my sister Tammy  and brother Chris have every opportunity to succeed. I was always told by my Grandmother I could do anything I put my mind to and I did. I've worked very hard.

We have started businesses that have succeeded (and still do) and we have had ventures that have not.  We have created jobs and even more tax dollars.  We have worked 80 hour weeks and have gone without pay checks to keep  employees paid.

This is not unique to Gary and me. It is the story of every small business owner in America.

I am a member of California's Business Women for Trump. We're comprised of farmers, doctors, small business owners, attorneys, and women in just about  every field, profession, race and ethnicity.

And, we're concerned about out-of-control, unreasonable government regulations that needlessly add costs to doing business and tie us ALL up in red tape.

And, don't get me started about a bewildering tax code and high taxes to boot. This isn't true just for small businesses but for farming as well.

Just this past week, our business is confronting a problem caused by Obamacare.

What a shock!

As a small business we used to offer medical insurance to our employees and, for those who chose to be covered, we paid most of their  premiums.

This quarter we had several employees work over the 30 hour threshold set by Obamacare and, by the requirements of the law, they must sign up for one of the approved health care plans.

Our younger employees don't understand why they are getting forced off of their previous plan which was significantly more affordable and tailored to their needs. Most of our employees are college-age and healthy. Yet they are required to buy coverage that does not meet their needs and is too expensive for their  wallets.

One good thing; It has been a wake-up call to our young employees. They all are voting Republican this year!

One third of small businesses are owned by women. To the 9.4 million women business owners who employ about 8 million workers – a value of about $1.5 trillion dollars to our economy -- I urge you to think about how important this election is for your future.

Who do you think better understands your challenges and will stand with you fighting for a better economy and more opportunities? --

A career Washington-insider who only knows how to use your tax dollars for more government jobs. And, incidentally, ladies, both in then Senator Clinton's office and the Clinton Foundation, men have been better paid than women.

Or a successful businessman who knows how to make a payroll, who  understands the special challenges women business owners face, such as gaining access to needed capital, and who has an admirable record of hiring and promoting women in his businesses?

For a moment, I would like to touch on an issue that Donald has spoken about from the beginning of his campaign: trade.

As an actress and a farmer– did you ever expect to see those words in the same sentence – I've seen first hand the impact of high taxes, over-regulation, and suspect trade deals.

I have seen tv and movie productions move out of the country.  If you were an

"A" lister like Leonardo DiCaprio or an owner of a studio, you were okay. But, if you were a cameraman, sound tech, boom operator or did any one of the many jobs in a production, you were out of luck.

At the time, it did not affect me and I didn't understand what my local union boys were talking about. Now I do and I'm sorry for not understanding the plight of these men and women who lost their livelihoods. And they did.

As an avocado grower, I have faced the impact of our trade policies. I've seen first-hand our domestic market flooded with imports that harmed local farmers and even drove some out of business. My neighbors who have raised this product for years are being forced to cut down their groves.

I'll leave decisions about trade policies and how you balance the many economic interests of our nation to others but this much I do know: Donald Trump raised concerns on behalf of working people before the Washington elites did. He will  make trade deals that benefit working men and women and their families right here in America!

There will be a time, and I hope soon, for a woman President. And, why not? As Donald has said, a good woman is worth ten men.

We have so many outstanding women in the Congress and in our state and local governments who are ready for the job now or in the near  future.

But, let's be clear: the Democrats offer up a woman who when she had a chance to stand up for women, did not do so.

Instead, she attacked women, denigrated them, called them liars. I personally know victims and they find Hilary's actions and remarks  repulsive!!

Her comments are comments of convenience.

If we are to prosper as a nation, if we are going to grow the economy and create jobs, we need a leader who will go to Washington and shake things  up.

A president who will bring common sense to regulations and eliminate unnecessary ones. Who will fix our tax system.

Who will start us on the path to rebuild our infrastructure.

We need someone who knows how to build things! Who knows how to create jobs!

Who knows how to negotiate!

Who will tackle problems head on, so we can have true progress!

Since it was announced that I was speaking to you tonight, I have been attacked in social media with all kinds of outrageous insults, none of which are even remotely true.

The Left wants to silence those they disagree with. In politics, on college campuses, in business.

This must stop.  I will not stand by idly.

It is time we stood up for ourselves, for Donald Trump and for our country.  Donald is the most qualified man in America to turn things around in Washington and our nation.

So I ask you to join me and California's Business Women for Trump in supporting America's best opportunity to return to greatness.

Donald Trump, the next President of the United States. Thank you.

Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
www.convention.gop.

Contact: [email protected]  

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160516/367841LOGO

SOURCE 2016 Republican National Convention

Related Links

http://gopconvention2016.com