Women RULE the RNC!

Some of my favorite speeches from the RNC came from strong, intelligent, conservative women.

These women are proving that women do indeed have a place in politics and they do have a strong voice that needs to be heard. This certainly is not downplaying any of the men who spoke equally as articulately, eloquently, and passionately; this is simply my observation of the amazing women who are beginning to stand up and be noticed in the party.

That said, I’d like to highlight some of these wonderful women and their speeches that inspired me and, hopefully, other Americans to support conservatives and conservative values in the upcoming election and in the future for our country.

Republican National Committee Co-Chair Sharon Day

Sharon Day, a grassroots political activist and RNC Co-Chair, began the deluge of strong women with her remarks on Tuesday at the RNC.

Sharon began by telling us that this was not just the most important election in our own histories, but also, “the most important election in our Nation’s history.”

She’s certainly right; this election will serve as a tipping point in our history when we either get back to our foundations or we accept progressive views and agendas moving forward.

Ms. Day touted our founding fathers and their establishment of our liberties contrasted with the current President who is a direct threat to our liberties.

“We are being called to defend what our founding fathers began and believed,” Day continued. She called out Obama, Biden, Pelosi, and Holder by name and very bluntly proclaimed that what they stand for and what will continue if they are allowed to continue “is contrary to the values we believe in and the principles we stand for.”

Closing her speech, she called for us to “commit ourselves to make history, defeat Obama, and save our country for the next generation!”

Mayor Mia Love of Saratoga Springs, Utah

Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah and Congressional candidate, Mia Love, gave a rousing speech on Tuesday night as well.

Ms. Love began with her background and the story of her parents’ immigration here with very little to build the ‘American Dream’. Her speech is best summed up by her own words:

“The America I know is grounded in the determination found in patriots and pioneers, in small business owners with big ideas, in the farmers who work in the beauty of our landscapes, in our heroic military, and our inspiring Olympians.  It is in every child who looks at the seemingly impossible and says, ‘I can do that.’  That is the America I know! President Obama’s version of America is a divided one, often pitting us against each other based on our income level, gender, and social status.  His policies have failed.  We are not better off than we were four years ago and no rhetoric, bumper sticker, or Hollywood ad campaign can change that.”

I could not have said it better myself. This woman is going to go far!

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ brief introduction of her fellow conservatives was equally stirring.

The Congresswoman began by telling the audience that she’d spent 13 years working for her family’s business, and yes, you guessed it – they DID build that business! Having this experience in her family’s business gave Rep. Rodgers a knowledge and understanding of the economy and business, hence her proclamation that in order to grow, businesses need, “less taxes and less regulation.”

Rep. Rodgers went on to introduce the night’s speakers as people who, as conservatives, have “created an environment that unleashed American ingenuity instead of stifling it.” The speakers could not have asked for a better introduction.

Candidate for Lt. Governor of Delaware, Sher Valenzuela

Small business owner and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, Sher Valenzuela absolutely wowed the crowd at the RNC by sharing the 3 themes that inspired her to run for office – family, the business they built, and the belief in unlimited American potential.

When told to accept her son Simon’s limitations as a child diagnosed with autism, she and her husband defied the odds and followed American tradition to start a small business in order to pay for the specialists and help that Simon would need to thrive and overcome the odds.

Mrs. Valenzuela rallied the audience with her story of how they built their business from the ground up to become a success. She continued to say that America is all about an unlimited future – and that is not what is currently happening in our economy.

Valenzuela says that “50% of business owners interviewed were not hiring because of ‘regulatory uncertainties’,” and went on to inform the audience, “this administration has imposed 106 new regulations – major regulations” to stifle business. She said that these are “not just regulatory uncertainties, but an all-out assault on free enterprise.

Exactly! Less government regulation is definitely part of what needs to occur to get our sluggish economy moving again.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

Governor Fallin gave a phenomenal speech in which she touted America’s limitless potential.

Gov. Fallin opened with one of my favorite quotes from Ronald Reagan that illustrates the idea of our limitless potential:  “There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”

Fallin said that we can overcome the economic difficulties if the “federal government gets out of the way and lets go of the regulatory chokehold zapping our economy and deflating the spirits of entrepreneurs.

Gov. Fallin went on to flaunt Oklahoma’s great accomplishments of becoming a key energy producer and job creator, maintaining a low unemployment rate of only 4.9%! She says this success is not because of the federal government or other regulatory agencies as Obama claims, but rather due to American ingenuity and hard-working Americans.

She further asserted the need to end our dependence on foreign oil and create American jobs and challenged the audience to look at Obama’s claim that his policies are working.

“Where are the results?” she asked to a rousing applause.

Gov. Fallin closed by saying that Romney and Ryan will “reverse the tide of decline and promote economic security” that built our great nation.

Actress Janine Turner

Janine Turner, actress and founder of Constituting America, briefly addressed the convention as well, giving a fabulous speech.

In her opening she reasserted that Obama and the government didn’t build this great nation, but that “God and the American people built it.”

Janine went on to discuss our founders and their vision for our country and a limited government through the Constitution. She knocked Obama’s entitlement society by comparing today’s culture to that of Patrick Henry’s time.

“Henry said, ‘Give me liberty, or give me death,’” Turner said.  “Obama’s entitlement society says, ‘Give me liberty and gimme, gimme!’”

Ms. Turner made her points very well by comparing our founders to that of our current President – asserting that, “(Obama’s) dream is not of independent people, but of dependent people.”

Well done, Ms. Turner!

Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina

Nikki Haley blew the crowd away with her speech recollecting her immigrant parents’ business being built from nothing into a multi-million dollar company, and once again, they DID build that!

Despite her hard work to do right by the people of her state, Governor Haley stated, “sadly, the hardest part of (her) job continues to be this federal government, this administration, this President.”

She explained that other governors have the same problem; the federal government has overreached their powers and their legislative authority by trampling on states’ rights.

Gov. Haley went on to list Romney’s achievements.

“He fixes things, he’s results-driven, he’s taken broken companies and made them successful,” Gov. Haley said.  “He took a failing Olympics and made it a source of pride for our country, he went into a Democratic state and cut taxes, brought in jobs, and improved education…and he actually balanced his budget… he’s not just a candidate looking to win an election, but a leader looking to turn our nation back to its greatest potential.”

Well said, Governor Haley!

Mrs. Ann Romney, First Lady of Massachusetts and the next First Lady of the United States

Mrs. Romney became a convention darling with her speech on Tuesday night.

Of all the speeches given Tuesday, hers was, by far, my favorite. It was passionate, compassionate, and classy; she spoke of what unites us rather than divides us.

After opening with kind words for prayers for those affected by Hurricane Isaac, she spoke of that uniting force in all of us – love.

One particular line from her speech resonated with me personally.

“You know the fastest route to the local emergency room and which doctors actually answers the phone call when you call at night, and by the way, I know all about that,” she said.

I have three young boys.  Finally, a (potential) First Lady that I can relate to!

Ann Romney is every one of us women – especially moms.  She raised her family by herself, without nannies or housekeepers, and understands firsthand the struggles that we all face.

Mrs. Romney also didn’t have success and money from the start – they built that!

She is the embodiment of grace and class and everything I strive to be as a mother – loyal, honest, faithful, loving, and compassionate.

Ann Romney reminisced about her upbringing.

“[My dad] would often remind my brothers and me how fortunate we were to grow up anyplace like America,” she said.  “He wanted us to have every opportunity that came with life in this country, and so he pushed us to be our best and give our all.”

But what Mrs. Romney said about her husband, Mitt, is what echoed in my head after listening to her speech.

“I know this good and decent man for what he is.  He’s warm, and loving, and patient.  He has tried to live his life with a set of values centered on family, faith, and love of one fellow man.  From the time we were first married, I have seen him spend countless hours helping others.  I’ve seen him drop everything to help a friend in trouble, and been there when late-night calls of panic come from a member of our church whose child has been taken to the hospital… No one will work harder.  No one will care more.  And no one will move heaven and earth like Mitt Romney to make this country a better place to live.

And I believe that she is absolutely right.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez

Governor Susana Martinez absolutely stole my heart with her remarks. She and I could be best friends:  she’s funny, witty, intelligent, honest, and conservative.

Just like my dad did, Governor Martinez recollected, “Now my dad made sure I could take care of myself.  I carried a Smith and Wesson .357 magnum.

Yes, ma’am – a lady must take care of herself.

Like Susana Martinez, I was once a registered Democrat and also had an awakening.  Ms. Martinez explained how she realized she was a Republican.

 “Before I ran for district attorney, two Republicans invited my husband and me to lunch, and I knew a party switch was exactly what they wanted.  So, I told Chuck, ‘We’ll be polite, enjoy a free lunch, and then say good-bye.’  But we talked about issues — they never used the words Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal.  We talked about many issues, like welfare, is it the way of life or hand up? Talked about size of government, how much should it tax families and small businesses?  And when we left that lunch, we got in the car and I looked over at Chuck and said, ‘I’ll be damned. We’re Republicans!’”

Gov. Martinez talked about her achievements as Governor–a stark contrast to the failures of Obama’s time in office. Governor Martinez left the audience with this final thought:  “It is success and success is the American dream, and that success is not something to be ashamed of or to demonize,” she said.  “There is one candidate in this election who will protect that dream. One leader who will fight hard to keep the promise of America for the next generation.”

Success should not be demonized and that is exactly what we are getting from the current President; isn’t it time for change?

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Condoleeza Rice gave a thought-provoking speech, eloquent and articulate, as she always is.

As her speech began, she posed a simple question, “Where does America stand?” and she promptly answered, “The United States has had an answer to that question.  We stand for free peoples and free markets.  We will defend and support them. We will sustain a balance of power that favors freedom.”

She continued by saying that, “We cannot be reluctant to lead and you cannot lead from behind.”

Being true to herself and role of Secretary of State, she stated, “Our friends and allies must again be able to trust us.  From Israel to Columbia, from Poland to the Philippines, our allies and friends have to know that we will be reliable and consistent and determined. And our foes can have no reason to doubt our resolve because peace really does come through strength.”

Ms. Rice recounted her early years, growing up in “Jim Crow Birmingham” and then stated her achievement of becoming Secretary of State – and that, folks, is the American dream.

“We have always done that better than any country in the world,” Rice said.  “People have come here from all over because they have believed our creed of opportunity and limitless horizons.”

There is no limit to American exceptionalism; and we cannot accept anything less.

Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey

Former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey who had the privilege of service with Mitt Romney when he was Governor of Massachusetts gave an inspiring speech outlining the accomplishments of Mr. Romney.

Kerry Healey sketched a great picture of Mitt Romney’s success in her remarks – and they are BIG accomplishments. But this quote is what most resonated with me:  “Mitt Romney understands that the world is a safer place when our country leads, and he will never apologize for America. He will lead us back to an America we can be proud of — and ahead to a future where the American dream is alive again, and within every man and woman’s reach.”

That summed it up pretty well, Ms. Healey!

And last, but certainly not least, is

Jane Edmonds, Former Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development

Jane Edmonds shared her views of Mitt Romney, and as she freely admits, as a liberal Democrat. What she had to say was surprising to me coming from a self-proclaimed liberal Democrat.

Regarding Mitt Romney, Edmonds opened by saying how she was “was struck by his humanity, his grace, his kind manner.

“My initial size-up of the man held true,” she continued.  “During the 4 years I served in his cabinet, I saw him up close and personal many times, and he always drove us in his Administration to make government better for the people.”

(By the way, isn’t that what we need? Someone who will make government better for the people, not on the backs of people?)

Ms. Edmonds concluded by saying, “He is open to good ideas wherever they come from.  It doesn’t matter if they are from a liberal Democrat like me. He’ll listen and he’s inclusive. As a great leader, he brought out the best in me and I know, as President, he will bring out the best in our country!”

I believe she’s right. Romney is a businessman – a successful businessman – and good ideas come from all sides. It is all about balance and that is what Ms. Edmonds highlighted so well.

I have heard from so many women – and men – that they believe it will be women who help steer us back to the right path in this country. After listening to the speeches at the RNC from these strong, intelligent women, I would have to agree.

There is a dangerous agenda lurking and being implemented by the far liberal left and conservatives have let it slide for too long; so much so that it is encroaching on every moral and value and foundation that we hold dear.

It is imperative that we get back to foundations in government; the idea of strong, limited government is what will get our country back to greatness once again.

It is that idea – and that idea alone – that will help us regain our stature in the world again.

The failed ideas and policies of the current administration only serve to further harm our standing in the world and exacerbate the moral decline in our own country.

So ladies, don’t be afraid to stand up, to speak up, to make a difference. Follow the lead of these women – be outspoken, be fearless!


 

 

 

 

Karen O'Day

Karen O'Day is a Christian, homeschooling mom to three children and a concerned parent turned political activist. Karen holds two degrees in business and is active in Conservative politics. Educating apathetic people about our country's history, its founders, and the Constitution are areas in which she is particularly attentive to. Karen can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenODay and on twitter @KarenODay

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