Thursday, August 30, 2012

Condoleezza Rice Speech (Video, Transcript)

Condoleezza Rice's address to the Republican National Convention and the American people was excellent.

She succinctly made the case that Obama, self-proclaimed global citizen, has failed the country. Obama has left a vacuum of leadership.

My fellow Americans, we do not have a choice. We cannot be reluctant to lead – and one cannot lead from behind.

Rice encouraged Americans to trust Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan understand this reality — that our leadership abroad and our well being at home are inextricably linked. They know what needs to be done.

Our friends and allies must be able to trust us. From Israel to Poland to the Philippines to Colombia and across the world — they must know that we are reliable and consistent and determined. And our adversaries must have no reason to doubt our resolve — because peace really does come through strength. Our military capability and technological advantage will be safe in Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s hands.

In sum, peace through strength, not bowing.

I was especially impressed with her discussion of the American Dream.

After all, when the world looks to America, they look to us because we are the most successful political and economic experiment in human history. That is the true basis of “American Exceptionalism.” The essence of America – that which really unites us — is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion – it is an idea — and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn’t matter where you came from but where you are going.

Ours has never been a narrative of grievance and entitlement. We have not believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well. We have not been envious of one another and jealous of each other’s success. Ours has been a belief in opportunity and a constant battle – long and hard — to extend the benefits of the American dream to all – without regard to circumstances of birth.

But the American ideal is indeed endangered today. There is no country, no not even a rising China, that can do more harm to us than we can do to ourselves if we fail to accomplish the tasks before us here at home.

Rice did a wonderful job of explaining the unique American identity, and how the current administration is putting that at risk.

I loved her support for school choice.

And we need to give parents greater choice – particularly poor parents whose kids – most often minorities — are trapped in failing neighborhood schools. This is the civil rights issue of our day.

Do you get that, Leftists, Obama supporters?

The Republican party wants success for all.

Rice concluded on a powerful personal note.

And on a personal note– a little girl grows up in Jim Crow Birmingham – the most segregated big city in America - her parents can’t take her to a movie theater or a restaurant – but they make her believe that even though she can’t have a hamburger at the Woolworth’s lunch counter – she can be President of the United States and she becomes the Secretary of State.

Yes, America has a way of making the impossible seem inevitable in retrospect. But of course it has never been inevitable – it has taken leadership, courage and an unwavering faith in our values.

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have the experience and the integrity and the vision to lead us – they know who we are, what we want to be and what we offer the world.

Fantastic.

Rice's speech was brilliant, better than any speech I've ever heard from Obama.

I wonder if Chris Matthews felt a thrill going up his leg.

It's doubtful. His "thrills" are reserved for Obama's gibberish, empty promises and misguided, destructive policies.

Here's video:




Complete transcript here.

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