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Senator Elizabeth Dole's Speech At 2004 Republican Convention
GOPConvention.com ^ | 8-31-04 | Senator Elizabeth Dole

Posted on 09/01/2004 8:02:23 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy

Thank you ladies and gentlemen for your warm welcome. And folks, this time I promise to stay behind the podium! For giving me the privilege and honor of representing them in the United State Senate, let me say thank you to the folks of the great state of North Carolina. For giving America courageous leadership in times of trial, decisive leadership in times of crisis, we thank you, Mr. President. You have restored honor and dignity to the White House.

The Presidency tests all who have been there. It has tested you, sir. Your road has not been easy; your burden has not been light; yet you have displayed the peace that surpasses all understanding. We salute you.

We live in a time of stark contrasts. Four years ago America was about to tumble into recession. Today our economy is recovering. Four years ago, 911 was just an emergency phone number. Today, it is a call to arms. For Republicans, through these changes and challenges, who we are and what we believe has never wavered.

The party of Abraham Lincoln has not wandered in a desert of disbelief or uncertainty. Led now by President Bush, this Grand Old Party is still guided by a moral compass, its roots deep in the firm soil of timeless truths. We still believe that character is king. We saw that lived out in the life of Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Ronald Reagan, who called an empire evil and won the Cold War.

We still believe that liberty is the birthright of every soul. That's why in Afghanistan women were freed from virtual slavery and given access to books and education and a future. That's why in Afghanistan and Iraq the dark clouds of oppression have parted for 50 million people. And until they can clearly see the blue skies of freedom, we are standing by them!

Yet we know our true strength is not in our weapons. We are a great nation because we are a good people. And we are a good people because of what we believe.

We believe in the dignity of every life, the possibility of every mind, the divinity of every soul. This is our true north we believe in life. The new life of a man and woman joined together under God.

Marriage is important not because it is a convenient invention or the latest reality show marriage is important because it is the cornerstone of civilization, and the foundation of the family. Marriage between a man and a woman isn't something Republicans invented, but it is something Republicans will defend.

We value the sacred life of every man, woman, and child. We believe in a culture that respects all human life including the most vulnerable in our society, the frail elderly, the infirm, and those not yet born. Protecting life isn't something Republicans invented, but it is something Republicans will defend. We believe in the treasured life of faith.

Two thousand years ago a man said, " I have come to give life and to give it in full." In America I have the freedom to call that man Lord, and I do. In the United States of America we are free to worship without discrimination, without intervention and even without activist judges trying to strip the name of God from the Pledge of Allegiance; from the money in our pockets; and from the walls of our courthouses. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. The right to worship God isn't something Republicans invented, but it is something Republicans will defend.

We believe in the compassionate life of service. Our enemies in this war on terror say that America is selfish, self-centered, self-obsessed. They do not know America. As the President said, "If you want to help in the war on terror, love your neighbor. Love your neighbor." Americans will cross town or cross the globe to help people they've never met and will never see again. So yes, if neighbors are hungry, we feed them; if a storm named Charley or Francis strikes, we help them. Serving others isn't something Americans invented, but it is a calling we'll always accept.

These are just some of the principles that guide our party. Some may call them values. Others may call them virtues. I like to think of them simply as the truths my parents and grandparents taught me. Despite what you might hear on the news, they are the shared truths of the American people. They are true from sea to shining sea from my hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina to the South Side of Chicago, from Little Havana to Bob Dole's Russell, Kansas, from Madison Square Garden to the Space Needle, from Crawford, Texas to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The last century was known as the "American Century." In a single lifetime, I have seen Americans split the atom, abolish Jim Crow, eliminate the scourge of polio, win the Cold War, plant our flag on the surface of the moon, map the human genetic code and belatedly recognize the talents of women, minorities, the disabled and others once relegated to the shadows. We are now in the earliest years of a new century writing another chapter in American history.

And if we reaffirm these timeless and unchangeable truths, if we choose life and liberty, compassion and service, character and faith, we will honor those who came before us, and inspire the children of tomorrow. It will be said of us that we lived in a time of great challenge, and great hopes. And let it also be said that we loved our country and served her well and chose leaders wisely. That is what brings us to this convention, ladies and gentlemen.

I am honored to stand with you in support of a great American: our nominee our President . George W. Bush!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: 2004rnc; convention; dole; elizabeth; gwb2004; liddydole; rncconvention
I hadn't seen her speech posted on FR yet....her speech started off "slow", but got better and better as it progressed...also has good moral themes not said often enough in the other convention speeches....
1 posted on 09/01/2004 8:02:26 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

She didnt seem to be too well recieved yesterday from my observations.


2 posted on 09/01/2004 8:11:53 AM PDT by funkywbr
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To: funkywbr

That's too bad if she wasn't well received, because she was the first I've seen to touch on many of the social issues that drive many conservatives to the polls. I didn't see her speech personally, so thanks for posting it here.


3 posted on 09/01/2004 8:16:57 AM PDT by KayDeeNC
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

He needs viagria with her around???????????


4 posted on 09/01/2004 8:20:13 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy
We believe in a culture that respects all human life including the most vulnerable in our society, the frail elderly, the infirm, and those not yet born.

I thought Liddie was a pro-choicer.

5 posted on 09/01/2004 8:30:27 AM PDT by GenXFreedomFighter (Let's win one more for the Gipper!)
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

Bob and Elizabeth Dole, Supporters of Clinton's attack on Christians in Serbia. Never forget.


6 posted on 09/01/2004 8:35:43 AM PDT by gitmogrunt (undecorated and proud. God Bless our troops and their Families.)
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

7 posted on 09/01/2004 8:36:29 AM PDT by AllTheRage (Put yer dukes up)
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To: funkywbr
She didnt seem to be too well recieved yesterday from my observations.

I noticed that too (at first -- the crowd seemed a bit talkative when she started talking), but the more the crowd quieted down the more they understood the good things she was saying...
8 posted on 09/01/2004 9:09:36 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: KayDeeNC

Your're welcome -- glad you liked the post.


9 posted on 09/01/2004 9:10:23 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

yesterday, someone on MSNBC said Liddy Dole was Jonathan Edwards in a yellow suit... Chris Matthews said, "who's Jonathan Edwards?" hahaha!!


10 posted on 09/01/2004 9:15:02 AM PDT by latina4dubya
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To: aspiring.hillbilly

Liddy Dole looks darn good for her age....nope, Bob is okay without Viagra with her around :-)
11 posted on 09/01/2004 9:15:20 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: GenXFreedomFighter

I was not aware of that fact (although I guess I might have suspected it)....


12 posted on 09/01/2004 9:16:00 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: funkywbr

I don't think that it was because of her. She spoke early and I don't think everyone was there, in their seat and listening. She is not one of these dynmaic speakers, but she isn't bad either. What she said was excellent. And she said in no uncertain terms that she called Jesus Lord. Really amazing how she spoke about that.


13 posted on 09/01/2004 9:16:37 AM PDT by twigs
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To: gitmogrunt

:-(


14 posted on 09/01/2004 9:16:41 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: latina4dubya

Sort of like the way the Bush twins asked, "who is Dick Cheney?" :-)


15 posted on 09/01/2004 9:18:16 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: AllTheRage

Good site! I like the orginial oval "W-04" design!


16 posted on 09/01/2004 9:18:55 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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