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The Most Interesting Excerpts from Monday’s GOP Convention Speeches

From Duck Dynasty to Tom Cotton

Sen. Tom Cotton is slated to speak at the convention. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Tom Cotton is slated to speak at the convention. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The Republican National Committee released excerpts from many of Monday night’s headliner speeches.  

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, are missing. But here’s a sampling of other speakers’ remarks.

Willie Robertson, star of “Duck Dynasty”

“If you’re an average American who feels like you’ve been forgotten … neglected by far away leaders … that the deck is stacked against you and you just can’t win … DONALD TRUMP WILL HAVE YOUR BACK.”  

“He may not always tell you what you want to hear … you may not always agree … and it may not always be politically correct. (But when your dad is Phil Robertson, you get used to that sort of thing.)”

Actor Scott Baio

“We have a choice in November. We can go for Hillary Clinton, who wants to continue the same policies that are wrecking this country. Policies that make us unsafe. A woman who somehow feels entitled to the presidency … that she is somehow owed it.”  

“Or we can go for Donald Trump: A man doing this from the goodness of his heart and genuinely wants to help. A man who knows how to get things done .. and a man who says what he means and means what he says.”

Mark “Oz” Geist, who as a security contractor fought militants who attacked the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012

“Thank you America for showing us the support and dedication that should have been offered by Hillary and her State Department to those who saved their butts.”

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

“We don’t fight because we hate our enemies, but because we love our country. We love its freedom. We love that we’re born equal and live free, that no one rules without consent.”  

“Our warriors and their families don’t ask for much. But there are a few things we’d like … A commander in chief who speaks of winning wars and not merely ending wars, calls the enemy by its name, and draws red lines carefully, but enforces them ruthlessly.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, previously floated as a potential VP pick

“Tonight, Americans stand as one, with strength and confidence to overcome the last eight years of the Obama-Clinton failures such as bumbling indecisiveness, willful ignorance, and total incompetence that has challenged the very heart and soul of every American, and single-handedly brought continued mayhem, murder and destruction into our neighborhoods and onto the world’s streets.”

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa

“The question I hear time and again is ‘where is America’s leadership?’ There’s a void in the world: a deficit that cannot be filled by others. Our country and the world of which we are a part simply cannot afford four more years of this lack of leadership under Hillary Clinton.”  

“With Hillary Clinton it’s always about her, when it should be about you. Donald Trump is focused on you. He gave voice to a movement of millions of Americans who are tired of politics as usual, and I know as president he will work tirelessly to keep our nation safe.”

Jason Beardsley, special operations adviser for Concerned Veterans of America

“As service members, we live by these convictions. Imagine a country where our president shares those convictions and upholds the honor of our military, a president who knows our past and defends liberty. With that leadership, we will go over the top and into the teeth of the 21st century.”  

“In Donald Trump’s America, we will have that leadership and the only time service members will get on their knees will be to thank their God that they are Americans.”

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.

“Together Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton brought us ISIS and brought down Benghazi. I shudder to think at how many more times our flag will be at half mast if Hillary Clinton is sitting in the Oval Office.”  

“Donald Trump isn’t afraid to talk about radical Islamic terrorism, and he won’t be afraid to destroy it.”  


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