Politics

Republican National Convention Day One Wrap-Up

Published

8 years ago

July 19, 2016

Day one of the Republican National Convention is over. The whole day had a very serious and dark tone, understandable with all the recent tragedies this country has recently faced. It also showcased the divide that is still festering in the Republican party. However, there was one glaring moment of pure hope and goodness to come out of the day and that was the speech by Donald Trump's wife, Melania.

Before a single speaker even took the main stage, a few notable names were making headlines. Not because of what they say, but because they refused to join their fellow Republicans in Cleaveland and unite the party under one roof.

Major Missing People

You can read about how Ohio Governer John Kasich snubbed Donald Trump and the RNC here.

The real notable missing figures were former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The only living Republican presidents.

Also missing were Former Republican presidential nominees Sen. John McCain and former Gov. Mitt Romney. That made Bob Dole the only former Republican presidential candidate in attendance.

The Grieved Speak

Mother of one of the Benghazi fallen spoke her outage. Mother and outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton, Patricia Smith asked, “How could she do this to any American Family?” Adding, “Donald Trump is everything Hillary Clinton is not.”

Watch the whole of RNC Day 1here:

Also speaking about Benghazi were Mark Geist and John Tiegen, former soldiers and security contractors who were at the 2012 attack on the diplomatic compound. “We have an opportunity… to elect someone to make this country safe again,” said Geist. “I believe that person is Donald Trump.”

Also featured was Sabine Durden, a mother who lost her son to a drunk driving illegal immigrant. Her son's killer was an illegal national from Guatemala who had no license, registration, or insurance and yet only got probation. “We need to secure our borders so no other person has to ever go through this kind of grief, pain, agony knowing this could have been prevented,” she said.

Texas Has A Strong Showing

Former governor and candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, Rick Perry, who strongly supported Donald Trump and spoke about the desperate need for further support of our troops. “Making America great again starts with taking care of our veterans.”

Also featured was Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Texas Rep. Michael McCaul. McCaul asked the crowd if they were tired of Obama's reckless immigration policy and adding, “Hillary Clinton is promising more of the same. Open borders, executive amnesty, and a surge of Syrian refugees.”

Blue Lives Matter

Milwaukee Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., once to never waste words, started his speech off with the powerful statement, “I would like to make something very clear, blue lives matter in America.”

Clarke talked about the slaying of three police in Baton Rouge over the weekend and addressed the growing concerns in America about the spread of violence and crime. “Sadly, for a growing number of communities, the sense of safety that many of us once took for granted has been shattered,” said Clarke.

Delegate Revolt Failed Before It Began

Despite the clearing the necessary procedural hurdles and receiving a majority of delegates in at least seven states, the RNC chair rejected the Never Trump movement's request for a roll call vote on adopting the rules of the convention.

The Never Trump movement, which called themselves Delegates Unbound, hoped to rewrite new rules that would have ultimately allowed delegates to vote for a candidate other than Donald Trump. Ultimately a coup which sought to place a different figurehead at the head of the party's nomination.

The floor erupted in chaos after the chair failed to call a vote, resulting in several delegates storming out of the convention and refusing to return. Delegates Unbound issued the following statements.

“These tactics not only fail to unify the party but have gone 180-degrees in the opposite direction, creating division not seen in my lifetime,” said M. Dane Waters co-founder of Delegates Unbound.

“We have seen the Trump government in prototype, it is ruled by force, contempt for procedure and the shouting down of opposition,” said Former Senator Gordon Humphrey (R-NH).
“I resigned my position today as Trump Finance Chairman in protest of the bullying tactics employed by the RNC to silence the voice of delegates,” said Gary Emineth.

[wps_products_gallery product_id=”4347567145011, 4370989482035, 4335153741875″]

“Chairman Priebus's flagrant use of party resources to silence the will of the delegates will not be tolerated said A.J. Spiker, former Republican Party Chairman of Iowa and Co-founder of Delegates Unbound. “I call on Chairman Priebus to resign immediately for this reprehensible abuse of power.”

Senators New And Old Support Trump

Several senators went to bat for Donald Trump at the RNC.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton talked about the value of a strong military and for the need of service men and women. He spoke about his father's service in Vietnam as well as his own when he gave up his legal career to join the Army after 9/11. Adding, “We don't fight because we hate our enemies, but because we love our country.”

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions spoke about the importance of trade and immigrations, two key issues to his state and the South in general. After all, “Is it too much to ask that we slow down and protect the American people and jobs?”

There was also a potential senator taking the main stage. Senate Candidate Darryl Glenn of Colorado who started his speech with, “Good evening. My name’s Darryl Glenn, and I’m an unapologetic constitutional conservative, pro-life, second amendment loving veteran.”

New York Stands With Trump

Former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani fired up the crowd with a strong and passionate speech. “What I did for New York, Donald Trump will do for America,” he said, “I know we can change it because I did it by changing New York City from the crime capital of America to the safest large city in the United States.”

Giuliani drew huge cheers and applause from the crowd and finally added about Trump, “This is a good man.”

Melania Trump Stole The Show

Let's be clear… There is a lot that is wrong with this country and a lot of work will need to go into fixing it. The majority of day one was spent addressing the darkness and fear that lies in American. However, Melania Trump was the glaring example. A bright light to close the day on.

She spoke clearly and passionately about the great man that her husband was. “I have been with Donald for 18 years,and I've been aware of his love for this country since we first met,” Melania said. “He never had a hidden agenda when it comes to his patriotism, because, like me, he loves this country so much.”

Melania Trump is a strong, smart woman who speaks five languages and brought herself up from her humble beginnings in Slovakia.

She also sought to shore up some of her husband's criticism, “Donald intends to represent all the people, not just some of the people. That includes Christians and Jews and Muslims, it includes Hispanics and African Americans and Asians, and the poor and the middle class.”

“The primary season, and its toughness, is behind us…. The race will be hard-fought, all the way to November,” she said. Finally ending on the understatement, “It would not be a Trump contest without excitement and drama.”