2008 Republican National Convention/Norm Coleman's Republican National Convention speech
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| Delivered at the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN on 2 September 2008. |
Good evening. Good evening.
And welcome to Pig’s Eye, Minnesota. That’s right: we were called Pig’s Eye until a Catholic priest built a wooden chapel a few steps from here, dedicated to Saint Paul. Although I am a person of the Jewish faith, I often reference Saint Paul, and as former mayor of this city that was named for him, I proudly welcome you to my city of Saint Paul.
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the families in the Gulf region effected by Hurricane Gustav, and the first-responders working hard to bring aid to the region. The fact that this Convention is being held in a place where neighbors help neighbors, and a place that leads the nation in volunteerism and charitable giving is significant.
I believe the Minnesota spirit of generosity will push us along as we expand the scope of this Convention from politics to a gathering of folks who want to help our neighbors on the other side of the Mississippi. From all of us here, gathered here, to our friends and neighbors on the of the Gulf Coast, and thoughts and prayers are with you.
Here we sit, in the middle of a great Minnesota success story. fifteen years ago, downtown Saint Paul was in trouble, our largest employer had left, crime was rising, and downtown we had sex shops and the nation’s only failed McDonald’s. The old Civic Center on this site was falling apart while city leaders were holding gang summits and raising taxes. And the mayor at that time asked, “I’m not indecisive, am I?” That could have been an Obama campaign slogan.
Conservative principles restored this city. We put a lid on taxes – didn’t raise them for eight years. We made city government a trustworthy partner to local business. We said that hope and confidence equals investment, and together we proved it. We added 18,000 new jobs. We planted 35,000 trees and shrubs along the Mississippi. We reduced crime. And through public/private partnership, we built this magnificent arena.
By putting Saint Paul first, we rebuilt this great, great city.
In Minnesota, we know that big things start small. Behind me is the great Mississippi River. A few hours north of here, it’s a creek that you can walk across; yet when it enters the Gulf, it is miles across. From this gathering here, we’ll show America a bright future. We’ll paint the entire Mississippi watershed John McCain-red, and we will win the White House.
A story is told of Thomas Jefferson riding on horseback with a group of companions, reaching a river without a bridge. Standing on the bank was a man who needed to get across. One by one, they passed him until Jefferson was alongside, and the man asked: “can you carry me across the river?” Jefferson immediately did.
One of the guys in the Jefferson party pulled the man aside and said, “How dare you ask the President of the United States for a ride? You could have asked any one of us, but instead, you chose to bother him.” And the man said, “I’m sorry; I had no idea who he was. But I looked at all your faces, and they said: no. And I looked at his face, and it said: yes.”
John McCain has a face that says: yes, because that’s what in his soul. He has never given in to adversity. He has – he has never said no to a challenge; to the people who demand government reform; to the folks who need jobs; the families who deserve to keep more of their own money by keeping taxes low. And to those around the world who yearn for freedom, John McCain has a face that says: yes.
We’re the party of Lincoln, who said that American is the last, best hope of Earth. He was right then, and he’d be right now. From North to South; from East to West; from heartland farms to big cities – let’s offer Americans a genuine hope of change that Republicans can actually deliver.
May God bless you all, and in the positive spirit of a place called Pig’s Eye that became Saint Paul, I say: welcome.
