Thursday, July 21, 2016

Donald Trump's Speech to the Republican National Convention: #ImWithYou (VIDEO)

The full video is here, "Watch Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's Full Speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention."

And at the Wall Street Journal, "Donald Trump Accepts GOP Nomination, Promises to Fix America":

Donald Trump ended his party’s convention Thursday the way he began his history-making campaign: attacking the political establishment, playing to voters’ fears of foreigners and crime, and making bold promises to fix America’s ills.

“I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people who cannot defend themselves,” said the first-time politician whose populist message helped him capture the Republican presidential nomination.

The speech, which ran more than an hour, painted a grim view of the U.S. economy and world affairs under President Barack Obama, and intensified the attack on the record of his rival Hillary Clinton.

“This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness,” he said.

He returned to familiar campaign themes of opposing international trade deals and cracking down on illegal immigration. He drew strong applause when he reiterated his desire to ban immigrants from nations “compromised by terrorism,” and departed from his prepared text to say, “We don’t want them in our country.”

He homed in on Mrs. Clinton, the one issue sure to galvanize Republicans in November. Arguing that her tenure as secretary of state under Mr. Obama fomented instability abroad, he said, “America is far less safe—and the world is far less stable—than when Obama made the decision to put Hillary Clinton in charge of America’s foreign policy,” he said. “I am certain it is a decision President Barack Obama truly regrets.”

Mr. Trump’s speech was the capstone of a tumultuous convention that exposed some of the risks he faces as he takes his unorthodox campaign into a general election campaign against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton’s well-funded and well-oiled machine.

Mr. Trump presented himself as uniquely equipped to lead the nation.

“Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it,” he said.

Citing recent episodes of gun violence and attacks on police officers, he put fresh emphasis on law and order.

“Beginning on January 20th of 2017, safety will be restored,” he said. “The first task for our new administration will be to liberate our citizens from the crime and terrorism and lawlessness that threaten our communities.”

Mr. Trump’s message has been honed before oversize crowds on the primary campaign trail. It is less clear how it will play in a tough general election ahead with a broader audience of swing voters. Testing that was one of the chief convention goals, along with trying to unite the party and broaden Mr. Trump’s personal profile...
Actually, it might go over pretty well. A CNN snap poll of those who viewed the speech showed 57 percent had a "very positive" reaction, and another 18 percent were "somewhat positive." Sure, some of that will face, but when Trump's on point, avoids side-harangues, and talks policy, he connects with voters.

But keep reading.

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