By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
It was a thoroughly Trumpian speech if nothing else, Save Jerseyans. The convention hall ate it up.
Will undecided voters?
Convention organizers hope that millions of Americans, perhaps just beginning to tune into the 2016 cycle seriously for the first time, give their nominee a second look as the general election cycle begins in earnest.
We’ll know soon enough if it worked. Aiming to make a dent on the final night of his convention, the Republican nominee thundered from the Quicken Loans Arena’s podium between frequent applause breaks on Thursday evening in Cleveland, Ohio, promising to represent those “ignored, neglected and abandoned” by unfair trade deals and the failures of the Obama Administration including U.S. workers, police officers and members of the LGBT community.
Animated as ever, Trump promised to set forth his ticket’s ‘plan’ for governance at the onset of the speech but, rather than set forth too many policy specifics and get bogged down with details, the candidate proceeded to indict the record of Hillary Clinton in somewhat disorganized but undeniably passionate prose.
“The most important difference between our plan and that of our opponents, is that our plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo. As long as we are led by politicians who will not put America First, then we can be assured that other nations will not treat America with respect,” Trump declared. “This will all change in 2017. The American People will come first once again.”
Interestingly enough given his braggadocios reputation, Trump and his convention didn’t try very hard to sell Trump. The plan? A knock-out.
Sparing listeners the typical biographical focus typical of convention acceptance speeches, Trump stayed on the attack throughout.
The contrast put a little more bluntly: “This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism, weakness,” he explained to chants of ‘lock her up’ from the delegates, alternates and gallery guests.
The Donald’s few outlined policy specifics revolved around foreign policy and security-related aims. Trump reiterated his support for fair trade deals to revitalize the manufacturing sector, the erection of a wall along the Mexican border, enforcement of existing immigration laws and stopping the practice of admitting refugees from countries where America lacks reliable vetting networks and relationships.
“No one knows the system better to me; that’s why I alone can fix it,” promised Trump, vowing to put ‘struggling citizens’ ahead of special interests, appoint justices resembling the late Antonin Scalia and defending Second Amendment rights.
Trump also attempted to frame his candidacy in a historical context.
“History is watching us now. We don’t have much time, but history is watching. It’s waiting to see if we will rise to the occasion, and if we will show the whole world that America is still free and independent and strong,” he warned the arena, voice rising. “My opponent asks her supporters to recite a three-word loyalty pledge. It reads: ‘I’m With Her.’ I choose to recite a different pledge. My pledge reads: ‘I’M WITH YOU – THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.'”
“I am your voice.”
Trump’s acceptance speech officially brings the quadrennial RNC gathering to a conclusion and begins a 110 sprint to Election Day. First, however, comes next week’s Democrat convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a guest list that’s already angering members of the law enforcement community for its anti-police composition.
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