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Trump Adds Flair To GOP Convention’s Dramatic First Day
July 19, 2016
With a dollop of the pizzazz that turned him into one of the most famous businessmen and celebrities in the world, presidential candidate Donald Trump made a dramatic entrance to the Republican National Convention on its first day.
The appearance, which was already a departure from tradition for a presumptive party nominee, took on a surreal air when Trump entered a darkened Cleveland convention hall, silhouetted by a bright backlight, as the audience roared. The podium for his speech rose from the floor as Trump strode across the stage.
“We’re going to win so big,” Trump told the crowd. “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen; we’re going to win so big.”
Trump became known during the primary elections for his stream-of-consciousness addresses, but after that simple statement to the crowd Monday he introduced his wife, Melania, and stepped aside as “We Are the Champions” blared through the hall.
He said about 50 words his entire time on the stage.
It was perhaps the most electric moment on the opening day of the 2016 GOP convention, which follows a topsy-turvy primary race that exposed a deep rift between Republican voters and the party’s establishment.
That Trump even appeared was a sign the outspoken billionaire will continue to run the campaign his way as he turns to a general election race against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will accept the Democratic Party’s nomination next week in Philadelphia.
Presumptive nominees generally do not appear at the convention on the first day and do not speak at length and in person until the final day, which is capped off with the acceptance speech.
But it was in some ways a fitting end for a day that featured a speech by the star of the reality show “Duck Dynasty” and a floor fight over the party’s rules. The official theme for the first night was “Make America Safe Again,” with a focus on Trump’s pledge to crack down on illegal immigration and wage a more ruthless war on terrorist groups like the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
“What I did for New York, Donald Trump will do for America,” said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, famous for steering his city through the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The night also zeroed in on the attack on a diplomatic outpost in Libya while Clinton was secretary of state. Her campaign was quick to respond that Trump would be a hazard to the nation.
“Donald Trump’s ideas on foreign policy aren’t just different — they are dangerously incoherent. … The choice in this election is clear, and we deserve better leadership for our nation — and the world — than Donald Trump,” Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch said in a statement issued by the Clinton campaign.
The focus in Cleveland, though, inevitably kept returning to Trump and his attempts to unite a party trying to win a presidential election for the first time in 12 years.
Trump spoke hours after the floor had erupted into pandemonium following a decision to push through the party’s rules on a voice vote. Some delegates — many of whom had supported candidates other than Trump in state primaries earlier this year — wanted a roll call vote on the rules to try to force consideration of changes to the primary process.
The rules’ critics said they had gained the support of a majority of at least nine state delegations — more than the seven required to request a roll call vote.
When Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack called for a voice vote, opponents of the rules protested loudly. The roar continued after Womack said delegates had approved the rules, and the convention essentially entered suspended animation for about 10 minutes.
Womack eventually took the stage again and carried out another voice vote as opponents chanted “Roll call vote!” After the second vote, Trump supporters began chanting “We want Trump!” in response. Womack then explained that three states had withdrawn their support for a roll call vote — reducing to six the number of delegations that supported the move.
But some opponents of the rules, including U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, said they had support from as many as 11 states. Speaking on CNN, Lee said the Republican National Committee had created a “toxic environment” with its handling of the rules challenge, including lobbying some delegates to change their positions on a roll call vote.
“Why did they have to do that?” asked Lee, who supported U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas during the primaries. “Why not just allow for the vote? What are they afraid of?
Opponents of the rules tried to make it clear that the uprising was not necessarily part of the “Never Trump” movement that has opposed the businessman’s blend of populism and nationalism as a betrayal of conservative principles. Ed Buchanan, a Wyoming delegate who supported the effort and chaired Cruz’s campaign in his state, brushed off the idea that the raucous scene indicated the party was split.
“Today what you saw was what makes America great, which is we have a democracy, you can dissent, you can voice your opposition and you saw that today,” Buchanan said. “This isn’t chaos. This is American democracy in action. This is what makes this country great.”
Regardless, the proceedings shattered the idea that Trump and the GOP had completely vanquished opponents and that the Cleveland gathering would be another one of the sedate conventions that have become the rule in recent years. For months during the primary elections, there was widespread speculation that delegates might arrive at the convention without any candidate having won a decisive victory.
Earlier Monday, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia told reporters that he thought the Never Trump movement had already fizzled out.
“I think it was dead before it got here,” he said after a breakfast for the state’s delegation at a hotel in the nearby city of Independence.
Ingoglia, who doubles as a state representative from Spring Hill, also pointed out that many of the Never Trump supporters are lifelong Republicans who would have a lot to lose if the party’s nominee lost.
“All the hard work they’ve been doing for 20, 30, possibly 40 years, could be wiped away in one election if Hillary Clinton was elected president,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Comments
21 Responses to “Trump Adds Flair To GOP Convention’s Dramatic First Day”
Last night watching Donald Trump Jr.give a speech I was impressed. But it made me realize, if Trump is voted in, even though I do have some personal reservations. I believe Republican is the only way to go. I hope he will surround himself with talented individuals that will be on board and be able to exercise their expertise. I hope Kasich will come around. I think he is talented. Perhaps Ben Carson can have a steady, grounding affect. Christy is just a character but I like him. I have just come way too far to agree with Clinton and some of their policies. I may be a bit liberal on some issues, extremely conservative on others.. Sometimes we have to realize, it doesn’t matter if you agree with everything. I hope it works out. Along for the ride
Kate & just tired,
2016 Melania Trump’s speech -
Michelle Obama 2008 – plagerized Elisabeth Dole’s 1996 speech !!!!!!
GOOGLE IT
KATE !
Do you not remember THAT the current Vice President of USA …Joe Biden plagerized ( big time ) in his past and withdrew his Presidental candacy? Forgot that huh ? There is only a finite number of words available to be uttered/written by we ordinary humans….have you ever made-up a new word ? Therefore everything we utter could be considered “plagerized “. What’s next for the Liberal mindset ?
Honcho I am not on Facebook. I have a life. I also pay more in taxes every year than the median income in North West Florida, so don’t tell me to stop wanting “free stuff”. I am not a single issue voter. I do not agree with the entire democratic platform. I do think it is sad what has happened to the Republican party but a group (not every republican) created this. Do I think HRC is perfect? Absolutely not, but Donald is a con artist and a fraud. We happen to disagree and that is fine.
please listen to Ben Carson’s speech. Its not about Trump but we the people need to rise up. No Clinton. We will not survive.
@RTR The actions of a competent State Department should never get that far to begin with.
RTR and Kate
Pleas don’t read some post off face book and think that now you are informed.
7millon and found nothing, did you even read the report from the FBI, of course you did. Classified and above found to be sent and received witch she LIED about to congress. Kate do some research and not on face book. The military was spinning up ready to go 3 times and were told to stand down. No matter what your democrap handler tell you think for yourself, next you’ll try to tell us about the hole religion of peace lie. Stop living off the taxpayers and wanting free stuff.
Just Tired,
All I know is that there are only 2 choices and Trump cannot be worse than Obama. At least he is not a Muslim Communist. My trust is in Someone higher than them all. But, we do not get to say when He comes back. Meanwhile, we only have two choices. I do not want to be a slave to the government under another Communist. Someone needs to bring it back, not move the global agenda forward.
Kate. If Hillary wins, I will not have to move to a Communist country to see what life is all about there. I will be living it here.
Wendell 9 investigations and over 7 million dollars of taxpayer money spent to unsuccessfully find any wrong doings on HRC. Get over it and turn off Fox ’so called’ news!
Well FLOTUS and POTUS are almost old news…She needs to poke BARRACK and say…..
“I think we made a mess of this stuff. Do something quick..thats the least we can do. How will WE be remembered???? It wont be my old speech and yellow dress.Think of the chilren.”
@Kate You have no idea what you are talking about. It is the State Department’s job to ensure safety and security of our diplomats abroad. The requests for more security was denied by HER STATE DEPARTMENT. The military does not have autonomy to do that by itself. It reports and takes commands from a civilian government.
Oh come on…it is Hillary’s fault that Malania plagiarized FLOTUS speech.
I find it hard to believe that people are actually taking Donald Trump seriously. I’m all for putting the most qualified person in office whether Democrat or Republican, but the notion of Donald Trump being our next President is so scary. That man is a loose cannon. Personally, I don’t think he’s intelligent enough to be president and on top of that, he’s also a pathological lier. Even when the evidence is right before your eyes, (stealing Michelle Obama’s speech) they still lie. It really makes you wonder what will happen if he does become president. To be honest, I hope he does win because I want to see what position the country is in after four years under his leadership. Because at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter to me because I put my trust in someone much greater than Donald Trump.
Some one has to stand up and tell the truth about Benghazi, Our fine Ambassador. went to Benghazi on his own accord, he was not sent by the Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. The Secretary did nothing wrong or incorrect. Now on the other hand the Military did fail the ambass., the staff assigned there and the American people. But of course our military never makes a mistake or does anything wrong, We just blame Hillary. If you watch Ms. Obama’s speech and Maladia’s speech side by side you will see M repeating O’s speech. EMD, I think you should move to a communist country and see what life is really all about there. It ain’t about carrying your gun with you at all times.
@Kate; Let’s see,there were a total of 58 similar words in a 30 min speech. Hardly “verbatim”. She didn’t use one of Michell’s lines “this is the first time in my life that I have been proud of America”. The difference is; Trump is in this for the American people, Barack Hussein Obama seems to be in it for the rest of the Hussein’s in the world
Kate you are correct. Part of me believes he is intentionally trying to lose. Who knows?
Go Trump. Melania will bring class back into the White House. I will feel secure with Trump in the White House. Lying Hillary will bring nothing but more lies and she will never support our troops or our officers in blue. Go Trump.
Kate,
I think I’d rather die than live in a Communist country, and it seems obvious to myself and many others that is what Hillary has in mind. She is the liar and she has to know it. Benghazi is enough to make any sane person not want her in any public office. She does despicable things. A vote for anyone other than Trump will give us Hillary. Death is better than slavery. At least that is what Patrick Henry believed.
Kate – you MUST be a democrat…(1) it is insult and not insalt; (2) it is off and not of; and (3) if you want to live, you might want to think about Trump MANY times over HRC! You must not have researched the two speeches (only repeating what the mainstream media is reporting), the two paragraphs that are similar are just that – similar. They are not “verbatim” and they are full of words that many people have said to explain their background and heritage.
Let’s stop the nonsense and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
After his wife repeats First Lady’ Obama’s 2008 speech almost verbatim, all bets are off. As his book writer stated he is unable to pay attention to any subject for more than a few moments, the writers grandson can pay attention longer, he is a liar and doesn’t even know he is lying. The writer of Trump’s book said he is scared to death if Trump becomes president, he said Putin could insalt him and play him and bam Trump would send of nuclear bombs and end it all. You may not like a democrat but if you want to live you might think about Trump twice.