Fred Thompson’s Republican National Convention Speech

We do so while taking a different view of our country than that of the other party. Listening to them, you’d think that we were in the middle of a Great Depression — (laughter) — that we’re down, disrespected, incapable of prevailing against challenges that face us. Now, we know that we have challenges. Always have, always will. But we also know that we live in the freest, strongest, most generous and prosperous nation in the history of the world and we’re thankful for that. (Cheers, applause.)

But it’s pretty clear the selection of Governor Palin has got the other side and their friends in the media in a state of panic — (laughter, shouting) — and no wonder. She’s a courageous, successful reformer who’s not afraid to take on the establishment. (Cheers, applause.)

Sound like anybody else we know?

AUDIENCE: Yes! (Cheers, applause.)

THOMPSON: She has run a municipality and she has run a state. And I think I can say without fear of contradiction she is the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field-dress a moose. (Cheers, applause, laughs.) With the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt. (Laughter, applause.) Okay.

When she and John McCain get to Washington, they’re not going to care how much the alligators get irritated — they’re going to drain that swamp. (Cheers, applause.)

But tonight, my friends, I’d like to talk to you about the remarkable story of John McCain. It’s a story about character.

John McCain’s character has been tested like no other presidential candidate in the history of this nation. He comes from a military family whose service goes — to our country goes back to the time of the Revolutionary War. The tradition continues. As I speak, John and Cindy McCain have one son who’s just finished his first tour in Iraq and another son — (cheers, applause) — going back for his second one on Christmas Day, I understand. (Applause.) And another — and another son who’s putting his country first and attending the Naval Academy. (Cheers, applause.)

Now — now, we have a number of the McCains in the audience tonight, and I just want you to — I understand they’ve been introduced, but I understand — I want you to understand how proud we are of you and how much we thank you for what you’re doing for your country. (Cheers, applause.) Cindy’s here with all the children. All the children are here, I believe. (Cheers, applause continue.)

John is also — also here tonight is John’s 96-year-old mother Roberta. (Cheers, applause.) All I got to say is if Miss Roberta had been the McCain captured by the North Vietnamese, they would have surrendered. (Laughter, applause.)

Now, John’s father was a bit of a rebel, too. In his first two semesters at the Naval Academy, he managed to earn 333 demerits. (Laughter.) Unfortunately, John later saw that as a record to be beaten. (Laughter.) A rebellious mother and a rebellious father. I guess you can see where this is going. (Laughter.)

In high school and the Naval Academy, John earned a reputation as a troublemaker. But as John points out, he wasn’t just a troublemaker; he was the leader of the troublemakers. (Cheers, applause.)

Although — although loaded with demerits, like his father, John was principled even in rebellion. He never violated the honor code.

However, in flight school in Pensacola, he did drive a Corvette and date a girl who worked in a bar as a(n) exotic dancer under the name of “Marie, the Flame of Florida.” (Laugher, cheers.)

This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular. At a point in time — (applause) — when the war in Iraq was going badly and the public lost confidence, John stood up and called for more troops — and now we’re winning. (Cheers, applause, chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”.)

I’ve experienced John’s character — (cheers, applause) — firsthand. In 1993, when I was thinking of running for the Senate, I went to John for advice. He convinced me I could help make a difference for our country. I managed to win that election, and with Republican control of Congress, we reformed welfare, we balanced the budget, and we began rebuilding our military. (Cheers, applause.)

And what I remember — and what I remember most about those years is sitting next to John on the Senate floor as he led battle after battle to change the acrimonious, pork-barreling, self-serving ways of Washington.

(Cheers, applause.)

Now the United States Senate has always had more than its share of smooth talkers and big talkers. And obviously it still has. (Laughter, applause.) But while others were talking reform, John McCain led efforts to make reform happen, always pressing, always working for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people’s faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we all came to Washington in the first place.

Didn’t always set too well with some of his colleagues. Some of those fights were losing efforts. Some were not.

But a man who never quits is never defeated. (Applause.) Because John McCain stood up, his country is better off. And the respect he’s given around the world is not because of a teleprompter speech designed to appeal to America’s critics abroad — (cheers, applause) — no, not that; it’s not because of that, but because of decades of clearly demonstrated character and statesmanship.

There has been a time in our nation’s history, since we first pledged allegiance to the American flag, when the character, judgment and leadership of our president was more important. (Cheers, applause.) Terrorists, rogue nations developing nuclear weapons, an increasingly belligerent Russia, intensifying competition from China, spending at home that threatens to bankrupt future generations, for decades an expanding government, increasingly wasteful and too often incompetent.

To deal with these challenges, the Democrats present a history- making nominee for president — history-making in that he’s the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president. (Cheers, applause.) Apparently — apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history-making, Democrat-controlled Congress — history-making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history. (Cheers, applause.)

Together, they would take on these urgent challenges with protectionism, higher taxes and an even bigger bureaucracy and a Supreme Court that could be lost to liberalism for a generation. (Cheers, applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That’s right!

THOMPSON: This is not reform and it’s certainly not change. It’s basically the same old stuff they’ve been peddling for years. (Cheers, applause.)

America — America needs a president who understands the nature of the world we live in, a president who feels no need to apologize for the United States of America. (Cheers, applause.) We need a president — we need a president who understands that you don’t make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer — (cheers, applause) — and you don’t — and you don’t lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.

(Cheers, applause.)

Tonight we’re being called upon to stand up for a strong military, a mature foreign policy, a free and growing economy, and for the values that bind us together and keep our nation free.

For our own good, our children’s, let us celebrate that vision, celebrate that belief, that faith, so we can keep America the greatest country that the world has ever seen.

God bless John McCain and God bless America. (Cheers, applause, chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”.)