Comments - Congresswoman Mary Bono
My Favorite Teacher Award Luncheon
September 29, 2007

THANK YOU FOR THAT GRACIOUS INTRODUCTION, DIANE.

GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO PALM SPRINGS!

IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE AND DISTINCT HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TODAY FOR THE 34TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN.

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL AND THRILLED THAT YOU SELECTED MY HOME TOWN TO HOST THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION; AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ALL HAVING A GREAT TIME IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DESERT COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK OUR PRESIDENT, BEVERLY DAVIS, FOR THE SUPERB JOB SHE IS DOING, THANK YOU BEVERLY.

I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK MY FELLOW CALIFORNIAN AND THE CHAIR FOR LAST NIGHT'S GALA , A PERSON WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY AND WHO HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT SUCH A WONDERFUL SUCCESS, DIANE McGLINCHEY.

OF COURSE, I ALSO MUST EXTEND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE TRAVELED HERE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ISN'T IT A WONDERFUL PLACE? I HOPE YOU WILL ALL COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN.

OUR PARTY OWES EACH OF YOU A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE - NOT ONLY FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE GOP BUT ALSO FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR CANDIDATES, BOTH LOCALLY AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

WITHOUT YOUR HARD WORK AND DEVOTION, WE SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WIN THE MANY CRITICAL RACES THAT WILL HELP SHAPE OUR NATION'S FUTURE.

THAT WILL BE ESPECIALLY TRUE NEXT YEAR, WHEN BOTH THE PRESIDENCY AND CONTROL OF CONGRESS WILL BE ON THE LINE.

WHAT A THRILL IT WAS TO HAVE ONE OF OUR PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS HERE THIS MORNING, MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI.

I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE MAYOR SPEAK, HE IS REALLY AN INSPIRATION; AND I AM PROUD THAT I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ENDORSE HIS CANDIDACY.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT UNLIKE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO BILLS HERSELF AS A NEW YORKER, RUDY GIULIANI IS THE REAL DEAL.

AND AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO SOMEDAY SUPPORT A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT, I AM JUST NOT READY TO SEE ANOTHER CLINTON BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

HOW ABOUT YOU?

I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TICKET IN NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND, WITH YOUR HELP WE WILL KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE RIGHT HANDS!!

OUR PARTY MUST RETAIN ITS PLACE AS THE PARTY THAT OFFERS THE BEST HOPE FOR A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES REDUCED TAXES, SMALLER GOVERNMENT, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE CORE VALUES THAT UNITE US.

I AM ALSO PLEASED THAT THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION THEME IS YOUR VOICES, YOUR VOTES, YOUR FUTURE - BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT THEME.

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID LATELY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT NATION AND ALSO ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION, AND ONE THAT REQUIRES US TO EXAMINE THE ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT SO DEEPLY AND WHAT WE ARE EACH WILLING TO DO TO KEEP OUR NATION'S FUTURE BRIGHT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES OUR NATION GREAT IS THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION - WITHOUT FEAR OF CENSURE OR GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

TODAY, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO OUR NATION AND TO OUR PARTY - SOMETHING THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO EVERY AMERICAN.

AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION THAT MANY AMERICANS FEEL; AND I RESPECT THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE INCREASINGLY DIVISIVE NATURE OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.

AND, AS A POLITICIAN, I AM USED TO THE DISDAIN AND CONTEMPT PUNDITS AND SELF-ANOINTED EXPERTS HEAP UPON THOSE WHO CHOOSE PUBLIC SERVICE.

YET DESPITE THESE CONCERNS, OUR REPUBLIC STILL OFFERS THE BEST HOPE FOR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

SADLY, DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS A NEW PARLOR GAME HAS BECOME ALL TOO COMMON; TRASHING AMERICA AND COMPARING OUR FUTURE TO THAT OF OTHER "FAILED" CIVILIZATIONS.

IT HAS BECOME FASHIONABLE AMONG THE MEDIA ELITES AND PROFESSIONAL PUNDITS TO CRITICIZE AND DENIGRATE OUR GREAT NATION AND SAY THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE BEHIND US.

AMERICA, THEY SAY, HAS BECOME THE NEW ROME, A NATION ONLY CONCERNED WITH PROFIT AND PLEASURE - A NATION SO CORRUPTED THAT EVEN OUR ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE THREAT OF

THE TERRORIST EXTREMISTS IS OF QUESTIONABLE MOTIVE.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT WE MUST REJECT THAT NOTION ENTIRELY! JUST AS MY GOOD FRIEND RUDY GIULIANI REJECTS IT!!

IF YOU LISTEN TO THE DIRE PREDICTIONS OF THE JADED DEFEATISTS, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY WE KNOW AND LOVE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT AMERICA IS A NATION BUILT ON OPTIMISM AND THE BELIEF THAT THROUGH HARD WORK, PLAYING BY THE RULES AND TREATING OTHERS WITH RESPECT, WE ALL HAVE A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AMERICA MUST RETAIN ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE BEACON OF LIBERTY AND OPPORTUNITY; WE OWE THAT SACRED TRUST TO THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR OUR FREEDOM.

I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT WE CAN NOT BE RULED BY THE PESSIMISM AND PETULANCE OF THOSE WHOSE VERY ABILITY TO PASS JUDGMENT ON OUR WAY OF LIFE IS GUARANTEED TO THEM UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.

I BELIEVE THAT WHILE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH IN OUR GREAT HISTORY, WE MUST STILL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR BRIGHTEST YEARS ARE BEFORE US.

I AM SO PROUD TO STAND TODAY BEFORE SO MANY STRONG WOMEN WHO ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS LIVE WITH THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY.

WHILE WE WERE ONCE EXPECTED TO PLAY A SECONDARY OR SUBSERVIENT ROLE, WOMEN HAVE DISREGARDED OUTDATED NOTIONS AND ASSERTED THEIR GOD-GIVEN STRENGTHS AND TALENTS TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES IN OUR SOCIETY AND IN OUR PARTY.

WOMEN SUCH AS MARGARET THATCHER, CONDOLEEZZA RICE, AND OUR OWN JOAN CASTLE JOSEFF, HAVE SHATTERED STEREOTYPES IN POLITICS, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS.

EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY IS PROOF THAT WOMEN WILL MAKE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR PARTY'S SUCCESS AND RESURGENCE.

BUT IT IS AMAZING THAT DESPITE ALL THE STRIDES WOMEN HAVE MADE THERE ARE STILL SOME WHO JUST DON'T GET IT.

I REMEMBER BEING AT ONE OF THOSE VERY ELABORATE WASHINGTON DINNER GALAS. WE WERE SEATED WITH A NUMBER OF WELL-HEELED AND SUPPOSEDLY INTELLIGENT GUESTS, AND ONE STRUCK-UP A CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

BEING A MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE AND DECIDED TO WADE RIGHT IN.

THE GENTLEMAN, AND I USE THAT TERM KINDLY, TURNED TO ME AND SAID IN HIS MOST UNINTENTIONALLY CONDESCENDING MANNER, 'NOW NO NEED FOR YOU TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THIS, IT IS JUST TOO COMPLICATED FOR YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD!!'

INSTEAD, HE TURNED TO MY DATE, A DRUMMER IN A COUNTRY MUSIC BAND, AND ASKED FOR HIS OPINION.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS NOT AMUSED.

WELL, IT WASN'T TOO LONG BEFORE SOMEONE INFORMED OUR TABLEMATE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

HE IMMEDIATELY CHANGED HIS TUNE AND, STAMMERING, SAID THAT HE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HEAR WHAT I HAD TO SAY.

I JUST TURNED TO HIM COOLLY AND SAID, 'SORRY, YOU MISSED YOUR CHANCE, BUT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO MY BOYFRIEND, THE DRUMMER, I'M SURE YOU AND HE WILL HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.'

MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN ABOUT AMERICA IS ALSO BEING SAID ABOUT OUR REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE NAYSAYERS ARE WRITING OUR PARTY'S OBITUARY AND PREDICTING THAT WE WILL SOON BE A PARTY WITHOUT POWER OR INFLUENCE - A PARTY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE AVERAGE AMERICAN'S INTERESTS OR CONCERNS.

AGAIN, I SAY THEY ARE WRONG, AND I REJECT THAT PREMISE ENTIRELY, AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL TOO.

AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MANY BRILLIANT AND POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS. AND I AM GLAD THAT MORE AND MORE OF THEM ARE WOMEN!

WOMEN LIKE YOU WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WOMEN LIKE YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD -WOMEN LIKE YOU WHO LOVE AMERICA.

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION IS BEING HELD IN THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA IS THE CRADLE OF INNOVATION AND POLITICAL CHANGE. WE ARE THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MODERN ANTI-TAX MOVEMENT, PROPOSITION 13, AND WE ARE THE STATE THAT FOSTERED THE POLITICAL CAREER OF OUR GREATEST MODERN PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN.

PRESIDENT REAGAN RENEWED THE HOPE OF OUR NATION AND SPOKE WITH A VOICE THAT RESONATED IN THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS OF ALL AMERICANS.

MUCH LIKE TODAY, WHEN A PREVIOUS GENERATION RETREATED INTO CYNICISM AND MALAISE, RONALD REAGAN STOOD TALL.

PRESIDENT REAGAN SHARED HIS VISION OF AMERICA AS THE SHINING CITY ON THE HILL; AND THAT IS THE AMERICA WE STILL BELIEVE IN!

THE AMERICA OF ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO NEED RELIEF FROM HIGHER TAXES AND BURDENSOME GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

THE AMERICA OF OUR REPUBLICAN PARTY!

ONE OF MY EARLIEST HEROES WAS MY MOM, A WOMEN WHO INSTILLED IN ME THE BELIEF THAT GENDER IS NEVER A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO SAY "I CAN'T DO THAT."

MY MOM ACHIEVED ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN A TIME WHEN MANY OF HER PEERS CHOSE DIFFERENT PATHS. SHE GRADUATED COLLEGE WITH HONORS AT THE AGE OF 17, AND HER SKILL AS A CHEMIST LED HER TO WORK FOR A TIME DURING WWII ON THE TOP-SECRET MANHATTAN PROJECT.

IT IS THAT KIND OF DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS THAT HAS BROUGHT YOU TOGETHER AS MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN.

SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THE STORY OF HOW I CAME TO BE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT SO YOU WILL KNOW WHY I CHOSE TO SEEK THIS ROLE.

FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MY LATE HUSBAND, SONNY, MY FAMILY, ALONG WITH THEN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NEWT GINGRICH AND MANY OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS - AND DON'T THINK I TAKE ALL OF HER ADVICE, BUT YES, EVEN CHER - URGED ME TO RUN TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT SONNY STARTED.

AND WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF MY CHILDREN WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THIS DECISION, THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES TOLD ME THAT THE LESSONS MY MOM HAD TAUGHT ME WERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO SHOW MY KIDS THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM, THAT I WAS GOING TO BE STRONG FOR THEM, AND THAT I WAS GOING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE THAT FATE HAD LAID BEFORE ME.

MY MESSAGE TO YOU IS THAT IF OUR PARTY, AND INDEED OUR NATION, IS TO ENJOY THE BETTER DAYS THAT WE ALL BELIEVE LIE AHEAD, WE MUST BE WILLING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE AND DO THE WORK NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT BRIGHTER FUTURE.

YOU, ALONG WITH COUNTLESS OTHER WOMEN IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR NATION, WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CRITICAL ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

I URGE EACH OF YOU TO CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AND TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO JOIN YOU IN THIS EFFORT.

NO ONE SAID THIS WOULD BE EASY. BUT YOU ARE THE WOMEN WHO CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

I AM REMINDED OF THE CLASSIC DANCE TEAM OF GINGER ROGERS AND FRED ASTAIRE. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, PEOPLE WOULD MARVEL AT THE GRACE AND POWER DISPLAYED BY FRED ASTAIRE, BUT THEY TOO OFTEN NEGLECTED THAT GINGER ROGERS HAD TO LOOK JUST AS GOOD DANCING BACKWARDS, IN A GORGEOUS GOWN AND HIGH-HEELS!

EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY HAS SIMILAR ABILITIES.

TO DO THE HARD WORK WITH CLASS AND STYLE, WHILE DELIVERING A KNOCK-OUT PERFORMANCE.

AND BELIEVE ME; IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE AND RECLAIM OUR MAJORITY IN CONGRESS, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO DELIVER SOME KNOCK-OUTS IN THE TOUGH RACES AHEAD!

RECENTLY, I WAS ASKED TO WRITE A COLUMN ABOUT WOMEN WITH "GRIT."

I RECALLED IN THAT ARTICLE THE CLASSIC WESTERN FILM "TRUE GRIT" WHICH WAS CELEBRATED FOR THE GREAT PERFORMANCE OF THE LEGENDARY ACTOR, JOHN WAYNE.

BUT THE ESSENCE OF THE STORY WAS THE PERSISTENCE, STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION OF A REMARKABLE YOUNG WOMAN. IT WAS HER DRIVE, UNFLAGGING BELIEF IN HERSELF, AND CONVICTION OF PURPOSE THAT DEMONSTRATED THE ESSENCE OF "GRIT."

AND I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY POSSESS THAT QUALITY.

AS WE CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES BEFORE OUR PARTY AND NATION, WE WILL NEED A STRONG DOSE OF THIS GOOD OLD AMERICAN QUALITY.

GIVEN THE WOMEN I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET AND WORK WITH IN THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN, I AM CERTAIN THAT QUALITY WILL NOT BE FOUND LACKING.

OUR PARTY AND OUR NATION, AND THE FUTURE OF BOTH, WILL BE BETTER FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND FOR THE GRIT YOU EACH POSSESS.

I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

MY VERY BEST WISHES FOR THE REST OF THE CONVENTION; AND ONCE TODAY'S BUSINESS IS CONCLUDED, I HOPE YOU ALL GET OUT AND SPEND LOTS OF MONEY!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD BLESS AMERICA.
 

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