Mike Pence at CPAC

I sat down with one of the Hoosier Access directors for lunch today. Part of our discussion centered around the prospect of voting for McCain for President and if Mike Pence being on the ticket would make it easier to vote for McCain as President. So I found it interesting that when I got back from lunch and checked some blogs and news sources and found the text of Mike Pence’s speech at the CPAC conference this morning.

Video of Pence’s speech is at Townhall.

Summary and Quotes below the fold:

Pence addressed both McCain and conservatives in this speech. To McCain he basically said to live up to the conservative principles that he espoused at CPAC yesterday.

You promised a clear conservative approach to government:

· To make the tax cuts permanent

· To fight big government spending

· To veto any bill with earmarks and roll back entitlement programs

· To secure our borders first

· To appoint judges who will interpret the law and not make it

· To stand without apology for the sanctity of life

And you told us that you are not in the habit of making promises you don’t intend to keep.

These are the specifics that conservatives need to hear and keep hearing.

But now it’s time for deeds. You can begin keeping those promises today.

Whether this party comes together to support you as the nominee depends on your actions. So I offer you this challenge:

If you will continue to run on conservative issues and continue to build a solid conservative team and ticket, we can and will support you and work our hearts out to elect you as the 44th President of the United States.

You’ve claimed the Reagan mantle. Show us you know how to use it.

To conservatives he said that there is still a major difference between McCain and either of the Democrats.

I know some of you are considering sitting this one out. I understand. Our disappointments are deep, and they are legitimate. There are issues on which we are deeply divided. And the events of the past 24 hours have left many of you even more conflicted.

But not liking the choice is not the same as having no choice.

In this election, we will have a clear choice for the American people:

· There will be a choice between a candidate who vows to defend this nation and support our military, and a candidate publicly committed to defeat, retreat, and appeasement.

· There will be a choice between a candidate who promises fiscal restraint and lower taxes; and a candidate who fervently vows to take more and spend more.

· There will be a choice between a candidate who promises to protect and defend the sanctity of human life and one who will work every day to promote abortion on demand at home and abroad.

(Note that Pence focused on the three major areas of conservatism). Pence also directed conservatives to reward and respond to McCain, so long as he runs as a conservative:

Senator McCain, if you continue to embrace the right, the right will embrace you.

And let me add, to my fellow conservatives here at CPAC and throughout the nation: If we are to ask this from our nominee, we must be willing to accept it when it comes.

If we reject out-of-hand the good faith offerings of the candidates now as too little, too late, we destroy all chance for the candidate to make good on them.

This is a speech worth reading and I’ll try to update this post when I find a YouTube of the speech.