|
SPARTANBURG—Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, connected with conservatives Jan. 25 in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination by calling for peace through strength, fair trade, lessening government regulation on business, securing our borders and protecting the lives of the unborn.
Hunter, in announcing his official entry into the 2008 presidential race, spoke to about 250 guests at the Marriott Renaissance Park Hotel in an event dubbed “America: the Strength of Freedom.”
Dr. Walter P. Witherspoon, national executive committeeman of the South Carolina Republican Party, was host.
Van D. Hipp Jr., who served as state GOP chairman from 1986 to 1989, introduced Hunter: “Where is Ronald Reagan when we need him? Well, sadly, we won’t see another Ronald Reagan, but the good news is, I have found the next best thing: a man who has that same kind of backbone, principle and determination. His name is Duncan Hunter, and he is the right man at this critical point in our nation’s history to serve as our commander in chief.”
Hipp continued: “I can honestly say that there is no one on the national stage today with a better grasp and understanding of the terrorist and national security threats facing America today than Duncan Hunter.
“Hunter served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers in Vietnam. He has served 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee for four years until the Republicans returned to minority status in January.
Fair Trade
“China is very clearly cheating on trade, and they are taking hundreds of billions of dollars, American trade dollars and they are now purchasing weapons systems,” Hunter said, discussing subsidies China gives to its exporters, tariffs it charges on imports and devaluing its currency.
“You can either choose to give in to China’s cheating,” Hunter said, “for the one-way street that takes good profits, businesses and jobs, and makes us a debtor nation to a country that has never shown mercy, or you can choose to join me to enforce fair trade with a two-way street that gives every business and every worker a chance to succeed.”
Peace Through Strength
Hunter expressed support for the President’s plan to send reinforcements to Iraq and to divide Baghdad into nine sectors, with two or three Iraqi battalions in each sector with an American battalion as a backup.
The President needs reinforcements, Hunter said, “and I can tell you also, he is sending reinforcements.”
He commented on politicians who want to stop these reinforcements or cut off funds for the troops. “Any political party that tries to cut off reinforcements or supplies in a shooting war will never be forgiven by our troops, and they will never be forgiven by the American people.”
Border Security
Hunter said that in San Diego by building a double-border fence, “we reduced the smuggling of hundreds of thousands of people through the San Diego smugglers corridor, and we reduced the smuggling of tons of illegal narcotics through there.”
Hunter drafted the language the President signed into law that mandates a fence being constructed for more than 700 miles across the borders of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. “Since 9/11, border security is no longer primarily an immigration issue, although it is, it is a national security issue, and we have to secure the border for national security reasons.”
To Our International Critics
Hunter noted that colleagues in Congress say we need to adjust our behavior so people in other nations will like us more.
“To our international critics I say, When you had floods, the Americans were there, asking for nothing, taking nothing, only helping. When you had fires and earthquakes and tsunamis, the Americans were there. When you had disease, Americans brought medicine. When you were hungry, the Americans brought food. When you were attacked, Americans left the safety of their homes to defend you.
“Sometimes the Americans came under their government, but many times they just came because of the goodness of their hearts. America is great because America is good. And the reason our citizens are good is because of our faith, because we believe that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights.”
Anti-abortion Judges
Hunter said that “if a judicial candidate can look at a sonogram picture of an unborn child and not see a human being worthy of protection, I will not give him an appointment to the court,” noting that “we spend millions of dollars searching for life on distant planets, I think our nation should be able to see it very easily in the beating heart of an unborn child.”
Hunter concluded: “God still loves our nation. We are still a people of character and strength and kindness. So, my fellow Americans, with the support of our families, with faith in God, and with confidence in the goodness of the American people, let’s begin this race for American presidency, and let’s win.”
The Hunter for President website is www.gohunter08.com.
|
