Linda Lingle

Remarks at the 2016 Republican National Committee - July 18, 2016

Linda Lingle
July 18, 2016— Cleveland, Ohio
2016 Republican National Convention
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Aloha to the delegation from the great state of Hawaii, and a special aloha to the delegation from Illinois, my home for the past year.

The last 8 years have been a wakeup call to American Jews. More feel as I do—that there’s something wrong with America’s leadership today. A new direction is needed, particularly on the many issues important to Jewish Americans.

At home, we’re approaching 20 trillion dollars in debt, more adults than ever aren’t working, and public education in our cities is in tatters. The social compact at the very foundation of our democracy is being shredded.

These are the direct results of failed policies. Today, our country is more divided than ever, and our national security is threatened. The democrats refused to even call sources of so much of this violence by its name, or to acknowledge its cause. When it comes to engaging with the world, America should defend our national interest and our allies first. Clinton and Obama have treated our allies as strangers, insulted their leaders, and ignored their advice and interests.

Let’s compare the positions of the Democratic Party on Israel, on one issue after another, from boycott, investment and sanctions, to the Iran nuclear agreement, to the very legitimacy of Israel, they’re divided. With those who don’t care for Israel getting stronger in the Democratic Party. You’ll find no such divisions in the Republican Party’s leadership. With unanimity, we passed a platform resolutely supporting a United Jerusalem, condemning BDS, and calling it what it is, Anti-Semitism.

We reinforced our consistent opposition to the Iran Nuclear Agreement, along with many other policies of this administration. That agreement is propping up the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, including proxies like Hezbollah. With 150,000 rockets pointed at Israel, poised to strike.

If this worries you, you’re not alone. You’re part of a movement. This includes American Jews which in 5 of the 6 last presidential elections, have supported the Republican Presidential candidate in increasing numbers.

The support for Republican Presidential Candidates by Jewish Americans have tripled over the past 25 years. Republican leadership in the house, senate and across the country, has earned your trust on the issues important to all of us. Join us as we work together with our presidential candidate Donald Trump, and our vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, to make America great again!