What a humbling, exhilarating experience to be a convention delegate and serve on the platform committee for your political party. It was hard work but thrilling to be a voice and representative for America. Sharing this first time American experience with ongoing conversations and personal first-hand perspectives hopefully inspires millennials to get involved and to not be afraid to stand up for what you believe. You can make the world a better place for humanity. I can tell you first-hand the GOP Convention was filled with faith, hope and love-for all. Especially expressed to the media, in spite of some trying to paint a picture of darkness about the party of new bright light. As a politically active baby-boomer and successful businesswoman for Trump-Pence, I have discovered that life events while keeping an open heart and mind helps some political positions evolve. But be wise and prudent, you can't veer too far off the good and secure path if you understand and protect the U.S. Constitution which was founded on solid, inclusive and virtuous Judeo-Christian teachings.
Cleveland, Home of Rock and Roll and the Champions. In Music, Sports and Politics. Perfect venue to showcase the Heartland of America. Lights, Cameras, Action! Playing the Hippest-Classics to celebrate America's patriotic history and plans for a brighter future. One of the most symbolic highlights of the GOP Convention was America the Beautiful performed by an apprentice of "Successful [Little]Women for Trump." The "America's Got Talent" 6-year-old star inspired resounding clapping and standing ovations, pure "Heavenly Joy!"
Aura of New GOP
During the historic week this talented young African-American girl shines a bright light on the fresh faces of the new GOP, upstaging the old Republican guard who were absent from their pedestals in the Q Arena. In total contrast, their sullen attitudes were not missed, including Ohio Governor Kasich. The party mood to him and other self-centered sore losers, like Ted Cruz, was "good riddance." The band blasted Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and the jumping crowd of cheering delegates rocked 'n' rolled. From dawn to dawn, the GOP was lifted to new heights of vision and purpose. A new day, a new way and a new GOP emerged, totally for "We The People!"
The reaction to the President Trump Plan of Action and his promise "I'm with you-the American People!" sparked spontaneous shouts of "USA, USA, USA!" His plan electrified GOP party members desiring to attract Independents and Democrats, celebrating his resolve to help all Americans and good people everywhere to rise. Words cannot describe the emotion and renewed hope in the Q arena, from tears of sorrow hearing from parents whose children were gunned down by evil-inspired perpetrators to smiles of joy when Trump's children praised his parenting and leadership skills.
Trump Means Business and Jobs
As a pro-business, pro-jobs delegate from the anti-business, anti-jobs State of California, it was great to be amongst our 172 strong delegation on the frontlines, shaking the convention floor with awesome energy, dancing and loudly shouting, "Trump!"- "U.S.A!"- "We Like Mike!" And California most gleefully leading the passionate crowd in the charging chant~ "Lock Her Up!"
The emotional chanting of these three "accountability" words illustrates the frustration and anger of Americans for allowing some celebrity and dynastic citizens special status. Even Martha Stewart and Leona Helmsley, two other iconic Americans, both served time and repaid their debt to society for far less egregious crimes than the other party's presidential nominee. The heart-wrenching agony that was shared at the convention by one of the grieving mothers' who was lied to by America's then Secretary of State after her son was murdered in Benghazi by terrorists moved the delegates to tears. This distraught American mother powerfully pleaded with the American people not to elect as president the very woman who lied to her and others, inspiring parents to chant, "Lock Her Up!"
Millennials: "Think Big"
It was poignant when millennial working Mom, Ivanka Trump, proclaimed that her Father not only felt the pain of those despairing but he would prevent other parents from experiencing similar loss of their children at the hands of criminals, if elected President. One of Ivanka's most memorable points for Americans to consider when choosing who they want as their next leader was that her Dad raised her since she was a little girl with the confident message that since she has to think anyway, she might as well, "THINK BIG!"
The last time I experienced this kind of overwhelming excitement for a presidential candidate and First Family was in 1960, during the troubling times of the Cold War, when my mother took me to meet John F. Kennedy with his elegant wife. Melania Trump has similar fashion style and poise to Jackie Kennedy. And I remember my Father's elation when he returned from the inauguration of JFK, where he was proudly seated in the Presidential Box. And in recent times, I compare the dynamism of the jubilant and diverse California Delegation to being at the Rolling Stones Concert in the Rose Bowl or with the congregation at First AME Church in South Los Angeles for Sunday Gospel Service. Interesting to note, the Cleveland GOP Convention was filled with millennials. Hailing from Beverly Hills was 22-year-old entrepreneur/actor Jagger Chase (not related to Mick) who proudly proclaimed he converted 93 Bernie millennials to Trump. Another impressive 22-year-old who illustrated special leadership qualities on the platform committee is Tommy Valentine from Virginia. Tommy, a student at the Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio is a future faithful voice of Conservatives.
We Can Do Better, Return to Prayer
In Cleveland, we all held hands and dropped our heads in united prayer lead by preachers of many faiths and ethnicities. For our California Delegation, it was humbling for me, to be asked to deliver the invocation twice. The touching words of the Irving Berlin song, "God Bless America" came to mind as we gathered,
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we
raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
Then sharing with our delegation the inscription on the Statue of Liberty,
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Reminding us all that 'the golden door' means jobs, security and freedom- the platform and clear mission of the GOP, the Great (and golden) Opportunities Party. Concluding with the Divine direction of "The Lord's Prayer", "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory" and we prayed for Donald Trump, his family and America to be protected from harm.
After months of many contentious primary battles, a few platform and rules committee shenanigans and some broken pledges by renegade candidates, it was apropos that the reverberating crescendo song of the final evening starring the winning Republican Presidential Nominee, Donald J. Trump, was from the legendary Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" while notably reminding Americans of the meaningful lyrics: "But if you try sometime-you find you get what you need!"
Fellow Americans, Brothers and Sisters, Alleluia! Amen.