• Lt. Governor Michael Steele Maryland. “I was prepared to give a stirring speech describing the principles of the Republican Party, but there was one problem: Barack Obama gave it last month at the Democratic National Convention.”

  • He’s the first Republican lieutenant governor of his State. And the first African American lieutenant governor of his State. “We have come a long way.”
  • He was inspired by “individuals like Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, and Maybelle Turner.” Four great Americans.
  • Owning restaurants to create “legacy wealth” to leave to their children. “Legacy wealth” is the concept of acquired wealth passed through generations. The descendants of slaves started with nothing.
  • “What government can do is give us the tools we need and get out of the way, and let us put our hopes in action.”
  • Kerry’s leadership is “I voted for the $87-billion before I voted against it.”
  • Kerry did want to use the word “war” to describe our efforts against terrorism. “Well ladies and gentlemen, I don’t want to use the words Commander in Chief for John Kerry. (Not gonna happen.)”
  • The chant: “But not John Kerry.”
  • Applause line: “But enough about him.”
  • The Maybelle Turner mentioned in the list of great Americans… his mother.
  • Bush moves us toward “that Shining City on a Hill.”