Gibbons rallies GOP
By DAVE WOODSON - Staff Writer
Monday, February 28, 2005 2:29 PM PST
ELKO - Patriotic spirits soared as Elko's Grand Old Party had a grand old party Friday night at its annual Lincoln Day Dinner.
The fervor was whipped up by a fiery speech by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., during which he passionately proclaimed his heartfelt support for troops waging the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan and voiced blistering contempt for certain celebrities for giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Gibbons said he was dedicating his remarks to the "brave young men and women who are serving on the front lines" in what he termed World War III.
"We do so tonight, I believe, with the thoughts and prayers for the soldiers who are defending freedom around the world," he said. "Let's keep ourselves aware that this is a country at war today."
The Republican faithful listened intently while Gibbons spoke about the war in Iraq.
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Loud applause erupted when Gibbons said, "Tonight, I say we should support our President and the United States military in their efforts to defend freedom around the world."
Gibbons said the dinner was also a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln and that his philosophy had stood the test of history and applied in today's troubled times.
He said Lincoln understood better than most that unity and solidarity "best comes from dogged adherence to the Constitution and defense of liberty."
Gibbons segued into an attack on "liberals," who he said were trying to divide the unity of the country in a time of war.
He wondered what Lincoln's feelings would be at this juncture of American history.
"How would he feel, what would he be thinking about, all of the dissension, all of the division, that the liberals and a few others, including some our movie stars and song makers, are trying to divide this country over its efforts to establish freedom and liberty in countries around the world?" Gibbons questioned.
Gibbons answered with his own thoughts on the issue.
"We are all here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for our freedom," Gibbons continued. "We are here tonight not because of Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue - they never sacrificed their lives for us or for liberty."
Gibbons said it was not movie stars but soldiers and sailors that defended freedom in the deserts of Iraq, the jungles of Vietnam, the sands of Iwo Jima and the beaches of Normandy.
"I say we tell those liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and their music and whine somewhere else," Gibbons said to another burst of applause.
He said if they lived in Iraq or Afghanistan, "Ironically they would be put to death at the hands of Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden."
Gibbons brought the crowd to near feverish pitch when he hit the hot button issue of abortion.
"I want to know how these very people who are against war because of loss of life can possibly be the same people who are for abortion?" Gibbons said. "They are the same people who are for animal rights, but they are not for the rights of the unborn."
He said that they are the same people who wanted to go to Iraq and become human shields for the enemy.
"I say it's just too damn bad we didn't buy them a ticket," Gibbons said.
Laughter rippled through the room, mingled with more applause.
"If they want to be human shields, I say let them serve the men and women of honest integrity that epitomize courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniform of the United States military," Gibbons said.
"What greater love has man than he lays down his life for his friend - or in this case, his country," Gibbons said in conclusion.
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