grows, so, too, does our standard of living. successful businesses lift up all america, and we must promote a free enterprise system, because it is a system that understands there are no limits. [applause] regardless of who prevails here today, we must defend our vision. because it is the heart and the core of the american dream, and it is what sets us apart from other nations. we must ban together, because we share ideas, hopes and dreams. we must not be deterred, because what is at stake is varietyly important. we must ban together and refuse to do anything but leave our state and our country better than we found it. let us ban together and fight for what we believe is needed

to keep our nation strong, free, and prosperous. so stand strong. thank you. god bless you, god bless iowa and the united states of america. [applause] >> let's give an iowa welcome to the iowa energy forum. >> ladies and gentlemen, the following are iowa citizens speaking about the importance of america's energy security. >> my feeling has always been we are short. people talk about it. i don't think we're short on energy. i believe there's enough energy on the soil and in the oceans to supply us for many, many years, and we don't even know how much is there. >> it's very important to the state of iowa. one in 11 people of the state

of iowa receives a paycheck because of the trucking industry. and the trucks for delivery of good delivered on a daily basis. not only for the trucking industry, but for everybody in the united states. energy is important to our livelihood. it's important to our economy, and it needs to be the number one priority among lawmakers and decision makers. >> what's important is if we're looking at where our source of crude oil, where we get it in the world that we look first at what's in america. my unit was in charge of all transportation within afghanistan. it was a huge, huge contract. and we relied almost solely on fuel that we got through pakistan, so there were oftentimes when that fuel supply was interrupted.

and it really makes a huge impact on you. you realize how important stst when it stops flowing. so to have a consistent source of fuel for the nation as well as for our military. >> as i understand our keystone of trying to build a pipeline from canada to texas to refineries so they can move some of this oil from canada, and then we would get the benefit from it. because most of the canadians oil is -- somebody's got to run and make a touch down and let's get the pipeline in. >> it can bolster a strong economy and create jobs in iowa. for more information visit iowa energy forum.com.

>> good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, i'm jack, president and c.e.o. of the american petroleum institute and sponsor of the iowa energy forum. we represent more than 470 oil and natural gas companies across the nation. we're responsible for 7.7% of all our economic activity. and today we support over $9. -- over 9.2 million american jobs. [applause] we believe with good, sound energy policy that there are many more jobs yet to create if given the opportunity to do so. i want to be downtown welcome you here, today to the kickoff to the 2012 campaign. the candidates have been crossing the state, seeking

your sufment and -- your support. and later today your votes will be talentied, and it will begin the start of this race, determining who is up and who is down. it's a deciding precursor some of you will feel next month when the hawkeyes come together here at the stalmt. >> now as much as we love football and politics, and i am sure you know both are contact sports, my interest today is not to support an individual candidate, but to stress the tee -- key role it flaze our lives and the key role it can be creating the jobs. it doesn't say how much we pay at the pump or how we handle foreign lands. it's about powering our

economy. it's about creating more american jobs and getting this country moving again. you may not be aware of how important engineering is for this great state of iowa. on a per-person basis, your nation is the fifth largest energy consumer. that's why iowans are leading the way in our energy sector in exciting new directions. today the hawkeye state is the epicenter of tomorrow's energy technology. capitalizing on more than 1100 turbines, iowa leads all states by producing 20% of your electricity through renewable wind energy. [applause] and i'm sure it goes without saying but i'm sure you're also well aware that iowa is the

leading maker of ethanol. ethanol production is surging in our economy, in this country. the u.s. is now a growing exporter. we've exported more in the last four months than we did in the prior 27 months in this country. we believe that with the right policies we could produce 92% of all our liquid fuels we need right here in america, and ethanol is a key part of that equation. [applause] our industry is the lead buyer of ethanol. and it may surprise you to learn that the oil and natural gas industry is a leader in developing alternative forms of energies and fuels. in fact one of every five dollars invested in low emissions technology comes from the natural oil and gas energy.

as the consumption has increased, so has natural gas. these renewable resources are sensitive to changing weather. the oil and gas industry today in the united states supports 9.2 million american jobs. including the 59,000 employees we have here in iowa. regrettably, government overregulation is preventing our industry from adding millions of jobs to our economy. we could create a half a million jobs just by opening access to currently off-limits.

and i'm sure many of you heard for the past three years we've been waiting for the state department to approve the keystone x.l. pipeline that will grant us access to the to the reserves which would create 500,000 american jobs. in fact this pipeline will import half of what we currently use, coming from -- our neighbors and allies to the north want to sell us their oil, but they need a pipeline to do it. this is an historic opportunity that we should capitalize on. but i'm unfortunately fearful that due to politics, we might squander this opportunity. b.p.a. is also getting in the

way as many of you here well know. it's pursuing an aggressive regulatory agenda that discourages so -- right now it's to the point of dis -- couraging this will pat freeze on our manufacturing sector and put at risk 7.3 million american jobs. these are but a few roadblocks that have prevented the american oil and gas industry from adding jobs right here in our economy. i hope that what i've said will remain in your minds. how will those seeking your support harmonize the need for economic growth with environmental protection? what will they do to unleash our energy sector and to grow

our workforce and our economy? these are the questions the next president will have to answer. these answers are what can make a difference between the economic standstill we face today and the prosperity we all desire for tomorrow. thank you-all for this opportunity to talk about our exciting potential to create jobs and help a u.s. come the -- please visit us at the iowa energy forum tent. we'd love to meet you and answer any questions. thank you very much. [applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for texas congressman ron paul. [applause]

♪ thank you. >> thank you very much thank you very much. it's great to be here. looks like a very exciting day. and we're delighted with the way things are going. [applause] the one thing about our campaign. it's been identified with one particular word, and i'm very proud of it. we are identified with the cause of liberty. [applause] i'm convinced that liberty and an understanding of that and a constitution can bring us peace and prosperity. [applause]

but today i'm going to emphasize something slightly different than just the cause of liberty. because there's something that proceeds liberty, and that is life. [applause] i believe in a very limited role for government, but the prime reason that government exists in a free society is to protect liberty, but also to protect life, and i mean all life. [applause] i want to tell a very short story, because time is short, about how i came to be very strong right to life. when i was in medical school in the 1950's it was a non-issue. it was assumed everybody was pro life and abortions weren't to be done.

in the 1960's when i was a resident studying ob/gyn, the doctors in the medical centers were defying the law in doing abortions. this shook me up. one day i walked into the operating room and they did a history rot my and lifted out a baby that was crying and breathing and put it in a bucket in the corner of the room and let it die and pretended nobody heard it. that was rather disturbing. but as i walked out of that room because i was a student and observer, i walked out of the room and a baby about the same size was born prematurely. and all of a sudden 20 people, nurses and doctors all rushing around to save the baby's life, which seemed very logical. but my conclusion that very day is you can net have relative value for life and deal with that.

we cannot play with that decision. all life is precious. [applause] if we are to defend liberty and allow people to spend their money as they want and go on the trips that they want and run their lives as they please, you have to understand where that liberty and life comes from. it does not come from the government. it comes from our creator. [applause] but there's a lot of ways you can defend liberty. in many ways, in a personal way, in intellectual way. in a religious manner. but also, as determined as i am to promote the cause of pro

life and making sure that governments don't slip off to defeating life and taking life, one of the most atrocious positions this country could have, and that is where government will come along and take money from those who strongly believe in pro life and commit abortions with that. that should be reversed. [applause] being pro life can be extended and pro liberty even into all ages. yes, it is good to be pro life, and we must be pro life, or you cannot be pro liberty, the way i understand it. but i also think it's being strongly pro life if we work very hard to have a policy when those young people, those

babies that are born, when they come to age, those lives are just as precious and they are never forced to fight in undeclareible, unwinible wars. [applause] i find it very difficult to protect liberty if you don't truly understand what the patriot act is all about. i understand. i was in washington with the great concern on the day after the day of 9/11, but the patriot act is an attack on our liberties and the fourth amendment. it does not solve the problems that we face. not when you take liberty away from the american people. [applause]

if you want to think about the issue that comes about if you get careless about the protection of liberty, that the patriot act along -- if we tolerate that type to interfere with our lib i we have to be -- you can not repeal in order to say yes, we can give up a little bit of our freedoms to be safe. you never have to give up liberty to be safe. [applause] and foreign policy has been a big issue in our campaign, because the country is tired of the war. and we're all so broke. the wars have been going on for

10 years. they are undeclared. they are fought under international banners, nato and the united nations, and we don't see an end to it. but it's also costing us a lot of dollars, those trillions of dollars should have been left in the economy to build jobs and prosperity here at home! one other symbolism of a failed foreign policy is what we did in iraq. we went into iraq. we were supposed to go into iraq to get al qaeda. there was no al qaeda. we went in there to get weapons of mass destruction. there were no weapons of mass destruction. today one half of the christians have been run out of iraq. we have not done a good job.

and now they are closer to the iranians than they have ever been. but symbolically i want to tell you what was done in iraq. we built an ambassador there. the embassy is as big as the vatican. and just recently the d.o.d. budget authorized the employment of 17,000 people to work in this embassy. that is not the way to achieve prosperity [applause] there's something you have to do because we have importance if you want to understand

economics and process parity, you have to understand monetary policy and the mischief of that and we have to change that. [applause] in order to attract investments and capital into a country, you cannot have the weak currency. we inflate endlessly which means we print money to pay for the debt. it goes to the stronger countries. now we have the greatest debt in the history of the world and we ow $1.4 trillion to china and we wonder why we have a problem. you have to have a strong currency. there's nothing wrong with us reconstituting the constitution because only gold and silver

can be legal tender. [applause] also you have to have the proper environment for companies to bring their moneys back home. you can't have a money bring money or park money overseas and double tax them and charge them 35% again, that's changing , around it would be a good idea to get rid of all this income tax and corporate taxation. [applause] and of course with a strong currency and with a change of the tax system, you also have to deal with the regulatory systems. we have to shrink the size of the federal register.

we need a lot less regulations not more regulations. [applause] it is said that those of us who promote the free market system, that we don't care about regulating those ruthless, big corporations, but just think about how the sound economy would regulate those companies and banks -- stopping the debt on the american people, causing the unemployment and causing the little guy to lose his house. [applause] the problems are very large. they are very difficult. the solution is not complicated

if you understand how we got into this mess. basically we got into this mess because we have lost respect for our law of the land, the constitution, and we have lost our thumb for freedom. that we, ourselves can take better care of ourselves, and predict our money and lives and our children's education >> much of the work has done better without government down our backs and in our freems, it's time we restore freedom back to america. [applause] and we have that opportunity. before start -- people are starting to recognize. people are accepting the argument that the economy is now in shambles, and there was a housing bubble, and there's been a collapse of the housing bubble. the american people now by a large majority are saying we've

been overseas too long. we need to protect the our borders and forget about the borders in afghanistan and pakistan. [applause] time to bring the troops home. [applause] there is no argument that is viable to say that we have to keep troops in south korea. they've been there since i was in high school. they've been in japan since world war ii. they've been in germany since we need a boost in the economy! -- they have been in germany since i was in high school.

we need a boost to the economy! >> [applause] if we got in this trouble by a lack of loyalty to our law and constitution, it is not that difficult. all we have to do is restore the bleeping freedom and restore our conviction that the constitution works. it would take a while. but it might only take a year. we're into the fourth year of this recession. yes. we got in this trouble by not having respect for the constitution. we can get out of this trouble by respecting the rule of law in sending them by defending the constitution and thank you very much. [applause] ♪

>> and now a special message from strong american now. >> i'm mike, i'm a granddaughter and retired c.e.o. i'm not a politician. i'm just worried about what we're levering for our children and grandchildren. you see in the last four years washington racked up $1 trillion of new debt. it's a staggering amount that stifles our economy. i have a proven solution that can end waste and deficit spending with no new taxes. please go to strong america now to learn more.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, our next speaker is someone who needs no introduction. but right now, as we look at what a successful november conservatives had all across the country, we were successful because we stood up and showed the voters of this nation and the road isers of iowa that there's a clear difference between the majority and there's no one that embodyies the spirit and principle more than our congressman, congressman steve king. [applause] ♪ >> thank you. thank you all very, very, very much. you're a great crowd tie.

you ever a big crowd today, and there's still cars coming in the platte. -- in the parking lot. it looks about like iowa state, iowa instead of the straw poll. you're sending a message to america. that message is we have a first chance to be able to give a boost to some candidates and give a recommendation to the rest of the country. this matters the first in the nation straw po. if the straw poll is effective and it is, you ever making it effective today, that means the caucus will also be effective. if we ever lost first in the nation a caucus, then it would be down to every man and every woman wouldn't have the opportunity to be president of the united states again. it was the person with the deepest pockets. the campaign that could paint a shaking their hand and -- this

is important. when i was a young boy, i remember asking my father, dad, could you be president? and he looked at me and said, i supposed if i wanted to be. i want that always to be the case. for every little boy and girl in america. i want them to always grow up believing their mom or dad could be president if they wanted to be, and if america chodse them, and i want every little boy and girl and child is that aspiring to any position in this country whether it's public office or any other form of purpose, this has embodied thank you for everything you're doing to make it what it is today. [applause] >> now we have some things we need to do. there's some things we need to do from a policy standpoint. a lot of you know what i think, but i want to go down through the list of this and touch a

few things. one is we're looking today at a national debt that is $14.3 trillion. if we do no, in 10 years, it's $28 trillion. if the proposalal passed two or three weeks ago is successful, it's only $26 trillion. how do you feel? not very good, and if we stick with the ryan budget, it would be another 16 years before the budget balances. and pass the bailout budge et -- budget that agrees with the constitution. and while we're doing that, we need to put some other pieces in place. one is we've got to get this economy on the move again. i will tell you that the markets are closed today and they'll be closed tomorrow. but i can tell you how we can

get those markets to jump up 1,000 points at the opening bell on monday. now i know i have your attention. here's how the works. the president of the united states needs to set up his podium out there on the south lawn of the white house, and what i'm typing into the teleprompter for him -- [applause] i want the president to step out on the podium, and i want him to say, you know i've been meditating and seeking counsel and praying and come to a conviction. john mainer cane was wrong. -- john boehner was wrong. changing economics is wrong. you cannot borrow money from the chds and give it to people who aren't working and ask them to spend it in this economy and

think you're going to stimulate an economy with a chain letter. you're not. >> i want president obama was wrong and adam smith was right. i want him to say now that i've come to this conviction, i'm here to tell you i'm a one-term president. now you know how the markets will jump up 1,000 points on monday if he does that. he would say i'm going to embrace and endorse the republican nominee because that's the freedom and free market liberty party, one that 30 years ago ronald reagan asked this question of america. are you better off today than you were four years ago?

the answer of course was no. we sent jimmy carter home and elected the greatest president of the united states. [applause] and the question is you asked whether you're better off. but there's a more important question. there's something more precious to us. that's our freedom and our liberty. i will ask you do you have more freedoms today than when obama was inaugurated? more liberties? >> no. >> do we have more prosperity or jobs today? >> no. >> do we have more hope today? >> no. >> and what did obama do with the change? he spent that and every dime he could get his hands on because he's an a canesian economist on stareds.

he also makes chavez look like a piker when it comes to international business. three large investment banks aig taken over by the federal government. chrysler, fannie mae and freddie mac, all that nationalized. the takeover rftroift sect -- he likes that word, audacity, the single most sovereign thing we have is our soul. and we protect this with everything we have, and we nurture our children to have the same core faith so they protect their sovereign soul as well. but the second most sovereign thing we have is our health. our body and obama care. he nationalized your skin and everything inside it. and he put a 10% tax on the outside if you go to the tanning salon.

o'bamday care has got to be ripped out by the roots. obamacare is a malignant nurem our society and civilization and it's got to be ripped out by if roots so there's not one particle of d.n.a. of obamacare . obamacare has got to go. [applause] and i want that repeal. the repeal of obamacare to be fight number one in every presidential campaign so that the next president of the united states when he stands on the podium january20, 2013, i

want that next president, he orshow she, to pass with this swear, i will faithfully execute the office of the united states and will to the best of my ability reserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states, so help me god. [applause] and before the next president shakes hands with chief justice roberts, i want him to sign the repeal of obamacare right there at the inauguration ceremony, january 20, 2013. thank you very much. god bless you all! [applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for

former minnesota governor, tim paw lenty. [applause] >> it's nightfall in america. tonight millions of american families and businesses are struggling through an american disaster. >> always going to be bucks across the country. >> across the countrymen and women are facing hard times. here's where we can put a proven record into action. here is where true leaders lead by example and make the lives of citizens better. with a renewed vision of patriotism. this is where a real leader provides real solutions, for health care, balancing the budget, and for growing a more

-- accomplishments and the ability to preserve and protect the fundamentals. here is where we prove that american independence is alive and well. >> for 235 years we've taken the road less traveled. the road of liberty. the role of self-government and free enterprise. >> our founding fathers created it. our ancestors founded it. and now it is up to us to preserve it. generations from now, it will be said the american comeback began here in iowa. [applause] >> our new beginning. our road begins today. right here. right now. [applause]

♪ >> thank you. thank you. thank you so very much. thank you. thank you very much. i appreciate it. thank you. i hope that you'll give a great iowa welcome to the fosmer first lady of minnesota and my two daughters, anna and maura. [applause]

>> i want to thank you for being here today. thank you for loving america and thank you for your patriotism and thank you for being on this journey to take back our country from barack obama. [applause] 30 years ago on this very day, august 13, ronald reagan, one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country signed the economic recovery act into law. it was knighted in that time of our country, massive revenue growth. massive job and and as we face similar challenges today, we know what to do, don't we? [applause] we know what america needs. but unfortunately, barack obama

has absolutely no clue. he is like a manure spreader in a wind storm. [applause] about four years ago, barack obama came through iowa. he convinced the democrats of this great stite catapult him towards white house. and they did. but today's the day that republicans in iowa, independence in -- independents in iowa and conservatives all across this country send the message that barack obama's got to go. [applause] >> he's been talking a lot about the full faith and credit of america's death death.

barack obama should put his full faith and credit in the american people. [applause] >> now the way forward may not be the easy way, but it's not complex. as we look over the history of this great nation, we know what works. we can see the lessons of america's greatness and bring them forward to the challenges of our time. and here they are. let's be a nation that puts its trust in god first and foremost. [applause] number two, we know, this don't we? we can't spend more than we take in. [applause] and we also know as we watch him going across the world, apologizing for america, denying or ignoring america's k3e7pingsalism that we make sure our president will

maintain the peace by maintaining our strength. [applause] and we're going to send the message from iowa here today all across this great country, and it's what i hear from hard-working and concerned americans experiencing the heavy-handed economic results of barack obama? the mess >> mr. president, get the government off our backs. [applause] >> let's get a start on that agenda. first, mr. president, repeal obamacare. [applause] number two, mr. president,

please come before the country and tell us why you oppose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget? we want it, and the country deserves it, and you should support it. [applause] and i also want to share with you and many other republican c57bd dats here and in the race, they are wonderful people and they have a great vision for network in deciding who you are going to support in this race. many republican candidates are going to say the same thing. they are going to say i'm the one who will cut government spending. i am the one who will reduce taxes. they say i am the one who will stand for the cause of life. they say i will stand for traditional marriage. they say i am the one who will do health caret.

he came through iowa with the great speeches, and the big rhetoric. but now we know this, don't we? his rhetoric doesn't put gas in our car, does it? and barack obama's relate rick doesn't pay our mortgage, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't pay our health care premiums, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't put our children through college and pay the tuition and doesn't give us a job, does it? >> no. >> is it time for barack obama to go? but for us, too, it's got to be more than words. we've got to deliver. and so i stand before you as a

candidate who sticks his claims to iowa and here today on large part that i don't just talk about it. we get the job done for minnesota and more america. [applause] so if you look at my record in minnesota, you can see we took spending from historic highs to historic lows. we cut taxes in my state over eight years and did it -- we advanced the cause of life and traditional marriage in historic ways. we did public employee pension reform. before it was cool and popular to do it in the rest of the country. those kinds of results, not just talk, is what america needs now. i also want to tell you doing that in minnesota ising? that's very interesting and important to know.

we need to not just preach to the choir and make sure we have a candidate who can win in places like kansas or oklahoma or some of the other great states in this country, alabama and georgia. he can come up to iowa and wisconsin and pennsylvania and take the conservative message and urgeos to win and get this country back. i won and got re-elected in one of the most difficult states to be a republican, minnesota, and i'll carry those states as a candidate for president. [applause] the way forward may not be, but america can overcome challenges, as you know. valley forge wasn't easy.

settling the west wasn't easy. winning world war ii, for sure wasn't easy. going to the moon wasn't easy, but this is not about easy. it's about getting our country back on track. this is the united states of america. we are the american people. [applause] the founding fathers created it. ronald reagan personified it. abraham lincoln stood courageously to defend it. and now the call comes to each of us in this time as our country again faces great challenges. this is the greatest nation the world has ever known. if we stand courageously to defend it and move barack obama and put the country back on

track, we will have done our duty. he is a government for the people, by the people, we will remain the greatest country the world has ever known and our country will not perish from the earth. [applause] so i want you to do everything you can in the closing hours of the straw poll to get support to my campaign. i want to look you in the eye and tell you i know what this country needs and understand our conservative principles. i am not just going to stand up here and give you the word. you can take it to the bank. i will lead this country to a better, brighter, a stronger place. thank you very much. i appreciate your support.

[cheers and applause] ♪ [cheers] [crowd chants]

[cheers and applause] >> that is tough to compete with. good work. our next speaker has been thinking -- has been an incredible advocate for iowans and republicans. he still goes back to the form every weekend and understands that midwestern work ethic. that is the hardest working center in the entire united states senator, chuck grassley. ♪ >> we are going to beat obama

next year, aren't we? [cheers and applause] i have a question for president obama. after 2.5 years, when are you going to start taking responsibility for your policies instead of making excuses? [applause] because it seems like speech after speech or news conference after news conference, you are always blaming somebody else and. yes, mr. president, maybe you have accepted when you took office bad economic and fiscal times, but i want you to know, mr. president, by any measure of the economy orthoscope policy, you have made every statistic worse.

[applause] so, we are here today to elect new leadership. we are here today to listen to they andidate ass propose policies to turn our economy around and leadership that will accept responsibility for their actions. we need a president of uncomp romising integrity. thanks to the voters and especially to the tea party members. i get it. congress gets it. [applause] no excuses. when will you get it, mr. president? [applause] we are here today because as americans we believe in beter.

we are here today because we believe in the principles that made america great. we know that freedom cannot be taken for granted. it must be defended and it must be protected. the simple truth is that since 2008 our worst suspicions have been confirmed. president obama's hope and change is nothing more than the failed and discredited big government policies that have been the enemies of freedom all over the entire world for centuries. the battle is on. [applause] the battle is on. iowa welcomes the outstanding leaders here today who are fighting to maintain america's x factionalism.. --

exceptionalism. our nation, our culture, our economy, our governments are built upon the principles of freedom that are unique are around the entire world. ourica's founders formed national heritage based upon proven principles derived from constructive values, founded upon biblical convictions. [applause] that foundation will preserve america, and without it, america will fail. the original contract, our constitution, promised a limited federal government. is the same today as it was a originally, except for time to

time, it might be amended by the american people. of our sacred mission is to preserve the constitutional principles that made our country great and to advance the cause of liberty. we believe in freedom, and we will fight to protect that liberty and freedom. [applause] now, three years later, we are into the obama presidency. the economy is still sputtering. we have added $4 trillion to the national debt, anemic economic growth has unemployment higher than 9%, excessive government spending and regulation, plus the constant threat of higher taxes and more of the same or even worse have choke holds on our productive, free enterprise

system and not creating jobs. now, has the leader of the free world lost sight of the american dream? the united states has grown into the world's largest economy through ideas, innovation, and instinct. for generations, self-starters, risk takers, and hard workers have clamored to climb the ladder of economic success through the mobility that it allows. mr. president, redistribution undercuts the core principles of free enterprise [applause] the promose made in 1776 to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is what

makes the american way of life the beacon of hope for the rest of the world. of course, the word "light" includes the unborn. [applause] the truth is that under this administration, america is losing its way. instead of honoring and instead of cherishing america's exceptionalism, washington has backed away from it while demonstrators in the arab world are trying to reach out and gain more freedom and a voice in their government. and to do away with the oppression and tyranny. it is time for our president and a president in the future who believes in america is ambition and in america as a vocation

again. we need a president who has deep faith in liberty and individualism and freedom. we need a president who understands the power of example toreat the rest of the world. we need a president who knows that tomorrow can be better if we put america's first principles first. america cane what be if we once again had a strong president. today and in the months ahead, as home to the first in the nationa caucus system we have, let's make clear to the entire country for them to hear our message that comes out our caucus system, make sure that

message is heard loud and clear. you deserve better. you decided. let's get to work. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, we now have a special message from the executive director of the national rifle association. [applause] >> it was a 17th century writer who suggested to take a piece of straw and throw it in the air. you may see with that which way the wind is. iowa's straw poll is the biggest. thank you for participating in this event and our democracy.

as the winds begin to stir, let this day marks the beginning of a storm that blows of the occupant out of the white house door in 2012. he will be facing us. if we all do our part, you can take our victory to the bank. we have to work together, and we have to win. the issues we face demand 8. from surrounding or pour southern border to capitulating to the united nations, our government has lost its integrity and the face of the american people. all of the white house press conferences in the world will not change that. but we can change it, and we will, starting today. endowed by our creator and due to all human kind, our liberty

lives in the second amendment, the fundamental right that separates us from other nations on earth. that freedom makes us better in other countries, stronger, and we will stand up to all of the government's failure and corruption and defend our rights and our nation. it starts right here in iowa right now. it ends i;n the white house in 2012 with a new president that wakes up every day with a commitment to our values, our constitution, and our american freedom. i know you are with me. our members believe in defending freedom. thank you for all of your support. have a great straw poll. keep fighting for freedom every single day. >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for

minnesota congresswoman michele bachmann. [cheers and applause] ♪ >> our american heartland, a place where life and liberty is celebrated. hard work and sacrifice is rewarded. gods the good grace is accepted as a loving gift. six generations ago, a hard- working norwegian family settled to begin a new life. their legacy continues today. michelle learned and lived the lessons of her ancestors. work hard and overcome every obstacle. her name is michele bachmann. >> it was a very simple life because we did not have a lot of money. there was a standard of living that we followed -- being

honest, truthful, and doing what you say you are going to do. i started out in waterloo. we had this all but two-story house that we were living in. my parents rented out the second floor to get rent money. i felt very crowded growing up and secure. we were happy. >> she helped to provide for her family even during those tough days. she never lost sight of her dreams. >> my mother told me i should become a secretary because she saw that it was a secure job. i wanted to go to college. >> she went to college and started a family. she went on to earn a degree in tax law and served as a tax attorney for the united states government.

they were blessed with five children and decided to become foster parents. over the years, they would open their arms to 23 children who needed a loving home. michele led an effort that successfully reformed education in minnesota. >> i knew that everything would change in our society if we did not get education right. i was so highly motivated and that i really believed you could change city hall and banquets chosen by her neighbors, she quickly earned a reputation as a tireless conservative leader that got things done. in 2006, she was the first republican woman elected to the united states congress from minnesota. michele bachmann stood up to nancy pelosi's liberal policies.

this a leader from america's heartland fight for our freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, believes that we can restore american prosperity, and has a face that we can overcome any obstacle because we always have. michele bachmann for president. [applause] ♪ [cheers and applause] ♪ >> thank you very much. hi, everyone. good to see you.

god bless you, every one. we are going to do 8. it is going to happen. 2012 is hours. we are going to take it back in 2012. [cheers and applause] all of the greatness, the energy, all that we need to do to take the country back in 2012 is right here in this room in ames, iowa. we are going to do it together and take it back. [cheers and applause] my name is michele bachmann and i am running to be the next president of the united states of america. [cheers and applause] and together, we are going to

make barack obama a one term president. [cheers and applause] from one iowan to antoher, iowa will be the pace car to set the tone and pace for bringing this country back for the greatness itwas meant. it is iowa where we will see the greatness once again begin. i am so thrilled with what i have seen. our campaign is 48 days old. i have been all across the four corners of iowa and all points in between. i was born and raised in waterloo and cedar falls of. in this wonderful part of our state, what i saw were

reasonable, fair-minded people who loved me, poured themselves into me, and that is the voice i heard growing up. common sense and moral values. that set the tone. everything i needed to know in life, i learned in iowa. [cheers and applause] my mother and father taught us to always love iowa. iowa is the breadbasket of the world bank and we feed millions of people from iowa. be grateful. i have always been grateful that i am an iowan. i believe it is time to have an house. in the white

in the last 48 days, as i have been everywhere from spencer to storm lake, to you name it, we have been there, and ames as well. what we have seen is a restoration of that dream. you have restored in me my faith in america. i see on the television destruction all across the country, but inot in iowa. i see happy, confident, optimistic people. their crops are growing. we have a wonderful season. people are more energized than ever before because they know we can do this. if we stick together, they know this will happen. they know we can secure the promise of the future for our children. how do i know is that?

because i have seen wonderful people who believe this. they believe that life is precious, and that from conception until natural death, we stand for human life. that is iowa. [cheers and applause] and all across iowa, i have seen a marvelous appreciation for a marriage, as one man and one woman. [cheers and applause] you showed the world when you did not retain those three justices in your last election. [cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will only appoint justices who followed the constitution and do not legislate from the bench. [cheers and applause]

this is important. it is fundamental. it is foundational because the family is the foundation of a unit of this country. with the family, we are everything. without the family, how do we survive? we need the family to go forward. now -- [cheers and applause] people say, and that is unrealistic. it is absolutely essential that we maintain the family. i thank god for family. my parents were married here in waterloo, iowa. my parents, unfortunately in later years, divorced. i was raised by a single mother. we went to below poverty overnight, but my mother said it

will not always be that way. it is going to get better. one thing that i learned from my great family is that we did stick together. that was a great life lesson, we are thae i saw that social conservatives and we will never be ashamed of being social conservatives. [cheers and applause] we understand that religious liberty is the essence and a foothold of this nation. we should never be ashamed or afraid of the faith that this country was founded upon. i think god for the religious faith that my parents taught to me. i thank god -- a [applause] i think god for what he has done. god has mightily put his hand of blessing upon this nation.

we can never think that we did this ourselves. it was almighty god who gave this to us. [cheers and applause] we are social conservatives. we are fiscal conservatives, and i am one. i am a former federal tax lawyer. my husband and i started our own successful company. i get it, how to turn the a economy around. we think it is a good idea to turn a profit. [cheers and applause] and we agree with the declaration of independence which said we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. the founders designed that to be

we have the right to keep the fruits of our own labor. what a concept. [cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will stand for life, marriage, and the right for you to keep the fruits of your opponent labor. [cheers and applause] -- of your own labor. nationale alolso security conservatives. we love this country. we love our brave men and women who served this country with respect and admiration. [cheers and applause] we will never forget that every day there are those who wake up in the morning thinking how they will kill americans

today. there are those thinking how they will destroy the united states of america today. i am privileged to sit on the house committee on intelligence. we are a very small committee that deals with the nation's classified secrets. we must never forget that we always stand for the safety and security of the american people. and i will. [cheers and applause] in iowa, we have successfully maintained the chain of liberty for 150 years. my family has lived in iowa. every generation has successfully handed the torch of liberty to the next. it is if we have forged a chain link of liberty. every generation has successfully tapped the change

going. now is our chance here in iowa. we get to forge a that next chain on the link eo fliberty, to make sure is not just our generation, but generations of 150 years from now that look back and say thank you for restoring the promise of the future to my children, thank you that you restored greatness again to the united states. that is what we will do to get their. we will stick together, stand together, do with the solomon brothers said, the famous sullivan brothers from waterloo, iowa. all five brothers gave their lives for the cause of liberty. they said, "if we stick together, we will get it done." whether we are in the tea party, social conservatives,

fiscal conservatives, we stick together, and this will happen. the greatness will once again belong to the united states of america. nchpad.gan the lau [cheers and applause] because i know right now as i look across this arena here in ames, we are the team that cannot be beat. [cheers and applause] teh sullivan brothers of waterloo, our military men and women -- they have laid it on a line for us generation after generation after generation. they have laid it on the line for us. now it is ours. we will not let the next generation down. we too will lay it on the line,

and in 2012, which will take the country back. join the. i am headed over to the voting booth right now. come with me now because i am going over to the voting booth to cast my vote. i am asking for your vote to be the next president of the united states to take your voice to the white house spending god bless you! god bless the united states of america! i love you all. god bless you! i love you! thank you so much! i love you! ♪

>> it is the time when we are

looking for leaders in washington who will run to a fight instead of running away from one, we have someone in iowa who is doing that very same thing. how important it is to have conservative voices in washington. he is taking on a fight to make sure that we defeat them next november. tom needs your help, and we are going to do it. we need the conservative leader in washington. he will continue to be that great voice in iowa. congressman tom latham. ♪ [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you. what a great day to be in

iowa. what a great day to be the people who will decide who gets to be the next president of the united states. it is a beautiful day. as a representative, welcome to the fourth congressional district. [applause] let me just get a show of hands here, folks. how many of you think that your parents, your forefathers and mothers, gave you a better opportunity than what they had? how man y of you > how many of you believe today that if we continue the policies of barack obama, of the liberals in congress, the spending, the regulatory nightmare that we are putting our country through, how many of you believe that your

children and grandchildren are going to have a better life than you had? i do not see a hand in the place. that is why it is critical of what you do today here. i know each and every one of us have their favorite candidates. but we always have to keep in the mind the end goal, and that is to make barack obama a one- term president. [cheers and applause] because i will tell you having watched what happened in the last congress, when you had total control with barack obama in the white house, nancy pelosi as speaker of the house, harry reid as the majority leader, you saw what happened. you saw what their agenda is, to

only spend more money in washington, to have more control in washington. when you look at over $1 trillion stimulus bill that they passed, cap and trade that would regulate our energy industry out of business, the health-care bill that was jammed through, that is their agenda. larger government, more control, more spending. we understand as conservatives. we understand that it is the people that make the difference in this country. is the people's country, the people's government. i think what has got us motivated today is everyone believes that no one in washington is listening. there is nobody there that really brings the concerns of the american people to the table. when you look at the liberals and seek the expansion of

government and control, and we all know that the larger the government is, the smaller the citizen. we have to change the. weekend with this first step that we have here today in ames, iowa. this is a great start. we are seeing numbers that we have never seen before. it is fabulous. always keep in mind what tghe goal is. bring back prosperity for our country, opportunities for our children and grandchildren so they can have a better life than we have had. thank you all for being here. god bless. [cheers and applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for the michigan congressman thaddeus mccotter. [applause]

♪ [applause] >> thank you very much for the kind introduction. you know, when they told me they were going to play the video, i was a bit chagrined because in

my mind's eye i have a full head of hair. [laughter] but, as children of god, we realize our limitations and our mortality. but as a free people, we must always recognize the greatness within us. this generation of americans has a choice to make. we can focus on the jeopardy, or we can seize the opportunity. we can seize freedom. our nation was conceived as a revolutionary experiment in liberty and self-government. today, we are called to conserve and improve that experiment at the very time all around us we are seeing self

government and liberty expand. when we look at our economy, we see stagnation. we see the effects of institutions, be thehy the federal government or the failed bailout banks on wall street that think they are more important than you. that believe they are too big to fail. they are wrong. [applause] the only thing too big to fail in the united states are the sovereign american people. [applause]

and that is why i have no doubt that you recognize the future is not big government. it is self government. [applause] and that you will seize the opportunity to undo so much of the damage that has been done under the obama administration and under the past democratic majority in the congress. and this is simply why. we know we live in a period of time when you can at your laptop computer seek sources of information from anywhere you wish and use that information to make a decision. we know that with a black.

in the palm of your hand you can communicate around the world to talk to friends, family members, or to make a purchase. we understand that today, in your lives, you are being empowered to make your own decisions to -- yet we see one entity that refuses to recognize the reality around us. that is big government. today, we live in what is known as a consumer economy. that means you make the decisions, the investments, the purchases. that is called a free market. we cannot have the big governmetn model that is highly centralized, highly vertical,

taking your decisions, taking your property, and centralizing it in washington. that is called the politics of the past. that is why i would ask my fellow republicans that when any democrat tells you they are progressive, please correct them. ive. are regresses [applause] because of big government, the welfare state created that reached its zenith under clinton johnson when i was born in 1965, is non-sustainable in 2011 in a globalized world. [applause] that is why the government must be restructured for the 21st century. it must not be merely shrunk or cut. it must be restructured the same

way businesses and families have had to restructure their operations to be competitive in a global h. bahut [applause] -- in a global age. as we well understand, the fallacy of the welfare state is it tends those who are self- reliant to trade their liberty and property for false state benefits and the security. we know that a passionate country takes care of those who cannot help themselves and who need assistance to get back to self-reliance, but as we restructure government, we will never again ask a person who already has the self-respect of a job, the self-reliance to ever become dependent upon government because you know that you cannot and power an individual by making them dependent on how another person. that is wrong.

[cheers and applause] speaking of the dependents, let us turn our eyes to the failed bailout banks on wall street. you know, we heard the concept of too big to fail. we know as a practical matter, the bailout has not worked. we know that because we know that for the first time since the great depression you have sink credit contract in the united states. that means no matter how much tax relief we do, no matter how much regulatory relief that we do, no matter how much energy policy we do, this economy will remain stagnant until the banks are forced to recapitalize at their expense so the credit gets down to the entrepreneurs and workers that will grow this economy in the near term and shape it for the 21st century. [applause]

. more importantly even than that, you will reaffirm as a free people that we all are equal sovereign citizens, and you should not pay for the failure of those banks out of the hard work and fruits of your labor. [applause] as you grow and shape this a economy, as you restructure the federal government, you will also be asked to address the reality that we will remain and are a nation at war, that we have brave men and women in uniform defending our liberty in foreign lands, and it is heartbreaking to know that we cannot bring them home as quickly as our hearts wished them to be.

but make no mistake. as someone who has met with them, both at home and abroad, as someone who has met with the families of the fallen and tried to cover them as best i could, they are quite proud of what they are doing to defend you. and they are rightfully so. because, my friends, the american military remains a force for moral code in the world because in order to secure our liberty, our young men and women in uniform are expanding liberty to others. [applause] and we will not abandon in a precipitant manner the fruits of their hard work. we will not abandon those

individuals who believe that lady liberty when she said she would give them a chance to enjoy the same god-given right to freedom that we enjoy here in our republican. we must also face another challenge. we have to accept the reality that communist china is a strategic threat and a rival model of governance to the united states. [applause] and the reason as the party of recon and lincoln, we understand. as a free people, we understand our liberty which comes from our creator is the foundation of our security and the foundation of our prosperity. the communist chinese regime in beijing that butchered my generation in the streets of t an immense square believed that

human liberty is a threat to prosperity. they are as wrong today as the soviet union was wrong in the 20th century. i will not seek the 21st century -- or tries to culturally commit genocide against the people of tibet. [cheers and applause] my fellow citizens here at home, i will not allow, as a free and sovereign citizen, your sovereignty, your god-given right to riase your children as yous ee fit, to engage your community to seek the common

good. i will not allow that to be impaired by an imperial bureaucracy by the federal court or the united nations or any outside entity. [cheers and applause] you are the masters of your faith. and youa re the custodians of the legacy of liberty that we have been bequeathed. now, in a difficult time, you are asked to transcend the challenges that we face. there are many who asked whether or not the best days of the united states are behind her . there are many who wonder -- big government, the big wall street

banks, our terrorist enemies, a regime in beijing that seeks to own and dominate the 21st century, or outside embassies that want to tell you how to live. some people ask do i matter anymore? well, as the party of lincoln and reagan, we know the answer to the question is this. you matter more than ever. you matter more than ever because -- [applause] because in your hands rests the true hope for change for the unit states.

you understand that the lambeau liberty that you cradle in your humble hands will be bequeathed to future generations, that we will conserve and improved the free republic that we have inherited. despite the challenges we face, despite the difficulties, despite some of the doubters, you will trod that hard road to happier times because you understand, above all else, that the true strength and the salvation of the united states remains for a free people and their virtues genius and industriousness and the unfathomable grace of god. that is why you understand, very simply, what washington and the obama administration refused to admit. this feature is now. the future is u.

you will build a virtuous, purposeful, productive republic for generations to come. is lucky enough to be nominated, if honored enough to serve in the office of the presidency, i will not work for the pundit. i will not work for the bundlers. i will not work for the powerful. i will work for the people. i will work for you. god bless you. god bless the united states of america. [cheers and applause] ♪ >> we have the following message from the american wind energy association. >♪

♪

>> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for mr. herman cain. >♪ >> hope and change ain't working. we do not need to rewrite the constitution. we need to re-read the constitution and in force the constitution. ♪

america one voice, we stand i am america one hope to heal our land this is the work that must be done i will not rest until we have one i am america ♪ >> arise, shine, and the glory of the lord has risen upon the. herman cain. ♪

>> the founding fathers did their job. we have to do our job and be the defending father. >> i love you. all right, they did not give me much time. thank you, thank you, thank you. we are america. we are the greatest nation in the world. and we do not have to apologize for it either. [cheers and applause]

i do not have to tell you about the problems this nation faces, so i and going to spend my few minutes talking about how we solved this mess. [cheers and applause] we have become a nation of crises. we have an economic crisis, and entitlement spending crisis, an energy crisis, an immigration crisis, a foggy foreign policy crisis, and we have a moral crisis, but most of all, we have a severe deficiency of leadership crisis. [cheers and applause] the people of this great nation -- they are tired of excuses. they want responsibility and leadership. the people of this great nation

are tired of the blame game spending they want results. result we can get with the right person in the white house. [cheers and applause] our economy is stuck, not growing. our economy has stalled simply because this administration does not recognize that the engine of economic growth is the business sector, and once we get that engine going, this economy will begin to grow. we need to lower the corporate tax rates. we need to take the tax on repatriated profits to zero. we need to take the capital gains tax to zero and make all of them permanent. [cheers and applause] uncertainty is killing this economy. it is killing this nation.

we have an entitlement spending problem. we can no longer tram all around the edges. we must restructure these programs, such that this nation will go from being an entitlement society to an empowerment society. let's empower people. empower businesses. [cheers and applause] we have an energy crisis because of our dependency on foreign oil. there is a way to solve it. you do not solve it by going to brazil and other countries, saying that america is going to be their best customer for oil. we will be our own best customer. we are going to drill, coal, gas, shale, all of our natural resources.

america will be its own best customer. we have an immigration crisis. one of the reasons there has been little progress as because one of the things you learn as a business person and a problem solver is make sure you are a working on the right problem. in this case, we do not have one problem but four. this is how the cain administration will attack illegal immigration. first, secure the border for real. secondly, promote the path to citizenship that is already there. let me tell you what the solution is for immigration. we have a path to citizenship.

we do not need a new one. do you know what it is? legal immigration is the path to citizenship. the third problem is to enforce the laws that are already there and number four, the government cannot and will not deal with it the issue, so what i believe we should empower the states to do with the federal government does not doing and let them deal with the illegals that are here in this country. empower the states. empower the states to deal with their problems. we have a foggy foreign-policy coming out of washington, d.c. i have been criticized because i have not had any direct foreign policy experience.

the guy we have there now has? [laughter] helped me understand that. i may not have an extensive foreign-policy experience, but let me tell you what my approach to foreign policy will be. number one is, clearly identify who our friends are. clearly identify who our enemies are. and stop giving money to our enemies. [cheers and applause] #two, before i commit any of our brave men and women in uniform to go to war on behalf of this nation, i will make sure that the mission is clear. i will make sure that the

definition of "victory" is clear and i will make sure that it is clear how it is in the best interests of the united states and that particular nation, because if i send our men and women into more, they want to be in it to win it which is why we need to be clear why we are there. [cheers and applause] we have a moral crisis. there are people who want to take god out of our culture, the founding fathers understood the importance of godly, biblical principles. there are some people who want to ignore the declaration and the constitution. i happen to believe that the founding fathers got it right. they got it right when they say, "we hold these truths to be

self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are in doubt by their create your -- creator." and i will never leave that statement out of the declaration of independence -- "endowed by their creator." "they are endowed with inalienable rights and among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness peacoat life from conception. -- pursuit of happines." life from conception. in pursuit of happiness based on determinatino. there is no department of happy in washington, d.c.

my parents achieved their american dream is the old- fashioned way. they worked for it. i know that is a novel idea, but they worked for it. they achieved their dream is the old-fashioned way. one of the reasons i am running for president of the united states is because i have achieved my american dream and then some. 12 years ago, my first grandchild was born. when i looked into the little space for the very first time, the thought that went through my mind was not, "what do i have to do to make sure she gets a good education?" or "what do i have to do to make sure she gets a good start in life?"

the first thought that went through my mind was, "what do why do to make this a better nation and a better world/" that was 12 years ago. when i saw president obama take office and watched the weakening of america, i knew the voice i heard 12 years ago meant that i had to use my skills and abilities to do something about this nation and get it off the wrong track and put it back from the right track because the american people, we the people, this giant has awakened and it is not going back to sleep. [cheers and applause] the people of this great nation are sending a message to washington, d.c.

the message they are sending to washington, d.c., is that they are ready to embrace a problem solver and not another politician. they are sending a message to washington, d.c., that the precious thing that we call liberty, we are not going to let it go. just like the founding fathers did their job and they were inspired a by what i call the spirit of america, it is that same spirit that has this nation, its citizens, willing and ready to take back its government. no one expressed the challenges that we face better than the giver himself when he reminded us that freedom, never more than one generation away from extinction, you cannot pass it

on in the bloodstream. what must be fought for, protected, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and grandchildren what the united states of america used to be like when men were freed. i am not going to have that conversation with my grandkids, and i do not think you want to have that conversation with yours. [cheers and applause] the people of this country have spoken loud and clear. on our currency it says, "in god we trust."

in the fourth verse of our national anthem, "the star spangled banner," it says so again. we need to put united back in the united states of america, the greatest nation in the world. [cheers and applause] ♪

>> wow. how about that? [applause] this has been an incredible program and that concludes the speaker program of today's festivities. i do want to remind everyone that if you have not voted, the boating area will be open for approximately 15 more minutes. -- 50 more minutes. send that message. we will be back shortly. thank you, everyone. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

♪

>> obama does not have a good chance. the secretary of state,, and is hard-working staff, i would like to thank them. at this time, secretary of state shultz will hand deliver the results. >> the winner is congresswoman michele bachmann.

[applause] thank you, everyone, and have a good night. ♪ ♪ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] --2011] ♪ ♪ [unintelligible] ♪ ♪

>> here are the results from the iowa poll. michele bachmann was first. ron paul was second. awlenty was third. here are the remaining in order. >> was more video of the candidates coming here with political reporters are saying. go to it c-span website for campaign 2012. it is easy to use it and can

help you navigate the political landscape. it's there all by those in the latest polling data. it is on c-span.org. >> next, texas gov. brick. announces his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election. big he spoke about some of the policies he would implement if he were president. he plans campaign stance in new hampshire and iowa. he spoke at a gathering of a group in charleston, south carolina. this is about 25 minutes. but >> rick perry knows the value

of working hard, he's the son of tenant farmer, he married the first girl he ever dated, they're proud pearnts of two >> as governor he has cut taxe. and cut state spending for the first time since world war ii. rick perry has helped build the nation's top economy since june of 2009, more th 40% of all new jobs in america have been created in texas. that's why we today can call him the jobs governor, rick perry. >> howdy. good afternoon. eric, thank you very much. it is great to be at red state. i'll tell you what, it's even better to be governor of the largest red state in america. and it's sure good to be back in t palmetto state in south

carolina. i enjoy coming to places where people elect folks like mickey haley, true conservatives and also where they love the greatest fighting force on the face of the earth, the united states military. pplause] i want to take a moment, i want to take a moment and ask you to just take a silence, think about those young navy seals and the other special operators who gave it all in service to their country. take a moment to say, thank you, lord that we have those kind of selfless, sack official men and women. -- sacrificial men and women. their sacrifice was immeasurable and their dedication profound. and we will never, ever forget

them. [applause] i stand before you today as the governor of texas but i also stand before you the son of two tenant farmers. ray perry who came home after 35 bombing missions over europe to work his little corner of land out there and amelia, who made sure my sister and i had everything we needed including hand sewing my clothes until i went off to college. i'm the product of a place called paint creek. doesn't have a zip code. it's too small to be called a town along the rolling plains of texas. we breed dry land cotton and wheat and when i wasn't farming or attending paint creek rural school i was generally over at

troop 48 working on my eagle scout award. [applause] and around the age of 8, i was blessed, didn't realize it, but i was blessed to meet my future wife, anita thigpen. we had our first date eight careers later. and she finally agreed to marry me 16 years after that. nobody says i am not persistent. you know, there is no greater way to live life thanith someone you love and my first love is with us today, my lovely wife, anita. honey. we're also blessed to have two incredible children, griffin and sydney, and they're also here with us today and our

wonderful dournl meredith. i'd just like -- our wonderful daughter-in-law, meredith. i'd just like to introduce those two. thank you. yoknow what i learned growing up on the farm was a way of life. it was centered on hard work and on faith and on thrift. those values have stuck with me my whole life. but it wasn't until i graduated from texas a&m university an joined the united states air force flying c-130's all around the globe that i truly appreciated the blessings of freedom. you know, paraphrase abraham lincoln and ronald reagan, i realized that the united states of america really is the last great hope of mankind. what saw was systems of

government tt elevated rulers at the expense of the people, socialist systems that cloaked maybe in good intentions but were delivering misery and stagnation. i learned that not everyone values life like we do in america. or the rights that are endowed to every human being by a loving god. you see, as americans, we're not defined by class and we will never be told our place. what makes our nation exceptional is that aone from any background can climb to the highest of highs. as americans we don't see the role of vernment as guaranteeing outcomes but allowing free men and women to flourish based on their own vision, their hard work and

their personal responsibility. and as americans, we realize that there is no taxpayer money that wasn't first earned by the sweat and toil of one of our citizens. [applause] that's why we reject this president's unbridled fixation on taking more money out of wallets and pocketbooks of american families and employers and giving it to a central government. spreading the wealth punishes success whil setting america on course for greater dependency on government. washington's insatiable desire to spend our children's inheritance on failed stimulus plans and other misguided economic theories have given us

record debt and left us with far too many unemployed. but of course now we're told we're in recovery. but this sure doesn't feel like a recovery. -- like a recovery to more than 9% of americans unemployed or the 16% of african-americans, 11% of hispanics in the same position. or the millions who can only find part time work or those who have even stopped looking for a job. one in six work eligible americans cannot find a full-time job. that is not a recovery. that is an economic disaster. you think about it, for those americans who do have full-time jobs, they aren't experiencing economic recovery with the rising fuel costs and food

costs going up. recovery is a meaningless word if the bank has foreclosed on your home, if you're under water on your mortgage or if you're up to the m on your credit card debt. those americans know that this president and his big spending, big government policies he prolonged our national misery, not alleviated it. what do we say to our children? do we say, well, you know, y'all will figure it out, don't worry, washington, they created 17 debt and entitleme commissions in 30 years, but the fact of the matter is, they didn't have the courage to make the decisions to allow you to have the future you actually deserve. that washington wouldn't even make modest entitlement program

reforms in this last debate and the president even refused to lay out a plan for fear of the next election. how can the wealthiest nation in the history of civilization fail so miserably to pay its bills? how does that happen? mr. president, let us tell you something. you cannot win the future by selling america off to foreign creditors. we cannot afford four more years of this rudderless leadership. last week that leadership failed. and the tax and spend and borrow agenda of this president led to the first ever downgrade of credit rating of the united states of america. in reality, though, this is just the most recent downgrade. the fact is, for nearly three

years, president obama has been wngrading american jobs, he's been downgrading our standing in the world, he's been downgradin our financial stability, he's been downgrading our confidence and downgradinthe hope for a better future for our children. that's a fact. his policies are not only a threat to this economy, so are his appointees a threat. [applause] he stacked the national labor relations board with antibusiness cronies who want to dictate to a private company, boeing, where they can build a plant. no president, no president should kill jobs in south carolina or for any other state for that matter simply bause they choose to go to a right-to-work state.

you see, when the obama administration is not stifling economic growth with overregulation, they're achieving the same through the reckless spending. debt is not only a threat to our economy. but also to our security. america's standing in the world is in peril. not only because of the disastrous economic policies but from this incoherent muddle they call foreign policy. our president has insulted our friends and he's encouraged our enemies, thumbing his nose at traditional allies like israel he seeks to dick kate new borders for the meas and the oldest democcy there, israel, while he is an abject failure in his constitutional duty to protect our borders in the

united states. [applause] you know, his forei policy seems to be based on alienating our traditional allies while basing our demesting agenda on importing those failed western european social values. we don't need a president who apologizes for america. we need a president who protects and projects those values. [applause] it's pretty simple. we're going to stand with those who stand with us and we will vigorously defend our interest and those who threaten our interests, harm our citizens, we will simply not be scolding u, we will defeat you.

our nation cannot and must not endure four me years of aimless foreign policy. we cannot andust not endure four more years of rising unemployment, rising taxes, rising debt, rising energy dependence on nations that intend us harm. it's time to get america working again. [applause] to get citizens, to get our citizens working in good jobs and getting the government to working for the people again. younow, page one of any economic plan, to get america working, is to give a pink slip to the current residents in the white house. listen, we just got to get back

to the basic truths of economic success. as governor, i had to deal with the consequences of this national recession and in 2003 -- in 2003 and again this year, my state faced billions of dollars in budget shortfalls. but we worked hard, we made tough decisions, wealanced our budget, not by raising taxes but by setting priorities and cutting government spending. it can and it must be done in washington, d.c. a we have led texas based on some just really pretty simple guiding principles. one, don't spend all the money.

you know, two is keeping the taxes low and under control. three, you have your regulatory climate fair and predictable. four is refm the legal system so frivolous lawsuits don't paralyzemployers ting to create jobs. over the years, over the years we followed this recipe to produce the strongest economy in the nation since june of 2009. texas is responsible for more than 40% of all of the new jobs created in america. think about that. we're home to less than 10% of the population in america, but 40% of all the new jobs were created in that state. i cut taxes. i have delivered historic property tax reductions. i was the first governor since world war ii to cut general revenue spending in our state

dget. we passed lawsuit reform. including just this last session loser pays law to stop the frivolous lawsuits that were happening. and i know i've talked a lot about texas here in the last little bit, i'm a texan and i'm proud of it, but first and foremost, i am an incredibly proud american. [applause] and i know something, america not broken. washington, d.c. is broken. we need balanced budts, we need lower taxes, we need less regulation and we need civil justice reform. those same four principles. our country's most urgent need is to revitalize our economy, stop the generational theft

that is going on with this record debt. i came to south carolina because i will not sit back and accept the path that america is on. because a great country requires a better direction, because a renewed nation needs a new president. it is time to get america working again and that's why with the support of my family and unwavering belief in the goodness of america, i declare to you today as a candidate for president of t united states. [cheers and applause]

>> you know, it's time for america to believe again. it's time to believe that the promise of our future is far greater than even our best days behind us. it's time to believe again in the potential for private enterprise, set free from the shackles of overbearing federal gornment. and it's time to truly restore our standing in the world, renew our faith in freedom as the best hope for peace in this world that's beset with stre. the change we seek will never emanate out of washington, d.c. it'll come from the wind swept prairies of middle america, the farms and factories across this great land. from the hearts and minds of

the good hearted americans who will accept not a future that is less than our past. patriots. patriots who will not be consigned to a fate of less freedom in exchange for more government. [applause] we do not have to accept our current circumstances, we will change them. we are americans. that's what we do. we roll up our sleeves, we go to work, we fix things. we stand up and proudly

proclaim that washington is not our caretak and we reject the state that in margaret thatcher's words, she said a state that takes too much from us in order to do too much for us. we will not stand for that any longer. we're dismayed, we're dismayed at the injustice that nearly half of all americans don't even payny income tax and you know, theiberals out there are saying that we need to pay more. we are indignant about leaders who do not listen and spend money faster than they can print it. in america, the people are not subjects of the government. the goth is subject to the people. -- the government is subject to

the people. and it's up to us, it is up to us, to this present generation of americans, to take a stand for freedom to send a message to washington that we're taking our future back from the grips of these central planners who would control our health care, who would spend our treasure, who downgrade our future and micromanage our lives. it's time to limit and simplify the taxes in this country. we have to quit spending money we don't have. we need to get our fiscal house in order and restore our good credit. and we will repeal this president's misguided one size fits all government health care plan immediately.

[applause] we'll create jobs, we'll get america working again, we'll create jobs and buildwell and truly educate and innovate in science and technology and engineering and math. we'll create the jobs and progress that's going to be needed to get america working again. i'll promise you this. ll work every day to try to make washington, d.c., as inconsequential in your life as i can. and at the same time, we'll be freeing our families and small business and state from the burdensome and costly federal government so that those groups can create and innovate and succeed. i believe in america. i believe in her purpose and

her promise. i believe her best days have not yet been lived. i believe her greatest deeds are reserved for the generations to come. and with the help and the courage of the american people, we will get our country working again. god bless you and god bless the unit states of america. thank you. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

>> thank you very much. ♪

>> on "newsmakers" burnie will talk about the budget, the job creation, and campaign 2012. this is a sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. but >> this weekend on american history tv on c-span3, david spurrier will show historic documents. leon panetta but working in the

republican whip administration of richard nixon. and on the 50th anniversary of bay of pigs ", and author of books at cuban and u.s. relations in the 1950's, and the eisenhower and kennedy in administrations. go to c-span.org/history for more. >> and next, speeches. president obama burgess congress to put aside partisan affiliations to make progress. this is about 10 minutes.

>> at the most dynamic businesses in the world call this,. even in difficult times, but there is not a country on earth that would trade places with us. it does not mean that we do not face tough economic challenges. many americans are hurting badly right now. putting these men and women back to work and better wages for everybody has to be our top priority. the response from washington has been partisanship and gridlock that undermines public confidence and hinders our efforts to grow the economy. there is something wrong with our politics. that is what we have to fix. we note that congress can do things to get more money back in our pockets, the to the economy

growing faster, get our neighbors back to work. let's extend it and put more than $1,000 back in families' pockets this year. as put construction workers back to work rebuilding america. let's get sell more american made goods around the world. let's get our members home from iraq and afghanistan. these all things we can do right now. we need to do them. in the coming weeks, i will put forth more proposals to help us create more jobs. we will not stop until every american that wanted job can find one. we cannot let partisanship get in our way. making it through the next election is not more important than making things right.

some people in congress would rather see their opponents lose than to see american when it -- see america when. -- win. it is not too much to expect that the people elected in this town start working for you. paul whether you are a democrat or republican or a -- or not a fan of either, let them know that you have had with gridlock and you want them to pass stalled bills that will help our economy right now. " let them know that she refused to settle for politics that it put politics ahead of our country. -- but tell them to come back to washington ready to compromise, ready to create jobs. ready to do what you sent them here to do. we still have a long way to go to where

we need to be. we did not get into this mess overnight. it will take some time for us to get out of it. that is the hard truth. america voted for a body of government, not a dysfunctional government. we have worked to do. when we come together on common ground, there is no stopping this country, or our people. there is every reason to believe that we will get through this storm to a brighter day. thanks for listening. have a great weekend. >> i am from the great state of pennsylvania. i am pleased to have this up today to share some thoughts i have. like many, find deep concern about the lack of jobs and our staggering economy. president obama has made the economy worse. it the administration difficult it said passing a stimulus bill

that would help. instead, our economy has lost more than 1.3 million jobs and the unemployment rate is averaged over 9%. home values are lower, wages are not smaller. our federal deficit has grown much larger than when president obama was in office. clearly, some things are not working. what went wrong? every day, small business owners are bombarded with new regulations and higher costs. ought but they cannot expand their businesses or hire additional workers. this is happening in the state of pennsylvania. -- the message i hear is the same, the question burdening the

federal regulation is difficult to grow their businesses, hire new workers, it and in some cases, just keep their doors open. caught sometimes it may take years for a new device to be approved by the fda. future investment in broadband network. new financial-services a vote, and the national labor relations board -- these are a few examples . many more regulations have increased since obama came into office. but there is a docket that is

49,000 pages. with some many burdens and obstacles in the future, it is not hard to understand why doctors are leery of the risks and costs. iran several small restaurants with my brothers. i remain very obstacle about our future despite the many obstacles. if we let them, people it can build more factories and to grow their businesses. but the government has to get out of the way. we need some regulation, but it must be in a thoughtful manner with careful consideration with the impact they have on jobs. " we should eliminate some of

the harmful regulations on the book. it next, but several of my colleagues and i should make sure that future regulations are not overly burdensome. it wrote out we need -- we need to consider jobs that will be lost as a result of such regulation. hot i am ready to work hard to produce a proposal that will reduce government spending, and help create an environment where small business owners can thrive.

and i know we can have a booming economy. at a restaurant does not come from a bigger government kicked in our economy. it comes from a free enterprise system. and the hard work of the citizens. when government lets these people grow their business and not put obstacles in their wake, that is when we will achieve the most in our recovery and job creation. i thank you for listening. >> tomorrow. "washington draw" and political roundtable and " democratic strategists. and it had a sweet, will speak about president obama's, ever is to prevent homegrown terrorism in the u.s..

and then a discussion about the deconstruction of the berlin wall. "washington journal" live, 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> as a journalist, i am preparing myself for the very small salary that i will be starting off with. >> but the reason why people love fox news is because it is an experience. >> from the washington journalism and media conference, the role of ethics, opinion, and commentary and where they get their information. that is sunday on c-span, "q&a. " could see would political reporters are saying.

track campaign contributions, with our web sites, on campaign 2012. it is easy to use. it will help you navigate the political landscape. there are links it to seize the media projects. on looked at c-span.org/but campaign 2012. >> michele bachmann " -- c- span.org/campaign2012. >> we will hear from representatives michele bachmann, ron paul,tim pawlenty, herman cain. this is just under three hours.

>> wow. what a difference four years can make. i'm matt strawn, chairman of the republican party of iowa and i am proud to be a part of the iowa g.o.p. that is leading the fight. from the mississippi to the missouri, from athlete to whale,

the resurgence of the iowa republicans is fueled on the bed rock principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility and economic opportunity. your iowa g.o.p. developed up and down victory. electing bram instead and lieutenant reynolds, capturing a majority of statewide executive officers, winning 16 iowa house seats and a new majority, huge gains in the iowa senate, and gaining over 100 new county officers all across our state. and iowans are doing more than just voting for our republican candidates. every day, more iowans are identifying with the republican party and our principle solution as the iowa g.o.p. getting new voters at the expense of the iowa democrat party from 28 straight months in the 2010, iowa republicans led the way in your jurrjens government in.

2012, iowa republicans will lead the way in returning a conservative principle president to the white house. iowa republicans, this is just the beginning. take a look around. look at the energy. feel the excitement. it is clear to me and it will be very clear to president obama that we are just getting started. [applause] >> good afternoon, welcome to ames, welcome to the 2011 iowa straw poll! [applause] let's start things off with a very important question for everybody -- who's ready to start the process to make barack

obama a one-term president? [cheers and applause] who is ready to elect a republican president who will stop the freedom suffocating overspending of washington? [cheers and applause] who is ready to elect a republican president who understands that it is the entrepreneur and the small business owner, not washington bureaucrats that create jobs and make america work! [cheers and applause] who is ready to elect a republican president who will dismantle the job killing unconstitutional obama care! [cheers and applause] i'm ready and it sure sounds like you're ready too. choosing his republican successors starts now. it starts today. it starts in iowa. [cheers and applause]

at a time when more and more americans feel disconnected from our leaders in washington, thank goodness a process still exists that requires our national leaders to meet us, to listen to us, to let us directly question them and find out what their solutions are for addressing the challenges of america. this process is the iowa caucus. the first major step in the iowa caucus is happening as i speak. tense of thousands of republicans are meet the candidates outside. they will be here listening their speeches and they will cast a vote for their preferred successor, republican successor to barack obama. [cheers and applause] and the iowa caucus is a process. it's a very special process that allows someone like me, the son of an iowan farmer the grandson of a john deere fact frir worker

who share my hopes and dreams of america. as you saw that introductory video, times have changed here in iowa. in fact, when air force one touches down on northeast iowa on tuesday, mr. president will encounter a very different iowa than was here in 2008. [applause] first of all, mr. president, you'll find that there's a lot more of us republicans around. we have had 29 straight months of outgaining democrats in voter registration in this state. [applause] in fact, my favorite statistic since president obama was inaugurated in january of 2009, one in 10 iowa democrats have even left their own party. that's the true obama legacy in iowa! [applause]

and as iowa g.o.p. voter registration rises, just two are these iowa republicans that are getting in cars, getting on buses, driving hours to be here on a beautiful saturday afternoon to take a stand for their country and make their voice heard with a vote in our straw poll? well, as someone who talks to more iowan republicans than anybody, it is the small business owner i talk to in davenport, who is afraid to hire or expand because he can't tell you how much it will cost his business or his employees to implement the obama care. an iowa republican is the retired, self-made business owner who over lunch with tears in his eyes said matt, i don't think my grand kids are going to have the same economic opportunities in america that i had. an iowa republican is the world war ii veteran i met over breakfast who thinks it is absolutely unconscienable and

morally objectionable that a child born today will have their personal $42,000 share of our national debt. an iowa republican is the recently graduated snuent cedar falls i talk to who hasn't found a permanent job yet but is too proud to move back home with the folks so he's working two part-time jobs and hoping for an improved economy. most importantly, it is much more than a list of policy positions. receive a reminder of this recently. it was at a pizza ranch. i struck up a conversation with a gentle man that was laid off from his job in a factory, about 50 years old. he was more worried about his country's future than his own. he said something that day that stuck with me. he said, "of course, when it

comes to choosing a president, he once a political leader that believes with him on the issues." he wants a leader that believes in america again. [applause] faith in our creator, america, but more importantly, face in our fellow man. not government institutions that make our nation great. on that spring night, i think he summed up pretty well who iowan is. we cannot afford four more years of the obama administration. [applause] iowan republicans know it, iowans know, the american people

know it. mr. president, your path to the white house may have begun four short years ago, but your term will end here in iowa. that process starts today in. thank you, and let's get it started. [cheers and applause] it is now my pleasure to introduce our first speaker who was elected on a message of fiscal responsibility, job creation, and restoring education. in the seven months since taking office, he has fulfilled his promise by signing a budget to restore discipline, ending the use of one time funds for ongoing expenses, stopped the creating practices of the past, and he is just getting started. please join me in welcoming the man who put iowa's budget back

in black. [cheers and applause] >> thank you very much. you are doing a great job. the chairman of the republican party of iowa. i am glad to be back. i am pleased to welcome all of you this afternoon to ames, iowa, to hilton coliseum. this is a great turnout of republicans, and it shows we are an excited party. i want to welcome and command each of the candidates that are here with us today. they have poured their hearts and souls into this straw poll. we appreciate their efforts, and we appreciate them. their efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated by a

iowa. i hope all of these candidates have enjoyed their time in this great state, getting to know the hard working people that we have in iowa. every four years, it is often said that iowa is the envy of the country. if you were at the state fair yesterday or if you are here today and you joined this beautiful weather and people, you understand why iowa is the envy of the nation. [applause] candidates and a record number of media have flocked here, offering the country a bird's eye view of the political process at the grass-roots level here in the great state of iowa. we take our first in the nation responsibility very seriously. iowa is not a state where you

can buy enormous amounts of television advertisements and hope to be successful. iowa is a state where a candidate needs to go out and see real people and answer tough questions from real voters. iowans share the same concerns as the rest of america. how will we pay down its debt that is being wracked up under the obama administration? who will make job creation and a top priority and restore our state to economic growth? who has the strong and bold ideas that will beat barack obama in iowa and across america? [applause] iowans are earnest, hard-working people that expect the same from the candidates that they give themselves. today begins a long and hard toil toward the nomination.

greatroad i9s filled with opportunity. this country's founders have risen to the challenge of their time, whether it was during the great civil war that divided our country, or the threat to freedom posed by terrorists. heroes have risen and answer the call to keep america strong and free. our great country faces grave threats today, home as well as abroad. we face a debt with no signs of stopping, and it threatens the fabric of this great and free country. it is clear, america is on an unsustainable course that adds over $1 trillion deficit to our burgeoning national debt every year. we must restore a fiscal

responsibility, preventing the generational theft that threatens the future of our children and our grandchildren. [applause] at this time, this moment, our country needs a leader who will rise to the occasion just as we americans have always done. today, you will hear from some of those potential leaders. please give all of your warm iowa welcome. thank you very much. [applause] and now, i would like to invite all of the presidential candidates that are present to come on the stage. [applause]

[cheers and applause] [applause]

[cheers and applause] >> let's give the candidates won more big hand as they exit the stage. [cheers and applause] >> now, it is my pleasure to introduce you to a brand new

video put together by the republican party of iowa showing why the state is first in the nation. [applause] ♪ >> every four years, americans choose their president. every four years, the iowa caucus has started the process. for 40 years, iowans have listened to the candidates and made their decision. most candidates have moved on, and every four years, iowans get the question, "white is iowa -- why is iowa first?" in iowa, retail politics are the name of the game. candidates cannot hide behind advertisements. we know that meeting the candidates personally, having the courage to ask them tough questions is the best way to measure their mettle and their

character. we donated our time to help the candidates. we welcome them into our homes. we share our stores, hopes, and fears, and establish a bond that goes beyond any election. it is the bond of america working side by side to make our country a better place. then, on a cold winter's night, we'd venture out to support those candidates who want to build america and who we have placed our trust. they continue the process until one is to clear the next president of the united states. however, the process is not the only things that iowa is first in. iowa is the leader in renewable energy. iowa's capital city ranks as number 1 in the nation for young professionals and number 1 in

the best places for business and careers. number one richest metro in the united states due to its reasonable cost of living. we produce over 10% of america's food supply in iowa. ranking first in children's health care. first in the nation is nothing new to us. in fact, we are pretty good at it even if we most times are too humble to talk about it. it is right here again today. here in america's heartland, where the pioneer spirit remains strong, where the pride of america never wavers. the great state of iowa, first in the nation. ♪ [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, a message from the one campaign. >> i have my own problems to worry about. >> why should i care? >> their problems are too big to solve. >> stop wasting my hard earned money. >> it is like throwing money down a rat hole. >> nothing will ever change. >> i give up. >> i give up. >> what is the point? >> where is the proof? >> in just 10 years, over 15 million more kids are alive and over 46 million more kids are in school all for less of 1% -- >> 1% of the total budget. how is that for proof? >> it will not happen without you. go to one.org and join the

movement. we are acting for a voice. [applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for former pennsylvania senator rick santorum. ♪ >> we blinked, and teh america we knew had changed. individual freedom replaced by increasing government dependent. fiscal responsibility, replaced by reckless spending and mounting debt. a generational promise of a better future, broken for a lifetime of pain for the excesses of others. the greatest health care system

in the world, systematically being destroyed. our traditional values shattered. jobs, gone forever. the american innovative spirit, broken. boundless optimism, replaced by uncertainty. the question now is who possesses at the courage and experience to save america? the answer is becoming increasingly clear. only one led the fight to shut down the congressional bank and took on powerful members of his own party in his fight for a balanced budget amendment pending only one successfully led the fight to reform the entitlement program, eliminating the abuse and fraud, and replacing it with hope and

opportunity. only one served for eight years on the armed services committee, and he wrote critical legislation that captain america from its sworn enemies. only one wrote the bill that ended partial abortions forever and has fought tirelessly to protect traditional marriage. for two decades, rick santorum has fought passionately to protect our economy, our tax dollars, our security, and our families. today is your day to join the fight. ♪ [cheers and applause]

>> thank you. thank you all very much. thank you, iowa. it is great to be here. family is first. let me introduce my wife karen along with five of our seven children behind us. they can to -- we can to i was three weeks ago. people said it is nice that rick was coming. no one really thought we were going to do much or have much of an impact. thanks to the great work of my wife karen? i will introduce to you right now -- [cheers and applause] -- and these five children -- how many people got calls from my kids in the last three weeks? [applause] they have been on the phones and

traveling around the state. we did 50 cities around the state of iowa for 14 days. we went to all four corners of the state of iowa. one of the commentators called our campaign the ring of fire campaign. [cheers and applause] we wanted to make sure all of iowans were heard from and all of iowa got a chance to meet at least one of the candidates, to sit in their libraries or living rooms, to talk to them and listen to them because that is where the great wisdom is in america. then, enter their questions, be accountable to them. that is what i did it. 68 counties later, we have come here to do something important. we have come here, all of you have come here to say that the

folks in washington, the people in the boardrooms in new york and the media centers, they are not the ones who are going to choose the next republican nominee for president. you are going to choose the next nominee for president. [cheers and applause] what the poeple of iowa have said to me is that they want someone that they can trust what they say are going to do and do what they are going to say. as a positive vision for the future of this country. there is a positive vision for the future of this country if we do what our founding fathers did, believe in the goodness of the american people, free people, who government says yes, like in our declaration of independence which founded this great country, transformed the world.

we had governments that were not run from the top down, not where you have the divine right of kings with the king was given rights by god and then spread the wealth around. no. our founders believed in a country where we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal with certain unalienable rights. [cheers and applause] it was that belief in free people that transformed the world bank for the first time, we said that we were going to have a government whose job under this constitution was limited to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. many people have said that the social issues are not important in this campaign. i have talked about all of these issues. i will not back down on the

sanctity of life and marriage. [cheers and applause] what the people of all i what recognize is that america is a moral enterprise. our founders understood that for the constitution to work, it had to be based on something deeper, something grounded. our rights came from a creator. the creator has rules. nature and nature's god. they understood that through reason and faith we could build a strong country from the ground up based on a moral society. john adams said our society is holy and adequate for any other. that is the mission for america. to suggest that we can be a party just about tax cuts and

spending cuts and not about strong families and a strong faith and strong faith communities, you do not understand iowa and you do not understand america. [cheers and applause] ladies and gentlemen, as you saw from the debate the other night, this campaign is about scratching and clawing for any bit of recognition i could get. i had to wave my hand to ask for recognition. this is the little engine that could campaign. [applause] they told us we had no chance, to not pay attention. all the press does is right about these shiny engines that keep coming by to help. maybe we will start to hitch up

and work hard. we did not wait around. which started working hard. -- we started working hard. we have been to iowa more than other candidate because i want to be accountable to you and the people who make decisions, who are going to have the first cut of narrowing this field to select the president, will get a chance to look me in the eye, keblick my shins and the tires, and to hear from me division of this country. today is an opportunity to strike a blow for the people of the heartland. this is a hard land campaign, not just about wall street, but about all of the issues that you hear about. to moral and culture issues, and yes, to getting this of economy going.

look at the plan that i put forward. it is about the heartland. it is about using the resources in iowa, pennsylvania, and offshore to create energy security for this country that is desperately needed. [cheers and applause] i grew up in a little steel town outside of pittsburgh, pa.. my grandfather came to this country because he wanted to be free and believed in the goodness of america. an america that believed in him and what he could do to provide for himself and the family -- and his family and a god that he served bank for 40 years, he clawed for my freedom until he was 72 years old. i am here today standing on his

shoulders because i believe right now in thithis country is in jeopardy of losing its freedom because of one man and one bale -- obamacare. -- and one bill -- obamacare. [applause] obamacare is the single greatest threat to one generation's charge of handling this country off to the next generation freer, safer, and more prosperous. margaret thatcher said she was never able to accomplish what ronald reagan accomplished, never able to turn the tide of socialism. never able to turn it back in britain like reagan did. and getting americans to believe in themselves, not some government official to take care of them. what margaret thatcher said, she

was never able to turn it around. the british national health-care system. i was in the green room at fox a couple of days before the vote for obamacare. they decided to jam it down the throats of the american public. i said to juan williams, "water you doing? " you are committing political suicide bank he said that me tell you what the administration told me. "we believe obama. we believe that america's love for entitlements, and once we get them hooked on this entitlement, they will never let it go." [crowd boos] just imagine a couple of weeks backhen barack obama's was against the wall being

pushed for a debt ceiling increase. was his first move? just like at basketball, it was to the left. [laughter] his first move was to get in front of a national audience and tell the people who were dependent on the federal government that they were not going to get their social security checks, that they were not going to get their benefits, but they were not going to get their medicare benefits. they have the hook. at the time that they need to, they pull the strings spending now, with obamacare, everyone is a manic and. being able to be pulled in the way that washington wants you to be pulled. not o;n my watch. [cheers and applause]

you have an opportunity in this race to take someone who the national media is not paying a lot of attention to. maybe it is because in my elective history i defeated three democratic incumbents, twice for the congress -- [applause] -- toys for the congress -- twice for the congress and once in the state of pennsylvania, a state that republicans have not won since 1988. i went up against an incumbent democratic senator whose campaign was managed by a couple of guys who just managed a successful campaign for president back in 1992. i beat them. [cheers and applause] in fact, one of my proudest

accomplishments in james carville's book. item number 3 on his list. -- i am number three on his list. [cheers and applause] maybe it was because i fought for welfare reform and the only one on this stage the other night that actually authored a bill, managed it on the floor of the senate, got bipartisan support, which got a democratic president to sign it, ending an entitlement, and is transformed society. [cheers and applause] maybe it is because i am someone who says to the people of this country who care about the sanctity of human life that i will just not give lip service.

i will stand on the floor of the senate and in the oval office and i will fight for life because i did it for 12 years in the senate and got bipartisan support for three major bills to pass pro-life initiatives. i led the fight. that is not just doing it the same. it is doing it. [cheers and applause] >> you have an opportunity today to send a message that iowa doesn't want what new york and the media and the rest of them want that iowa can govern consistent with our constitution. thank you, and god bless you. [applause] ♪

♪ >> well, ladies and gentlemen, it is now my flows introduce our next speaker. and she has an thumb contagious to everyone around her. ascended to the iowa senate and quickly rose to become lieutenant governor last november. since taking office, she has spear headed so of the most ambitious educational and tech in a logical advances in years.

her tireless and unending optimism make her an outstanding voice for the republican of iowa. she understands budgets and has never forget at any rural iowa values she was raised with. welcome me in join me in welcoming lieutenant governor kim roons. >> good afternoon and thank you to the thousands of iowans who have ventured here. today all eyes are on aim -- aims, iowa. i could not be more excited to be here today with governor braham sted. we have not had a sitting

republican iowa governor at the straw poll since 1995, and what a breath of fresh air. >> today it is my honor to stand before you in ames and do the work our party entrusted to us. we will engage in spirited debate with one another, that i believe reflects the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and vision by our forefathers. most importantly today, we exercise our right to petition our government for redress of our grievances. three years into the obama administration and the list of grievances grow long. it was once said that the

presidency is more than just policies pushed, initiatives launched, and wars won. it was said the presidency is a stewardship, a trust, a commitment to sacrifice, anything needed in the service of this nation. today, as we begin this great contest and the race to find our nominee for president of the united states, let us stay true to our causes, faithful to our principles, and steadfast in our belief. we are the party of personal liberty, limited government, and opportunity and responsibility for all americans. [applause] the challenges our country faces call for more than just a

competition. the challenge demands a leader. a politician is someone who makes promises, promises of hope and change. 6 a leader is someone who delivers results. in the last election, we were promised change. but the only changes we've seen are an increase in unemployment rate and a decrease in the debt rating. it is time for action. it is time for results. [applause] our country needs real action from a leader now more than ever. we need action on policies to create jobs for the almost 14 million unemployed throughout our country. action to reduce the size and the cost of the federal government that takes in $1.5 trillion, and yet spends $3

trillion. making these policies a reality will take a leader doing what a leader does. setting priorities, making tough, even unpopular decisions, and staying the course until the end. this last election republicans picked up more seats than in any other election since 1938. [applause] >> yes. that is something to rejoice. in that election, the people of this great nation sent a loud and a clear message. stop the unsustainable spending and the outrage of debt that is mortgaging the future of our children and our grandchildren. stop the overreaching, intrusive and constantly growing government. we have been entrusted to take bold action.

and we must stay true to our charge, because the country is restless, and they expect results. i'll reminded of a boobling i read recently "the battle" that all across the country and especially right here in iowa in small towns and big cities, in farms -- on farms and in factories, two visions for america are being presented to this nation. one nation that is backed by hollywood a-listers, media moguls soonched called intellectuals attempt to convince us that our budget deficit can be solved by more taxes and spending. that government is not the problem but that government is the answer. the ore vision, our vision,

understands that freedom to exceed cannot exist without the freedom to fail. that freedom, yes. that the freedom and ideals we know, love and value in america provide a foundation for us to be able to bounce back and to overcome failure, to be resilient in the face of adversity. the country as teddy rose velt stated, treasure those that spend themselves in a worthy time. those that at their best know the triumph of high achievement and at their worst, if they fail, they fail while daring greatly. our vision understands that

growth in government always comes at the expense of freedom. our founders fought, sacrificed and died for liberty, not government programs. [applause] there are indeed two visions, but there is only one correct path for our country's future. it's our america, that has defended liberty around the world and has become a beacon of hope for all freedom-loving people for more than 230 years, it is to survive again. we must deliver results. we know in successes if our country grows, so, too, does our standard of living. successful businesses lift up all america, and we must

promote a free enterprise system, because it is a system that understands there are no limits. [applause] regardless of who prevails here today, we must defend our vision. because it is the heart and the core of the american dream, and it is what sets us apart from other nations. we must ban together, because we share ideas, hopes and dreams. we must not be deterred, because what is at stake is varietyly important. we must ban together and refuse to do anything but leave our state and our country better than we found it. let us ban together and fight for what we believe is needed to keep our nation strong, free, and prosperous. so stand strong. thank you.

god bless you, god bless iowa and the united states of america. [applause] >> let's give an iowa welcome to the iowa energy forum. >> ladies and gentlemen, the following are iowa citizens speaking about the importance of america's energy security. >> my feeling has always been we are short. people talk about it. i don't think we're short on energy. i believe there's enough energy on the soil and in the oceans to supply us for many, many years, and we don't even know how much is there. >> it's very important to the state of iowa. one in 11 people of the state of iowa receives a paycheck because of the trucking industry.

and the trucks for delivery of good delivered on a daily basis. not only for the trucking industry, but for everybody in the united states. energy is important to our livelihood. it's important to our economy, and it needs to be the number one priority among lawmakers and decision makers. >> what's important is if we're looking at where our source of crude oil, where we get it in the world that we look first at what's in america. my unit was in charge of all transportation within afghanistan. it was a huge, huge contract. and we relied almost solely on fuel that we got through pakistan, so there were oftentimes when that fuel supply was interrupted. and it really makes a huge impact on you. you realize how important stst when it stops flowing.

so to have a consistent source of fuel for the nation as well as for our military. >> as i understand our keystone of trying to build a pipeline from canada to texas to refineries so they can move some of this oil from canada, and then we would get the benefit from it. because most of the canadians oil is -- somebody's got to run and make a touch down and let's get the pipeline in. >> it can bolster a strong economy and create jobs in iowa. for more information visit iowa energy forum.com. >> good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, i'm jack, president

and c.e.o. of the american petroleum institute and sponsor of the iowa energy forum. we represent more than 470 oil and natural gas companies across the nation. we're responsible for 7.7% of all our economic activity. and today we support over $9. -- over 9.2 million american jobs. [applause] we believe with good, sound energy policy that there are many more jobs yet to create if given the opportunity to do so. i want to be downtown welcome you here, today to the kickoff to the 2012 campaign. the candidates have been crossing the state, seeking your sufment and -- your support. and later today your votes will be talentied, and it will begin

the start of this race, determining who is up and who is down. it's a deciding precursor some of you will feel next month when the hawkeyes come together here at the stalmt. >> now as much as we love football and politics, and i am sure you know both are contact sports, my interest today is not to support an individual candidate, but to stress the tee -- key role it flaze our lives and the key role it can be creating the jobs. it doesn't say how much we pay at the pump or how we handle foreign lands. it's about powering our economy. it's about creating more

american jobs and getting this country moving again. you may not be aware of how important engineering is for this great state of iowa. on a per-person basis, your nation is the fifth largest energy consumer. that's why iowans are leading the way in our energy sector in exciting new directions. today the hawkeye state is the epicenter of tomorrow's energy technology. capitalizing on more than 1100 turbines, iowa leads all states by producing 20% of your electricity through renewable wind energy. [applause] and i'm sure it goes without saying but i'm sure you're also well aware that iowa is the leading maker of ethanol. ethanol production is surging in our economy, in this country.

the u.s. is now a growing exporter. we've exported more in the last four months than we did in the prior 27 months in this country. we believe that with the right policies we could produce 92% of all our liquid fuels we need right here in america, and ethanol is a key part of that equation. [applause] our industry is the lead buyer of ethanol. and it may surprise you to learn that the oil and natural gas industry is a leader in developing alternative forms of energies and fuels. in fact one of every five dollars invested in low emissions technology comes from the natural oil and gas energy. as the consumption has

increased, so has natural gas. these renewable resources are sensitive to changing weather. the oil and gas industry today in the united states supports 9.2 million american jobs. including the 59,000 employees we have here in iowa. regrettably, government overregulation is preventing our industry from adding millions of jobs to our economy. we could create a half a million jobs just by opening access to currently off-limits.

and i'm sure many of you heard for the past three years we've been waiting for the state department to approve the keystone x.l. pipeline that will grant us access to the to the reserves which would create 500,000 american jobs. in fact this pipeline will import half of what we currently use, coming from -- our neighbors and allies to the north want to sell us their oil, but they need a pipeline to do it. this is an historic opportunity that we should capitalize on. but i'm unfortunately fearful that due to politics, we might squander this opportunity. b.p.a. is also getting in the way as many of you here well know. it's pursuing an aggressive regulatory agenda that

discourages so -- right now it's to the point of dis -- couraging this will pat freeze on our manufacturing sector and put at risk 7.3 million american jobs. these are but a few roadblocks that have prevented the american oil and gas industry from adding jobs right here in our economy. i hope that what i've said will remain in your minds. how will those seeking your support harmonize the need for economic growth with environmental protection? what will they do to unleash our energy sector and to grow our workforce and our economy? these are the questions the next president will have to answer.

these answers are what can make a difference between the economic standstill we face today and the prosperity we all desire for tomorrow. thank you-all for this opportunity to talk about our exciting potential to create jobs and help a u.s. come the -- please visit us at the iowa energy forum tent. we'd love to meet you and answer any questions. thank you very much. [applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for texas congressman ron paul. [applause]

♪ thank you. >> thank you very much thank you very much. it's great to be here. looks like a very exciting day. and we're delighted with the way things are going. [applause] the one thing about our campaign. it's been identified with one particular word, and i'm very proud of it. we are identified with the cause of liberty. [applause] i'm convinced that liberty and an understanding of that and a constitution can bring us peace and prosperity. [applause] but today i'm going to emphasize something slightly different than just the cause of liberty.

because there's something that proceeds liberty, and that is life. [applause] i believe in a very limited role for government, but the prime reason that government exists in a free society is to protect liberty, but also to protect life, and i mean all life. [applause] i want to tell a very short story, because time is short, about how i came to be very strong right to life. when i was in medical school in the 1950's it was a non-issue. it was assumed everybody was pro life and abortions weren't to be done. in the 1960's when i was a resident studying ob/gyn, the doctors in the medical centers

were defying the law in doing abortions. this shook me up. one day i walked into the operating room and they did a history rot my and lifted out a baby that was crying and breathing and put it in a bucket in the corner of the room and let it die and pretended nobody heard it. that was rather disturbing. but as i walked out of that room because i was a student and observer, i walked out of the room and a baby about the same size was born prematurely. and all of a sudden 20 people, nurses and doctors all rushing around to save the baby's life, which seemed very logical. but my conclusion that very day is you can net have relative value for life and deal with that. we cannot play with that decision.

all life is precious. [applause] if we are to defend liberty and allow people to spend their money as they want and go on the trips that they want and run their lives as they please, you have to understand where that liberty and life comes from. it does not come from the government. it comes from our creator. [applause] but there's a lot of ways you can defend liberty. in many ways, in a personal way, in intellectual way. in a religious manner. but also, as determined as i am to promote the cause of pro life and making sure that governments don't slip off to defeating life and taking life, one of the most atrocious

positions this country could have, and that is where government will come along and take money from those who strongly believe in pro life and commit abortions with that. that should be reversed. [applause] being pro life can be extended and pro liberty even into all ages. yes, it is good to be pro life, and we must be pro life, or you cannot be pro liberty, the way i understand it. but i also think it's being strongly pro life if we work very hard to have a policy when those young people, those babies that are born, when they come to age, those lives are

just as precious and they are never forced to fight in undeclareible, unwinible wars. [applause] i find it very difficult to protect liberty if you don't truly understand what the patriot act is all about. i understand. i was in washington with the great concern on the day after the day of 9/11, but the patriot act is an attack on our liberties and the fourth amendment. it does not solve the problems that we face. not when you take liberty away from the american people. [applause] if you want to think about the issue that comes about if you

get careless about the protection of liberty, that the patriot act along -- if we tolerate that type to interfere with our lib i we have to be -- you can not repeal in order to say yes, we can give up a little bit of our freedoms to be safe. you never have to give up liberty to be safe. [applause] and foreign policy has been a big issue in our campaign, because the country is tired of the war. and we're all so broke. the wars have been going on for 10 years. they are undeclared. they are fought under international banners, nato and

the united nations, and we don't see an end to it. but it's also costing us a lot of dollars, those trillions of dollars should have been left in the economy to build jobs and prosperity here at home! one other symbolism of a failed foreign policy is what we did in iraq. we went into iraq. we were supposed to go into iraq to get al qaeda. there was no al qaeda. we went in there to get weapons of mass destruction. there were no weapons of mass destruction. today one half of the christians have been run out of iraq. we have not done a good job. and now they are closer to the iranians than they have ever

been. but symbolically i want to tell you what was done in iraq. we built an ambassador there. the embassy is as big as the vatican. and just recently the d.o.d. budget authorized the employment of 17,000 people to work in this embassy. that is not the way to achieve prosperity [applause] there's something you have to do because we have importance if you want to understand economics and process parity, you have to understand monetary policy and the mischief of that and we have to change that.

[applause] in order to attract investments and capital into a country, you cannot have the weak currency. we inflate endlessly which means we print money to pay for the debt. it goes to the stronger countries. now we have the greatest debt in the history of the world and we ow $1.4 trillion to china and we wonder why we have a problem. you have to have a strong currency. there's nothing wrong with us reconstituting the constitution because only gold and silver can be legal tender. [applause]

also you have to have the proper environment for companies to bring their moneys back home. you can't have a money bring money or park money overseas and double tax them and charge them 35% again, that's changing , around it would be a good idea to get rid of all this income tax and corporate taxation. [applause] and of course with a strong currency and with a change of the tax system, you also have to deal with the regulatory systems. we have to shrink the size of the federal register. we need a lot less regulations not more regulations. [applause]

it is said that those of us who promote the free market system, that we don't care about regulating those ruthless, big corporations, but just think about how the sound economy would regulate those companies and banks -- stopping the debt on the american people, causing the unemployment and causing the little guy to lose his house. [applause] the problems are very large. they are very difficult. the solution is not complicated if you understand how we got into this mess. basically we got into this mess because we have lost respect for our law of the land, the

constitution, and we have lost our thumb for freedom. that we, ourselves can take better care of ourselves, and predict our money and lives and our children's education >> much of the work has done better without government down our backs and in our freems, it's time we restore freedom back to america. [applause] and we have that opportunity. before start -- people are starting to recognize. people are accepting the argument that the economy is now in shambles, and there was a housing bubble, and there's been a collapse of the housing bubble. the american people now by a large majority are saying we've been overseas too long. we need to protect the our borders and forget about the

borders in afghanistan and pakistan. [applause] time to bring the troops home. [applause] there is no argument that is viable to say that we have to keep troops in south korea. they've been there since i was in high school. they've been in japan since world war ii. they've been in germany since we need a boost in the economy! -- they have been in germany since i was in high school. we need a boost to the economy! >> [applause] if we got in this trouble by a lack of loyalty to our law and

constitution, it is not that difficult. all we have to do is restore the bleeping freedom and restore our conviction that the constitution works. it would take a while. but it might only take a year. we're into the fourth year of this recession. yes. we got in this trouble by not having respect for the constitution. we can get out of this trouble by respecting the rule of law in sending them by defending the constitution and thank you very much. [applause] ♪

>> and now a special message from strong american now. >> i'm mike, i'm a granddaughter and retired c.e.o. i'm not a politician. i'm just worried about what we're levering for our children and grandchildren. you see in the last four years washington racked up $1 trillion of new debt. it's a staggering amount that stifles our economy. i have a proven solution that can end waste and deficit spending with no new taxes. please go to strong america now to learn more. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, our next speaker is someone who needs no introduction. but right now, as we look at what a successful november conservatives had all across the country, we were successful because we stood up and showed the voters of this nation and the road isers of iowa that there's a clear difference between the majority and there's no one that embodyies the spirit and principle more than our congressman, congressman steve king. [applause] ♪ >> thank you. thank you all very, very, very much. you're a great crowd tie. you ever a big crowd today, and there's still cars coming in the platte. -- in the parking lot. it looks about like iowa state, iowa instead of the straw poll. you're sending a message to

america. that message is we have a first chance to be able to give a boost to some candidates and give a recommendation to the rest of the country. this matters the first in the nation straw po. if the straw poll is effective and it is, you ever making it effective today, that means the caucus will also be effective. if we ever lost first in the nation a caucus, then it would be down to every man and every woman wouldn't have the opportunity to be president of the united states again. it was the person with the deepest pockets. the campaign that could paint a shaking their hand and -- this is important. when i was a young boy, i remember asking my father, dad, could you be president? and he looked at me and said, i

supposed if i wanted to be. i want that always to be the case. for every little boy and girl in america. i want them to always grow up believing their mom or dad could be president if they wanted to be, and if america chodse them, and i want every little boy and girl and child is that aspiring to any position in this country whether it's public office or any other form of purpose, this has embodied thank you for everything you're doing to make it what it is today. [applause] >> now we have some things we need to do. there's some things we need to do from a policy standpoint. a lot of you know what i think, but i want to go down through the list of this and touch a few things. one is we're looking today at a national debt that is $14.3 trillion. if we do no, in 10 years, it's

$28 trillion. if the proposalal passed two or three weeks ago is successful, it's only $26 trillion. how do you feel? not very good, and if we stick with the ryan budget, it would be another 16 years before the budget balances. and pass the bailout budge et -- budget that agrees with the constitution. and while we're doing that, we need to put some other pieces in place. one is we've got to get this economy on the move again. i will tell you that the markets are closed today and they'll be closed tomorrow. but i can tell you how we can get those markets to jump up 1,000 points at the opening bell on monday. now i know i have your

attention. here's how the works. the president of the united states needs to set up his podium out there on the south lawn of the white house, and what i'm typing into the teleprompter for him -- [applause] i want the president to step out on the podium, and i want him to say, you know i've been meditating and seeking counsel and praying and come to a conviction. john mainer cane was wrong. -- john boehner was wrong. changing economics is wrong. you cannot borrow money from the chds and give it to people who aren't working and ask them to spend it in this economy and think you're going to stimulate an economy with a chain letter. you're not.

>> i want president obama was wrong and adam smith was right. i want him to say now that i've come to this conviction, i'm here to tell you i'm a one-term president. now you know how the markets will jump up 1,000 points on monday if he does that. he would say i'm going to embrace and endorse the republican nominee because that's the freedom and free market liberty party, one that 30 years ago ronald reagan asked this question of america. are you better off today than you were four years ago? the answer of course was no. we sent jimmy carter home and elected the greatest president

of the united states. [applause] and the question is you asked whether you're better off. but there's a more important question. there's something more precious to us. that's our freedom and our liberty. i will ask you do you have more freedoms today than when obama was inaugurated? more liberties? >> no. >> do we have more prosperity or jobs today? >> no. >> do we have more hope today? >> no. >> and what did obama do with the change? he spent that and every dime he could get his hands on because he's an a canesian economist on stareds. he also makes chavez look like a piker when it comes to international business. three large investment banks

aig taken over by the federal government. chrysler, fannie mae and freddie mac, all that nationalized. the takeover rftroift sect -- he likes that word, audacity, the single most sovereign thing we have is our soul. and we protect this with everything we have, and we nurture our children to have the same core faith so they protect their sovereign soul as well. but the second most sovereign thing we have is our health. our body and obama care. he nationalized your skin and everything inside it. and he put a 10% tax on the outside if you go to the tanning salon. o'bamday care has got to be ripped out by the roots.

obamacare is a malignant nurem our society and civilization and it's got to be ripped out by if roots so there's not one particle of d.n.a. of obamacare . obamacare has got to go. [applause] and i want that repeal. the repeal of obamacare to be fight number one in every presidential campaign so that the next president of the united states when he stands on the podium january20, 2013, i want that next president, he orshow she, to pass with this

swear, i will faithfully execute the office of the united states and will to the best of my ability reserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states, so help me god. [applause] and before the next president shakes hands with chief justice roberts, i want him to sign the repeal of obamacare right there at the inauguration ceremony, january 20, 2013. thank you very much. god bless you all! [applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for former minnesota governor, tim paw lenty. [applause]

>> it's nightfall in america. tonight millions of american families and businesses are struggling through an american disaster. >> always going to be bucks across the country. >> across the countrymen and women are facing hard times. here's where we can put a proven record into action. here is where true leaders lead by example and make the lives of citizens better. with a renewed vision of patriotism. this is where a real leader provides real solutions, for health care, balancing the budget, and for growing a more -- accomplishments and the ability to preserve and protect the fundamentals.

here is where we prove that american independence is alive and well. >> for 235 years we've taken the road less traveled. the road of liberty. the role of self-government and free enterprise. >> our founding fathers created it. our ancestors founded it. and now it is up to us to preserve it. generations from now, it will be said the american comeback began here in iowa. [applause] >> our new beginning. our road begins today. right here. right now. [applause] ♪

>> thank you. thank you. thank you so very much. thank you. thank you very much. i appreciate it. thank you. i hope that you'll give a great iowa welcome to the fosmer first lady of minnesota and my two daughters, anna and maura. [applause] >> i want to thank you for

being here today. thank you for loving america and thank you for your patriotism and thank you for being on this journey to take back our country from barack obama. [applause] 30 years ago on this very day, august 13, ronald reagan, one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country signed the economic recovery act into law. it was knighted in that time of our country, massive revenue growth. massive job and and as we face similar challenges today, we know what to do, don't we? [applause] we know what america needs. but unfortunately, barack obama has absolutely no clue. he is like a manure spreader in a wind storm.

[applause] about four years ago, barack obama came through iowa. he convinced the democrats of this great stite catapult him towards white house. and they did. but today's the day that republicans in iowa, independence in -- independents in iowa and conservatives all across this country send the message that barack obama's got to go. [applause] >> he's been talking a lot about the full faith and credit of america's death death. barack obama should put his full faith and credit in the american people. [applause] >> now the way forward may not

be the easy way, but it's not complex. as we look over the history of this great nation, we know what works. we can see the lessons of america's greatness and bring them forward to the challenges of our time. and here they are. let's be a nation that puts its trust in god first and foremost. [applause] number two, we know, this don't we? we can't spend more than we take in. [applause] and we also know as we watch him going across the world, apologizing for america, denying or ignoring america's k3e7pingsalism that we make sure our president will maintain the peace by maintaining our strength. [applause]

and we're going to send the message from iowa here today all across this great country, and it's what i hear from hard-working and concerned americans experiencing the heavy-handed economic results of barack obama? the mess >> mr. president, get the government off our backs. [applause] >> let's get a start on that agenda. first, mr. president, repeal obamacare. [applause] number two, mr. president, please come before the country and tell us why you oppose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget?

we want it, and the country deserves it, and you should support it. [applause] and i also want to share with you and many other republican c57bd dats here and in the race, they are wonderful people and they have a great vision for network in deciding who you are going to support in this race. many republican candidates are going to say the same thing. they are going to say i'm the one who will cut government spending. i am the one who will reduce taxes. they say i am the one who will stand for the cause of life. they say i will stand for traditional marriage. they say i am the one who will do health caret. he came through iowa with the great speeches, and the big

rhetoric. but now we know this, don't we? his rhetoric doesn't put gas in our car, does it? and barack obama's relate rick doesn't pay our mortgage, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't pay our health care premiums, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't put our children through college and pay the tuition and doesn't give us a job, does it? >> no. >> is it time for barack obama to go? but for us, too, it's got to be more than words. we've got to deliver. and so i stand before you as a candidate who sticks his claims to iowa and here today on large part that i don't just talk about it.

we get the job done for minnesota and more america. [applause] so if you look at my record in minnesota, you can see we took spending from historic highs to historic lows. we cut taxes in my state over eight years and did it -- we advanced the cause of life and traditional marriage in historic ways. we did public employee pension reform. before it was cool and popular to do it in the rest of the country. those kinds of results, not just talk, is what america needs now. i also want to tell you doing that in minnesota ising? that's very interesting and important to know. we need to not just preach to the choir and make sure we have a candidate who can win in places like kansas or oklahoma

or some of the other great states in this country, alabama and georgia. he can come up to iowa and wisconsin and pennsylvania and take the conservative message and urgeos to win and get this country back. i won and got re-elected in one of the most difficult states to be a republican, minnesota, and i'll carry those states as a candidate for president. [applause] the way forward may not be, but america can overcome challenges, as you know. valley forge wasn't easy. settling the west wasn't easy. winning world war ii, for sure wasn't easy.

going to the moon wasn't easy, but this is not about easy. it's about getting our country back on track. this is the united states of america. we are the american people. [applause] the founding fathers created it. ronald reagan personified it. abraham lincoln stood courageously to defend it. and now the call comes to each of us in this time as our country again faces great challenges. this is the greatest nation the world has ever known. if we stand courageously to defend it and move barack obama and put the country back on track, we will have done our duty. he is a government for the people, by the people, we will

remain the greatest country the world has ever known and our country will not perish from the earth. [applause] so i want you to do everything you can in the closing hours of the straw poll to get support to my campaign. i want to look you in the eye and tell you i know what this country needs and understand our conservative principles. i am not just going to stand up here and give you the word. you can take it to the bank. i will lead this country to a better, brighter, a stronger place. thank you very much. i appreciate your support. [cheers and applause] ♪

[cheers] [crowd chants] [cheers and applause]

>> that is tough to compete with. good work. our next speaker has been thinking -- has been an incredible advocate for iowans and republicans. he still goes back to the form every weekend and understands that midwestern work ethic. that is the hardest working center in the entire united states senator, chuck grassley. ♪ >> we are going to beat obama next year, aren't we? [cheers and applause] i have a question for president

obama. after 2.5 years, when are you going to start taking responsibility for your policies instead of making excuses? [applause] because it seems like speech after speech or news conference after news conference, you are always blaming somebody else and. yes, mr. president, maybe you have accepted when you took office bad economic and fiscal times, but i want you to know, mr. president, by any measure of the economy orthoscope policy, you have made every statistic worse. [applause] so, we are here today to elect

new leadership. we are here today to listen to they andidate ass propose policies to turn our economy around and leadership that will accept responsibility for their actions. we need a president of uncomp romising integrity. thanks to the voters and especially to the tea party members. i get it. congress gets it. [applause] no excuses. when will you get it, mr. president? [applause] we are here today because as americans we believe in beter. we are here today because we believe in the principles that

made america great. we know that freedom cannot be taken for granted. it must be defended and it must be protected. the simple truth is that since 2008 our worst suspicions have been confirmed. president obama's hope and change is nothing more than the failed and discredited big government policies that have been the enemies of freedom all over the entire world for centuries. the battle is on. [applause] the battle is on. iowa welcomes the outstanding leaders here today who are fighting to maintain america's x factionalism.. -- exceptionalism. our nation, our culture, our

economy, our governments are built upon the principles of freedom that are unique are around the entire world. ourica's founders formed national heritage based upon proven principles derived from constructive values, founded upon biblical convictions. [applause] that foundation will preserve america, and without it, america will fail. the original contract, our constitution, promised a limited federal government. is the same today as it was a originally, except for time to time, it might be amended by the american people. of our sacred mission is to preserve the constitutional

principles that made our country great and to advance the cause of liberty. we believe in freedom, and we will fight to protect that liberty and freedom. [applause] now, three years later, we are into the obama presidency. the economy is still sputtering. we have added $4 trillion to the national debt, anemic economic growth has unemployment higher than 9%, excessive government spending and regulation, plus the constant threat of higher taxes and more of the same or even worse have choke holds on our productive, free enterprise system and not creating jobs. now, has the leader of the free

world lost sight of the american dream? the united states has grown into the world's largest economy through ideas, innovation, and instinct. for generations, self-starters, risk takers, and hard workers have clamored to climb the ladder of economic success through the mobility that it allows. mr. president, redistribution undercuts the core principles of free enterprise [applause] the promose made in 1776 to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is what makes the american way of life the beacon of hope for the rest of the world. of course, the word "light"

includes the unborn. [applause] the truth is that under this administration, america is losing its way. instead of honoring and instead of cherishing america's exceptionalism, washington has backed away from it while demonstrators in the arab world are trying to reach out and gain more freedom and a voice in their government. and to do away with the oppression and tyranny. it is time for our president and a president in the future who believes in america is ambition and in america as a vocation again. we need a president who has deep faith in liberty and individualism and freedom.

we need a president who understands the power of example toreat the rest of the world. we need a president who knows that tomorrow can be better if we put america's first principles first. america cane what be if we once again had a strong president. today and in the months ahead, as home to the first in the nationa caucus system we have, let's make clear to the entire country for them to hear our message that comes out our caucus system, make sure that message is heard loud and clear. you deserve better.

you decided. let's get to work. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, we now have a special message from the executive director of the national rifle association. [applause] >> it was a 17th century writer who suggested to take a piece of straw and throw it in the air. you may see with that which way the wind is. iowa's straw poll is the biggest. thank you for participating in this event and our democracy. as the winds begin to stir, let this day marks the beginning of a storm that blows of the

occupant out of the white house door in 2012. he will be facing us. if we all do our part, you can take our victory to the bank. we have to work together, and we have to win. the issues we face demand 8. from surrounding or pour southern border to capitulating to the united nations, our government has lost its integrity and the face of the american people. all of the white house press conferences in the world will not change that. but we can change it, and we will, starting today. endowed by our creator and due to all human kind, our liberty lives in the second amendment, the fundamental right that separates us from other nations on earth.

that freedom makes us better in other countries, stronger, and we will stand up to all of the government's failure and corruption and defend our rights and our nation. it starts right here in iowa right now. it ends i;n the white house in 2012 with a new president that wakes up every day with a commitment to our values, our constitution, and our american freedom. i know you are with me. our members believe in defending freedom. thank you for all of your support. have a great straw poll. keep fighting for freedom every single day. >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for minnesota congresswoman michele bachmann. [cheers and applause]

♪ >> our american heartland, a place where life and liberty is celebrated. hard work and sacrifice is rewarded. gods the good grace is accepted as a loving gift. six generations ago, a hard- working norwegian family settled to begin a new life. their legacy continues today. michelle learned and lived the lessons of her ancestors. work hard and overcome every obstacle. her name is michele bachmann. >> it was a very simple life because we did not have a lot of money. there was a standard of living that we followed -- being honest, truthful, and doing what you say you are going to do. i started out in waterloo.

we had this all but two-story house that we were living in. my parents rented out the second floor to get rent money. i felt very crowded growing up and secure. we were happy. >> she helped to provide for her family even during those tough days. she never lost sight of her dreams. >> my mother told me i should become a secretary because she saw that it was a secure job. i wanted to go to college. >> she went to college and started a family. she went on to earn a degree in tax law and served as a tax attorney for the united states government. they were blessed with five children and decided to become foster parents. over the years, they would open their arms to 23 children who

needed a loving home. michele led an effort that successfully reformed education in minnesota. >> i knew that everything would change in our society if we did not get education right. i was so highly motivated and that i really believed you could change city hall and banquets chosen by her neighbors, she quickly earned a reputation as a tireless conservative leader that got things done. in 2006, she was the first republican woman elected to the united states congress from minnesota. michele bachmann stood up to nancy pelosi's liberal policies. this a leader from america's heartland fight for our freedoms

guaranteed by the constitution, believes that we can restore american prosperity, and has a face that we can overcome any obstacle because we always have. michele bachmann for president. [applause] ♪ [cheers and applause] ♪ >> thank you very much. hi, everyone. good to see you. god bless you, every one. we are going to do 8.

it is going to happen. 2012 is hours. we are going to take it back in 2012. [cheers and applause] all of the greatness, the energy, all that we need to do to take the country back in 2012 is right here in this room in ames, iowa. we are going to do it together and take it back. [cheers and applause] my name is michele bachmann and i am running to be the next president of the united states of america. [cheers and applause] and together, we are going to make barack obama a one term president. [cheers and applause]

from one iowan to antoher, iowa will be the pace car to set the tone and pace for bringing this country back for the greatness itwas meant. it is iowa where we will see the greatness once again begin. i am so thrilled with what i have seen. our campaign is 48 days old. i have been all across the four corners of iowa and all points in between. i was born and raised in waterloo and cedar falls of. in this wonderful part of our state, what i saw were reasonable, fair-minded people who loved me, poured themselves

into me, and that is the voice i heard growing up. common sense and moral values. that set the tone. everything i needed to know in life, i learned in iowa. [cheers and applause] my mother and father taught us to always love iowa. iowa is the breadbasket of the world bank and we feed millions of people from iowa. be grateful. i have always been grateful that i am an iowan. i believe it is time to have an house. in the white in the last 48 days, as i have been everywhere from spencer to storm lake, to you name it, we

have been there, and ames as well. what we have seen is a restoration of that dream. you have restored in me my faith in america. i see on the television destruction all across the country, but inot in iowa. i see happy, confident, optimistic people. their crops are growing. we have a wonderful season. people are more energized than ever before because they know we can do this. if we stick together, they know this will happen. they know we can secure the promise of the future for our children. how do i know is that? because i have seen wonderful people who believe this. they believe that life is

precious, and that from conception until natural death, we stand for human life. that is iowa. [cheers and applause] and all across iowa, i have seen a marvelous appreciation for a marriage, as one man and one woman. [cheers and applause] you showed the world when you did not retain those three justices in your last election. [cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will only appoint justices who followed the constitution and do not legislate from the bench. [cheers and applause] this is important. it is fundamental.

it is foundational because the family is the foundation of a unit of this country. with the family, we are everything. without the family, how do we survive? we need the family to go forward. now -- [cheers and applause] people say, and that is unrealistic. it is absolutely essential that we maintain the family. i thank god for family. my parents were married here in waterloo, iowa. my parents, unfortunately in later years, divorced. i was raised by a single mother. we went to below poverty overnight, but my mother said it will not always be that way. it is going to get better.

one thing that i learned from my great family is that we did stick together. that was a great life lesson, we are thae i saw that social conservatives and we will never be ashamed of being social conservatives. [cheers and applause] we understand that religious liberty is the essence and a foothold of this nation. we should never be ashamed or afraid of the faith that this country was founded upon. i think god for the religious faith that my parents taught to me. i thank god -- a [applause] i think god for what he has done. god has mightily put his hand of blessing upon this nation. we can never think that we did this ourselves. it was almighty god who gave

this to us. [cheers and applause] we are social conservatives. we are fiscal conservatives, and i am one. i am a former federal tax lawyer. my husband and i started our own successful company. i get it, how to turn the a economy around. we think it is a good idea to turn a profit. [cheers and applause] and we agree with the declaration of independence which said we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. the founders designed that to be we have the right to keep the fruits of our own labor. what a concept.

[cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will stand for life, marriage, and the right for you to keep the fruits of your opponent labor. [cheers and applause] -- of your own labor. nationale alolso security conservatives. we love this country. we love our brave men and women who served this country with respect and admiration. [cheers and applause] we will never forget that every day there are those who wake up in the morning thinking how they will kill americans today. there are those thinking how they will destroy the united states of america today.

i am privileged to sit on the house committee on intelligence. we are a very small committee that deals with the nation's classified secrets. we must never forget that we always stand for the safety and security of the american people. and i will. [cheers and applause] in iowa, we have successfully maintained the chain of liberty for 150 years. my family has lived in iowa. every generation has successfully handed the torch of liberty to the next. it is if we have forged a chain link of liberty. every generation has successfully tapped the change going. now is our chance here in iowa. we get to forge a that next

chain on the link eo fliberty, to make sure is not just our generation, but generations of 150 years from now that look back and say thank you for restoring the promise of the future to my children, thank you that you restored greatness again to the united states. that is what we will do to get their. we will stick together, stand together, do with the solomon brothers said, the famous sullivan brothers from waterloo, iowa. all five brothers gave their lives for the cause of liberty. they said, "if we stick together, we will get it done." whether we are in the tea party, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, we stick together, and this will happen. the greatness will once again

belong to the united states of america. nchpad.gan the lau [cheers and applause] because i know right now as i look across this arena here in ames, we are the team that cannot be beat. [cheers and applause] teh sullivan brothers of waterloo, our military men and women -- they have laid it on a line for us generation after generation after generation. they have laid it on the line for us. now it is ours. we will not let the next generation down. we too will lay it on the line, and in 2012, which will take the country back.

join the. i am headed over to the voting booth right now. come with me now because i am going over to the voting booth to cast my vote. i am asking for your vote to be the next president of the united states to take your voice to the white house spending god bless you! god bless the united states of america! i love you all. god bless you! i love you! thank you so much! i love you! ♪

>> it is the time when we are looking for leaders in washington who will run to a fight instead of running away from one, we have someone in iowa who is doing that very same

thing. how important it is to have conservative voices in washington. he is taking on a fight to make sure that we defeat them next november. tom needs your help, and we are going to do it. we need the conservative leader in washington. he will continue to be that great voice in iowa. congressman tom latham. ♪ [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you. what a great day to be in iowa. what a great day to be the people who will decide who gets

to be the next president of the united states. it is a beautiful day. as a representative, welcome to the fourth congressional district. [applause] let me just get a show of hands here, folks. how many of you think that your parents, your forefathers and mothers, gave you a better opportunity than what they had? how man y of you > how many of you believe today that if we continue the policies of barack obama, of the liberals in congress, the spending, the regulatory nightmare that we are putting our country through, how many of you believe that your children and grandchildren are going to have a better life than you had? i do not see a hand in the

place. that is why it is critical of what you do today here. i know each and every one of us have their favorite candidates. but we always have to keep in the mind the end goal, and that is to make barack obama a one- term president. [cheers and applause] because i will tell you having watched what happened in the last congress, when you had total control with barack obama in the white house, nancy pelosi as speaker of the house, harry reid as the majority leader, you saw what happened. you saw what their agenda is, to only spend more money in washington, to have more control in washington. when you look at over $1

trillion stimulus bill that they passed, cap and trade that would regulate our energy industry out of business, the health-care bill that was jammed through, that is their agenda. larger government, more control, more spending. we understand as conservatives. we understand that it is the people that make the difference in this country. is the people's country, the people's government. i think what has got us motivated today is everyone believes that no one in washington is listening. there is nobody there that really brings the concerns of the american people to the table. when you look at the liberals and seek the expansion of government and control, and we all know that the larger the government is, the smaller the

citizen. we have to change the. weekend with this first step that we have here today in ames, iowa. this is a great start. we are seeing numbers that we have never seen before. it is fabulous. always keep in mind what tghe goal is. bring back prosperity for our country, opportunities for our children and grandchildren so they can have a better life than we have had. thank you all for being here. god bless. [cheers and applause] >> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for the michigan congressman thaddeus mccotter. [applause] ♪

[applause] >> thank you very much for the kind introduction. you know, when they told me they were going to play the video, i was a bit chagrined because in my mind's eye i have a full head of hair. [laughter] but, as children of god, we

realize our limitations and our mortality. but as a free people, we must always recognize the greatness within us. this generation of americans has a choice to make. we can focus on the jeopardy, or we can seize the opportunity. we can seize freedom. our nation was conceived as a revolutionary experiment in liberty and self-government. today, we are called to conserve and improve that experiment at the very time all around us we are seeing self government and liberty expand.

when we look at our economy, we see stagnation. we see the effects of institutions, be thehy the federal government or the failed bailout banks on wall street that think they are more important than you. that believe they are too big to fail. they are wrong. [applause] the only thing too big to fail in the united states are the sovereign american people. [applause] and that is why i have no doubt that you recognize the future is

not big government. it is self government. [applause] and that you will seize the opportunity to undo so much of the damage that has been done under the obama administration and under the past democratic majority in the congress. and this is simply why. we know we live in a period of time when you can at your laptop computer seek sources of information from anywhere you wish and use that information to make a decision. we know that with a black. in the palm of your hand you can communicate around the world to talk to friends, family members, or to make a purchase.

we understand that today, in your lives, you are being empowered to make your own decisions to -- yet we see one entity that refuses to recognize the reality around us. that is big government. today, we live in what is known as a consumer economy. that means you make the decisions, the investments, the purchases. that is called a free market. we cannot have the big governmetn model that is highly centralized, highly vertical, taking your decisions, taking your property, and centralizing it in washington.

that is called the politics of the past. that is why i would ask my fellow republicans that when any democrat tells you they are progressive, please correct them. ive. are regresses [applause] because of big government, the welfare state created that reached its zenith under clinton johnson when i was born in 1965, is non-sustainable in 2011 in a globalized world. [applause] that is why the government must be restructured for the 21st century. it must not be merely shrunk or cut. it must be restructured the same way businesses and families have had to restructure their operations to be competitive in

a global h. bahut [applause] -- in a global age. as we well understand, the fallacy of the welfare state is it tends those who are self- reliant to trade their liberty and property for false state benefits and the security. we know that a passionate country takes care of those who cannot help themselves and who need assistance to get back to self-reliance, but as we restructure government, we will never again ask a person who already has the self-respect of a job, the self-reliance to ever become dependent upon government because you know that you cannot and power an individual by making them dependent on how another person. that is wrong. [cheers and applause]

speaking of the dependents, let us turn our eyes to the failed bailout banks on wall street. you know, we heard the concept of too big to fail. we know as a practical matter, the bailout has not worked. we know that because we know that for the first time since the great depression you have sink credit contract in the united states. that means no matter how much tax relief we do, no matter how much regulatory relief that we do, no matter how much energy policy we do, this economy will remain stagnant until the banks are forced to recapitalize at their expense so the credit gets down to the entrepreneurs and workers that will grow this economy in the near term and shape it for the 21st century. [applause] . more importantly even than that, you will reaffirm as a

free people that we all are equal sovereign citizens, and you should not pay for the failure of those banks out of the hard work and fruits of your labor. [applause] as you grow and shape this a economy, as you restructure the federal government, you will also be asked to address the reality that we will remain and are a nation at war, that we have brave men and women in uniform defending our liberty in foreign lands, and it is heartbreaking to know that we cannot bring them home as quickly as our hearts wished them to be. but make no mistake. as someone who has met with them, both at home and abroad,

as someone who has met with the families of the fallen and tried to cover them as best i could, they are quite proud of what they are doing to defend you. and they are rightfully so. because, my friends, the american military remains a force for moral code in the world because in order to secure our liberty, our young men and women in uniform are expanding liberty to others. [applause] and we will not abandon in a precipitant manner the fruits of their hard work. we will not abandon those individuals who believe that lady liberty when she said she would give them a chance to enjoy the same god-given right

to freedom that we enjoy here in our republican. we must also face another challenge. we have to accept the reality that communist china is a strategic threat and a rival model of governance to the united states. [applause] and the reason as the party of recon and lincoln, we understand. as a free people, we understand our liberty which comes from our creator is the foundation of our security and the foundation of our prosperity. the communist chinese regime in beijing that butchered my generation in the streets of t an immense square believed that human liberty is a threat to prosperity. they are as wrong today as the soviet union was wrong in the

20th century. i will not seek the 21st century -- or tries to culturally commit genocide against the people of tibet. [cheers and applause] my fellow citizens here at home, i will not allow, as a free and sovereign citizen, your sovereignty, your god-given right to riase your children as yous ee fit, to engage your community to seek the common good. i will not allow that to be impaired by an imperial bureaucracy by the federal court

or the united nations or any outside entity. [cheers and applause] you are the masters of your faith. and youa re the custodians of the legacy of liberty that we have been bequeathed. now, in a difficult time, you are asked to transcend the challenges that we face. there are many who asked whether or not the best days of the united states are behind her . there are many who wonder -- big government, the big wall street banks, our terrorist enemies, a regime in beijing that seeks to

own and dominate the 21st century, or outside embassies that want to tell you how to live. some people ask do i matter anymore? well, as the party of lincoln and reagan, we know the answer to the question is this. you matter more than ever. you matter more than ever because -- [applause] because in your hands rests the true hope for change for the unit states. you understand that the lambeau liberty that you cradle in your humble hands will be bequeathed to future generations, that we

will conserve and improved the free republic that we have inherited. despite the challenges we face, despite the difficulties, despite some of the doubters, you will trod that hard road to happier times because you understand, above all else, that the true strength and the salvation of the united states remains for a free people and their virtues genius and industriousness and the unfathomable grace of god. that is why you understand, very simply, what washington and the obama administration refused to admit. this feature is now. the future is u. you will build a virtuous, purposeful, productive republic for generations to come.

is lucky enough to be nominated, if honored enough to serve in the office of the presidency, i will not work for the pundit. i will not work for the bundlers. i will not work for the powerful. i will work for the people. i will work for you. god bless you. god bless the united states of america. [cheers and applause] ♪ >> we have the following message from the american wind energy association. >♪

♪

>> please direct your attention to the stage as we prepare for mr. herman cain. >♪ >> hope and change ain't working. we do not need to rewrite the constitution. we need to re-read the constitution and in force the constitution. ♪

america one voice, we stand i am america one hope to heal our land this is the work that must be done i will not rest until we have one i am america ♪ >> arise, shine, and the glory of the lord has risen upon the. herman cain. ♪

>> the founding fathers did their job. we have to do our job and be the defending father. >> i love you. all right, they did not give me much time. thank you, thank you, thank you. we are america. we are the greatest nation in the world. and we do not have to apologize for it either. [cheers and applause] i do not have to tell you about the problems this nation faces,

so i and going to spend my few minutes talking about how we solved this mess. [cheers and applause] we have become a nation of crises. we have an economic crisis, and entitlement spending crisis, an energy crisis, an immigration crisis, a foggy foreign policy crisis, and we have a moral crisis, but most of all, we have a severe deficiency of leadership crisis. [cheers and applause] the people of this great nation -- they are tired of excuses. they want responsibility and leadership. the people of this great nation are tired of the blame game spending they want results. result we can get with the right person in the white house. [cheers and applause]

our economy is stuck, not growing. our economy has stalled simply because this administration does not recognize that the engine of economic growth is the business sector, and once we get that engine going, this economy will begin to grow. we need to lower the corporate tax rates. we need to take the tax on repatriated profits to zero. we need to take the capital gains tax to zero and make all of them permanent. [cheers and applause] uncertainty is killing this economy. it is killing this nation. we have an entitlement spending problem. we can no longer tram all around the edges.

we must restructure these programs, such that this nation will go from being an entitlement society to an empowerment society. let's empower people. empower businesses. [cheers and applause] we have an energy crisis because of our dependency on foreign oil. there is a way to solve it. you do not solve it by going to brazil and other countries, saying that america is going to be their best customer for oil. we will be our own best customer. we are going to drill, coal, gas, shale, all of our natural resources. america will be its own best customer. we have an immigration crisis. one of the reasons there has

been little progress as because one of the things you learn as a business person and a problem solver is make sure you are a working on the right problem. in this case, we do not have one problem but four. this is how the cain administration will attack illegal immigration. first, secure the border for real. secondly, promote the path to citizenship that is already there. let me tell you what the solution is for immigration. we have a path to citizenship. we do not need a new one. do you know what it is? legal immigration is the path to

citizenship. the third problem is to enforce the laws that are already there and number four, the government cannot and will not deal with it the issue, so what i believe we should empower the states to do with the federal government does not doing and let them deal with the illegals that are here in this country. empower the states. empower the states to deal with their problems. we have a foggy foreign-policy coming out of washington, d.c. i have been criticized because i have not had any direct foreign policy experience. the guy we have there now has? [laughter]

helped me understand that. i may not have an extensive foreign-policy experience, but let me tell you what my approach to foreign policy will be. number one is, clearly identify who our friends are. clearly identify who our enemies are. and stop giving money to our enemies. [cheers and applause] #two, before i commit any of our brave men and women in uniform to go to war on behalf of this nation, i will make sure that the mission is clear. i will make sure that the definition of "victory" is clear and i will make sure that it is clear how it is in the best

interests of the united states and that particular nation, because if i send our men and women into more, they want to be in it to win it which is why we need to be clear why we are there. [cheers and applause] we have a moral crisis. there are people who want to take god out of our culture, the founding fathers understood the importance of godly, biblical principles. there are some people who want to ignore the declaration and the constitution. i happen to believe that the founding fathers got it right. they got it right when they say, "we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are in

doubt by their create your -- creator." and i will never leave that statement out of the declaration of independence -- "endowed by their creator." "they are endowed with inalienable rights and among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness peacoat life from conception. -- pursuit of happines." life from conception. in pursuit of happiness based on determinatino. there is no department of happy in washington, d.c. my parents achieved their american dream is the old-

fashioned way. they worked for it. i know that is a novel idea, but they worked for it. they achieved their dream is the old-fashioned way. one of the reasons i am running for president of the united states is because i have achieved my american dream and then some. 12 years ago, my first grandchild was born. when i looked into the little space for the very first time, the thought that went through my mind was not, "what do i have to do to make sure she gets a good education?" or "what do i have to do to make sure she gets a good start in life?" the first thought that went through my mind was, "what do why do to make this a better nation and a better world/"

that was 12 years ago. when i saw president obama take office and watched the weakening of america, i knew the voice i heard 12 years ago meant that i had to use my skills and abilities to do something about this nation and get it off the wrong track and put it back from the right track because the american people, we the people, this giant has awakened and it is not going back to sleep. [cheers and applause] the people of this great nation are sending a message to washington, d.c. the message they are sending to washington, d.c., is that they

are ready to embrace a problem solver and not another politician. they are sending a message to washington, d.c., that the precious thing that we call liberty, we are not going to let it go. just like the founding fathers did their job and they were inspired a by what i call the spirit of america, it is that same spirit that has this nation, its citizens, willing and ready to take back its government. no one expressed the challenges that we face better than the giver himself when he reminded us that freedom, never more than one generation away from extinction, you cannot pass it on in the bloodstream. what must be fought for, protected, or one day we will

spend our sunset years telling our children and grandchildren what the united states of america used to be like when men were freed. i am not going to have that conversation with my grandkids, and i do not think you want to have that conversation with yours. [cheers and applause] the people of this country have spoken loud and clear. on our currency it says, "in god we trust."

in the fourth verse of our national anthem, "the star spangled banner," it says so again. we need to put united back in the united states of america, the greatest nation in the world. [cheers and applause] ♪

>> wow. how about that? [applause] this has been an incredible program and that concludes the speaker program of today's festivities. i do want to remind everyone that if you have not voted, the boating area will be open for approximately 15 more minutes. -- 50 more minutes. send that message. we will be back shortly. thank you, everyone. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] ♪

>> here are the results from the straw poll. michele bachman finished first with 28%. ron paul was second with 27%. tim pawlenty finished third with a 13%. in fourth, rick santorum got 9%. fifth was herman cain who received 9% of the vote. the remaining in order were texas governor dick perry, mitt romney, newt gingrich got a 2%. jon huntsman received less than 1% of the vote. >> watch more video of the candidates. c4 reporters are saying in track the latest contributions with c-

span's website for 2012. it helps you navigate the political landscape with twitter feeds and optics from the campaign and the latest polling data plus links to our media partners. all at c-span.org. >> as an aspiring journalist, i'm preparing myself for the small salary i will be starting out with. >> put aside your bias and report the truth. >> the reason people love a fox news is because it is an experience. it is love and hate. >> from the washington journalism and a media conference, aspiring journalists on ethics and commentary and where they get their news and information in today's's multimedia environment.

>> texas governor rick perry announces his candidacy for the 2012 presidential nomination. he talks about the economy, his record, the role of government, and some of the policies he would implement if elected. he plans campaign stops in new hampshire and got -- iowa. he spoke at a gathering in charleston, south carolina. this is about 25 minutes. >> rick perry k >> the ground girl he ever date they're proud pearnts of two children. as governor, he's cut taxes on property and small businesses, stopped junk lawsuits and cut

state spending for the first time since world war ii. rick perry has helped build the nation's top economy since june of 2009, more than 40% of all new jobs in america have been created in texas. that's why we today can call him the jobs governor, rick perry. >> howdy. good afternoon. eric, thank yovery much. it is great to be at red state. i'll tell you what, it's even better to be governor of the largest red state in america. and it's sure good to be back in the palmetto state in south rolina. i enjoy coming to places where people elect folks like mickey haley, true conservatives and also where they love the greatest fighting force on the face of the earth, the united ates military.

[applause] i want to take a moment, i want to take a moment and ask you to just take a silence, think about those young navy seals and the other special operators who gave it all in service to their country. take a moment to say, thank you, lord that we have those kind of selfless, sack official men and women. -- sacrificial men and women. their saifice was immeasurable and their dedication profound. and we will never, ever forget them. [applause] i stand before you today as the governor of xas but i also stand before you the son of two

tenant farmers. ray perry who came home after 35 bombing missions over europe to work his little corner of land out there and amelia, who made sure my sister and i had everything we needed including hand sewing my clothes until i went off to college. i'm the product of a place called paint creek. doesn't have a zip code. it's too small to be called a town along the rolling plains of texas. we breed dry land cotton and wheat and when i wasn't farming or attending paint creek rural school i was generally over at troop 48 working on my eagle scout award. [applause] and around the age of 8, i was blessed, didn't realize it, but i was blessed to meet my future

wife, anita thigpen. we had our first date eight careers later. and she finally agreed to marry me 16 years after that. nobody says i am not persistent. you know, there is no greater way to live life than with someone you love and my first love is with us today, my lovely wife, anita. honey. we're also blessed to have two incredible children, griffin and sydney, and they're also here with us today and our wonderful dournl meredith. i'd just like -- our wonderful daughter-in-law, meredith. i'd just like to introduce those two. thank you. you know what i learned growing up on the farm was a way of

life. it was centered on hard work and on faith and on thrift. those values have stuck with me my whole life. but it wasn't until i graduated from texas a&m university an joined the united states air force flying c-130's all around the globe that i truly appreciated the blessings of freedom. you know, paraphrase abraham lincoln and ronaldeagan, i realized that the united states of america really is the last great hope of mankind. what i saw was systems of government that elevated rulers at the expense of the people, socialist systems that cloaked maybe in good intentions but were delivering misery and stagnation. i learned that not eveone

values life like we do in america. or the rights th are endowed to every human being by a loving god. you see, as americans, we're not defined by class and we will nev be told our place. what makes our nation exceptional is that anyone from any background can climb to the highest of highs. as americans w don't see the role of government as guaranteeing outcomes but allowing free men and women to flourishased on their own vision, their hard work and theirersonal responsibility. and as americans, we realize that there is no taxpayer money that wasn't first earned by the sweat and toil of one of our

citizens. [applause] that's why we reject this president's unbridled fixation on taking more money out of wallets and pocketbooks of american families and employers and giving it to a central government. spreading the wealth punishes success while setting america on course for greater dependencyn government. washington's insatiable desire to spend our children's inheritance on failed stimulus plans and other misguided economic theories have given us record debt d left us with far too many unemployed. but of course now we're told we're in recovery. but this sure doesn't feel like a recovery.

-- like a recovery to more than 9% of americans unemployed or the 16% of african-americans, 11% of hisnics in the same position. or the millions who can only find part time work or those who have even stopped looking for a job. one in six work eligible americans cannot find a full-time job. that is not a recovery. that is an economic disaster. you think about it, for those americans who do have full-time jobs, they aren't experiencing economic recovery with the rising fuel costs and food costs going up. recovery is a meaningless word if the bank has foreclosed on your home, if you're under water on your mortgage or if you're up to the max on your credit card debt. those americans know that this

president and his big spending, big government policies have prolonged our national misery, not alleviated it. what do we say to our children? do we say, well, you know, y'all will figure it out, don't worry, washington, they created 17 debt and entitlement commissions in 30 years, but the fact of the matter is, they didn't have the courage toake the decisions to allow you to have the future you actlly deserve. that washington wouldn't even make modest entitlement program reforms in this last debate and the president even refused to lay out a plan for fear of the next election. how can the wealthiest nation in the history of civilization fail so miserably to pay its

bills? how does that happen? mr. president, let us tell you something. you cannot win the future by selling america off to foreign creditors. we cannot afford four more years of this rudderless leadership. last week that leadership failed. and the tax and spend and borrow agenda of this president led to the first ever downgrade of credit rating of the united states of america. in reality, though, this is just the most recent downgrade. the fact is, for nearly three years, president obama has been downgrading american jobs, he's been downgrading our standing in the world, he's been downgrading our financial stability, he's been downgrading our confidence and downgradg the hope for a better future for our children.

that's a fact. his policies are not only a threat to this economy,o are his appointee a threat. [applause] he stacked the national labor relations board with antibusiness cronies who want to dictate to a private company, boeing, where they can build a plant. no president, no president should kill jobs in south caroli or for any other state for that matter simply because they choose go to a right-to-work state. you see, when the obama administration is not stifling economic growth with overregulation, they're achieving the same through the reckless spending.

debt is not only a threat to our economy. but also to our secury. america's standing in the world is in peril. not only because ofhe disastrous economic picies but from this incoherent muddle they call foreign policy. our president has insulted our friends and he's encouraged our enemies, thumbing his nose at traditional allies like israel he seeks to dick kate new borders for the meas and the oldest democracy there, israel, while he is an abject failure in his constitutional duty to protect our borders in the united states. [applause] you know, his foreign policy seems to be based on alienating

our traditional allies while basi our demesting agenda on importing those failed western european social values. we don't need a president who apologizes for america. we need a president who protects and projects those values. [applause] it's pretty simple. we're going to stand with tse who stand with us and we will vigorously defend our interest and those who threaten our interests, harm ou citizens, we will simply not be scolding you, we will defeat you. our nation cannot and must not endure four more years of aimless foreign policy. we cannot and must not endure four more years of rising unemployment, rising taxes, rising debt, rising energy

dependence on nations that intend us harm. it's time to get america working again. [applause] toet citizens, to get our citizens working in good jobs and getting the government to workg for the people again. you know, page one of any economic plan, to get america working, is to give a pink slip to the current residents in the white house. listen, we just got to get back to the basic truths of economic success. as governor, i had to deal with the consequences of this national recession and in 2003 -- in 2003 and again this year, my state faced billions of

dollars in budget shortfalls. but we worked hard, we made tough decisions, we balanced our budget, not by raising taxebut by setting priorities and cutting government spending. it can and it must be done in washington, d.c. a we have led texas based on some just really pretty simple guiding principles. one, don't spend all the money. you know, two is keeping the taxes low and under control. three, you have your regulatory climate fair and predictable. four is reform the legal system so frivolous lawsuits don't paralyze employers trying to create jobs.

over the years, over the years we followed this recipe to produce the strongest economy in the nation since june of 2009. texas is responsible for more than 40% of all of the new jobs created in america. ink about that. we're home to less than 10% of the population in america, but 40% of all the new jobs were created in that state. i cut taxes. i have delivered historic property tax reductions. i was the first governor since world war ii to cut general revenue spending in our state budget. we passed lawsuit reform. including just this last session loser pays law to stop the frivolous lawsuits that were happening.

and i know i've talked a lot about texas here in the last little bit, i'm a texan and i'm proud of it, but first and foremost, i am an incredibly proud american. [applause] and i know something, amera is not broken. washington, d.c. is broken. we need balanced budgets, we need lower taxes, we need less regulation and we need civil justice reform. those same four principles. our country's most urgent need is to revitalize our economy, stop the generational theft that is going on with this record debt. i came to south carolina because i will not sit back and accept the path that america is on. because a great country

requires a better direction, because a renewed nation needs a new president. it is time to get america working again and that's why with the support of my family and unwavering belief in the goodness of america, i declare to you today as a candidate for president of the united states. [cheers and applause]

>> you know, it's time for america to believe again. it's time to believe that the promise of our future is far greater than even our best days behind us. it's time to believe again in the potential for private enterpriseset free from the shackles of overbearing federal government. and it's time to truly restore our standing in the world, renew our faith in freedom as the best hope for peace in this world that's beset with strife. the change we seek will never emanate out of washington, d.c. it'll come from the wind swept prairies of middle america, the farms and factories across this great land. from the hearts and minds of the good hearted americans who will accept not a future that is less than our past. patriots. patriots who will not be consigned to a fate of less freedom in exchange for more

government. [applause] we do not have to accept our current circumstances, we will change them. we are americans. that's what we do. we roll up ourleeves, we go to work, we fix things. we stand up and proudly proclaim that washington is not our caretaker and we reject the state that in margaret thatcher's words, she said a state that takes t much from us in order to do too much for

us. we will not stand for that any longer. we're dismayed, we're dismayed at the injustice that nearly half of all amecans don't even pay any income tax and you know, the liberals out there are saying that we need to pay more. we are indignant about leaders who do not listen and spend money faster than they can print it. in america, t people are not subjects of the government. the goth is subject to the people. -- the government is subject to the people. and it's up to us, it is up to us, to this present generation of americans, to take a stand

for freedom to send a message to washington that we're taking our futu back from the grips of these central planners o would control our health care, who would spend our treasure, who downgrade our future and micromanage our lives. it's time to limit and simplify the taxes in this country. we have to quit spending money we don't have. we need to get our fiscal house in order and restore our good credit. and we will repeal this president's misguided one size fits all government health care plan immediately. [applause] we'll create jobs, we'll get america working again, we'll create jobs and buildwell and truly educate and innovate in science and technology and

engineering and math. we'll create the jobs and progress that's going to be needed to get america working again. i'll promise you this. i'll work every day to try t make washington, d.c., as inconsequential in your life as i can. and at the same time, we'll be freeing our families and small business and state from the burdensome and costly federal government so that those groups can create and innovate and succeed. i believe in america. i believe in her purpose and her promise. i believe her best days have not yet been lived. i believe her greatest deeds are reserved for the generations to come. and with the help and the coage of the american people, we will get our country working

again. god bless you and god ble the united states of america. thank you. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> thank you very much.

♪

>> stay a political roundtable on the results of the iowa straw poll with republican strategists keith appell and democratic strategist mark mellman. chad sweet talks about the obama administration possible efforts to overcome homegrown terrorism. angela stent looks back at the construction of the berlin wall and the cultural, geopolitical, and economic impact of a divided journeymen -- germany. for months under bernie sanders, a member of the budget committee, discusses the role and mission of the super committee and its appointees. he will also talk about the budget deficit issues. job creation and campaign 2012 and liberal discontent with president obama. today at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00

p.m. eastern on c-span. >> i am already preparing myself for the very small salary that i will be starting out with. >> you have to be disciplined enough to set aside your bias report the facts. >> the reason why people love a box news and movies is because it is an expert. it is emotional, it is love and hate. >> from washington media conference, aspiring high school journalists on at these, the role of opinion and commentary, and where they get their news and information in today's multimedia environment. minnesota >> representative michelle bachmann has won the iowa straw poll with 28% of the vote. she was followed by ron paul with 27% and tim pawlenty with 13%. rick santorum got 9%.

now hear the remarks. we begin with rick santorum. much. thank you, iowa. it is great to be here. family is first. let me introduce my wife karen along with five of our seven children behind us. they can to -- we can to i was three weeks ago. people said it is nice that rick was coming. no one really thought we were going to do much or have much of an impact. thanks to the great work of my wife karen? i will introduce to you right now - [cheers and applause] -- and these five children -- how many people got calls from my kids in the last three weeks? [applause] they have been on the phones and traveling around the state.

we did cities around the state of iowa for 14 days. we went to all four corners of the state of iowa. one of the commentators called our campaign the ring of fire campaign. [cheers and applause] we wanted to make sure all of iowans were heard from and all of iowa got a chance to meet at least one of the candites, to sit in their libraries or living rooms, to tk to them and listen to them because that is where the great wisdom is in america. then, enter their questions, be accountable t them. that is what i did it. 68 counties later, we have come here to do something important. we have come here, all o you have come here to say that the folks in washington, the people

in the boardrooms in new york and the media centers, they are not the ones who are going to choose the next republican nominee for president. you are going to choose the next nominee for president. [cheers and applau] what the poeple of iowa have said to me is that they want someone that they can trust what they say are going too and do what they are going to say. as a positive vision for the future of this country. there is positive vision for the future of this country if we do what our founding fathers did, believe in the goodness of the american people, free people, w government says yes, like in our declaration of independence which founded this great country, transformed the world.

we had governments that were not run from the top down, not where you have the divine right of kings with the king was given rights by god and then spread the wealth around. no. our founders believed in a country where we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are crted equal with certain unalienable rights. [cheers and applause] it was that belief in free people that transformed the world bank for the first time, we said that we were gng to have a government whose job under this constitution was limited to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. many people have said that the social issues are not important in this campaign. i have talked about all of these issues. i will not back down on the sanctity of life and marriage.

[cheers and applause] what the people of all i what recognize is that america is a moral enterprise. our founders understood that for the constitution to work, it had to be based on something deeper, something grounded. our rights came from a creator. the creator has rules. nature and nature's god. they understood that through reason and faith we could build a strong country from the ground up based on a moral society. john adams said our society is holy and adequate for any other. that is the mission for america. to suggest that we can be a party just about tax cs and spending cuts and not about

strong families and a strong faith and strong faith communities, you do not understand iowa and you do not understand america. [cheers and applause] ladies and gentlemen, as you saw from the debate the other night, this campaign is about scratching and clawing for any bit of recognition i could get. i had to wave my hand to ask for recognition. this is the little engine that could campaign. [applause] they told us we had no chance to not pay attention. all the press does is right about these shiny engines that keep coming by to help. maybe we will start to hitch up and work hard.

we did not wait around. which started working hard. -- we started working hard. we have been to iowa more than other candidate because i want to be accountable to you and the people who make decisions, who are going to have the first cut of narrowing this field to select the president, will get a chance to look me in the eye, keblick my shins and the tires, and to hear from me division of this country today is an opportunity to strike a blow for the people of the heartland. this is a hard land campaign, not just about wall street, but about all of the issues that you hear about. to moral and culture issues, and yes, to getting this of economy going. look at the plan that i put forward.

it is about the heartland. it is about using the resources in iowa, pennsylvania, and offshore to create energy security for this country that is desperately needed. [cheers and applause] i grew up in a little steel town outside of pittsburgh, pa.. my grandther came to this country because he wanted to be free and believed in the goodness of america. an arica that believed in him and what he could do to provide for himself and the family -- and his family and a god that he served bank for 40 years, he clawed for my freedom until he was 72 years old. am here today standing on his shoulders because i believe

right now in thithis country is in jeopardy of losg its freedom because of one maand one bale -- obamacare. -- and one bill -- obamacare. [applause] obamacare is the single greatest threat to one generation's charge of handling this country off to the next generation freer, safer, and more prosperous. margaret thatcher said she was never able to accomplish what ronald reagan accomplished, never able to turn the tide of socialism. never able to turn it back in britain like reagan did. and getting americans to believe in themselves, not some government official to take care of them. what margaret thatcher said, she

was never able to turn it around. the british national health-care system. i was in the green room at fox a couple of days before the vote for obamacare. they decided to jam it down the throats of the american public. i said to juan williams, "water you doing? " you are committing political suicide bank he said that me tell you what the administration told me. "we believe obama. we believe that america's love for entitlements, and once we get them hooked on this entitlement, they will never let it go." [crowd boos] just imagine a couple of weeks backhen barack obama's was against the wall being pushed for a debt ceiling

increase. was his first move? just like at basketball, it was to the left. [laughter] his first move was to get in front of a national audience and tell the people who were dependent on the federal government that they were not going to get their social security checks, that they were not going to get their benefits, but they were not going to get their medicare benefits. they have the hook. the time that they need to, they pull the strings spending now, with obamacare, everyone is a manic and. being able to be pulled in the way that washington wants you to be pulled. not o;n my watch. [cheers and applause]

you have an opportunity in this race to take someone who the national media is not paying a lot of attention to. maybe it is because in my elective history i defeated three democratic incumbents, twice for the congress -- [applause] -- toys for the congress -- twice for the congress and once in the state of pennsylvania, a state that republicans have not won since 1988. i went up against an incumbent demoatic senator whose campaign was managed by a couple of guys who just managed a successful campaign for president back in 1992. i beat them. [cheers and applause] in fact, one of my proudest accomplishments in james

carville's boo item number 3 on his list. i am number three on his list. [cheers and applause] maybe it was because i foht for welfare reform and the only one on this stage the other night that aually authored a bill, managed it on the floor of the senate, got bipartisan support, which got a democratic president to sign it, ending an entlement, and is transformed society. [cheers and applause] maybe it is because i am someone who says tohe people of this country who care about the sanctity of human life that i will just not give lip service. i will stand on the floor of the

senate and in the oval office and i will fight for life because i did it for 12 years in the senate and got bipartisan support for three major bills to pass pro-life initiatis. i led the fight. that is not just doing it the same. it is doing it. [cheers and applause] >> you have an opportunity today to send a message that iowa doesn't want what new york and the media and the rest of them want that iowa can govern consistent with our constitution. thank you, and god bless you. [applause] ♪

>> thank you. thank you. thank you so very much. thank you. thank you very much. i appreciate it. thank you.

i hope that you'll give a great iowa welcome to the fosmer first lady of minnesota and my two daughters, anna and maura. [applause] >> i want to thank you for being here today. thank you for loving america and thank you for your patriotism and thank you for being on this journey to take back our country from barack obama. [applause] 30 years ago on this very day, august 13, ronald reagan, one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country signed the economic recovery act into law. it was knighted in that time of our country, massive revenue growth.

massive job and and as we face similar challenges today, we know what to do, don't we? [applause] we know what america needs. but unfortunately, barack obama has absolutely no clue. he is like a manure spreader in a wind storm. [applause] about four years ago, barack obama came through iowa. he convinced the democrats of this great stite catapult him towards white house. and they did. but today's the day that republicans in iowa, independence in -- independents in iowa and conservatives all across this country send the message that barack obama's got to go. [applause]

>> he's been talking a lot about the full faith and credit of america's death death. barack obama should put his full faith and credit in the american people. [applause] >> now the way forward may not be the easy way, but it's not complex. as we look over the history of this great nation, we know what works. we can see the lessons of america's greatness and bring them forward to the challenges of our time. and here they are. let's be a nation that puts its trust in god first and foremost. [applause] number two, we know, this don't we? we can't spend more than we take in. [applause]

and we also know as we watch him going across the world, apologizing for america, denying or ignoring america's k3e7pingsalism that we make sure our president will maintain the peace by maintaining our strength. [applause] and we're going to send the message from iowa here today all across this great country, and it's what i hear from hard-working and concerned americans experiencing the heavy-handed economic results of barack obama? the mess >> mr. president, get the government off our backs. [applause]

>> let's get a start on that agenda. first, mr. president, repeal obamacare. [applause] number two, mr. president, please come before the country and tell us why you oppose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget? we want it, and the country deserves it, and you should support it. [applause] and i also want to share with you and many other republican c57bd dats here and in the race, they are wonderful people and they have a great vision for network in deciding who you are going to support in this race. many republican candidates are going to say the same thing. they are going to say i'm the one who will cut government spending.

i am the one who will reduce taxes. they say i am the one who will stand for the cause of life. they say i will stand for traditional marriage. they say i am the one who will do health caret. he came through iowa with the great speeches, and the big rhetoric. but now we know this, don't we? his rhetoric doesn't put gas in our car, does it? and barack obama's relate rick doesn't pay our mortgage, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't pay our health care premiums, does it? and barack obama's rhetoric doesn't put our children through college and pay the tuition and doesn't give us a job, does it? >> no. >> is it time for barack obama to go?

but for us, too, it's got to be more than words. we've got to deliver. and so i stand before you as a candidate who sticks his claims to iowa and here today on large part that i don't just talk about it. we get the job done for minnesota and more america. [applause] so if you look at my record in minnesota, you can see we took spending from historic highs to historic lows. we cut taxes in my state over eight years and did it -- we advanced the cause of life and traditional marriage in historic ways. we did public employee pension

reform. before it was cool and popular to do it in the rest of the country. those kinds of results, not just talk, is what america needs now. i also want to tell you doing that in minnesota ising? that's very interesting and important to know. we need to not just preach to the choir and make sure we have a candidate who can win in places like kansas or oklahoma or some of the other great states in this country, alabama and georgia. he can come up to iowa and wisconsin and pennsylvania and take the conservative message and urgeos to win and get this country back. i won and got re-elected in one of the most difficult states to be a republican, minnesota, and i'll carry those states as a candidate for president. [applause]

the way forward may not be, but america can overcome challenges, as you know. valley forge wasn't easy. settling the west wasn't easy. winning world war ii, for sure wasn't easy. going to the moon wasn't easy, but this is not about easy. it's about getting our country back on track. this is the united states of america. we are the american people. [applause] the founding fathers created it. ronald reagan personified it. abraham lincoln stood courageously to defend it. and now the call comes to each

of us in this time as our country again faces great challenges. this is the greatest nation the world has ever known. if we stand courageously to defend it and move barack obama and put the country back on track, we will have done our duty. he is a government for the people, by the people, we will remain the greatest country the world has ever known and our country will not perish from the earth. [applause] so i want you to do everything you can in the closing hours of the straw poll to get support to my campaign. i want to look you in the eye and tell you i know what this country needs and understand our

conservative principles. i am not just going to stand up here and give you the word. you can take it to the bank. i will lead this country to a better, brighter, a stronger place. thank you very much. i appreciate your support. [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ thank you. >> thank you very much thank you very much. it's great to be here. looks like a very exciting day. and we're delighted with the way things are going. [applause] the one thing about our campai. it's been identified with one particular word, and i'm very proud of it. we are identified with the

cause of liberty. [applause] i'm convinced that liberty and an understanding of that and a constitution can bring us peace and prosperity. [applause] but today i'm going to emphasize something slightly different than just the cause of liberty. because there' something that proceeds liberty, and that is life. [applause] i believe in a very limited role for government, but the prime reason that government exists in a free society is to protect liberty, but also to protect life, and i mean all life. [applause] i want to tell a very short

story, because time is short, about how i came to be very strong right to life. when i was in medical school in the 1950's it was a non-issue. it was assumed everybody was pro life and abortions weren't to be done. in the 1960's when i was a resident studying ob/gyn, the doctors in the medical centers were defying the law in doing abortions. this shook me up. one day i walked into the operating room and they did a history rot my and lifted out a baby that was crying and breathing and put it in a bucket in the corner of the room and let it die and pretended nobody heard it. that was rather disturbing. but as i walked out of that room because i was a student and observer, i walked out of the room and a baby about the same size was born prematurely. and all of a sudden 20 people,

nurses and doctors all rushing around to save the baby's le, which seemed very logical. but my conclusion that very day is you can net have rative value for life and deal with that. we cannot play with that decision. all life is precious. [applause] if we are to defend liberty and allow people to spend their money as they want and go on the trips that they want and run their lives as they please, you have to understand where that liberty and life comes from. does not come from the government. it comes from our creator. [applause]

but there's a lot of ways you can defend liberty. in many ways, in a personal way, in intellectual way. in a religious manner. but also, as determined as i am to promote the cause of pro life and making sure that governments don't slip off to defeating life and taking life, one of the most atrocious positions this country could have, and that is where government will come along and take money from those who strongly believe in pro life and commit abortions with that. that should be reversed. [applause] being pro life can be extended and pro liberty even into all ages. yes, it is good to be pro life, and we must be pro life, or you

cannot be pro liberty, the way i understand it. but i also think it's being strongly pro life if we work very hard to have a policy when those young people, those babies that are born, when they co to age, those lives are just as precious and they are never forced to fight in undeclareible, unwinible wars. [applause] i find it very difficult to protect liberty if you don't truly understand what the patriot act is all about. i understand. i was in washington with the great concern on the day after the day of 9/11, but the patriot act is an attack on our liberties and the fourth amendment. it does not solve the problems

that we face. not when you take liberty away from the american people. [applause] if you want to think about the issue that comes about if you get careless about the protecon of liberty, that the patriot act along -- if we tolerate that type to interfere with our lib i we have to be -- you can not repeal in order to say yes, we can give up a little bit of our freedoms to be safe. you never have to give up liberty to be safe. [applause]

and foreign policy has been a big issue in our campaign, because the country is tired of the war. and we're all so broke. the wars have been going on for 10 years. they are undlared. they are fought under international banners, nato and the united nations, and we don't see an end to it. but it's also costing us a lot of dollars, those trillions of dollars should have been left in the economy to build jobs and prospery here at home! one other symbolism of a failed foreign policy is what we did in iraq. we went into iraq. we were supposed to go into iraq to get al qaeda.

there was no al qaeda. we went in there to get weapons of mass destruction. there were no weapons of mass destruction. today one half of the christians have been run out of iraq. we have not done a good job. and now they are closer to the iranians than they have ever been. but symbolically i want to tell you what was done in iraq. we built an ambassador there. the embassy is as big as the vatican. and just recently the d.o.d. budget authorized the employment of 17,000 people to work in this embassy. that is not the way to achieve prosperity [applause] there's something you have to

do because we have importance if you want to understand economics and process parity, you have to understand monetary policy and the mischief of that and we have to change that. [applause] in order to attract investments and capitainto a country, you cannot have the weak currency. we inflate endlessly which means we print money to pay for the debt. it goes to the stronger countries. now we have the greatest debt in the history of the world and we ow $1.4 trillion to china

and we wonder why we have a problem. you have to have a strong currency. there'nothing wrong with us reconstituting the constitution because only gold and silve can be legal tender. [applause] also you have to have the proper environment for companies to bring their moneys back home. you can't have a money bring money or park money overseas and double tax them and charge them 35% aga, that's changing , around it would be a good idea to get rid of all this income tax and corporate taxation. [applause] and of course with a strong

currency and with a change of the tax system, you also have to deal with the regulatory systems. we havto shrink the size of the federal register. we need a lot less regulations not more regulations. [applause] it is said that those of us who promote the free market system, that we don't care about regulang those ruthless, big corporations, but just think about how the sound economy would regulate those companies and banks -- stopping the debt on the american people, causing the unemployment and causing the little guy to le his house. [applause]

the problems are very large. they are very difficult. the solution is not complicated if you understand how we got into thimess. basically we got into this mess because we have lost respect for our law of the land, the constitution, and we have lost our thumb for freedom. that we, ourselves can take better care of ourselves, and predict ou money and lives and our children's education >> much of the work has done better without government down our backs and in our freems, it's time we restore freedom back to america. [applause] and we have that opportunity.

before start -- people are starting to recognize. people are accepting the argument that the economy is now in shambles, and there was a housing bubble, and there's been a collapse of the housing bubble. the american people now by a large majority are saying we've been overseas too long. we need to protect the our borders and forget about the borders in afghanistan and pakistan. [applause] time to bring the troops home. [applause] there is no argument that is viable to say that we have to keep troops in south korea. they've been there since i was in high school. they've been in japan since world war ii. they've been in germany since

we need a boost in the economy! -- they have been in germany since i was in high school. we need a boost to the economy! >> [applause] if we got in this trouble by a lack of loyalty to our law and constitution, it is not that difficult. all we have to do is restore the bleeping freedom and restore our conviction that the constitution works. it would take a while. but it might only take a year. we're into the fourth year of this recession. yes. we got in this trouble by not having respect for the constitution. we can get out of this trouble by respecting the rule of law in sending

[cheers and applause] ♪ >> thank you very much. hi, everyone. good to see you. god bless you, every one. we are going to do 8. it is going to happen. 2012 is hours. we are going to take it back in 2012. [cheers and applause] all of the greatness, the energy, all that we need to do to take the country back in 2012 is right here in this room in ames, iowa. we are going to do it together and take it back. [cheers and applause]

my name is michele bachmann and i am running to be the next president of the united states of america. [cheers and applause] and together, we are going to make barack obama a one term president. [cheers and applause] from one iowan to antoher, iowa will be the pace car to set the tone and pace for bringing this country back for the greatness itwas meant. it is iowa where we will see the greatness once again begin. i am so thrilled with what i have seen.

our campaign is 48 days old. i have been all across the four corners of iowa and all points in between. i was born and raised in waterloo and cedar falls of. in this wonderful part of our state, what i saw were reasonable, fair-minded people who loved me, poured themselves into me, and that is the voice i heard growing up. common sense and moral values. that set the tone. everything i needed to know in life, i learned in iowa. [cheers and applause] my mother and father taught us to always love iowa. iowa is the breadbasket of the world bank and we feed millions of people from iowa.

be grateful. i have always been grateful that i am an iowan. i believe it is time to have an house. in the white in the last 48 days, as i have been everywhere from spencer to storm lake, to you name it, we have been there, and ames as well. what we have seen is a restoration of that dream. you have restored in me my faith in america. i see on the television destruction all across the country, but inot in iowa. i see happy, confident, optimistic people. their crops are growing.

we have a wonderful season. people are more energized than ever before because they know we can do this. if we stick together, they know this will happen. they know we can secure the promise of the future for our children. how do i know is that? because i have seen wonderful people who believe this. they believe that life is precious, and that from conception until natural death, we stand for human life. that is iowa. [cheers and applause] and all across iowa, i have seen a marvelous appreciation for a marriage, as one man and one woman. [cheers and applause] you showed the world when you did not retain those three justices in your last

election. [cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will only appoint justices who followed the constitution and do not legislate from the bench. [cheers and applause] this is important. it is fundamental. it is foundational because the family is the foundation of a unit of this country. with the family, we are everything. without the family, how do we survive? we need the family to go forward. now -- [cheers and applause] people say, and that is unrealistic. it is absolutely essential that we maintain the family. i thank god for family. my parents were married here in

waterloo, iowa. my parents, unfortunately in later years, divorced. i was raised by a single mother. we went to below poverty overnight, but my mother said it will not always be that way. it is going to get better. one thing that i learned from my great family is that we did stick together. that was a great life lesson, we are thae i saw that social conservatives and we will never be ashamed of being social conservatives. [cheers and applause] we understand that religious liberty is the essence and a foothold of this nation. we should never be ashamed or afraid of the faith that this

country was founded upon. i think god for the religious faith that my parents taught to me. i thank god -- a [applause] i think god for what he has done. god has mightily put his hand of blessing upon this nation. we can never think that we did this ourselves. it was almighty god who gave this to us. [cheers and applause] we are social conservatives. we are fiscal conservatives, and i am one. i am a former federal tax lawyer. my husband and i started our own successful company. i get it, how to turn the a economy around. we think it is a good idea to

turn a profit. [cheers and applause] and we agree with the declaration of independence which said we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. the founders designed that to be we have the right to keep the fruits of our own labor. what a concept. [cheers and applause] and as president of the united states, i will stand for life, marriage, and the right for you to keep the fruits of your opponent labor. [cheers and applause] -- of your own labor. nationale alolso security conservatives. we love this country. we love our brave men and women who served this country with

respect and admiration. [cheers and applause] we will never forget that every day there are those who wake up in the morning thinking how they will kill americans today. there are those thinking how they will destroy the united states of america today. i am privileged to sit on the house committee on intelligence. we are a very small committee that deals with the nation's classified secrets. we must never forget that we always stand for the safety and security of the american people. and i will. [cheers and applause] in iowa, we have successfully maintained the chain of liberty for 150 years.

my family has lived in iowa. every generation has successfully handed the torch of liberty to the next. it is if we have forged a chain link of liberty. every generation has successfully tapped the change going. now is our chance here in iowa. we get to forge a that next chain on the link eo fliberty, to make sure is not just our generation, but generations of 150 years from now that look back and say thank you for restoring the promise of the future to my children, thank you that you restored greatness again to the united states. that is what we will do to get their. we will stick together, stand together, do with the solomon brothers said, the famous sullivan brothers from waterloo, iowa. all five brothers gave their

lives for the cause of liberty. they said, "if we stick together, we will get it done." whether we are in the tea party, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, we stick together, and this will happen. the greatness will once again belong to the united states of america. nchpad.gan the lau [cheers and applause] because i know right now as i look across this arena here in ames, we are the team that cannot be beat. [cheers and applause] teh sullivan brothers of waterloo, our military men and

women -- they have laid it on a line for us generation after generation after generation. they have laid it on the line for us. now it is ours. we will not let the next generation down. we too will lay it on the line, and in 2012, which will take the country back. join the. i am headed over to the voting booth right now. come with me now because i am going over to the voting booth to cast my vote. i am asking for your vote to be the next president of the united states to take your voice to the white house spending god bless you! god bless the united states of america! i love you all. god bless you! i love you! thank you so much!

i love you! ♪ >> next your calls and comments on "washington journal." then bernie sanders and henry

paulson talks about the 2008 wall street bailout. >> i am already preparing myself for the very small salary that i will be starting out with. >> you have to be disciplined enough to set aside your bias and report the facts. >> the people -- the reason that people love fox news because it is emotional, it is love and hate. >> aspiring high school journalists on ethics, paroled of opinion in commentary, and where they get their news and informations in today's multimedia environment tonight. >> this morning a political roundtable on the results of the iowa straw poll with republican strategist keith appell and democratic strategists. mark mellman former cia director of operations chad sweet talks