Longtime FR friend Scott Carpenter, who was just elected to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee last week, attended the OC GOP’s annual Flag Day Fundraising Dinner. This year’s special guest was Marco Rubio, the GOP candidate for United States Senate in Florida. We asked Carpenter if he would pen something on the event for FR readers. Please take a few minutes and read this great account of what was a wonderful evening…
Marco Rubio Shines At Annual OC GOP Flag Day Dinner
by Scott Carpenter
Last night marked another successful Flag Day Dinner hosted by the Republican Party of Orange County. The annual event has become one of the marquee political events in California, if not the entire nation, and last night’s occasion lived up to its billing.
This was the fifth Flag Day that I’ve had the pleasure to attend. I can honestly say that tonight’s event had a different vibe amongst the attendees that was an optimistic and renewed sense of excitement for the Republican Party. About 800 elected officials, party leaders, activists, donors and political observers descended upon the Irvine Hyatt to see the keynote speaker, Florida Senatorial Candidate Marco Rubio. Talking with fellow attendees prior to the dinner everyone seemed excited to return the Republican Party to its core principles and see Rubio as a major leader in that charge, and he did not disappoint. After an hour of socializing the clock struck 7pm and everyone poured into the main ballroom for the event.
Former California Republican Party Chairman Mike Schroeder was the Dinner Finance Chairman and welcomed everyone to the event, he then introduced Orange County Congressman Dana Rohrabacher for the invocation. Rohrabacher’s invocation was a unique personalized song focusing on God’s grace upon America, and it fit perfectly with energy of the evening. After the Pledge of Allegiance by Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel, OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh gave his Chairman’s Welcome. Baugh acknowledged the dozens of local elected officials and GOP Central Committee members in attendance and recognized the legislators that were also on hand. Baugh then made special mention of newly elected Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson, and commended him for his victorious campaign in the face of public employee union assaults that were leveled upon him personally and politically. Once the Chairman’s Welcome was finished Ralph Reed from the Faith and Freedom Coalition gave a great National Update. Reed connected with the issues facing our nation, and the fight our party has on its hands to return our nation to its founding principles. He spoke about the vulnerable politicians across the nation and how the party needs to embrace the nation’s discontent to win the country back and get it back on track.
Following Reed’s comments dinner was served. Of course during dinner about half the room got up to network. It is always fascinating after an election to watch a room with hundreds of politicos work a room during an event immediately following an election. Tonight’s dinner portion of the evening was no exception.
Following dinner Villa Park City Councilwoman and Tea Party activist Deborah Pauly introduced Marco Rubio. Deborah fired up the crowd in Tea Party fashion, which was becoming a recurring theme in the evening. She also received applause for her jab at Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Of course Crist is Rubio’s former GOP primary rival, and current Independent rival after he dropped the GOP in an attempt to prolong his political career. However, Pauly’s jab at Crist had a special place in the OC GOP faithful’s heart as he was the Flag Day Speaker in 2008. Crist’s speech was considered by most everyone to be a flop, and having his superstar rival two years later is especially poetic.
Marco Rubio then took the stage and delivered a speech that was the antithesis of the one delivered by his fellow Floridian two years ago. He had the same crowd, but the opposite reception. Rubio’s humble and authentic but confident delivery drew everyone in and kept the crowd hanging on every one of his words. He spoke of the reasons he was running for the United States Senate and attributed his candidacy to the greatness of what is possible in America. Rubio’s speech was frequently interrupted by applause; he drew a huge applause when he explained the urgency that the GOP faces in re-embracing its soul and standing behind politicians who remain true to the party’s philosophy. He rightly ridiculed the defeated former members of congress who were responsible for the party’s losses in 2006 and 2008. Rubio explained his economic philosophy and paid tribute to the free market system. He explained “American free enterprise has eradicated more poverty than any social program in the world ever has.” Rubio then moved on to criticize the Obama Administration’s errors in foreign policy, and his policy of “abandon, appease and surrender.” He outlined the mistakes of abandoning our allies in Europe, Latin America and Israel, and defended foreign policy that had been implemented by previous administrations. Once the policy discussion was finished Rubio drove his speech home about the excruciatingly tough decision to run and remain in the race against all odds. In a way many people feel a calling towards a certain vocation or life decision, Rubio truly found his calling in his race for US Senate. He gave the credit of how far he’s come in this race to God, his parents and the greatness of the United States. When Rubio started his race he said the only people who supported him lived in his house; but from his speech no one can deny the remarkable journey he has taken from being raised the son Cuban immigrants to the brink of election to the United States Senate. Everyone in the room had an even better appreciation for the greatness of the United States following Rubio’s speech. He closed with this quote “Many of you may never get the opportunity to vote for me, but please give me the opportunity to vote for you.”
With a room full of energized Republicans ready to take action Chairman Baugh gave attendees an opportunity to donate to Rubio’s campaign. By this time my note card was quite cluttered and I began an extremely informal count of how much money was being raised. There were numerous maximum donations given along with dozens of other donations in smaller amounts. By my count (which I’m sure I missed several) Rubio had raised well over $25,000. Chairman Baugh then gave way to California Secretary of State Candidate Damon Dunn for some final inspiring words and closed out the evening quite nicely.
The Republican Party of Orange County had a lot to feel good about last night. There were newcomers and long time activists. The genuine camaraderie in the room was very prevalent. The mood of the event turned from anxious optimism to electric enthusiasm throughout the night. Last night’s Flag Day Dinner can be considered a win for the party and the country.
**Photo Credit: Allan Bartlett, "lifted" from his Facebook page.**
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