SPEAKERS LIST: U.S. SENATOR BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL (R-CO)

CAMPBELL: Thank you. Delegates, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for that nice, warm welcome and a special thanks to my Colorado Republican family over here to my right.

(APPLAUSE)

As one of the few people here tonight who's attended a Democratic convention I speak with some authority when I tell you that the Republican convention is much more friendly and open, and more fun, too.

(APPLAUSE)

I stand here tonight as one of only 10 United States Senators who have changed parties while in office. Nine of the 10 changed from Democrat to the Republican party.

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And I thank my personal friend, the great Senator from Utah, Orrin Hatch, himself a former Democrat, for helping me make the transition.

I apologize for being a slow learner. I have to tell you, I should have changed years ago.

(APPLAUSE)

The Democratic party had become a party of special interests, not the people's interests. I do not consider myself a trend setter by changing parties. But I'm still the only member of Congress who goes to work on a motorcycle and is never accused of using the Senate barbershop and hates neckties.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

However, since I changed parties, six U.S. Democrats, who were in Congress, and over 200 local and state elected officeholders have also become Republicans.

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They, like I, found that the Democratic party had become a party with a grim vision of the future. It is a vision of more taxes, more government and less freedom.

I became a Republican because the Republican party is a party that will fight to balance the budget.

(APPLAUSE)

The Republican party is the party that will fight the war on crime and protect victims' rights.

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And, as a Westerner, it is important to me that the Republican party is the party that will protect private property rights and your right to use the public lands.

Are you listening, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and Utah, to name a few? We cannot let them lock us off the public lands. We will not...

(APPLAUSE)

We will not let them take away our birth right to use those lands. But, perhaps, more than anything else, the difference between Republicans and Democrats, and, indeed, between Bob Dole and Bill Clinton, is that -- what they would do with your money.

CAMPBELL: Under Bill Clinton's tax system, 3/8 of your money earned at work each day goes to the government. Bob Dole and the Republicans in Congress will put Bill Clinton's taxman, who has an insatiable appetite, on a diet by returning 15 percent of our income taxes to us.

(APPLAUSE)

That's really the difference between the two parties and the two candidates for president. It is called preserving freedom. This year, let's elect a president who is a true American hero, who will restore the American dream by restoring our freedoms.

Let's elect a man of compassion and strength. Let's elect a man of integrity and honesty, and most of all, let's elect a man who keeps his word.

(APPLAUSE)

We cannot rest on the laurels of 1994 because we need one more election to finish the job. This November, America's voice will be heard as we elect Bob Dole the president of this great nation.

(APPLAUSE)

Let's move forward, onward to victory. And onward to victory. And onward to victory.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you.

Our next speaker demonstrates the inclusiveness of the Republican Party. Chris DePino, a proud Republican and a proud union member is here with us tonight. He is from the state of Connecticut and a state representative.

The Republican Party is gaining converts every day, but the Republican Party has always been strong among people who work for a living. Chris DePino of Connecticut is also chairman of the Republican Party and represents the working people of this country and is here to tell you his story.

Chris DePino.

(APPLAUSE)

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