Congressman Don Bacon spoke at Friday’s Pottawattamie County Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. Bacon highlighted the incredible track record of success by President Donald Trump, but also gave pitches for a number of candidates.
Bacon noted that America is near a record-low number of veterans in Congress. He said 18 percent of the members of Congress have served in the military. The all-time low is 17 percent, and it was almost a century ago when that number was posted.
“We need folks who understand what it’s like to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Bacon said. “Who knows what it means to leave family behind. What it means to put those burdens on families of 19 years of continuous deployment.”
It was a pitch for Sen. Joni Ernst.
He also complimented Gov. Kristi Noem before launching into his thoughts on the upcoming election.
“I see this election dealing with security,” he said. “This election is about security and it’s about community and family security. When you look at what’s going on in Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago – I could go on and on, what happened at the White House after the acceptance speech the other night for the nomination – we are blessed to have a Republican governor in Republican governors in Iowa and Nebraska and South Dakota and have Republican mayors here who defend private property and defend your safety. We’re blessed to be in communities that love our law enforcement.”
Democrats, Bacon said, have shown their intentions.
“They do not defend personal property and small business,” Bacon said. “They have not intervened and it’s wrong.”
Bacon talked about national security, noting the “tremendous strides” Trump has taken. Four years ago, Bacon said, half the Navy aircraft couldn’t fly. Today, 80 percent of the Navy aircraft can fly.
“We have turned around the modernization of our military,” Bacon said.
NATO, Bacon said, is providing $140 billion more dollars to fund their own defense because of Trump.
Economic security is also on the line. Bacon said Trump built the best economy in 50 years, noting the lowest unemployment ever for African Americans, Hispanic Americans and women.
He asked who will fight for security for the preborn baby.
“The other side, most of them support abortion up until the moment of birth,” Bacon said. “It is evil. I’ll just leave it at that.”
And, he added, individual freedoms. Republicans won’t skip over the Second Amendment. They won’t skip over the freedom of religion.
“Hard work and character are the keys to success, not taking money out of your pocket and giving it to someone else,” Bacon said.
He finished by providing a pitch for David Young.
“When I think of David Young, I think of decency,” Bacon said. “We could use a little more decency in Washington. But also, what I’ve noted about him and I feel the same way, he is a conservative, but he knows to get things done you’ve got to have discussions across the aisle and find areas where you agree. Not to compromise your values, but to find areas of agreement so our country can move forward. How else are we going to make improvements on immigration? How else are we going to make improvements to health care? It can’t be my way or the highway, we have to find areas where we agree.”
