So I discovered you can watch the RNC unfiltered via C-SPAN. Which is a good thing or I would have missed a very passionate speech by actor, Ron Silver. If I can find the text of it I will post it, but it is clear that the convention is much better through C-SPAN than CNN.
Update: You can find the Ron Silver speak over at C-SPAN. It is included in the video of the entire evening session and begins at the 1:00:31 mark. It is well worth checking out. The speech is about 6 minutes long and I have transcribed the text here:
Thank you. Thank you. I would like to thank the President and the Republican Party for holding this event in my hometown, my father’s hometown, my grandfather’s birthplace and my grandfather’s hometown. Just over 1000 days ago, 2605 of my neighbours were murdered at the World Trade Centre. Men, Women and Children as they began their day on a brilliantly clear New York autumn morning, less then 4 miles from where I am now standing. We will never forget! We will never forgive! We will never excuse!
At the end of World War II Douglas McArthur, General Douglas McArthur Supreme Allied Commander of the South Pacific said “It is my earnest hope, indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out the blood and courage of the past A world founded upon faith and understanding. A world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of it’s most cherished wish, for freedom, tolerance and justice. The hope he expressed then remains relevant today. We are again engaged in a war that will define the future of human kind. Responding to attacks on our soil, America has lead a coalition of countries against extremists who want to destroy us, our children, our way of life and our values. This is a war we did not seek. This is a war waged against us! This is a war in which we had to respond!
History shows that we are not imperialists, but we are fighters, for freedom and democracy. Even though I’m a well recognized liberal on many issues confronting our society today, I find it ironic that many human rights advocates and outspoken members of my own entertainment community are often on the front lines to protest oppression, for which I applaud them, but there usually the first ones to oppose any use of force to take care of these horrors that they catalogue repeatedly. Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our armed service. The President is doing exactly the right thing! And that is why we need this President! This time!
I’m very grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support to our Commander-in-Chief, to our brave troops and the vital cause in which they have undertaken. General Dwight Eisenhower’s statement of 60 years ago is true today. “United in this determination and unshakeable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will with God’s help forward to our greatest victory”. Thank you very much.
