It was pretty much her Iowa Senate campaign speech and messaging.
The speech served to the extent that her entire countenance, in particular her eyes, portrayed empathy. It was effective to that extent. She established empathy for the American downtrodden by telling the nation of her humble (in context rather ordinary really) upbringing. That is good but how much in the listeners’ minds was that about her or the Republican party in general and what Republicans were elected to do?
Senator Ernst did repeat some common Republican mantra, but the election was about confronting Obama, reclaiming America’s spirit and exceptionalism. The voters who elected Republicans overwhelmingly are very concerned about the direction of the country. They are not and will not be pleased with hapless Republicans who campaign one way and throw up their hands to resistance. This was not a throw down the gauntlet speech.
Are there any values Republicans will truly fight for, more than issuing blandishments prior to hapless surrender notices? The speech didn’t answer and didn’t even suggest such a question.
You can read and see a video of Senator Ernst’s speech here.
I thought she did great and the speech was just about what I expected. I didn’t go in expecting to hear anyhting too different. And it looks like the lame stream agrees she did ok because I am not hearing a peep about it today. Sharp contrast to Jindal and cotton mouth Marco.
But check this out, I was listening to Beck in the car today and he was playing the Libertarian response from last night. He prefaced it as saying this is what the GOP response should have sounded like….and he was right! Check it out if you want-
http://reason.com/blog/2015/01/20/libertarian-party-on-obamas-state-of-the
I get that they didn’t want a white male giving the Republican speech, but I am more policy oriented than simply visual image. I am not at all saying she is not possessed of substance but her message was more “we feel your pain” rather than “we will counter the pain” Obama has inflicted and not allow the debasement of the Constitution or America’s important place in the world. What there was of advocacy was not assertive enough. I would have loved to have had a Michelle Malkin write and give the speech. Some (not you) in the Republican party would be aghast.
While Joni Ernst did ok, I, too would have appreciated someone who countered the falsehoods of Obama’s message. I voted for her…..but think she’s too new and raw for the SOTU rebuttal……AND ….it was not a rebuttal but as another poster said a “we feel your pain’ message. That is NOT what the last election was about !