Guest Commentary
by Arkan Somo
I was very excited when I received my invitation to attend the RNC 2012 in Tampa, Florida. On the way to Tampa I didn’t know exactly what to expect.
Monday was cancelled due to the weather, which caused Tuesday to be an action packed day.
Tens of thousands of loyal and faithful to the core values of the Republican Party came from all over the country with two goals in mind:
- Nominate Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan as our official candidates to be the next President and Vice President of the United States.
- Do everything in their power to help elect Romney and Ryan.
The first goal has been accomplished and now we all go back to our states, cities and neighborhoods to make the second a reality.
While at the convention, my wife and kids asked me if I was enjoying it. I told them the most wonderful thing is to be in the biggest event of my life with people I had never met before, yet knowing we all agree on the main principles that drive a shared vision. I didn’t have to convince anyone that getting twenty-three million Americans back to work is job one for the next president. Nor did I have to argue that our country has to get our border secured and seriously address the immigration issue in a very comprehensive matter.
The other issue that has been hijacked by the Democratic Party is education. I can tell you, no one in Tampa underestimated how crucial good education is for our kids so we can compete in the global economy. Providing good education is one of the core values of every Republican I met.
What was also wonderful, everyone at the RNC believed that we need to shrink the size of our government, lower the burden of higher taxes, and reduce the adverse effect of over regulation.
I immigrated to this great county in 1982 and remember how President Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale in a landslide. I also remember every presidential election since. In this year’s election the American people have a clear choice between two completely different visions for the future of our country. The choice for me and for thousands of patriots that were in Tampa is very easy, Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. I have faith the majority of my fellow citizens see it the same way.
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Somo is the principal of Arkan Somo & Associates, government and public relations consultants to business and non-profit organizations.
Comments 5
Arkan: Thanks for sharing. Great to to hear your perspective as a first time convention attendee. I am jealous!
Arkan, please let us know about the grass roots efforts you observed, did you feel that they were represented? Thank you for your point of view and observations, very valuable to us that could not attend, especially from a person not born in the United States of America. Thank you Arkan!
Dear Ryan, it was a true honor for me to be a part of RNC convention and witness first hand thousands of fellow americans from all walks of life come together and express their believes in the values that made our country so great. Wish you were their as well, there will be another one in four years and I am certainly going to that one. 🙂
Dear Ms. Right, I am very proud of our grass roots efforts. If you are asking if the different points of views within our party and those who supported other candidates in the primary were represented, the answer is absolutely yes. All presidential candidates that attended the convention had events organized by their supporters. They all came together in support of our Romney-Ryan ticket. I was fortunate enough to be invited to our former Speaker, Newt Gingrich’s, event which he expressed his support and commitment to help elect Mitt Romney. One of Romney’s sons was at the event as well. Delegates, alternates, and guests enjoyed other fun activities within their state group as well as events that were designed to bring everyone together which gave us a chance to network with others from different parts of the country. Thank God for bringing me here thirty years ago and giving me the opportunity to call this great land my home, God Bless.
How dare you refer to God on this blog! 😉