By The Iowa Statesman
Tony Orlando sang a rousing renditions of “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ol’ Oak Tree” and “America is My Hometown,” his college roommate gave the invocation, and the local Boy Scout Troop from his hometown presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance, but the folks in Hope, AR, were waiting for just 11 words from their favorite son Tuesday morning. He gladly obliged.
“I am running for President of the United States of America,” former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee tearfully exclaimed to raucous cheers and applause early in his 30-minute speech.
Hammering on the campaign theme of “From Hope to Higher Ground,” Huckabee touched on the issues of veterans benefits, welfare reform, and ending economic policies that had resulted in the loss of American jobs and stagnant wages. He said, “As President, I promise you will get what you pay for,” before railing away at ObamaCare.
Earlier in the hour-long event, following the opening festivities, current Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a fellow Republican, introduced Huckabee to the stage. A biographical video followed. His wife, Janet, then took the stage to talk about her husband’s credentials before another biographical video was played.
Scroll down to see video from C-SPAN of the entire event. The article continues after the video.
Following the event, Huckabee released the following campaign email statement:
It is with humility, that I am emailing you today to announce that I am running for President of the United States of America.
I cannot sit by and watch failed, liberal policies and Washington’s perpetual blind eye to the real problems facing American workers and families, squander the promise and hope of America — the chance for each new generation to do better and live in freedom.
As President I will return power to state and local governments, break the cycle of poverty and government dependency and fight for us, not the Washington and Wall Street elites.
I hope you’ll join with me today in my fight to once and for all put American workers and families first.
You and I still think the United States is the greatest country in the world, but we know it won’t be if we don’t return to the principles we were built on. We must work together to succeed in this fight or we will fail alone.
Let me be clear, I’m a Republican not because I grew up rich. I’m a Republican because I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life poor, waiting for the government to rescue me.
The American people are looking for true leadership once again. With you standing beside me, I will lead that fight against Washington and the failures of big government.
Thank you and may God Bless America.
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