It would be an understatement to say that Americans have grown weary of the 2016 election cycle. But the excitement on site at the eleventh-annual Values Voter Summit showed that if Americans are weary of anything, it's not the values that our nation was founded upon. On the contrary, the more than 2,200 registered attendees at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. reflect what our national discussion should be: rooted in faith, family, and freedom.
As the morning was gaveled into session, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) stirred the audience with the radical idea that love is the real power behind national change. "Our future doesn't depend on elected officials," he said, "...what makes America the greatest nation on earth is not legislation -- it's love." Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) followed, emphasizing the importance of religious liberty, and noting that when America retreats on religious liberty, so does the rest of the world.
North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest filled us in on what's going on with the Left's radical sexual agenda as it manifests itself in his state's courageous fight for safety and privacy in bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) stressed that religious freedom, rooted in the Constitution, protects our freedom to practice our faith -- not freedom from it. American Values' Gary Bauer encouraged us that even though world threats to America have increased, our hope remains in that our country's central ideal is that we were endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. Actor Kirk Cameron noted that it's bad for everybody when government gets out of control -- and that unless we get it right in our own houses, getting it right in the White House will be difficult. First Liberty Institute's Kelly Shackelford mapped the landscape of the string of religious liberty court cases active in America right now. Fox News' Todd Starnes reminded us that the most important place we can fight the culture wars is in our homes.
And that was just the morning session! This afternoon, we heard from Jason and David Benham, on the challenges facing the church in a hostile culture – and the courage to stand in tough times. Former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann talked about the great privilege Christians have with our votes, and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus compared and contrasted the choice we have before us in November. In a surprise drop-in visit, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani reflected on 9/11 and our national security today as compared with then.
Leading up to the most anticipated speech of the day, actor Jon Voight introduced the 2016 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump made his case to values voters saying, "Our nation today is divided. Nobody likes to say it, but we're living in a very, very divided nation. It will be our faith in God and his teachings, in each other, that will lead us back to unity." Trump focused on a wide range of topics, including religious liberty, Obamacare, school choice, jobs, the courts, national security, and the economy.
And we still weren't finished! Our own General Jerry Boykin (Ret.) headed a panel on military readiness including Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Gary Harrell, Elaine Donnelly, and Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R- Okla.). Former Senator Rick Santorum closed out the daytime sessions with a charge for us to seize the chance ahead of us in the 2016 election.
There's more action still ahead, both tonight and all day Saturday. You can watch it all online at valuesvotersummit.org, and join in the action on social media using #VVS16.
