Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
ORLANDO – Friday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem delivered one of the more unique speeches of CPAC 2022. While she never deviated from the measured tone for which she has become known, she nonetheless packed her speech with calls for Conservatives to rise up against liberalism.
“There is an old strength to our national character,” Noem said. “We have that as Americans. Remembering that strength and calling it forth once again, that is our calling. It is our duty. We have inherited the greatest legacy of freedom in human freedom, and we have to fight to hold on to it.”
Americans, particularly Conservatives, needed to continue to demand their voices be heard, Noem said.
“National politics starts on your street,” Noem said. “Get involved. Lead. Find the best fighter you can and have their back in the trenches. That’s the beauty of federalism.”
The governor recalled the story of Henry Knox, the United States’ second Secretary of War who reached the heights of military leadership through overcoming cold as well as a lack of supplies and manpower to bring the Continental Army wins during the Revolutionary War.
Noem praised the late general for displaying “grit” and said he served as an example to follow.
“It’s not easy, and it won’t be overnight, but it is simple,” Noem said. “The question is how much pain are you willing to go through to be free?”
The governor said the modern American fight would be one fought through words and won by truth.
“Speak the truth,” Noem said. “The Left lives on lies. It’s part of their power to frighten people into falling in line. Take that power away.” She added, “No one in this room is afraid to speak the truth, but we all know people in our lives who are. I need you to encourage them. Strengthen them. Let them know that they are not alone in thinking that. Remind them there is a reality and truth still in this world. We can know it and we can live by it.”
Noem, whose popularity grew in 2020 when she resisted calls to lockdown South Dakota, emerged as an early opponent of mask mandates. Of late, Noem’s focus has been on restricting abortion in South Dakota and also requiring transgender athletes to compete in sports based on biological sex.
“Never give up,” Noem said. “We won on mask mandates because people got involved in their communities. And we are going to win on life, first in the Supreme Court and then also in the states. And when we do, it will be because thousands of ordinary people across our country simply said, ‘Enough.’”
To watch the full speech, click here.