The Speech They Didn't Want You To Hear
(Dean Scontras is our ONLY person in Maine running that goes against giving people ILLEGALLY here......... anything.)

It was the Maine Republican Convention. It was the forum that our candidates had prepared for, planned for, rehearsed for, and agonized over. It was the forum that rank and file Republicans had looked forward to for weeks and months, the chance to see their candidates showcased, and to show their support. And Friday afternoon, May 2nd, the time was here at last!

But something happened.

Congressional candidate Dean Scontras had been allotted eight minutes to give his speech, perhaps one of the most important eight minute periods in his life to that point. As a political "outsider," and as a Ronald Reagan conservative in a state party whose old guard has traded those conservative principals for political expedience, he knew he would not be given a break. So he had rehearsed many times, getting his timing down to tenths of a second, to be sure he would not be in violation of the rules made largely by those who prefer business as usual to a fresh new face with a conservative message. I saw Dean minutes before he took the stage. I saw the nervousness, but I also saw the determination in his eyes, buoyed by his wife, children, siblings, and parents who proudly prepared to take the stage with him. I knew this would be one great speech. "Go get 'em!" I thought to myself. I flashed back to election day 1980 and the feeling I had as I watched the returns come in as Ronald Reagan defeated democrat incumbent Jimmy Carter. I knew that Reagan's election was the start of something big for this country, and now I felt that this was the start of something big for a state party that had left me years ago to partner with the left instead of fighting for what is right.

But something happened.

I guess I should have seen it coming. It was obvious from the opening of the convention that support for Dean was strong, and as the convention progressed, it was obvious that Scontras buttons far outnumbered Summers buttons, that the buzz was about upholding conservative principals not about putting up another establishment candidate who had already been twice defeated. And it was obvious as well that the old guard did not like it, that they expected us to roll over and support THEIR candidate. But still, I thought, they would surely listen to the groundswell of support that was behind this dynamic, articulate Reagan Republican who stuck to his principals.

But something happened.

As Dean's video played prior to his speech, his supporters started filing in. One observer said "it was like D-Day – wave after wave of people – I didn't know there were that many people in the place!" Indeed, there were at least three times the number that had come in support of the earlier Summers speech, a sea of supporters with signs and tee shirts, supporters of all ages, young and old. And as the video finished, Dean took the stage to use the precious eight minutes he had been allotted to make his case to the Republicans of Maine. This was it!

But something happened.

"We are running late," he was told by the convention moderator. "You must limit your speech to two minutes." Two minutes!!
Already nervous and a bit overwhelmed by the unbelievable outpouring of support surrounding the stage, Dean approached the podium. He looked at Ray Richardson, who had just given him a stellar introduction. He made a quick, firm decision, the kind that speaks volumes of his will and leadership. He would deliver his speech as planned.

As I stood with his supporters facing the audience, I saw a remarkable dynamic at work. As he spoke of family values and work ethic, the crowd leaned forward. As he spoke of personal responsibility and the need for fiscal responsibility for the benefit of future generations, they became ever more attentive. As he spoke of national security and the need to protect our borders, they applauded. As he spoke of the preservation of traditional marriage, and the sanctity of life, I could see he was winning the crowd, even the skeptics, and winning big. Now I didn't THINK this would be big, I KNEW it would be!

But something happened.

There was suddenly a pause. I looked at the stage, and a note was being put in front of him by the convention moderator. Later I found out the note was advising him they were shutting off the microphone, his time was up. And shut it off they did.

After much protest, it was turned back on, and he was allowed to wrap up. But the momentum had been lost, and what should have been one of the most inspiring and galvanizing moments of the convention never happened. To "make up" for it, the candidates were allowed to give their speeches again Saturday morning to a much smaller gathering. It was good – but it wasn't the same. Did I see a smile on the faces of the old guard?

I am sure the establishment will call it coincidence, or circumstance, that they cut Dean Scontras off as he was rallying the crowd around the core Republican values that they now so skillfully avoid. I can't really say for sure. But I will always remember it as "The Speech They Didn't Want You To Hear."
God Bless America.

Gordon A. Davis

Chair- Bridgton GOP Delegation

Bridgton, Maine

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A write-up from people who went there.

LarryinAugusta

Augusta Maine

Here is my two cents on the convention.
[b]The McCain video that was slipped into the agenda late Thursday night caused a lot of hard feelings for the Ron Paul people towards the GOP. I still don’t know how this happened and the idea that the agenda item was label “videoâ€