Congressman Pearce was keynote speaker for Lincoln Day Dinner

By Mary Alice Murphy

Saturday evening, at least 100 people attended the annual Republican Party of Grant County Lincoln Day Dinner, a fundraiser for the group to support Republican candidates.

Several candidates were on hand to give short speeches, including attorney Susan Riedel, running against term-limited State Auditor Hector Balderas for New Mexico Attorney General. John Zimmerman, who is trying another run against state Rep. Rodolpho "Rudy" Martinez for District 39 Representative, and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, who is running for re-election, also spoke briefly.

"I'm of the belief that God raises up the poor and unassuming to do great things," Pearce said. "This nation allows people to come from low position to high. All that is needed are the values of hard work, faith, family, freedon and service."

He said he grew up with great fears. "I didn't want to get rid of my bicycle's training wheels, but God, who I believe has a great sense of humor, put me in supersonic jets."

Pearce is known for ruffling feathers in Washington, D.C., not only among Democrats, but also within his own party. "Some people who can't run the V.A. system, can't keep the trains on time or keep our ambassadors alive, think they can control the weather with climate change rules and regulations."

He talked about President Abraham Lincoln. "The Whigs didn't believe in slavery, but they were not willing to speak out. They lacked moral courage. Lincoln joined the fledgling Republican Party, because the members had the courage to speak out. I think he was lifted up to the position. He was elected on an idea. We, the Republicans, should be the party of ideas."

Pearce said he recently had the privilege of seeing the Gettysburg Address, handwritten by Lincoln. "He was writing and speaking from the deepest level. But the next exhibit shook me to my soul. There were just a few things out of his pocket from the night he died, including two pairs of eyeglasses. One pair was old and beat up. In the newer pair, the screw holding the arm onto the glasses had fallen out. The most important man in the country had used a piece of string to tie the glasses together. That showed his humility."

Pearce said right after he was elected, he went to the National Cathedral after President Ronald Reagan had died. "The vicar came into the cathedral, with a silver-tipped staff. The tap, tap, tap through the silence was emotional. One of the last things Margaret Thatcher said before she lost her voice was: 'Ronnie thinks he can.' One man believed he could stop the Soviet Union, and he did."

"We are a nation of liberty and a people of liberty," Pearce continued. "We believe in fairness in front of the law. Don't be dealmakers. Don't be afraid to have conviction. Many Democrats like our message. I ask every candidate to speak with courage about your values. We need to talk about our visions. We need to talk about our values."

He asked those present how many knew that 200 sheriffs nationwide said they would not enforce the president's executive order to ban guns, so he backed off. "Thirty of those sheriffs were from New Mexico."

"You feel tired and you feel exhausted, so how can we be successful?" Pearce asked. He said a Ph.D. psychologist said the greatest indicator of success is grit—perseverance and passion for long-term success.

"This nation is hanging in the balance," he continued. "Whether we are going socialistic, which has failed over and over, or back to capitalism, which has fed more people than any other political system. Will it be a nation that believes in God, that believes in its people? Do you have the grit?

"This nation will be saved in your hearts throughout the country," Pearce concluded. "Do you have the grit?"