The Florida Freedom Summit... in a Nutshell

For those who live at a distance or weren’t able to attend last week’s Florida Freedom Summit in Kissimmee that featured seven of the leading GOP presidential candidates, here is a brief summary from my admittedly biased perspective…

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson led off the morning session and the best thing that I can say about him is that he has a more controlled combover than Donald Trump. Sadly, it all went downhill from there for Asa, who has about as much pulse in the polls as a cold cadaver. Whereas he seems nice enough and certainly has the requisite experience, Asa just doesn’t have “It,” that hard-to-define combination of gravitas and charisma that makes or breaks most presidential campaigns.

Kudos for Asa for being the only candidate to (half-heartedly) work the ropes by shaking hands with a few people in line who were awaiting their Secret Service screening. But his criticism of President Trump went over like the proverbial lead balloon, eliciting the first – but not the last – boos of the day.

Speaking of boos, that wasn’t the sound of a jet plane taking off at the nearby Orlando International Airport that you heard on Saturday at high noon, nor was it the reverberations caused by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lumbering across the stage. On the contrary, it was the cacophony of catcalls that filled the auditorium throughout his 20-minute address. Comically and perhaps courageously, Christie seemed to lap up the verbal abuse like it was his favorite dessert.

For the record, mine are banana pudding, key lime pie, and chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Text or email me for my shipping address (I’m only half kidding).

Just like Asa, I applaud Christie’s political backbone in facing up to his detractors… and trust me, the ballroom was FULL of them! I just wish he had stood up like that to George Norcross’s Democratic machine when he was governor of the Garden State (my fellow New Jerseyans will understand and appreciate that analogy, especially the ones living south of Trenton).

Oops, I almost forgot North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and actually, that’s Doug’s #1 problem. He is far too easy to forget, despite a down-to-earth personality and a real-life rags to riches story. When Burgum states matter-of-factly that he has created more jobs than all the other GOP candidates combined, that is quite an accomplishment... the type that should earn him a place in the next president’s cabinet as Secretary of Commerce, Energy, or the Interior. However, it still won’t get him into the Oval Office without an invitation.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott also made an appearance and received a respectful but unenthusiastic reception. What can you say about Tim? He’s genuine, perhaps more than any other candidate this side of Doug Burgum, and can’t seem to stop smiling when he’s on stage or before the cameras. I also love his contagious optimism as well as his compelling personal story about how his family went “from cotton to Congress” in just two generations. More than anything, I appreciate Tim’s willingness to openly share his Christian faith.

That being said, Tim has yet to find his lane in the race for the nomination and his campaign seems to be sputtering on nothing but fumes. Look for him to make a permanent pitstop shortly after the Iowa Caucuses, if not before, but also look for him to be on the very short list of potential vice-presidential contenders.

When it was Vivek Ramaswamy’s turn to speak, I was surprised by the relatively lukewarm applause that followed his introduction. I guess I was expecting a bit (or a lot) more for someone who is polling in the top four. Undaunted, Vivek hit every one of his campaign’s main talking points, although I found his speech to be a little too rehearsed. However, the audience seemed to like what it heard agree, because they offered him more cheers as he exited than when he entered.

Before we get to the two prime time players – or PTP’ers as college basketball announcer Dick Vitale would say – let me mention several nonpresidential candidates who spoke… and spoke well. Ladies first, which means Vero Beach’s own Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty.

Tiffany served on the Indian River County School Board for one-term before launching her non-profit parental rights organization. Not too many people have the ability to go from small town school board to high profile national spokeswoman in just a few years, but Tiffany’s well-delivered and well-received remarks showed that she has made an almost flawless transition.

Florida Senator and former Governor Rick Scott addressed the morning crowd and was greeted like a homecoming hero. Likewise, Rep. Byron Donalds showed the afternoon audience why he is one of the brightest up and coming stars in the GOP. But perhaps the most riotous reception was reserved for Rep. Matt Gaetz, who recently – and almost single-handedly – dethroned House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The last person to speak before former President Donald Trump, Gaetz went from zero to sixty in record time as he whipped his fans into a literal frenzy.

Although I am not a Gaetz fan – partly because of his alleged sexual shenanigans when he was serving in the FL state legislature – he obviously has a strong and passionate following. The word on the street is that he is positioning himself to run for higher office, perhaps governor of the Sunshine State in 2026… or sooner if Ron DeSantis manages to be elected president in 2024.

Speaking of Florida’s governor, Ron gave an even more powerful speech than Casey, his wife, and that’s saying something because our First Lady is class and poise personified. As for Ron’s performance, just let me say that it was by far the best I’ve ever heard him speak (50 minutes without a teleprompter and with only a few notes). My fear as a DeSantis supporter is that it may be too little, too late… but time will tell.

Now for the Main Event…

Former President Donald Trump walked on stage 25 minutes late to the strains of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and the cheers of his legion of admirers. He then held court for a full 70 minutes, interrupted dozens of times by laughter and applause. Somehow, this billionaire from New York City via Mara-Lago is able to connect on an almost visceral level with America’s working class. More importantly, as far as the Republican nomination is concerned, he seems to have the party’s rank-and-file members in his hip pocket.

I suppose that is why former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was a no-show at the summit. Her official excuse was “family matters,” but I am guessing that Nikki chose to keep her powder dry and do battle later… on much friendlier (or at least neutral) turf. Probably a wise move on her part.

My final comments aren’t about any of the candidates or any of the other speakers. On the contrary, they concern the audience itself. As much as I applaud their political involvement and overt patriotism, I cringed every time I heard them boo or act disrespectfully towards a speaker. OK, I get it… you support Donald Trump and despise anyone who publicly criticizes him. So don’t clap when he or she speaks and don’t vote for them in the GOP primary. But shouting over top a presidential candidate’s words is childish, rude, and downright un-American.

We are better than that, people.