Lara Trump Misquotes Lincoln, and More From RNC Night 3

Mike Pence closes out the night promising to 'make America great again, again'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2020 12:05 AM CDT
Updated Aug 27, 2020 6:29 AM CDT
Lara Trump Misquotes Lincoln, and More From RNC Night 3
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway waves as she waits to hear Vice President Mike Pence speak on the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Trump's daughter-in-law Lara spoke Wednesday at the third night of the Republican National Convention, attributing this quote to Abraham Lincoln: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." The problem, as the Week explains, is Lincoln never said that; it's been debunked multiple times, with one historian calling it a "corruption" of an actual Lincoln quote about "the perpetuation of our political institutions." Another misstatement came from Sister Dede Byrne, a member of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who said, per CNN, that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are "the most anti-life presidential ticket ever, even supporting the horrors of late-term abortion and infanticide." But infanticide is the killing of a baby after its birth, which is illegal and not the same as abortion. More from the evening, which was capped by Mike Pence formally accepting the vice presidential nomination:

  • Kellyanne Conway did in fact speak, despite the recent announcement she'll be leaving her role at the White House at the end of the month. She, as well as what Politico calls a "host" of other females, worked to "humanize" the president and highlight his treatment of women. "For decades, he has elevated women to senior positions in business and in government. He confides in and consults us, respects our opinions, and insists that we are on equal footing with the men."

  • South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem also spoke about Lincoln, saying, "He was alarmed by the increasing disregard for the rule of law throughout the country. He was concerned for the people who had seen their property destroyed, their families attacked, and their lives threatened or even taken away. These good people were becoming tired of, and disgusted with, a government that offered them no protection. Sound familiar?" She also said Republicans treat people "as Martin Luther King, Jr. wished—according to the content of their character, not the color of their skin."
  • In reference to the response to the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Marsha Blackburn said, "If the Democrats had their way, they would keep you locked in your house until you become dependent on the government for everything. That sounds a lot like Communist China to me—maybe that’s why Joe Biden is so soft on them."
  • Speaking of China, Chinese civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng, who has long spoken out against Beijing, said, "The US must use its values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, to gather a coalition of other democracies to stop China’s aggression. President Trump has led on this, and we need the other countries to join him in this fight. A fight for our future."
  • White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told the story of how "blown away" she was by Trump's phone call before she got a double mastectomy . "Choosing to have a preventative mastectomy was the hardest decision I ever had to make,” she said. “But supporting President Trump, who will protect my daughter and our children's future, was the easiest.”
  • Lou Holtz, former head football coach for Notre Dame, called Biden "Catholic in name only" as he denounced the Democratic candidate's support for abortion rights.
  • Rep. Elise Stefanik referenced Trump's impeachment trial: "This attack was not just on the President, it was an attack on you—your voice and your vote."
  • At the last minute, an appearance by the CEO of Goya Foods was canceled due to what organizers called "a logistical problem." Some boycotted the food company after its CEO expressed support for Trump.
  • The AP says that, when compared to the first two nights of the convention, Wednesday's program was "low energy, with no major headline speaker beside the vice president and few boldface names. And it lacked some of the production elements that had made previous nights memorable, including slickly produced videos and surprise announcements, such as an unexpected presidential pardon and a citizenship ceremony."
  • Before her husband spoke, second lady Karen Pence offered a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, per the AP. The amendment granted many women (overwhelmingly, white women) the right to vote.
  • In his own speech, Pence promised he and Trump would "make America great again, again." He also promised a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months: "Last week, Joe Biden said that no miracle is coming," he said. "Well, what Joe doesn’t seem to understand is that America is a nation of miracles. And I’m proud to report that we’re on track to have the world’s first safe, effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year."
  • He echoed Trump's calls for law and order, and decried Biden for saying there is "systemic racism" and an "implicit bias" against people of color in America. "The American people know we don’t have to choose between supporting law enforcement and standing with African American neighbors to improve the quality of life in our cities and towns," he said. "The hard truth is ... you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America. Let me be clear: The violence must stop—whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha." He added: "Law and order are on the ballot. ... The choice in this election is whether America remains America." Trump joined him on stage to close out the night, then mingled with the crowd at Baltimore's Fort McHenry without wearing masks, per CNN.
  • Trump is, of course, due to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination Thursday during the convention's final night, though Conway acknowledged to reporters that Hurricane Laura's impact on the Gulf Coast could force a postponement. Campaign organizers say no changes are currently planned.
(More highlights from the night here, including some notable absences.)

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