Jeff Sessions: ‘It’s Time For
This Republican Party to Listen to the Donald Trump Agenda’
(CNSNews.com) - Former Sen. Jeff Session (R.-Ala.), who lost a primary runoff yesterday to former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, said in his concession speech that it “is time for this Republican Party to listen to the Donald Trump agenda.”
“My view about things at this point in history is the political parties have not been sufficiently sensitive to, understanding of, and responsive to the legitimate wishes of the American people, and I have come to that belief more strongly in recent years,” Session said.
“It is really why I chose to make this race,” he said.
Sessions then talked specifically about immigration, trade and unnecessary wars.
“The American people are not against immigration, but they want a lawful system and they want the kind of immigration that serves the national interest, and does not become a mechanism by which their wages are pulled down and their ability to find a decent job is reduced substantially,” Sessions said.
“They are right about that,” he said.
“I think the American people have been right to resist this religious free-trade idea that no matter how bad a competitor cheats you or if they sell products--China sells products--to the United States below cost, closing an American factory, laying off hundreds of Americans workers, these people, these religious free-traders think we should send them a thank you note--because you can get a little cheaper at Walmart or one of our other stores,” Sessions said.
“The American people are not happy with that,” he said.
“They are not happy that we have allowed China to dominate our trade situation and they have massive trade surpluses with us,” he said. “They are not happy with that.
They think that’s wrong.”
“They think we’ve got involved in too many wars that don’t have an end to them, have not served the national interest, and hasn’t even helped the people we thought we were trying to help,” said Sessions.
“In all those areas, the American people are right in my opinion,” he said.
“And I think it is time for this Republican Party to listen to the Donald Trump agenda because he has talked about those things frankly and openly,” said Sessions. “And I think they were huge factors in his ability to win that past election.
“And if he gets on message and stays on those principle positions, I think he will be in a position to come back and win this election,” Sessions said.
Here is a transcript from the part of Sessions’ concession speech where he talked about immigration, trade and “wars that don’t have an end to them”:
Sessions: “My view about things at this point in history is the political parties have not been sufficiently sensitive to, understanding of, and responsive to the legitimate wishes of the American people, and I have come to that belief more strongly in recent years. It is really why I chose to make this race. I thought I might have the ability to contribute in some way to the future of our country--in that the Republican Party has the greatest opportunity to build a leading majority in America.
“But to do so, they need to be more attuned to the values of the people of our country. They really do.
“For example, immigration. The American people are not against immigration, but they want a lawful system and they want the kind of immigration that serves the national interest, and does not become a mechanism by which their wages are pulled down and their ability to find a decent job is reduced substantially. They are right about that. They are exactly right about that. But powerful forces out there on the other side. They want more labor and cheaper labor. That is just what certain businesses do. That is what they always seek.
“Secondly, I think the American people have been right to resist this religious free-trade idea that no matter how bad a competitor cheats you or if they sell products, China sells products to the United States below cost, closing an American factory, laying off hundreds of Americans workers, these people, these religious free-traders think we should send them a thank you note--because you can get a little cheaper at Walmart or one of our other stores.
“The American people are not happy with that. They are not happy that we have allowed China to dominate our trade situation and they have massive trade surpluses with us. They are not happy with that. They think that’s wrong.
And they think we’ve got involved in too many wars that don’t have an end to them, have not served the national interest, and hasn’t even helped the people we thought we were trying to help.
“In all those areas, the American people are right in my opinion. They are essentially correct.
“And I think it is time for this Republican Party to listen to the Donald Trump agenda because he has talked about those things frankly and openly. And I think they were huge factors in his ability to win that past election. And if he gets on message and stays on, stays on those principle positions, I think he will be in a position to come back and win this election.
“So, we have borders in our country. We have a Constitution that applies within our border. And we need to understand we are a nation state and our government leaders should be protecting the interests of the American people.
“We expect CEOs to protest the interests of their stockholders. Government officials should protect the interest of their citizens. It is just that simple. And too often we have allowed the focus to be on GDP, on growth, on Wall Street, and trading issues like that, and not enough on the struggles of that single mom who’s got to buy four tires for her old care, it’s going to cost $600 and she doesn’t have it and it has to go on a credit card that charges 25 percent interest.
“This is the world that most Americans live in, and we need to be more sensitive to it. And I think they are right about where we are. So, I believe that that is good and those are the kind of issues we should be advancing. I want to see our Congress do so. And I think the party that does so will be the party that can govern in the years to come.”