Carly Fiorina Makes Stop in Oklahoma City

By Jason Doyle Oden
The McCarville Report

In front of a small invitation-only crowd at the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association on Tuesday, Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina made her case to be the next leader of the United States of America. She delivered a message that America is at a pivotal point where it can regain its leadership position in the world.

Polls have indicated that Fiorina is climbing into contention with front runners Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, and Jeb Bush. Just this summer, only those paying attention to the business world knew her name. Even OIPA President Mike Terry had to admit that he knew little, if anything about Fiorina before the GOP Debates on Fox News and CNN. But he told the 250 or so attendees that she certainly caught his attention going up against the other candidates.

“I listened to both debates intently. And I remember the way she articulated her message and the things that she said. Hearing some about her background, I was very impressed,” said Terry.

As Terry introduced Fiorina, the former HP Chief Executive strode to the front of the room with all the confidence she has come to project. She started with a simple message.

“The truth is I do not want to be the most powerful woman in the world. The truth is I do come before you wanting to be the leader of what should be the most powerful nation in the world,” Fiorina began after thanking the audience for their welcoming applause.

She said that leadership is what is lacking in Washington D.C.

“I’m running for the presidency of the United States because I think we have come to a pivotal point where literally the possibilities for too many Americans, indeed the potential of this great nation, is being crushed. Crushed by the weight, the power, the cost, the complexity, the ineptitude, and the corruption of a federal government out of control and a professional political class that refuses to do anything about it.”

Fiorina contended that it is the professional political class which has allowed upstart, outsiders to attract voters’ attention during this election cycle.

“This is why, ladies and gentlemen, 82 percent of the American people now think we have a professional, political class that is more concerned with the preservation of its own power, position, and privilege in both parties than actually getting anything done.”

Fiorina ran through several issues that have re-surfaced over the years as urgent issues, but no action was taken. She cited securing the border as an issue which has been discussed for more than 20 years. Bi-partisan tax reform is talked about but has yet to occur. Even social security and Medicaid reform are often topics which Fiorina said gets a lot of talk, but very little action.

The businesswoman called many of today’s issues and conflicts self-inflicted. However, she said that America has the solution to its own problems.

“Leadership and citizenship can solve every problem we have.”

Fiorina contended America needs to return to a leadership role in geopolitics as well.

“We need leadership in the world because the world is a really dangerous, tragic place when we are not leading. If you doubt that think about the events of the last several days. In the last several days we have learned that Russia, Syria, Iran, and Iraq have gathered together in an unholy alliance. Our President and our Secretary of State did not know about it. Even as they were engaged in conversations with Russia at the time. That is a demonstration of weakness, ladies and gentlemen.”

As she has stated several times at other campaign stops and photo ops, Fiorina said she plans to build up the military. She also wants the world to know America has the mightiest military on the planet as a means to show the nation’s strength. She would also insist on a new Iran nuclear agreement which would put American inspectors into Iranian nuclear facilities.

Her audience, of course, was interested in Fiorina’s stances on issues affecting the oil and gas industry. She calls for the lifting of the ban on U.S. crude exports, pulling back on EPA regulations, and to bring a more thoughtful approach to climate change efforts which could cripple energy production.

As Fiorina wrapped up her speech at the OIPA town hall, she cited an example set by one of her personal heroes, Margaret Thatcher.

“Margaret Thatcher once addressed her nation at a pivotal point in her nation’s history, and she said this, ‘I am not content to manage the decline of a great nation.’ Well, neither am I. I think we have been managing the decline of this great nation for far too long. I am prepared to lead the resurgence of a great nation.”