Gubernatorial candidate visits Blytheville

Arkansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders made a stop in Blytheville Thursday, stumping on why she is qualified to hold the office once held by her father, Mike Huckabee, during a luncheon at the Holiday Inn.

Having served as White House Press Secretary for former President Donald Trump from 2017-19, Sanders contends Arkansas’ next governor must be able to “fight against Washington and fight against the radical left.”

“I love my kids, I love my family,” she said. “I want them to have the same freedoms that I have. I want them to have the freedom to run, to play, to do and dream whatever they want. But if we’re not willing to fight for it, they’re not going to have it. If you’re not paying attention right now, I sure hope you’ll start because what is taking place in Washington is absolutely terrifying. Everything that we love about this country is at stake. Everything that we love about America is our freedom, and if we don’t fight for that then we have no one to blame but ourselves.”

Arkansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders accepted the US Army 3rd Calvary Regiment’s Brave Riffles Patch from local businessman and veteran Billy Curl on Thursday.

Sanders said she is running for governor because “I love this country, I love this state, and I think our governors are going to be our last line of defense.”

“We need somebody who’s tough enough and strong enough to fight back against the radical left that’s coming out of Washington,” she said. “We’ve seen them take over the White House, the House and the Senate. Frankly, I thought it would take them longer to start imposing their radical left agenda once (President Joe) Biden got into office. He’s not even bothering to use the majorities he has in Congress to shove this stuff down our throats; he’s going around them and signing executive order after executive order.”

“The only thing standing between them and our freedom and the state that we love are people that are willing to stand up and fight back,” Sanders added. “I know what we’re up against and you can’t win a fight if you don’t know what you’re up against. I’ve been fighting the radical left for the last four years; they don’t intimidate me; they don’t scare me. In fact, they embolden me because I know what they’re out to do. They’re not simply going to be satisfied with pushing a radical left policy agenda. They want to destroy and fundamentally change who we are and I’m not going to let them. That’s why I’m running for governor. That’s why I’m proud of the work that we did over the last four years, and that’s why I will continue always making sure that I’m fighting for what I think matters, both from a state level and from a national level.”

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Sanders said she relied on her faith to get her through the challenges she faced at the White House. She said she enjoyed the opportunity to serve as Press Secretary, but called it “one of the hardest things that I could possibly have ever done.”

“I don’t wish some of that job on even my worst enemies,” Sanders said. “However, because I had my faith, because I knew who I was before I ever stepped into that room, before I stepped behind that podium, I had the confidence I needed to get the job done. I didn’t need the New York Times or the Washington Post or CNN or anybody else to define me. I had a Creator who had already done that, who had created me and given my life purpose, whether I was the White House Press Secretary or just plain ole Sarah. I knew that God had something that he wanted me to do. Having that understanding gave me confidence and the ability to keep fighting even on the worst and most difficult days. I have a feeling I’m going to need that a lot over the next couple of years as well. I’m thankful I have that because otherwise, I’m not sure I would have gotten through my time at the White House and frankly my time parenting three elementary aged kids either.”

Along with sparring with the press in the daily briefings, Sanders traveled the globe with the President. One particular trip was “one of the most monumental moments of my life,” she said.

Members of the Trump Administration boarded Air Force One under the cover of night on a secret trip to Iraq to surprise the troops on Christmas.

Hundreds of soldiers gathered thinking they were having dinner with senior military leaders in the region.

“They had no idea the President of the United States and the first lady would be coming into that room,” Sanders said. “When we walked into that dining hall, it erupted in enthusiastic applause and support. Not because it was Donald Trump, but because it was the president of the greatest country on the face of the earth.”

“One of the young soldiers yelled from the back of the room and said, ‘Mr. President, I re-enlisted in the military because of you.’ And the President said, ‘Son, I’m here because of you,’” Sanders added. “As the President worked his way around to tables very similar to this, that young soldier came up to me and he said, ‘Sarah, you have a tough job.’ I politely corrected him and said, ‘look, what I do is nothing compared to what you do. I take questions; you take bombs and bullets. You are standing on the front lines defending our freedom and making sure we continue to live in the greatest country the world has ever known. Thank you for your service.’ And he reached up in that moment – a moment I will never forget and cherish for the rest of my life. He tore the Brave Riffles Patch off of his shoulder and placed it into my hand. I took it from him, and I held on and I hugged him frankly probably for longer than I should have. With tears in my eyes, I walked away grateful for the men and women who serve. And also grateful that I get to call myself an American and reminded of what is at stake and why it is so important that we fight for it every single day.”

Sanders had another surprise Thursday from local businessman Billy Curl, who served in the same division as the aforementioned solider, though at a different time in Iraq.

Curl also gave Sanders his US Army 3rd Calvary Regiment’s Brave Riffles Patch after visiting with her before the speech Thursday. Curl, owner of Cobb Funeral Home, piloted a helicopter on missions in Iraq in 2003.

“Billy, I’m going to put this on my desk as a reminder of what’s important,” Sanders said. “We are great because we are free; we can never forget that. But we also have to make sure we fight to keep that. I am running for office because I’m willing to fight to keep it. I’m willing to fight to make sure Arkansas and the United States continue to believe in something, continue to care about something. Frankly, the things that I’ll do as governor will have far little impact on me but a great deal of impact on my kids and that means something. Everybody is not called to run for office. I’m running so that you don’t have to but I’m hopeful that you will support me in this effort. I’m willing to put my name on the line; I’m willing to be the one that takes the hits; and I’m willing to be the one who speaks for you and fights for you and defends you. But I can’t do it alone. I need your help. ”

She said the next governor has to have a clear vision.

“Frankly, I’m sick of Arkansas fighting for 46th and 47th and 48th in everything,” Sanders said. “I want us to compete for first and second. I know we have the ability to do that, but we need good leadership, somebody who’s tough but leads with heart. I think I have been uniquely created in this moment for that path to lead our state forward.”