Donald Trump Is Experienced, Bible-Believing Dealmaker, Pastor Darrell Scott Tells RNC
Cleveland pastor Darrell Scott of the New Spirit Revival Center rallied delegates on the third day of the Republican National Convention in his hometown Wednesday by painting Donald Trump, the party's newly minted presidential nominee, as an experienced Bible-believing dealmaker.
Trump, he said, will be able to bring people together after what he framed as eight divisive years of the Obama administration.
"Let me tell you something, Donald Trump has played the big stakes, he's a master negotiator and deal maker. He knows that for all the sharp elbows and all of the sharp words and the bruised egos and all of the hurt feelings, the art of the deal is bringing people together, to unify, and to get them from no to yes," Scott said.
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"That means problem-solving, it means finding common ground, and moving forward. Donald Trump has done that for himself for over 30 years. He now wants to take that experience to get the best deal for America and for all Americans," he added.
Scott's comments came prior to a grudging address from vanquished Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, whose refusal to endorse Trump in his speech showed there was at least one deal the GOP nominee had yet to seal.
Scott who also serves as a board member on the National Diversity Coalition for Trump said he met the New York City billionaire several years ago and he expressed how troubled he was about America's direction.
"I listened to his voice and I understood and shared many of the same concerns that he expressed. In the many times that we have met since, we have spoken about the economy, race relations, immigrants, jobs, urban renovation and revitalization, the military and many other issues that are critical to our nation's well-being," Scott said.
"The truth is Donald Trump is a conservative father and grandfather who feels that his best days are still in front of him and not behind him. And despite his many accomplishments, he still feels a void that he believes can only be filled by service to his country and service to his fellow Americans," he noted.
The Cleveland pastor skewered the Democratic Party for failing to maintain American's standing in the world and spreading division.
"Abroad we are neither respected. We are not feared by our adversaries and our friends cannot count on us either. This is their legacy and we need to make a sharp turn. We need to put into practice, the great ideas and principles that our country was founded on and which, after God, are the source of strength that have made this nation great," he said.
He called Trump a proud patriot and invoked Thomas Jefferson's words from the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal."
"As Republicans, we are unreservedly proud to be Americans and we are proud of our patriots. America is a melting pot, we are a country of diversity. And we stand poised to make history by standing together as Americans, by standing together as one country, one nation under God indivisible," Scott said.
"And we are here as Americans, regardless of race, regardless of creed and regardless of color. We are here as those that hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal and that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," he continued.
"I believe, I truly believe that nothing will prevent Donald Trump from doing everything in his power … to become a president that everyone can be proud of. And Donald Trump believes as you believe and I believe, that we can become great again but we can only become great again if we have strong leadership.
"And I can think of no stronger leader who will place their left hand on a Bible that they believe in, raise their right hand and solemnly swear to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and to the best of his ability, serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States than Donald J. Trump," he ended.
