By Sarah Stuart
Former presidential Republican candidate Alan Keyes spoke sharply on the importance of the upcoming presidential election at his speech in Orem Friday night.
Supporters of Keyes came from all over Utah and several western states to hear him speak in the McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College.
“Alan is a close friend, and I’ve heard him speak many times,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch. “He does not mince words when it comes to morality and decency, and stands up very strongly for constitutional principles.”
One of Keyes’ main points was that while America is in the midst of one of the most prosperous, economic periods of its history the credit should not go to the government.
“It is the American people who have made this miracle,” he said. “But even though material times are good, Americans know moral times are dismal.”
Keyes then pinpointed the source of moral decay in the United States.
“You can summarize the moral crisis in this country in two words — Bill Clinton,” Keyes said.
“Bill Clinton has utterly damaged and destroyed the integrity of the high office that he holds and in the process, assaulted the national character,” he said.
Keyes said Clinton’s actions dragged the White House through a “moral muck,” and he also brought up Vice President Al Gore’s choice for running mate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
Keyes said people think Lieberman is a great spokesperson with morals, but that Lieberman’s high moral reputation is inconsistent with his actions.
“Don’t tell me you are some big supporter of moral principles, and then turn around and vote for partial-birth abortions,” he said.
Keyes said if Americans deny basic rights to those in the womb with any kind of abortion, then this denies these same rights for all people.
Keyes continued to focus on grass roots principles that accompany his Republican standpoint.
“The federal government seems to think that all the virtue and all the decency and all the goodness and motivation in America has suddenly concentrated itself in the hands of the federal government,” Keyes said.
“But I believe it’s still in the hearts of the Americans,” he said.
Keyes said that Americans need to put their hearts in the right place, emphasizing parental relationships and responsibilities. He said the success of education depends on parents.
Along with looking to family roles, Keyes finished with a push for putting good leaders in government offices that will listen to the people.
“It’s the responsibility of citizens to hold your feet to the fire,” he said. “You want people who will feel your heat.”
Keyes said before Americans can triumph, they must survive. He said once they act with integrity and safeguard the nation from its worse dangers, the fate of the country will be in the hands of God.
“Whatever we strive for, the battle is with the Lord,” he said. “The victory will be for him.”
Before the speech, Keyes had some words of advice for college students in how they can encourage morality and character in America.
“Right now we have a culture that caters to what young folks think and want, and insofar as you get people standing for the right things, it’s going to make a difference for the society as a whole,” Keyes said.
A variety of people attended the speech, and one student said that because of leaders like Keyes, it is possible to be a leader in this country with integrity and values.
“What Keyes said tonight reiterates to me what I believe, and that is that America is great,” said Anton Valencic, 21, a sophomore from Washington, Ill., majoring in political science. “Not because of the American government, but because the American people have the freedoms to make decisions.”
Keyes’s message not only appealed to students, but to parents looking to improve the moral situation in America.
“I feel Keyes understands the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, the integrity they had in putting it together and he’d like to preserve that through us,” said Kathleen Martin, a mother from Spanish Fork.
Events center officials said about 1,500 spectators came to the event. Keyes flew home to Maryland to be with his family immediately following his speech.
