Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, 34, delivered what observers have called a star-making speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday evening.
The moment: Cameron, the first black man to serve as attorney general for the Bluegrass State, issued a scathing rebuke to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and expressed sympathy for African Americans shot by police while also denouncing civil unrest.
Addressing Biden directly, Cameron challenged several of the former vice president's controversial statements about the black community, saying, "I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom, and as I think of those giants and their broad shoulders, I also think about Joe Biden, who says, 'If you are not voting for me, you ain't black.'"
- To Biden: "Mr. Vice President, look at me. I am black. We are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own. And you can't tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin."
- Recognizing injustice while reigning in chaos: "Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice and equality."
- On the shooting deaths of Breonna Taylor and David Dorn: "Whether you are the family of Breonna Taylor or David Dorn, these are the ideals that will heal our nation's wounds. Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization."
- On America: "We grieve together. We share our burdens and struggles, and we celebrate our successes. And though we fuss and fight, we are not enemies. We are Americans, united by a collective faith in our Constitution and laws and the fundamental fairness they represent. We are defenders of life and of individual liberty. And we carry the mantle of Eisenhower and of Reagan to be a force for good in this world, and one that must always be reckoned with."
Cameron also accused Biden of being "captive to the radical left" and slammed him for his pro-abortion stance.
The reaction: Social media commenters heaped praise on Cameron, with many declaring that the Kentucky Republican had a bright future in the GOP.
Politico chief political correspondent Tim Alberta lauded Cameron as a "political phenom."
His presence was immediate. His cadence was impeccable. His innate abilities as an orator were evident from the jump. Political phenoms don’t come around often — but you know them when you see them.
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) August 26, 2020
Daniel Cameron: A star is born.https://t.co/E7k8fE5RWN
"A star is born," Alberta declared.
Washington Examiner columnist Tiana Lowe said Cameron had cemented himself as a "party superstar" with his RNC speech.
Daniel Cameron, KY's first black AG, didn't just cement himself as a party superstar with his RNC manifesto for law & order. He did so precisely by rejecting the binary that excludes justice for victims of an imperfect justice system like Breonna Taylor.https://t.co/PFIRsArps8
— Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) August 26, 2020
Political consultant and pollster Frank Luntz tweeted that Cameron had given "one of the greatest maiden speeches of any politician I’ve ever seen."
Cameron is the first Republican to serve as Kentucky's attorney general in more than 70 years.
