Carly Fiorina in Speech at 2015 CPAC conference

On Education: Make sure that every parent has a choice

You know one of the things this president loves to do is to distract us so I think he is trying to distract us from the fact that we have too many failing high schools in this country by offering community college for free. If we want to educate our children let us make sure that every parent has a choice and a chance to educate their children so that they can fulfill their potential. Source: Forbes Magazine on 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Mar 24, 2015

On Foreign Policy: I know the leaders of the Mideast; Obama & Hillary do not

Having never held political office before, Fiorina is obviously a longshot for the nomination. Many have speculated that she's truly running for vice president. Whatever the case, she has to prove that she's a credible, serious, informed leader, and not one of the self-promoters who've plagued GOP primaries recently.

Her response: Fiorina gave a strong speech that was enthusiastically received by the crowd. She focused on burnishing her foreign credentials, arguing that "I know Bibi Netanyahu," and "I know King Abdullah of Jordan," as a way to critique the Obama Administration's policies in the Middle East. She also repeatedly attacked Hillary Clinton, telling her to "please, name an accomplishment," and arguing that traveling the world doesn't count as one. Essentially, Fiorina was arguing that a long political resume doesn't necessarily mean a candidate is qualified--and suggesting that her short one shouldn't disqualify her.

Source: Vox.com coverage of 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 27, 2015

On Civil Rights: I don't just Tweet about equal pay; I lead on pay standards

Carly Fiorina came out swinging at Hillary Clinton today, attacking her for not being strong enough on women's issues. Fiorina, the only woman in the emerging GOP field, has cast herself as one of the most aggressive critics of Clinton in stump speeches.

At CPAC, she continued the trend of firing at Clinton: "She tweets about women's rights in this country and takes money from governments that deny women the most basic human rights. She tweets about equal pay for women but won't answer basic questions about her own offices' pay standards--and neither will our President. Hillary may like hashtags. But she doesn't know what leadership means."

At the end of her speech during the question and answer section, Fiorina couldn't help but take one more shot at Clinton during a question about the importance of female candidates: "I will say this, if Hillary Clinton had to face me on a debate stage, at the very least she would have a hitch in her swing."

Source: Time magazine on 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 26, 2015

On Foreign Policy: Advised CIA on Russian affairs after 2007

So what does Fiorina know about the intelligence community or Russia? Well, supporters note that she's served on several relevant boards, including the first ever External Advisory Board for the Central Intelligence Agency, which was created in 2007 by then-director Michael Hayden.

Fiorina has been talking up her Kremlin bona fides for the last year and referenced her meeting with Vladimir Putin at a 2001 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in China in a well-received speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit last month. "Like Hillary Clinton, I too have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe," Fiorina said in Iowa. "But unlike her, I have actually accomplished something. Mrs. Clinton, flying is not an accomplishment, it's an activity. I have met Vladimir Putin and know that it will take more to halt his ambitions than a gimmicky red 'Reset' button."

Source: TheDailyBeast.com: 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 26, 2015

On Government Reform: Hillary shouldn't accept foreign money in her PAC

Carly Fiorina came out swinging at Hillary Clinton at CPAC, attacking her for accepting foreign money in the Clinton Global Initiative. "Mrs. Clinton, name an accomplishment," Fiorina said during her speech. "And in the meantime, please explain why we should accept that the millions and millions of dollars that have flowed into the Clinton Global Initiative from foreign governments do not represent a conflict of interest."

In her CPAC speech, she continued the trend of firing at Clinton: "She tweets about women's rights in this country and takes money from governments that deny women the most basic human rights."

Source: Time magazine on 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 26, 2015

On Principles & Values: Started "Unlock Your Potential PAC" in 2014

A prime speaking slot, a straw poll spot, a new super PAC--the former HP CEO is set to make a big splash at the GOP confab, and, if everything goes right, take on Hillary Clinton. The annual presidential audition known as the Conservative Political Action Conference has long been a place where a candidate can go from "who?" to "oh, right, that person." And if all goes according to plan, "that person" at the 2015 event will be likely Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina. She's also the chair of the American Conservative Union Foundation, the group that puts on CPAC every year.

Fiorina started Unlock Your Potential PAC in 2014 to help the GOP better appeal to women voters. The group spent $512,394 in Senate races last cycle. She'll no doubt be discussing this effort on a CPAC panel called "Lies Told to You by Liberals" and "Countering the 'War on Women' Lie."

Source: TheDailyBeast.com: 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 26, 2015

The above quotations are from Speeches to Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 26-27, 2015. Click here for other excerpts from Speeches to Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 26-27, 2015. Click here for other excerpts by Carly Fiorina. Click here for a profile of Carly Fiorina.
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Page last updated: Jul 18, 2019