Greene: I'm just like you

COEUR d’ALENE — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene received a standing ovation Saturday night when she took the stage at the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

The Georgia Republican got another one when she finished her 35-minute speech before about 600 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

In between, she fired off a series of blunt, critical commentaries on a range of targets that included President Joe Biden, the Chinese spy balloon, the country’s involvement in the war in Ukraine, the country’s $34 trillion debt, the southern border crisis, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hunter Biden.

Greene said she is called extreme right by her critics, and agreed, saying she is “extremely right.”

A businesswoman with three grown children, she said she believes in God, loves guns and ran for public office to fight for the rights of Americans and weed out government corruption.

“I’m just like every single one of you,” she said.

The theme of the annual event was “For the People.”

Flags decorated shirts, Trump in 2024 caps were on heads, firearms were prizes and a young man wearing a white top hat, blue jacket and red bowtie sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

Pastor Tim Remington offered the invocation.

“If we put God back in Idaho, God will always protect Idaho,” he said.

Guest speakers included Rep. Russ Fulcher, Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon, Kootenai County Commissioner Leslie Duncan and veteran Burt Rutan.

KCRCC chairman Brent Regan said the organization’s volunteers work for the people, not special interests.

He light-heartedly noted there was a small crowd of protesters outside earlier in the day who opposed Greene’s visit.

“Should anybody be foolish enough to cause a ruckus, stay calm and stay holstered and let the professionals deal with it,” he said, as the crowd laughed.

Fulcher noted that one of the members of the Color Guard had an oxygen tank and said that was a display of the patriotism that built America.

“Anytime you and I feel like maybe we’re getting beat up or we’re disadvantaged, we need to take a lesson from these people,” he said. "That’s what made America great.”

Greene was the main event and did not hold back.

She wore the same white coat with fur which she was criticized for wearing during Biden’s recent State of the Union address.

She smiled and said she wore it to have a little fun and thanked North Idaho for its support.

“Are you guys as mad as I am about this Chinese spy balloon?” she said.

Greene said Biden let it enter U.S. airspace, allowed it to take pictures as it went, and did nothing until its mission was over, finally having it shot down.

“The excuses we were given on this were pathetic, absolutely pathetic,” she said.

Greene said the country “will be shocked” as the real story emerges about Hunter Biden’s laptop, which the House Oversight Committee is investigating. She said Hunter Biden used his father’s influence for financial gain.

“We really are interested in his bank account,” Greene said,

She said while she felt sorry for what was happening in Ukraine, she said the U.S. should discontinue its involvement in that war, instead push for peace and focus on the southern border.

“That’s the war we should care about,” she said.

Greene was critical of government spending that has led to spiraling debt. She pointed to examples of what she said was foolish spending, such as $17 million for toilets in Africa, $15 million to study the effects of wood heat on the environment, and giving China $27 million a year in aid.

“It’s insane,” Greene said.

She said she was “super impressed” by the KCRCC and the crowd at the Lincoln Day Dinner.

“You guys kick ass,” she said.

Greene wrapped up by calling on people to keep fighting for what they believe.

“Never back down," she said.