Cait Conley
Appearances
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
Anne Holmes- Ben, thanks so much. And to how you introduced this episode, I could not agree more on the importance about talking about things like West Point and the importance of service and how that type of leadership and that type of sacrifice transcends all. It's not political. It's patriotic.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And unfortunately, what we saw transpire at the commencement address didn't resonate with those types of ethics or ethos. And so I do think it's really important that we talk about these types of issues. the signal through the noise and why it matters. And so I'll tell you somebody who, born and raised in the Hudson Valley, I was a junior in high school when 9-11 happened.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And I went home that night and I told my mom, I'm applying to West Point. And that's because we didn't have much growing up. My mom works for the Postal Service for 47 years. My dad was a construction worker. So total blue collar family. Didn't have many means, but I will tell you, we had a tremendous amount of pride in this nation.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
and a strong sense of service to your neighbors, to your community, to country. And so that's why going to West Point was undoubtedly the right answer for me. I also give credit to Demi Moore and G.I. Jane, which I watched a ton of as a kid. I'm helping know that's the direction I wanted to go, at least in military service.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
But that responsibility, that privilege to serve, I mean, this is really one of the most beautiful things. I think that represents who we are as a nation. And so, yeah, the four years at West Point and that experience was truly incredible and shaping as a young officer to then lead men and women in uniform on combat tours overseas. As you talked about, 16 years in active duty service.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
I will tell you, I went back to West Point often during those years when I'd visit my family. to remind myself about the incredible ideals that that institution was established on and cultivates in the next generation of military leaders.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And it's this beautiful place where, you know, you have young men and women from all 50 states and territories, from families that span the economic spectrum of some of our country's poorest to some of our country's wealthiest families. And they're all there with this one incredible calling, and that is to serve our country. to swear an oath to the Constitution, right?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
To put your life on the line in support of something bigger and better than yourself, and that is the security and safety of Americans. And really, I think living that type of lifestyle and understanding that responsibility is something that leaders in Washington need to not only recognize and honor and respect, but to also continue to cultivate and instill.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And so when you look at our nation and the challenges we still have ahead of us, we need leaders that are laser focused on the very real national security challenges our country faces. We have things like a war in Ukraine that are still raging. We have terrorist groups that are still plotting against the United States and Americans. We have Iran looking to develop a nuclear weapon.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
There are very real national security challenges that our nation should be focused on. And instead, you know, we're talking about these nonsense things. And so this is where I think serious leaders who've actually gone out there and seen what it takes to get it done are important to step up right now and to say, let's focus on what really matters for the American people.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
You know, Ben, you're talking about the six overseas tours that I can kind of talk about. A lot of my stuff that I did during those days was classified. But, you know, going to Yemen to target al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists. If you remember the underwear bomber from 2009 that came from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. If you
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
Remember after Benghazi, I went to North Africa, right, to hold those accountable for the attacks on the Benghazi Consulate accountable. We did things like fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as they were plotting terror attacks and trying to really mobilize lone wolf terrorist actors in Europe and the United States.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
When you look at the importance of these missions that are truly no fail, you don't have the luxury just saying whatever you want or doing whatever you want. You have a responsibility to deal with the hard facts and realities. You don't have the luxury of not doing your job or saying one thing and doing another. And I think this is what we're talking about right now. The stakes are too high.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
Failure is not an option. And we don't have serious people taking this stuff on. We have people who say one thing and do another, whether it's incidents like Signalgate, whether it's things like the commencement speech we just heard, you know, or just overall conduct and decision-making.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
The stakes are too high for failure, and instead of having these really thoughtful and deliberate discussions and processes and taking it seriously, we see these routine mistakes that are largely based in either negligence or just disregard for doing the right thing.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
I think this is where it's like we should be showing the world right now that America is a superpower, and instead we're showing them it's amateur hour, and the American people deserve better.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
You know, we just celebrated Memorial Day, where we honor those who've given the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, not a single political party, but for all Americans and for our country and what we stand for.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And I think that's what we need to constantly remember is we owe those people, those patriots who put this nation first and gave all to honor that sacrifice by making this country better than we found it, right? And I am a firm believer and I have tremendous faith that the best days for our country are still ahead of us, but we have a tremendous amount of work to do to make sure that is the case.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And I don't see politicians stepping up and demonstrating they can lead us out of this.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
Thanks, Ben. So I'll tell you, running for office was not my plan for 2025. But I feel like I have a responsibility right now to step up because I believe our country is at a crossroads. And the politicians who got us into this mess on both sides are not going to be the ones who fix it or lead us out of it. And right now, our country needs true leadership.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
That's where I am incredibly proud of my Hudson Valley roots. I told you, my mom, right, post office for 47 years, my dad, a construction worker. I understand how hard it is for working families to make ends meet. I hear about families who are working two jobs and still can't pay the rent or are cutting back on grocery bills, but they can still barely afford their prescriptions.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
We have made it too hard in America for working class families to get by. We have to focus on making this more affordable and taking care of the people who are throwing everything they have in to make this country the incredible place that it is. And so that's where I think there is a tremendous amount of work to be done. And I don't think we see that happening.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
I mean, look at the house bill that just passed, right? Where we're cutting 700 billion in Medicaid. We're gonna leave working class families like in limbo for their own healthcare. And that should be unacceptable here. And this is where it goes back to, we need true leaders to step up. We're gonna do what's right for this country, for all Americans.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
And this is where certainly in New York 17, we deserve better. And that's where I have been incredibly disappointed by the lack of leadership, by the two-facedness that we're seeing coming out of Mike Lawler. And my family deserves better. I deserve better. This community deserves better.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Cait Conley Responds to Trump West Point Disaster
So that's why I'm doing this, because throughout my career, I raised my hand to say, I will continue to serve this country. I have been a proven leader. That's battle tested. That's delivered results for this country. And I will continue to do that for New York 17. And I think that type of leadership matters more now than ever.