Scott Baio: 'We Need Donald Trump To Fix' America
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Scott Baio took charge at the Republican National Convention Monday night.
Baio, who was invited by Donald Trump to speak at the convention, told the crowd that he trusts the billionaire with "the lives of our family and the health of country."
"Now America is an easy place to get to, but for your first-time voters, it's important for you to know what it means to be an American. It doesn't mean getting free stuff," Baio said. "It means sacrificing, winning, losing, failing, succeeding, and sometimes doing the things you don't want to do, including the hard work, to getting to where you want to be."
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He continued, "Folks, our country right now is in a very bad spot. You can feel it and you can see it everywhere. There's no stability, nothing seems right, and all the things we hold dear are being attacked every single day.
"We need Donald Trump to fix this."
The former "Charles in Charge" and "Happy Days" star said that Hillary Clinton will continue the "same policies that are wrecking this country."
"Hillary Clinton wants to be president for Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump wants to be president for all of us," Baio said.
The actor is an outspoken advocate on social media for conservative causes. He's one of the bigger stars among the speakers at the convention -- part of what Trump has suggested would be "a showbiz convention."
Prior to Baio, "Duck Dynasty's" Willie Robertson kicked-off the primetime portion of the convention.
He told the crowd of more than 2,000 delegates that that Trump is the candidate running for president who will best support the military and the nation's police officers.
Robertson tossed in a little playful criticism of the news media on Monday night, hitting them "for missing the Trump train." He joked that he and Trump had three things in common: they were successful businessmen, had hit television shows and had wives "more attractive than we are."
Monday's celebrity trifecta ended with hunky former Calvin Klein underwear model and "General Hospital" star Antonio Sabato Jr., who has guested as a Chippendale and also appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" and "Melrose Place."
Sabato was born in Italy, raised in the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen in 1996. He said other immigrants "should follow the same rules."
He's also the father of three who said he was "concerned for my children's future," evoking worry over "socialism" and presenting Trump as standing for "unity."
"I've never considered myself very political," Sabato said. "I've never spoken out politically before."
The actor said he was compelled to this time around because -- mashing up candidate with action word -- "our rights have been trumpled."
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