U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) spoke about two U.S. Presidents from the state of Illinois during the Feb. 12 Lincoln Day Dinner. The annual dinner was sponsored by the county GOP at the 1812 Farm in Bristol.

Collins spoke on how Lincoln’s anti-slavery stance during his campaigns for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and, eventually, the presidency made the Republican Party into a major political force.

Collins told the 127 Republicans who attended the annual dinner that Lincoln’s words and actions made him the “Father of the Republican Party.”  She recalled an 1856 anti-slavery speech which vaulted him into national prominence.

“It was a speech that led to the creation of the Republican Party in Illinois,” Collins said. “I’d love to quote a few lines, but there is no record of it. He spoke extemporaneously and the newspaper reporters were so spellbound by his words they didn’t take any notes. So today, there is no record of that great speech.”

Collins quoted a later Lincoln speech in Michigan. Lincoln described slavery as incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. In the speech, Lincoln said the U.S. Constitution was the only safeguard for the nation’s liberty.

“It’s a principle that still unites us as Republicans,” Collins said. “We must remain united so the next president is a Republican who understands the separation of powers and the three branches of government.”

With 271 days remaining until America elects a new president. Collins was critical of the current Illinois man in the White House. Collins criticized President Obama for usurping Congressional authority and governing by executive order.

She recalled how the President released five Guantanamo Bay detainees for hostage Bowe Bergdahl, who was absent without leave from his military troop. Collins and seven other GOP senators sought an opinion from the federal Government Accountability Office. The non-partisan entity wrote the senators that President Obama violated the law by not notifying them of Bergdahl’s release 30 days in advance.

Collins was also critical of several instances she believed President Obama violated the U.S, Constitution. In 2012, he made three recess appointees to the National Labor Relations Board while the Senate was still in session. The second came when the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his executive order regarding immigration.

“The President said he did it because the Congress failed to act on immigration, that’s not true. It’s because Congress didn’t act the way he wanted us to act is why he used the unconstitutional order,” Collins said.

She also criticized Obama’s refusal to turn over documents related to the U.S. Department of Justice’s alleged role in the “Fast and Furious” program which provided guns to Mexican drug lords. Collins also disapproved of the Internal Revenue Service’s allegedly investigating conservative groups who sought tax-exempt status. Collins characterized the IRS’s actions as violating citizens First Amendment rights.

“The President threatens to continue expanding his overreach by writing executive orders,” she said. “Perhaps he should use the pen, and underline parts of the Constitution that appears to have escaped his attention, like Article I.”

Collins spoke after Maine’s First Lady Ann LePage. She credited the LePages for being “devoted to the nation’s military heroes.

“The LePages are devoted to our veterans. It’s a testament to how much they care by entertaining them at the Blaine House with cookouts, dinner and entertainment.”

Mrs. LePage apologized for her husband’s absence.

“Paul wanted to be here, but he’s busy working on tax conformity. So call your legislators,” she said.

Mrs. LePage praised Lincoln for his leadership during the nation’s bloodiest war. She also paid tribute to a staff sergeant who was killed in action on Sept. 29, 2007. Staff Sgt. Donnie Dixon put himself in harm’s way to save his colonel during combat in Iraq.

She read a message one of Dixon’s friends wrote about his heroism years later.

“Men like you laid it on the line so others could have freedom and liberty. Hopefully, years later, our children will remember what you did,” read LePage.

Lincoln County GOP Chairman Stuart Smith believes the sold-out dinner is evidence of a strong Republican year. He said the party has candidates in all but one House District representing the county. He also believes Republicans will win back the state senate seat in Lincoln County.

“We are going to have another good election just like in 2014,” Smith said. “The Democrats just don’t get it that the voters want welfare reform. And they’re still doing everything they can to stop it. So yes, I’m excited about the election.”

The Lincoln Day dinner also featured Auburn Mayor Jonathan Labonte and Lewiston Mayor Robert MacDonald, who spoke about how Republicans won in two cities which historically support Democrats.