It was quite a contrast: Just a couple of hours before CNN's Piers Morgan signed off with a slashing attack on gun rights and the NRA, longtime CNBC host Larry Kudlow ended his final broadcast with a stirring tribute to the power of freedom and faith. "It is freedom that makes this the greatest country in the world," Kudlow told his viewers before recounting how faith in God helped him overcome addiction two decades ago. "And it is that faith that guides me every day."
In the NBC-MSNBC-CNBC universe, Kudlow's was a rare voice championing conservative values, optimistically and enthusiastically, every night. With the end of his nightly show (he will appear as a contributor on CNBC's other programs), the media landscape will regrettably have one less program devoted to championing free market capitalism.
Below the jump, you can watch video of Kudlow's farewell, plus a partial transcript.
Now, you know my credo: "Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity." And let me add to that from our Founding Fathers: Our Creator endowed us with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In other words, freedom.
Freedom to work, invest, take risks, and the freedom to get rewards and incentives that motivate us all. It is freedom that makes this the greatest country in the world, and it is freedom that so frequently keeps me on the optimistic side of life.
Down through the years we've always tried to represent all points of view on this show -- left, right, and center. And in what I hope was a civil and respectful way, I have tried to listen and learn and debate both my liberal and my conservative friends. Civil discourse on the issues of the day is what we always tried to do -- and salt it with some financial market advice, which I sometimes got right, and sometimes got wrong.
I'm also proud to have recruited some of the best minds to be our expert guests, many of them have never been seen on television before. Now they are going on to their own bright careers, and makes me proud.
And finally, I want to thank this network, not only for the privilege of hosting this show, but for giving me a second chance in life that resulted in a new career. This from a guy who nearly 20 years ago was completely shipwrecked on a sea of hopeless alcohol and drug abuse. And I went away for a long time, and with the help of many people I learned to replace addiction with faith. And it is that faith that guides me every day.
Again, let me thank all the viewers who have stayed with me down through the years and all who have wished me well. I am truly grateful.
