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Remarks by the President at the 2008 President's Dinner
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 18, 2008

Remarks by the President at the 2008 President's Dinner Walter E.
Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C.

ÿÿWhite House News


7:29 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you for the warm welcome. Good
evening. I appreciate that kind introduction -- Jeb. (Laughter.) And I
thank you for bringing Melissa, too.

It's my honor to be with you. I can't thank you enough for coming to
support our candidates running for the United States House, the United
States Senate, and for the White House. I appreciate my friends from the
Congress who are here. I especially want to pay tribute to Senator Mitch
McConnell, Senate Republican Leader, Congressman John Boehner, House
Republican Leader. (Applause.) Senator John Ensign, the Chairman of the
NRSC -- (applause) -- who, by the way, brought his son, Michael.
Congressman Tom Cole, Chairman of the NRCC. (Applause.) A man who deserves
a lot of credit, along with Jeb, for tonight's success, my friend from the
state of Utah, Senator Orrin Hatch. (Applause.) I thank the RNC Chairman,
Mike Duncan; all those here at the head table for their leadership in
making this an incredibly successful event.

Most of all I want to thank you all for coming, for giving of your time and
your money to help us achieve a big victory in November of 2008.
(Applause.)

This is my eighth President's Dinner -- also known as my last dinner before
mandatory retirement. (Laughter.) I can't say for sure what I'm going to be
doing at this time next year -- I suspect I'll be in Crawford, watching the
Rangers on TV. But I know what you'll be doing -- you'll be holding this
dinner in honor of a new guest: President John McCain. (Applause.)

I know John McCain well. I have worked with him, and I have run against
him. Take it from me: It's better to have him on your side.

The stakes in this election are high. I know the pressures of the Oval
Office -- the daily intelligence briefings, the unexpected challenges, and
the tough decisions that can only be made at the President's desk. In
trying times, America needs a President who has been tested and will not
flinch. We need a President who has the experience and judgment to do what
is right, even when it is not easy. We need a President who knows what it
takes to defeat our enemies. And this year, there is only one man who has
shown those qualities of leadership -- and that man is John McCain.
(Applause.)

Sending John to the White House is a great goal, but it's not our only
goal. As President, he's going to need strong conservative allies on
Capitol Hill. And that means we need to put the House and the Senate back
where they belong -- into Republican hands. (Applause.) And I appreciate
you coming tonight to see that is exactly what happens.

You know, this election season is just beginning. The real campaign will be
in the fall. And the American people will take the measure of the
candidates running and their vision for the future. And when they do,
they're going to find some big differences between our parties. On issues
that matter the most -- from taxes and spending, to confirming good judges
and building a culture of life, to protecting our people and winning the
war on terror -- the American people will have a clear choice. And after
the speeches and the debates and when the American people focus on what
matters to their future, they're going to send Republican candidates to the
House, Republican candidates to the Senate, and John McCain to the White
House. (Applause.)

This November, the American people are going to have a clear choice when it
comes to taxes and spending.

Republicans believe American families can spend their money far better than
the federal government can. We've restrained spending in Washington, D.C.
We delivered the largest tax cut since Ronald Reagan was the President of
the United States. (Applause.) We cut taxes for married couples. We cut
taxes for families with children. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut
taxes on dividends and capital gains. We put the death tax on the road to
extinction. We eliminated income taxes for nearly 5 million families in the
lowest tax bracket. And as a result, the American people have more money in
their pocket and that is the way it should be. (Applause.)

Our opponents take a different view. The Democratically-controlled Congress
refuses to make the tax relief permanent. And when tax relief expires,
every income tax rate in America will go up. The marriage penalty will
return in full force. The child tax credit will be cut in half. Taxes on
capital gains and dividends will increase significantly. The death tax will
return to life. A typical family of four with an income of $40,000 will
face a tax increase of more than $2,000. At a time when the American people
are struggling with high food [prices], high gas prices, and economic
uncertainty, the absolute last thing they need is a tax increase.
(Applause.) In order to make sure that doesn't happen the American people
need to elect a Congress and a President that will make the tax relief
permanent. (Applause.)

There's a reason why the Democrats want to raise taxes -- they need more
money to pay for all the new spending they have in mind. When the Democrats
campaigned in 2006, they promised fiscal responsibility. But when they took
control of the Congress, they tried to go on a spending spree and stick the
American people with the tab. Over the past 17 months, Democrats in
Congress have routinely filed legislation with excessive spending. But
there was an important thing that stood between them and the American
people paying more in taxes, and it's called a veto pen. (Applause.)

You know, when it comes to taxes and spending, our opponents offer a lot of
soothing words. But keep this in mind: While their talk may be cheap, their
agenda isn't. And here's the bottom line: If you want a bigger tax bill and
bigger government, put the Democrats in charge of both the White House and
Capitol Hill. But if you want to keep your taxes low and stop wasteful
spending, elect John McCain and a Republican Congress. (Applause.)

This November, the American people will have a clear choice when it comes
to confirming good judges and building a culture of life. Republicans
aspire to build a society where every human being is welcomed in life and
protected in law. We've funded crisis pregnancy programs and supported
parental notification laws. We outlawed the cruel practice of partial birth
abortion. We defended this good law all the way to Supreme Court -- and we
won. (Applause.)

This victory shows how important it is to put good judges on the bench.
Republicans have a clear view of the role of courts in our democracy. We
believe that unelected judges should strictly interpret the law, and not
legislate from the bench. I've nominated and Congress has confirmed good
judges, including the two newest members of the Supreme Court -- Justice
Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. (Applause.)

Our opponents have a different view. There's no clearer illustration of
their differences in our judicial philosophies than this: John McCain voted
to confirm these eminently qualified Supreme Court justices. His opponent
voted against them.

We received a fresh reminder of the importance of the courts last week. A
bare majority of five Supreme Court justices overturned a bipartisan law
that the United States Congress passed and I signed to deliver justice to
detainees at Guantanamo Bay. With this decision, hardened terrorists --
hardened foreign terrorists now enjoy certain legal rights previously
reserved for American citizens. This is precisely the kind of judicial
activism that frustrates the American people. And the best way to change it
is to put Republicans in charge in the Senate and John McCain in the White
House. (Applause.)

This November, the American people will have a clear choice when it comes
to protecting our country and winning the war on terror.

Republicans believe that our most solemn duty is to protect the American
people. Since September the 11th, 2001, we have worked day and night to
stop another attack on our homeland. Here at home, we've strengthened our
defenses, reformed our intelligence community, and launched a new program
to monitor terrorist communications. Around the world, we have gone on the
offense against the terrorists, we've advanced freedom as the great
alternative to the ideology of hatred and violence. In a time of war we
need a President who understands that we must defeat the enemy overseas so
we do not have to face them here at home -- (applause) -- and that man is
John McCain. (Applause.)

In Afghanistan, we destroyed al Qaeda training camps and removed the
Taliban from power. And today we're helping a democratic society take root
-- ensuring that Afghanistan will never again be a safe haven for the
terrorists planning an attack on America.

And in Iraq we removed the dangerous regime of Saddam Hussein. Removing
Saddam Hussein was the right decision at the time, and it is the right
decision today. (Applause.) Early last year, when the situation in Iraq was
deteriorating, we launched what's called the surge. And since the surge,
violence in Iraq has dropped. Civilian deaths and sectarian killings are
down. And political and economic progress is taking place. A democracy is
taking root where the tyrant once ruled. In Iraq and Afghanistan and around
the world, our men and women in uniform are performing with skill and honor
-- and our country needs a Commander-in-Chief who will respect and fully
support the United States military, and that man is John McCain.
(Applause.)

The war on terror is the great challenge of our time. And on this vital
issue, the Democratic Party has repeatedly shown it would take America down
the wrong direction. Democratic leaders in Congress have yet to renew a
surveillance law that our intelligence professionals say is critical to
protecting America. They tried to shut down a CIA program -- CIA program
for questioning terrorists, a program that has saved American lives.
They've repeatedly delayed funding for our troops in the field.

On Iraq, the Democrats declared the surge a failure before it began. And
now that the surge has turned the situation around, they still call for
retreat. The other side talks a lot about "hope," and that sums up their
Iraq policy pretty well: They want to retreat from Iraq and hope nothing
bad happens. But wishful thinking is no way to fight a war and to protect
the American people. (Applause.) Leaving Iraq before the job is done would
embolden our enemies and endanger our citizens. The only path to victory is
to support the Iraqi people, support our commanders, support our troops,
support Republicans for Congress, and elect John McCain as the next
Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)

Over the next few months of this campaign, you're going to hear a lot of
talk about change. Democrats say they're the party of change. There was a
time when they believed that low taxes were the path to growth and
opportunity -- but they've changed. There was a time when they believed in
common-sense American values -- but they have changed. There was a time
when they believed that America should pay any price and bear any burden in
the defense of liberty -- but they have changed. These days, if you want to
know how a Democrat in Congress is going to vote tomorrow, just visit the
website of MoveOn.Org today. (Applause.)

This is change alright, but it's not the kind of change the American people
want. Americans want change that makes their life better and our country
safer -- and that requires changing the party in control of the United
States Congress. (Applause.) So with your efforts and with your hard work,
I am confident that the American people will send Republicans to Congress
-- and to send our friend John McCain to the White House. (Applause.)

This is the final time I'm going to speak to this event. And when I ran for
President eight years ago, as Jeb mentioned, I promised to uphold the
dignity and honor of this office. And to the best of my ability, I have
tried to live up to that promise. (Applause.) Next January I will leave
with confidence in our country's course -- and the proud work we have done
together.

We've worked together to make our country safer and to spread prosperity
throughout our land. I've been strengthened by your support and lifted up
by your prayers. I've also been blessed to share these years with a strong
and loving family, including a fabulous woman named Laura Bush. (Applause.)
I believe she's the finest First Lady in our nation's history. (Applause.)
Just don't tell Mother. (Laughter.) And in this job, I have had no finer
example of character, decency, and integrity than the first man to be
called President George Bush. (Applause.)

This isn't a farewell speech because we've got a lot to do this year. I
want you to know my energy is up, my spirits are high, and I am going to
finish this job strong. (Applause.) So with confidence in our vision,
strong belief in our philosophy, faith in our values, let us go forward,
reclaim the Congress, and elect John McCain as President in 2008.

God bless you, and God bless America. (Applause.)

END 7:47 P.M. EDT

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