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in order to achieve a victory that is nec- Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former President essary to help make this country more se- Saddam Hussein of Iraq; President Hu Jintao cure. And that’s exactly how I’m going to of China; President Vladimir V. Putin of Rus- make my decision. sia; President Roh Moo-hyun of South So if the people are listening, they need Korea; Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of to know I’m proud of their families. The Japan; Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for cause is noble and necessary. And the size the Northern District of and Depart- of the troops that will be there will depend ment of Justice CIA employee identity dis- upon the sound judgment of our military closure investigation special prosecutor; Judy commanders. Baar Topinka, Illinois gubenatorial can- Thank you for this press conference. I’ve didate; Secretary General Javier Solana of the enjoyed it. Appreciate it. Council of the European Union; Secretary NOTE: The President’s news conference of the Supreme National Secretary Council began at 10 a.m. in the Museum of Science Ali Larijani and President Mahmud Ahmadi- and Industry. In his remarks, he referred to nejad of Iran; and Gen. George W. Casey, Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, IL; Jr., USA, commanding general, Multi-Na- Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., of Illinois; Prime tional Force—Iraq.

Remarks at a Lunch for Gubernatorial Candidate Judy Baar Topinka in Chicago July 7, 2006

Thank you all. Go ahead; please be seat- of Representatives. I love working with you. ed. Thanks for coming. I am honored to We’re getting a lot done. And I want to be here. I proudly stand with Judy Baar thank you for being here. Topinka as the next Governor of the State , what a good man. Thanks of Illinois. for coming, Governor. I appreciate you Laura sends her best. Like Judy says, being here. We’re members of the ex-Gov- ‘‘Sorry Laura didn’t come.’’ I say, ‘‘Yes, ernors club. [Laughter] And we got to most candidates say that.’’ [Laughter] I’m know Jim and Brenda well during his time really lucky that Laura said yes when I as , and he was a dandy. asked her to marry me. And I think the All you got to do is aspire to be as good country is lucky to have her as the First as Jim Edgar, and you’ll do a great job, Lady. And she sends her very best to Judy. Governor Topinka. He is—he set the stand- She, like me, hopes that Judy will win. And ard, didn’t he, for Governors here in Illi- she, like me, knows that when Judy does nois. And I’m proud you’re here, and win, she’s going to be a fabulous Governor thanks for helping Judy Baar. for the people of Illinois. I want to thank all the candidates who I’m glad to be here with the Speaker. are here. There’s a lot here, so I’m not Mr. Speaker, I’m proud you’re here. going to try to rip them all off, but I do Thanks for coming. Somebody said, ‘‘What want to thank you for running statewide— is it like dealing with Hastert?’’ I said, Lieutenant Governor candidate, attorney ‘‘Solid as a rock.’’ [Laughter] He’s predict- general candidate, treasurer candidate, able. You can count on him. He’s doing comptroller candidate. Maybe I ought to a fine job as the Speaker of the House say it just to see if I can get some ink

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for you: , running for Lieutenant Having been a Governor, I know what Governor. [Applause] Yes, let’s do it that it means to be a Governor. You got to way—Christine Radogno, running for State have somebody who can set an agenda; treasurer. Senator, thanks for coming. Sen- somebody that doesn’t try to be all things ator Dan Rutherford, running for secretary to all people; somebody that says, ‘‘Here’s of state—there he is. Senator , what I’m running for, and here is what he’s not running for anything statewide, but I intend to do,’’ and then is going to do he’s here. Senator, thank you. it. That’s what the people of Illinois want. It’s a good sign to see all the senators. They don’t want a bunch of fancy footwork When senators and members start to swarm and empty slogans. They want a practical around, it means they’re smelling victory. person to say, let’s make this State, for [Laughter] They want to be close to the example, the best State in the country to next Governor. Judy Baar, it’s a good sign be an entrepreneur. Let’s make sure this when you’ve got people like Tom Cross, is a progrowth economic policy in the State the Illinois house minority leader. He’s of Illinois. from your district, right, Speaker? Yes. Stu We share a philosophy: The role of gov- Umholtz is running for attorney general. ernment is not to create wealth; the role Thanks for coming, Stu. Yes. of government is to create an environment I want to thank Andy McKenna and all in which the entrepreneurial spirit flour- the grassroots activists who are here. This ishes. And Judy Baar wants to make sure has been an incredibly successful fund- Illinois is entrepreneurial heaven for people raiser. And I thank you for your hard work here. in supporting Judy Baar. It’s hard to do And so how do you do that? How do a big fundraiser like this, and it takes a you do it? Well, the first thing you do lot of good organizers and people willing is make sure you keep the people’s taxes to go out and pick up the phone and call low. And it works. It works. We have been and ask. And you’ve done a fantastic job. in Washington, the Speaker and I and oth- It’s a good sign. People don’t want to back ers, working together, have proven that low somebody who can’t win. And you’re here taxes can increase economic vitality. We be- to back Judy Baar because, one, you like lieve that when a person has more money her; two, you trust her; and, three, you in his or her own pocket to save, spend, know she can win and become the Gov- and invest the way she or he feels fit, the ernor of the State. economy grows. So I thank you all for contributing might- Remember what’s happened in the last ily to her campaign, and I urge those of 5 years. We have faced a recession, a stock you who are involved in grassroots politics market correction, corporate scandals, an to kind of warm up and get ready to turn attack on the United States of America, out the vote come November. She’s going two major military operations to defend to need people putting up the signs and ourselves, national disasters, high energy stuffing the letters and making the phone prices. And yet this economy, first quarter calls and urging the good people of this of 2006, grew at 5.6 percent. Today we State—Republican, Democrat, and inde- found out we added another 121,000 new pendent—to show up to the polls and do jobs. The national unemployment rate is their duty and to vote for Judy Baar. She’s 4.6 percent. The unemployment rate in going to do a fine job as your Governor. Chicago is 4.3 percent. Productivity is high. She’s a good, fine, honest person who More people own a home than ever before. knows what she’s doing. She’s got a track Small businesses are being created. This record. She can get the job done. economy is strong, and the reason it’s

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strong is because we cut the taxes on the And you start with making sure you’ve American people. got a good education system. When I was And the fundamental question is, can we Governor of Texas, I used to say, education keep them low to make sure the economy is to a State what national defense is to grows? Here’s the interesting debate in the Federal Government. In other words, Washington, and I’m proud that Dave it’s got to be the number-one priority of McSweeney is here, because he gets it. your Governor. And you got to have a Gov- He’s running for the United States Con- ernor that’s willing to set high standards gress. He understands what I’m about to and willing to challenge the status quo if say. Here’s the trap: In Washington, they you find mediocrity and failure. say, ‘‘Oh, all we got to do is raise taxes We’ve got too much stateism in public to balance the budget.’’ That’s not the way education, too much excuse-making, too Washington, DC, works. Yes, they’ll raise much process. See, it’s so simple to give your taxes, but they will figure out new up on an inner-city kid and say, ‘‘Well, ways to spend your money. The best way you’re this age; you’re supposed to be to balance the budget—and Judy Baar un- here,’’ or just kind of shuffling children derstands this—is to keep progrowth eco- through. It is inexcusable behavior. And nomic policies in place through low taxes therefore, we passed the No Child Left and be wise about how we spend the peo- Behind Act, which says, we’ll have high ple’s money. standards, and we expect people, in return for Federal money, to measure. Our progrowth policies are working. And the reason we want people to meas- Pretty soon we’re going to announce the ure is because we want to know. We want new deficit projections. I told the people to know if the curriculum may need to that if we’re wise about spending the be corrected; we want to know if a school money and keep progrowth policies in is failing to meet standards; we want to place, we’ll be able to cut the deficit in know if children are simply being shuffled half by 2009. What’s really interesting is through the school system without regard that when you cut the taxes and your econ- to their capacity to read and write and add omy grows, guess what happens. You yield and subtract. more tax revenues. It’s working. And, And, Judy Baar, you’re going to hear all Speaker, I think we’re going to have a pret- the excuses for no measuring. You know, ty good projection here in a couple of it’s too much State interference; this— weeks that will remind the American peo- you’re teaching to test. If we hold people ple that it’s good policy to let you keep to account, we will make sure children are more of your own money, that we got to not left behind. set priorities with your money in Wash- You know what’s happening here in the ington, DC, and we can grow our way out city of Chicago? You’re reading scores are of our deficits. up. And the reason why is because you You know, the country has got some measure and you correct problems early, tough decisions to make. And that is, do before it’s too late. I look forward to work- we fear the future and try to wall ourselves ing with Governor Judy Baar Topinka to off from the world, or do we welcome the make sure we institute the No Child Left competition the world provides and shape Behind Act so the great State of Illinois the future? And Judy Baar Topinka under- is on the leading edge of education reform. stands that we shouldn’t fear the future. If you want to be a good State, in which We ought to put good policies in place people risk capital, and a competitive State, to keep us the most innovative, techno- you got to make sure you use your commu- logically advanced country in the world. nity college system wisely. The community

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college system is a vital part of making And by the way, I want to thank the sure America is able to compete in the Speaker. I think not one time but two global economy because the community times, he’s passed medical liability reform colleges have the capacity to work with em- out of the House of Representatives. When ployers to help train people for the jobs I first went to Washington, I thought it which actually exist. And I know Judy Baar was a mistake for there to be a Federal Topinka is going to be—wisely use the medical liability bill. See, I thought the community college system here in Illinois States can handle it. Then it was explained to make sure this State remains competitive to me that all these lawsuits are costing and a good place for the entrepreneurial the Federal Government and you an addi- spirit to flourish. tional $28 billion a year. I look forward to working with her to So we got some pretty big health pro- get rid of our dependence on oil, foreign grams. We got Medicare and Medicaid and sources of oil. We got a problem. When veterans’ benefits. And so when you get the demand for oil goes up in China or all these junk lawsuits out there, it’s not in India, it causes the price of crude oil only causing premiums to rise, which you to go up, which causes the price of gasoline pay for, it’s also causing doctors to practice to go up in Illinois. And we need people defensive medicine, which you pay for. who have got good commonsense policies And so they estimate the tab to the Fed- in place, and one commonsense policy is eral Government is about $28 billion a to make sure that we have the opportunity year. So medical liability reform is not just to grow ourselves out of dependence on a State issue, it’s a national issue. And I oil. I love ethanol, and I intend to work with appreciate the Speaker’s leadership on get- the Governor here to make sure that is ting a good bill out of the House. It’s time widespread, not only throughout Illinois but for the Senate to stop playing politics and throughout the United States of America. pass good medical liability reform for the Thank you for your understanding that we sake of the patients in the United States need alternative sources of energy. of America, for the sake of good, quality One of the toughest jobs she’s going to health care. have is fight off all the lawsuits. I don’t These are historic times we’re living in, know if the trial lawyers are that tough and this country can make the decision to here in Illinois. I suspect they are. [Laugh- be confident about the future or to retreat ter] They’re real tough in Washington, DC, from the future. And I believe we ought too. You know, I met an ob-gyn coming to be confident. Our entrepreneurial spirit through the line here. First of all, I can’t is strong; this economy is good; and we think of a more noble profession than being can put good policies in place—good edu- an ob-gyn. But there’s a problem in the cational policies, good research and tech- United States of America. We got these nology policies. The Speaker passed a good junk lawsuits running good doctors out of bill, by the way, that will double the practice. You know, there’s over 1,500 amount of Federal research—Federal mon- counties in America that don’t have an ob- ies that go into research for basic science. gyn because of all these junk lawsuits. And It’s a smart thing to do. It’s a way to make that’s not right, and it’s not fair, and it’s sure America stays on the leading edge of inexcusable. And you better have yourself change and technology. a Governor who’s willing to look those trial In order to make sure that this country lawyers right in the face and say, ‘‘We need is competitive, you’ve got to have Gov- tort reform to make sure Illinois holds up ernors who understand the proper role of the promise for all its citizens.’’ Government and how to properly stimulate

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the entrepreneurial spirit. And I firmly be- you think is right. And after September lieve Judy Baar Topinka is that right per- the 11th, I vowed that I would use our son, and I want to thank you for supporting national assets to protect the American peo- her. ple. I think about it; I talk about it; I act Before the Speaker and I get on the on it every day of my Presidency. helicopter and go see one of the incredibly The enemy we face are a bunch of totali- advanced plants, I do want to talk about tarians. They have a philosophy. They be- the war on terror. Before I do so, I do lieve that if you don’t adhere to their view, want to say a really cool place—if you’re that you ought to be punished. They don’t wondering where a good place is to cele- believe in freedom of worship; they don’t brate your 60th birthday—[laughter]—yes, believe in freedom of speech. They’re will- you ought to try—yes, okay, thank you. ing to kill innocent people in order to Thank you. I’m saying, come to Chicago. achieve their objectives. They have clearly It’s a good place to celebrate your birthday. stated their objectives, which are to drive That’s all I’m trying to say. Had a fabulous the United States out of parts of the world night last night with the mayor. They asked so they can develop safe haven from which me at a press conference about the mayor. to launch further attacks. I said, the mayor is a man of his word. There are some people who want to see He said, ‘‘You’re going to get clobbered the world the way they’d like it to be, and in Chicago in 2000,’’ and he kept is word. I can understand that. My job is to see [Laughter] the world the way it really is. And there- By the way, if you go to the Science fore, so long as I’m the President, we will Museum, take your kids. It is a special stay on the offense and bring these people place. I know there are some members of to justice before they hurt the American the board who are here—it is really great. people again. And I’m looking forward to shedding my We must keep the pressure on all the entourage one of these days and spending time. And one of the central fronts in the a little quality time there at the museum. war on terror, one of the theaters of the [Laughter] war—not the sole theater but a theater in But at my press conference, they spent the war on terror—is Iraq. And I know a lot of time talking about the world. And it’s on your minds. It’s on my mind. We’re I told them today, like I’m going to tell facing a group of killers there that can’t you now, that my biggest job is to protect— stand the advance of freedom. It should is to work to protect the American people. say something about the nature of the peo- And I think about it all the time. They ple we face when they see a young democ- ask, what’s the job like, to be President. racy beginning to grow and they’re willing And the answer to that—job is, you make to kill innocent people in order to try to a lot of decisions. It’s a decisionmaking ex- stop the march of freedom. That’s one way perience. Governor, you’ll find it to be a to describe the enemy. decisionmaking experience. What is it about a free society that both- Rule one on decisionmaking is you make ers these people? What’s troubling about decisions based upon principle, not based a society in which people are able to wor- upon polls and focus groups. You can’t ship an Almighty freely if they choose to make good decisions if you’re chasing a do so? How come you can’t stand dissent poll. You can’t make the hard decision nec- in the public square? The reason why is essary to secure this country and to yield because they have a vision that is opposite peace if you’re worried about whether of that. And that’s why they’re doing—tak- somebody thinks you’re popular. You got ing desperate measures to stop the advance to stand for what you believe and do what of a democratic society.

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And the enemy has got the capacity to George Casey recommends. We owe that kill on a daily basis, which clouds our TV to our troops; we owe that to their families; screens. And therefore, some Americans we owe that to the Iraqi. are wondering whether or not we can win. I do not want the enemy to think that And to those Americans, I say, not only we will withdraw because of politics. The can we win, we are winning. I want them enemy should not think that when they to remember that 12 million people went hear talk about artificial timetables for with- to the polls in the face of incredible threat; drawal, that’s what the American people 12 million people stood up and said, ‘‘We think, nor that’s what the Congress will do. want to be free.’’ There’s now a unity Gov- This United States Congress and this Presi- ernment. Victory will be achieved when dent will stand squarely behind our troops Iraq, a free Iraq, can sustain itself and gov- and stand squarely behind a strategy for ern itself and defend itself. And the mission of the United States of America is to help victory. that Government succeed. It’s in our na- So our short-term strategy is to defeat tional interests there be a free Iraq. the enemy overseas so we don’t have to People have often asked me, ‘‘Would I face them here at home. And we’re keeping have made the same decision I made be- the pressure on them. And I appreciate fore, knowing what I know today?’’ And the Speaker’s steadfast support. The long- the answer is, I didn’t have that luxury, term strategy, we will defeat the ideology but getting rid of Saddam Hussein has of hatred with an ideology that’s hopeful made America and the world a better and and light. And that’s the ideology of free- safer place. dom. And it’s worked. It’s worked in the And now the question is, does this coun- past. Freedom has been able to convert try have the will and the patience to stand enemies into allies. by a new democracy so they can realize I—one of my alltime favorite stories is the benefits of liberty? And when I flew to talk about my relationship with Koizumi. over to Baghdad to see Prime Minister It was enriched, by the way—my relation- Maliki, one of my missions was to deter- ship reached a new level of friendship mine whether or not he had the capacity when we went to Graceland. [Laughter] to lead and to make the tough decisions. Isn’t that interesting? It should be, when I came to the conclusion he does. And you really put that visit in the context of— my other part of the mission was to tell in historical context. the Iraqi people, when America gives her word, America will keep her word. After all, my dad and his dad were both You know, there’s a lot of talk about old enough to be participants in—observers troop levels. Let me just tell you this— of World World II. They were enemies. and I spoke to a reporter today who asked And yet, here his son is getting on the about Illinois National Guard troops going airplane—the son of the Japanese fellow overseas, and my answer to him was this— getting on the airplane with George H.W. it was a long answer, but this is part of Bush’s son, on Air Force One, to fly down the answer: I’m going to make my mind to go to Graceland. And we were talking up based upon the measured judgment of about the peace. That’s what we were talk- the commanders on the ground, and they ing about. We were talking about the issue will make their mind up about what is nec- of North Korea and the need for Japan essary to achieve victory in Iraq. We will and the United States, as well as South not be set—determining troop levels based Korea and China and Russia, to send a upon politics. I will be making the troop clear message to the leader of North Korea: level decisions based upon what General Your behavior is unacceptable.

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I was thanking him for the thousand body. That’s what we believe in America. troops he had in Iraq. It’s pretty remark- That’s the basis of our founding. able, when you think about it, that the Jap- And so the idea of our enemy becoming anese Self-Defense Forces were sent to a friend shouldn’t be a surprise. The les- Iraq to help secure liberty for a new de- sons of World War II and the aftermath mocracy. We talked about how to help peo- should be lessons applied today in helping ple in Afghanistan. We talked about HIV/ us chart our path to victory in the war AIDS on the continent of Africa. We’re against these terrorists. Someday, an elect- talking about how to make the world a ed leader of Iraq, a free Iraq in the heart better place, yet 60 years ago we were at of the Middle East, will be sitting down war. with an American President talking about You’ve got to ask yourself what hap- keeping the peace. And generations of chil- pened. How can that possibly be? Is it just dren will be better off for it. circumstance? My answer is, no. One of Thanks for helping Judy Baar. God bless. my predecessors, Harry S. Truman, be- lieved in the power of liberty to transform NOTE: The President spoke at 12:27 p.m. at an enemy to an ally, and so he worked the Drake Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to see to it that the Japanese were able to Andy McKenna, chairman, Illinois Repub- to adopt a Japanese-style democracy. lican Party; Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chi- Liberty has got the capacity to change cago, IL; former President Saddam Hussein the world. We shouldn’t be surprised when and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq; 12 million people vote in Iraq because I Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA, com- believe—and I hope you do too—that the manding general, Multi-National Force— concept of liberty is universal; that it’s not Iraq; Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of just a concept for Americans or Methodists, Japan; and Chairman Kim Jong Il of North it’s a concept that rests in the soul of every- Korea.

Remarks at Cabot Microelectronics Corporation in Aurora, Illinois July 7, 2006

The President. Listen, thank you. Thanks for this country of ours to be competitive for the tour. The Speaker and I really en- in the future, we’ve got to understand the joyed coming. Bill, appreciate you. nature of the jobs of the future, and these William P. Noglows. It’s an honor. jobs are going to require people who have The President. It is an honor to be here. got math and science skills. This is an innovative company that is a And so one way to make sure this coun- sign of the times that are coming. This try is competitive is to enhance math and is a company that strives upon our country’s science in early grades and encourage peo- greatest asset, which happens to be the ple to take math and science in the later brainpower of our citizens. And what’s years. And there’s all kinds of ways to do amazing as you walk through the labs and that. One is to encourage Advanced Place- meet the people working here, you say, ment programs in our Nation’s schools and ‘‘What’s your degree in?’’ Let me just say, help train 30,000 teachers in Advanced there wasn’t a lot of history majors: physi- Placement. Another is to get people from cists, chemists, Ph.D.s, people with ad- institutions like this to go into our middle vanced degrees. It is clear that in order schools and high schools and say, ‘‘It’s okay

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