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House or at our Nation’s Capitol. History May God bless you all, and may God shows that they were on cell phones, and bless America. they told their loved ones they loved them. Some of the last words they said were NOTE: The President spoke at 2:15 p.m. in ‘‘love.’’ They said a prayer. One guy said, the Pan American Center at ‘‘Let’s roll.’’ And they served something State University. In his remarks, he referred greater than themselves in life. They set to Mary Skeen, wife of Representative Joe an example for all of us here in America. Skeen; Jay Gogue, president, New Mexico No, out of the evil done to America is State University; and President Vladimir going to come incredible good, because this Putin of Russia. The Office of the Press Sec- is the most compassionate, decent, strong retary also released a Spanish language tran- nation on the face of the Earth. script of these remarks.

Remarks at a Dinner for Congressional Candidate Steve Pearce in Las Cruces August 24, 2002

Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot. tant for our country that good people ‘‘Congressman,’’ thank you. [Laughter] I’m choose to serve and that the people back proud to come and ask for the people of good people. And we’re backing a good this good district in this important State man in Steve Pearce to be the next Con- to vote for Steve Pearce to be the next gressman. Congressman. He’s a man And he’s going to be replacing a good of good judgment. When we were walking man. I am proud of Joe Skeen. I am proud in, he said, ‘‘A lot of folks wish Laura were of his courage. I appreciate you, Joe. I want here.’’ [Laughter] And I told him, well, he to thank Joe and Mary for their service, drew the short straw. [Laughter] 22 years of service to this district. He has She is doing great, by the way. She done a fine job, and we’re going to miss was—actually, her grandmother and her him. mom grew up right down the road from I also was pleased today, earlier today, here, right outside of El Paso. And she to be in the presence of another great New was born and raised in Midland, which is Mexican citizen, and that is your senior right across the boundary, as you know. Senator, . Pete had to make When I married her, she was a public up his mind whether he wanted to hear school librarian. She didn’t particularly care me speak twice or go fishing. [Laughter] about politics or politicians, for that matter. He chose the right course. [Laughter] He’s [Laughter] And here she is as the First fishing. [Laughter] Lady. And what a great job she has done. I want to thank very much the Lieuten- I’m real proud of her. And in a couple ant Governor, Walter Bradley, for being of hours, I’m going to see her in Crawford, here today. Walter, thank you for coming, Texas. [Laughter] and thank you for your service. Thank you, I appreciate so very much Cynthia Walter. Pearce. Both Steve and I married above I’m proud to be in the presence of the ourselves. [Laughter] Cynthia is a great next Governor of the State of New Mexico, lady. I appreciate your willingness to go John Sanchez. I appreciate you, John. He’s to Washington. It’s important. It’s impor- got the next first lady with him, Debra.

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Thanks for coming, Debra. I appreciate you And that starts with having somebody un- being here. John’s going to win, and he’s derstand that when you’re talking about tax- going to make a big difference for the peo- payers’ money, he realizes it’s not the Gov- ple of New Mexico, a positive influence. ernment’s money. When we’re talking It’s a—John’s got a great story. I love his about taxpayers’ money, it is the people’s spirit, and I love his attitude. money. And you’ve always got to remember I also appreciate Rob Perry, the next at- that in Washington, DC. torney general of the State of New Mexico. And that’s important because we cut the I had the honor of just—who they call ‘‘just taxes for the people. See, Steve and I un- call me Sharon.’’ Where are you, Sharon? derstand this concept, that if somebody has Thank you, Sharon. Good luck. Sharon is more money, they’re going to demand a going to be the secretary of state of New good or a service. And if they demand a Mexico. good or a service, somebody is going to I want to thank the party chairman for provide that good or service. And when being here. John, thank you for coming. somebody does, it’s more likely somebody I want to thank all the grassroots activists is going to find work. And when you’ve who are here. You see, you can’t win unless got a slowdown in your economy—as a you get people who are willing to put up matter of fact, it was more than a slowdown the signs—and it looked like they did a when I came into office; it was a flat-out pretty darn good job, Steve, when I came recession—it’s best to understand that in today—[laughter]—and do the mailings when people have more money, it provides and go to the coffee shops all around the wind in the sails of our economic vitality. State of New Mexico and tell the people And one of the issues we have, though, what a great slate we’ve got—look the peo- in Washington is this—is that because of ple in the eye and tell them the values a quirk in the Senate rules, the tax relief that these people bring to the office when we provided—not only tax relief for small they win. That’s important. So not only do businesses and hard-working people but tax I want to thank you for coming tonight, relief on marriages and getting rid of the but I want to thank you very much for death tax, by the way, which is vital for what you’re fixing to do, and that is to families here in New Mexico—but that tax work hard. Anytime you find a good one, relief goes away after 10 years. And so, you’ve got to get out and help, and we for the sake of economic vitality, so people need your help. can plan, for the sake of understanding I also want to thank two friends of mine whose money it is that we’re talking about, who have made a big difference in New I need somebody in Congress who will join Mexico, New Mexico politics, and the life me in making sure the tax cuts are perma- of New Mexico politics, and that’s Colin nent. And that is Steve Pearce. and Kay McMillan and Ken and Kathy I appreciate Steve’s commonsense ap- Zangara. Thank you all for coming. I saw proach to issues. I’m not surprised. After the Zangaras the other day over there in all, there’s a lot of commonsense people Crawford, and they said, ‘‘I’m going to see here in this part of the world, and he’s you in Las Cruces.’’ I said, ‘‘Okay.’’ And from Hobbs. And I know a little something here they are. And they’re working hard, about Hobbs—it’s right around the corner and so are you all. And it’s important. It’s from Jal. [Laughter] People there have got important. This election is an important common sense. They see a problem, and election because we’ve got a lot to accom- they try and solve it. plish in Washington, DC. I need good, Let me give you one example of what solid allies when it comes to making our I’m talking about, something I talked about Nation the very best it can be. when I was in Oregon the other day, and

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that is, we’ve got a problem with our for- technologies to conserve energy, and we’ve ests. We’ve got a problem with an impor- got to do things about renewable energy. tant national treasure. You see, there has In other words, we’ve got to do a better been an attitude that if you just leave job of protecting the resources we have things be, the forests will be more healthy. by being wiser about how we use them. And we’re learning—we’re paying a price But we’ve got to find more energy here now for that kind of attitude. By letting at home. For the sake of job security and things be, kindling piles up. And then light- for the sake of national security, we need ning will strike, and all of a sudden we’ve to become less dependent on foreign got these massive fires that are destroying sources of power. a national treasure. We need that kind of voice in Wash- Steve proposed legislation that would en- ington. We need somebody to bring some courage thinning so that we would make common sense up there. We need some- the forests more healthy and more long body who understands what I understand, lived. That’s the kind of commonsense ap- that education has got to be a top priority proach we need in Washington, DC. For of this Nation and of this State. Now look, the sake of our national heritage, for the I want you all to understand, I haven’t for- sake of our forests, let’s bring some com- got where I came from. I fully trust the mon sense to conservation/environmental local people to chart the path for excellence policy. in the public school system. In essence, I appreciate a man who understands what we have done is, we’re passing power farming and ranching. And that’s really im- out of Washington. One size doesn’t fit all portant in Washington, DC. You see, one in Washington, DC. But it’s important to of the great advantages we have as a nation have people up there who understand that is that we provide more food to our people we’ve got to set high expectations for our than we need. Imagine if it were the other children, to challenge what I call the soft way around. Imagine if we were going hat bigotry of low expectations. in hand around the world asking for food. We’ve got to face the fact that there It would put us in a different national secu- are some districts around the country—and rity position. No, we need commonsense probably some here in New Mexico— farm and ranch policy. We need to make where some assume that certain children sure that not only do we have less regula- can’t learn, particularly those whose parents tion but that we’ve got to sell our products. don’t speak English as a first language, and You see, there’s nothing better for our therefore, the system just shuffles them cattlemen than to be selling that beef through. That’s unacceptable to me; that’s around the world. If you’re worried about unacceptable to Steve. price, the best way to encourage high And that’s why I’ve insisted that if you price—prices so people can make a living receive Federal money, you’ve got to show and stay on the farm or the ranch—is to us whether or not children are learning to not only feed ourselves but to feed the read and write and add and subtract. You world. I intend to use agricultural policy see, if you believe every child can learn, as the cornerstone of good economic policy then you’re not afraid to measure; you’re for the United States of America. not afraid to hold people to account; you’re We need people up there who under- not afraid to ask that question: Can our stand energy. We don’t have an energy children read, and can they write? And if plan. I’m waiting for the Congress to finally they can, there’s plenty of praise for our get me an energy plan, one that is based teachers. And for those of you who teach upon common sense, one that says, of or are involved with public schools, I thank course, we can do a better job of using you from the bottom of my heart. But

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we’ve got to use the accountability system a responsibility, it ought to be able to do to catch the problems early and to solve its job. And my concern, having looked the problems early, before it is too late. carefully at the situation, is that there’s over This business about just quitting on kids 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have has got to end. No child in America should something to do with the homeland secu- be left behind. rity. They’re scattered everywhere. It’s aw- And I appreciate Steve’s service in the fully hard to create a culture and set pri- Armed Forces. And that’s important knowl- ority when they’re scattered about. edge to have in Washington, DC, because And so I said to the Congress, ‘‘Why we’re at war, and we’re in a tough struggle. don’t you create a Department of Home- We’re in a tough struggle against a deter- land Security, so that we can better enforce mined enemy. They’re nothing but a bunch our borders?’’ Listen, we need to know of coldblooded killers, is how I define who’s coming in, what they’re bringing in, them. These are people who truly hate. and if they’re staying, and if they’re not— They hate what we stand for, particularly or if they’re leaving, when they’re supposed because we love what we stand for. We to be leaving. We need to do a better job love freedom. They hate us because we of coordinating a first-responder strategy love freedom. We love the fact that people with our brave police and sheriffs depart- are able to worship the Almighty in a free ments and EMS teams and fire teams society. They have hijacked a great religion around the country. We need to do a better to profess their hate. See, they don’t like job of understanding the effects of weapons the idea of people being able to express of mass destruction and being able to re- themselves freely. spond to those threats. We’ve got to have And so long as we hold those values the capacity to gather intelligence, analyze dear, they will come after us. That’s just intelligence, assess our vulnerabilities, and the way—just the way they are. And so deal with them. And that’s what this new our biggest job—and I say ‘‘our’’; it’s a col- Homeland Department is going to do. lective effort, but a lot of it starts in Wash- I made good progress in the House. I ington, DC—is to secure the homeland. It’s want to thank Joe for his vote. It’s got to do everything we can to make sure that a little problem in the Senate because the the good people of this country don’t suffer Senate appears to be more worried about what happened on September the 11th. special interests in Washington, DC, as op- And we’re making some progress; we posed to the interests of the American peo- really are. There’s a lot of hard-working ple. They want to micromanage the De- folks, folks at the Federal level and at the partment. State level and at the local level, who are I’ll give you an example. We’ve got, as working hour after hour to run down any you know as well as anybody else—we’ve hint, any lead, and disrupting any possible got agencies on our border. They wear dif- plans to hit America. ferent uniforms. They’ve got different strat- I’ve made a proposal there in Wash- egies sometimes. They’ve got a stovepipe- ington. I want to explain to you right quick type organization. For the sake of our about why I did so. I said, ‘‘We need to homeland security, I need the ability to create a new Department of Homeland Se- be able to put the right people at the right curity.’’ When I first said that, a couple time at the right place, in order to protect of my buddies in Texas said, ‘‘I thought America. We’ve got to be able to have you ran on the platform that you weren’t interoperability between our agencies, be- going to make Government bigger.’’ I said, tween Customs and the INS and the Bor- ‘‘That’s true; that’s true, but I’d definitely der Patrol, for the sake of the security. like to make it better.’’ And when we have I will not accept a bill from the Senate

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which ties our hands and does not let us world. Oh, you hear some of them squawk- do the job you want us to do to protect ing about it up there, but I think most our homeland. Americans understand what’s at stake. They But the best way to make sure we secure remember the horrors of September the the homeland is to get the enemy and hunt 11th. They know that there is a determined them down, one by one. And that’s what enemy. They know that we are never going we’re going to have to do. It’s a different to abandon the values which we hold dear, kind of strategy because it’s a different kind and so long as we hold those values dear, of war. In the old days there was infantry they may try and come and get us. and tanks and formations and fleets. That’s I laid out some doctrine early in this not the kind of war we’re facing right now. conflict—two basic doctrine: one said that We’re facing a war in which the com- if you harbor a terrorist, you’re just as manders hide in a cave and send youngsters guilty as the terrorist; if you feed them to their suicidal death. They blend in big or clothe them or hide them, you’re guilty. cities; they hide. But we’ve got them on And the Taliban found out exactly what the run. We’re flushing them out one by we meant. Now, I do want you to tell your one, and we’re making pretty good children—and I say this every chance I progress. We really are. We’ve hauled in get—that your great Nation, in upholding over a couple thousand of them, and a like that doctrine, went into Afghanistan not to number wasn’t as lucky. They met their conquer anybody but to liberate people. fate. And that’s what we did. We got young girls, But there’s more of them out there. many young girls, going to school for the There’s more of them out there, and we’re first time, thanks to the United States of learning who they are. And they’re just not America. going to be able to hide from us because, And we’re still there. We’re there to help one, we’ve got a great military, and two, promote democracy, a value which we hold we put a vast coalition together of people dear. And we’re there to hunt down Al who understand what’s at stake. Qaida. Anytime they bunch up or anytime I submitted to the Congress a significant we find them, we’ve got fantastic troops increase in our defense budget. I want to on the ground, hunting them down, one explain to you why I did. It’s significant— person at a time. it’s the most significant since Ronald That doctrine pertains to other countries, Reagan was the President. And I did so of course, and the idea is, once you get because I wanted to send two messages them flushed out and get them on the run, to our country and to everybody else, and there ought to be no place for them to that is, one, anytime we put one of our light, no safe haven, no possible place to troops in harm’s way, they must have the train. So you need to know your Govern- best equipment and the best pay and the ment is doing everything we can to con- best possible training. We owe it to our tinue to remind other countries that we soldiers—[applause]—we owe it to our expect them to be with us or with the troops, and as importantly, we owe it to enemy. our troops’ families. And secondly, the in- Recently, a couple of months ago, the crease in the defense spending should send Philippines had a problem there with what a clear message to friend and foe alike that they call the Abu Sayyaf * group. They had the United States of America is a deter- kidnaped two Americans, the Burnhams, mined and patient nation, that we will do from Kansas. They were Al Qaida-related, whatever it takes to defend our freedom. and the Philippine Government, thanks to No matter how long it takes, we’re going to do what it takes to bring peace to the * White House correction.

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our training, went and got the head of the is file a lawsuit—[laughter]—that we Abu Sayyaf. * Slowly but surely, we’re ac- weren’t tough, that we didn’t have char- complishing our mission. And we will not acter. That’s what they must have thought. stop until we finish. They’re learning otherwise. There’s a long way to go. We’ve got a You see, this is a nation which knows lot of work to do, and sometimes you’ll what I know, that out of the evil done see the work on your TVs, and sometimes to our country is going to come some good, you won’t. It creates a certain sense of anx- not only a more peaceful world but a more iety amongst the speculators and the pun- compassionate country, a country in which dits, but that’s okay. It’s a new kind of everybody understands that the American war. We’re steady; we’re patient, and we’re Dream is meant for them—everybody. My making progress, because we understand belief is that one of—when one suffers, the stakes, and the stakes are high. The all of us suffers. I also know there’s limita- stakes are these: whether or not our chil- tions on Government, that Government can dren can grow up in a free and peaceful hand out money. We do a pretty good job world. Those are the stakes, and that’s why of it sometimes, but what Government can- I talk about making sure that the world’s not do is affect the human spirit. It can’t worst leaders aren’t able to develop and put hope in people’s hearts. It can’t put harbor the world’s worst weapons. a sense of purpose in people’s lives. Gov- Now listen, I’ve got a lot of tools at my ernment is not love. Love comes when our disposal, and I’m a patient, patient man. fellow Americans put their arms around the But I understand freedom, and I under- shoulder of somebody who hurts, and says, stand history has put the spotlight on this ‘‘I love you. I love you. What can I do country. And so long as I’m the President, to help you?’’ this country isn’t going to blink; we’re going People say, ‘‘I’d like to join the war on to lead. And I look forward to having terror,’’ or, ‘‘What can I do to make my Steve’s support in this effort. country a better place?’’ And my answer I want you to know that I believe—I is, love your neighbor just like you’d like firmly believe that by leading this coalition to be loved yourself. Mentor a child. Have and by remaining strong and diligent and a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop. focused, that we can achieve peace. It’s Be willing to teach people values. Make very important for you to tell the young- a difference in one person’s life. Oh, I sters who are trying to figure out what all know that that doesn’t seem huge. One this means that the goal in this Nation is person can’t do everything, but one person a peaceful world. That’s what I hope. can do something. One person can be that Sometimes it may not look like we’re get- somebody who’s making a difference in a ting there, but that is where we’re headed, child’s life or a neighbor’s life. and that’s what I believe we can accom- And that’s happening in America; it really plish. Not only do I believe we can achieve is. People are beginning to understand. peace here, but I believe we can achieve They’ve taken a step back, and they’ve said, peace in other troubled areas. I firmly be- ‘‘What is this all about? What does it mean lieve that if we remain strong on terror to be an American?’’ I believe Americans and promote values of human dignity and from all walks of life—every political party, the values of freedom, that we can achieve even those that can’t stand politics— un- peace in the Middle East or in South Asia. derstand that patriotism means serving The enemy must have not known who something greater than just yourself. they were hitting. They thought that we The enemy hit us. They didn’t know who were a selfish nation, you know, that we they were hitting. They’re paying a terrible were so materialistic that all we would do price and will continue to do so. But the

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dividend of the tragedy is going to be a lead to a changed life, and out of our stronger America. And by ‘‘stronger Amer- churches or synagogues or mosques come ica,’’ I mean a more hopeful America, a the capacity to change a person’s heart, to decent America, an America where any- make America a better and more decent body, regardless of their background, place. comes. They will have the opportunities The period of responsibility is coming. that we have had. I can see it all across our country. People There’s addiction in our society. There’s have assumed that new patriotism. It’s not hopelessness in our society. There’s father- just rooting for a military. It is being an less in our society. But all those problems active citizen, a participant in making that may seem insurmountable can be America a genuinely decent place. And per- solved one citizen at a time. And so my haps the most poignant example of that call to our country is, be that citizen mak- came on Flight 93. Citizens were flying ing a difference in somebody’s life. across the country, you may remember. I first started running for politics in— They had heard that the airplane was going well, the second time I ran for—the first to be a weapon. They said to their loved time I didn’t do so good—[laughter]—in ones, ‘‘I love you. I love you.’’ They said Midland. Came in second in a two-man a prayer. One guy said, ‘‘Let’s roll.’’ They race. [Laughter] We’ve got some friends drove the plane in the ground to serve from Lubbock here. They may remember something greater than themselves in life. that. [Laughter] The second time I ran, No, out of the evil done to America is I said, ‘‘I hope to be a part of a cultural going to come incredible good, because this change in America. I hope that I can, in is the finest country, with the finest people, some small way, influence a shift in the on the face of the Earth. culture from one that had said, ‘If it feels God bless. good, just go ahead and do it, and if you’ve got a problem, blame somebody else for NOTE: The President spoke at 5:15 p.m. in your problems.’ ’’ See, my hope was that the San Andres Ballroom at the Las Cruces our society would evolve toward a period Hilton. In his remarks, he referred to Jenna in which all of us are responsible for the Welch, mother of First Lady Laura Bush; decisions we make in life, that if you’re Cynthia Pearce, wife of candidate Steve a mom or a dad, your most important job Pearce; Mary Skeen, wife of Representative and your most important responsibility is Joe Skeen; New Mexico gubernatorial can- to love your children with all your heart didate John Sanchez, and his wife, Debra; and all your soul, that if you’re a citizen Rob Perry, candidate for New Mexico State of Las Cruces, New Mexico, or Hobbs, attorney general; Sharon Clahchischilliage, New Mexico, you have a responsibility to candidate for New Mexico secretary of state; ensure that your school system is the best John Dendahl, chairman, Republican Party it can possibly be, to support your teachers, of New Mexico; Ken Zangara, Bernalillo to work in your community in any way it County chairman, Republican Party of New takes to make a difference in somebody’s Mexico, and his wife, Kathy; and Colin Mc- life. Millan, chairman, New Mexico’s Bush for I’m a big proponent of what I call the President 2000 campaign, and his wife, Kay. Faith-Based Initiative, because I under- Mr. Pearce was a candidate for New Mexico’s stand that many times a changed heart will Second Congressional District.

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