Text 3290, 189 rader
Skriven 2006-09-28 23:32:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060928e) for Thu, 2006 Sep 28
====================================================

===========================================================================
Remarks by the First Lady at Mike Whalen for Congress and Republican Party
of Iowa Breakfast
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
September 28, 2006

Remarks by the First Lady at Mike Whalen for Congress and Republican Party
of Iowa Breakfast
RiverCenter Adler Theatre
Davenport, Iowa



10:13 A.M. CDT

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, everybody. Thank you for the very warm welcome. I'm
thrilled to be here. I told Mike on the way in that when you're in politics
in the United States, presidential politics, you spend a lot of time in
Iowa. (Laughter.) And it's a great place to spend a lot of time, because
people here are kind, they're solid, and represent, really, the very, very
best characteristics of America, the best, strongest parts of American
character. And so it's a really great place to start presidential races.

And I told Mike we were here in 1980 for George's dad. We were here for
Reagan, President Reagan and Vice President Bush in '80, and then in '84
again. And then, of course, we came back when George started to run, and I
guess we started coming here probably in '99 before that 2000 race, and
were back here again, of course, in 2004.

And I want to thank everybody in this state for your warmth, for your
kindness. When you campaign here, even if you meet people who are not for
you, they're always kind and polite and civil, and take their
responsibility as citizens of the United States very seriously, to hear
what every candidate says, to treat every candidate with respect. And I
appreciate that very, very much. Thank you all very much for that.
(Applause.)

And I want to recognize Kim Whalen, Mike's wife. Just like Mike said, when
your spouse is in politics, you've involved whether you want to be or not.
But we know that the most successful candidates and the most successful
office holders are the ones whose families support them, who are there with
them the whole time. And I want to thank Kim and Mike's children very much
for supporting their husband and dad. Thanks a lot for that. (Applause.)

And as Mike told us, Kim and Mike were partners even before they were
married, when Mike hired Kim to be the bookkeeper for his new business. In
1978, Mike had just graduated from Harvard Law School and had taken the bar
exam. Two days after the bar exam, he opened a restaurant in Davenport
along Interstate 80, and ever since, Mike has been a successful
restaurateur. Even when he's in a business meeting, Mike will apparently
pick up the coffeepot and begin pouring for everyone without thinking about
it. So when Mike says he's committed to serving the people of Iowa, he
really means it. (Laughter.)

I'm delighted to be with you today to support Mike Whalen's campaign for
the United States Congress. A native Iowan, Mike cares deeply about the
people of this state, and in Washington, he'll be a powerful advocate for
the 1st district. Mike brings to the House the principles of efficiency and
accountability that have defined his success in a business career. He'll
ensure that Iowa's tax dollars are spent wisely and responsibly. Mike
supports the Presidential Line Item Veto, which will help eliminate
unnecessary spending from the federal budget.

And in the House, Mike will support President Bush's tax cuts. (Applause.)
These tax cuts have fueled our economy, and they've helped bring 5.7
million new jobs since 2003. And that means 5.7 million more Americans wake
up every morning with the dignity and the sense of purpose that comes with
a job.

And in Iowa, the unemployment rate is a low 3.7 percent. This is a
testament to the hard-working people of your state, and to the
effectiveness of tax cuts to stimulate the economy. I want to congratulate
each of you in Iowa.

There are few people more dedicated to creating jobs in Iowa than Mike.
Mike learned the value of having a job when he was 14 and employed as an
entry-level salad bar worker at a local restaurant. I just told you about
how Mike opened his own restaurant after he graduated from law school. That
one restaurant has grown into a full business -- Heart of America, Inc. --
which now operates 18 restaurants, and nine hotels and motels in Iowa in
five other states.

These enterprises promote Iowa cooking, and Mike's best-known restaurant,
the Iowa Machine Shed, has introduced the public to new methods of serving
pork, turkey and other Iowa agricultural products, boosting your state's
farming industry.

Mike has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine, and received
the Entrepreneurial Success Award from the U.S. Small Business
Administration, in recognition of how in good economic times and bad,
Mike's dedication and skill have sustained his business and created
thousands of jobs for Iowans.

Offering young people the hope of good employment is one of the most
important things we can do for our children. Another way we can help our
young people is by steering them away from dangerous behaviors and guiding
them toward the knowledge and the self-respect they need to build
successful lives.

In his 2005 State of the Union address, President Bush announced the
Helping America's Youth initiative, and he asked me to lead it. Helping
young people learn to make wise decisions for their lives is at the heart
of Helping America's Youth.

Since the President announced the initiative, I've traveled to many parts
of our country, visiting with young people and with the adults who are so
important to their lives. I've been to schools and to after-school
programs. I've visited fatherhood initiatives. I've met with mentors and
Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I've visited gang intervention programs,
where I've met with young people who are leaving gangs and finding jobs.

All of these visits led to the White House Conference on Helping America's
Youth last October, and then to two regional conferences since -- one in
Indianapolis and one in Denver. At the conference, we introduced an online,
interactive Community Guide. The guide helps concerned adults learn more
about the problems facing youth in their own communities, and what local
resources are available to help address these problems. The guide is
available on the Helping America's Youth website, which is
www.helpingamericasyouth.gov -- that's g-o-v. I encourage you to look at
the website and to use these resources here in your own communities.

Mike Whalen has a strong record of commitment to young people. He launched
a Christian radio station to provide Iowa youth with music that carries a
positive, encouraging message. And four years ago, Mike and Kim co-founded
the

Wildwood Hills Ranch in St. Charles, Iowa. Wildwood Hills serves abused and
needy youth from across your state, offering summer camps that allow
children to explore the outdoors and develop healthy new interests like
swimming and horseback riding. Young people build character, leadership
skills and self-confidence in a supportive, faith-based environment. They
spend time with mentors and counselors who give the campers help and
encouragement. So thank you, Kim and Mike, for this very important work.
(Applause.)

We all know, though, that the well-being of young people in Iowa and
throughout our country ultimately depends on our government's ability to
protect them, by defeating terrorism and increasing liberty abroad.

In Congress, Mike will be a champion of the men and women of the United
States military. (Applause.) And thanks to our troops, the Iraqi people are
now free from the oppression of Saddam Hussein and are working to build a
democratic future for their country. President Bush has pledged that the
American people will stand with them as they build their democracy.

And in Afghanistan, women and girls can now be educated. It's hard for us
to imagine a country that would prohibit half of its citizens from being
educated. But now little girls are in school all over Afghanistan.

All of us are proud of the young men and women who are deployed around the
world, defending our country overseas, to make sure that our families are
kept safe here in the United States. (Applause.)

Mike's dedication to the people of Iowa and his achievements remind us of
why he must be elected to the United States Congress. Mike understands that
America faces challenges too important to be reduced to just politics.

President Bush has an ambitious agenda for the rest of his time in
Washington, and he takes his responsibility to the American people very
seriously.

Ending our dependence on foreign oil, reforming our immigration system,
rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and keeping our country safe from terrorism are
not easy tasks, but they're absolutely vital goals. To accomplish them, we
must have serious national conversations, conducted with civility and
respect. And Mike Whalen will be a thoughtful, positive and powerful part
of that dialogue. (Applause.)

This is just one reason why Mike is a wonderful leader for Iowa. When you
look through his distinguished record of public service, you'll see many,
many more.

Thank you all very much for coming out to support Mike. Thank you for your
generous support for his election. I urge you to redouble your efforts
between now and November to make sure Mike Whalen is elected to the United
States Congress.

Thank you all very much. (Applause.)

END 10:25 A.M. CDT
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060928-14.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)