[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[October 3, 2000]
[Pages 2011-2012]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Telephone Remarks to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 
Dinner in Jupiter, Florida
October 3, 2000

[The President's remarks are joined in progress.]

    The President. ----on the tarmac at the Miami airport for over an 
hour, and the pilot said we still couldn't take off because of the heavy 
rains and winds. And I really looked forward to coming. I must say, I 
feel a little jinxed. Every time I come to Jupiter or try to, something 
happens. Once before, when I was coming there, you may remember, I tore 
my leg up, and it took me a couple years, but I finally got back there. 
And I hope I can come back and see you.
    I want to thank the Barots for hosting this dinner tonight. I want 
to thank Congressman Wexler for being there and for being such a good 
friend and supporter. I want to thank the candidates who are there, my 
longtime friend Elaine Bloom, Patsy 
Kurth, Jean Elliott Brown. Thank you for running for Congress.
    And I want to tell the young dance troupe how sorry I am I didn't 
get to see you dance. I looked forward to it, and I hope I can see you 
dance either here or in Washington at the earliest possible opportunity. 
But I really thank you for the efforts you made.
    And I want to thank all of you who came out tonight to help our 
House Democrats and our candidates. I feel good about this election, but 
it's a long way between now and election day and we have to work very, 
very hard.
    I think it should be clear from the campaigns that have been run by 
the challengers here in Florida what the stakes are and what the 
differences are. And the only thing I promised myself is that I would do 
everything I could between now and election day to help us win the House 
back and to win as many Senate seats as possible. As you know, I'm 
especially interested in the one in New York.
    But I have learned that 8 years of experience teaches that every 
single Senate seat, every single House seat is profoundly important. We 
have a different economic policy. We have a different crime policy. We 
have a different education policy, a different health care policy, a 
different environmental policy, and we have a very different view about 
what our relationships with other countries around the world ought to 
be, and America's responsibilities beyond our borders. And for all these 
reasons, I think it is imperative that we elect every person we possibly 
can.
    I want to thank those of you who have supported me these last 8 
years. It has helped us do the things that we've done in America and, 
especially, in Florida, from saving the Everglades to moving the 
Southern Command here to trying to help revive the economy in every part 
of the State.
    I want to thank those of you who have come to our country from other 
nations and who have made it a stronger, more diverse, more interesting 
place, far more well prepared for the new century. And I want to urge 
you to do everything you can, to talk to all your friends, people who 
would never come to an event like this, between now and election day, 
about why it's imperative that we keep this economy going and keep 
paying down the debt; why it's important that we invest in the education 
of our children and the health care of our seniors; why it's important 
that we find ways to preserve the environment, even as we grow the 
economy; and why it's important that we make a safer world for our 
children.

[[Page 2012]]

    The Democrats are right on all these issues. And I can tell you that 
there is a huge difference between having the votes of a majority, and 
not. And so every one of these people deserves your support. And again, 
I am profoundly grateful, and I am just sick I'm not there. I really 
looked forward to being there, and I didn't give up until we had sat on 
the tarmac for an hour, and the Air Force said there was no way. And 
they told me it would take over 3 hours to drive there, because the fog 
is so thick in Miami, you can't see your hand before you.
    So I hope you'll give me a raincheck. And I thank you again for 
being so generous and good and supportive to our candidates for the 
House.

Note: The President spoke at 6:30 p.m. by telephone from the Biltmore 
Hotel in Coral Gables, FL. In his remarks, he referred to dinner hosts 
Gopi and Dilip Barot; and State Representative Elaine Bloom, State 
Senator Patsy Kurth, and Jean Elliott Brown, candidates for Florida's 
22d, 15th, and 16th Congressional Districts, respectively. The 
transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary did not include 
the complete opening remarks of the President.