[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
[June 18, 2008]
[Pages 846-850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the President's Dinner
June 18, 2008

    Thank you very much. Thank you for the warm welcome. Good evening. I 
appreciate that kind introduction, Jeb, 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; Senator 
John Ensign, the chairman of the

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NRSC, who, by the way, brought his son Michael; Congressman Tom Cole, chairman 
of the NRCC, 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. 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.
    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 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.
    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. [Laughter]
    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.
    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. 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.
    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. We delivered the largest 
tax cuts since Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States. 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.
    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

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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. And 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.
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    * White House correction.
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    Now, 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.
    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.
    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 the Supreme Court, and we won.
    This victory shows how important it is to put good judges on the 
bench. Republicans have a clear view of the role of the 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.
    And 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.
    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,

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we need a President who understands that we must defeat the enemy 
overseas so we do not have to face them here at home, and that man is 
John McCain.
    In Afghanistan, we destroyed Al Qaida 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. 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.
    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 path. 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 
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. 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.
    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 commonsense 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 web site of MoveOn.org today.
    This is change all right, 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. 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.
    This is the final time I'm going to speak to this event. And when I 
ran for President 8 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. 
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

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these years with a strong and loving family, including a fabulous woman 
named Laura Bush. I believe she's the finest 
First Lady in our Nation's history. 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.
    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. 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.

Note: The President spoke at 7:29 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington 
Convention Center. In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Jeb Hensarling, 
chairman, 2008 President's Dinner, and his wife Melissa.