    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 2, 2008]
    [Pages 1170-1171]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Satellite Remarks to the Republican National Convention
    September 2, 2008

        Thank you, Laura, and good evening. As you
    know, my duties have me here in Washington tonight to oversee the
    Federal Government's efforts to help citizens recover from Hurricane
    Gustav. We are thankful that the damage in New Orleans and across the
    Gulf Coast was less than many had feared.
        I commend the Governors of Alabama,
    Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for their
    sure-handed response and seamless coordination with the Federal
    Government. I thank all the wonderful volunteers who stepped forward to
    help their brothers and sisters in need. We know that there is still
    risk even after the storm has passed, so I ask citizens across the
    region to listen closely to local officials and follow their
    instructions before returning to their homes. All of us are keeping the
    people of the Gulf Coast in our thoughts and our prayers.
        As you gather tonight in St. Paul, I want to share some thoughts
    about our nominee, a great American, and the next President of the
    United States, John McCain.
        Before I do so, I want to say hello to two
    people in the hall with you tonight. I
    could have no finer examples of character, decency, and integrity than
    my mom and dad. And I love you a lot.
        I know what it takes to be President. In these past 8 years, I've
    sat at the Resolute desk and reviewed the daily intelligence briefings,
    the threat assessments, and the reports from our commanders on the
    frontlines. I've stood in the ruins of buildings knocked down by killers
    and promised the survivors I would never let them down. I know the hard
    choices that fall solely to a President. John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready
    to lead this Nation.
        From the day of his commissioning, John McCain was a respected naval officer who made decisions on
    which the lives of others depended. As an elected public servant, he
    earned the respect of colleagues in both parties as a man to follow when
    there's a tough call to make.
        John McCain's life is a story of service
    above self. Forty years ago, in an enemy prison camp, Lieutenant
    Commander McCain was offered release ahead of others who had been held
    longer. His wounds were so severe that anyone would have understood if
    he'd accepted; John refused. For that selfless decision, he suffered
    nearly 5 more years of beatings and isolation. When he was released, his
    arms had been broken, but not his honor.
        Fellow citizens, if the Hanoi Hilton could not break John
    McCain's resolve to do what is best for his
    country, you can be sure the angry left never will.
        As the father
    of seven sons and daughters, John has the heart of a
    protector. He and his wonderful wife
    Cindy are adoptive parents. John is a leader know--who knows that human
    life is fragile, that human life is precious, that human life must be
    defended.
        We have seen John McCain's commitment to
    principle in our Nation's Capital. John is a steadfast opponent of
    wasteful spending. As President, he will stand up to the high-tax crowd
    in Congress and make the tax relief permanent. He will invest in the
    energy technologies of tomorrow and lift the ban on drilling for
    America's offshore oil today.
        John is an independent man who thinks for
    himself. He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I
    know. [Laughter] No matter what the issue, this man is honest and speaks
    straight from the heart.
        Last year, John McCain's independence and
    character helped change history. The Democrats had taken control of
    Congress and were threatening to cut off funds for

    [[Page 1171]]

    our troops. In the face of calls for retreat, I ordered a surge of
    forces into Iraq. Many in Congress said it had no chance of working. Yet
    one Senator above all had faith in our troops and the importance of
    their mission, and that was John McCain. Some told him that his early
    and consistent call for more troops would put his Presidential campaign
    at risk. He told them he would rather lose an election than see his
    country lose a war. That is the kind of courage and vision we need in
    our next Commander in Chief.
        My fellow citizens, we live in a dangerous world, and we need a
    President who understands the lessons of September the 11th, 2001: that
    to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before
    they happen, and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John
    McCain.
        When he takes office next January, John will
    have an outstanding leader at his side. America will have a strong and
    principled Vice President in the Governor of the great State of Alaska,
    Sarah Palin.
        In the time the Oval Office has been in my trust, I've kept near my
    desk reminders of America's character, including a painting of a west
    Texas mountain lit by the morning sun. It reminds me that Americans have
    always lived on the sunrise side of the mountain. We are a nation that
    looks to the new day with confidence and optimism. And I'm optimistic
    about our future because I believe in the goodness and wisdom of the
    American people. I am optimistic because I have faith in freedom's power
    to lift up all of God's children and lead this world to a future of
    peace.
        And I'm optimistic about something else: When the debates have ended
    and all the ads have run and it is time to vote, Americans will look
    closely at the judgment, the experience, and the policies of the
    candidates, and they will cast their ballots for the McCain-Palin ticket.
        While I am not with you in the Twin Cities on this wonderful night
    for our party, with Laura Bush speaking, you have
    clearly traded up. [Laughter] I am so proud the American people have
    come to know her gracious presence, her determined spirit, and her
    loving heart. Laura has been a fantastic First Lady.
        Thank you, Laura. And thanks to all of you in
    the hall tonight. God bless you, and God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke by satellite at 9:54 p.m. from the Cross Hall
    at the White House to convention participants in St. Paul, MN. In his
    remarks, he referred to Gov. Robert R. Riley of Alabama; Gov. Piyush
    ``Bobby'' Jindal of Louisiana; Gov. Haley R. Barbour of Mississippi; and
    Gov. J. Richard Perry of Texas. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.