[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 35 (Monday, September 4, 2006)]
[Pages 1544-1549]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Reception for Senatorial Candidate Orrin Hatch in Salt Lake 
City

August 31, 2006

    Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for 
the warm welcome. It's great to be here in Utah. Gosh, I landed at the 
airport last night--a couple of thousand people out there to say hello. 
I just had the honor of speaking to the American Legion; then come to a 
hall filled with great citizens concerned about the reelection of Orrin 
Hatch. I'm telling--here to tell you, this guy is doing a great job and 
you need to send him back to the United States Senate.
    I'm proud to call him friend. And he's an effective person in 
Washington. I don't know if you can tell it this far away from 
Washington, but he's effective. He gets things done. People like to hear 
him; they listen to him; they trust him; they trust his judgment. And so 
do I. And every time I'm around Orrin Hatch, after he gets through 
talking about Utah, he finally gets to the country. [Laughter] In other 
words, he loves Utah, and he loves the citizens of Utah.
    And he married well. We're proud to be here with Elaine and the 
Hatch family. Laura said to me, she said, ``You get over to Utah, and 
you help our friends come back to Washington, DC.'' She sends her love. 
I married well, just like Orrin married well. It helps to have somebody 
you love stand by your side when you're in politics. There's nothing 
better than having a person that you care deeply about and--to share the 
experience. And that's the way the Hatchs have been, and they've served 
a great example for a lot of younger political families. And thank you 
for having the right priorities, faith and your family and your friends.
    And so I've come to say as best as I can and in as plain English as 
I can possibly speak--which sometimes gets a little distorted--
[laughter]--please send Orrin Hatch back to the United States Senate.
    I want to thank the Governor and Mary Kaye for joining us. I 
appreciate you all taking time to come to support the senior Senator 
from the State of Utah. It's smart politics. [Laughter] You're doing a 
fine job, and the people of Utah are proud of you.
    I want to thank the other Senator, Senator Bob Bennett, for his 
courageous leadership and friendship. I want to thank Congressman Rob 
Bishop and Congressman Chris Cannon for joining us today and for serving 
the country. Glad you all are here. Cannon's brother is the chairman of 
the Republican Party. I like to remind the chairman that he's the cuter 
Cannon. [Laughter] Is that okay? No. [Laughter]
    I want to thank all the statehouse folks who've joined us today too. 
I appreciate John Valentine who is the senate president--leader, and 
Greg Curtis, the speaker. I want to thank all of you who are senators 
and representatives. I appreciate you serving your communities. I had--
some of the greatest experiences I've ever had in politics--was working 
with our State senate and our house of representatives in the State of 
Texas. And I hope, Governor, you're having as much fun working with them 
as I had. And if not, just keep telling them what to do, and eventually 
they'll get the message. [Laughter] But thank you all for serving.
    I appreciate all the local folks here. I particularly want to say 
thanks to former Senator

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Jake Garn, who is with us. Senator, good to see you. I appreciate you 
coming. And I see my friend Jim Hansen is with us today. Congressman, 
good to see you, thanks for being here. And I wish LaVar Christensen all 
the best in his run for the congressional seat here in Utah. Good luck 
to you. Appreciate you.
    And most of all, thanks for helping Orrin. It takes a lot of work to 
get this many people in the room. And for those of you who organized 
this event, thank you. I know how hard you worked, and so does he. This 
is an incredibly successful fundraiser, and he deserves it.
    And for those of you involved in grassroots politics, thanks a lot 
for your hard work. Thanks for making sure that Utah was solid in 2004, 
and thank you for making sure that Utah remains solid in 2006. I 
appreciate you putting up the signs. I appreciate you making the phone 
calls. I appreciate you knocking on the doors.
    A lot of times, people kind of forget the efforts you make, but I 
don't, and I know Orrin doesn't. I know the Governor appreciates all the 
grassroots activists. So thanks for the good work you're doing here in 
the great State of Utah.
    These are historic times in which we're living. This generation of 
ours is being challenged, and it's a tough challenge because we're 
facing an enemy that knows no bounds of decency, an enemy that uses 
tactics that are beyond our imagination to achieve certain objectives. 
The President has to make a lot of decisions. Mine is a decisionmaking 
experience. And I just want you to know that a lot of the decisions I 
have made were based upon the experiences of the attacks on September 
the 11th. See, I vowed that day that I would never forget our most 
important duty in Washington, DC, is to protect the American people.
    And Orrin Hatch understands that. He is a strong supporter of our 
strategy to defend the country. That strategy starts with understanding 
this doctrine: One, you can't rationalize with these people; you cannot 
negotiate with these extremists, these terrorists, these people who are 
bound together by an ideology that is hateful. The only way to protect 
the American people is to stay on the offense and defeat them overseas 
so we do not have to face them here at home.
    But it's important to understand the nature of this war. This is 
more than just a military conflict. This is the decisive ideological 
struggle of the 21st century. Some would like to assign this war to 
something as simple as law enforcement. That shows a lack of 
understanding of the nature of the enemy. Law enforcement means we 
wouldn't use all assets at our disposal to protect the American people. 
This is an ideological struggle, and it's the struggle of the century. 
And it's the struggle in which we must prevail for the sake of our 
children and our grandchildren.
    On the one side of this struggle are those who believe in freedom 
and moderation, the right of people to speak, the right of people to 
worship freely--one of the great privileges in America, isn't it? I'm 
proud as the President to be able to say you're equally American if 
you're Jew, Muslim, Christian, agnostic, atheist--we're all equally 
American. And one of the great treasured rights of our society is for 
people to be able to worship freely.
    On this struggle are those who believe in the universality of 
liberty. I personally believe there's an Almighty, and I believe that 
one of the great gifts of that Almighty to every man, woman, and child 
on the face of the Earth is the desire to live in freedom.
    And on the other side of this ideological struggle are those who are 
driven by tyranny and extremism, the right of a self-appointed few to 
impose their fanatical views over the rest of us. And that's the 
struggle. And it's important that our fellow citizens understand that 
struggle.
    We didn't ask for this war, but we will answer history's call with 
confidence. And it's important to have Members of the United States 
Senate who understand the call of history and are willing to stand 
strong in the face of an enemy who is relenting. That's the challenge of 
the 21st century.
    As I told you, we'll stay on the offense. As well, I made it clear 
that if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, 
and you're an enemy of the United States, and you will be held to 
account. In other words, this is a war in which nation-states aren't 
necessarily in the league, as previous wars, in, but they provide safe 
haven

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for. It's important when the President speaks, he means what he says. I 
spoke clearly to the world that if you harbor a terrorist, you're 
equally as guilty as the terrorists. The Taliban didn't take our word 
seriously. And thanks to a fantastic United States military, along with 
allies, we removed the Taliban. We upheld doctrine; we freed 25 million 
Afghan citizens; and the world is better off.
    A lesson of September the 11th is that when this Nation sees a 
threat, we must take it seriously, before it fully materializes. If 
there is a threat, we must recognize that threat and deal with it before 
it comes home to hurt us. You know, the tendency in any difficult 
situation is for some to want to forget the lessons, put the past behind 
and think about a more comforting future. And I can understand that. As 
a matter of fact, part of my job is to assure the American people that 
we understand the threat and that people should go on about their lives. 
Let us worry about it. That's why I've asked to make sure we have all 
the tools necessary to protect the American people--tools like the 
PATRIOT Act, which Orrin helped get passed. Tools like the capacity to 
listen to an Al Qaida phone call. If they're calling into the United 
States, we want to know why so we can protect the American people.
    I saw a threat in Iraq. As a matter of fact, members of both 
political parties in the United States Congress saw the same threat. 
Nations around the world saw the threat. And the threat was a tyrant who 
brutally murdered thousands of his own citizens; a tyrant who had 
invaded his neighbors; a tyrant who had used weapons of mass destruction 
on his people; a tyrant who previous administrations had declared a 
state sponsor of terror; a tyrant who, when the world spoke through the 
United Nations, ignored the world. I think when the world speaks, it 
must mean what it says. And so we gave the tyrant one last chance to 
disclose and disarm, or face serious consequences. It was his choice to 
make. The world is safer, the Iraqi people are better, the cause for 
liberty is more advanced because Saddam Hussein is no longer in power.
    Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. Usama bin Laden has 
made that clear. Zawahiri has made that clear--he's the number-two man 
in Al Qaida. Their mission is to drive us out of Iraq in order to 
achieve safe haven, safe haven from which to launch further attacks 
against moderate elements in the Middle East, safe haven from which to 
plan and plot attacks against the United States of America. They're not 
going to succeed.
    There are powerful forces inside Iraq that to me--causes me to be 
optimistic, starting with the Iraqi people themselves. You know, last 
December seems like an eternity, particularly to those of us in 
political office. But that's not too long in the march of history, is 
it? Last December, 12 million Iraqis, in defiance of terrorists and 
killers and suicide bombers, said loud and clear, ``We want to be free. 
We want a government of, by, and for the people.''
    And since then, under a constitution that is one of the most modern 
constitutions ever in the Middle East, a unity government has formed; a 
government desirous of responding to the people; a government working 
hard to reject the extremists who want to stop the advance of democracy 
and freedom. This is a tough war. It's a tough war because the enemy 
will use any tactic to cause the Iraqis to split apart or any tactic 
trying to drive the United States out of the Middle East. We must 
persevere. We must continue to work with this democratically elected 
Government of Iraq. We must continue to give their army the skills 
necessary to fight. And we must stay on the hunt for terrorist elements, 
which we are doing. We'll succeed in Iraq, and when we do, this country 
will be more secure.
    I understand there's a debate, and, of course, there should be a 
debate. I mean, I welcome debates in our society. One of the great 
things about America is, people can go into the public square and 
express themselves openly without fear of the state. That's what we 
welcome. In these 2006 campaigns, there will be a lot of debate. There 
will be people--good people, decent people, patriotic people--who say, 
``Now is the time to leave Iraq,'' and they are wrong.
    If we leave before Iraq can defend itself and govern itself and 
sustain itself, this will be a key defeat for the United States of 
America in this ideological struggle of the 21st century. If we leave 
before this young

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democracy has its roots firmly in place, so that an example of liberty 
flourishes in a region that's so desperate for something other than a 
society that's caused resentment and hopelessness--if we leave, it will 
embolden the enemy. The enemy has said this is the front in the war on 
terror. That's what they have proclaimed. They'll become even more bold. 
If we leave before the job is done, we'll help create a terrorist state 
in the heart of the Middle East that will have control of huge oil 
reserves. If we leave before the job is done, this country will have no 
credibility. People will look at our words as empty words. People will 
not trust the judgment and the leadership of the United States. 
Reformers will shrink from their deep desire to live in a free society. 
Moderates will wonder if their voice will ever be heard again. If we 
leave before the job will be done, those who sacrificed, those brave 
volunteers who sacrificed in our United States military will have died 
in vain. And as General Abizaid has said, if we leave before the job is 
done--if we leave the streets of Baghdad, the enemy will follow us to 
our own streets in America.
    The stakes are high. I believe the only way we can lose is if we 
leave before the job is done. That's what I believe. I'm making my 
decisions based upon the recommendations of commanders on the ground. I 
want to assure you, polls and focus groups will not decide the Iraq 
policy in the global war on terror. And when we win and when we achieve 
our stated objective, it will be a major defeat for the terrorists in 
this global war on terror. It will strengthen the spread of democracy in 
the Middle East. Imagine what the example of a democratic Iraq, a 
country that has adopted a democracy based upon its history and its 
traditions, imagine the signal it will send to those reformers in Iran 
or those hopeful Palestinians that say, ``Someday, we want a state to 
live in peace with our neighbor Israel.'' When we succeed in Iraq, we'll 
have created a valuable ally in the global war on terror.
    I don't know if you remember this, but recently I had the honor of 
and privilege of taking my friend the Prime Minister of Japan to 
Graceland--Elvis's place. [Laughter] I've never been to Graceland. I 
thought it would be fun to go, but more importantly, he wanted to go. 
See, he was an Elvis buff. [Laughter] I also thought it would send an 
interesting message that I hope helps explain the stakes of this 
ideological struggle we're in. Can you imagine somebody after World War 
II saying, ``I predict one day an American President will be going to a 
singer's home with the Prime Minister of Japan?'' They'd have thought 
the guy was off his rocker. Isn't it interesting that a son of a Navy 
torpedo fighter who fought the Japanese with all his soul and all his 
might, like many of your relatives did, flew down on Air Force One with 
the Prime Minister of the former enemy? I think it is. And I think it's 
an historical lesson that we all can learn something about.
    And by the way, when we were on the plane, guess what we talked 
about--how we can work together to keep the peace. We talked about North 
Korea. We talked about what it meant for Japan to send 1,000 troops into 
Iraq to help this young democracy fight off the ideologs of hate. We 
talked about our HIV/AIDS initiative in Africa. We talked about building 
roads in Afghanistan. I found it incredibly interesting that I was able 
to sit down with the Prime Minister of a former enemy and talk about the 
peace. Something happened between 41's time in the U.S. Navy and 43's 
time talking with the Prime Minister of Japan. Japan adopted a Japanese-
style democracy.
    Liberty has the capacity to transform enemies into allies. One of 
these days, American Presidents will be sitting down with duly elected 
leaders of the Middle East, and they will be talking about keeping the 
peace. And this generation will be able to say, the world was safer for 
our children and grandchildren.
    And this Senator understands the stakes, and I'm proud to serve with 
him. Both of us are honored to be able to say, we're laying the 
foundation of peace for generations to come.
    He also understands this, that the more money you have in your 
pocket, the more you're going to save, invest, and spend, and the better 
our economy does. The classic debate in Washington, DC, really centers 
around this: Who best to spend your money, you or the Government? 
Senator Hatch and I believe you can spend it better than the

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Government, and therefore, we strongly believe--[applause]. And that's 
why, when things got tough, economically tough, we cut the taxes on 
everybody who paid taxes. And it worked. This economy of ours is strong. 
Progrowth economic policies work. And the way to make sure this economy 
remains strong is to make the tax relief we passed a permanent part of 
the Tax Code.
    The unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. Since August of 2005, we've 
created more than 5.5 million new jobs. Productivity is high. The 
economy has grown now for 35 straight months. It has added jobs for 35 
straight--your unemployment rate, Governor, congratulations, is 3.4 
percent. People are working. Productivity is high. That's good--we're a 
productive society. We're constantly trying to improve. Entrepreneurship 
is strong. Minorities are owning businesses. Homeownership has been 
high. I mean, this is a productive period of time for the American 
people. It's because our philosophy works--cutting taxes, trusting 
people with their own money makes sense.
    And you know what else happens? It increases revenues for the 
Treasury. You know, there's been a lot of talk about the deficits, and 
there should be. We're concerned about the deficit. As a matter of fact, 
I said to the Congress, join us in being fiscally responsible about how 
we spend the people's money, and we can cut that deficit. The deficit is 
going to be cut in half, not by 2009 but by 2008, because progrowth 
economic policies work. The best way--and by the way, in Washington, 
you'll hear them say, ``Well, in order to balance the budget, we need to 
raise more revenues.'' But that's not the way it works in Washington. 
Yeah, they'll raise revenues; they'll increase your taxes; but they will 
figure out new ways to spend your money. The best way to balance the 
budget is to keep taxes low and be fiscally responsible with the 
taxpayers' money. And that's what we're doing.
    Orrin said, ``Keep it short.'' I obviously didn't listen very 
carefully. I want to work with him to make sure this country becomes 
less dependent on foreign sources of oil. It's in our economic interests 
that we become less dependent on foreign sources of oil, and it is in 
our national security interests. And so therefore, we will continue to 
spend money wisely on new technologies.
    We're big believers in the nuclear power industry's capacity to make 
sure that we protect the environment with renewable sources of energy. I 
see automobiles being driven by batteries that can drive the first 40 
miles on electricity. I know we got clean coal technologies that will 
eventually work. It's the calling of our time to make sure that we do 
smart things with your money to enable us to diversify away from oil 
from countries, particularly those countries that don't like us. I look 
forward to working with Orrin to make sure that we remain competitive by 
spending money, wisely spending money on research and development both 
at the Federal level and at the private level, which is why we need to 
make permanent the research and development tax credit.
    I look forward to working with Orrin and other Members of the United 
States Senate to once and for all do something about junk lawsuits, 
particularly those that are running good doctors out of practice. People 
worry about the cost of health care. One way to deal with the cost of 
health care is to get rid of these junk lawsuits.
    It's one thing, if you got a problem, to have your day in court. But 
these junk lawsuits--you see, when I first got to Washington, I said, 
``Well, the States can figure it out.'' Governor, you know, you all 
write your own laws. And then I realized the defensive practice of 
medicine costs you, the taxpayers, about $28 billion a year. Docs and 
providers providing unnecessary services in order to defend themselves 
against junk lawsuits cost the Federal Government--because of Medicaid, 
Medicare, and veterans health benefits--about 28 billion. I came to the 
conclusion, therefore, this is a Federal problem that requires a Federal 
solution.
    Congress passed--the House passed a good piece of legislation. I'm 
going to continue to work with Senators Hatch and Bennett to get good 
legislation out of the United States Senate to make sure health care is 
available and affordable for folks all across the United States of 
America.
    And speaking about health care, you did a fine job of training my 
Secretary for Health and Human Services--Leavitt. He's doing a

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great job. He really is. And he said he's down there--somebody said he 
was fishing with him recently. So when you see him again, tell him to 
get back to work. [Laughter]

    Finally, I want to say something about the judiciary. I've had no 
stronger ally than Orrin Hatch in making sure that we appoint judges who 
know the difference between being a judge and a legislator. One of my 
most important responsibilities is to make sure we have people on the 
Federal bench who strictly interpret the Constitution and not use the 
bench from which to legislate. And I had the honor of naming two members 
of the Supreme Court--and I took my time, and I looked at a lot of good 
folks, and I came up with some fine names. And thanks to the support and 
leadership of Senator Orrin Hatch, Chief Justice John Roberts and 
Justice Sam Alito now sit on the bench, and the United States is better 
off for it.

    He just told me, if I didn't end, he's going to make me listen to 
one of his songs. [Laughter] Actually, the man has got some talent. 
[Laughter] And he's a great songwriter but not as good a Senator--as he 
is a Senator. And that's saying a lot. You've got a fine man in the 
United States Senate in Orrin Hatch. He's decent; he's honorable; he 
gets the job done. I thank you for supporting him. Send him back to 
Washington, and Utah and America will benefit--continue to benefit from 
his service.

    I thank you for the warm welcome here. It's been such a joy to come 
back to your beautiful State. May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. at the Grand America Hotel. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., of Utah, and his 
wife, Mary Kaye; Joseph A. Cannon, chairman, Utah Republican Party; 
LaVar Christensen, candidate for Congress in Utah's Second Congressional 
District; former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Usama bin Laden, 
leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; Ayman Al-Zawahiri, 
founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate; 
Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA, combatant commander, U.S. Central Command; 
and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.