[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 44 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[Pages 1445-1446]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Arrival in Columbia, South Carolina

November 2, 2007

    The President. I want to thank the Governor and the Senators and 
Members of Congress for joining me.
    I first do want to say how concerned Laura and I are for the 
families who lost loved ones at the fire in Ocean Isle Beach, North 
Carolina. I know people are hurting when they think about the seven 
youngsters who had so much hope in their lives and had their life taken 
during that fire. I hope the families and loved ones can take comfort 
that in this great State and around the Nation, there's a lot of people 
praying for them.
    I'm proud to stand with Senator Lindsey Graham. I've gotten to know 
him well. He deserves to be reelected to the United States Senate from 
South Carolina. He's tough; he is smart; he bases his votes on 
conservative principles. And Senator Graham, I'm proud to call you 
friend, and I believe the people of South Carolina benefit from your 
leadership as the Senator from this important State.
    Lindsey Graham understands that low taxes work when it comes to 
growing this economy. Earlier this week, we had the reports that 
progrowth economic policies that Senator Graham supports are making a 
difference for America. After all, the third quarter numbers were 
strong. Today we had further good news, that keeping taxes low works. 
This economy added 166,000 new jobs during the month of October, which 
is now our 50th consecutive month of uninterrupted job growth--the 
longest in the Nation's history. I appreciate your strong support for 
keeping taxes low on the working people in South Carolina, Senator.

[[Page 1446]]

    Lindsey Graham is no better friend to the United States military and 
to our veterans. I'm looking forward to going to Fort Jackson today. It 
is fitting that I'm going with Senator Lindsey Graham. He cares deeply 
about those who volunteered to serve our Nation, and he's a strong 
supporter of the Nation's veterans.
    And finally, I appreciate his work on the Judiciary Committee in the 
United States Senate. I told the people of South Carolina if I became 
the President of the United States that I would put people on the bench 
who would strictly interpret the Constitution and not legislate from the 
bench. I've kept that pledge. And I've had no stronger supporter in the 
United States Senate than Lindsey Graham for putting good judges on the 
bench. The people of this State have got to understand that when I 
nominated John Roberts and Sam Alito, there was no better ally than 
Lindsey Graham to see to it that these two good men were confirmed.
    There's going to be another fight on the Senate floor coming next 
week. The Senate Judiciary Committee has agreed to vote on the 
nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the Attorney General. And Senator 
Graham, I appreciate your strong support for Mike Mukasey. He's a good 
man; he's a fair man; he's an independent man; and he's plenty qualified 
to be the Attorney General. And I strongly urge the United States Senate 
to confirm this man, so that I can have an Attorney General to work with 
to protect the United States of America from further attack.
    Proud to be with you, Senator. I strongly believe the people of 
South Carolina should send you back to the United States Senate.
    Senator Lindsey O. Graham. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Note: The President spoke at 10:39 a.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan 
Airport.