[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 16 (Monday, April 28, 2008)]
[Pages 578-579]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Arrival in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

April 22, 2008

    The President. First of all, it's good to be back in Baton Rouge, 
home of the LSU Tiger national championship football team. I had the 
honor of welcoming the team and Coach Les Miles to the White House, and 
it was a great honor for me, and I enjoyed it. And I do want to 
congratulate the good folks of Louisiana for supporting a football team 
that brought great credit to the game.
    I'm here with the Governor--the great Governor of Louisiana to lend 
my support to John Kennedy for the United States Senate. I thank Becky 
and Preston for joining us as well. John Kennedy will make a fine 
Senator for the people of Louisiana. He's a fiscal watchdog. He cares 
about the taxpayers' money. He's made a career out of making sure that 
whenever government spends money, it's spent wisely, and that's the kind 
of Senator Louisiana needs.
    He'll support the troops. He'll support those who wear our Nation's 
uniform. And he'll see our troops are funded without the United States 
Senate telling our military how to conduct the war. So I appreciate your 
strong support for our military, John.
    You know, one of the issues that the Senate will be faced [with] * 
is whether or not to raise peoples' taxes. John Kennedy has pledged to 
keep taxes low. We want the people here in Louisiana to have more of 
their own money to spend. And we can meet our priorities at the Federal 
Government without getting into the pockets of the people of Louisiana.
    * White House correction.
    And finally, John Kennedy understands that our most important task 
is to protect the American people from harm. And if Al Qaida is making a 
phone call into the United States, he understands we need to know who 
they're talking to and why they're making the call.
    So I look forward to having a man in the Senate who understands the 
priorities have got to be to protect the American people and understands 
that the same civil liberties given to our people shouldn't be extended 
to terrorists who want to do us harm.
    So I wish you all the best, Senator-to-be. We got a good fundraiser 
for you. I'm honored that you would invite me here. And I look--ask the 
people of Louisiana to give this good man a fair hearing--more 
importantly, give him their vote, cause he'll do a fine job as the 
United States Senator.
    Thank you, and congratulations.
    John N. Kennedy. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you so much.
    The President. Good to see you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:19 p.m. at Baton Rouge Metropolitan 
Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; 
and Becky, wife, and Preston, son, of senatorial candidate John N. 
Kennedy.

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