Remarks at a fundraiser for senatorial candidate Saxby Chambliss in Atlanta

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, April 1, 2002

March 27, 2002

Thank you all very much. Saxby, thanks. I am honored that so many showed up. I want to thank you for such a warm welcome, I'm here to deliver this message: Saxby Chambliss needs to be in the United States Senate. And I'm so pleased you agree with me. [Laughter]

First, I want to thank Julianne. One of the things I've learned is that a life in the public arena is a lot easier when you've got a great wife. He married above himself, and so did I. [Laughter] We both married schoolteachers. And like Saxby is proud of Julianne, I'm really proud of Laura. I wish she were here tonight. She's in Crawford, Texas. The two dogs and the cat-[laughter]-went down to Crawford, because that's where I'm headed after this event. I love my job. But even though I've changed addresses, my home is still in the heart of Texas.

I want to thank Saxby's mother for being here. She informed me when she came through to get her picture taken that she was here, but she was a Democrat. [Laughter] I said that didn't bother me one bit, [Laughter] I never would have gotten to be the Governor of Texas had not a lot of Democrats voted for me. [Laughter] It doesn't matter whether you're Republican or Democrat when it comes to doing the right thing for the country and the right thing for our democracy. We welcome all people; we welcome anybody.

And looking at the mother reminds me to remind all the youngsters here to listen to your mother. I'm still listening to mine. [Laughter] I'm listening to her most of the time--don't tell her I said that. [Laughter]

I want to thank Bo Callaway for being the master of ceremonies. I appreciate his long service to the United States of America. I want to thank Congressmen Barr and Collins, Deal, Linder, and Norwood, fine, fine members of the congressional delegation from the great State of Georgia, members with whom I enjoy working, members who represent your State in a proud way. And I appreciate you letting somebody from the State of Ohio in--[laughter]--the chairman of the Education Committee, John Boehner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I had the privilege of saying hello to one of Georgia's most distinguished citizens today, and that's Judge Griffin Bell. I'm so honored the judge is here. You all have produced a lot of fine leaders from your State, and Judge Bell is one of the finest. And I appreciate the party chairman, Ralph Reed. I appreciate his dedication to grassroots politics.

And I want to thank the R.B. Wright fifth grade choir. You read more than you watch TV. [Laughter] And thanks for coming.

And I want to thank all those who worked hard to make this a successful evening, and I want to thank you all for caring about your country and for doing what is right: getting involved in democracy and working hard. And when you find a good one like Saxby Chambliss, work your heart out, because there is no finer American than Saxby. He loves his family. He loves his country. He's a man of enormous experience. He's one of these can-do politicians, somebody who goes to Washington and tries to figure out how to make things better.

I value his advice on terrorism. He's sound when it comes to counterterrorism. He's been in the Oval Office to give me sound, solid advice. And I've listened to it every time he's come in there. I appreciate his love for education. He understands this: that if you can't read, you can't realize the American Dream. I like to put it this way: Reading is the new civil right, and we must have people who understand the profound impact quality education can have on the future of this country.

And I'm glad Boehner is here. I had the honor of signing a profound piece of education reform. It said a couple of things. One, it says we believe in high standards for everybody, not just a few but everybody; that we trust the people of Georgia to run your schools more than we trust the people in Washington, DC; that we're committed to spending Federal dollars on education, but for every dollar spent, we expect there to be results.

We believe--and I strongly believe--every child can learn. And, therefore, the system must focus on every child. The name of the bill that Saxby worked on and John Boehner worked on is, "No Child Shall Be Left Behind." And that's the way I feel. And that's the way America must be, that the promise of America must be extended to every single person. Saxby understands that, and I'm going to be proud to have him in the United States Senate working on these fundamental issues that will help change America.

There is no more fundamental issue than to-making sure we have a judiciary of people that do not interpret the law from the bench, people who do not try to write law from the bench, people who interpret the law and not try to write it. And I put up a good man from Mississippi the other day. And I don't remember the senior Senator from Georgia defending this man's honor. And we're going to have more fights when it comes to the judiciary. And I'm going to put strict constructionists on the bench. And I expect people in the United States Senate, from a great State like Georgia, to do what Zell Miller did and--stood up and defended the honor and integrity of Judge Pickering. And that's what Saxby Chambliss is going to do.