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President Bush at Heather Wilson for Congress Luncheon.

Article Excerpt
WASHINGTON -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush at Heather Wilson for Congress Luncheon:



Crowne Plaza Pyramid Hotel Albuquerque, New Mexico 11:44 P.M. MDT

THE PRESIDENT: Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in New Mexico. I'm glad to know my Texas passport is still active. (Laughter.) I'm here because it is very important for the people of New Mexico to send Heather Wilson back to the United States Congress. (Applause.)

I'm here to give my whole-hearted support to her candidacy. Before I spend a little time fleshing that out, I want to say something about the senior Senator from New Mexico. There's no finer American in the United States Senate than Pete Domenici. (Applause.) I'm proud to call him friend -- and I'm proud to get lectured by him all the time. (Laughter.) It seems like he's always got important issues on his mind: the labs, mental health parity. But he is a great ally and a really fine Senator.

I'm also honored to have served with -- been the President at the same time that Joe Skeen was the United States Congressman from another congressional district here in New Mexico. (Applause.) We're going to miss old Joe, but I'm confident he still has my address, and willing to give -- that's good. But thank you for your service. I want to thank John Dendahl, the party chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, and all the party leaders who are here.

I particularly want to say something about the grass roots, the people who work the phone banks, and lick the envelopes, and do all the work necessary to keep people like me and Pete and Heather in office. And I want to thank you for your loyalty; I want to thank you for your passion for our political party; and I want to thank you for the endless hours you put on our behalf. (Applause.) I want to thank the Lt. Governor and all the state officials who are here.

And I want to thank you all for supporting Heather. Here's the way I feel: Anytime you find somebody who brings such class and dignity to a political office, we as Americans owe our support to her. And Heather Wilson brings a lot of class, and a lot of dignity. (Applause.)

You know, in Washington there's a lot of -- there can be a lot of noise, a lot of shrill voices, people who are -- people up there sometimes are the ones who like to divide people into camps and call names and point fingers. They think that's effective. And it's such a wonderful contrast to have the quiet dignity and the competence of Heather Wilson in the United States Congress. It is so good and refreshing, and good for our democracy, and good for our country, that people like Heather are willing to serve. She can get things done for New Mexico. (Applause.)

The thing I appreciate, Heather, is she is there for the right reason: to serve the people, to represent the people of New Mexico. (Applause.) And I'm proud of our political party, make no mistake about it. But I'm proud of the fact that Heather puts our country first, that she understands the importance of our nation and what it stands for....