Remarks at a Senate
Campaign Rally for James Santini in
The President. Thank all of you. And I
thank Jim Santini for that most gracious and
heartwarming introduction. Senators Laxalt, Hecht,
Hatch, Lieutenant Governor Bob Cashell, our GOP
chairman, and Congresswoman Vucanovich -- I want you
to know that the fellow you see standing before you considers himself one lucky
man. It's not everyone who can come to
And
since I used to be a drum major myself in the
But
I've come here on this day before election day to talk
with the people of
To
begin with, the progress that he mentioned himself that has been made in
reviving the American economy: Inflation is down. Interest rates are down. Jobs
and employment are up to the highest levels in American history. And you know,
all of this economic plan that we put into operation back in 1981 -- it was
roundly criticized and a lot of people making fun and being angry about it at
the same time. I knew, however, that it must be working when they stopped
calling it Reaganomics. [Laughter] And this year's sweeping reform of the tax
code means that more than 80 percent of Americans will have a top tax rate of
15 percent or less. Now, this should broaden our expansion still further. But
wouldn't you know it, even before this fair share tax plan reached my desk, the
Democratic leadership -- and I emphasize leadership -- in Congress was saying
that they wanted to break faith with the American people and turn tax reform
into a tax increase. You know, the truth is those folks never met a tax they
didn't like. When it comes to spending your hard-earned money, they've got your
credit card in their pocket. And believe me, they
never leave home without it. The American people know the truth: We don't have
a deficit because we're taxed too little; we have a deficit because government
is spending too much. Isn't it about time that the Congress started protecting
the family budget instead of fattening the Federal budget? [Applause]
The
contrast between us and the leaders of the other party is just as apparent when
it comes to judicial appointments, and that's where Jim can make all the difference.
Without him and that Republican majority in the Senate -- slim though it may be
-- we'll find liberals like a certain fellow from
Going
around the country -- right about here in my remarks I've taken to telling a
little story that I think is appropriate to the occasion, and the press that
accompanies us -- they've heard it a number of times, of course. But they still
don't understand it, so I'm going to tell it again just for them. It has to do
with a Democratic fundraiser at a downtown hotel. And when they came out of the
hotel, there was a kid with some puppies. And he was holding them up, and he
was offering them, ``Puppies for sale. Democrat puppies for
sale.'' Two weeks later the Republicans held a fundraiser in the same
place. And as they were coming out, there was the kid with the puppies, and he
was saying, ``Republican puppies for sale. Republican
puppies.'' And a newspaperman who'd been there 2 weeks before said,
``Hey, kid, wait a minute. You were here selling these puppies as Democrat
puppies a couple of weeks ago. Now here you are,
you're selling them as Republican puppies. How come?''
And the kid says, ``Now they've got their eyes open.'' [Laughter]
But,
ladies and gentlemen, now we've come to an issue that transcends in importance
even all the other crucial matters that I've mentioned: My most solemn duty as
President is the safety of the American people and the security of these
And
there's another special issue. We remain committed to our decision to move
ahead with our Strategic Defense Initiative against ballistic missiles, the
SDI. Today we are dealing with the
But
let me tell you: We never could have come this far without the support of
people like Jim Santini. I remember back in 1981 when
we needed all the help we could get to cut your taxes and get this economic
expansion rolling. Jim was a Democrat back then, but despite threats from the
liberal Democratic Party leadership, Jim Santini --
then a Democratic Congressman -- promised me his support. And Jim is as good as
his word. He came through with the votes, just as over and over again he has
come through for the great State of
Now
it's time we got the facts out about Jim's opponent [Harry Reid]. And in all
this talk about negative positions in a campaign, there is a difference when
you bring to the fore the record of the two and what philosophy guides the two
rival candidates. And that is not negative because that's upon what you have to
base your decision. And I think it is time that we got out the facts about his
opponent. I don't think the fiercely independent people of
Now,
I know I couldn't address a crowd like this without there being many Democrats
present -- hard-working, patriotic people whose support I've relied on during
these past 6 years. Having a House of Representatives heavily weighted to the
Democratic side, we could not have achieved the things we've talked about here
if there had not been some Democrats like Jim Santini
who were willing to support a Republican President and Senate in helping to bring
these things about. Now, the simple truth is those Democrats who are here are
probably here because, like millions I've met across the country, they have
found they can no longer follow the leadership of the Republican [Democratic]
Party, which has taken them down a course that leads to disaster. Now, as you
were told, I used to be a Democrat myself, and I must tell you from my heart
that Jim Santini represents your views far better
than liberals who run the Democratic Party in
Ladies
and gentlemen, the eyes of
So, just to be sure where you
stand, I thought I'd conduct an informal poll. Now, speak up loudly so everyone
can hear. Do you want to go back to the days of big spending, high taxes, and
runaway inflation?
Audience. No-o-o!
The President. Do you want Ted Kennedy
controlling the confirmation of Federal court judges?
Audience. No-o-o!
The President. Do you want to return
to policies that gave us a weak and vacillating
Audience. No-o-o!
The President. That's nice to hear.
[Laughter] Now, would you rather have low taxes, low inflation, and low
interest rates?
Audience. Yes!
The President. Would you rather have
an
Audience. Yes!
The President. Do you want Jim Santini as your Senator from the great State of
Audience. Yes!
The President. Well, thank you. You
just made my day, and you didn't hurt Jim Santini's
feelings at all.
But
you know, my name will never appear on a ballot again.
But if you'd like to vote for me one more time, you can do so by voting for Jim
Santini.
Audience. Four more years! Four more years! Four
more years!
The President. No, no. The
Constitution says no. Of course, if you're saying I can live 4 more years,
that's all right. [Laughter] But since the Constitution intervenes, I'll tell
you what I will settle for: 2 more years of a Republican Senate. Important as
this election will be to me, it'll be even more important to you, especially to
you young people, for it'll shape our nation's future. Every poll shows that
the age group 18 to 24 has the highest percentage who
are supportive of the things that we're trying to do in
You
know, back at the beginning of World War II, someone asked General George C.
Marshall, who was the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, whether we had
a secret weapon as we went into that war and, if so, what was the weapon? And
General Marshall said, ``Yes, we have a secret weapon. It's just the best blankety-blank kids in the world.'' I've seen your
generation across this country in meetings like this, on campuses, in high
schools, those young people in the military. And if George Marshall were here
today, he'd say you are the best blankety-blank kids in the world. Now, he didn't use the word blankety-blank. I did, because Presidents aren't allowed to
talk like generals talk. [Laughter] But before leaving, I'd just like to say
that people my age deeply believe that it's our duty to turn over to you young
Americans the same freedom and opportunity that our parents and grandparents
handed on to us. And generations here between mine and yours -- and there are
some -- all of us have that same goal. What frightens us is that we look back
and see that over the years -- and, yes, just a few years ago -- we've gone
through phases in which we have let the greatness of this nation slip. And we
have all renewed our pledge that, yes, we're going to turn over to you, when it
is your turn to take this country and run it, that same great nation of
opportunity and freedom that we were handed when we were young.
So,
when you go to the polls, win one for Jim Santini,
win one for the future and for
Thank
you all, and God bless you.
Note:
The President spoke at