Text of Speech by Jenna and Barbara Bush

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/31/04 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Text of a speech by Jenna and Barbara Bush delivered Tuesday at the Republican National Convention, as transcribed by e-Media Inc.:

JENNA BUSH: It's great to be here. We love Arnold. Isn't he awesome?

Thanks to him, if one of us ever decides to marry a Democrat, nobody can complain, except maybe our grandmother, Barbara. And if she doesn't like it, we would definitely hear about it.

We already know she doesn't like some of our clothes, our music, or most of the TV shows we watch.

Gammie, we love you dearly, but you're just not very hip.

She thinks "Sex and the City" is something married people do, but never talk about.

We spent the last four years trying to stay out of the spotlight. Sometimes, we did a little better job than others.

We kept trying to explain to my dad that when we are young and irresponsible, well, we're young and irresponsible.

BARBARA BUSH: Jenna and I are really not very political, but we love our dad too much to stand back and watch from the sidelines.

We realized that this would be his last campaign, and we wanted to be a part of it.

Besides, since we've graduated from college, we're looking around for something to do for the next few years.

Kind of like dad.

JENNA: Our parents have always encouraged us to be independent and dream big. We've spent a lot of time at the White House, so when we showed up the first day, we thought we had it all figured out. But apparently my dad already has a chief of staff, named Andy.

BARBARA: When your dad's a Republican and you go to Yale, you learn to stand up for yourself.

I knew I wasn't quite ready to be president, but number two sounded pretty good.

Who is this man they call Dick Cheney (news - web sites)?

JENNA: I think I know a lot about campaigns. After all, my grandfather and my dad have both run for president, so I put myself in charge of strategy. Then I got an angry call from some guy named Karl.

BARBARA: We knew we had something to offer. I mean, we've traveled the world; we've studied abroad. But when we started coming home with foreign policy advise, dad made us call Condi.

JENNA: Not to be deterred, we thought surely there's a place for strong willed, opinionated women in communications. And next thing we know, Karen's back.

BARBARA: So we decided the best thing we could do here tonight would be to introduce somebody we know and love.

JENNA: You know all those times when you're growing up and your parents embarrass you? Well, this is payback time on live TV.

BARBARA: Take this. I know it's hard to believe, but our parents' favorite term of endearment for each other is actually Bushy.

And we had a hamster, too. Let's just say ours didn't make it.

JENNA: But, contrary to what you might read in the papers, our parents are actually kind of cool. They do know the difference between mono and Bono. When we tell them we're going to see Outkast, they know it's a band and not a bunch of misfits. And if we really beg them, they'll even shake it like a Polaroid picture.

BARBARA: So, OK, maybe they have learned a little pop culture from us, but we've learned a lot more from them about what matters in life, about unconditional love, about focus and discipline.

They taught us the importance of a good sense of humor, of being open-minded and treating everyone with respect.

And we learned the true value of honesty and integrity.

JENNA: When you grow up as the daughters of George and Laura Bush, you develop a special appreciation for how blessed we are to live in this great country.

We are so proud to be here tonight to introduce someone who read us bedtime stories, picked up car pool, made us our favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cheered for us when we scored a goal, even when it was for the wrong team.

BARBARA: Someone who told us we actually looked cute in braces, always welcomed our friends and was there waiting when we came home at curfew.

JENNA: Ladies and gentlemen, one of the two most loving, thoughtful people we know.

BARBARA: Your president and our dad, George W. Bush.

[NormsRevenge]

The daughters of U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites), Barbara (L) and Jenna, address delegates as their grandmother, former first lady Barbara Bush, is shown on a large screen as she laughs at comments they made about her, on the second night of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 31, 2004. Convention delegates formally nominated President Bush (news - web sites) for another four-year term on Tuesday night and he will deliver a prime-time televised acceptance speech on Thursday. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith US ELECTION

[NormsRevenge]

First lady Laura Bush and daughters Jenna (R) and Barbara (L) perform a sound check at Madison Square Garden ahead of the second day of the Republican National Convention in New York August 31, 2004. The three are scheduled to speak to the Republican delegates later in the day. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)

[ambrose]

no, no no....!!!!!!!

[Incorrigible]

Their attempt at a humorous speech made me cringe, and I'm pretty "hip".

[NormsRevenge]

The daughters of U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites), Barbara (L) and Jenna, look up at their father as he appears on a large screen to introduce his wife, and their mother, Laura Bush (not shown), before the first lady's speech on the second night of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 31, 2004. Convention delegates formally nominated Bush for another four-year term on Tuesday night and he will deliver a prime-time televised acceptance speech on Thursday. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith US ELECTION

[NormsRevenge]

President Bush (news - web sites)'s daughters, Barbara, left, and Jenna Bush, are framed by their grandparents, former President George H. W. Bush, right, and Barbara Bush as they speak to delegates at Madison Square Garden during the Republican National Convention in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

[jennyjenny]

Why? Why? Why? We're leading in most polls right now!

[Maceman]

They were awful. I couldn't wait for them to be off stage.

[Ramius]

Oh, piffle. They were supposed to be a light moment, and they were. They weren't there to do heavy oratory on foreign policy. They did just fine.

[ambrose]

My gut sank as they went on and on and on....

I would be embarassed if I raised children like that.

[Steel Wolf]

Their attempt at a humorous speech made me cringe, and I'm pretty "hip".

I for one thought they were great. (Of course, I had them on 'mute') ;-)

[psjones]

RElax guys, they're young and like they said, it's not something they had done before, so cut them some slack.

[ClintonBeGone]

They were God aweful. Who vetts that stuff?

[ambrose]

(just kidding)

[ClintonBeGone]

867-5309

[Dont Mention the War]

BARBARA: When your dad's a Republican and you go to Yale, you learn to stand up for yourself.

I thought Jenna was the one that went to Yale?

[Rise of South Park Republicans]

Dear Lord in Heaven we were rolling along so smoothly. Smoothly I tell....why this

[ozaukeemom]

Mmm, reading must be way different than hearing them. Because, it doesn't seem that bad to me. I am 43 and I know the song by Outkast! And, "gammie" seems fine with it. But, as I said, maybe hearing it would make me feel differently.

[shellylet]

What? No laughter in your home? Sad! :)