The Best In The World, President Applauds American Workers

The Charleston Gazette ^ | 1/23/02 | Rick Steelhammer

[KY Dittohead]

‘The best in the world’
President applauds American workers

By Rick Steelhammer

After touring a diesel engine rebuild shop at Cecil I. Walker Machinery Co. and trying his hand at resetting a Caterpillar piston, President Bush told workers at the Belle plant how he planned to bulldoze obstacles that prevent companies from creating new jobs.

"The job of government is not to create wealth, but to create an environment free of obstacles that keep companies from growing and expanding and hiring more people," Bush said.

Calling American workers "the best in the world," Bush said he couldn’t think of a better way to create economic security for them than to encourage places like Walker, which he said "produces jobs, supports loyalty and family, and treats its people well and with respect."

The president, addressing a crowd that included more than 200 employees clad in blue work uniforms bearing the Walker logo, joked that he was also impressed that company president Steve Walker managed to "have everyone who works here wearing a uniform with my middle name on it."

But Bush got his biggest response when he called for developing a national energy policy that relies more on American coal and less on foreign oil

"We need to use more coal. We’ve got lots of it," he said to cheers from the shop floor, where about 70 percent of the business is dependent upon the coal industry.

Bush said it was also in the national interest to open up federal lands in the Alaskan Arctic to oil and gas prospecting.

"Jobs depend on affordable energy, and it’s in our national security interests to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy," the president said. "We can explore for natural gas and crude oil in Alaska in an environmentally friendly way."

Bush said Congress removed one obstacle to job creation two weeks ago, when it approved a $26 billion education bill, which will broaden academic testing, triple spending for literacy programs, and help children escape the nation’s worst public schools.

"Job creation starts with an educated work force," Bush said. "An educated work force lets business innovate, make improvements and increase productivity, which means higher paychecks."

The president called for passage of his economic stimulus package, a blend of tax cuts and extended unemployment benefits, which cleared the House but remains stalled in the Senate where a delay in implementing new tax cuts is being discussed.

"I’m worried about the people who lost work because of the evil people who attacked us," he said. "If you want to slow down the economy, you roll back the tax cuts."

Bush also called on the Senate to act on stalled "fast-track" foreign trade legislation to "help us sell more of our products overseas," but made no mention of tariffs to discourage foreign steel dumping, which union officials and steel executives say is crippling the domestic steel industry.

"We don’t feel like he addressed the issue and the problem we have with the steel industry," said Kenny Perdue, secretary-treasurer of the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, following the speech.

"You’ve got a steel industry that’s going to be a disaster to the Northern Panhandle if he doesn’t address the issue," Perdue said.

"I’m confident in our economy because I’m confident in the American way of life," Bush said. "The attacks of 9/11 didn’t diminish the desire to grow and expand."

The single most important thing Bush said he could do to nurture the economy "is to make sure the enemy doesn’t hit us again."

"Every morning, I wake up, take Barney and Spot outside, then go into the Oval Office and read the daily threat assessment," Bush said. "And every day I make a vow not to let that threat happen."

He urged Americans to be on the alert for any activity or behavior that is out of the normal routine, "like when that stewardess saw that shoe man and took action," he said.

By staying vigilant, he said, "They may come at us again, but they aren’t going to get us."

He urged Americans to remain patient while terrorist threats are being dealt with overseas and at home. If the nation tires of waiting for terrorists to be rooted out and brought to justice, "then the enemy will win," he said.

"This compassionate, generous nation will not let terrorists stand," he said. "If you harbor and feed terrorists, we’re going to treat you like terrorists. The Taliban learned that lesson. We freed people under their control from incredible oppression and gave them a chance for a better life."

Bush praised American military personnel, whom he said "have performed brilliantly. ... We’re going to root out the terrorists, no matter what caves they think they can hide in. We must seize this moment in history. We’re not going to let the world down."

Bush, who carried Democratic West Virginia during the presidential election, told the Walker Machinery workers that he considered it "such an honor to be president of a nation that has done so much, and has so much more to do. Thank you for giving me the chance."

"I hope he can implement what he said he wants to do," said Greg Foster, who was installing a piston on a 3500 series Caterpillar engine when Bush toured his work area immediately before the speech.

"It was great to get to see him," Foster said, pointing to his uniform’s nametag, where Bush had inked his autograph. "He asked about what we were doing, then tapped a piston into place."

"The president is doing very, very well on the issue of terrorism," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who drove in from his Pocahontas County farm to help greet Bush. "I wanted to be here to show my support. ... I look forward to working with President Bush in every way possible to boost our economy, protect our workers and strengthen or families and communities."

Rockefeller said he told the president he is counting on him to "act immediately and decisively to enforce the [International Trade Commission] ruling on steel imports. He said he support’s Bush’s objective to quickly enact legislation providing a short-term stimulus to the economy.

Walker Machinery President Steve Walker said his employees worked constantly since Thursday, when final word was given that the Bush visit would take place, to prepare his plant for the appearance.

Bush’s address was delivered in what is normally the breakdown room for Walker’s engine rebuild operation.

"I was really impressed with how professional and how thorough the Secret Service and White House security people have been," he said. "A lot goes into it that you’d never think about, unless you had the opportunity to see it happening around you."

Walker employs about 500 workers statewide, about half of them at the family-owned company’s Belle facility.

The visit was arranged through Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s office.

[KY Dittohead]

I didn't know if this had been posted yet, if so please delete.

I just love to hear his speeches.