Remarks by Barbara and Jenna Bush to the 2004 Republican National Convention:
Tuesday, August 31, 2004; 11:27 PM
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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 didn't like it, we would definitely hear about
it. We already know she doesn't like some of our clothes, or music,
or most of the TV shows we watch. Ganny, we love you dearly, but
you're just not very hip. She thinks "Sex in 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 than others. We kept trying to explain to Dad that when
we were young and irresponsible. Well, we were 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 Bush:
Our parents always
encouraged us to be independent, and to dream big. We've spent a lot
of time at the White House, so when we showed up for work the first
day, we thought we had it all figured out. But, apparently, my Dad
already has a chief of staff ... named Andy.
Barbara
Bush:
When your Dad's a Republican and you go to
Yale, you learn to stand up for yourself. So I knew I wasn't quite
ready to be President - but #2 sounded good - who is this man they
call Dick Cheney?
Jenna Bush:
I think
I know a lot about campaigns, after all my Dad and Grandfather 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
Bush:
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 advice, Dad made us call ...
Condi?
Jenna Bush:
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! So,
we decided the best thing we could do here tonight would be to
introduce someone we know and love. You know all those times when you
were growing up and your parents embarrassed you? Well, this is
payback time ... on LIVE TV!!!
Barbara Bush:
Take
this... I know it's hard to believe, but our parents favorite term of
endearment for each other is actually "Bushie". And, we had
a hamster, too let's just say...ours didn't make it.
Jenna
Bush:
But, contrary to what you might read in the
papers... our parents are actually pretty 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 will even 'Shake it Like a Polaroid
Picture'.
Barbara Bush:
So, okay-
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 Bush:
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 carpools, made us our
favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich and, cheered for us when we
scored a goal - even when it was for the wrong team.
Barbara
Bush:
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 Bush:
Ladies
and Gentlemen, one of the two most loving, thoughtful people we
know
Barbara Bush:
Your President ...
and, Our Dad- GEORGE W. BUSH!
Not since William Jennnings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech in 1896 has there been such an electrifying convention address!
See Also:
Read
The Forgotten Liars, a novel by Timothy
Horrigan