Remarks by the President at the National Dinner Celebrating 350 Years of Jewish Life in America

US Newswire ^ | Sept. 14, 2005 | President George W. Bush

[Alouette]

To: National Desk

Contact: White House Press Office, 202-456-2580

WASHINGTON, , Sept. 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush at the National Dinner Celebrating 350 years of Jewish life in America:

National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.

6:55 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for the invitation to be here. My only regret is Laura is not with me -- I left her behind to do some diplomacy in New York City. (Laughter.)

Bob, I want to thank you for your kind introduction. I'm honored to accept this medal commemorating three and a half centuries of Jewish life in America. I consider it a high honor to have been invited to celebrate with you.

Back in 1790, the Jewish congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, wrote to congratulate George Washington on his election as the country's first President. Some say he was the first George W. (Laughter.) In his reply, President Washington thanked the congregation and pledged to defend vigorously the principle of religious liberty for all. (Applause.) Here's what he said. He said, the United States "gives bigotry no sanction; to persecution, no assistance." And he expressed his hope that the "stock of Abraham" would thrive in America.

In the centuries that followed, the stock of Abraham has thrived here like nowhere else. We're better and stronger -- (applause) -- and we're a better and stronger and freer nation because so many Jews from countries all over the world have chosen to become American citizens. (Applause.)

[Naomi4]

Surely you aren't serious. Observant Jews prize God above all else...and are enjoined through the Torah to study. Study of written words requires education and learning.

What's with you? Do you hang out on threads on Jewish articles just so you can bait responders with anti=Semitic postings?

[Naomi4]

I agree with you that the most virulent anti-Semitism now resides within the Democrat Party. However, there are still soft, cultured vestiges of it within the Republican Party as well.

The effort last election to get the requisite token Jews on the President's team was in this category. You can go back and read the threads when this was the discussion and tell me if quite a few of those snide posts were not anti=Semitic.

[onedoug]

Observant Jews prize God above all else.

I'm glad I could help you say what you evidently originally intended.