Special Event

Gov. George W. Bush Appears at GOP Latino Event

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Once again live back here in Philadelphia, the site of the Republican National Convention.

Just across town here, George W. Bush about to get up in front of supporters at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He will address a crowd of Latinos who have gathered there. And if you see right between that scaffolding there. That is the 24-year-old nephew of George W. Bush. He is going to make the introduction, according to the plans that we have right now. He has been very active in getting out the youth vote across the country, and he has been very active here in Philadelphia throughout the entire week. Becoming a rather popular voter, especially with young people. he is bilingual. Again, a Latino event, we shall listen.

GEORGE P. BUSH, NEPHEW OF GEORGE W. BUSH: Are you guys excited about electing a president who representing the diversity of our society? who can we count on, to change the Republican Party so that it starts to represent our views and our faces, and our diversity? I'm excited. I have to show you a little story before I let him on.

I was in 7th grade and there is a leader within the Latino community, his name is Caesar Chavez, and he passed away one day. And my mother came to me and she was crying in tears.

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

In English, that means, you have to find somebody who finds and represents what you believe, who represents our people, who represent our culture, that person is my uncle, and I want to welcome, and I want you guys to put your hands together for the next president and first lady of the United States, George W. Bush and Laura Bush.

HEMMER: It should be mentioned, among Hispanics in Texas, George W. Bush, the governor, as we lose that signal right there. We will try and bring that back for you.

Quite popular, especially in the 1998 re-election campaign that he led in Texas,

Back now live here with the picture here.

Among the Hispanic vote in Texas and he has certainly made an overt effort to try to recruit more Hispanics, not only to his cause, but also the Republican Party. In fact, last night, Condoleezza Rice, who is one of the featured speakers here, and a woman who is said to be, as an African-American female, considered very highly to have a very prominent role, if indeed Bush is elected to the White House.

She mentioned a trip that she was on recently with the Texas governor down in Mexico, talking about his ability to be well versed, not only in Mexican issues, but also with his ability to speak Spanish. It certainly, in her words, has offered him a nice advantage when appealing to Hispanics in America.

Wife Laura there. They touched down about an hour and 20 minutes ago here in Philadelphia. The big speech is not until tomorrow night. But again this, the first official event for the Texas governor, as he arrives in Philadelphia. Many more scheduled throughout the day. In fact, 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, about a half an hour from now, the governor will have another event in Philly.

We shall listen as the governor now steps up into the microphone there. Word has it, 300 people gathered. We'll get a better on the crowd numbers in just a bit.

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

Thank you all for coming. Laura and I are so honored to be here in the great city of Philadelphia.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

I'm glad to be introduced by the, the man in my family.

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

George P.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

I want top thank John Secada. I want to thank my friend Emelio Estefan (ph). Emelio was telling me behind the stable he had only been nominated for seven Grammies. I think that you can judge the nature of a man by the company that he keeps. I'm keeping really good company with Emelio, but I am keeping better company with the next first lady of the United States.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

What a speech she gave the other night.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

She might have raised the bar on me a little bit.

I also am anxious for tonight. I can't wait to hear the next vice president of the United States, Dick Cheney.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) I made a great choice when I picked Dick Cheney. He's a solid man. He's an honorable man. I am proud to call him friend and you will be proud to call him Mr. Vice President.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Today, I'm especially honored, especially honored to welcome to this stage, two really great Americans, two people who love their country, two people who Laura and I are fortunate to call friends.

Would you please welcome Senator John McCain and his wife Cindy.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Last night, I was in...

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

Last night I was in Gettysburg and we were watching Senator McCain's address. It was a touching tribute to America. It was a strong statement about what our nation stands for. He's the living example of duty, honor, and country.

And senator, I can't wait to campaign with you all across our country. There is a better day for America. There is a better day for all.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

Together we can make sure that every child, every child, can read in America. Together we can make sure entrepreneurship spreads its wings. Together we can make sure that...

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

HEMMER: A mere 13 hours after John McCain appeared here live on the floor of the First Union Center, speaking and giving his endorsement strongly in favor of the Texas governor, you can consider this probably the first official campaign stop for Cindy and John McCain, along with Laura Bush and her husband, George Bush.

Again, the Latino event taking place at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Want to hang with that just for a second -- oh, we are not going to do that.

Nonetheless, the first official stop for George Bush here in the city of Philadelphia as well, And again we expect to see McCain and Bush on the campaign trail together. They say they will campaign together. It is a question of how much? how often? and at what point? But again today a pretty good indication, I guess, to letting people know that McCain and Bush, indeed, ate together and the same effort to win the White House in this election 2000.

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