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September 2008
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For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
September 1, 2008
Interview of the First Lady by CBS News
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota
6:13 A.M. CDT
Q Good morning. Thanks for taking the time.
MRS. BUSH: Good morning. Thanks.
Q So your husband announced yesterday that he wouldn't be coming here because of the storm. How will he spend today?
MRS. BUSH: Well, he's in Texas today. He will leave in just a little bit from Washington to go to both Austin and San Antonio, to where shelters are, but also where a lot of supplies are prepositioned for -- to move in to the Gulf Coast after the storm hits. So he'll be there today to see what that situation is, and then will go on. But as you know, there will not be a program tonight at all.
Q Right, right.
MRS. BUSH: So the Republicans will meet all day today, because they have to -- they have the business that they have to take care of to nominate the candidate for President. But all their eyes are on the Gulf Coast, and everyone is thinking about that. And I know they're disappointed they're not going to get to have the program tonight, but they -- everyone understands and everyone is thinking about everybody all across the Gulf Coast.
Q Yes, when we heard Senator McCain speak at various locations all weekend, that's the first thing that he always talked about. He also referred yesterday to the mistakes of Hurricane Katrina. Are you surprised to hear the Republican nominee refer to the mistakes --
MRS. BUSH: Well, there were lots of mistakes, and they were on every level. They were local, they were statewide, and there were certainly federal mistakes -- but we learned from those. And I hope that we'll see, and I think we will see -- for one thing, many, many people have evacuated. Many more people have left than before in the other hurricane. But I think we'll see that the coordination between the federal government, the state government and the local government will be much, much better, and I think that's very important. And I think what was learned from the hurricane is something that can serve the country very well for any sort of disaster in any part of the country. And it was a very important lesson.
Q After the storm, will the people of the Gulf Coast get what they need from the government?
MRS. BUSH: Absolutely. And I think a lot of things are prepositioned there now that people know they will need. I know, once again, just like after Hurricane Katrina, many, many Americans will go down to volunteer, or send supplies down, or do whatever they can to help, to see what the problems are and what the effect of this hurricane is.
Q Mrs. Bush, I want to ask you quickly what your plans are here today.
MRS. BUSH: My plans for the future, you mean?
Q Here.
MRS. BUSH: Well -- oh, here? Sure. I'm going to go with Cindy McCain. We're going to go this morning to the Louisiana delegation for breakfast and visit with them. There's a luncheon that was planned already that I'll go to. I hope to be able to see a lot of delegates. I know the delegates are disappointed because they all, you know, expected to have four nights of huge celebration around their candidate for president and their outstanding candidate for vice president. I'm so thrilled about Sarah Palin.
Q Do you know her well?
MRS. BUSH: I do know her well. I've met her at the National Governors Association meetings when she comes to Washington. And George and I were just with her in Alaska when we stopped on the way to China for the Olympics. And I'm very, very proud. I'm proud that I'm going to get my wish and get to vote for a Republican woman on this ticket. So we'll -- today I know that Cindy McCain and I and a lot of other people who are in town for tonight's program will visit with delegations today and get to see them.
Q All right, Mrs. Bush, thank you.
MRS. BUSH: Thank you very much.
Q Nice to see you again.
MRS. BUSH: Thanks a lot.
END 6:17 A.M. CDT
