Transcript: President Bush Media Availability in North Carolina

President Bush spoke this morning in Raleigh, NC about efforts to get his judicial nominations confirmed and commented on the selection of Sen. John Edwards as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. A transcript follows.

SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

BUSH: Let me answer some questions for you.

QUESTION: Mr. President, Kerry, during the primaries, often said that John Edwards was not ready to be president. Do you believe that he is ready to be a heart beat away from the Oval Office?

BUSH: That will be up for the voters to decide.

But I tell you what I think about North Carolina. I did well here in 2000 because the North Carolinian voter understood we shared values. I'm going to do well again in 2004. They know we share those values. The people of North Carolina remember I came to this state and said, "We'll make sure our troops are well-paid and well-housed and taken care of," and we've done that. I told them we'd cut their taxes and we've done that. The economy is strong here in North Carolina.

I also know that when they go to the polls to vote for president that they'll understand that the senator from Massachusetts doesn't share their values.

QUESTION: Mr. President, if I could try another Edwards question, he's being described today as charming, engaging, a nimble campaigner, a populist and even sexy. How does he stack up against Dick Cheney?

BUSH: Dick Cheney can be president.

Next?

QUESTION: Yes, Mr. President, does this John Edwards selection force you to spend more time in the South and change your strategy in the Southern states now?

BUSH: I'm going to carry the South because the people understand that we share values, that they understand they know me well. And I believe that I did well in the South last time. I'll do well in the South this time, because the senator from Massachusetts doesn't share their values, and that's the difference in the campaign.

QUESTION: Do you have to spend more time strategy-wise?

BUSH: Talk to the schedulers. I'm not the scheduler, I'm just the simple candidate.

QUESTION: Mr. President, Mr. Candidate?

BUSH: Welcome. No, Mr. President, thank you.

QUESTION: The judiciary you hope to create with these nominees, could you...

BUSH: Those aren't nominees.

QUESTION: Well, they're back there somewhere.

BUSH: That's Senator Berg, to be.

QUESTION: Could you offer thoughts as to how that judiciary is different from the one that might exist under a Democratic administration?

BUSH: Yes, I have...

QUESTION: Perhaps particular reference to issues of civil damage suits and abortion.

BUSH: Well, look, I have -- first of all on issues like abortion, I don't have a litmus test. In other words, when the nominees come before people in my administration we don't say, "What is your specific position on that issue or another issue?" What we say to the person is, "What is your judicial temperament? Will you be willing to faithfully interpret the law? Or will you view your position on the bench to rewrite law?"

And that is the difference of judicial philosophies. I've been consistent in naming people to the bench that will faithfully interpret the law. I suspect that's one of the reasons why a minority of senators are blocking my nominees and creating a judicial emergency.

And after I leave here I'm going to Michigan to bring up the same point. There are six judges that are being withheld because of their judicial temperament, not because of a specific issue but because of their temperament.

BUSH: And I don't believe in litmus tests.

I do believe in making sure that we share a philosophy. As I said before, I want the legislators legislating. I don't want the judges legislating.

Look, you look awfully hot and I think it's time for us to go to the next event. Thank you.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

BUSH: Yes, of course. They are the ones blocking the nominees in the first place. They're the types of senators who are blocking the advance of these nominees.

Take, for example, here in North Carolina: Senator Edwards will not allow two of the nominees to whom I referred to even get to the committee for a hearing.

Thank you.

END