President addresses education, economy, school shooting
President Bush made a stop in Denver Wednesday to show his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez.
The event took place at the Inverness Hotel in Englewood, where hundreds of Colorado Republicans showed their support emotionally and financially. Entry into the conference room cost $1,000. Proceeds from the event exceeded $500,000 and went to the Beauprez campaign.
Many speeches led up to the president speaking, including speeches from Bill Owens, Colorado’s current governor, as well as former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and Beauprez himself.
Beauprez thanked his supporters and urged them to fight hard over the next five weeks so that Republicans can keep hold of the governor’s seat in Colorado. Bush said he believes if the Democrats win, not only will they hold office, but that Democrats “will have a hold of your wallet.”
In his speech, Beauprez said the advance of human freedom depends on citizens like those who attending the event. He introduced President Bush as a “guardian of freedom”.
Bush also campaigned for Beauprez when the candidate successfully ran for Congress in 2003.
“I have no doubt he will make a great governor,” Bush said during his speech. “I know Bob Beauprez will be able to do this because I worked with him to help overcome a recession, a corporate scandal, a terror attack on the United States, war, two hurricanes, and high energy prices – and yet our economy is the envy of the industrial world.”
Bush said he believes Beauprez would excel by taking over the foundation that Owens has laid. Doing this would require a focus on Colorado education, he said.
“Education is a top priority to the governor,” Bush said.
Bush and Beauprez said they plan to set high standards to make sure that each school in Colorado is educating each child.
The president also expressed his sympathies during his visit to the friends and family of 16-year-old Emily Keyes of Bailey, Colorado. Keyes was killed last week in a school shooting.
Bush said he plans on making school safety a government issue.
“We want to make sure the schoolhouse is a safe place,” he said.
