Release Date: 8/11/2004

WAITE PARK -- First lady Laura Bush had a complex mission to accomplish Tuesday at Gruber's Quilt Shop.

In her speech, she took various decisions and positions of her husband, President George W. Bush, softened them and stitched them together in hopes that women might want to buy it come election day.

"My husband believes that we should all have an equal opportunity to achieve our dreams, and he has three strong women at home who don't let him forget it," she reminded the crowd of about 250 invited supporters and female small-business owners from throughout the state.

On a two-day campaign tour through six battleground states, Laura Bush alternated praise for her husband with compliments for women in small business such as Sue Poser. Poser owns Gruber's and the DanTree Court complex on Third Street North, the site of the first lady's visit.

It was the first visit to the St. Cloud area by a first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt stopped here in 1941 and a sign of possible visits from both sides of the presidential campaign yet to come.

Backed by patriotic quilts and with a hand-stitched square that said "W stands for women" in front of her, Bush gave almost the same speech she delivered earlier in the day in Grafton, Wis.

Giving a boost to U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy was first on the first lady's list. Kennedy, running against St. Joseph resident Patty Wetterling for the 6th Congressional District, is on an official tour of the Mideast and couldn't attend Tuesday's speech. But his wife, Debbie Kennedy, was happy to welcome the first lady.

"Mrs. Bush, thank you for being a great role model for all of us. You show us how to keep the faith when the going gets tough," she said.

Not surprisingly, the hand-picked crowd seconded the first lady's endorsements of Kennedy and her husband. Many local businesswomen were in the audience, but a majority appeared to be invited statewide Bush-Cheney '04 supporters.

Taxes, taxes, taxes

The cheers grew loudest as Bush recounted her husband's efforts to cut taxes, which she said have brought an average savings of $3,000 a year to 25 million small-business owners.

"(President Bush) has created an economic environment where women entrepreneurs can succeed and small businesses can flourish and grow, and it hasn't been easy," she said.

At Gruber's, Poser said her business has not seen its taxes decrease, despite the Bush tax cuts. Growth, including the addition of about three part-time employees a year, may be responsible, she said.

"I haven't felt it at all," she said after Tuesday's event. "Growing as fast as I am, they may be increasing simply because of our growth."

Minutes before Bush stepped onto the stage, Gov. Tim Pawlenty fired up the crowd, praising Bush administration policies for helping the state and the country create new jobs in the last year. He said the country is on the right track.

Even his praise for the first lady stayed on the day's message of strength.

"She is an individual who is not only graceful, who is not only poised, but she is strong and thoughtful and committed," he said.

Insurance costs

Bush also talked about the administration's efforts to reduce the price of health care for small businesses. She pushed for association health plans, which would allow businesses to pool coverage of their employees with other businesses.

Capping lawsuit awards and making it more difficult to sue doctors and medical institutions for malpractice was another Bush prescription.

"(President Bush's) plan will ensure that patients and doctors are always in charge of medical decisions, not bureaucrats in Washington or trial lawyers in the courtroom," she said.

Of Gruber's 23 employees, four are fulltime and receive health insurance benefits, while the others do not, Poser said.

"And my full-time staff is young, so health insurance isn't a big part of our cost," she said. "But the costs have gone up about 20 to 30 percent. Employees who have insurance are putting a little more into it."

Bonding

Before her speech, Bush toured Poser's quilt shop and admired a quilt she said Poser is auctioning. The proceeds will benefit female military retirees, Bush said.

Earlier, Poser recounted the 22-year history of her business, which moved to Waite Park six years ago.

"I'm a successful businessperson, but it's not because of me," she said. "I wouldn't be here if not for my 23 great employees. They're how I measure my success."

At one point, Bush asked Poser if she had any ideas on how to make things easier for small businesses. She said she didn't.

"I agree a lot with their opinions, and if (Bush) can carry them out, more power to him," Poser said. "But Congress has an awful lot to say about what gets done in our country. I don't know how much one man can do."

The first lady stayed for some time after her speech to greet those who had come to see her. She then headed back to the airport and on to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a similar engagement.