Louisville, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks – as prepared - Thursday prior to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s speech at the University of Louisville:
“Thank you, Shirley, and welcome, everybody, to the University of Louisville.
“I want to welcome this evening our many men and women in uniform, especially our friends from Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, the Blue Grass Army Depot, the Kentucky National Guard, Reserve Forces from all services, and all of our heroic veterans. Thank you for your outstanding service to our nation.
“I also want to take a moment to recognize the sacrifice of Lieutenant Colonel John D. Loftis, of Paducah, Kentucky, who was tragically killed in an attack at the Interior Ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan, last Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Loftis was an Air Force officer in the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron who leaves behind a wife and two daughters. I know everyone here, including our honored speaker, grieves for his loss.
“I’m very honored that the McConnell Center is able to sponsor this event, which is a first: The first time we welcome a sitting United States secretary of defense in the Center’s 21-year history.
“More than ten years after 9/11, America remains a nation facing a grave threat from terrorism, and faces a changing balance of power in the Asia Pacific theater. Our position of primacy in global affairs must be reconciled with a national debt that exceeds the size of our economy. In such daunting times, the president relies on the secretary of defense to provide civilian leadership to our Armed Forces as they engage with our enemies across the world.
“Fortunately for us all, that secretary of defense is Leon Panetta—a man who has never shied from a challenge. Hailing from Monterey, California, Secretary Panetta has proved his mettle often in the most difficult jobs in public service.
“Paramount among his many accomplishments is the one that will go down in the history books, and still be studied decades from now when today’s McConnell Scholars are running the world: As CIA director, less than a year ago, Secretary Panetta presided over both the hunt for and the operation that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
“The success of the mission to strike the leader of Al Qaeda is just one history-making moment, albeit one of the brightest, in a history-making career. Leon Panetta believes deeply in public service. And it is America’s good fortune that he has answered the call to serve, time and again.
“Secretary Panetta served his country in uniform in the 1960s as an Army intelligence officer. Lieutenant Panetta received the Army Commendation Medal for his service. His service also helped him to better understand the sacrifices our men and women in the military make, an understanding that guides him today in his role heading up the Department of Defense.
“Leon represented his central California district in Congress for 16 years, and served the last four of those as House Budget Committee chairman. His depth of knowledge on budget issues led to his appointment as President Clinton’s first director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“He became White House chief of staff at a crucial point in our political history, and it is thanks in part to him that Congress and the president were able to work together and pass needed and meaningful reforms in an era of divided government.
“After his Congressional and White House service, no one could have blamed Leon if he had had enough of public life. But the secretary believes public service is an honored calling. While out of government, Leon and his wife, Sylvia, created the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay.
“Much like the McConnell Center, the Panetta Institute’s goal is to instill in our brightest students a passion for public service. Leon and I have known each other for many years, and I know one thing we have in common is a belief that it’s important to find the next generation of leaders, regardless of party, and seize their imaginations.
“Leon has great respect on both sides of the aisle. For his confirmation vote last year to become secretary of defense, the tally was 100 senators in the affirmative, zero against. Leon got the votes of every single senator, Democrat or Republican.
“In fact, Leon used to be a Republican. Not everyone knows that. I guess some things even a former CIA director can’t keep secret.
“But regardless of his party, and regardless of which side of the aisle whoever he is talking to happens to be on, Leon has built his career on honesty and by maintaining good relations with senior leaders in government of both parties.
“I know he can certainly count on the trust and friendship of the Senate Republican Leader.
“In short, at a time of great challenge to America, our military enjoys the leadership of a secretary of defense who is singularly well suited to advise the president and the Congress on the best ways to preserve America’s role in the world.
“I’m hard pressed to name another person in government today who believes more in the importance of public service—or in the deep gratitude we owe our members of the Armed Forces.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my friend, the 23rd secretary of defense of the United States, Leon Panetta.”