Mr. Carlos Pagan

Carlos Pagan.

MR. PAGAN: Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, he's a firefighter, and I'm proud of you. (Applause.) Good job. All right, where are you a firefighter?

MR. PAGAN: I'm a fireman in the City of Patterson. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Good, yes. Thank you. Staying in good shape?

MR. PAGAN: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: One thing about those firefighters, they stay in good shape. You also --

MR. PAGAN: I own a real estate company in the city of Patterson. Again, my name is Carlos Pagan; I'm 33 years old. I'm raising two kids. I have a daughter named Vanessa -- she's 15.

THE PRESIDENT: No, you're not 15. (Laughter.)

MR. PAGAN: He's 13.

THE PRESIDENT: So like, teenagers? Yes -- I've been there. (Laughter and applause.)

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Let me tell you an interesting statistic. You know, Carlos -- I was getting ready to tell you, the other day I was at one of these forums, and the person said, people like me -- see, she had read a survey that said people her age thought they were likely to see a UFO before they'd get a Social Security check when they retire. (Laughter.) Kind of an interesting observation, isn't it? (Laughter.) So here's Carlos, a firefighter, saying, just give me a chance to manage some of my own money.
...
I think it's interesting, don't you, that Carlos is -- he's got an entrepreneurial spirit to begin with. When did you start your own business?

MR. PAGAN: Seven years ago, sir.
...
MR. PAGAN: Yes, doing all right.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good, yes. It's what we like to hear. (Laughter.) Employing people?

MR. PAGAN: Yes, and this summer, I'm going to employ my daughter for the first time and she'll be able to contribute to Social Security.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good. Good job. (Applause.)

Okay. Bryan Dougherty. Welcome.
...
The fundamental question is, will the Congress have the will and the desire to work with the administration so that we can say to people like Brian and Carlos and everybody else up here that are born after 1950, we hear your voice, too; we know you've got a concern and we want to make sure this very important system -- the retirement system -- is modernized and reformed so you'll have the safety net when you retire, as well.

The other three people chosen by the White House were Brian Dougherty, a 23 yr old sales manager from Hoboken, Carlos Pagan, a Paterson firefighter, and Olivia Mitchell, an Economics Professor from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bush was joined onstage by several supporters - including Paterson Firefighter Carlos Pagan and Lisa Engler, a Westfield mother of five - all of whom voiced support for the president's plan.

WESTFIELD - As Paterson firefighter Carlos Pagan sat beside President Bush and promoted Social Security reform Friday morning, Paterson activist Tommy Silva was outside getting arrested.

Carlos Pagan.

MR. PAGAN: Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, he's a firefighter, and I'm proud of you. (Applause.) Good job.All right, where are you a firefighter?

MR. PAGAN: I'm a fireman in the City of Patterson. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Good, yes.Thank you.Staying in good shape?

MR. PAGAN: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: One thing about those firefighters, they stay in good shape.You also --

MR. PAGAN: I own a real estate company in the city of Patterson.Again, my name is Carlos Pagan; I'm 33 years old.I'm raising two kids.I have a daughter named Vanessa -- she's 15.

THE PRESIDENT: No, you're not 15. (Laughter.)

MR. PAGAN: He's 13.

THE PRESIDENT: So like, teenagers?Yes -- I've been there. (Laughter and applause.)

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: Let me tell you an interesting statistic.You know, Carlos -- I was getting ready to tell you, the other day I was at one of these forums, and the person said, people like me -- see, she had read a survey that said people her age thought they were likely to see a UFO before they'd get a Social Security check when they retire. (Laughter.) Kind of an interesting observation, isn't it? (Laughter.) So here's Carlos, a firefighter, saying, just give me a chance to manage some of my own money.
...
I think it's interesting, don't you, that Carlos is -- he's got an entrepreneurial spirit to begin with.When did you start your own business?

MR. PAGAN: Seven years ago, sir.
...
MR. PAGAN: Yes, doing all right.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good, yes.It's what we like to hear. (Laughter.) Employing people?

MR. PAGAN: Yes, and this summer, I'm going to employ my daughter for the first time and she'll be able to contribute to Social Security.

THE PRESIDENT: That's good.Good job. (Applause.)

Okay. Bryan Dougherty.Welcome.
...
The fundamental question is, will the Congress have the will and the desire to work with the administration so that we can say to people like Brian and Carlos and everybody else up here that are born after 1950, we hear your voice, too; we know you've got a concern and we want to make sure this very important system -- the retirement system -- is modernized and reformed so you'll have the safety net when you retire, as well.