For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
February 8, 2004
VP Remarks at the NRCC Event
Remarks by the Vice President at National Republican Congressional Committee Event
Donald E. Stevens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois
February 7, 2004
Audio
12:20 P.M. CST
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you
all. Thank you for that warm welcome. It's good to be back in Chicago
with so many friends, and to have the opportunity to share the stage
together with my wife today.
I often explain to people that Lynne and I have a Republican
marriage. In 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower got elected President, I was
living as a youngster in Lincoln, Nebraska with my folks. Dad worked
for the Department of Agriculture. And Eisenhower got elected and
reorganized the Agriculture Department, Dad got transferred to Casper,
Wyoming. And so we moved to Casper. That's where I met Lynne when I
was 13 years old. We grew up together, went to high school together.
We'll celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary come August. (Applause.)
I explained to a group of people the other night, if it hadn't been
for that Republican victory by Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, I never would
have gone to Wyoming. Lynne would have married somebody else. And she
said, right, and now he'd be Vice President of the United States.
(Laughter.) We all know that's absolutely true.
But I'm delighted to be here today with so many friends and
colleagues from the Congress, and with the NRCC. I especially want to
thank all of you who supported us, and you're helping to ensure our
victories this year -- as Lynne said -- not only to maintain Republican
control of the House, to keep Denny Hastert as Speaker, but we've got
two special elections coming up that are very important, for Alice
Forgy Kerr, in Kentucky, and then of course, for State Senator Larry
Diedrich, in South Dakota. And those special elections in the off-year
are very, very important for us in terms of maintaining control. And
with your help, a year from now, we'll have a bigger majority than we
do today working side-by-side with our President George W. Bush.
(Applause.)
I'm always delighted to have the opportunity to spend a little time
with Speaker Hastert. Denny and I do a lot of work together, and with
your great chairman of the campaign committee, as well, with Tom
Reynolds.
As a former member of the House, I have a lot of good memories of
the House of Representatives. I served there for 10 years. I just
have one regret -- my great ambition as a congressman was to one day
get to be Speaker of the House and get to preside over the House of
Representatives. Unfortunately, I had to settle for second best and
preside over the United States Senate, as the Vice President.
(Laughter.)
But I do have certain official duties as Vice President, most of
which involve sitting and saying nothing. That was my job just a few
weeks ago, you may have remembered, when the President went up and gave
his State of the Union Address. You may have noticed me back there
over the President's shoulder. I tried not to draw attention to
myself, but it's not easy. When you put Dick Cheney next to Denny
Hastert, it's hard to contain all that charisma. (Laughter.)
By supporting the NRCC, all of you today are part of a great
effort. And the President and I genuinely appreciate your commitment
to the cause that we all serve. Having served for more than a decade
in the House of Representatives, every single day in the minority, I
never take our majority for granted.
When I joined the House, the chamber held 277 Democrats and only
158 Republicans. Reaching majority status was a very tough and long,
difficult enterprise -- yet it was worth the effort. And I think all
Americans can take pride in the achievements of this Republican
Congress and this Republican President.
The President and I have now begun the fourth year of our
administration, a period defined by serious challenges and hard
choices. When we were sworn in three years ago, no one could have
predicted all that lay before us. But we came to office with a clear
understanding of our responsibilities. We were determined to solve
problems, instead of simply passing them on to future generations. We
wanted to seize new opportunities for reform, and to get beyond the old
debates that stood in the way of progress.
Today, as we look ahead to this year's election, I believe we have
a record of accomplishment to show for our efforts. The American
people can be confident of a better future, of a stronger economy, and
of greater security against the dangers of ours new era because of the
character and the leadership of President, George W. Bush. (Applause.)
In this time of testing, our greatest responsibility is the active
defense of our nation. Even though it has been more than two years
since 9/11, we must have no illusion that somehow the danger has
passed.
Terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized
world. We see them for what they are: killers who will not be stopped
by negotiations or treaties, by appeals to reason, or by the least hint
of conscience. In the war on terror, we have only one option, we must
take the fight to the enemy.
Inside our country, where the war began, we must continue to give
homeland security and law enforcement personnel every tool they need to
defend us. And one of those essential tools is the Patriot Act, which
authorizes federal law enforcement to share more intelligence
information, to track terrorists, to disrupt their cells, and to seize
their assets. We use these tools to catch embezzlers and drug
traffickers, and we need these tools, as well, to hunt terrorists.
As the President said in his State of the Union Address, parts of
the Patriot Act are set to expire next year, but the terrorist threat
will not expire on that schedule. Our law enforcement needs the
Patriot Act, and Congress needs to renew it.
Today, over 140,000 members of our armed forces are deployed around
the world in the fight in the war on terror. In almost 29 months since
9/11, we, and our friends and allies in many countries, have inflicted
heavy losses upon al Qaeda's leadership and on their foot soldiers,
tracking them and finding them and bringing them to justice in hiding
places from Pakistan to Indonesia. Those not yet captured or killed
live in fear, and their fears are well founded.
We are also working with governments on every continent to take
down the financial networks that support terror, the hidden bank
accounts, the front groups, and the phony charities that have helped
them to function. Our government is working closely with intelligence
services all over the globe, and our own intelligence officers continue
to be engaged in some of the most perilous and sensitive intelligence
work ever carried out.
This work has brought many successes, including the discovery of
terror plots that we were able to stop in their tracks. Americans can
be grateful every day for the skillful and daring service of our
nation's intelligence professionals. (Applause.)
On the night of September 11th, President Bush declared that the
United States would make no distinction between the terrorists and
those who support them. This principle, the Bush doctrine, is now
understood by all. Any person or government that supports, protects or
harbors terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent, and will
be held to account.
The first to see its application were the Taliban, who ruled
Afghanistan by violence, while turning that country into a training
camp for terrorists. With fine allies at our side, we took down the
regime and destroyed the al Qaeda camps. Our work there continues. We
have over 13,000 members of our armed forces in Afghanistan as part of
an international security force now that includes 37 nations and a
major role for NATO. This force is on the hunt for remaining Taliban
and al Qaeda members. We're helping to train a new Afghan army and
helping to provide security, as the new government takes shape.
Under President Karzai's leadership, and with the help of our
coalition, the Afghan people are building a decent and a just and
democratic society, and their nation will be fully joined with us in
the war against terror.
In Iraq, the United States and our allies rid the Iraqi people of a
murderous dictator and rid the world of a menace to our future peace
and security. A year ago, Saddam Hussein controlled the lives and the
future of almost 25 million people, now he's in jail. (Applause.)
He will never again brutalize his people, never again support
dangerous terrorists, never again threaten the United States of
America. America has shown that we are serious about removing the
threat of weapons of mass destruction. We know that Saddam had the
capability to produce weapons of mass destruction. He had the
scientists and he had the technology he needed. We know he had the
necessary infrastructure because we found the labs and the dual-use
facilities that could be used to produce chemical and biological
agents. We know that he was developing the delivery system, ballistic
missiles, prohibited by the United Nations. We know that Saddam
Hussein had the intent to arm his regime with weapons of mass
destruction, and Saddam Hussein had something else -- he had a record
of using weapons of mass destruction against his enemies and against
his own people. There is no question that America did the right thing
in Iraq. (Applause.)
The gravest threat to America is the possibility of cooperation
between terrorist groups and outlaw regimes developing or possessing
weapons of mass destruction. As the President has said, we faced the
choice: either take the word of a madman, or take action to defend the
American people. Faced with that choice, George W. Bush will defend
America every time. (Applause.)
Freedom still has enemies in Iraq, terrorists who are targeting the
very success and the freedom that we're providing for that country.
But terror attacks on innocent civilians will not intimidate Americans,
and will not intimidate the Iraqi people.
With determined allies at our side, we are helping Iraqis build a
free country, which will make all of us more secure. We're standing
with the Iraqi people as they assume more responsibility for their own
security and move toward self-government. These are not easy tasks,
but they are absolutely essential. America will finish what we have
begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror.
From the very beginning, America has sought international support
for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained a great
deal of support. Yet, as the President has made clear, there is a
difference between leading a coalition of many nations, and submitting
to the objections of a few. America will never seek permission to
defend the security of our country. (Applause.)
America is the nation that is always ready to work and sacrifice
for peace. The use of force is always our last resort. And when that
need arises, all of us are fortunate to be defended by the United
States Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines. In all they
have done and continue to do, the men and women who wear this country's
uniform have performed with incredible skill and courage.
In Iraq, as in Afghanistan, American forces have struck hard
against the forces of murder and chaos -- conducting heroic raids,
countering attacks, seizing weapons, and capturing killers. Members of
the active duty armed forces, National Guard, and reserves have faced
hard duty, long deployments, and the loss of comrades. They are
confronting danger every day to protect all of us, and they are earning
the trust of the people they've liberated. They reflect extraordinary
credit on the United States of America. And our entire nation is proud
of each and every one of them. (Applause.)
The long-term security of our nation, and of our friends and allies
has been a principle concern of President Bush. And so has the
economic well-being of our citizens. By the time we took office, the
economy was sliding into recession. To get it growing again, we've
delivered significant tax relief for the American people. We're
leaving more money in the hands that earn it, because when Americans
have more take-home pay, they have more to spend, more to save, and
more to invest.
We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage
investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to
hire new people. And now we're seeing the results of the hard work of
the American people, and the sound policies of the Bush
administration.
Americans took those dollars, put them to work, driving this
economy forward. The pace of economic growth in the second half of
last year was 6.1 percent, the fastest in almost 20 years. New home
construction last year was the highest in 25 years. The home ownership
rate is the highest ever. Manufacturing activity is increasing.
Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing.
Productivity is high. Since August the economy has created 366,000 new
jobs, and unemployment is at a two-year low. These numbers confirm
that the American people are using their money far better than the
government would have, and that Congress was right to return it.
(Applause.)
As you know, there are voices in the land who want to roll back the
Bush tax cuts. Sometimes I hear those voices on the evening news. But
in fact, the Bush tax cuts were exactly what this economy needed, and
they have now set us on the path to long-term job creation and economic
growth. To keep us on that path, Congress needs to make the Bush tax
cuts permanent. (Applause.)
On issue after issue, from national security to economic growth and
trade, to improving our public schools, President Bush has led the way
in making progress for the American people. He's a man of his word.
When we look to the House of Representatives, we see outstanding
leadership in men like Denny Hastert, an effective majority, and a
superb record of achievement for the American people. All of us in
this administration, and the Republicans in the House and Senate,
recognize that our job is not to rest on a strong record, but to keep
adding to that record.
Abroad, the fundamental interest of this nation requires that we
oppose threats to our freedom and security wherever they gather. Yet
overcoming threats is only the beginning of America's
responsibilities. In the Middle East, we are encouraging free markets,
democracy and tolerance because these are the ideas and aspirations
that overcome violence and turn societies to the pursuit of peace.
In that region and beyond, all who strive and sacrifice for the
cause of freedom will have a friend in the United States of America.
Here at home, we have a full agenda, and a record of achievement. We
will continue our pro-growth economic agenda, so that we can continue
to create jobs. We must improve our health care system through medical
liability reform. Doctors should be able to spend their time healing
patients, instead of fighting off frivolous lawsuits from trial
lawyers. (Applause.)
And we need a national energy policy because consumers and
businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run.
It's also time for the United States Senate to get about the business
of confirming President Bush's judicial nominees. (Applause.)
The President has a responsibility to make sure the judicial system
runs well, and he has met his responsibility. He's put forward superb
nominees to serve on the federal bench -- talented, experienced men and
women who represent the mainstream of American law and American
values. Yet Senate Democrats have taken to waging filibusters, denying
some of these nominees up-or-down votes for months or even years. Even
though these nominees may have a majority of senators supporting them,
they can't get confirmed unless they get a super majority of 60 votes,
because of the Democratic filibuster. That is unfair to the nominees,
and it is an abuse of the constitutional process. Every nominee
deserves a prompt up-or-down vote on the Senate floor, and that's why
we need a bigger majority in the United States Senate. (Applause.)
The campaign season is underway. President Bush and I will be
proud to present our vision to voters in every part of this great
country. We'll run hard. We'll take nothing for granted, and we will
continue making good use of every day that we serve the American
people.
Long before I took my current job, I had the good fortune to work
for other Presidents I greatly admire. Along the way, I learned a few
things about the presidency and the kind of person it takes to do that
job well. It takes the finest qualities of character: conviction,
personal integrity, good judgement, compassion, courage in times of
testing for the nation. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly the
kind of man we have in the White House today in President George W.
Bush. (Applause.)
I count it a privilege to serve with a President who has united our
nation behind great goals and brought honor and integrity to the White
House. Once again, I want to thank you all of you for your commitment
to the cause we share. The President and I are grateful for our fine
partners on Capitol Hill and for our strong supporters here in room
today. And together, we're going to see this cause forward to victory
on November 2nd.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 12:40 P.M. CST
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