For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
November 17, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at a Luncheon for Bush-Cheney '04
Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, New York
12:15 P.M. EST
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much.
(Applause.) Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you all very much. Well,
it's great to be back in New York and in Rochester today. And I
especially want to thank the Governor for his kind words. George
Pataki has been an absolutely superb governor for New York. He's one
of the President's very best friends from their days together as
governors. He does a superb job, not only for the state of New York,
but the United States. We're very fortunate to have him. And I'm
delighted having him campaigning with us today. (Applause.)
And I can't help coming back to Rochester, and thinking about an
old friend of mine, Barber Conable. I know Barber is not here today,
but I know Barber represented part of this area for many, many years.
He was a superb member of Congress, and I enjoyed immensely my service
with him. He took my under his wing when I got elected and showed me
the ropes. And I want to wish he and Charlotte (ph) the very best
today.
We're also honored to be with two other members. Of course, Tom
Reynolds, from Erie County, is here today. Tom has done a superb job.
(Applause.) He's been in the House only a short time, since 1998, but
he's risen rapidly through the ranks of the leadership, chairman of our
campaign committee. And we're going to hear a lot from Tom in the
years ahead. And of course, our colleague Sherry Boehlert. Sherry,
chairman of a key committee, comes from New Hartford. (Applause.)
Sherry and I served together in the House.
And I did -- I spent 10 years in the House of Representatives. I
was just elected to my sixth term. And, of course, it was a little bit
different being Wyoming's congressman than being from New York state.
In New York you have 29 members, I believe, today; Wyoming only had one
for the whole state. It was a small delegation, but it was quality.
(Laughter.)
But I always love to tell a story about my last campaign for
Congress. In a state like that, after I'd run five times before and
campaigned all across the state, and your picture is on television,
name is in the newspaper and so forth, we had a tradition, we always
closed out every campaign with a rally down in the farming community of
Torrington, down along the Wyoming-Nebraska border. The farm groups
would have all the candidates -- Republican and Democrat, alike -- out
to talk to the folks, tell them what you were going to do if you got
elected. Before it was my turn to get up and speak at that last rally,
I was out working the crowd, wanted to make sure I'd personally greeted
every voter there. And I walked up to one old cowboy with his hat
pulled down over his eyes, back up against a tree, and reached out and
grabbed him by the hand, and said, hi, I'm Dick Cheney. I'm running
for Congress. And I'd like your vote.
He said, you've got it. That fool we got in there now is no damn
good. (Laughter.)
It's always a humbling experience to campaign in Wyoming. But I
want to thank all of you for being here, as well, today, and for giving
your generous support to this campaign early on. It's oftentimes we
hear when we get into election times and campaigns, people say, well,
it doesn't really matter what I do. There are thousands, millions of
people out there doing their thing. And what possible difference could
it make whether or not I get involved?
And anybody who has any doubts about the importance of the efforts
that every single one of us makes as individuals, all they have to do
is think about the 2000 presidential campaign. That boiled down to
500-plus votes in Florida in the final outcome. And if there was ever
a race where every single contribution mattered, where every hour of
volunteer mattered, where all of the work that party officials and
volunteers and folks did out there to make all of that happen, that
election should be a reminder of how enormously important that
individual level of effort is, the effort that all of you signed on for
here by being present, this morning, as well.
This election coming up in 2004 is enormously important. As the
Governor pointed out, we've got some major issues at stake. And that's
what I want to talk about some this morning. But I want to thank you
for making that commitment early on to be part of this effort.
I've been tremendously grateful to have the opportunity to serve
the nation and the President as Vice President. And all of us here
today, I know, are tremendously proud to be friends and supporters of
our President, George W. Bush.
We're looking forward to 2004. As the President says, we're
starting to loosen up for the campaign. We're very happy that we will
be accepting renomination at the convention in New York, and we're
going to do our level best to carry this state next November for the
Republican ticket. (Applause.)
And we know the next 11 months will be a busy time as the political
season draws near. We recently had some early indications about how
voters feel about Republican leadership out around the country. Of
course, we've won three out of four governorships just in the last few
weeks. And that includes, Kentucky and Mississippi. And of course,
today, this very day, we'll swear in the new Republican governor of
California, Arnold Schwarzenegger -- a good piece of work, I think.
This is shaping up to be a good year for our party. And I'm
confident that next year, the American people are going to reelect our
President, as well.
The President and I will be proud to present our message to voters
all across the country, as well as here in New York. We came to
Washington three years ago determined to solve problems, instead of
simply passing them on to future generations. We were determined to
seize new opportunities for reform and to get beyond the debates that
had for so long stood in the way of progress.
Today, as we look ahead to the election of 2004, I think we've got
a record of accomplishment to show for our efforts. And I believe the
American people can be confident of a better future, a stronger
economy, and greater security against the dangers of a new era because
of the character and the leadership of our President, George W. Bush.
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on America, people in
every part of the country, regardless of party, took comfort and pride
in the character and conduct of our President. From that day to this,
he has led a steady, focused, and relentless campaign against the
enemies who struck America and killed 3,000 of our fellow citizens on
September 11th.
Not long after that day, one high-ranking al Qaeda official said,
"This is the beginning of the end for America." But it's pretty clear
this terrorist did not know us. It's pretty clear the terrorists who
attacked us did not understand the strength and resilience of this
country. And they, clearly, underestimated the determination of our
President.
We stand here today, many of al Qaeda's known leaders, killed or
captured. Those still at large are living in fear -- because we are on
their trail. In Afghanistan, the Taliban regime brutalized an entire
population and harbored al Qaeda -- and that regime is no more. In
Iraq, a ruthless dictator, one of the bloodiest dictators of the 20th
century, cultivated weapons of mass destruction and the means to
deliver them. He gave support to terrorists, had a relationship with
al Qaeda -- and his regime is no more.
Freedom still has enemies in Iraq. Those terrorists are targeting
the very success and the freedom that we are providing to the Iraqi
people. Terror attacks on innocent civilians will not intimidate
Americans, and will not intimidate the Iraqi people.
Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror. And we are
rolling back the terrorist threat at the very heart of its power in the
Middle East. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq,
defeating them there, because if we do that, we will not have to face
them in the streets of our own cities. (Applause.)
We are calling on other nations to help Iraqis build a free
country, which will make us all more secure. We are standing with the
Iraqi people as they assume more responsibility for their own security
and move toward self-government themselves. These are not easy tasks,
yet they are absolutely essential. As the President said many times,
and no one can doubt, "We will finish what we've begun, and we will win
this essential victory in the war on terror."
In all that they've done and continue to do, the men and women who
wear the uniform of the United States have performed with enormous
skill and great courage. As a former Secretary of Defense, I have
never been prouder of the United States military than I am today.
(Applause.)
These young Americans deserve our wholehearted support. They're
playing a classic role, one that they undertook after World War II,
when they brought help and hope to the people of Europe and Japan.
Now, in the Middle East and Central Asia, they are earning the trust of
people they've already liberated. One of the most important
commitments that President Bush and I made during the 2000 campaign was
that the armed forces would be given every resource they need, and the
respect they deserve. And we've kept our word.
The long-term security of our nation, and of our friends and
allies, has been a principal concern of President Bush's
administration. 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 to the
American people. We've done this because we believe that when families
and small businesses are hurting, the best way to help them is to let
them keep more of what they earn. After all, the money we spend in
Washington is not the government's money -- it's the people's money.
(Applause.)
This administration has delivered the largest tax relief package
since Ronald Reagan was in the White House, and we are beginning to see
strong economic growth as a result. Figures for the third quarter show
the economy grew at an annual rate of 7.2 percent -- the fastest pace
in nearly 20 years. Exports are expanding, business investment is
rising, housing construction is booming, jobs are being created. The
Bush tax cuts are working.
As you know, there are a few voices in the land who want to roll
back the tax cuts. Sometimes you'll hear these voices on the evening
news. But in fact, the Bush tax cuts are what is bringing us out of
recession. And they're helping to foster long-term economic growth.
The President and I will not be satisfied until every person who wants
to work can find a job.
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. One of the sure signs
of leadership can be seen every day in the people he's brought into
government. As many of you know, I've had the privilege of holding a
number of positions in public service including: White House Chief of
Staff, member of Congress, and Secretary of Defense. And looking at
the group now serving under President Bush, I can tell you this is one
of the finest teams ever assembled by an American President.
All of us in the administration -- and the Republicans in the House
and Senate, as well -- 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 our responsibilities. In
the Middle East, America is encourging free markets, democracy, and
tolerance -- because these are the ideas and the 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, as well, and pressing business
to complete. After so many years of inaction, we are nearing major
reform in Medicare -- reform that strengthens the system, and provides
America's seniors with prescription drug coverage. We must also
improve our health system through liability reform. In New York and
across America, doctors should be able to spend their time treating
patients, not fighting off frivolous lawsuits.
Thanks to the President's leadership, Congress is nearing passage
of a comprehensive energy plan. For the sake of our economic security
and national security, we need to modernize our energy infrastructure
and make this nation less dependent on foreign oil.
Also on Capitol Hill, it's time for the Senate to get about the
business of confirming the President's judicial nominees. (Applause.)
The President has put forward a superb list of nominees -- men and
women who have experience, talent, who represent the mainstream of
American law and American values. Yet some of these nominees have been
denied up-or-down votes for months and even years. The Senate
Democrats have taken to waging filibusters against certin nominees who
don't meet their litmus test. This means that even though these
nominees have a majority of senators supporting them, they can't get
confirmed unless they get a super majority of 60 votes. That's unfair
to the nominees, and we believe it's an abuse of the constitutional
process. It is time to give every nominee an up-or-down vote --
promptly -- on the floor of the United States Senate. And both of New
York's United States senators ought to help return fairness to the
confirmation process. (Applause.)
We've achieved a great deal over the last several years. But
there's still a great deal left to do in Washington. Around the world,
this nation has many serious responsibilities and challenges. The
campaign season will come in due course, and when it does, President
Bush and I will run hard and take nothing for granted. We understand
the key to victory is to do the work we've been given, and to do it
well. We intend to make good use of every day we have the honor of
serving the American people.
Long before I entered my current job, I had the good fortune to
work with other presidents I greatly admire. As a White House staffer
in the aftermath of Watergate, I saw Gerald Ford restore confidence in
government by the sheer decency and force of his character. As a
congressman during the decisive years of the Cold War, I saw the
conviction and the moral courage of Ronald Reagan. And as a member of
the Cabinet under former President Bush, I saw the ideal of public
service in its purest form and came to know a leader of true honor and
integrity.
Along the way, I learned a few things about the presidency, and the
kind of person that it takes to do that job well. It takes the finest
qualities of character: conviction, personal integrity, good judgment,
compassion, and 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. (Applause.)
President Bush and I are both honored by your confidence in us, and
by your commitment to the cause we all share. We're proud to have so
many friends in Rochester and across this great state. Your support in
November of 2003 now will help assure victory next year in November of
2004. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 12:30 P.M. EST
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