For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 4, 2004
President and Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium
Erie, Pennsylvania
2:45 P.M. EDT
MRS. BUSH: Thank you all. Thanks, everybody. (Applause.) Thank
you all so much. Thanks a lot, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you all
so much. Thank you for your very, very warm welcome. We're so happy
to be here in Erie, with all of you. We were in Scranton yesterday,
making our way out of the convention to the first, our first stop to
the great state of Pennsylvania yesterday. And we're here today.
(Applause.) We'll be here a lot between now and November 2nd, and we
know that with your support, Pennsylvania will send President Bush to
the White House for four more years. (Applause.)
I'm proud of the way my husband has led our country with strength
and conviction through some of these very difficult struggles.
(Applause.) I've watched him take decisive action to lead us out of
recession and to spread opportunity and ownership to every corner of
America. I've watched him make the tough decisions that have helped
safeguard our children from terror, and liberate 50 million people from
tyranny. (Applause.)
I'm so proud of my husband. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of
the United States. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here.
(Applause.) I appreciate you all coming out. There's nothing better
than taking a bus trip on a Saturday with your family. (Laughter.)
Nothing better than ending the bus trip in Erie, Pennsylvania.
(Applause.)
I'm so honored so many came out to say hello. Thank you. I'm here
to ask for the vote. (Applause.) I believe it's important to get out
amongst the people, tell them what's on your mind. And that's what I'm
here to do. But perhaps -- I'm going to give you some reasons to put
me back in, but perhaps the most important one of all is so that Laura
is the First Lady for four more years. (Applause.) Laura is a great
mom, a great wife, and a great First Lady. I'm proud of the job she's
doing. I'm also proud of our daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Thank you
for coming. (Applause.)
I'm proud of my running mate, too. I'm running with a good man in
Dick Cheney. I admit he's not the prettiest face on the ticket.
(Laughter.) I didn't pick him for his looks. I picked him because of
his sound judgment, his experience. I picked him because he can get
the job done. (Applause.)
It's good to be in old Tom Ridge's home town. (Applause.) He's a
good friend, he's a good man, and he's doing a heck of a good job in
reorganizing the Department of Homeland Security. (Applause.) Thank
you for raising him the right way. (Laughter.)
Glad to be here with Senator Arlen Specter. I hope you put him
back in the United States Senate. (Applause.) He's a good friend.
I'm looking forward to working with him just like I look forward to
working with Rick Santorum, the other Senator. (Applause.)
I'm proud to be in the district of another friend, Phil English,
Congressman Phil English. (Applause.) Thought he'd have got a better
seat. (Laughter.) And Congressman John Peterson is with us, as well.
Thank you for coming, John. I appreciate you being here. (Applause.)
Jean Craige Pepper, too. She's running for treasurer of the state of
Pennsylvania. (Applause.) My friend, Jane Earle is with us today from
right here in Erie. (Applause.) John Evans is with us.
I want to thank all the other state and local officials who are
here. Thanks for serving your state and your community. I thank my
friend, John Connolly, the country music singer, for being here today.
I appreciate him coming. (Applause.) Most of all, thank you all for
taking time out of your Saturday to come by and say hello. I
appreciate you being here. (Applause.) It means an awful lot.
Somebody said, well, maybe a couple hundred will show up to say hi.
(Laughter.)
I'm here also to ask for your help. I know many of you are
involved in grassroots politics, which means putting up the signs or
making the phone calls. I want to thank you for that and I want to
thank you for that. And I want to thank you for what you're going to
do as we come down the stretch run here. I urge you to encourage your
friends and neighbors to vote. We have a duty in this country to
participate in the democratic process, to register people, convince
people that we have an obligation in a free society to exercise our
will at the ballot box. (Applause.)
And when you're registering people, make sure you register
independents and discerning Democrats, people like Zell Miller.
(Applause.) And when you get them headed toward the polls, remind them
four more years of George Bush and Dick Cheney will make this country
safer, stronger and better. (Applause.)
Over the next two months, I'm going to spend a lot of time here in
Pennsylvania. (Applause.) Now, I know what the pundits say, but let
me tell you something. There's no doubt in my mind, with your help,
we're going to carry this great state. (Applause.) I'm going to tell
you where I stand. I'm going to tell you what I believe, and I'm going
to tell you where I'm going to lead this country for the next four
years.
I believe every child can learn and every school must teach.
(Applause.) We're making progress. We're challenging the soft bigotry
of low expectations. We're raising standards. We're testing so we can
solve problems early before they're too late. We're empowering local
people to make the right decisions for their schools, and the minority
gap is closing in America. We're on our way to excellence for every
child, and we're not turning back. (Applause.)
I believe we have a moral responsibility to provide good health
care for our seniors. You might remember the old debate on Medicare;
they called it "Mediscare." But I went to Washington to make sure that
we provided good health for our seniors. See, the old system, we pay
$100,000 for heart surgery, but not the medicine necessary to see to it
that the heart surgery wasn't necessary. It didn't make any sense for
you, the taxpayers. It didn't make any sense for our seniors.
Starting in 2006, seniors will get prescription drug coverage in
Medicare. (Applause.)
I believe in the energy and the innovative spirit of America's
workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers. And that's why
we unleashed that energy with the largest tax cut in a generation.
(Applause.) Because we acted, our economy is growing. Last -- the
jobs report yesterday showed that we increased jobs by 144,000 in the
month of August. And when you couple that -- when you couple that with
the upward revisions of the two previous months, we added 200,000 new
jobs, which is 1.7 million since August of '03. (Applause.) The
national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, 1 percent lower than last
summer. The national unemployment rate is lower than the average of
the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Our economic recovery plan is working.
(Applause.)
I believe I have the duty as your President to lead. A President
must confront problems, not pass them on to future generations or
future Presidents. (Applause.) I believe the most solemn duty of the
President is to protec the American people. (Applause.) If America
shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift
toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. (Applause.)
I have a positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful
America. I'm running with a philosophy called compassionate
conservatism. It says that government should help people improve their
lives, not try to run their lives. (Applause.) I also understand the
world we're living in is changing. People are changing jobs and
careers. Years ago when our fathers and grandfathers were in the
workplace, it was mainly men working. Today, women are occupying a lot
of the important jobs in America. This is a changing world we live
in. (Applause.) And yet -- I want you to hear this -- our most
fundamental systems -- the tax code, health coverage, pension plans,
and worker training -- were created for the world of yesterday, not
tomorrow. We will transform these systems so all citizens are
equipped, prepared, and thus, truly free to make your own choices so
you can pursue your own dreams. (Applause.)
Any good plan means we've got to keep growing our economy, and I've
got a plan to do that. To keep jobs here in America, Congress needs to
get an energy plan to my desk so we can become less dependent on
foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
To keep jobs here in America, we must open up markets overseas.
Listen, our markets are open. and it's good for you as a consumer.
See, when you have more choices to choose from, you're likely to get a
product that you like at a good price. And so I've told countries like
China and elsewhere, you treat us the way we treat you. American
workers can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the
rules are fair. (Applause.)
To keep jobs here, we've got to get rid of these junk lawsuits that
are threatening our small business owners in America. (Applause.) To
keep jobs here, I propose what's called opportunity zones, to help
places like Erie, where you've lost manufacturing jobs, to be able to
apply for tax relief and investment incentives and regulatory relief,
all specifically designed to attract new businesses and new jobs. To
keep jobs here, we must be wise about how we spend your money and keep
your taxes low. (Applause.)
Running up the taxes on American workers and American small
businesses is bad economic policy, and we have a difference in this
campaign about taxes. I'm running against a fellow who's proposed
already $2 trillion of new programs, see. And so they said to him,
they said, how are you going to pay for it? And he said, oh, that's
easy, we'll just tax the rich. The problem is we've heard that before,
haven't we? Yeah. You know what happens. They hire accountants and
lawyers, and you get stuck with the bill. But we're not going to let
him get away with it. We're going to carry Pennsylvania and the
country in November. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Let me tell you what else needs to change. Our tax
code needs to change. It's a complicated mess. Americans spend six
billion hours on paperwork and headache, when it comes to this tax
code. It's full of special interest loopholes. In a new term, I will
bring Democrats and Republicans together to reform and simplify the
federal tax code. (Applause.)
We'll make sure our workers have got the skills for the 21st
century jobs. That's why we're going to expand assets to our community
colleges. We'll make sure we're able to -- make sure the kids of this
country are able to be able to compete in a competitive world. Listen,
most new jobs are filled by people who have been to college for two
years. That's the reality of the world we live in, yet one in four of
our students gets there. That's why in our high schools we'll fund
early intervention programs to help students at risk. We'll expand
math and science. Over time, we'll require rigorous exam before
graduation. By raising performance in our high schools and by
expanding Pell grants for low- and middle-income Americans, we will
help more Americans start their career with a college degree.
(Applause.)
In changing times, we've got to make sure health care is available
and affordable. Most of the uninsured in America -- about 50 percent
of the uninsured are small business employees. These small businesses
are having trouble affording health care. In the new term, we must
allow small businesses to join together to purchase insurance at the
discounts that big companies are able to get. (Applause.)
We'll expand health savings accounts to help our workers and small
businesses. We'll expand community and rural health centers to poor
counties all across America. We will improve health care, but, as we
do so, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients,
not by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. (Applause.)
There's another big issue in this campaign as far as health care.
There are too many frivolous lawsuits that are running up the costs of
your health care and running good docs out of business. (Applause.)
You've got a problem here in Pennsylvania with medical liability and
we've got a problem around the nation. See, I don't think you can be
pro-doctor, pro-patient, pro-hospital and pro-plaintiff attorney at the
same time. (Applause.) I think you have to choose. My opponent made
his choice and he put him on the ticket.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I made my choice. I am for medical liability
reform now. (Applause.)
In a changing world, if you own something, you can bring stability
to your life. One of the most hopeful statistics of the modern age is
the fact that the home ownership rate is at an all-time high in
America. More minorities own a home than ever before in our country.
More people are opening up their doors saying, welcome to my home,
welcome to my piece of property. Over the next four years, we'll
continue to expand home ownership.
I want to talk about one other aspect of ownership that's
important, and that's Social Security. If you're an older citizen
today, nothing's going to change for Social Security. You're in good
shape. If you're a baby boomer like me, the Social Security trust will
take care of us. But if you're a younger worker, you better listen
carefully to the debate on Social Security. I believe to make sure the
Social Security system is around for younger workers. They should be
able to save some of their own taxes in a personal account that they
can call their own, that government cannot take away. (Applause.)
Now, this is a changing world. We've got plans to stand
side-by-side with the people and the families of America so they can
realize their dreams. But in a changing world, some things won't
change: the values we try to live by, courage and compassion,
reverence and integrity. In a changing world, we must support the
institutions that give us purpose: our families, our schools and our
religious congregations. (Applause.)
We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and
every person counts. (Applause.) We support marriage and family,
which are the foundations of our society. (Applause.) We support our
religious charities that provide a safety net of mercy and compassion.
Our government must never discriminate against faith-based programs.
(Applause.) And I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the
difference between personal opinion, and the strict interpretation of
the law. (Applause.)
This election will also determine how America responds to the
continuing danger of terrorism. Since the terrible morning of
September the 11th, 2001, we have fought the terrorists across the
Earth, not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our
citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're defending the
homeland, we're transforming our military, we're strengthening our
intelligence services. We will stay on the offensive. We will strike
the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.
(Applause.) We will advance liberty in the broader Middle East because
freedom will bring a future of hope and the peace we all long for. And
we will prevail. (Applause.)
Our strategy is succeeding. Four years ago, Afghanistan was the
home base of al Qaeda. Pakistan was a transit point for terrorist
groups. Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for terrorist fundraising.
Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Iraq was a gathering
threat, al Qaeda was largely unchallenged as it planned attacks.
Because we acted, the government of a free Afghanistan is fighting
terror; Pakistan is capturing terrorists; Saudi Arabia is making raids
and arrests; Libya is dismantling its weapons programs; the army of a
free Iraq is fighting for freedom; and more than three-quarters of al
Qaeda's key members and associates have been brought to justice.
(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: We have led, many have joined, and America and the
world are safer.
This progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose, and
some tough decisions. And the toughest came on Iraq. We knew Saddam
Hussein's history of aggression and support for terror. We knew his
long history of pursuing and using weapons of mass destruction. And we
know that after September the 11th, this country must think
differently. After that horrible day, we must take threats seriously
before they fully materialize. (Applause.)
In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. I went to the United States
Congress and members of both political parties looked at the same
intelligence I looked at, remembered the same history that I
remembered, and came to the same conclusion that my administration had
come to, he was a threat. My opponent looked at the same intelligence
and came to the same conclusion, and voted to authorize the use of
force in Iraq.
Before the Commander-in-Chief commits troops into combat, we must
try all means to solve a problem. That's why I went to the United
Nations, in the hope that diplomacy would work. The United Nations
Security Council looked at the same intelligence we looked at,
remembered the history we remembered, came to the same conclusion that
we came to, Saddam was a threat. And they pass a resolution that said,
disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. (Applause.) In other
words, the free world, after more than a decade of diplomacy, gave
Saddam Hussein another chance, a final chance, to meet his
responsibilities. But as he had for over a decade, he wasn't
interested in what the free world said. He ignored resolution after
resolution after resolution. As a matter of fact, when they sent
inspectors into his country, he systematically deceived them.
So I had a choice to make, the only -- the kind of choice that
comes to the Oval Office; a choice no President wants to make, but
better be prepared to make. And the choice was this: Do I trust the
word of a madman and forget the lessons of September the 11th, or take
action to defend this country? Given that choice, I will defend
America every time. (Applause.)
Because we acted, because we acted to defend our country, more than
50 million people have been liberated. (Applause.) Because we acted
in our own self-interest, democracy is now on the margin in the greater
Middle East. Think about this. In Afghanistan, 10 million citizens
have registered to vote in a presidential election which will take
place next month. (Applause.) Despite ongoing acts of violence, Iraq
now has a strong prime minister, a national council, and national
elections are scheduled in January. (Applause.)
We're standing with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq because when
America gives its word, it must keep its word. (Applause.) As well,
we're serving a vital and historic cause that will make us safer. Free
societies in the Middle East will be hopeful societies, which no longer
feed resentments and breed violence for export. Free governments in
the Middle East will fight terrorists instead of harboring them. And
that helps us keep the peace. So our mission in Afghanistan and Iraq
is clear. We will help the new leaders train their armies so they can
stop the few who are trying to prevent the many from living in a free
society. (Applause.) We will move toward elections. We will help
those countries get on the path of stability and democracy as quickly
as possible. And then our troops will return home with the honor they
have earned. (Applause.)
We have a great military. (Applause.) Our military is full of
courageous and decent and honorable people. I want to thank the
veterans who are here today for setting such a great example, for those
who served. (Applause.)
We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete
their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September and
proposed fundamental -- supplemental funding, which is money for armor
and body parts and ammunition and fuel -- necessary, money necessary so
they can do their work. And we received great bipartisan support.
That means both Democrats and Republicans supported it -- except for 12
members of the United States Senate voted no.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, two of whom are my opponent and his running
mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Only four United States senators voted to authorize
the use of force and then voted against funding our troops.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: And two of those were my opponent and his running
mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: So they asked him to explain his vote. He said, I
actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: So they said -- they kept pressing and he said he
was proud of his vote. And finally he just said the whole thing was a
complicated matter. (Laughter.) There's nothing complicated about
supporting our troops in combat. (Applause.)
Our allies know the historic work we're doing. We put together a
broad coalition, nearly 40 countries in Afghanistan, some 30 in Iraq
are working with us to bring peace to the world. Over the next four
years, I'll continue to work to build our alliances. But I will never
turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other
countries. (Applause.)
I believe in the transformational power of liberty. That's what I
believe. The wisest use of America's strength is to advance freedom.
I like to tell the story about my discussions with Prime Minister
Koizumi of Japan. We sit around a table and we talk about peace. It's
an amazing conversation when you think about it. Wasn't all that long
ago in the march of history that my dad and your dads were fighting the
Japanese as a sworn enemy. And yet, because my predecessor, citizens
of this great country believed that liberty could transform enemies
into allies, we worked with the Japanese after World War II to build a
democracy, a self-governing nation. Some day, if we're strong and
resolute and keep faith in our beliefs, an American President will be
sitting down with a duly-elected leader of Iraq, talking about the
peace, talking about security. (Applause.)
I believe that America is called to lead the cause of freedom in
this new century. I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in
silence for their liberty. I believe that, given the chance, they will
embrace the most honorable form of government ever devised by man. I
believe all these things because freedom is not America's gift to the
world, freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this
world. (Applause.)
The 21st century will be liberty's century. By promoting freedom
at home and abroad, we'll build a safer world and a more hopeful
America. Over the next four years we'll continue to work hard to
reform systems that need to be changed so the American people can
realize their dreams. We'll spread ownership and opportunity to every
corner of this country. We'll pass the enduring values of our nation
on to a young generation. We'll continue to lead the world to make --
to make the world more free and peaceful.
You know, for these years -- for all Americans, these years in our
history will always stand apart. There are quiet times in the life of
a nation when little is expected of its leaders. This isn't one of
those times. This is a time when we need firm resolve, clear vision,
and a deep faith in the values that make us a great nation.
(Applause.)
Four years ago -- well, none of us will ever forget that week when
one era ended and another began. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood
in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I'll never forget. There
were workers there in hard hats yelling at me, "Whatever it takes." I
remember trying to console people as best I could. A guy grabbed me by
the arm and he said, "Do not let me down." I wake up every morning
thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent
in defending America, whatever it takes. (Applause.)
Four years ago, when I traveled your great state asking for the
vote, I said, if you gave me a chance to serve, I would uphold the
dignity and the honor of the office to which I had been elected. With
your help -- with your help and hard work, I will do so for the next
four years.
God bless. Thank you for coming. (Applause.) Thank you all very
much. Thank you all. (Applause.)
END 3:17 P.M. EDT
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