For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
August 12, 2004
VP's Remarks in Battle Creek, Michigan
Lake View High School
Battle Creek, Michigan
August 11, 2004
6:06 P.M. EDT
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) I accept. (Laughter
and applause.) Well, it's great to be back in Michigan. And I really
appreciate that warm welcome. I was up in Lansing a few weeks ago with
John McCain, having a tremendous campaign event up there, as well.
Some people call Battle Creek the Breakfast Capital of the World, by
the looks of things, I'd say Battle Creek is the capital of Bush-Cheney
country. (Applause.)
It's an honor today to share the stage, as well, with Congressman
Nick Smith. (Applause.) I know Nick is going to be retiring at the
end of this term, and we all appreciate his superb service to the state
and the nation. (Applause.) It's also my great privilege today to
bring greetings to all of you from our President, George W. Bush.
(Applause.)
I had a remarkable experience earlier this week that relates to
Michigan. I really got to know Michigan when I worked for Gerry Ford.
(Applause.) And I don't know if many of you are aware, but it was 30
years ago Monday that Gerry Ford became President of the United States
when he took over the presidency at a very, very difficult time in our
history, probably the toughest constitutional period in terms of the
constitutional crisis since the Civil War. And he always considered
himself the member from the fifth district in Michigan. He loved the
people of Michigan -- very important to him. And I always understood
why. And it was a privilege to work for him, and we had a tremendous
reunion dinner for him on Capitol Hill on Monday evening. And it
wouldn't be proper for me to come back to Michigan today and not
mention what a deep debt of gratitude all Americans owe Gerry Ford to
taking over at a moment of crisis and doing a superb job. (Applause.)
President Bush and I are tremendously grateful for all our
supporters across the state. We ran hard in Michigan back in 2000.
This year, we're going to work even harder to earn the votes of the
people all over this state, from here in Battle Creek, to the Motor
City, to the Upper Peninsula. And come November, with your help,
Michigan is going to be part of a nationwide victory for the
Bush-Cheney ticket. (Applause.)
Now, Lynne has known me -- she's claimed she's known me since I was
14. Truth be known, she didn't pay any attention to me until I was
17. (Laughter.) But I often explain to people that the reason we got
married was because Dwight Eisenhower got elected President of the
United States. Okay, where is he going with that story? (Laughter.)
The fact was in 1952, when Eisenhower ran for President, I was living
in Lincoln, Nebraska with my folks. Dad worked for Soil Conservation
Service. Somebody from Lincoln over there. (Laughter.) But
Eisenhower got elected, he reorganized the Agriculture Department, Dad
got transferred to Casper, Wyoming, and that's where I met Lynne. And
we went to high school together, and we'll later this month mark our
40th wedding anniversary. (Applause.) But I explained to a group the
other night that if it hadn't been for Dwight Eisenhower's election
victory, Lynne would have married somebody else. (Laughter.) And she
said, right, and now he'd be Vice President of the United States.
(Laughter.)
Some of you may have noticed there was a little political gathering
up in Boston here a few weeks ago.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, some people watched it. You didn't have
to like it. (Laughter.) But it's now official -- I have an opponent.
No, I really do. I have an opponent. People keep telling me Senator
Edwards got picked because he is good looking, charming, sexy, has
great -- has great hair. I said, "How do you think I got the job?"
(Laughter and applause.) Once I'd like to tell that story, Lynne, and
nobody would laugh. (Laughter.)
But this is an extraordinarily important election. November 2nd
may well mark a milestone in American history. It comes at a crucial
time in our history. Today we face an enemy every bit as intent on
destroying us as the Axis powers were in World War II, or the Soviet
Union during the Cold War. This enemy, in the words of the 9/11
Commission report released recently, is "sophisticated, patient,
disciplined, and lethal."
What this enemy wants, as the 9/11 report explained, is to do away
with democracy, to end all rights for women, and to impose their way of
life on the rest of us. And as we saw on the morning of 9/11, this
enemy is perfectly prepared to slaughter anyone -- man, woman, or child
-- who stands in their way.
This is not an enemy we can reason with, or negotiate with, or
appease. This is, to put it simply, an enemy that we must destroy.
(Applause.) And with President George W. Bush as our
Commander-in-Chief, that is exactly what we're going to do.
(Applause.)
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on America, people in
every part of the country, regardless of party, took great pride and
comfort in the conduct of our President. They saw a man calm in a
crisis, comfortable with responsibility, and determined to do
everything necessary to protect our people.
Thank you. (Applause.)
Under the President's leadership, we removed the Taliban from power
in Afghanistan and closed down the camps where terrorists trained to
kill Americans. (Applause.)
Under the President's leadership, we removed the regime of Saddam
Hussein. (Applause.) This is a man who had developed weapons of mass
destruction, who had used weapons of mass destruction against the
Iranians and against the Kurds, a man who had started two wars, and who
had over the years provided safe harbor, safe haven, sanctuary for
terrorists. Saddam Hussein once controlled the lives and future of
nearly 25 million people. Tonight, he's in jail. (Applause.)
Freedom still has enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq, but we will
defeat those enemies. The rise of democracy in that troubled region of
the world will be a crucial setback for the terrorists. Because we
have been strong and resolute, these nations will not go back to the
camp of tyranny and terror. (Applause.) And America will never go
back to the false comforts of the world before 9/11.
From the beginning, America has sought -- and received --
international support for our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But
as the President has made very clear: There is a difference between
leading a coalition of many nations and submitting to the objections of
a few. President Bush will never seek a permission slip to defend the
security of the United States. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: We've gone on the offense in the war on terror
because that's the best way to defend America, but the President's
opponent, Senator Kerry, seems to object. He has even said that by
using our strength, we are creating terrorists and placing ourselves in
greater danger. But that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the way
the world we live in works. Terrorist attacks are not caused by the
use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness.
(Applause.) Because we took the fight to the enemy, the terrorist
training camps are closed. Because we took the fight to the enemy, we
have been able to uncover critical information about terrorists' plots,
including preparations they have made to try to attack the United
States again. The specific terror alert that Secretary Ridge recently
issued came in large part from information we obtained in our
operations abroad. Our fight against the enemy overseas improves our
security here at home. (Applause.)
Our nation is extraordinarily fortunate during these times of
testing to have the dedicated service of our men and women in uniform.
(Applause.) These members of the armed forces who are defending our
country represent the very best of the United States of America.
(Applause.) I note we have a number of veterans with us today, and I
want to thank them for all they've done for all of us. (Applause.)
One of the most important commitments that George W. Bush and I
made during the 2000 campaign was that our armed forces would be given
the resources they need and the respect they deserve, and we have kept
our word to the U.S. military. (Applause.)
We do have some important differences with the folks you saw at
that political gathering in Boston last week. There's one story that
makes that just about as clear as anything could be. It starts with
Senators Kerry and Edwards voting yes when the President asked the
Congress to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein. But
then, when it came time to vote for funds that would provide our
fighting men and women with body armor, ammunition, jet fuel, and spare
parts, Senators Kerry and Edwards voted no.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Only 12 members of the United States Senate
opposed the funding that would provide vital resources for our troops.
Only four Senators voted for the use of force and against the resources
our men and women in uniform needed once they were in combat. Only
four. And Senators Kerry and Edwards were two of those four.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: At first Senator Kerry said he didn't really
oppose the funding. He both supported and opposed it. (Laughter.) He
said, and I quote, "I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted
against it." That certainly clears things up. (Laughter.) But lately
he's been saying he's proud that he and John Edwards voted no, and he
explains that his decision was "complicated."
But funding American troops in combat should never be a complicated
question. (Applause.) It's simply wrong to vote to commit our troops
to combat and then refuse to provide them the resources they need. We
need a President who will back our troops 100 percent, and that's
exactly what we've got in George W. Bush. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: These are not times for leaders who shift with
the political winds, saying one thing one day and another, the next.
Our country requires strong and consistent leadership for our actions
overseas, and the same is true for our policies here at home. When
President Bush and I stood on the inaugural platform on the west side
of the Capitol and took the oath of office, the economy was sliding
toward recession. Then, on 9/11, terrorists struck our nation and
shook the economy once again. We faced a basic decision -- to leave
more money with families and businesses, or to take more of the
American people's hard-earned money for the federal government.
President Bush made his choice. He proposed and delivered tax savings
to the American people -- not once, not twice, but three times.
(Applause.)
Thanks to the Bush tax cuts, consumers are confident, businesses
are investing, and families are taking home more of what they earn.
Mortgage rates, and interest rates, and inflation are all low. America
has created jobs for 11 consecutive months -- about 1.5 million new
jobs since last August. Here in Michigan, your unemployment rate is
6.5 percent -- down more than a full point since December, and moving
in the right direction. We know there are still challenges, especially
in our manufacturing communities. The President and I will not be
satisfied until every American who wants to work can find a job. But
this is a strong economy, and it's growing stronger. The Bush tax cuts
are working. (Applause.)
These past four years have brought historic progress in other areas
as well. Under the President's leadership, we passed Medicare reform,
and gave senior citizens more affordable access to modern medicine and
prescription drugs. Under the President's leadership, we have acted to
bring high standards and measurable results to our schools so that no
child will be left behind. We are demanding accountability, empowering
Presidents -- excuse me --empowering parents, and making sure that
folks here in Michigan are in charge of Michigan's public schools.
(Applause.)
Under the President's leadership, we have also taken unprecedented
steps to strengthen our defenses here at home. To give law enforcement
the tools they need to track down terrorists, we passed the Patriot
Act. (Applause.) To focus our government on the mission of protecting
the American people, we created the Department of Homeland Security.
To fund cutting edge drugs and other defenses against a potential
biological weapons attack, we passed Project BioShield. Today, under
the President's leadership, every American can be certain we are doing
everything in our power to defend against a terrorist attack on our
homeland. (Applause.)
Our accomplishments these past four years have made America safer,
stronger, and better. They also demonstrate something about the
character of our President. He didn't go to the White House to mark
time, or to spend his energy on small goals. He went to take on the
big issues, and to make serious reforms. He has led with confidence,
with clear vision, and with unwavering purpose. He's made hard
choices, and kept his word. And that's exactly how he will lead this
country for the next four years. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: In our second term, we will keep moving
forward with a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda. We will work to make the
Bush tax cuts permanent. We will work to help end lawsuit abuse
because we know that it's a lot easier for America's businesses to hire
new workers if they don't have to hire lawyers. (Applause.)
We will work for medical liability reform. America's doctors
should be able to spend their time healing patients, not fighting off
lawsuits. (Applause.) In our second term, we will continue to move
forward on a comprehensive energy policy to make the nation less
dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
Our opponents have a very different vision for the country. They
talk about jobs, yet they never explain how they would put a single
American back to work. They opposed our tax relief, and now they're
proposing massive increases in federal spending.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: They helped block the energy plan in the
Senate. They oppose effective reform of the legal system. They're
against medical liability reform. Their big idea for the economy:
raise your taxes.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: What we're hearing from the other side is the
failed thinking of the past, and we're not going back. (Applause.)
President Bush and I will also continue to defend our society's
fundamental rights and values. We stand for a culture of life, and we
reject the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. (Applause.) We
stand strongly for the Second Amendment, and we will defend the
individual right of every American to bear arms. (Applause.) We
believe that our nation is "one nation under God." (Applause.) And we
believe that Americans ought to be able to say "under God" when they
pledge allegiance to their flag. (Applause.)
There shouldn't be any question about this, and there wouldn't be
if we had more reasonable judges on the bench. (Applause.) But we
have a situation in the United States Senate now where Democrats --
including Senators Kerry and Edwards -- are using the filibuster to
block the President's sensible, mainstream nominations to the
judiciary.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Democrats have used their obstructionist
tactics to block six of the President's superb nominees from the state
of Michigan. They recently blocked a nominee from my part of the
country, Bill Myers, a man I've known for many years with broad
bipartisan support for his judicial temperament, his legal experience,
and his personal integrity. If Bill Myers had made it to the floor of
the Senate, he would have been confirmed to the Ninth Circuit. He has
over 50 votes supporting him. The Ninth Circuit is the circuit that
decided recently that we shouldn't be able to say "under God" when we
pledge allegiance to the flag.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Sounds to me like we could use some new judges
on the Ninth Circuit. (Applause.) And all of this should remind us
why it's so important to send more Republicans to the United States
Senate. (Applause.)
On issue after issue, President Bush has a clear vision for the
future of the nation. Abroad, we will use America's great power to
serve great purposes, to protect our homeland by turning back and
defeating the forces of terror, and to spread hope and freedom around
the world. (Applause.) Here at home, we'll continue building
prosperity that reaches every corner of the land so that every child in
America has a chance to learn, to succeed, and to rise in the world.
(Applause.)
The President and I are honored by your confidence in us, and by
your commitment to the cause we all share. We're grateful to our many
friends across the great state of Michigan. I want to thank you for
this tremendous welcome today. We're proud to have you on the team.
And together, on November 2nd, we're going to see our cause forward to
victory.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 6:28 P.M. EDT
|