For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 29, 2004
Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception
Hyatt Regency
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
7:10 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Thanks for coming. This
is a huge crowd. I'm honored. I appreciate so many people being here
tonight. I appreciate Debbie mentioning Yale. Some of my classmates
from the mighty class of 1968 are here. They were the ones who
invented shock and awe when they heard I was President. (Laughter.)
They're all fine lads. They, themselves, were C students. (Laughter
and applause.) Vice President Cheney went to Yale. It just goes to
show if you drop out, you can be the Vice President. (Laughter.)
But I appreciate you coming. We're laying the foundation for what
is going to be a great national victory in November of this year.
(Applause.) I'm loosening up. (Laughter.) And I'm getting ready.
(Laughter.) But politics is going to come in its own time. See, I've
got a job to do, and I want you to tell your friends and neighbors that
my administration will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of
every American, by keeping this nation strong and secure, prosperous
and free. (Applause.)
I want to thank my cousin, Debbie, for finally doing something
positive -- (laughter) -- no, I want to thank her -- I love Debbie, and
I want to thank her for her leadership for this event. She married my
great friend, Craig, the former ambassador to the Czech Republic who
represented our nation so well. (Applause.) I'm not Debbie's favorite
in my family. (Laughter.) Laura is her favorite. (Laughter.) And
Laura was her first choice. (Laughter.) She couldn't make it, but she
sends her love. She's a fabulous First Lady for this country.
(Applause.)
I want to thank Rick, as well, for your hard work. Thank your
team. You've done a fabulous job. (Applause.) It's important that
you be well-funded if you're going to run a national campaign, so I
want to thank you for your help. I also want to thank my friend,
Mercer Reynolds. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the national
chairman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, and he's doing a fabulous job on
my behalf. Thank you for coming, Mercer. I appreciate you being
here. (Applause.)
I want to thank the fine Congressman, Chris Shays, for his
friendship and leadership. (Applause.) Somebody told me the funniest
thing, that somebody is actually challenging Shays in this year. We
need to send him back to Congress. He's doing a great job.
(Applause.)
I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for being here tonight, and
all the state and local officials. I appreciate you coming. I'm
counting on you. You need to organize and turn out that vote. And I
appreciate your service to your state, and I appreciate what you're
fixing to do for this campaign.
I want to thank -- Debbie mentioned that we have some family in
this neck of the woods. I remember coming to Grove Lane here in
Greenwich to visit my grandfather and grandmother, two really fine,
fine people. If you can't count on your family, it's hard to count on
anybody in politics. I'm really happy that some of my family has shown
up tonight. (Laughter.) I appreciate Uncle Jon and Uncle Pres,
that's Jon Bush and Prescott Bush, and Jodi and Beth. I'm honored that
they're here and proud to be a member of their family with them.
(Applause.)
I want to thank the political activists who are here -- Herb
Shepardson and Charlie Glazer and Joe McKenzie. Thank you all for
coming. I want to thank all the grassroots activists. These are the
people who put up the signs, get on the phones, turn out the vote.
These are the people who go to the community centers, places of
worship, your coffee shops. You put out the word, and I'm counting on
you. You cannot win a campaign without a good grassroots
organization. So for those of you getting ready to get after this
campaign, I want to thank you. And when you're out there, you tell
them this -- you tell them, in the last three years our nation has
acted decisively to confront great challenges.
I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to
future Presidents and future generations. (Applause.) I came to
seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My
administration is meeting the tests of our time.
Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is
what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the al
Qaeda network. And the rest of them know -- (applause) -- and the rest
of them can be certain we're on their trail.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes.
Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more.
(Applause.) Fifty million people -- 50 million -- in those two
countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom.
(Applause.)
Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it
needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the
defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today no
one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit
of the United States military. (Applause.)
Three years ago the economy was in trouble and a recession was
beginning. And then attacks on our country and scandals in corporate
America and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted.
We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account.
And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United
States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people.
(Applause.) This administration understands that when Americans have
more money to spend, or save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and
people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to
the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on
dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving
small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new workers. With
all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity
so that every single citizen has a chance to realize the American
Dream. This economy in America is strong, and it is getting stronger.
(Applause.)
The figures for third quarter of 2003 showed that the economy grew
at the fastest rate in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high, business
investment is rising, housing construction is expanding, manufacturing
activity is increasing, we've added over a quarter million new jobs --
the tax relief we passed is working. (Applause.)
Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in
Washington, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for
and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid
bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms
in a generation. We've increased funding, particularly for poor
students. But for the first time, the federal government is asking the
question, can our children read and write and add and subtract.
(Applause.) This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low
expectations. We're raising the bar. (Applause.) We expect every
child to read and write and add and subtract. And we expect every
school to teach every child. The days of excuse-making are over in
America. No child shall be left behind. (Applause.)
We reorganized our government and created the Department of
Homeland Security to better protect our borders and ports, and to
safeguard the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to
open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and
ranchers. We passed budget agreements to bring much needed spending
discipline to Washington, D.C. And last month, we completed the
greatest advance in health care coverage for America's senior citizens
since the founding of Medicare.
There's a lot of talk about Medicare in Washington over the years.
The system got old and tired and stale. So we acted. The new Medicare
law that I proudly signed will give older Americans the option of a
prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care, so
they can receive the modern medicine they deserve. (Applause.)
We've got a record of accomplishment. On issue after issue, this
administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made
progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of
credit. I enjoy working with Congressman Shays and the Speaker of the
House, Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're working hard
to change the tone in Washington. There's just too much politics up
there, too much needless politics, endless back-biting, zero-sum
attitude. And the best way to do that is to work on behalf of the
people and deliver results.
And the Congress gets a lot of credit for the successes over the
last three years. And so do the people in my administration. I put
together a fantastic group of Americans from all walks of life to serve
the American people, people who came to Washington, D.C. with one thing
in mind: Service to their country. (Applause.)
Speaking about good people in my administration, our nation has had
no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. (Applause.) Mother may have
a second opinion. (Laughter.)
In three years, we've come far, but our work is only beginning.
I've set great goals, worthy of a great nation. First, America is
committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own
security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own
country, we will continue to work for a society which is prosperous and
compassionate so every citizen has a chance to realize the full promise
of our land.
It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's
defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it.
The war on terror continues. I wish I could tell you it didn't, but it
does. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This
country will not rest, we will not tire, we will not stop until this
danger to civilization is removed. (Applause.)
We are confronting that danger in Iraq where all people can be
certain they will never again have to fear the brutality of Saddam
Hussein. (Applause.) The Baathist holdouts largely responsible for
the current violence now know there will be no return to corrupt power
and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of
freedom have taken the winning side. (Applause.)
We face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than
accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. And there is a reason
why, because, see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would
be a major defeat in the cause of terror. The collection of killers is
trying to shake the will of America. America will never be intimidated
by thugs or assassins. (Applause.) We're aggressively after the
terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them
here in our own cities. (Applause.)
Other nations are helping in Iraq, because they understand a free
and democratic and peaceful Iraq is in their interests. The whole
world becomes more secure. And the Iraqi people are assuming more of
their own defense and heading towards self-government. And these are
not easy tasks, I recognize that. But I believe they're essential
tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and America will win this
essential victory in the war on terror. (Applause.)
We're working to oppose proliferation around the world. Last
month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya
voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all of its weapons of
mass destruction programs. (Applause.) Leaders around the world now
know with certainty weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence
or prestige, they bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences.
Nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path
to better relations with the United States of America.
Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty,
because free nations don't support terror; free nations do not attack
their neighbors; free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of
mass destruction. And Americans believe that freedom is the deepest
need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the
future of every nation, and I know like you know that freedom is not
America's gift to the world, freedom is the Almighty God's gift to
every many and woman in this world. (Applause.)
And the administration also understands that unprecedented
influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this
world, and when we see disease, and starvation, or hopeless poverty, we
will not turn away. This strong and powerful nation is a compassionate
nation. And America now leads the world in bringing hope and medicines
to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. This
incredible nation of ours is leading the world in this very important
work of human rescue. (Applause.)
We have challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that
we're equal to those challenges. This administration understands
entrepreneurship. We understand the vital role of risk-taking. We
will continue to promote a pro-growth economic agenda so fellow
citizens can find work. (Applause.)
We also understand the effects of frivolous and junk lawsuits on
our society. (Applause.) For example, in health care. We need to cut
down on these frivolous lawsuits, which are running up the cost of
medicine. (Applause.) People who have been harmed by a bad doc
deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers
who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive
up the cost of health care for every citizen, and they affect the
federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which
requires a national solution. (Applause.)
This administration has acted. We passed good legislation up to
the Hill and it was passed by the United States House of
Representatives, for which I am grateful. It's stuck in the Senate.
Perhaps you ought to notify your two United States Senators to get it
unstuck. (Applause.) For the sake of a health care system that is
available and affordable, we need medical liability reform now. No one
has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. (Applause.)
I have a responsibility to make sure the judicial system runs well,
and I've met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the
federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from
the bench. (Applause.) Some members of the Senate are trying to keep
my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial
nominee deserves a fair hearing. It is time for some members of the
United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
(Applause.)
We've got more work to do and the Congress needs to get me an
energy bill. We need a bill which encourages more conservation. We
need a bill which unleashes the technology of our country to be
advanced in how we explore and use energy. But for the sake of
economic security, and for the sake of national security, this nation
must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate
nation. I will continue to advance what I call compassionate
conservatism, which means we'll use the most innovative ideas to the
task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions
of men and women who want to end their dependence on government and
become independent through hard work. Congress must build on the
success of welfare reform, to bring training, and therefore work, into
the lives of more of our fellow citizens. We need to make sure more
Americans can serve their communities and their country through vibrant
citizen-service programs. Congress needs to complete work on the
faith-based initiative.
You see, many of the problems that citizens face are problems of
the heart, problems of addiction, problems that can't be solved
necessarily by a government program. And yet one of the great
strengths of our country is the fact that we're a country a many faiths
-- Christian, Jewish, Muslim. And in many of those programs, emanating
out of those faiths, come healing programs, programs that change
people's lives. Our country should not fear faith-based programs. We
ought to welcome faith-based programs, and government ought to be their
ally. (Applause.)
I believe part of being a compassionate society is one in which we
encourage ownership. This administration will constantly strive to
promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning
their own home. There's a minority home ownership gap in America that
must be addressed. This administration is addressing it.
We want more people owning and controlling their own retirement
accounts. (Applause.) We want people owning and managing their own
health care plans, like health savings accounts. (Applause.) We want
more people owning their own small businesses, and the administration
understands that. (Applause.) You see, we fully understand that when
a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of
this country.
A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another,
respect their religious views, respect their opinions. It's a society
in which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The
culture of this country is changing from one that has said, if it feels
good, just go ahead and do it, and if you've got a problem, blame
somebody else, to a culture in which each of us understands we are
responsible for the decisions we make in life. (Applause.)
If you are lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible
for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the
quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're
responsible for doing something about it. (Applause.) If you are a
CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to
your shareholders and your employees. (Applause.)
And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible
for loving a neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourselves.
The culture of service and responsibility is strong here in America. I
really believe it's the great strength of our country. Two years ago,
I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage people to
love their neighbor, to do something to help somebody in need. And the
response has been really strong, and I am grateful. Our faith-based
programs and charities all across America are vibrant. It's an
integral part of our society. Policemen and firefighters and people
who wear our nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to
sacrifice for something greater than ourself. (Applause.)
Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they
see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the
resolve and courage of America. I've been privileged to see the
compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of
the last three years have come to the right nation. We're a strong
country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an
optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than
ourselves.
Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At
home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner
of America. This is the history -- this is the work that history has
set before us. We welcome it, And know that for our country, the best
days lie ahead.
God bless. (Applause.)
END 7:42 P.M. EST
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