For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 30, 2003
Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception
Marriott Rivercenter
San Antonio, Texas
6:48 P.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm welcome. It is really good to
be home. (Applause.) And it's good to be with so many friends. It
seems like old home week here. (Laughter.) I want to thank you all
very much for your friendship and your strong support. I want to thank
you for your prayers. I want to thank you for being my friend before I
became the President -- (laughter) -- and my friend after I become the
President -- (laughter) -- in 2009. (Applause.)
This is a fantastic event tonight. It not only lifts my spirits to
be with a lot of people with whom I've served in the past, and a lot of
friends, but we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a
great national victory in 2004. (Applause.) I'm loosening up.
(Laughter.) And I'm getting ready. But politics will come in its own
time, because I've got a job.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: And you're doing a great one.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. (Laughter and
applause.) I'm focused on the people's business. I'm doing what's
right for this country. I will continue to work to make sure this
country is strong and secure, prosperous and free. (Applause.) I have
a regret, and that is that the First Lady is not with me tonight.
She's in Tyler. We're going to meet up in Crawford. (Laughter.) She
is a fabulous wife, a fabulous mother, and a great First Lady for
America. (Applause.)
I want to thank the Loefflers for their friendship and their hard
work. It's a fantastically successful event. (Applause.) As I look
around, I see folks who hold high office. The Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court is here, Tom Phillips, the Attorney General is here, Greg
Abbott, the Secretary of Agriculture is here, Susan Combs, Albert
Hawkins, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Diane Rath, the
Workforce Commissioner, I see Wentworth is here, the state Senator,
State Representative Jones and Edmund Kuempel and Ken Mercer, thank you
all for coming. It's great to see you again. (Applause.)
I miss my buddies in the State House. I've got such fond memories
of working with people here in the great state of Texas. It was a
fantastic experience. I also want to thank my friend, Mercer Reynolds,
from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the National Finance Chairman for
Bush-Cheney. He's doing a great job of --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Go mercer!
THE PRESIDENT: -- laying the groundwork -- Mercer brought his
cousin. (Laughter.) Most of all, I want to thank you all. Thanks a
lot for coming.
In the last two-and-a-half years, our nation has acted decisively
to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems,
instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future
generations. (Applause.) I came to seize opportunities instead of
letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of
our time. (Applause.)
Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is
what they got. (Applause.) We've captured or killed many of the key
leaders of the al Qaeda network, and the rest of them know we're on
their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq we gave ultimatums to terror
regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, those regimes are no more.
(Applause.) Fifty million people in those two countries once lived
under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. (Applause.)
Two-and-a-half years ago, our military was not receiving the
resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we
increased the defense budgets to meet 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.)
Two-and-a-half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession.
And then our country was attacked. And then we had some scandals in
corporate America, and war. All those affected the people's
confidence. But I acted. We passed tough new laws in Washington, D.C.
to hold the 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.) When Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to 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 hire
new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the
foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that
every single one of our citizens can realize the American Dream.
(Applause.)
Two-and-a-half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education
reform. 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
at the federal level in a generation. In return for federal money, we
expect public schools to teach children how to read and write and add
and subtract, because we believe every child can learn to read and
write and add and subtract. (Applause.)
This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low
expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results
in every single classroom so that not one single child in America is
left behind. (Applause.)
We reorganized our government and created the Department of
Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to
protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to
open up new markets for Texas farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs.
We passed much needed budget agreements to bring spending discipline to
Washington, D.C. On issue after issue, this administration has acted
on principle, kept its word, and made progress for the American
people. (Applause.)
The Congress gets credit for these achievements. I've got a great
relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill
Frist. We're working hard to focus on results and to get rid of the
needless politics that dominates the nation's capital. We're doing the
work for the people. And those are the kind of people I've asked to
join this administration. I put together a fantastic, diverse, group
of people to serve the American people. We've had no finer Vice
President than Dick Cheney. (Applause.) Mother may have a second
opinion. (Laughter.)
In two-and-a-half years, we have done a lot. We have 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 must work for a society of prosperity
and compassion so that every single citizen, every citizen, has a
chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of our
land. (Applause.)
It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
actions of America. This nation is freedom's home. We are freedom's
defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it.
(Applause.)
The war on terror continues. 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 Saddam Hussein
holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq
into chaos by attacking coalition forces and international aid workers
and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq
would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of
killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world,
and this country will not be intimidated. (Applause.)
We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're
calling other nations to help Iraq to build a free country, which will
make the world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as
they assume more of their own defense and move toward self-government.
These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish
what we have begun and we will win this essential victory in the war on
terror. (Applause.)
Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty,
because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack
their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of
mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and
hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of
every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every
nation. (Applause.)
America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we
see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn
away. This great, strong nation is leading the world.
On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing
the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children
now suffering with AIDS. This great land is doing incredibly important
work of human rescue. (Applause.)
We've got challenges here at home, as well, and our actions will
prove that we're equal to the challenges. We had some good news today
on the economy. But let me tell you this, so long as anybody who wants
to work can't find a job means that I must continue to create the
conditions for economic vitality and growth, to make sure the great
entrepreneurial spirit of America is alive and well in every corner of
this country. (Applause.)
We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by
strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress has taken historic
action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time
since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate passed reforms to
increase the choices for seniors and provide coverage for prescription
drugs. The next step is for both Houses to reconcile their differences
and get a bill to my desk soon. We owe it to America's seniors and we
owe a modern Medicare system to those of us who are going to be
America's seniors. (Applause.)
For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the
frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. (Applause.) I
appreciate the reforms that Governor Perry and the legislature did here
in Texas. (Applause.) We recognize the 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. (Applause.)
Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they
affect the federal budget.
Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a
national solution. We proposed good law to the House and Senate. The
House of Representatives passed a good bill. The bill is stuck in the
United States Senate. I'm proud to report, our two United States
Senators, the Senators from Texas, are on the right side of the issue.
(Applause.) Those who have held up this important piece of legislation
in the United States Senate must recognize that not one single person
has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. (Applause.)
I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial
system runs well. And I have 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. Some members are trying to keep my
nominees, people like Priscilla Owen, off the bench by blocking
up-or-down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and
an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the
members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with
American justice. (Applause.)
The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy
plan. Two years ago, I submitted a plan to the United States
Congress, a plan that will promote energy efficiency and conservation,
that will develop new technologies, but will encourage exploration in
an environmentally friendly way in our own country. (Applause.) For
the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security,
the Congress must act so we become less dependent on foreign sources of
energy. (Applause.)
Our strong and prosperous nation must be a compassionate nation. I
will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism,
which means we will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the
task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions
of men and women who want to end their dependence on the government and
become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of
welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our
fellow citizens.
Congress should complete the citizen service act so more Americans
can serve their community and their country. And both Houses should
reach agreement on my faith-based initiative, to support the armies of
compassion -- (applause) -- to support the armies of compassion that
are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, that are
offering hope to the addicted. People from all faiths -- Christian,
Jewish, Muslim, Hindu -- have heard a universal call. We must welcome
that call. In order to heal the broken heart, this country must not
fear faith. We must welcome faith in the essential delivery of need
for people who hurt. (Applause.)
A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including
the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This
administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society
in America. We want more people owning their own home. This nation
has a minority home ownership gap. I presented a plan to the United
States Congress to close that gap. America must act. The Congress
must act.
We want more people to own and manage their own health care
accounts. We want more people to own and manage their own retirement
accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. We
understand in this administration that when a person owns something, he
or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. (Applause.)
In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take
responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is
changing from one that has said, if it feels good, 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. (Applause.)
If you're fortunate 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. If you're a CEO in corporate
America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders
and your employees. (Applause.)
And in the new responsibility society, each of us are responsible
for loving our neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourself.
The culture of service and responsibility are strong here in America.
I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to
extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response
has been great. Faith-based charities and charitable programs are
strong and vibrant. And that's important, really important, to make
sure the future of this country is alive and well for every citizen.
Policemen and fire fighters and people who wear our nation's
uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something
greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in
heros because they see them every day.
In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the
courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the
character of the American people. All the test of the last
two-and-a-half years have come to the right nation. (Applause.)
We are 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 whole nations by
spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading
opportunity across our land. 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. Thank you all. Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
END 7:12 P.M. CST
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