For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 13, 2004
President's Remarks at Duluth, Minnesota Rally
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
Duluth, Minnesota
6:00 P.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thanks for
inviting me. (Applause.) And thanks for coming. Laura and last came
to Duluth in November of 2000. (Applause.) It was a little colder
that day. (Laughter.) Any day is a good day to be here in this
beautiful part of the world. (Applause.) And I'm really glad to be
back.
I appreciate the good folks from Minnesota and Iron Ridge and
Northern Wisconsin who are with us today. Thanks for coming.
(Applause.) And by the look of things, I'm in Bush-Cheney country.
(Applause.)
I'm here to ask for the vote. (Applause.) I'm here to ask for your
help. (Applause.) I'm so proud you all came. Thanks a lot. Here's
what I want to tell you -- today, to make sure America has strong,
consistent, optimistic leadership, send us back to the White House for
four more years. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Today I want to explain how I want to continue to
lead this country, but perhaps the best reason to send me back to the
White House is so that Laura will be First Lady for four more years.
(Applause.) I'm a lucky man. I'm a lucky man when she said yes when I
asked her to marry me. What a fabulous lady and First Lady she has
become. (Applause.) I'm sorry she's not here, but I am proud that one
of our daughters, Barbara, is traveling with me today. I love that
you're here, darling. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)
I appreciate the fact that the Governor was here. I'm proud to
call him, friend. I know you're proud to call him, Governor.
(Applause.) I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for being here
today. Thanks for coming, Governor. I'm proud you're here.
(Applause.) I know the State Auditor, Pat Anderson, is with us.
Thanks for coming, Pat. I appreciate you coming. (Applause.) I want
to thank all those who serve the state and serve your local community,
for your willingness to serve the people.
I appreciate so very much Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya for being
here today. Joe, thanks for coming, sir. (Applause.) I'm proud to
have the Minnesota veterans for me. Thank you for your service.
(Applause.)
I thank my friend, Dan Urshan, for being here. He's in charge of
the grassroots campaign. (Applause.) His job is to turn out the vote,
and so is yours. If you're interested in helping, get on the Internet
for georgewbush.com. It's a place where you can learn how to
volunteer. See, I'm here -- I'm here to nurture those grassroots. I'm
here to say I can't win it without your help. And I appreciate you
coming.
I want to thank Bob Lessard, who's the Minnesota Sportsman for Bush
chairman. I'm honored that so many sportsmen, hunters and fishermen
are here. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.) I want to thank the
Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir for being here today. (Applause.) Most
of all, I want to thank you all. I'm so honored you came. We're going
to win. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: When you're out rounding up the vote, when you're
out rounding up the vote, remind the folks that the last three and a
half years have brought serious challenges, and we have given serious
answers. (Applause.) When we came to office, the stock market was in
decline and the economy was headed into a recession. We delivered
historic tax relief, and over the past three years, America has had the
fastest growing economy of any major industrialized nation in the
world. (Applause.)
We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning. So we
have pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We captured or
killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network, and we will stay on
the hunt until justice is done and America is secure. (Applause.) We
confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread of
weapons of mass destruction. We acted against two of the most violent
and dangerous regimes on Earth. We liberated over 50 million people.
America is once again proud to lead the armies of liberation.
(Applause.)
When my really fine Vice President, Dick Cheney, and I came to
Washington, the military was underfunded and underappreciated. So we
gave our Armed Forces the resources and respect they deserve. And
today, no one can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of
the United States military. (Applause.)
These accomplishments are important to the security and the
prosperity of America. It is the President's job to confront problems,
not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations.
(Applause.) A President must make hard decisions and keep his
commitments, and that is how I will lead our country for four more
years. (Applause.)
I'm ready for the race. I look forward to it, and it's going to be
a tough contest. Now, I'm running against an experience United States
Senator. He's been in Washington a lot longer than I have.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: He's been there -- he's been there long enough to
take both sides of just about every issue. (Applause.) He voted for
the Patriot Act, for NAFTA, for the No Child Left Behind Act, and for
the use of force in Iraq. Now, he opposes the Patriot Act, NAFTA, the
No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation of Iraq.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: If you -- if you disagree with my --
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: If you disagree with my opponent on most any issue,
you may just have caught him on the wrong day. (Applause.) Recently,
here in the Midwest, he even tried to claim he was the candidate with
conservative values.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I know. I know. But that's what he said.
(Laughter.) A bit hard to square that with my opponent's previous
statement when he said, I'm liberal and proud of it. (Laughter.)
Now, he has a running mate. Senator Kerry is rated as the most
liberal member of the United States Senate, and he chose a fellow
lawyer who is the fourth most liberal member of the United States
Senate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Back in Massachusetts, that's what they call,
balancing the ticket. (Laughter and applause.)
Great events will turn on this election. The person who sits in
the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the
direction of our economy. I'm asking for your vote because I have a
vision and a strategy to win the war on terror and to extend peace and
freedom throughout the world. I'm asking for your vote because I have
a plan to continue to create jobs and opportunity for every single
American. (Applause.) I'm asking for your vote because I have a plan
and a deep desire to rally the compassionate spirit of America so every
single American has a chance to realize his or her dreams. (Applause.)
When the people give us four more years, America will be safer, America
will be stronger, and America will be better. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: A big issue in this campaign, and a big issue for
every family in America, is their tax burden -- (audience interruption)
-- by providing the largest tax relief -- (applause.) By providing
the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was the President, we have
left more money in the hands that earned it. (Applause.) By spending
and investing and helping create new jobs, the American people have
used their money far better than the government would have.
(Applause.)
Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. (Applause.)
Since last summer, our economy has been growing at its fastest rate in
nearly 20 years. (Applause.) In less than a year's time we've added
more than 1.5 million new jobs. People are going back to work here in
America. (Applause.) Here in the great state of Minnesota, the
unemployment rate has dropped to 4.3 percent. (Applause.) Across this
country, the manufacturing sector is growing stronger, with 64,000 jobs
created since January. The homeownership rate is at an all-time high.
(Applause.) Business investment is growing, consumer confidence is at a
two-year high, personal incomes are on the rise. The tax relief we
passed is working. (Applause.)
My opponents look at all this progress and somehow conclude that
the sky is falling. (Laughter.) But whether their message is
delivered with a frown or a smile, it's the same old pessimism. And to
cheer us up they propose higher taxes, more federal spending, and
economic isolationism. The surest way to end economic growth and put
Americans out of work is their plan. This nation is on the path to
progress, and we're not going there. (Applause.)
To sustain economic growth we need to keep taxes low. Higher taxes
would undermine growth and destroy jobs. To help the American economy
and create more jobs for American workers, my message to Congress is
this: Make the tax relief permanent. Do not raise the taxes on the
American people. (Applause.)
In order to make sure this economy continues to grow we've got to
be smart about how we spend your money. We need to set priorities. We
need to make sure we don't over-promise with the people's money. The
best way to make sure that we're wise with your money is to remember
whose money we spend in the first place. It is not the government's
money we spend in Washington; it is the people's money. (Applause.)
And there's more we need to do. We need to stop the frivolous
lawsuits. (Applause.) You cannot be pro small business and pro trial
lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) You have to choose. My opponent
has made his choice, and he put him on the ticket. (Laughter.) I made
my choice. I will continue to push Congress for reform to end the junk
lawsuits that are hurting our small businesses all across America.
(Applause.)
In order to make sure people work in America, and to make sure this
economy is strong, we've got to help more Americans better afford
health insurance by giving people better access to health care through
association health plans, giving Americans more control over their
health care through tax-free health savings accounts. And to make sure
you've got a doctor around here, and to make sure the cost of health
care goes down, we need to pass medical liability reform in Washington,
D.C. (Applause.)
In order to make sure America is a good place to invest so people
can find work, we need to pass sound energy legislation. I submitted a
bill to the United States Congress two years ago. They need to get the
bill to my desk. It's a bill that will modernize our electricity
system. It is a bill that will encourage conservation. It is a bill
that encourages alternative sources of energy. But it is also a bill
that recognizes we can explore for coal and natural gas in
environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic security and
national security, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of
oil. (Applause.)
The Minnesota farmers are doing well. You know why? Because we're
selling farm products all over the world. When you're good at
something, you ought to encourage it. We're good at growing things,
we're good at building things, and we ought to be opening up markets,
rather than falling prey to the false hopes of economic isolationism.
This country needs to have a President that's willing to knock down the
barriers so that we can compete anytime, anyplace, anywhere on a level
playing field. (Applause.)
What I'm telling you is, in order to make sure this economy is
robust today and tomorrow, you need to put back in the White House a
pro-growth, a pro-entrepreneur, a pro-farmer, a pro-small business
President, and that's George W. Bush. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: America's future also depends on our willingness to
lead in the world. The momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but
we still face serious dangers. Al Qaeda is wounded, but not broken.
Terrorists continue to attack in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in
North Korea and Iran are challenging the peace. If America shows
weakness or uncertainty in this decade, the world will drift toward
tragedy. That's not going to happen on my watch. (Applause.)
After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this nation
resolved, and I resolved, to fight the terrorists wherever they dwell.
We resolved to hold regimes that hide and sponsor terrorists to
account. Afghanistan was a terrorist state, a training camp for al
Qaeda killers. Because we acted, Afghanistan is a rising democracy and
an ally in the war on terror. Because we acted, many young girls go to
school for the first time in their life. (Applause.)
Iraq, only last year, was controlled by a dictator who threatened
the civilized world and had used weapons of mass destruction on his own
people. For decades, he tormented and tortured the people of Iraq.
Because we acted, Iraq today is a free and sovereign nation.
(Applause.) Because we acted, the dictator is now in a prison cell and
will receive the justice he denied so many for so long. (Applause.)
September the 11th, 2001 taught a lesson this nation must never
forget. It's a lesson I will never forget: America must confront
threats before they fully materialize. (Applause.) And so my
administration, remembering the history of Saddam Hussein, looked at
the intelligence, and we saw a threat. Members of the United States
Congress, from both political parties, looked at the same intelligence,
and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at
the intelligence, and it saw a threat. The previous administration and
the Congress looked at the same intelligence, and made regime change in
Iraq the policy of our government.
In 2002, the United Nations Security Council, yet again, demanded a
full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. The world came
together. The world saw a threat and said, declare, disarm, or face
serious consequences. As he had for over a decade, he defied the free
world. He refused to comply. As a matter of fact, he systematically
deceived the inspectors. What was he trying to hide?
So we had a choice to make -- I had a choice to make: Either --
either take the word of a madman, or defend our country. Given that
choice, I will defend America every time. (Applause.)
Although -- although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of
mass destruction, we were right to go into Iraq. (Applause.) America
and the world is safer because we did. (Applause.) We removed a
declared enemy of America who had the capability of producing weapons
of mass destruction and could have passed that capability to terrorists
bent on acquiring them. In the world after September the 11th, that
was a risk we could not afford to take. (Applause.)
We still have important and difficult work to do. Our immediate
task in Iraq and Afghanistan is to capture or kill the terrorists and
foreign fighters. You see, you can't talk sense to them. You can't
negotiate with these people. You can't sit back and hope for the
best. We must engage our enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq and around
the world so we do not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)
In a country as big as ours, there's no such thing as perfect
security, and threats to our homeland are real. We know that the
terrorists want to strike the United States again, to spread fear and
disrupt our way of life. So we have reorganized our government to
better protect the homeland. And a lot of good people -- I mean, a lot
of good people -- are working long hours to protect you and the
American people. I know I speak for everybody here -- (applause) -- I
know I speak for everybody here when I thank the nation's first
responders -- the police and firefighters and emergency teams of
Duluth, Minnesota. (Applause.)
We're defending our homeland, we're defeating the terrorists
abroad. Yet, in the long run, our safety requires something more. We
must work to change the conditions that give rise to terror in the
Middle East -- the poverty and the hopelessness and the resentments
that terrorists can exploit. Life in that region will be far more
hopeful and peaceful when men and women can choose their own leaders,
and the people can decide their own future. By serving the ideal of
liberty, we are bringing hope to others, and that makes America more
secure. By serving the ideal of liberty, we're also serving the
deepest ideals of our country. We understand that 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 world is changing because of our leadership. Three years ago,
Afghanistan was the home base of al Qaeda. Now the terror camps are
closed and democracy is rising, and the American people are safer.
(Applause.) Three years ago, Pakistan was a safe transit point for
terrorists on missions of murder. Now Pakistani forces are rounding up
the terrorists; they're joining us in the war on terror, and the
American people are safer. (Applause.) Three years ago, in Saudi
Arabia, the terrorists were finding little opposition. Now the Saudi
government is taking the fight to al Qaeda, and America is safer for
it. (Applause.) Three years ago, Libya was spending millions to
acquire weapons of mass destruction. Now thousands of Libya's chemical
munitions have been destroyed. Libya has given up nuclear processing
equipment, and the American people are safer for it. (Applause.)
The world is changing for the better. Three years ago, a dictator
in Iraq had the capability of producing weapons of mass destruction.
He had ties to terrorist organizations. He hated America. He was
paying families of suicide bombers. That dictator is no longer a
threat, and the American people are safer. (Applause.)
We have more work to do. We're determined to finish the work of
democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those nations now have courageous
and responsible leaders. And nations of around the world are rallying
to help. The NATO Alliance, the E.U. and United Nations are standing
behind the newly-liberated people of Iraq and Afghanistan. These good
people are taking more and more responsibility for their own security.
They want to live in freedom, just like you and I love to live in
freedom. (Applause.) And those people need to know they can count on
America. We promised to help deliver them from tyranny, to restore
their sovereignty, and to set them on the path to democracy. When
America gives its word, America keeps its word. (Applause.)
Our men and women in the military are keeping America's
commitment. They're taking great risks on our behalf. At bases across
our country and the world I've had the privilege of meeting with those
who defend our country, and those who sacrifice for our country. I've
had the privilege of meeting the family members of those who have been
lost in combat. The best way to honor their memory is to complete the
work before us. (Applause.)
We've got a fantastic military because we've got fantastic people
in the military. I've seen their great decency and their unselfish
courage. I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is
in really good hands. (Applause.)
And we better make sure they have all they need. Last September I
proposed what we call supplemental funding to support our military in
its mission. The legislation provided funding for body armament and
vital equipment, for hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel and
spare parts for our military. This was an important vote. In the
United States Senate only a small, out-of-the-mainstream majority voted
against the legislation. And two of those 12 Senators are my opponent
and his running mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Kerry tried to explain his vote by saying
this: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against
it." End quote. (Laughter.) That really clears it up. (Laughter.)
Now he is offering a different explanation. Yesterday, Senator Kerry
said he is proud that he and his running mate voted against the funding
for the troops. Now, listen, he's entitled to his view. But members
of Congress should not vote to send troops into battle, and then vote
against funding them. (Applause.)
America is leading the world with confidence and moral clarity. We
have built strong coalitions to make the world a safer place. We've
got over 60 nations in the Proliferation Security Initiative; nearly 40
nations are in Afghanistan; more than 30 countries are in Iraq. As
your President, I will continue to build our alliances and work with
our friends in the cause of peace and freedom and security. But I will
never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of
other countries. (Applause.)
This nation is prosperous and strong, yet we need to remember that
our greatest strength is in the character of our citizens. The other
day, my opponent said that a bunch of entertainers from Hollywood
conveyed the heart and soul of America.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I believe the heart and soul of America is found in
places like Duluth, Minnesota. (Applause.)
Our nation is strong because of the values we try to live by:
courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We're strong because
of the institution that helped to give us direction and purpose: our
families, our schools, and our religious congregations. (Applause.)
These values and institutions are fundamental to our lives, and they
deserve the respect of our government. (Applause.)
We stand for high standards in our public schools, local control of
our public schools, accountability in our public schools, so no child
is left behind in America. (Applause.) We stand for the fair
treatment of faith-based groups so they can receive federal support for
their works of compassion and healing. (Applause.) We stand -- we
stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen marriage,
which would help millions of Americans find independence and dignity.
(Applause.) We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which
are the foundations of our society. (Applause.) We stand for judges
who strictly and faithfully interpret the law, instead of legislating
from the bench. (Applause.) We stand for a culture of life in which
every person matters and every person counts. (Applause.)
We're making progress on building that culture of life here in
America. Members of both parties believe that moms and dads should be
involved in important decisions by their minor daughters. Members of
parties came together to pass the Unborn Victims of Violence Act to
punish violent crimes against mothers and their unborn children.
(Applause.) Members of both parties voted to end the brutal practice
of partial birth abortion. (Applause.)
Republicans and Democrats can agree on these issues. Yet on the
positions that so many Americans share, my opponent is on the other
side. That's not the mainstream of this country. We stand for a
culture of responsibility in America. The culture of this country 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 in life.
(Applause.)
If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're
responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your
soul. 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're a CEO in corporate America, you're
responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your
employees. (Applause.) And in a responsibility society, each of us is
responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved
ourselves. (Applause.)
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. You and I --
you and I are living in a period when the stakes are high and the
challenges are difficult, a time when firm resolve is needed.
(Applause.)
None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and
another began. September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the
Twin Towers. I'll never forget that day. Workers in hard-hats were
chanting, "Whatever it takes." I remember working -- trying to console
people, and either a firefighter or a policeman said, "Do not let me
down." As we all did that day, these men and women searching through
the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I have a
responsibility that goes on. I will never relent in bringing justice
to our enemies. I will defend the security of America, whatever it
takes. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!!
THE PRESIDENT: In these times, I have seen the -- witnessed -- I
have been witness to the character of this nation. I've seen the
unselfish courage of our troops. I've seen the heroism of Americans in
the face of danger. I've seen the spirit of service and compassion
renewed in our country. And we've all seen our nation unite in common
purpose when it mattered most. We will need all these qualities for
the work ahead. We have a war to win. And the world is counting on us
to lead the cause of freedom and peace. We have the duty to spread
opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work that
history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our
blessed country, the best days lie ahead.
God bless. Thank you for coming. Thank you all. (Applause.)
END 6:40 P.M. CDT
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