For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 14, 2004
President's Remarks at Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Rally
Brown County Veterans Memorial Complex-Resch Center
Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
6:17 P.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thanks for
coming. Thanks for inviting me. (Applause.) It's good to be here in
Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
We've been having a great bus tour. I've been traveling all across
the important states asking for the vote. I'm here to ask for your
help. (Applause.) What a fantastic trip we've had. I did stop at
Leon's Custard Shop. (Applause.) I also stopped in West Bend at
Mick's Candy Man Store. (Applause.) It's been a day of great
excitement and high caloric intake. (Laughter.) But I love being back
here. It's good to see the Cheeseheads coming in. (Applause.) I know
it's not the time of year, but I probably need to come back next fall,
don't I? (Applause.) One thing is for certain; the Green Bay area is
Bush-Cheney country. (Applause.)
I'm here to ask for your help. Give me four more years, this
country is going to be safer and stronger and better. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: I'm sorry Laura is not traveling with me today.
AUDIENCE: Awww --
THE PRESIDENT: That's generally the reaction. (Laughter.) I
interpret that to mean, too bad she didn't come and you didn't stay at
home. (Laughter.) I don't blame you. She's a fabulous woman. She's
a great -- (applause.) I'm really proud of her. She's a wonderful
First Lady. I'm going to tell you what I'm -- I'm going to tell you
what I intend to do for four more years, but perhaps, the best reason
to put me back in is so she'll be the First Lady for four more years.
(Applause.) Fortunately, however, a member of my family is traveling
with me today. (Applause.) I want to thank one of our daughters,
Barbara, for coming today. Thank you for being here, Barbara.
(Applause.)
I'm also traveling today with a great American, a person who served
our country so well in my Cabinet, and a person you trained very well
as your former governor, and that's Tommy Thompson. (Applause.)
You've got a really fine Congressman from this area. Congressman
Mark Green is a decent, honorable man. And I appreciate his wife, Sue,
joining us today. Thanks for coming, Sue. I'm glad you're here.
(Applause.)
State Treasurer Jack Voight is with us, as well. (Applause.) I
want to thank the mayors who are here. I want to thank those who serve
at the state level and at the local level for your willingness to serve
your community. I appreciate so very much the grassroots activists who
are here. (Applause.) I'm going to thank my friend, Dennis Miller,
who's joined us today. (Applause.) I appreciate my friend, Wayne
Newton, for joining us today. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) I know
Brian Noble is here. Thanks for coming, Brian. I appreciate you being
here to help warm up the crowd. (Applause.)
But most of all, I want to thank you all for being here. It means
a lot. (Applause.) I need your help. They have a -- get on the web
page and call up georgewbush.com. It's a place where you can find out
how to volunteer to turn out the vote. Get your neighbors to
register. We have a duty in this country to vote. Gather the people
up and encourage them to do their duty. You might suggest they vote
Bush-Cheney while they're heading to the polls. (Applause.)
And when you're gathering up that vote, and when you're talking to
your friends and neighbors, tell them that this administration has
faced serious challenges over the last three and a half years, and
we've given serious answers. (Applause.) We came to office with the
stock market in decline and an economy headed into recession. We
acted. We delivered historic tax relief, and over the past three
years, America has had the fastest growing economy of any major
industrialized nation. (Applause.)
We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning. We
pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We have captured or
killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network. We will stay on the
hunt until justice is done. (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 have liberated 50 million people. Today America is proud to
lead the armies of liberation. (Applause.)
I'm running with a great American in Dick Cheney. He's a solid,
solid citizen. (Applause.) And when he 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 prosperity
of our country. You see, it's the President's job to confront
problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future
generations. (Applause.) The President has to make hard decisions and
keep his commitments. And with your help, that is how I will continue
to lead our country for four more years. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: I'm looking forward to the race. I'm looking
forward to it. I'm looking forward to taking our positive and hopeful
message all across the country. And it's going to be a tough race.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: My opponent is -- is an experience United States
Senator. He's been in Washington a lot longer than I have.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: No, 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 disagree with the Senator on most any issue,
you may just have caught him on the wrong day. (Applause.) Recently,
in the Midwest, he even tried to claim he was the candidate with
conservative values.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I know, I know. (Laughter.) That's what he said.
(Laughter.) It's kind of hard to square that with his 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: 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 here asking for the vote and your help
because I have a vision and a strategy to win the war on terror and to
extend peace and freedom throughout the world. (Applause.) I'm asking
for the vote because I have a plan to continue to create jobs and
opportunity for every single American. I'm asking for the vote because
I have a plan to continue to rally the compassionate spirit of America,
so every single citizen has a chance to realize the great promise of
our country. I'm asking for the vote, because with your help, America
will be safer and stronger and better. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: A big issue for every family is their tax burden.
By providing the largest federal tax relief since Ronald Reagan was
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 federal
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 have
added more than 1.5 million new jobs. (Applause.) Here in this great
state, your unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1 percent. (Applause.)
The manufacturing sector is growing stronger, with 64,000 new jobs
created since January. 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 --
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: -- more federal spending --
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: -- and economic isolationism.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: The surest way to end economic growth and put
Americans out of work is their plan. The nation is on the path to
progress and opportunity, and we're not going backwards. (Applause.)
To sustain economic growth, we need to keep taxes low. Higher
taxes would now undermine growth and destroy jobs. To help grow the
American economy and create more jobs for American workers, I've got a
better idea than my opponent's plan. Congress needs to make tax relief
permanent and not raise taxes on the American people. (Applause.)
In order to make sure our economy continues to grow, we've got to
be smart about how we spend the money that you send to Washington,
D.C. We need fiscal discipline. We need to make sure Congress doesn't
over-promise and under-deliver. It all starts with understanding whose
money we spend in Washington, D.C. It's not the government's money we
spend. It's the people's money we spend in Washington, D.C.
(Applause.)
In order to make sure people can find work and people are willing
to invest so small businesses can thrive and grow, we need to stop
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. (Applause.)
In order to make sure that Americans can find work not only this
year, but in the coming years we must make sure Americans have
affordable health care. And that means giving people better access to
association health plans and giving Americans more control over their
health care through tax-free health accounts. It means making sure
that the customer is in charge of health decisions, not the federal
government. (Applause.) And to make sure the healers are able to do
their work and people can afford health care, we must have medical
liability reform at the federal level. (Applause.)
Listen, to make sure we continue to grow our economy and people can
find work, we need an energy policy. I submitted a plan to the United
States Congress two years ago. It's a plan that modernizes our
electricity system. It's a plan that encourages alternative sources of
energy. It is a plan that encourages conservation. But it's also a
plan that recognizes we can explore for energy in environmentally
friendly ways. For the sake of national security, we need to become
less dependent on foreign sources of oil. (Applause.)
I suspect we may have some farmers here. (Applause.) This farm
economy is strong in Wisconsin. And one of -- that's good news. One
of the reasons why is because we're selling farm products all around
the world. You see, the job of the President is to open up markets.
We need a level playing field when it comes to trade. This country can
compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere with free trade and fair trade,
and that's exactly how I will continue to lead. (Applause.)
I've got a plan to make sure this economy continues to grow so
America is stronger. It's a plan that understands the role of
government is not to create wealth, but to create an environment where
the small business owner can flourish, where the farmer and rancher can
make a living. My plan is pro-entrepreneur, pro-small business,
pro-farmer. Give me four more years and this economy will continue to
grow. (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. This will not happen on my watch. (Applause.)
After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this nation
resolved, and I resolved, to bring justice to 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, is an ally in the war on terror, and because we acted, now
young girls go to school for the first time in their lives.
(Applause.)
Iraq only last year was controlled by a dictator who threatened the
civilized world, a dictator who had used weapons of mass destruction
against his own people. For decades he tormented and tortured the
people of Iraq. Because we acted, Iraq is a free and sovereign
nation. Because we acted, its dictator now sits in a prison cell and
will receive the justice he denied so many for so long. (Applause.)
September the 11th, 2001 taught a lesson I will never forget, and a
lesson this country must never forget. America must confront threats
before they fully materialize. (Applause.) I remembered that lesson;
I remembered the past behavior of Saddam Hussein, and my administration
looked at the intelligence and we saw a threat. The United States
Congress, including members of 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 country.
In 2002, I went to the United Nations. And after deliberation, the
United Nations Security Council, yet again, demanded a full accounting
of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. And as he had for over a decade,
Saddam Hussein made the choice. He refused to comply. The free world
had spoken, and he refused to comply with the request of the free
world. Knowing what I knew about him, remembering the lessons of
September the 11th, I had a choice to make: Either to trust a madman
or to defend the United States of America. And given that choice, I
will defend our country every time. (Applause.)
Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of mass
destruction, I believe we were right to go into Iraq, and America is
safer for it. (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.
We still have important work to do in that country. (Applause.)
We've got hard work to do. Our immediate task in places like Iraq and
Afghanistan is to capture or kill the terrorists and foreign fighters.
See, you can't talk sense to the terrorists. You can't negotiate with
the terrorists. You cannot sit back and hope for the best. We must
stay on the offensive. We will engage the enemies in Afghanistan,
Iraq, and around the world so we do not have to face them here at
home. (Applause.)
Listen, there's no such thing as perfect security in America. The
threats are real to the homeland. We know the terrorists want to
strike us. They want to spread fear and disrupt our way of life.
We've reorganized our government to better protect the homeland. You
just need to know there are a lot of really good people at the federal
level, at the state level, and at the local level doing everything
possible to protect our fellow citizens. (Applause.) And I know I
speak for everyone here when I say thanks to the police and the
firefighters and the emergency teams of the great state of Wisconsin.
(Applause.)
We'll defend our homeland; we'll be relentless in our pursuit of
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. (Applause.) 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.
(Applause.) By serving the ideal of liberty, by standing true to our
beliefs, we're bringing hope to others, and that makes America more
secure. By serving the ideal of liberty, we also serve 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.)
America is leading the world, and the world is changing because of
our leadership. Just three years ago, Afghanistan was the home base of
al Qaeda, and now there's a democracy rising in that troubled part of
the world, and America is safer for it. Three years ago, Pakistan was a
safe transit point for terrorists on missions of murder and terror.
Now the Pakistan government has joined us in the war on terror and
Pakistan forces are rounding up the terrorists, and America is safer
for it. Three years ago, in Saudi Arabia, terrorists found little
opposition. Now the Saudi government has joined the war on terror and
they're bringing to justice al Qaeda terrorists, 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, the
dictator in Iraq had the capability of producing weapons of mass
murder. And now that dictator faces justice, and the American people
are safer for it. (Applause.)
We will finish the work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. A
free society in Afghanistan and Iraq makes America more secure. Free
societies are peaceful societies. And the good people in those
countries are standing up for a free society. They have got good,
strong leadership now. You see, these people want to be free. And
therefore, the security forces in Iraq, made up of Iraqis, are now
going after the terrorists that are trying to -- to stop the advance of
freedom. And the peoples in those countries 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. And when
America gives its word, America keeps its word. (Applause.)
Our men and women in the military are keeping America's commitment,
and they're taking great risks on our behalf. At bases around our
country and the world, I've had the privilege of meeting those who
defend our country and sacrifice for our security. I recently met with
Rita and Ken Jerabek. Their son, Ryan, died in service to our
country. They died so America would be more secure. I told the
Jerabeks the best way to honor the memory of their great son, Ryan, was
to complete the mission. A free society in Iraq will make the world a
better place. (Applause.)
I'm honored that Rita and Ken are with us tonight. God bless
them. (Applause.)
When we put our troops in harm's way, it's important they have the
very best we can give them. We owe it to our troops and we owe it to
their loved ones. Last September, I proposed supplemental funding to
support our military in its mission. The legislation provided funding
for body armor and vital equipment, for hazard pay, for health
benefits, ammunition, and fuel, and spare parts. In the Senate, only a
small, out-of-the-mainstream minority voted against that legislation.
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." (Laughter.) End quote. Now, he is offering a different
explanation. Earlier this week, he said he was proud that he and his
running mate voted against the funding for the troops. Now listen,
he's --
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: He's entitled -- 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.) I will continue to stand
with our troops and make sure they have what they need in order to
complete the mission. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud to lead a
great military, full of decent and honorable citizens. (Applause.)
America -- America is leading the world with confidence and moral
clarity. We put together a strong coalition to help us defeat terror.
There's over 60 nations involved with the Proliferation Security
Initiative, nearly 40 nations are involved in Afghanistan, over 30
nations involved in Iraq. And I appreciate the contributions from
those countries. But I will never turn over -- (applause) -- I will
never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of
foreign countries. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: This nation -- 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 Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Applause.)
Our nation is strong because of the values we try to live by:
courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We are strong because
of the institutions that help give us direction and purpose: our
families and our schools and our religious congregations. These values
-- (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 for welfare
reforms that require work and strengthen marriage, which have helped
millions of Americans find independence and dignity. (Applause.) We
stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and every
person matters. (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 responsibility in America. 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're fortunate enough to
be a mother or a father, you are responsible for loving your child with
all your heart and all your soul. (Applause.) If you're worried about
the quality of the education in your community, 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 are
living in a period when the stakes are high, where the challenges are
difficult, a time when firm resolve is needed.
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. Workers in hard-hats
chanted, "Whatever it takes." A fireman or a policeman, I don't know
which one, grabbed me and said, "Do not let me down." (Applause.) 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 our country, whatever it takes.
(Applause.)
In these times, I've also been witness to the character of our
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 a duty to spread opportunity to every corner of our country. This
is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we
know that for our blessed land, the best days lie ahead.
Thanks for coming. May God bless. (Applause.) Thank you all.
(Applause.)
END 7:02 P.M. CDT
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