For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
June 26, 2004
Vice President's Remarks at Bush-Cheney '04 Rally
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa
June 25, 2004
4:02 P.M. CDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you, Lynne, as
always, for capturing the real me with your introduction. (Laughter.)
It was a heck of a dress. (Laughter.) I remember it still.
It's great to be back in the state of Iowa and to visit beautiful
Sioux City. I'm honored, as well, to share the stage with Dave Roederer
this afternoon, he's doing a great job as our chairman. And it's a
pleasure to bring good wishes to each and every one of you from the
President of the United States, George W. Bush. (Applause.)
You know, I like to tell people that Lynne and I got together
because of a great Republican electoral victory in 1952, when Dwight
Eisenhower ran for President. In those days I was living in Lincoln, I
had been born in Lincoln, just across the river. And dad worked for the
Soil Conservation Service. Eisenhower got elected, he reorganized the
Agriculture Department, dad got shipped to Casper, Wyoming and that's
where I met Lynne, when I was 13 years old. And we went to high school
together, grew up together. And come August, we'll celebrate our 40th
wedding anniversary. (Applause.)
I explained all of this to a group the other day, that if it hadn't
been for that victory by Dwight Eisenhower, Lynne would have married
somebody else. (Laughter.) And she said, right, and now he'd be Vice
President of the United States. (Laughter.) It's true, there's no doubt
in my mind. (Laughter.)
I'm always reminded of home when we get to this part of the
country. We've had a chance to spend a lot of time in Iowa over the
years. Back in Washington, I have the privilege of working with an
outstanding congressional delegation from Iowa -- Chuck Grassley is one
of my closest friends in the Senate; and Congressman Steve King here,
from Sioux City -- they do a great job for the nation. (Applause.) The
President and I are proud to be on the ballot with them this year.
The election is just a little over four months away, and there's a
lot of work ahead of us. I know you've been politicking here in Iowa
since at least January, and the rest of us are just catching up. It's
going to be a tough race and we'll take nothing for granted, and we
deeply appreciate your help. The most important thing you can do, of
course, is register to vote, encourage your friends and neighbors to
get out there and do the same. We're counting on you to talk to
Republicans and Democrats and independents. You can also become a
volunteer, obviously, for the campaign by signing up on our website.
They picked a name that's easy to remember: George W. Bush dot-com.
(Laughter.)
The President and I are going to work hard to earn your support,
and the support of people all across this state. We know that Iowa is
Bush Country. We ran hard in this state four years ago, and we came
within a few thousand votes of victory. This time we're going to work
even harder -- and this time, with your help, we're going to carry Iowa
-- (applause.)
Every day between now and the 2nd of November, President Bush and I
are going to present our record to the American people, to clarify the
choices in this very important election. These are challenging times
for our country -- and we are meeting every challenge with strength and
resolve. Today, I think the American people can be confident of a
better future, a stronger economy, and a nation that is more secure,
because of the character and the leadership of our President, George W.
Bush. (Applause.)
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on America, on 9/11,
people in every part of the country -- regardless of party -- took
pride in the conduct and the character of our President. Since 9/11, he
has led a steady, focused, and relentless campaign against the enemies
who struck America and killed some 3,000 of our fellow citizens that
morning. And in that effort, we will prevail. Across the world, we are
fighting and winning the war on terror. Already, two-thirds of al
Qaeda's known leaders have been captured or killed. And those still at
large are on the run -- and their fears are well founded, because we're
on their trail. (Applause.)
In Afghanistan, we removed the brutal Taliban from power and
destroyed the camps where terrorists trained to kill Americans. In
Iraq, America and our allies rid the Iraqi people of a murderous
dictator, and rid the world of a gathering threat to our peace and
security. (Applause.) Saddam Hussein once controlled the lives and the
future of almost 25 million people. Today, he's in jail. (Applause.)
Because we acted, he will never again brutalize the Iraqi people, never
again support terrorists or pursue weapons of mass destruction, never
again threaten the United States of America. (Applause.)
We still face serious challenges in those liberated countries, as
we saw yesterday in the bombings in Iraq. The killers who strike police
stations and government buildings are not fighting foreigners. They are
fighting the Iraqi people. They are enemies of democracy and hope, and
a peaceful future for Iraq. And they will not succeed. (Applause.) Next
Wednesday, on the 30th of June, Iraq will again become a sovereign
nation, and an emerging democracy that the United States can call a
friend.
We're making progress in Afghanistan, as well. An interim
government is operating, a constitution has been written; this fall,
free elections will be held. And just last week, Hamid Karzai, the
President of Afghanistan, came before a joint session of Congress to
thank the American people for liberating his country. (Applause.)
The defeat of tyranny and violence in Afghanistan and Iraq is key
to establishing democracy in the heart of the Middle East, and will be
a crucial setback for international terror. Because we're strong and
resolute, Iraq will never go back to the camp of tyranny and terror.
And America will never go back to the false comforts of the world
before 9/11. Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength.
They are invited by the perception of weakness. (Applause.) And this
nation has made a decision -- this nation has made a decision: We will
engage the enemy -- facing him with our military in Afghanistan and
Iraq today, so we do not have to face him with armies of firefighters,
police and medical personnel on the streets of our own cities.
(Applause.)
This nation is extremely fortunate during these times of testing to
have the dedicated service of our men and women in uniform. (Applause.)
They are proving every day that when we send them to defend the nation,
we are sending the very best of the United States of America.
(Applause.) One of the most important commitments President Bush made
during the 2000 campaign was that the armed forces would be given every
resource they need and the respect they deserve -- and he has kept his
word to the United States military. (Applause.)
From the beginning, America has sought -- and received --
international support for our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In
the war on terror, we will always seek cooperation from our allies
around the world. 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. The United States will never seek a
permission slip to defend the security of our country. (Applause.)
These are not times for leaders who shift with the political winds,
saying one thing one day and another the next. (Laughter.) This is the
good part of the speech. (Laughter.) We need a Commander-in-Chief of
clear vision and steady determination -- and that's just what we have
in President George W. Bush. (Applause.)
The President's opponent, Senator Kerry, comes at things a little
differently. Sometimes his position on a big issue depends on when you
ask him. (Laughter.) When Congress voted to authorize force against
Saddam Hussein, Senator Kerry voted "yes." This year, when it served
his purpose, he described himself as an opponent of the war.
When it came time to fund our troops in Iraq, he managed to take
both sides of that issue, as well. Last fall, at the President's
request, Congress considered legislation providing funding for body
armor and other vital support for our military, such as hazard pay,
health benefits, ammunition, fuel and spare parts. The legislation
passed overwhelmingly, with a vote in the Senate of 87 to 12. Senator
Kerry voted "no."
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: He then gave one of those explanations we've
all come to expect from him. He said, "I actually did vote for the $87
billion before I voted against it." (Laughter.) Well, that sure clears
things up. (Laughter.)
And then there was Senator Kerry's announcement that foreign
leaders are supporting his campaign.
THE AUDIENCE: Great -- (laughter.)
THE VICE PRESIDENT: In Pennsylvania, a voter asked the Senator
directly who these foreign leaders are. Senator Kerry said, "That's
none of your business." (Laughter.) But it is our business when a
candidate for President claims political endorsements from abroad. This
election will be decided by the American people -- not by unnamed
foreign leaders. (Applause.)
There is no doubt that great events will turn on the choice we make
this November. The leader who sits in the Oval Office will set the
course for the war on terror, and set the direction for the American
economy. Three and a half years ago, by the time the President and I
took office, the economy was sliding into recession. Then, just as our
economy was ready to recover, the terrorists struck and shook our
economy once again.
President Bush took strong steps to get the economy moving. Working
with our allies on Capitol Hill, the President signed into law major
tax relief for millions of American families and businesses.
(Applause.) We doubled the child tax credit, decreased the marriage
penalty, cut tax rates across the board and put the death tax on the
path to extinction. (Applause.)
Across the nation, the results of the President's policies are
clear. The economy added 248,000 new jobs last month, alone. We've
added more than 1.4 million new jobs since August, and more than 10,000
of those jobs have come here in Iowa. Our farm economy is strong --
America has had four straight years of rising farm exports, and last
year we had the highest farm income on record. (Applause.)
Manufacturing jobs have increased for four straight months. The home
ownership rate is the highest ever. Productivity is high. Incomes and
wages have been rising. Economic growth over the last year has been
high -- at 4.8 percent, GDP has grown at the second highest
four-quarter rate in nearly 20 years. There's a simple reason for our
growing prosperity: The Bush tax relief is working. (Applause.)
Just as we expected, the American people are using their money far
better than the government would have -- and Congress was right to let
them keep it. (Applause.)
Senator Kerry looks at all the economic growth and the efforts of
workers across America, and somehow can only find cause for pessimism.
And his idea for cheering up the country? Raise our taxes. (Laughter.)
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It's all right, I like it. (Laughter.) The
Senator has promised to repeal most of the Bush tax cuts within his
first 100 days in office.
THE AUDIENCE: Nooo!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: This isn't surprising when you consider his
record. Over the years, Senator Kerry voted over 350 times for higher
taxes on the American people -- including the biggest tax increase in
history. That's an average of a vote for higher taxes every three weeks
for 20 years. (Laughter.) At least the folks back in Massachusetts
knew he was on the job. (Laughter.)
For the sake of long-term growth and job creation, we should do
exactly the opposite of what Senator Kerry proposes. We should make
those tax cuts permanent because they're the basis for our economic
recovery. (Applause.)
Under the strong economic leadership of President Bush, this nation
is going to continue moving forward with an aggressive, optimistic,
pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.
Our nation needs lawsuit abuse reform, to protect small businesses
from junk lawsuits and needless regulation. (Applause.) America's
entrepreneurs should be able to hire productive workers, instead of
hiring lawyers.
America needs medical liability reform, as well, to control the
costs of health care. (Applause.) Here in Iowa and across the nation,
doctors should be able to spend their time healing patients, not
fighting off frivolous lawsuits. (Applause.)
Our country also needs a comprehensive energy policy. It's time for
Congress to pass the plan the President submitted three years ago -- a
plan that would promote domestic energy production, increase our use of
alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and make the United
States less dependent on foreign source of energy. (Applause.)
And it is also time for the United States Senate to get about the
business of confirming President Bush's judicial nominees. (Applause.)
Far too many of the President's nominees are being forced to wait
months, or even years, for a hearing or an up-or-down vote. A number
are still being filibustered. That's unfair to the judicial nominees,
and it's an abuse of the constitutional process. Every nominee deserves
a prompt up-or-down vote. (Applause.) And that's another reason we need
to send Chuck Grassley back to the United States Senate. (Applause.)
Ladies and gentlemen, on issue after issue, the choice on November
2nd is very clear. It's a choice between President Bush's optimism, and
Senator Kerry's pessimism. On national security, it's a choice between
President Bush's confidence and Senator Kerry's confusion. (Laughter.)
On the economy, it's a choice between a President who took action and
has led America to days of progress and opportunity, and a senator who
would take us back to the days of malaise. That's a contest we welcome,
and with your vote, that's a contest we'll win. (Applause.)
THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I've got another page to go here. (Laughter.)
President Bush has a clear vision for the future of the nation.
Abroad, we'll use America's great power to serve great purposes -- to
protect our homeland by turning back the forces of terror, and to
spread hope and freedom around the world. Here at home, we'll continue
building a prosperity that reaches every corner of the land.
The President and I are both honored by your confidence in us, and
by your commitment to the cause we all share. We're grateful to our
many friends all across Iowa. And now, together, we're going to see our
cause forward to victory on November 2nd.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 4:22 P.M. CDT
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