For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 16, 2004
President's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota
Dick Putz Field
St. Cloud, Minnesota
9:47 A.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you all for
coming. I'm honored to be here in St. Cloud. I understand I am the --
(applause.) I understand I am the first sitting President --
(applause.) I am glad I came, and the other Presidents missed a lot.
(Applause.) Thanks for coming out today. It's such an honor to be
here. I really want to thank you for being here. A little early in
the morning, I know. (Laughter.) It seems like I provided a pretty
good excuse for some kids to miss school. (Applause.) Don't make a
habit of it. (Laughter.)
I'll tell you what I'm doing. We're taking a bus trip across your
beautiful state. I'm asking for the vote. That's what I'm doing
today. I'm here to tell you in St. Cloud, I want your vote.
(Applause.) And I'm asking for your help. I know we've got a lot of
people working hard here to register voters. Keep doing it. See, we
have a duty in this country to participate in the elections, is what I
believe we have. And I'm asking you to find people and register them
to vote. And when you're registering people to vote, don't overlook
discerning Democrats, people like Zell Miller. (Applause.) And then
when you get people registered to vote, head them to the polls. And
when you get them headed to the polls, tell them, if they want a safer
America, a stronger America, a better America, to put me and Dick
Cheney back in office. (Applause.)
So I told Laura I was going to St. Cloud. She said, tell
everybody, "Hi.". (Applause.) I wish she were here. I know -- I love
Laura, too. (Laughter.) She is a great mother, a wonderful wife. You
know, when I married her, or asked her to marry me, she was a public
school librarian in Texas. She said, fine, I'll marry you, just, I
don't want to give any political speeches. I said, okay, you won't
have to give any speeches. Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that
promise. (Laughter.) She is a great speaker, because she is a
compassionate, decent soul. I'm going to give you some reasons to put
me back in today, but perhaps the most important one of all is so that
Laura is First Lady for four more years. (Applause.)
I'm proud of my running mate, Dick Cheney. Admittedly, he doesn't
have the waviest hair in the race. (Laughter.) I didn't pick him
because of his hair. I picked him because he's a man of great
experience, sound judgment, and he's a man who can get the job done.
(Applause.)
I appreciate working with Mark Kennedy. He's a fine member of the
United States Congress. He's a good fellow. (Applause.) Every time I
see him, he says, "Don't forget those Minnesota farmers." (Applause.)
As you can tell by some ag prices, we haven't.
I appreciate your governor, Tim Pawlenty. He's a fine man, too.
(Applause.) I'm honored. Norman Coleman is not with us, but I tell
you, he's a good one for the United States Senate. I'm proud to work
with him. (Applause.) I want to thank all the other state and local
officials who are here. I want to thank John Stone. I appreciate his
country music songs he sings. I'm honored that he has joined us
today.
I want to thank my friend, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya. He runs
the veterans program for this campaign. First of all, I want to thank
all the veterans who are here. I appreciate your strong support.
(Applause.) And I want to thank my friend, Joe, for his leadership.
He's scheduled to deploy to Iraq soon, and of course, Joe, you'll be in
our prayers, and we appreciate your service.
I know Coach John is with us today, the great coach from St. John's
University. (Applause.) We had him to the White House a while ago,
and it was such an honor to receive such a class act. He is a
wonderful man. He's got a great family. He lifts everybody's
spirits. And I'm proud to have him on my team. Coach John, thanks for
coming. (Applause.)
I want to thank the grassroots activists. Those are the people who
put up the signs and make the phone calls and turn out the vote. I
can't thank you enough for what you have done. And I'm going to thank
you for what you're going to do, and that is, keep working, because I'm
going to be working right alongside of you. I want to win. And I know
we are going to win. (Applause.)
I like getting out with the people. I like to get out and tell
people where I stand, what I believe and where I'm going to lead this
nation for the next four years. I believe every child can learn, and
every school must teach. I went to Washington to challenge the soft
bigotry of low expectations. I thought it was wrong to shuffle
children through the schools, grade after grade, year after year,
without teaching the basics. So we increased federal help, but we also
are now measuring. And we're measuring so we can determine problems
early before they're too late. (Drop in feed) -- schools. We're
closing an achievement gap in America, and we are not turning back.
(Applause.)
I believe we have a moral responsibility to honor our seniors with
good health care. I went to Washington to fix problems, not pass them
on to future Presidents. (Applause.) Medicare needed to be
strengthened. People say, what do you mean by that. I'll tell you
what I mean. Medicare would pay $100,000 or so for heart surgery, but
it would not pay for the prescription drugs necessary to prevent the
heart surgery from not being needed. It didn't make any sense, did it,
not to pay drugs that would stop the heart surgery from being needed,
and yet pay for the heart surgery?
I worked with Republicans and Democrats; we're modernizing
Medicare. Prescription drugs will be available for our seniors. And
we're not turning back. (Applause.)
I believe in the energy and innovation, the spirit of our farmers,
workers, small business owners. And that's why we unleashed that
energy with the largest tax relief in a generation. (Applause.)
Listen, when you're out gathering the vote, remind people what we have
been through. We have been through a recession. We've been through
corporate scandals, and that affected economic growth, by the way. And
secondly, we passed laws, tough laws -- it's now abundantly clear to
everybody in America, we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the
boardrooms of America. (Applause.) And the attacks on September the
11th hurt us. They hurt our economy. But our economy is strong and
it's getting stronger. We're overcoming these obstacles.
You tell folks out there that our economy is growing at rates as
fast as any in nearly 20 years, that we've added 1.7 million new jobs
since August of last year, that the national unemployment rate is 5.4
percent, below the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
(Applause.) The unemployment rate in your great state is 4.4 percent.
(Applause.) This economy is strengthening, and we're not turning
back.
I believe the most solemn duty of the American President is to
protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness
in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This isn't going
to happen on my watch. (Applause.) I'm running for President with a
clear and positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful
America. I'm running with a compassionate conservative philosophy that
government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their
lives. (Applause.) I believe this nation wants steady, consistent,
principled leadership. And that is why, with your help, we're going to
carry Minnesota and win a great victory in November. (Applause.)
Listen, the world in which we live is changing. Think about how
much it's changed since our dads and granddads' generations started
working. I mean, it used to be the man worked outside the home, and
one job, one career, had one pension plan, one health care account.
Today people oftentimes change jobs and careers. The most fundamental
shift in the work force has been women work both inside the home and
outside the home now. And yet, the fundamental systems of our
government have not changed. See, the tax code and health coverage and
pension plans and worker training were created for yesterday, not
tomorrow. In a new term, I will work to transform these systems, so
that all our citizens are equipped, prepared, and thus truly free to
make your own choices, so you can pursue the great promise of our
country.
Any hopeful society requires a growing economy. And I've got a
plan to keep this economy moving forward. To create more jobs in
America, America must be the best place in the world to do business.
(Applause.) We need to reduce the burden of regulation on small
business owners if we want to keep this economy growing. (Applause.)
We need to stop junk lawsuits if we want to keep this economy growing.
(Applause.)
To make sure this country's economy is strong and people can find
work at home, Congress needs to pass my energy plan. It's a plan that
encourages conservation, it's a plan that uses biodiesel and ethanol.
It's a plan that says we can burn our coal cleaner and explore for
natural resources in an environmentally friendly way. But it's a plan
that understands that in order to keep America's economy strong, we
must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
To keep this economy strong, we've got to have good agriculture
policy. I worked to phase out the death tax, so families can pass
their farm from one generation to the next. (Applause.) We're working
with our farmers and ranchers on the conservation reserve program, so
we can improve land, protect wildlife and help our farmers. We've got
a dairy policy that treats all people equally across this country.
And to make sure our farm economy is strong, we're going to
continue to open up markets around the world. See, here's the issue
when it comes to trade -- we've opened up our markets for foreign
goods, and it's good for you to do so. If you're a consumer, and you
have more choices, you're likely to get that which you want at a better
price and higher quality, with more products available.
And so what I'm telling you is, is that we're going to continue to
say to countries like China: You treat us the way we treat you. See,
we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the rules
are fair. (Applause.)
In order to make sure this economy grows, we've got to be wise
about how we spend your money and keep your taxes low. (Applause.)
Taxes are an issue in this campaign. See, they're an issue because I'm
running against a fellow who has already promised over $2 trillion of
new federal spending.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: And so they said, how are you going to pay for
it? And he said, well, that's easy, I'm just going to tax the rich.
We've heard that before, haven't we? (Laughter.) First of all, you
can't raise enough money by taxing the rich to pay for $2.2 trillion
worth of new programs. There's a tax gap. Guess who's going to get
stuck if he has his way?
The other thing about the language, "taxing the rich," is the rich
hire lawyers and accountants for a reason, so you get stuck with the
tab. We're not going to let him tax you. We're going to win in
November. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: This tax code of ours -- we need to change the tax
code of ours. It's a complicated mess. It's full of all kinds of
special interest loopholes. You realize the tax code is over a million
words long. That's why Americans spend about 6 billion hours annually
trying to fill out the tax returns. Listen, we need to simplify the
tax code. To keep this economy growing, we need to simplify the tax
code. To treat our citizens fairly, we need to simplify the tax code.
In a new term, I'm going to bring Republicans and Democrats together to
change the tax code for the good. (Applause.)
A changing world is one in which the jobs -- the nature of the jobs
change. See, look at your own community. Look at the health care
industry -- it's changing, the workforce. But oftentimes our workers
don't have the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century.
In order to keep jobs here at home, we've got to help our workers gain
the skills they need to fill the jobs. That's why I'm such a big
backer in the community college system. I believe we ought to make
community colleges more accessible for worker training programs, and we
will do so.
I also recognize most new jobs are filled with people with at least
two years of college. Yet only one in four of our students gets
there. That's why I believe we ought to fund early intervention
programs at our high schools to help at-risk students. I know we need
to emphasize math and science in our high schools. Over time we will
require a rigorous exam before graduation from our high schools. By
raising performance in our high schools and expanding Pell grants for
low and middle-income families, we will help more Americans start their
career with a college diploma. (Applause.)
In a time of change, we've got to also reform our health care
systems. Health care costs are rising rapidly, they're burdening our
economy, they're leaving too many people uninsured. I have a
common-sense, practical plan to make high-quality health care more
affordable and more accessible. When it comes to health care, we have
a difference of opinion -- and it's a big difference of opinion in this
campaign. My opponent wants government to dictate. I want you to
decide when it comes to health care. (Applause.)
More than half of the Americans who are currently uninsured are
small business employees and their families. I want to change law to
allow small firms to pool together so they can purchase insurance at
the same discounts that big companies can purchase insurance.
(Applause.)
My opponent opposes this plan. He calls it association health
plans, and he opposes them. He says that health plans such at these,
association health plans, would hurt consumers. No, what hurts
consumers is not having health insurance. What hurts consumers is
small businesses don't have the same advantages that big businesses
have. Under my plan the same laws that protect workers at large
companies will protect consumers at small companies. It is time to
stop the excuses. It is time to act to give more Americans quality
health insurance coverage. (Applause.)
We need to expand tax-free health savings accounts. These are
important for our consumers. These are tax-free way to save for your
own health care needs. Small businesses will be given tax credits that
encourage them to put money into health savings accounts for their
employees. We want more people to have their health savings accounts.
So they make decisions based on the advice of their doctor -- not
somebody working at a distant HMO. In order to make sure health care
is available and affordable, we need to expand community health centers
all across our country. These are places where the indigent and poor
can find preventative care, and primary care help. In order to make
sure health care is available and affordable, we're going to spread
health information technology throughout our society.
In order to make sure health care is available and affordable, we
need to do something about the junk lawsuits that are running good docs
out of business and running up the costs of health care. (Applause.)
I hear from people everywhere I go about the problems of the junk
lawsuits. I hear from OB/GYNs how hard it is to practice their
profession. I hear from pregnant women who are worried about the fact
they can't find a good doc. See, I don't think you can be pro-doctor
and pro-patient and pro-trial lawyer at the same time. (Laughter.) I
think you have to choose. My opponent has made his choice and he put a
trial lawyer on the ticket. I made my choice: I am for medical
liability reform -- now. (Applause.)
See, I think the problem in this campaign that my opponent has is
that it's a plan that is massive and it's big and it puts the
government in control of health care. And you can tell it's massive by
the price tag. This week an independent group estimated the cost of
Senator Kerry's plan would be $1.5 trillion -- that's trillion with a
T. (Laughter.) And that's big even for a senator from Massachusetts.
(Laughter.) The only possible way for him to pay for this plan is to
tax you.
The other problem is that it expands the government. See, I'm
going to give you an example. His plan will crowd out private health
insurance, giving businesses an incentive to drop the health care plans
they currently provide. That's the reality of expanding Medicaid
coverage. A recent study showed that the plan would cause 8 million
low to moderate income workers to lose private health coverage they
currently get at work and be placed on Medicaid. Now, here's the
problem with that: Medicaid is a government program. And when the
government is in charge, bureaucrats make the decisions, deciding what
doctors you can see and what health services are covered. That's the
exact opposite of what we believe. I believe that when we reform and
strengthen health care, the health decisions must be made by doctors
and patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. (Applause.)
In changing times, it helps to promote -- it helps families to
promote ownership. If you own something, it brings stability in your
life. During my administration, the home ownership rates in America
are at an all-time high. More and more people are owning their own
home. It's a fantastically hopeful sign for our country when people
are opening the front door where they live saying, welcome to my house,
welcome to my piece of property. (Applause.) Over the next years,
we'll continue to expand ownership to every corner of America to help
our families bring stability in times of change.
And we've got to understand our retirement systems need to be
strengthened. If you're a Social Security recipient, nothing is going
to change. I don't care how hot the political rhetoric gets, you're
safe. Nothing changes. There's ample money in the Social Security
trust to take care of you. For baby boomers like me, there's money in
the trust to take care of us. But we need to think about our children
and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. And I believe,
in order to strengthen Social Security for the young, they must be
allowed to take some of their tax money and set up a personal account,
a personal savings account that strengthens Social Security, a personal
savings account they call their own, and a personal savings account
that government cannot take away. (Applause.)
Listen, we have a difference of philosophy in this campaign. It's
a clear difference. My opponent's programs will expand government.
Our programs will expand opportunity. And I believe that is necessary
because I trust the American people. I trust the American people to
make the right decision with their own money. I trust the American
people to make the right decisions about schools. I trust the American
people to make the right decisions about their health care plans. I
trust the American people, and the government must do so, as well.
(Applause.)
There are some things in this world that aren't going to change.
In changing times, values matter. (Applause.) The values we try to
live by -- courage, compassion, reverence and integrity -- will provide
stability in changing times. In changing times we'll support the
institutions that give our lives direction and purpose -- our families,
our schools, our religious congregations. We stand for a culture of
life in which every person matters and every being counts.
(Applause.) We stand for marriage and family, which are the
foundations of our society. (Applause.) We stand for the appointment
of federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and
the strict interpretation of the law. (Applause.)
This election will also determine how America responds to the
continuing danger of terrorism. Since the terrible morning of
September the 11th, 2001, we fought the terrorists across the Earth --
not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are
at stake.
Our strategy is clear -- we're defending the homeland, we're
transforming our military, we're strengthening the intelligence
services. We're staying on the offensive. We're striking the
terrorists abroad, so we do not have to face them here at home.
(Applause.)
We'll work to advance liberty around the world, in the broader
Middle East and elsewhere, and we'll prevail. We will prevail. Our
strategy is succeeding, it's succeeding. Four years ago, Afghanistan
was the home base of al Qaeda, Pakistan was a transit point for
terrorists, Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for fund-raising for the
terrorists, Libya was pursuing -- secretly pursuing nuclear weapons,
Iraq was a gathering threat, al Qaeda was largely unchallenged as it
planned attacks.
Because we acted, because we led, the government of a free
Afghanistan is fighting terror, Pakistan is capturing terrorist
leaders, Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests, Libya is dismantling
its weapons programs, the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom,
and more than three-quarters of al Qaeda's key leaders and associates
have been brought to justice. (Applause.) We have led, many have
joined, and America and the world are safer. (Applause.)
This progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose, and
some tough decisions. And the toughest came on Iraq. We knew Saddam
Hussein's record of aggression, and his support for terror. We knew
his long history of pursuing and even using weapons of mass
destruction. We knew he was the sworn enemy of America, and we knew
that after September the 11th our country must think differently. We
must take threats seriously, before they fully materialize.
(Applause.)
In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. I went to the United States
Congress. They looked at the same intelligence I looked at. They
remembered the same history I remembered. And they came to the
conclusion that I came to: Saddam Hussein was a threat. And they
voted to authorize the use of force.
My opponent looked at the same intelligence. And when they said,
show of hands for the authorization of force, he said, yes. Before the
Commander-in-Chief commits troops into harm's way, we must try all
options. I was hoping diplomacy would work. I went to the United
Nations. The United Nations looked at the same intelligence I looked
at. They concluded Saddam Hussein was a threat. They voted by 15 to
nothing in the U.N. Security Council for Saddam Hussein to disclose,
disarm or face serious consequences. I believe when bodies say
something, they better mean it. I believe when a President speaks, he
better mean what he says. (Applause.)
Saddam Hussein ignored the demands of the free world again. As he
had for over a decade, he wasn't interested in what the free world had
to say. As a matter of fact, he systematically deceived inspectors
that were sent into his country. So I have a choice to make at this
point in time, diplomacy isn't working. Do I forget the lessons of
September the 11th and trust a madman, or do I take action to defend
this country? Given that choice, I will defend America every time.
(Applause.)
Because we acted to defend ourselves, because we acted in our self
interest, more than 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan are now
free. (Applause.) Fifty million people. You know, it wasn't all that
long ago in Afghanistan where young girls won't allowed to go to school
because the Taliban was so backward and so barbaric that they wouldn't
allow for education for young kids; that their mothers were taken to
the public square and whipped sometimes in sports stadiums and killed,
because they wouldn't toe their line.
Today, over 10 million citizens -- three short years after the
Taliban has been removed -- 10 million citizens, 41 percent of whom are
women, have registered to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.
(Applause.) It's unbelievable.
In Iraq, there's ongoing acts of violence. This country is headed
toward democracy. There's a strong Prime Minister in place. They have
a national council. And national elections are scheduled for January.
It wasn't all that long ago that Saddam Hussein was in power with his
torture chambers and mass graves. And today, this country is headed
towards elections.
Freedom is on the march. And that helps us in America because free
societies don't export terror. Free societies are hopeful societies,
which leads to peace. Free societies will join us in fighting the
terrorists, instead of harboring them. No, we're standing with the
people of Afghanistan and Iraq -- it's not only in our self-interest to
do so, but when America gives its word, America will keep its word
under my administration. (Applause.)
Our mission is clear in Afghanistan and Iraq. We'll help these new
leaders to train their armies so citizens of Afghanistan and Iraq can
do the hard work of protecting their people against a few who would try
to destroy the hopes of the many. We'll help them get their
elections. We'll get them on the path of stability and democracy as
quickly as possible, and then our troops will return home with the
honor they have earned. (Applause.)
We've got a great military. I'm incredibly proud of the men and
women who wear our nation's uniform. I've traveled around our country,
at bases here; and I've been overseas and seen them at bases overseas,
I'm telling you these troops are fantastic. They are people of great
courage and decency. The cause of freedom is in really good hands.
(Applause.)
And they deserve the full support of our government. I made a
commitment that we'll give the troops that which they need in order to
complete their missions. That's why last September I went to the
Congress and asked for $87 billion in funding for body armor, and spare
parts, ammunition, fuel -- supplies needed for troops in combat in both
Afghanistan and in Iraq. And we received great support for that
request. Matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12
members of the United States Senate voted against the funding request
-- two of whom are my opponent and his running mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: When you're out gathering the vote, when you're out
gathering the vote, remind your fellow citizens that only four United
States senators voted to authorize the use of force and then voted
against funding our troops -- only four -- two of whom are my opponent
and his running mate. They asked him, said, why did you do that vote?
He said, well, I actually did vote for the $87 billion right before I
voted against it. (Laughter.) Yes. I don't know here on the town
square of St. Cloud whether many people talk that way. (Laughter.) I
doubt it.
They then said -- well, he's -- kept pressing. He said he's proud
of the vote. And he -- finally, he just said, it's a complicated
matter. That's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in
combat. (Applause.)
Knowing what I know today, even though we haven't found the
stockpiles of weapons we thought were there, I'd have still made the
same decision. America and the world are safer with Saddam Hussein
sitting in a prison cell. (Applause.) I would have made the same
decision because he had the capability of making weapons and he could
have passed that capability on to an enemy. I would have made that
same decision because I'll never forget the lessons of September the
11th, 2001. (Applause.)
Now, during the course of this campaign, the fellow I'm running
against has probably had about eight positions on Iraq -- for the war
but wouldn't provide the funding; then he was the anti-war candidate;
then he said, knowing everything we know today, I'd have done -- did
the same thing; then he said, well, we're spending too much money --
that's after he said we weren't spending enough money. (Laughter.)
And so yesterday in a radio interview, he tried to clear things up. He
said, there were no circumstances -- none -- under which we should have
gone to war. Although he said, his own vote to go to war was the right
vote, and it was right to hold Saddam Hussein accountable.
(Laughter.) The radio interviewer concluded, I can't tell you what he
said. (Laughter.) Let me be clear: Mixed signals are the wrong
signals to send to our troops in the field, the Iraqi people, to our
allies, and -- most of all -- to our enemies. (Applause.)
It is critical --
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: It is critical -- it is critical that the President
of the United States speaks clearly and consistently at this time of
great threat in the world and not change positions because of
expediency or pressure. (Applause.)
I appreciate the contributions our friends and allies have made in
our efforts. We work hard to convince people to join us -- about 40
nations involved in Afghanistan, and some 30 nations are involved in
Iraq. I speak to leaders of those countries often and thank them for
the contributions their folks have made to help us. It's in their
interests that they work to make the world a freer place and a more
peaceful place. In the next years, I'll continue to work to build
alliances. But I will never turn over America's national security
decisions to leaders of other countries. (Applause.)
At the heart of my policy is my deep belief in the transformational
power of liberty to change the world. The wisest use of American
strength is to advance freedom. I spend time with Prime Minister
Koizumi, the Prime Minister of Japan. It wasn't all that long ago that
we were at war with Japan. If you really think about it, in the long
march of history, it really wasn't all that long ago that Japan was a
sworn enemy. My dad fought against the Japanese. I'm sure your dads,
granddads, loved ones did the same thing.
Yet after World War II was over, my predecessor, Harry Truman,
citizens of this country had great faith in the ability of liberty to
transform an enemy into a friend. And so they worked with Japan to
build a democracy. There was a lot of skeptics during then. You can
understand why. We're trying to help an enemy grow into a democracy.
People couldn't fathom that the people -- the country with whom we were
at war could conceivably be an ally. And yet, because we had great
faith in the ability of liberty to transform countries, I today sit at
the table with Prime Minister Koizumi talking about the peace we all
want, talking about making sure this world is a more peaceful place.
See, I believe that millions in the Middle East want liberty, that
in their silence, they -- they want there to be a free society. I
believe women in the great Middle East long to be able to realize their
hopes and aspirations in a free society. I believe in freedom. I
believe in the transformational power of liberty because freedom is not
America's gift to world, see? That's not what I'm telling you. I
believe in the transformational power of liberty because freedom is the
almighty God's
gift to each man and women in this world. (Applause.)
This young century will be liberty's century. By promoting freedom
at home and abroad, we'll build a safer world, and a more hopeful
America. By reforming our systems of government, we will help more
people in our country realize their dreams. We will spread ownership
and opportunity to every corner of the country. We will pass the
enduring values of our country on to a new generation. We will
continue to lead the cause of freedom and peace.
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. This is a
time that requires firm resolve, clear vision, and a deep faith in the
values that make this a great nation. (Applause.)
None of us -- 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. It's a day I'll never forget. There were
workers in hard hats there yelling at the top of their lungs, "Whatever
it takes." You know, I'm doing my best to console these -- thank these
folks that had been in the rubble looking for a buddy. A guy grabbed
me by the arm, he looked me right in the eye, and he said, "Don't let
me down." Ever since that day, I wake up thinking about how to better
protect our country. I will never relent in defending America,
whatever it takes. (Applause.)
Four years ago, when I traveled your beautiful state, asking for
the vote, I made a pledge that said if I -- if you gave me the chance
to serve, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to
which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will
do so for four more years. (Applause.)
God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for being
here. (Applause.) Now you can tell them a sitting President came to
St. Cloud Minnesota. (Applause.) Thank you all. (Applause.)
END 10:30 A.M. CDT
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