[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 23, 1992]
[Pages 1633-1636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania
September 23, 1992

    The President. Thank you very, very much. What a wonderful rally. 
What a great day at Penn State. Thank you, Coach Paterno----
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Thank you, Joe; thank you, Coach. It is a great--
thank you very, very much. Thank you. Thank you very much, Coach 
Paterno. It's one thing to have to play after one of your pep talks, but 
it's a little tougher to have to give a speech after one of your pep 
talks. Thank you for that great introduction. Last time I gave a speech 
on a college campus, one student came up to me afterwards and said, 
``That was the best imitation of Dana Carvey I've ever seen.'' 
[Laughter] I never knew I had such talent.
    But let me just say a word about the coach. And I'm talking to the 
choir here, but a lot of people won't take a position; a lot of people 
out in life want to protect themselves and not stand up for what they 
believe in. So in a tough political year when a man with the standing of 
Coach Joe Paterno stands at my side as a friend and speaks for me, I am 
very, very grateful to him not just for the support but for his courage.
    Just to get this rally open, I want to do to Governor Clinton this 
year what Penn State did to Cincinnati last year. I'm glad I'm not 
running against Joe Paterno and also glad I'm not running against that 
world-renowned baton twirler, John Mitchell. Where is the man? There he 
is, right back there. You can't see him, but I can; real talent. Now 
before I get started, let me simply acknowledge some up here with me on 
the dais, two great Members of Congress, Bud Shuster and Bill Clinger. 
If we had more people like these two in the Congress, the American 
people wouldn't have those brooms out, yelling ``Clean House!'' But as a 
matter of fact, we ought to clean House.
    May I salute Sue Paterno and Tricia Giannini--and thanks, Tricia, 
the president of the college Republicans; she did a great job on this 
rally--and so many others working on behalf of the party in 
Pennsylvania; and Anne Anstine, our chairman; Joyce Haas, Mary Dunkel.
    I didn't come here today, you'd be happy to know, to give a big 
rally or a grand speech. I came here to talk a bit about where we've 
been and where we are and what I want to do to get us where we've got to 
be. You know, as I was walking through the old ``Main'' I saw a plaque 
on the wall. Not too shiny, but then again, it didn't need to be. It was 
dedicated to 374 Americans who died in World War II, all from Penn 
State. I was there, and I survived to see a lot of history between then 
and now, the heated battles and a long cold war, won by people with the 
right stuff and the people with the right ideas. We stood fast. We 
stayed strong, and I am the first President that can say we won the cold 
war. It is over. And people say, ``Are you better off?'' Well, I think 
it's a good thing that every kid on this campus goes to bed

[[Page 1634]]

at night without the same fear of nuclear war that the generations 
precedent had.
    But the challenges we face today are different, and so are the 
demands. The challenge of the nineties is to win the economic 
competition, to win the peace.
    Yesterday I went to six States. For months now my opponent is taking 
me on and taking this country down. So I figured it was time to 
introduce candidate Clinton to Governor Clinton, because the rhetoric 
and the reality are like night and day. You know what we discovered? 
Whether it's candidate Clinton or Governor Clinton, it doesn't matter. 
Governor Clinton is wrong for the United States of America if you want 
to move this country forward.
    Some in the press will be saying, ``Well, talking about the 
Governor's policy record is like going after an unarmed man.'' Well, I 
say, he should have armed himself. He should have packed more than 
promises. My opponent and I may argue towards some of the same ends, but 
we start from radically different premises, premises built on different 
experience and different philosophies. I will point out the differences 
in our visions, because I believe it explains the differences in our 
views.
    Two weeks--hey, listen, maybe we can get this guy to shut up. I'll 
answer your question. He's raising--no, seriously, he's raising a 
legitimate question. He's asking about AIDS. It's a terrible curse. We 
have spent $4.3 billion on that. I have asked now for $4.9 billion. No 
researcher in this country is going to rest until we find the cure for 
AIDS. And so we care about it.
    Two weeks ago in Detroit, I presented my views and my Agenda for 
American Renewal. I didn't just hammer away at what's wrong with 
America. I gave fair due to what's right. I offered a comprehensive, 
integrated approach to win the new global economic competition, to 
create the world's first $10 trillion economy by the dawn of the 
century. My opponent will say we can't do it. I say: When America sets 
its sights on a goal, we always succeed. We are the United States of 
America.
    Audience members.  U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. This agenda that I have out there, this detailed 
agenda contains 13 actions, specific actions that I will pursue in the 
first year of my second term, and I will fight for them harder than the 
Nittany Lions, fourth quarter, fourth down, goal to go, and that's 
tough. That's tough. So I'm asking the people for nothing more, nothing 
less, than a mandate to move this country forward. I will work with the 
hundred and some newly elected Members of Congress who will listen to 
the people to move this country forward.
    And yes, I want a debate. I want a debate over issues and an 
argument over ideas. I will stand on my record, and I won't let that 
Arkansas Governor run away from his record, either. You know, I think 
the American people have a right to know what they're buying into. 
Because remember, if you buy what candidate Clinton is selling, there's 
no refund. There's no rebate. Actually, it's more like a permanent 
payment plan. I don't think we need that for the United States of 
America.
    On one issue, and I think it's the fundamental issue in this 
campaign, my opponent and I have just agreed to disagree. It's a 
question of how our economy grows and how our country works. It's kind 
of like ``Jeopardy''; it all comes down to how you ask the question. My 
opponent asks what makes the economy grow. And his answer, and look at 
his program, is Government planners and projects and programs. I ask who 
makes this country go. And my answer is you, the individual working men 
and women, building and buying in the freedom of a market.
    My opponent believes that the Government will, quote, and here are 
his words, ``invest,'' unquote, your money smarter than you can. I don't 
see it that way. I say the smart money is on the smart people, like 
standing right out here in this beautiful day in Pennsylvania.
    You know, it's crazy. Some of you all are studying history, and it's 
a crazy thing. At the very moment when Russia and Eastern Europe and the 
whole world is turning our way, why would we want to go back their way? 
All of a sudden, all around the world, people are turning to free 
markets and to free trade and to freedom. Now that the world is finally 
catching on, what are we supposed to say, ``just kidding,'' and start

[[Page 1635]]

their way? No.
    The world is sending us a message we should already know: Government 
planning, social engineering, centralized economies do not work. We know 
what works: Freedom works.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Thank you all very much. That's what we're after, 4 
more. Look, in this discussion I'm not just talking about political 
freedom. I'm talking about the freedom to save, to invest, to work, and 
for you and your families to keep more of what you earn.
    A major difference between the candidates is taxes. My opponent has 
already said he wants to raise taxes, and I want to lower taxes. During 
the eighties we lightened the tax load on labor, creating 21 million 
jobs. I know there are some economics majors out here, but you don't 
have to crunch numbers to figure it out: The less you tax of something, 
the more you get of it. If we cut taxes on investment, we'll get more 
investment. More investment means more jobs for the working men and 
women in the United States of America.
    Now, listen to this because this is factual. My opponent disagrees. 
In Arkansas he's taxing everything he can get his hands on: groceries, 
beer, gas----
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. I knew you wouldn't like that one--mobile homes, 
cable TV, used cars, airplanes, coal. He was even taxing food stamps 
until the Federal Government forced him to stop.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. That's the truth. I guess that's why yesterday my 
subconscious spoke up, and by accident, and it was an accident, down 
there in the South, I actually called him ``Governor Taxes.'' And I'm 
sorry, I apologize.
    Audience members. Bush! Bush! Bush!
    The President. We disagree on taxes. And guess what: We disagree on 
Government spending. He wants to raise Government spending, and I want 
to cut it.
    The Federal Government today spends almost one quarter out of every 
dollar of our national income. He apparently thinks that's cheap. On top 
of the $1.5 trillion we already spend today, he's proposed $220 billion 
in brand-spanking-new spending. Newsweek thinks his true total could be 
3 times as high as that. Frankly, I can't think of why anyone would want 
the Government to grow one inch bigger. Maybe my opponent thinks there's 
just that much more of it to love.
    The fourth difference: Opening foreign markets to American goods is 
a big, key difference. Exports support over 400,000 jobs right here in 
the State of Pennsylvania. I want lower priced goods for American 
consumers and new customers for American goods. I believe in free trade 
because I believe that when trade is free and fair, America beats the 
competition fair and square, anytime.
    You know, there was a time when Governor Clinton said he favored 
open trade. Other times, usually after meetings with big union guys, he 
wasn't so sure. Well, what will it be? Well, when he's asked for his 
opinion on the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada he said, 
quote, ``when I have a definitive opinion, I'll say so.'' Well, I've got 
news for the Governor: There's no call-waiting in the Oval Office. You 
can't have it both ways. You've got to make up your mind. I am for 
creating more jobs in the United States by increasing our exports.
    Finally, when it comes to legal reform, and this is a tough one, the 
Governor and I parted company before we even met. I believe that our 
legal system is out of control and headed for a crash. And it's running 
roughshod over all the small businesses, scaring the wits out of anyone 
who wants to take the risk and try out something new. Today, Americans 
spend up to $200 billion in one year in direct costs to lawyers. Now, 
that's got to stop. Americans need to stop suing each other so much and 
caring for each other more.
    You talk about special interests. One trial lawyer from Arkansas 
solicited funds for my opponent by writing, and here's his quote, ``I 
can never remember an occasion when he failed to do the right thing 
where we trial lawyers were concerned.'' Well, how touching. We do not 
need someone to do the right thing for the special interests. We need a 
President who will do things right

[[Page 1636]]

for all the American people. We need to put a lid on these lawsuits, put 
limits on these crazy lawsuits.
    Now, this fall I'm going to continue to talk about what's right, 
even if it's not in fashion. The Governor wishes I wouldn't talk about 
foreign policy. It makes him very uncomfortable, and I won't ask him 
why. But I will ask him what the heck he's talking about when he 
describes a President's, quote, here's what he called it, a President's 
``powerless moments when countries are invaded, friends are threatened, 
Americans are held hostage, and our Nation's interests are on the 
line.'' That's the end of the quote.
    Well, let me say, Governor Clinton: If America is powerless when our 
Nation's interests are on the line, who else do you suppose is going to 
take care of us? My America is not powerless. My America takes care of 
its interests. When we have to fight, we're willing to do it if the 
cause is just.
    Someone once said that, ``You learn more about character on the 2-
yard line than anywhere else in life.'' I don't know whether Joe agrees 
with that. But I've been there. America has been there. But there's one 
thing about America: We never back down. We never give up. We never 
retreat. We always compete. And we always win. That is the United States 
of America.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. And I have faith in our great country. Clinton talks 
about our country being somewhere below Germany, but north of Sri Lanka. 
He ought to open his eyes and look around. We are the most respected 
country in the entire world. Now, we enhanced the peace, and now let's 
take that power and use it to help every working man and woman in this 
country.
    May God bless you all. Joe, again, my thanks. And thanks to all of 
you for this fantastic rally. Thank you so very much. Thank you.

                    Note: The President spoke at 1:20 p.m. on the Old 
                        Main Lawn. In his remarks, he referred to Joe 
                        Paterno, head coach, Pennsylvania State 
                        University Nittany Lions football team, and his 
                        wife, Sue; Anne Anstine, chairman, Pennsylvania 
                        State Republican committee; Joyce Haas, central 
                        Pennsylvania coordinator, Bush-Quayle '92; and 
                        Mary Dunkel, Centre County coordinator, Bush-
                        Quayle '92.