[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[April 24, 2002]
[Pages 663-667]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a South Dakota Republican Party Rally in Sioux Falls
April 24, 2002

    The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you very much; thank 
you for that warm welcome. I'm really glad I came back to South Dakota. 
John said to me, he said, ``Well, you might 
want to come over to South Dakota. A few of my friends might show up.'' 
[Laughter] I want to thank all of you for coming.
    I'm here for a couple of reasons. First, I'm here because I firmly 
believe that John Thune should be the next 
United States Senator from South Dakota. And I'm here to thank the 
people of this good State who work so hard for the Republican Party, who 
know that our party represents strength and compassion, that we trust 
the people of America. I want to thank those of you who man the phones 
and lick the envelopes, who carry the signs. I want to thank the 
grassroots support that are so incredibly important not only for making 
sure our point of view is heard but incredibly important part of our 
democracy. Your job of turning out the vote and talking to the neighbors 
and going to the coffee shops and spreading the word is incredibly 
important. And it's going to be an important reason why John Thune gets 
elected next November.
    I want to thank John's wife, Kimberley, 
for making the sacrifice necessary to--for her husband to run for this 
high office. John and I share something in 
common; that is, we both married above ourselves. [Laughter] My regret 
is that my wife, Laura, isn't with me here 
tonight. But I will tell you, I am incredibly proud of this fine soul. 
She is doing a great job as the First Lady for our country.
    Audience member. [Inaudible]--in South Dakota!
    The President. I had the honor of serving as the Governor of my 
State, and while I was the Governor, I got to know the Governor of your State. He is--he's one of a kind. 
[Laughter] I'm proud to be with my old Governor friend, and I know 
you're proud of the job he's doing as your Governor. I also want to 
thank the first lady, Mary Dean, as well.
    I want to thank the party chairman, Joel Rosenthal. I want to thank the national committeeman, the national committeewoman. 
I want to thank you all.
    This is a--this is a really large crowd. [Laughter] It says 
something about the vitality of our message, and it says something about 
the strength of our candidate for the United States Senate. Here's what 
I like about John. I like his values. I 
respect his intellect. I appreciate his dedication to hard work and his 
desire to get things done in Washington, DC, on behalf of the citizens 
of South Dakota. He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes, and 
it's refreshing to hear his voice amongst the shrill partisans in 
Washington, DC. He's a steady hand, and he's a man with whom I can work.
    We've worked on big issues thus far. One of the most important 
issues we worked on was making sure the people of South Dakota and 
America got to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. When it comes 
time to spending money in Washington, DC, both of us understand the 
money we're spending is not the Government's money. The money we're 
spending is the people's money. And we cut your taxes right at the right 
time.
    You know, our economy was floundering. When I went into office, the 
economy was grinding down, and that deeply troubled me. Anytime somebody 
in this country wants to work and they can't find a job, I'm troubled by 
that. But I understood this economic fact: If you let people keep their 
own money, they're going to spend it; they're going to demand something. 
And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce a 
good or

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a service. And when somebody produces that good or service, that means 
somebody is going to find work. The tax cuts we passed, in spite of some 
of the big spenders in Washington, DC, helped this economy get back on 
its feet.
    And we need a good farm bill out of Congress. We don't need any more 
politics with the farm bill. Let's get a farm bill on my desk that makes 
sense for the South Dakota farmers. Farming is an incredibly important 
part of this national economy of ours. It's important to understand that 
good farm policy is not only good for the economy; it's good for out 
national security as well. Thank goodness we can feed our people in 
America.
    And what's bad for our national security is that we are too 
dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. We're too dependent on 
sources of energy from some countries that don't particularly care for 
America. And one way to help reduce that dependency is to promote, 
encourage value-added processing with America products such as ethanol.
    I told the people--I told the people when I was running, I was for 
ethanol. And a lot of people said, ``Well, he's from Texas. He's not for 
ethanol.'' Listen, I'm the President of everybody, and I understand what 
it means to be reliant upon somebody else's energy. There's plenty of 
room for ethanol in the energy mix in America. We must have it. We must 
have it for the good of our farm economy; we must have it for the good 
of our air; and we must have it for the national security reasons of the 
United States of America.
    My view about trade is this: If you're good at something, you ought 
to promote it. And one of the things we're good at is raising meat and 
growing crops. America has got a competitive advantage when it comes to 
our agriculture. We grow more than we need here in America, and 
therefore, we ought to have policy that helps us feed the world. I want 
free trade, and I want fair trade. The House has passed a trade 
promotion authority, and so should the United States Senate.
    And the good news is, John Thune 
understands that. And he also understands this, that our party has been 
compassionate. We've been conservative, but we have been compassionate 
when it comes to issues like welfare reform. One of the great successes 
in recent history has been the welfare reform law, which says if you're 
dependent upon Government, it's hard to realize your dreams. Listen, 
we'll help people who cannot help themselves. But we have reduced 
dependency upon Government as a result of encouraging and training and 
insisting that people go to work.
    There is a welfare reform reauthorization coming up; in other words, 
we've got to rewrite the bill. I want to make sure someone like John 
Thune is elected to the Senate so that if that 
bill gets reauthorized when he's a Senator, there will be a voice for 
reason and compassion, a voice that understands, with a job you find 
dignity, and a voice who will join me in promoting family and marriage 
in the welfare reform bill.
    Like the farmers here, I'm kind of an early morning fellow. I get up 
every morning; I take old Barney and Spot outside. [Laughter] Spot then 
joins me in the Oval Office. After all, she was born in the White House 
and is used to the trappings there. Barney's only a year and a half, so 
he doesn't spend much time inside the Oval Office. After all, we've got 
a new rug in there. [Laughter]
    I walk in the office; I sit behind a desk that has been used by 
Presidents ranging from the Roosevelts to Kennedy to Reagan, and I read 
a threat assessment. I read a list of potential threats to our country, 
and it reminds me that my most important job is to do everything in my 
power to protect the American people, that my most important job is to 
make sure that the enemy doesn't hit us again.
    And we're making progress. I want you to know that we take this 
notion of homeland security very seriously. Today I was

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visiting with your Governor, and he 
explained to me what South Dakota is doing. I'm most impressed with his 
leadership on this issue. You need to know that we follow every single 
lead. If we hear somebody might want to hurt us, we're running them 
down.
    We're making sure our borders are more secure. Here in America, 
we're a welcoming society. But we want to know who's coming in, and we 
want to know who's going out.
    As part of our homeland defense strategy, we're spending money and 
working closely with our first-responders, the brave police and fire and 
EMS teams all across America. We want to be prepared in America, and 
we've got a strategy to do just that. And for those of you who wear the 
uniform who are here tonight, I want to thank you on behalf of a 
grateful nation.
    We take the threat of bioterrorism very seriously here in America, 
and we've got a strategy to deal with that.
    What I'm telling you is, we're doing everything in our power to 
protect the American people. But the surest way to protect the American 
people is to chase the killers down one by one and bring them to 
justice.
    I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the killers when 
they attacked America. I guess they must have thought that this was a 
soft nation, that we were so self-absorbed, so materialistic, so weak 
that all we were going to do was to file a lawsuit. [Laughter] They 
found out we think differently here in America. They found out that when 
it comes to the defense of our freedoms--the freedom to worship, the 
freedom to speak, the freedom to assemble, freedom of the press--that 
we're a mighty nation, and if threatened, we will respond.
    I can't tell you how proud I am of the United States military. For 
those of you who have got relatives in the military, you thank them on 
behalf of a grateful nation and a grateful Commander in Chief.
    The world is also finding out that when America says something, we 
mean it, that when we say we're going to do something, we're going to 
follow through. Early on, I said to the world that either you're with 
us, or you're against us. The good news is, a lot of the world is with 
us, and for that we're grateful. I also said, ``If you harbor a 
terrorist, if you feed a killer, if you hide a killer, you're just as 
guilty as the killers.'' And the Taliban regime in Afghanistan found out 
exactly what we meant.
    It is so important for Americans, particularly young Americans, to 
understand that this Nation does not seek revenge; we seek justice. And 
when we went into Afghanistan, our military and our coalition partners 
did not go in as conquerors; we went in as liberators. We freed people 
from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of 
mankind. In so doing--in so doing, we opened up schools for the first 
time for many young girls. I am proud of the efforts. I'm proud of our 
steadfast resolve, our determination, our unity, and I'm proud of the 
values that our country holds dear. You see, we value the worth of every 
single individual, regardless of their religion, regardless of their 
status.
    I have submitted a budget to Congress--and I'm so proud that 
John is supporting this budget--that makes the 
defense of our country the number one priority. It's a significant 
increase in the defense budget. It's the largest increase since Ronald 
Reagan, and I have done so for two reasons. One, anytime this Nation 
commits our young to battle, anytime we put our troops in harm's way, 
they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best possible 
support from the Government of the United States of America. And I have 
submitted a significant increase because it is an indication of the 
struggles ahead. It is a signal to the world that the United States is 
in this war for the long haul.
    I don't have a calendar on my desk that says, by such-and-such a 
moment this war

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will end. I don't operate under false deadlines. And I know the nature 
of the enemy; they're coldblooded killers. And we have no choice but to 
defend ourselves and defend our friends by hunting them down.
    The second phase of the war after Afghanistan is to deny sanctuary, 
training bases, or recruitment facilities for any one of these killers. 
To put it bluntly, we're treating them like they are: international 
criminals. And we've got them on the run, and we're hunting them down 
one person at a time. There is no cave deep enough for this patient 
Nation. They think they can run, and they think they can hide, but 
they're going to be sorely disappointed.
    Our war against terror is more than just a person; it is more than 
just a network. We understand that history has called us to defend 
freedom so that people can grow up in a free society, not only in 
America but around the world. And so I want you to know that when I talk 
about an axis of evil, I mean it. We will not allow the world's most 
dangerous regimes to harbor and develop the world's most dangerous 
weapons. History has given us a chance to rise up, and rise up we will, 
in the defense of those values we hold dear.
    And so I want to thank my fellow citizens here in South Dakota and 
all around America for their--for their unity and purpose and resolve. I 
truly believe that by being firm and tough, we can achieve peace. That's 
what I want. I want lasting peace. I want peace not only for America; I 
want peace for regions of the world that are plagued by terror. I want 
peace so people can grow up and realize their God-given potential. I 
believe that when America fulfills its duty and honors the mission, that 
peace is more likely to come.
    And I also know that out of this terrible evil done to America can 
come incredible good. People oftentimes ask me, ``What can I do to 
help?'' And my answer is this: Love your neighbor just like you'd like 
to be loved yourself; if you want to fight evil, do some good. You see, 
it's the collective action of millions of acts of kindness that take 
place every day in America that truly defines the character of our 
country and allows us to stand squarely in the face of evil.
    If you want to help your country, mentor a child. If you want to 
help your country, go to your church or synagogue and mosque and rally 
good people to feed the homeless. If you want to help your country, 
remember there are pockets of despair and loneliness that can be solved 
by somebody putting their arm around somebody and saying, ``I love 
you.'' This country has risen to its task, because not only do we defend 
our values but because we're a nation full of great hearts and kind 
souls and decent people.
    I believe out of this evil will come incredible good. I believe 
America is beginning to realize the importance of serving something 
greater than yourself in life, the importance of recognizing that as you 
serve something greater than yourself in life, you serve your country.
    That lesson came home so clear. I think the young here, when they 
read the history of 9/11, should remember what took place on Flight 93. 
People getting on an airplane thought they were just going through an 
average day of travel. They were told the plane served as a--was serving 
as a weapon. They were told what was on the ground. A couple of people 
got on the phone and told their wives and loved ones goodbye, they loved 
them. They said a prayer. One guy said, ``Let's roll.'' And they drove 
the plane to the ground to save lives.
    It's the American--it is that spirit, it is that ultimate sacrifice, 
that sense of personal responsibility which is helping to change this 
Nation. You see, the culture says, ``If it feels good, just go ahead and 
do it,'' and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody else.'' There's a 
new awakening here in America that says, ``Each of us are responsible 
for the decisions we make in life''--that we are responsible--that if 
you are a mom or a dad, you're responsible

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for loving that child with all your heart and all your soul, and if 
you're a good citizen, you're responsible for loving a neighbor. And 
that's what's happening in America.
    This is a great country. I can't tell you how optimistic I am about 
the future of our land. I'm optimistic that we'll achieve peace. I'm 
optimistic that we will stand squarely in the face of evil, with acts of 
kindness and decency. And I'm optimistic that this country will remain 
the most hopeful place on the face of the Earth.
    It is an honor, a high honor, to be the President of the greatest 
land on the face of the Earth. Thank you for giving me that privilege. 
May God bless you all. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 6:33 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena. In his 
remarks, he referred to senatorial candidate John Thune; Gov. William J. 
Janklow of South Dakota and his wife, Mary Dean Janklow; and Joel 
Rosenthal, chairman, Ron Schmidt, national committeeman, and Mary Jean 
Jensen, national committeewoman, South Dakota Republican Party.