    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [November 4, 2002]
    [Pages 2012-2019]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    November 4, 2002

        The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. So I couldn't
    think of a better place to roll over in my bed and--[laughter]--and say
    to Laura, ``Happy birthday.'' Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
    is a great place. I want to thank you all for coming. Old Jim
    Leach said, ``If you come by, we may be able
    to get a couple of our friends over early in the morning before election
    day.'' I said, ``All right, I'll come.'' [Laughter] He's always
    understated things. [Laughter]
        I really do appreciate coming out so early in the morning. It shows
    your concern for our democracy. Laura and I are
    working our way home. I'll be voting in Crawford, Texas, tomorrow
    morning, and so will she. I'm not undecided. [Laughter] And I'm not
    undecided about what's best for Iowa, either. I'm here to urge the good
    folks of Iowa from all political parties to vote. See, we have a duty as
    Americans to support our democracy. We have an obligation as citizens of
    this free land to exercise our right to express ourselves in the voting
    booths. We have that obligation. I don't care whether you're a
    Republican or a Democrat or could care less about political party, you
    have an obligation to America. Part of the American spirit is the
    participation by our citizens.
        But when you get in that voting booth here in Iowa, I've got some
    suggestions for you. Jim Leach is the right
    man for the United States Congress. Doug Gross is
    the right man to be your Governor. Greg Ganske
    is the right man to represent you in the United States Senate.
        We've got two other candidates--three other candidates here today,
    running for Congress, a good man named Jim Nussle, Tom Latham and Stan
    Thompson. They're

    [[Page 2013]]

    all running, and they're good folks, good, honorable folks.
        So I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to say
    thanks to the senior Senator from Iowa, Mr. Chuck Grassley. I remember traveling the State with Chuck. He
    knows everybody. [Laughter] We're driving along, he says, ``That's where
    the old Jones house is.'' He said, ``I shook their hand 10 years ago.''
    [Laughter] He not only does a great job here in Iowa; he does a
    fantastic job in Washington, DC. And it makes sense to send another
    Senator up there with whom he can work and with whom I can work, and
    that Senator is Greg Ganske.
        Ganske is leading a lot of issues. He's
    leading on these medical issues that are going to make a big difference
    in people's lives. He's for Patients' Bill of Rights. He's for
    modernizing Medicare. He wants to make sure the Iowa seniors are treated
    fairly. He's a doctor. He's a compassionate soul. He's the kind of
    person with whom I can work. And there's a lot of issues I need to work
    on in the United States Senate.
        Perhaps one of the most crucial issues is the judiciary. It's a
    defining issue, as far as I'm concerned. It's a fundamental issue, and
    we've got a problem because the leadership in the Senate has done a
    lousy job with my nominees. And the problem is, there's a vacancy gap in
    America. There's a problem on the bench. We can't get our nominees
    through the Senate. They're playing needless politics with them. And in
    some cases, they're distorting their records. They don't like my
    nominees because I'm putting good, honorable people up there who will
    not use the bench from which to legislate but will use the bench to
    strictly interpret the United States Constitution.
        I know I can count on Greg, just like I've
    been counting on Chuck Grassley's
    support. I hope you send him to the Senate. It's in the best interest of
    this State; it's in the best interest of our country that Greg Ganske
    represent us in Washington, DC.
        Congressional District 1 is represented by Jim Nussle. He's the chairman of the Budget Committee. I can't
    imagine anybody in their right mind getting rid of a chairman. It
    doesn't make any sense. Maybe I'm missing something when some Iowa
    citizens say it makes sense to get rid of powerful chairmen. That's not
    the politics I remember. It seems like to me that when you've got
    somebody in an important position that could help their district and
    help their State, you want to keep them there, particularly somebody
    like Nussle, who is doing a fantastic job.
        See, Jim and I understand this. We're not
    spending the Government's money in Washington, DC. As the chairman of
    the Budget Committee, it's important to have somebody who understands,
    it's the people's money we spend. And we better have people watch the
    people's money. Nussle is a good man who deserves to be reelected to the
    United States Congress.
        And then there's Tom Latham, out of the
    Fourth Congressional District. I know him well. I've worked closely with
    him on a lot key issues related to the citizens of Iowa. He's been
    strong about making sure our communities are drug-free and are safe. He
    understands that, like the other Members up here, we got to work
    together to keep the commitments of Social Security. He's the right man
    for Congressional District 4. He's done a fantastic job in the past.
    There's no doubt in my mind he'll continue that tradition of excellence.
    Tom Latham deserves to be reelected to the United States Congress.
        Stan Thompson is running from the Third.
    He's with us today. Stan is a good, young, bright star of the Republican
    Party. He's got him an uphill climb. He's got a tough race. I walked on
    the stage; he looked me right in the eye; and he said, ``Mr. President,
    if we turn out the vote, I'm going to the United States Congress.'' And
    I appreciate you being here, Stan. I'm

    [[Page 2014]]

    honored that you're here. I appreciate the fact that you're running. And
    I'm going to take you for--your word for it. I look forward to working
    with you.
        And then from the Fifth Congressional District is Steve King, State Senator Steve King. Nothing--you can't take
    anything for granted in politics, but I'll bet--well, I shouldn't bet
    anything. [Laughter] I'm looking forward--let me put it to you this way:
    I'm looking forward to working with the man in the United States
    Congress. He's run a great campaign. I appreciate him coming.
        One thing I certainly know something about is what it takes to be a
    good Governor. I understand the role of Governor in a State. The
    Governor must set some priorities. You can't try to be all things to all
    people--can't try to promise everybody everything with the people's
    money; otherwise, you can't control your budget. You got to have the
    courage to set priority. Doug Gross knows how to
    do that. He understands how to set clear priorities so that your money
    isn't wasted, so that your money is focused, so you don't have these
    kind of endless budget crises that you try to blame on somebody else.
    You need somebody who can manage the budget as your Governor.
        You also got to have somebody who will set education as the number
    one priority. Iowa's got a good reputation in its schools. Better make
    sure you got a Governor who keeps that reputation strong by challenging
    the status quo when it needs to be challenged, by praising teachers when
    you find excellence. But demanding excellence for every single child in
    Iowa is absolutely essential with your next Governor. You've got to have
    a Governor who is not beholden to the special interests that tend to
    capture the statehouses. You've got to have a Governor, when it comes to
    education, who's got one interest in mind. And that's the schoolchildren
    and their parents of the State of Iowa. And that person is Doug
    Gross. He'll make you a fine Governor for the
    State of Iowa. I look forward to working with him.
        No, I appreciate all the grassroots activists who are here, the
    party chairman, Chuck, and all the people
    who are working hard to turn out the vote, all the people who are
    manning the phones and putting up the signs. See, these elections,
    they're kind of tight. And a tight election means you can have a
    tremendous influence on who wins. So Laura and I
    are here today to thank you for what you have done, and more
    importantly, thank you for what you're going to do, today and tomorrow,
    to get people to the polls, to turn them out, to not only encourage them
    to vote but encourage them to vote for the right person.
        And don't be afraid to--talking to Democrats. There's some
    discerning Democrats who know the difference between lousy Government
    and good Government, and they want good Government. Make sure you find
    those independent souls who are looking for good, honorable people.
        And there's nobody more honorable in this race than Jim
    Leach. He's a breath of fresh air in
    Washington, DC. He's so honest, he squeaks. [Laughter] He's an
    independent thinker. But when he thinks, he's profound in thought. He's
    not the typical person that you think would be in politics. I can't
    imagine anybody in their right mind in Congressional District 2 putting
    this man out of office. I don't understand the thinking. Not only do I
    not understand the thinking about why you would turn back somebody who
    is full of integrity and decency and courage of his convictions but also
    turn back another chairman. This man has worked hard in the Congress to
    build up--put himself in a position where he can influence policy in a
    positive way. He's the kind of man you want representing you in Congress
    because you can turn to your kids and say, ``I'm proud of Jim Leach. I'm
    proud of how he handles himself.''

    [[Page 2015]]

        And so I hope you go turn out that vote in this Congressional
    District 2. It's important. And when he wins,
    you can take great satisfaction in knowing you had a big hand in
    influencing the outcome of this election.
        And there's some reasons why I'm here. I want some allies in
    Congress to work with on key issues. Not only am I here because I
    understand the character of the people that are represented on this
    stage, but we've got some key issues ahead of us. Of course, we've got
    a--our economy is kind of bumping along. It's not as strong as it should
    be. It's bumping and bumping. And therefore, some people can't find
    work, and when they can't find work, it says to me we got a problem. The
    best way to help people find work--and this is a fundamental difference
    of philosophy--is to let people keep more of their own money.
        See, when you have more money in your pocket, when more of your own
    money--I want you to remember this fundamental economic fact, that when
    you've got more money in your own pocket, you're likely to demand a good
    or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, somebody is
    likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces the
    good or a service, somebody in Iowa or somebody around America is more
    likely to find work. The best way to encourage job growth is to let you
    keep your own money. And therefore, I need people in the Senate and the
    House of Representatives who will make the tax cuts permanent.
        I don't know what they're saying here in these campaigns, but I'm
    beginning to hear that echo around the country that says, ``Well, we
    might ought to revisit the tax relief.'' That's code word; that's
    Washington, DC, speak for, ``I'm fixing to get back into your pocket.''
    The worst thing for economic vitality and jobs is to increase your
    taxes. And these Members up here on the stage are going to work with me
    to make sure that the tax relief is permanent and real, and you can plan
    on it.
        Good economic policy means good farm policy. And I look forward to
    working with these Members on good farm policy. We took a step toward
    good farm policy by opening up markets for Iowa growers. Iowa farmers
    are the best in the world. They're the most productive in the world. And
    if you're the best in the world, you want to have a chance to sell your
    product all around the world. And I want to thank these Members up here,
    all the Members of Congress--and Ganske, soon to
    be in the Senate; of course, Chuck
    Grassley--for joining together to grant the President the capacity to
    open up markets for Iowa farmers. It's important to do that.
        It's also important to continue to promote ethanol, which I will do,
    and work with these Members to promote ethanol. And there's another
    cutting-edge issue when it comes to farmers, people who own the land,
    and that's the death tax. See, people talking about the family farm--a
    lot of people have to give up their farms prematurely in order to pay
    the Government twice. First pay them if they ever make any money. Then
    they pay them on the value of their assets when they die. It's bad for
    farmers. It's bad for the agriculture community. The death tax is
    running too many people off their farms too early. The death tax is bad
    for small-business owners who want to leave their assets to somebody
    they choose, not to the Federal Government. A key issue in this campaign
    is, are we going to get rid of the death tax once and for all? I'm for
    it. These Members are for it, and you should be for it.
        I'm looking forward to working with these folks on good education
    policy. Thanks to the Members up here, we're sending a record amount of
    Federal money back to Iowa schools. And I want to thank them for that
    help. I want to thank Leach and
    Nussle and Latham and Greg
    Ganske and Chuck Grassley for working hard on behalf of the citizens of this State.
    But I want you to remember, for the first time in our State's history--
    our country's history

    [[Page 2016]]

    and your State's history--we're saying, ``We want something in return
    for the money.'' See, we're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low
    expectations. We believe every child can learn. We're going to set high
    standards. We believe in local control of schools. But in return for
    excess--additional Federal money, we want us to--we want you to show us
    and to show everybody else whether or not every child in this State is
    learning. And when they are, we'll praise the teachers. But we refuse to
    accept schools which won't teach and won't change. No child should be
    left behind in the State of Iowa.
        I look forward to working with these Members for good health policy.
    Make no mistake about it, they're leading the charge in the House of
    Representatives and in the Senate to make sure that the Medicare system
    works. Oh, the others talk a good game, but they haven't delivered. The
    House of Representatives, controlled--led by Denny Hastert, passed a prescription drug benefit, and yet it can't
    get out of the Senate. There's a lot of good talkers in Washington. We
    need doers.
        The Medicare issue is an important issue. It's an important issue
    for Iowa for two reasons: One, the formulas need to be fair for the Iowa
    citizens, and these Members are working to make the formulas fair; and
    secondly, medicine has changed. Medicine is modern. Things have changed
    in the medical world. Technology has changed. There's new discoveries
    which make it easier for people to become healthy. And yet, Medicare is
    stuck in the past. Medicare hasn't changed. It's been so politically
    driven, nothing can get done. These Members can get it unstuck. They can
    help me modernize Medicare, which means prescription drug benefits for
    our senior citizens.
        And finally, I look forward to working with these Members, and
    it's--up there on the biggest issue we face, which is your protection.
    See, that's the number one issue. So long as there's an enemy out there
    lurking around, our biggest responsibility is to protect our homeland;
    it's to do everything we can to protect innocent life from nothing but a
    bunch of coldblooded killers, people who hate us because of what we
    love. See, we love freedom. We love the idea that people can worship
    freely in America. We love the fact people can speak their mind. We love
    a free press. We love every aspect about freedom, and we're not
    changing.
        They're out there, and they're out there moving around. But we got
    the message, and therefore, there's a lot of good people working hard to
    protect you. Anytime we get any lead, any hint of evidence that somebody
    might be thinking about doing something, we're moving on it. We're
    disrupting. We're denying. We're working long hours to protect the
    American people. And that's the way it should be.
        But we can do a better job. That's why I asked the Congress to join
    me in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, where we can
    get all the--bunch up these people that are involved with your
    protection into one agency, so there's one culture, one priority, and
    that's your protection; so that the good people at the Federal level
    understand what the new rules are--the rules of the game in our world.
    And the rules are, we got to do everything we can to protect you. It's
    changed. The nature of our life has changed, and we've got to change
    with it.
        The House of Representatives, thanks to the Members up here, voted a
    good piece of legislation out, which I can say will give me the capacity
    to be able to manage this organization and protect you. The bill is
    stuck in the Senate because the Senate wants me to give up power that
    Presidents have had for 40 years. And that power is the capacity for a
    President to suspend some collective bargaining rules for the sake of
    national security.
        In other words, if there are rules involved that prevent me from
    putting the right people at the right place at the right time for your
    protection, I ought to be

    [[Page 2017]]

    able to suspend those rules. I ought to be able to do what it takes to
    protect you. But the Senate has a lousy version. They're more interested
    in special interests, which dominate the dialog in Washington, DC, than
    they are in protecting the American people. I refuse to accept a lousy
    bill, and I need Senators like Grassley
    and Ganske to support the creation of a
    Department of Homeland Security which will work.
        Now, there's a good, honest debate on this issue. But we can't have
    a big, thick of bureaucratic rules preventing this President and future
    Presidents from doing whatever it takes to keep the homeland secure. The
    best way to secure this homeland is to stay on the hunt, to get this
    enemy on the run, and to bring them to justice, which is exactly what
    this country is going to do.
        You got to understand, it's a different kind of war. In the old
    days, we blew up tanks and airplanes, and everybody said, ``Well,
    they're making progress.'' These folks we're after hide in caves. They
    send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They don't value life like we
    do. See, in this country, we say, ``Everybody matters. Everybody is
    precious. Everybody counts. Every life counts.'' These people are
    willing to take innocent life in the name of a great religion.
        Not only do I want you to remember September the 11th, but I want
    you to think about Indonesia and the attack on our marines in Kuwait,
    the attack on a French freighter. I mean, they're out there. And the
    only way to deal with them--and by the way, I've come to the conclusion,
    and I hope you have, that therapy is not going to work. [Laughter] So
    we're chasing them down. We're chasing them down. We're making good
    progress. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling that terrorist network.
        I went to the Congress and asked for the biggest increase in defense
    spending since Ronald Reagan was President. I want to thank the Members
    up here for their support. No question where they stand. No question
    where they--they believe that I believe that anytime we put our troops
    into harm's way, these youngsters deserve the best pay, the best
    training, and the best possible equipment.
        And also, our message is real firm to friend and foe, alike: It
    doesn't matter how long it takes to defend freedom; we're going to
    defend freedom. It just doesn't matter. There's not a calendar on my
    desk in the Oval Office that says, such-and-such a date, we're quitting.
    That's not how I think. That's not how these Members think. See, history
    has called us into action. We have an obligation to future generations
    of Americans, and we're not going to forsake that obligation. And it
    doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how deep the cave.
    The United States of America, with a great United States military and a
    strong alliance for freedom, will work hard all of the time to protect
    the homeland and protect our freedoms.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. It's important--it is important for us to be
    realistic about the threats to our country. Times have changed. Used to
    be, oceans could protect us, and therefore, we could see a gathering
    threat and maybe deal with it or maybe not. Used to be, we could be
    quite confident in our capacity to protect our homeland because we never
    thought an enemy could make it to our shore. And we learned a tough
    lesson. We did. And therefore, it's important for all of us in elective
    office to be clear-eyed about the threats we face, to see the world
    exactly the way it is, not the way we wish it would be. In order to
    protect America from current threats and future threats, we've got to be
    cold-eyed realists, and that's why I brought up the issue of Saddam
    Hussein.
        See, I view him as a serious threat to
    America. I see him as a threat to our country because I understand his
    hatred toward America and, equally important, his hatred

    [[Page 2018]]

    toward our friends in the Middle East. This is a man who has deceived
    the world for 11 long years. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass
    destruction. He's got them. We know for a fact he was close to having a
    nuclear weapon at one time. We don't know how close he is today because
    he has stiff-armed the United Nations.
        We not only know he's got chemical
    weapons, but incredibly enough he's used chemical weapons. He's used
    them in his neighborhood; he's used them on his own people. This is a
    man who has got terrorist connections, who would like nothing more than
    to provide--be the arsenal and the training grounds for these
    coldblooded killers. And they could attack us, and he would leave no
    fingerprints behind. He's a threat.
        I went to the United Nations, I want to assure you, because I want
    the United Nations to be effective. I want it to work. I want this
    collection of body--this body of countries to work together to make the
    country free, to promote the peace. The United Nations can be effective.
    But for 11 years and 16 resolutions, this man
    has defied the United Nations. It's an historic moment, as far as I'm
    concerned, for the U.N. They can show the world whether or not they can
    work together to keep the peace, whether they be the United Nations, or
    whether they'll be the League of Nations, an ineffective debating
    society. And the choice is theirs.
        And the choice is Saddam Hussein's as
    well. For the sake of peace, he must disarm. He said he would disarm.
    But if he doesn't disarm, and if the United Nations cannot find the
    backbone necessary to assume its responsibilities, for the sake of
    peace, for the sake of freedom, for the sake of doing our obligations to
    our children, the United States will lead a coalition of nations to
    disarm Saddam Hussein.
        I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some
    great good. I believe that. I can't imagine what was going through the
    mind of the enemy when they hit us. They said this country must have a
    religion called materialism, that we were so selfish, so self-absorbed,
    probably looking at ourselves in the mirror all the time, that all we
    would do after 9/11/2001 is step back and maybe file a lawsuit. That's
    what they thought.
        They don't understand the determination and drive. They don't
    understand the American spirit. I believe if we're--remain strong and
    firm in our conviction and clear in our thinking, if we don't forget our
    roots and remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world, it
    is God's gift to the world, if we stand true to our beliefs, we can
    achieve peace. We can achieve peace.
        That's the vision of this Government, is to achieve peace not only
    at home but in parts of the world. See, every life matters to Americans.
    Everybody counts. Everybody is precious, not just a few--everyone. And
    we want peace for people all around the world, and we can achieve it. By
    staying the course and remaining strong, we can have peace not only for
    America but for the Middle East and South Asia. It is possible. As a
    matter of fact, I believe it's going to happen.
        And I know what's going to happen here at home. We'll be a better
    society as a result of what's happened. A lot of people have taken a
    step back and kind of taken an assessment, an inventory of their lives,
    and realized that the American spirit says we've got to serve something
    greater than ourself in life. Government can help; we'll help people in
    need. Listen, there are people who hurt in Iowa, and they hurt all
    around America. There's addiction and loneliness and hopelessness in
    this country. And if any of us hurt, we all hurt. And we've got to do
    something about it. And Government will help. We'll all work together to
    try to help. But Government is limited in its capacity. And that's what
    we know up here on this stage. Government can't put hope in people's
    hearts or love in people's lives.

    [[Page 2019]]

        No, the best way to help bring light where there's darkness, to help
    people see a better tomorrow, is for the strength of the country to step
    forward. And the strength of the country is the heart and soul of
    American people. People are stepping around--coming around. They're
    saying, ``What can I do to help?'' And they're putting their arm around
    somebody who hurts and says, ``I love you.'' There are mentors in this
    audience who are making a difference. There are Boy Scout leaders and
    Girl Scout leaders who are making a difference, and Boys and Girls Club
    leaders--people who are working hard to change America one heart, one
    soul, one conscience at a time.
        No, the enemy hit us. But out of the evil done to America is going
    to come some great good. There's going to be peace in the world, and
    we'll have a better tomorrow, a hope--more hopeful America, an America
    where everybody understands the great promise of this country belongs to
    them just as much as to their neighbor.
        You know, the American spirit means not only should we participate
    in the process, the democratic process; the American spirit says that
    when we're threatened, we respond. We defend our freedoms. We have an
    obligation to future generations. But the American spirit also says that
    we must serve something greater than ourself.
        It was personified vividly to me--I want the youngsters here to
    remember the story of Flight 93, people flying across the country that
    fateful day. They heard the airplane they were on was going to be used
    as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. A
    guy said, ``Let's roll.'' They took the plane into the ground to serve
    something greater than themselves. The spirit of this country is strong
    and alive and well, and it allows me to boldly predict that we'll have a
    more peaceful world, and a more--better America.
        Thanks for coming. May God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:55 a.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center. In
    his remarks, he referred to gubernatorial candidate Doug Gross;
    senatorial candidate Greg Ganske; Chuck Larson, Jr., chairman,
    Republican Party of Iowa; and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.