    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 1, 2003]
    [Pages 1644-1649]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in Dearborn, Michigan
    December 1, 2003

        Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you joining
    our campaign. You know what this means? It means we're laying the
    foundation for what is going to be a victory in Michigan and a
    nationwide victory in '04.
        I want to thank you for your help, and I want to thank you for your
    support. I'm

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    getting ready, and I'm loosening up. [Laughter] But the political season
    will come in its own time. There will be plenty of time for politics,
    plenty of time for all the balloon drops and political speeches. See,
    I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do for everybody who lives in
    this country. So when you go to your coffee shops and your community
    centers, you tell them, ``The politics will come, but right now the
    President is working hard to make sure America is secure and strong and
    prosperous and free.''
        Laura sends her best. I know, you wish she
    were here instead of me. I understand. [Laughter] She's a fabulous First
    Lady. I really am a lucky man that she agreed to marry me, and the
    country, I think, is lucky that she is the First Lady.
        I appreciate State campaign chair Candice Miller. I thank her for her introduction. I thank her for her
    service to this State. I look forward to working with her to carry
    Michigan. I want to thank Michael, Michael Kojaian, for his leadership as the State finance chairman for
    Bush-Cheney. I'm honored that Michael has taken on this responsibility.
        I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress other than
    Candice Miller who have shown up today,
    Congressmen Upton, Camp,
    Knollenberg, Smith, Rogers, and McCotter. I'm honored they are here. I want to thank you all
    for coming.
        I appreciate Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land for joining us today, as well as Attorney General Mike
    Cox. I know the speaker is here, Rick
    Johnson. Mr. Speaker, thank you for coming. And
    I appreciate all the members of the house and the State senate who have
    joined us. Go back to your districts and work hard--[laughter]--for
    Bush-Cheney '04.
        I want to thank Betsy DeVos and Sharon
    Wise for taking a leadership position. I want
    to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is
    the national finance chairman. Mostly I want to thank the activists who
    are here. You see, you win a campaign not only by helping to raise
    money; you win a campaign by putting up the signs and licking the
    envelopes and making the phone calls to turn out the vote. I want to
    thank you for what you're going to do as we come down the stretch in
    2004.
        And as you do so, I want you to remind people that during the last 3
    years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. You
    see, I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to
    future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities
    instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the
    tests of our time.
        Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is
    what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the
    Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In
    Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those
    regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million
    people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they
    live in freedom.
        Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it
    needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense
    budgets to prepare for the threat of a new era. And today, no one in the
    world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United
    States military.
        Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was just
    beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had corporate
    scandals and war--all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We
    acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account.
    And I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax
    relief for the American people. When Americans have more take-home pay
    to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is
    more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people

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    to help them raise their families, reduce taxes on dividends and capital
    gains to encourage investment, giving small businesses incentives to
    expand and to hire new people. With all these actions--with all these
    actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more
    jobs across America so that every single citizen has a chance to realize
    the American Dream.
        Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Figures for the
    third quarter were recently revised upward to an annual growth rate of
    8.2 percent. That's the fastest growth rate in nearly 20 years. Today
    the purchasing manager's index came out, which shows that our
    manufacturing sector is getting stronger. It's the highest numbers in
    nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is getting
    strong. Housing construction is strong. The tax relief we passed is
    working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform;
    there wasn't much action at the Federal Government. So I acted. I called
    for and Congress passed, with a solid bipartisan majority, the No Child
    Left Behind Act. This was the most dramatic education reform in a
    generation. It said we will spend money at the Federal level,
    particularly on Title I students, but for the first time, the Federal
    Government is demanding results, high standards and results. You see, we
    believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. We expect
    every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This
    administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. In
    return for Federal money, we now expect results in every single
    classroom in America so not one single child is left behind.
        During this period, we reorganized our Government and created the
    Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and
    ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade
    promotion authority to open up new markets for Michigan's farmers and
    entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help
    maintain spending discipline in Washington. On issue after issue, this
    administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made
    progress for the American people.
        The Congress shares in these achievements. We've done a lot because
    we've worked together. I appreciate Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. Again, I want
    to thank the Members of the U.S. Congress who are here today. See, we're
    working hard to get rid of the needless politics that tends to dominate
    the political landscape in Washington, DC, the backbiting and name
    calling. The best way to do that is to focus on results for the American
    people, and that's exactly what we're doing. We're delivering for the
    American people.
        And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my
    administration. A mark of the administration is the capacity of fine,
    good, honorable people from all walks of life to serve America, and I
    have done just that. I put together a great group of Americans to serve.
    This country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother has a second opinion.
    [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we have come far. We've done a lot, but our work is only
    beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First,
    America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our
    own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own
    country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate
    so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize
    the tremendous promise of our country. It is clear that the future of
    freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is
    freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of
    history, and we are keeping it.
        The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle,
    and neither are we. This country will not rest; we will not tire; we
    will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are
    confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam

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    holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw the
    country into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and
    innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq,
    in the heart of the Middle East, would be a major defeat for the cause
    of terror. The coalition of killers--the collection of killers is trying
    to shake the will of America. America will not be intimidated by a bunch
    of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in
    Iraq. We will defeat them there so we do not have to face them in our
    own country.
        Other nations are helping. They're helping to build a free country
    in Iraq because they know a free Iraq will make us all more secure.
    We're standing with the Iraqi people, the brave Iraqi people, as they
    assume more of their own defense and more of their own self-government.
    These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. And the United
    States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this
    essential victory in the war on terror.
        Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty,
    because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack
    their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror to
    threaten the world. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need
    and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the future of
    every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the
    world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman living
    in this world.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. When we see disease and starvation and
    hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that's why, on the
    continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing
    power of medicine to millions of men, women, and children now suffering
    with AIDS.
        We face challenges here at home. Our actions will prove that we're
    equal to those challenges. I'm leaving here to go to a small business to
    talk about the entrepreneurial spirit in America, about the need to
    create--continue to create a progrowth environment so their businesses,
    large and small, can remain vibrant and can grow, so that people can
    find a job.
        We're keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening
    and modernizing Medicare. See, for years, seniors have called for a
    modern Medicare system, one that provides coverage for prescription
    drugs and a system that gives seniors more choices. Washington listened.
    Washington didn't do anything. Finally, Washington has acted. I want to
    thank the House and the Senate for passing a bill I will shortly sign
    that will modernize the Medicare system and keep a promise to this
    country's seniors.
        For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the
    frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have
    been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system
    should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement.
    Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. They therefore
    affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue
    which requires a national solution. I proposed a good bill for the
    Congress to look at. The House of Representatives passed the bill. The
    bill is stuck in the United States Senate. The
    Senators from this State must act on behalf
    of the American people and support medical liability reform. No one has
    ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need reform now.
        I have the responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well, and I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men
    and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not
    legislate from the bench. A small group of Senators is willfully
    obstructing the process. Some appeals court nominees, including four
    from the great State of Michigan,

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    four outstanding jurists from this State, are being forced to wait
    months or even years for an up-or-down vote. The needless delays in the
    system are harming the administration of justice. They're deeply unfair
    to the nominees themselves. It is time for some Members of the United
    States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
        This country needs an energy policy. We need a policy that
    encourages more conservation and energy efficiency. We need an energy
    policy which will help modernize the infrastructure, the capacity to
    deliver much needed power to homes and businesses. We need to explore in
    environmentally friendly ways for more energy. What we really need is,
    for the sake of economic security and national security, to become less
    dependent on foreign sources of power.
        A strong and prosperous nation must be a compassionate nation as
    well. I'm going to continue to advance our agenda of what I call
    compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the most effective,
    the best, the most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow
    citizens in need. We'll promote social entrepreneurship all across our
    country. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their
    dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We
    must build on the success of welfare reform by training and help, so
    more of our fellow citizens can find work and dignity.
        Congress should pass what's called the ``Citizen Service Act'' so
    more Americans can serve their communities and their countries. Both
    Houses should reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative. Government
    can hand out money, can write checks, but it cannot put hope in people's
    hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. Many of the seemingly
    intractable problems of our society can only be solved through love. And
    we find love in our houses of worship. We find love where there's faith,
    faith of all walks of life, faith of all religions. Our Government
    should not fear faith. We ought to welcome faith in the helping to heal
    the broken hearts of America.
        A compassionate society is one that promotes opportunity for all,
    including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This
    administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in
    America. See, we want more people owning their own home. We have a
    minority homeownership gap in this country. I've submitted a plan to
    Congress to help close that gap. We want people owning and controlling
    their own health care plans, their own retirement accounts. We want more
    people owning their own small business. You see, we understand that when
    a person owns something in America, he or she has a vital stake in the
    future of this country.
        A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another,
    respect their points of view, respect their opinions, respect their
    religion, and also a society in which people take responsibility for the
    decisions they make. The culture is changing in America from one that
    said, ``If it feels good, just go ahead and do it,'' and ``If you've got
    a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each of us
    understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life.
        If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're
    responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're
    concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which
    you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a
    CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to
    your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society,
    each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to
    be loved ourself.
        The culture of service is strong in America. People are accepting
    responsibility for the decisions they make. I started what's called the
    USA Freedom Corps. It was a

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    chance for people to extend a compassionate hand to people in need, and
    the response has been strong. Our neighborhood healers are vibrant and
    strong. The armies of compassion are growing all across America.
    Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are
    reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than
    yourself in life. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes,
    because they see them every day.
        And in these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and
    the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and
    the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years
    have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that
    strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in
    ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift
    whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by
    spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work
    that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our
    country, the best days lie ahead.
        May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Glad you're here.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In
    his remarks, he referred to Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and State
    Attorney General Mike Cox of Michigan; Rick Johnson, speaker of the
    Michigan State House of Representatives; Betsy DeVos, Michigan State
    chairman, and Sharon A. Wise, Michigan national committeewoman,
    Republican National Committee; and former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq.