    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 1, 2003]
    [Pages 1654-1659]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Whippany, New Jersey
    December 1, 2003

        The President. Thank you all very much. I appreciate the warm
    welcome. I'm so thankful so many friends have come tonight. You know,
    earlier this fall, I had the honor of welcoming a fine hockey team from
    this State to the White House to celebrate their championship. But the
    start the Devils have had this season looks like they need to repeat
    their trip back to the White House. I'm making similar plans myself. And
    with your help tonight, we are laying the foundation for what will be a
    victory in New Jersey in '04 and a nationwide victory in '04.

    [[Page 1655]]

        I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. But the truth of the matter is,
    politics will come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. What I
    would like for you to do is to remind your friends and neighbors that
    this administration and this President is working hard to keep America
    secure and strong and peaceful and free.
        My only regret tonight is that Laura is not
    traveling with me.
        Audience members. Aw-w-w.
        The President. No, I know. Yes. [Laughter] You'd rather have
    her. I don't blame you. [Laughter] She's a
    fabulous wife, a great mother, and she's doing a wonderful job as our
    country's First Lady. And somebody who did a great job for our country,
    a valued member of my Cabinet, a person whose judgment I trust, that
    would be Christie Todd Whitman. I'm
    proud--[applause]. I miss her. But she did leave behind a little
    something there in Washington, DC; his name is Barney. [Laughter] I
    know----
        Audience member. I love you!
        The President. Gracias. [Laughter] I appreciate the fact that
    Christie Todd is our State chairman.
    And I want to thank my friend Lew Eisenberg
    for being the State campaign cochairman and finance chairman for the
    great State of New Jersey. I understand that some of Lew's grandchildren
    gave the Pledge of Allegiance. They're raising them right in his family.
    [Laughter]
        I want to thank Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen for being here. Rodney is a friend and an ally. He's
    doing a great job for the people of New Jersey. I'm also pleased that
    his wife, Virginia, is with him. I also want to thank my friend and ally
    Mike Ferguson--Congressman Mike Ferguson.
        I know we've got members of the statehouse here. I particularly want
    to thank Senator Joe Kyrillos, who
    is the party chairman; State Senator Leonard Lance, who is the new minority leader for the State senate;
    State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce is the new
    minority leader.
        I know we've got a lot of mayors here. I want to thank the mayors
    for coming. My only advice is to make sure you fill the potholes--
    [laughter]--and pick up the garbage. [Laughter] I thank the mayors for
    being here. Thank you for serving your towns and your communities.
        I particularly want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who's the national finance chairman. And he's from
    Cincinnati, Ohio. He's joined us today.
        I want to thank all the grassroot activists who are here. You win
    campaigns by convincing your neighbor to go to the poll. So I want to
    thank you for what you're going to do, which is put up the signs and get
    on the phones and mail out the letters and convince your fellow citizens
    to do their duty and to show up to vote in November of 2004. You might
    just convince them, when they show up to vote, to vote for Bush-Cheney.
        Remind them that during the last 3 years, our Nation has acted
    decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve
    problems and not 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 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 threats 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.

    [[Page 1656]]

        Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was
    beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in
    corporate America, and war--all affected the people's confidence. But we
    acted. We passed up new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And
    to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States
    Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We know
    that when Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to save, or
    invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a
    job. That's why we're returning more money to the people to help them
    raise their families, why we reduced taxes on dividends and capital
    gains to encourage investment. And that's why we're giving small
    businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these
    actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater
    prosperity across America so that every single person in this country
    has a chance to realize the American Dream.
        Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger.
    Perhaps you noticed that the third quarter annualized rate of growth
    numbers were increased to 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20
    years. Today the Purchasing Managers Index came out, showing that our
    manufacturing sector is recovering strongly. Productivity is high.
    Housing constructing is booming. The tax relief we passed, the economic
    stimulus plan that we passed, is working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in
    Washington, DC, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for
    and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid
    bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in
    a generation. We believe that every child in America can learn the
    basics of reading and math, and we believe that every school in America
    should teach the basics. This administration is challenging the soft
    bigotry of low expectations. In return for increased Federal dollars, we
    now expect results. The days of excuse-making are over. We want every
    child to learn to read and write and add and subtract so that not one
    single child is left behind in America.
        We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security to better safeguard the borders and ports of America and to
    better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority
    to open up new markets for New Jersey's farmers and entrepreneurs and
    manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help bring spending
    discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration
    has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the
    American people.
        The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. I
    appreciate working with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill Frist.
    I want to thank Rodney and Mike for working with us to focus on results.
    The tone in Washington needs to be changed. There's too much needless
    partisanship, backbiting, and bickering. The best way to do that is to
    focus on results, and that's what we'll continue to do. We'll work with
    Congress to focus on results, to do the people's business.
        And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my
    administration. I've put together a superb group of men and women from
    all walks of life to serve the American people. And we've had no finer
    Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we have done a lot. In 3 years, we've come far, but our
    work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a 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 every single citizen has a chance to work and to
    succeed and realize the great promise of America.

    [[Page 1657]]

        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're confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and
    foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by
    attacking coalition forces and international aid workers and innocent
    Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in the heart of
    the Middle East would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This
    collection of coldblooded killers is trying to shake the will of the
    United States. The United States will never be intimidated by a bunch of
    thugs and assassins.
        We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we do not have to face them in our own country. And other
    nations are helping, because they understand a free Iraq will make us
    all more secure. And we're standing with the brave Iraqi people as they
    assume more of their own defense and move toward self-government. These
    are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We 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 threaten the world with weapons of
    mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope
    of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every
    nation. And I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world;
    freedom is the Almighty's gift to each man and woman who lives in the
    world.
        America understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous
    responsibilities. We have duties in this world. When we see disease and
    starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that is 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. This great, powerful nation is leading the world in
    this incredibly important work of human rescue.
        We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that
    we're equal to the challenges. Even though the economic numbers look
    good, there are still people who are trying to find a job. I will
    continue to promote a progrowth, entrepreneurially friendly growth
    package so that the people of America can find work.
        As Christie Todd has mentioned,
    we are keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and
    modernizing Medicare. For years, seniors have called for a modern
    Medicare system that provides health care choices and prescription drug
    coverage. For years, the Congress did nothing. Finally, the House and
    the Senate have both approved legislation, which I will soon sign, that
    will keep our promise to America'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 and, therefore, they
    affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue
    which requires a national solution. I submitted a good plan to the
    Congress. The House of Representatives passed the plan. It is stuck in
    the United States Senate. Perhaps you ought to write your United States
    Senators and remind them that nobody in America has been healed by a
    frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now.

    [[Page 1658]]

        I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men
    and women to the Federal bench, people who will interpret the law, not
    legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are
    trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up-or-down votes.
    Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on
    the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the U.S. Senate
    to stop playing politics with American justice.
        Congress needs to get an energy bill to my desk. This country needs
    a comprehensive energy plan that will encourage conservation, that will
    enable us to develop new technologies that will enable us to find energy
    in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic security and
    for the sake of national security, this country must become less
    dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation.
    I will continue to advance our agenda of what I call compassionate
    conservatism, which means we'll find the most innovative, effective
    ideas to help neighbors who hurt. There are still millions of men and
    women who want to end their dependence upon Government and become
    independent through hard work. Congress must continue to build on the
    success of welfare reform, provide job training money to help our fellow
    citizens find a job. Congress should complete the ``Citizen Service
    Act'' so more Americans can serve their communities and their country.
    Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative to
    support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring
    for the homeless and offering hope for the addicted. One of the great
    strengths of our country is the fact that we are a nation of many faiths
    and the fact that faith-based people, whether they be Christian, Jewish,
    or Muslim, have had a universal call to help somebody in need.
    Government should not fear faith; we ought to welcome faith and to help
    healing--to help to heal hurting hearts and people who need help in
    America.
        A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including
    the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This
    administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in
    America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority
    homeownership gap in America. I presented plans to the Congress to close
    that gap. We want more people owning and managing their own retirement
    accounts and their own health care plans. We want more people owning
    their own small business in America, because this administration
    understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital
    stake in the future of our country.
        In a compassionate society, people respect one another, respect
    their point of view, respect their religious beliefs, and take
    responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is
    changing from one that has said, ``If it feels good, do it,'' and ``If
    you've got a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a new day, a culture in
    which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we
    make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father,
    you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're
    worried 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 new responsibility society,
    each of us is responsible for heeding a universal call to love a
    neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself.
        The culture of service is strong in America. People are responding
    to the call to serve their country. I started what's called the USA
    Freedom Corps to encourage

    [[Page 1659]]

    Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. The
    response has been strong. People are serving their Nation by supporting
    charities, faith-based groups, neighborhood healers that are changing
    America one life at a time. Policemen and firefighters and the people
    who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for
    something greater than ourselves. Once again, the children of America
    believe in heroes, because they see them every day.
        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
    America. 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.
        Thank you for coming. God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:55 p.m. at the Hanover Marriott. In his
    remarks, he referred to Christine Todd Whitman, former Administrator,
    Environmental Protection Agency.