    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 5, 2003]
    [Pages 1679-1684]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in Baltimore, Maryland
    December 5, 2003

        Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm
    welcome. Thanks for the bumper sticker. [Laughter] Thanks for making
    this such a successful event. Thanks for laying the foundation for what
    is going to be a victory in the State of Maryland in 2004.
        I want to thank you for your contributions. I also want to thank you
    for the contribution of time you're going to make. [Laughter] We want
    you to help energize the grassroots, to put up the signs, and to get on
    the phones and to mail the letters, all reminding your fellow citizens
    that we have a duty to vote in America; we have an obligation in a
    democracy to participate.
        You know, the political season is going to come in its own time, and
    I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. [Laughter] But I've got a job to
    do. Right now, I'm focused on the people's business, and there's a lot
    on the agenda. I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of
    all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous
    and free.

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        Laura sends her best. I'm sorry she's not
    with me. She is a fabulous wife and mom. She's doing a great job as our
    First Lady. I'm incredibly proud of her.
        Fortunately, my favorite sister came--[laughter]--well, my only
    sister. I love Doro. A brother could have no finer sister than Dorothy
    Koch. Thank you for coming.
        I appreciate your Governor. He is
    a livewire--[laughter]--which is what this State needed. I love his
    attitude. He never forgot his roots, but he's an incurable optimist as
    well, because he brings some common sense to the Governor's office. He's
    doing a fine job. I'm proud to be here with the first lady,
    Kendel, as well. Thank you, Kendel.
        I'm also proud to be with Michael--Michael Steele, the Lieutenant Governor, and Andrea. I thank them for their service and for working with
    the Ehrlichs to set such a positive tone for the great State of
    Maryland. Thank you, Lieutenant Governor, for coming.
        Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is with us
    today. Congressman, thank you for coming. I know there's a lot of State
    and local officials who are here. Thank you all for coming today. I
    appreciate you coming. When I'm talking about energizing the grassroots,
    I'm talking to you. [Laughter] We need you to get into your districts
    and to energize people and get them to vote. If you happen to be a
    mayor, my only advice is to fill the potholes. [Laughter]
        My campaign is going to be run by a fellow named Ken
    Mehlman. I just had to mention him. You know
    why? Because his mother and dad are here, and I appreciate them coming.
    You raised a good man in Ken Mehlman. My friend Mercer
    Reynolds is with us. He's the national
    finance chairman. Dick Hug is the State
    finance chairman, and Dick, I want to thank you and the team that made
    this event so successful. Thanks for working very hard, for what you're
    doing.
        Shelly Kamins gets a lot of credit for
    working hard as well. Shelly, I'm honored to have your friendship and to
    have your hard work, along with Dick, to make
    this work. I want to thank all of you all for being here. I really
    appreciate you taking time to come. I'm proud to have your support.
        I want you to tell your friends and neighbors, in the last 3 years,
    our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to
    this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents
    and to 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 have 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 in 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 and the strength and the spirit of the
    United States military.
        Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was
    beginning. And then our country was attacked, and some of our fellow
    citizens in corporate America forgot to tell the truth, and war came
    upon us, which all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We
    passed tough 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.
        When Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to save, or invest,
    the whole economy grows, and people are more likely

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    to find a job. And so that's why we're returning more money to the
    people, to help them raise their families. That's why we've reduced
    taxes on dividends and capital gains, to encourage investment. That is
    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 and more jobs across America so every
    single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream.
        The American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Today
    they've released some more statistics that show the economy is strong.
    Unemployment dropped from 6 percent to 5.9 percent. More jobs are being
    created. In the third quarter, our economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2
    percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. The Purchasing Managers
    Index indicates that our manufacturing sector is getting stronger and is
    growing. The productivity is high. Investment is strong. The home
    industry is vibrant. The tax relief we passed is working for the
    American people.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but
    there wasn't much action in Washington, DC. So I acted, and called for
    and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid
    bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in
    a generation. We've increased spending on Title I students at the
    Federal level. But for the first time, we're asking schools to prove
    that our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract.
    We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising
    the standards, because we believe very child can learn the basics of
    reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of
    reading and math, so not one single child is left behind.
        We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security to better safeguard our borders and our ports and to better
    protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open
    up new markets for Maryland's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and
    farmers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain spending
    discipline in 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 Congress gets a lot of credit for the achievements. I appreciate
    working with the Speaker and Majority
    Leader Frist. These are two fine men, good
    leaders. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington. There's
    too much needless politics and endless backbiting and the zero-sum
    attitude. The best way to defeat that attitude is to focus on results,
    is to do the people's business and deliver. And that's what we're
    working hard to do.
        And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my
    administration, by the way. I've attracted fine, fine people to serve
    the American people, good, honorable, decent Americans from all walks of
    life. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick
    Cheney. Mother may have
    a second opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we have come far. In 3 years, we've done a lot for the
    people, but our work is only beginning. I have 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 every single citizen can realize the
    great potential, the human potential, the God-given potential, and the
    great promise of this 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 stop; we
    will not tire until this danger

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    to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq,
    where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists
    are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking our forces,
    by attacking international aid workers, by attacking innocent Iraqi
    citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major
    defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers and assassins
    is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America
    will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs.
        We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we will not have to face them in our own cities. We're calling
    other nations to help, and they are, because they understand that a free
    Iraq will make their own countries more secure. We're standing with the
    brave Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move
    toward self-government. This isn't easy work, but it is essential work.
    The United States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will
    win this essential victory in the war against 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 God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and 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 and women and
    children suffering from AIDS.
        We face challenges at home, and our actions will prove equal to
    those challenges. I want everybody working. I worry when someone who
    wants to work can't find a job. That is why I'm going to continue to
    push a progrowth, pro-entrepreneurial spirit agenda.
        We must make our health care system work better, and that is why 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 coverage for prescription drugs and more
    health care choices. For years, Washington listened but did nothing.
    Finally, the Congress has acted. I look forward to signing this
    important piece of legislation. I look forward to signing a piece of
    legislation that says clearly, when America makes a commitment to our
    elderly, we will keep that commitment.
        For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the
    frivolous lawsuits which are increasing the cost of medicine. People who
    have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. But this
    system shouldn't reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich
    settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits--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 submitted a plan to the United States Congress. I
    want to thank the House of Representatives for passing a good reform
    bill. It is stuck in the United States Senate. It is time for your
    Senators from the State of Maryland to understand that no one has ever
    been healed by a frivolous lawsuit.
        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 for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not
    legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep
    my nominees off the bench by blocking up-

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    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 United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
        The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan.
    We need to modernize our electricity systems. We need to encourage
    conservation, promote energy efficiency. We need to develop cleaner
    technologies to help us find energy in environmentally friendly ways.
    For the sake of economic security, 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 what I call compassionate conservatism, which
    means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of
    helping fellow citizens who hurt. There's still millions of men and
    women who want to end their dependence on Government and become
    independent through work. We must continue to advance the successes of
    the welfare reform program in a decent way, a compassionate way. We must
    train people for jobs which actually exist. We must bring more work and
    dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. 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, the armies of compassion that are
    mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the
    addicted. This great Nation has got all kinds of fabulous religions,
    Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. And out of that religion comes a
    universal call for people to help those who suffer, to those who need
    help. Our Government must understand that some problems are so
    intractable, the only thing that will matter, the only thing that will
    help, is for a faith-based program to intercede in their lives. Our
    country should never fear faith. We should welcome faith into the
    compassionate delivery of human help.
        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. There is a minority
    homeownership gap in America that must be closed, and I've submitted a
    plan to Congress to do so. We want people to own and manage their own
    retirement accounts. We want people to own and manage their own health
    care accounts. We want people--more people to own their own small
    business. You see, this administration understands that when a person
    owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our
    country.
        A compassionate society is one in which people respect each other,
    respect their opinions, respect their religious beliefs. It is a society
    in which each of us take responsibility for the decisions we make in
    life. The culture of this country 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 culture in which each of us understands we're
    responsible for the decisions we make. If you're a mother or a dad, if
    you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a dad, 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 the CEO--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. It's one of the things
    that makes this country so great and so unique. There is

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    a willingness for people to serve our country by helping somebody in
    need. That's a powerful part of the American culture. And it's strong
    today, and I can tell you why. We started the USA Freedom Corps, and the
    response has been magnificent. People from all walks of life have signed
    up to help, to help make this country strong by helping to save lives.
    Policemen and firefighters and the people who wear our Nation's uniform
    are reminding 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. And 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 the
    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.
        God bless. Thanks for coming. Glad you all are here. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:17 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In
    his remarks, he referred to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., of Maryland and
    his wife, Kendel; Lt. Gov. Michael Steele of Maryland and his wife,
    Andrea; Ken Mehlman, campaign manager, Mercer Reynolds, national finance
    chairman, and Richard E. Hug, Maryland State finance cochairman, Bush-
    Cheney '04, Inc.; and Sheldon B. Kamins, member, board of directors,
    Republican Jewish Coalition.