    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [September 5, 2003]
    [Pages 1098-1102]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Indianapolis
    September 5, 2003

        Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you all. Please
    be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in the
    great State of Indiana. It's such a beautiful part of America. You know,
    Vice President Cheney and I did pretty well in the year 2000 in this
    State. [Laughter] The next time around we should do even better, riding
    on the coattails of my man Mitch.
        I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It's a spectacular
    turnout. What we're doing is laying the groundwork for a strong
    foundation for what will become a great victory in November of 2004.
        I'm going to count on you for energizing the grassroots, for putting
    up the signs and mailing out the mailers and making the phone calls, for
    going to the coffee shops and reminding your fellow citizens that ours
    is a vision that includes everybody. Ours is a hopeful and optimistic
    vision for everybody who lives in the United States of America.
        The political season is coming pretty soon, and I'm loosening up.
    I'm getting ready, but right now I've got a job to do. And my job is to
    work on behalf of the people of America. I'm going to continue to work
    hard to earn the confidence of every American, keeping this Nation
    secure and strong and prosperous and free.
        I appreciate so very much my friend Al Hubbard. I didn't realize he was so articulate. [Laughter] Maybe he
    wasn't. [Laughter] But he's a great friend. I want to thank his
    leadership.
        My regret tonight is that the First Lady is
    not traveling with me. I married above myself. Laura is a remarkable
    person. I love her dearly. She's doing a great job on behalf of the
    American people.
        I want to thank Bob Graham for his work on
    this event. I, too, want to thank all the table captains and people who
    have worked hard to make this an enormous success. I appreciate my
    friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati,
    Ohio, who is the national chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign. He's a
    business guy who's taking time out of his life to help us collect enough
    money to wage a viable campaign in 2004.
        I'm honored that members of the congressional delegation are with
    us. I'm particularly pleased that the chairman is with us, a fine
    American, a great friend, a person whose counsel and advice I take
    seriously, Senator Dick Lugar; a person
    with whom I've played golf and don't intend to play again since he took
    money from me--[laughter]--Congressman Dan Burton; and another star of the congressional delegation is with
    us, and that's Congressman Mike Pence.
        I'm so pleased we've got State officials with us, Todd
    Rokita, who is the secretary of state--Mr.
    Secretary, I'm glad you're here--the State auditor, Connie Nass, is with us; the Republican house leader, Brian

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    Bosma, is with us today, as is State
    Representative Mike Murphy. I'm so honored
    you all are taking time out of your day to be here. All politics is
    local. You have to work to prepare the groundwork for a new Governor
    who's coming soon, Mitch Daniels.
        Speaking about my man Mitch, I
    noticed a gracious move by David McIntosh in
    today's newspaper, a move of party unity, a move of serving something
    greater than himself. David, I appreciate your class act. I'm proud to
    call you friend, and I'm glad you're here tonight. Thank you for coming.
        There are people who have worked in my administration who are here.
    But one of the more famous Indianapolis citizens is with us tonight, who
    is serving our country with distinction, a man who understands the
    Faith-Based Initiative about as well as anybody in the country, and
    that's my friend Stephen Goldsmith. Thank
    you for coming, Stephen.
        Finally, I'd like to thank Jim Kittle,
    who is the chairman of the Indiana Republican Party. Get your uniform
    on, Jim. We're ready to roll. But I appreciate your service. Thank you
    all again for coming. It's a huge turnout.
        In the last 2\1/2\ 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 future generations. I came to
    seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. I believe this
    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 leaders of the Al Qaida
    network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan,
    in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose
    defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people--50
    million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now
    they live in freedom.
        Two-and-a-half years ago, our military was not receiving the
    resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased
    the defense budget 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.
        Two-and-a-half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And
    then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate
    America, and war. 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.
        Here is what I know, and here's what I believe, that when Americans
    have more take-home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole
    economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand
    whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money
    we spend; it's the people's money.
        We're returning more money to people to help them raise their
    families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to
    encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand
    and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the
    foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every
    single person in this country has a chance to realize the American
    Dream.
        Two-and-a-half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education
    reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and
    Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan
    majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a
    generation. We're bringing high standards, and in return for Federal
    money, strong accountability measures to every public school in America.
    We believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math,
    and we believe every

    [[Page 1100]]

    school must teach the basics. This administration is challenging the
    soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse-making are over
    when it comes to education. We now expect results in every classroom so
    that not one child in America is left behind.
        During these 2\1/2\ years, we reorganized our Government and created
    the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and
    ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion
    authority to open up new markets for Indiana's farmers and ranchers and
    entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help
    maintain much needed 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 U.S. Congress has shared in these great achievements. I've got a
    great working relationship with Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist, and I intend
    to keep it that way. I look forward to working with Members of Congress
    to change the tone in Washington, DC, to get rid of the needless
    partisan bickering, and to focus on results, so the people know we have
    done our job.
        And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my
    administration. I've put together a fantastic administration to serve
    the American people, good, honorable, decent people. Our Nation has had
    no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different
    opinion. [Laughter]
        In 2\1/2\ years--in 2\1/2\ years' time, we have 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 of prosperity and compassion
    so that every citizen--every single citizen--has a chance to work and to
    succeed and realize the great promise of our land.
        It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
    actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's
    defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our
    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.
        Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive
    threats to our safety. 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. And I believe that freedom
    is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future
    of every nation.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we
    see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away.
    On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the
    healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now
    suffering with AIDS. I've called upon a fine citizen of Indianapolis to
    lead an incredibly important mission of human rescue. I want to thank
    Randy Tobias for his willingness to serve in a great cause.
        We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that
    we're equal to those challenges. The economy is getting better. But so
    long as people who want to work are looking for a job, I will continue
    to work to make the conditions for capital investment for the
    entrepreneurial spirit to remain strong. I care when I hear that people
    are not working.
        As well, we have a duty to make a commitment to America's seniors by
    strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few

    [[Page 1101]]

    weeks ago, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of
    older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the
    House and Senate passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and
    to provide coverage for prescription drugs. Now that the Congress is
    back from their August break, it is time for the House and the Senate to
    iron out their differences and to get a bill to my desk. The sooner they
    get the job done, the sooner American seniors will get the health care
    they need.
        And 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 doctor deserve their day in court, yet the
    system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich
    settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health
    care, they affect the Federal budget. And therefore, medical liability
    reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I have
    proposed a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives
    responded with a good bill. The bill is now stuck in the United States
    Senate. Senators must realize that no one in America 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-or-down votes. Every judicial
    nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on the floor of
    the United States Senate. It is time for some Members of the Senate to
    stop playing politics with American justice.
        In order to make sure we have economic vitality, the Congress needs
    to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must realize
    that our electricity grid needs to be modernized. I have proposed a
    modernization plan to the Congress. We need to promote alternative
    sources of energy like ethanol. We need to use our technologies to be
    able to explore for energy here at home in environmentally friendly
    ways. We need clean coal technology. For the sake of economic security
    and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less
    dependent on foreign sources of energy. Both the Senate and House have
    passed an energy bill. They need to get together and get a bill to my
    desk.
        Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate
    nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate
    conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the
    task of helping our fellow citizens in need.
        There are still millions of men and women who want to end their
    dependence on Government and become independent through hard work.
    Congress must work with us to build on the success of welfare reform, to
    bring work and dignity into more of--in the lives of more of our fellow
    citizens.
        Congress should complete the ``Citizen Service Act'' so that more
    Americans can serve their community and their country. And both Houses
    should reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative to support the
    armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, that are caring
    for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. Our Nation
    should not fear faith. We should welcome faith into the lives and to
    help heal our fellow citizens who hurt.
        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 a home. We will continue to promote
    policies which will close the minority homeownership gap in America. We
    want people controlling their own health care plans. We want people in
    control of their own retirement accounts. And we want more people

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    owning a small business, because we understand in this administration,
    when an American owns something, he or she has a piece of the future, a
    vital stake in the future of our country.
        In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take
    responsibility for the decisions they make. The old culture of America
    is changing. The old culture used to say, ``If it feels good, do it,''
    and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody else.'' It's changing to a
    new day in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the
    decisions we make in life.
        If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible
    for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. 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 the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for
    loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture
    of service and the culture of responsibility is growing around us. I
    started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to
    extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has
    been strong. People have heard the call to serve our country.
        Our charities are strong. Our faith-based efforts are vibrant.
    People are being healed because fellow Americans are serving our Nation
    by loving somebody. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our
    Nation's uniform are constantly reminding us what it means to sacrifice
    for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America
    believe in heroes, because they see them every day.
        In these challenging times, the world is seeing the resolve and the
    courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and
    character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2\1/2\ 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 and for our cause, the best days lie ahead.
        May God bless you all. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:18 p.m. at the Murat Centre. In his
    remarks, he referred to Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mitchell
    Daniels, Jr.; Allan B. Hubbard, former chairman, Indiana State
    Republican Party; former Indiana gubernatorial candidate David McIntosh,
    who withdrew his candidacy September 4; Stephen Goldsmith, chair, board
    of directors, Corporation for National and Community Service; and
    Randall Tobias, nominee to be Global AIDS Coordinator.