    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [March 25, 2004]
    [Pages 454-459]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Boston, Massachusetts
    March 25, 2004

         Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back
    in Boston. Thank you. [Laughter] I spent some quality time here in the
    seventies--[laughter]--mostly in the library at Harvard, of course.
    [Laughter] Well, I spent some quality time here.
        I really appreciate the traditions here in Massachusetts. Last
    weekend I had the honor of participating in one of the city's finest
    traditions. It was the annual Saint Patrick's Day breakfast in South
    Boston. I called in. The good senator took my
    call. Actually, he took Andy Card's
    call, a great Massachusetts citizen, and Andy handed me the phone. When
    I called in, I had the feeling they were going to ask me about a
    Massachusetts politician who had his eye on the White House, so I
    addressed the issue as directly as possible: I told Mitt the job was filled until 2008.
        I'm proud of the job this good man is doing as Governor of this
    great State. Mitt Romney is a great Governor.
    And like me, he married very well. [Laughter] I'm proud Ann is here with
    us tonight. Ann, thank you for coming.
        And I'm sorry Laura is not here. She is a
    fabulous First Lady. She is a great wife. She's visiting her mom in Midland, Texas. Like me, we put our faith in
    families first, above all. And she is--[applause].
        I appreciate my friend Ambassador Dick Egan, for helping make this an incredibly successful fundraiser.
    The country called, and he responded as the Ambassador to Ireland. He
    did a fine job on behalf of the citizens of this country. Dick, thank
    you for your service.
        And my old buddy, the former Governor of Massachusetts, Bill
    Weldis here tonight. I appreciate you
    coming, Governor. I want to thank all the State officials who are here
    and local officials who are here. I see the high sheriff and others here
    today. I want to thank my friend Joe O'Donnell for renting a tie for tonight. [Laughter] I appreciate so
    very much Mercer Reynolds, who is the
    national finance chairman for my campaign, for taking time out to make
    sure that we're able to get our message out all across our country.
        I want to thank all the people who have worked so hard to really do
    a fantastic job, when you think about it. We've come to Boston,
    Massachusetts--some people would think that we wouldn't have much
    support here. But they're wrong. We've got a lot of support in this
    city.

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        I want to thank Darrell Crate, who is the
    chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, for being here. And I
    want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. Nobody should
    take any State for granted in 2004.
        The Vice President and I are counting on
    you. We want your help. We want you out there turning those voters out.
    Speaking about the Vice President, I made a really good pick when I
    asked Dick Cheney to be the Vice President of the United States. One
    time, giving a speech in front of Mother and
    Dad, I said, ``Dick Cheney is the finest
    Vice President our country has ever had.'' Mother said, ``Wait a
    minute.'' [Laughter] But he's doing a great job. [Laughter]
        I've had the opportunity to observe the two United States Senators
    from this State. Your senior Senator, Ted Kennedy, is a very effective legislator. In Washington, he's known
    as the conservative Senator from Massachusetts. [Laughter] Your other
    Senator, my opponent, is an experienced Senator.
    He's built up quite a record. My opponent has been in Washington long
    enough to take both sides on just about every issue. [Laughter] He voted
    for the PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for the No Child Left Behind Act, and
    for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, the
    No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation of Iraq. My opponent
    clearly feels very strongly about each of these issues. [Laughter]
        In order to lead this country, you have to be consistent and clear.
    Someone asked Senator Kerry why he voted against
    the $87 billion funding bill to help our troops in Iraq. Here's what he
    said: ``I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against
    it''--[laughter]--end of quote. [Laughter] That sure clears things up,
    doesn't it? [Laughter]
        His answers aren't always so clear, but the
    voters will have a clear choice in this campaign. It's a choice between
    keeping the tax relief that is moving this economy forward or putting
    the burden of higher taxes back on the American people. It is a choice
    between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence or
    an America that is uncertain in the face of danger.
        I'm looking forward to this campaign. I'm looking forward to
    traveling this great country to talk about what I want to do for our
    country. I'm looking forward to reminding people that in 3 years, we've
    achieved great things. The most important thing is that we have a
    positive vision, an optimistic vision, a hopeful vision for the years
    ahead. We have a positive vision for winning the war against terror and
    extending peace and freedom throughout the world, a positive vision for
    promoting opportunity and compassion here at home. I'm going to leave no
    doubt where we stand, and we're going to win on the 2d of November.
        The last 3 years have brought serious challenges, and we have given
    serious answers. We came to office with a stock market in decline, an
    economy heading into recession. We delivered historic tax relief, and
    now our economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized
    nation in the world. We had to confront corporate crime that cost people
    their jobs and their savings. We passed strong corporate reform and made
    it clear we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.
        We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning, so we
    pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed
    many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them
    will learn there is no cave or hole deep enough to hide from American
    justice. We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the
    spread of weapons of mass destruction, so we ended two of the most
    violent and dangerous regimes on Earth. We freed over 50 million people,
    and once again, America is proud to lead the armies of liberation.
        When Dick Cheney and I came to office, we
    found a military that was underfunded

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    and underappreciated, so we gave our military the resources and respect
    they deserve. And today, no one can question the skill, the strength, or
    the spirit of the United States military.
        It is the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on
    to future Presidents and future generations. A President needs to step
    up to make the hard decisions and to keep his commitments, and that is
    how I will continue to lead our Nation.
        Great events will turn on this election. The man who sits in the
    Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the direction
    of our economy. The security and prosperity of America are at stake. The
    other side hasn't offered much in the ways of strategy to win the war or
    policies to expand our economy. So far, all we hear from that side is a
    lot of old bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda for the
    future of this country. I will take on the big issues with optimism and
    resolve and determination. I will make it clear to the American people,
    I stand ready to lead this Nation for 4 more years.
        The big issue for every American family is the Federal tax burden.
    With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was President, we've left more money in the hands that
    earned it. By spending and investing and helping to create new jobs, the
    American people have used their money far better than the Federal
    Government could have.
        I'm optimistic about the future of this country because I've seen
    Americans overcome economic challenge after economic challenge. I'm
    optimistic because of the good policies we've put in place but
    optimistic because of the hard work and productivity of the American
    people.
        Economic growth in the second half of 2003 was the fastest in nearly
    20 years. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Business investment is
    rising. Disposable income is rising. Inflation is low. Homeownership is
    at the highest rate ever. The minority homeownership rate is at the--
    nearly at the highest level ever. Job creation is gaining strength.
    We've added over 350,000 new jobs over the last 6 months. The tax relief
    we passed is working.
        My opponent has a different view of tax
    relief. When we passed an increase in the child credit to help families,
    he voted against it. When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted
    against it. When we created a lower 10-percent rate for working
    families, he voted against it. When we reduced the tax rate on dividends
    that many seniors depend upon, he voted against it. When we gave small
    businesses tax incentives to expand and hire, he voted against it. When
    we passed a phase-out of the death tax, he voted against it. We're
    beginning to see a pattern. [Laughter]
        My opponent is one of the main opponents of
    tax relief in the United States Congress. When tax increases are
    proposed, it's a lot easier to get a ``yes'' vote out of him. Over the
    years, he's voted over 350 times for higher taxes on the American
    people, including the biggest tax increase in American history. He
    supported a 50 cent a gallon tax increase on gasoline. He wanted you to
    pay the extra money at the pump, and he wouldn't even throw in a free
    car wash. [Laughter]
        Now my opponent is proposing a lot of new Federal spending--a lot of
    Federal spending. But somehow he's going to have to pay for it. There's
    a gap between Senator Kerry's spending promises
    and Senator Kerry's promise to lower the deficit. It's called a tax gap.
    Given Senator Kerry's record for supporting tax increases, it's pretty
    clear how he's going to fill the tax gap. He's going to tax all of you.
    But fortunately, he will not have that chance.
        Higher taxes would undermine growth and destroy jobs just as this
    economy is getting stronger. To help grow the American economy and to
    create more jobs for American workers, I have a better idea. We should
    make all the tax cuts permanent.

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        And there's more to do. We must maintain spending discipline in the
    Nation's Capital. I've offered a plan to protect small-business owners
    and employees from frivolous lawsuits and needless regulation. We need
    tort reform in America. I've laid out a strategy to help control the
    cost of health care so people have better access to good health care
    through association health care plans and tax-free health savings
    accounts. We must have medical liability reform to protect our docs and
    to stop running up the cost of medicine on people.
        In order to make sure we grow our economy, we need to reject
    economic isolationism and open up other countries' markets for U.S.
    goods and U.S. services.
        I proposed--in order to make sure job growth is strong, we need to
    have an energy policy in America. We need to modernize the electricity
    system, and this country must become less dependent on foreign sources
    of energy.
        Oh yes, there's a lot of talk about job creation. But my
    opponent is against every one of these job-
    creating measures. Empty talk about jobs and economic isolationism will
    not get anyone hired. The best way to make sure people can find work is
    to reelect a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur President.
        Our future also depends on America's leadership in the world. The
    momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but we still face serious
    dangers. Al Qaida is wounded but not broken. Terrorists are testing our
    will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and Iran are
    challenging the peace. If America shows weakness and uncertainty in this
    decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my
    watch.
        This Nation is strong and confident in the cause of freedom. And
    today, no friend or enemy doubts the word of the United States of
    America. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime
    in Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance; the Taliban are no longer in
    power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in
    Iraq. The dictator chose defiance; now the
    dictator sits in a prison cell.
        September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will never forget.
    America must confront threats before they fully materialize. In Iraq, my
    administration looked at the intelligence information, and we saw a
    threat. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence information, and
    they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the
    intelligence information, and it saw a threat. The previous
    administration and previous Congress looked at the intelligence and made
    regime change in Iraq the policy of our Nation. In 2002, the United
    Nations Security Council yet again demanded a full accounting of Saddam
    Hussein's weapons program. As he had for over
    a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to comply. So I had a choice to make,
    either to take the word of a madman or defend this country. Given that
    choice, I will defend America every time.
        My opponent admits that Saddam
    Hussein was a threat. He just didn't support
    my decision to remove Saddam from power. Maybe he was hoping Saddam
    would lose the next Iraqi election. [Laughter] We showed the dictator
    and a watching world that America means what it says. Because our
    coalition acted, Saddam Hussein's torture chambers are closed. Because
    we acted, Iraq's weapons programs are ended forever. Because we acted, a
    source of money to suiciders in the Middle East has been ended. Because
    we acted, nations like Libya got the message and renounced their own
    weapons programs. Because we acted, an example of democracy is rising in
    the heart of the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free
    and America is more secure.
        We still face thugs and terrorists in Iraq who would rather go on
    killing the innocent than accept the advance of liberty. And there's a
    reason. They know that a free Iraq will be major defeat for the cause of

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    terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of
    America. They don't understand our country. America will never be
    intimidated by 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. We're
    calling on other nations to help Iraq build a free society, which will
    make the whole world more secure. And we're standing with the Iraqi
    people, the brave Iraqi people, as they assume more of their own defense
    and move toward self-government. These aren't easy tasks, but they are
    essential tasks. America will finish what we have begun, and we will win
    this essential victory in the war on terror.
        On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice.
    My opponent says he approves of bold action in
    the world but only if other countries do not object. I'm all for united
    action, and so are the 34 coalition partners in Iraq right now. Yet
    America must never outsource America's national security decision to the
    leaders of other countries.
        Some are skeptical that the war on terror is really a war at all. My
    opponent said, and I quote, ``The war on terror
    is less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence
    gathering, law enforcement operation.'' I disagree--strongly disagree.
    Our Nation followed this approach after the World Trade Center was
    bombed in 1993. The matter was handled in the courts and thought by some
    to be settled. But the terrorists were still training in Afghanistan,
    plotting in other nations, and drawing up more ambitious plans. After
    the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve
    our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks, the terrorists and
    their supporters declared war on the United States of America, and war
    is what they got.
        Our men and women in the military are taking great risks, and
    they're doing great work. At bases across our country and the world,
    I've had the privilege of meeting with those who defend our country and
    sacrifice for our security. I've seen their great decency and their
    unselfish courage. I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of
    freedom is in good hands.
        This Nation is prosperous and strong, yet we need to remember that
    our greatest strength is in the hearts and souls of our citizens. We're
    strong because of the values we try to live by, courage and compassion,
    reverence and integrity. We're strong because of the institutions that
    help give us direction and purpose, our families, our schools, our
    religious congregations. These values and institutions are fundamental
    to our lives, and they deserve the respect of our Government.
        We stand for a fair treatment of faith-based groups, charitable
    groups of all faiths, so they can receive Federal support for their
    works of compassion and healing. We will not stand for Government
    discrimination against people of faith.
        We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen
    marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find independence and
    dignity. We will not stand for any attempt to weaken those reforms and
    send people back into lives of dependence.
        We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and
    every person matters. We will not stand for the treatment of any life as
    a commodity to be experimented upon, to be exploited, or to be cloned.
        We stand for the confirmation of judges who strictly and faithfully
    interpret the law. We will not stand for judges who undermine democracy
    by legislating from the bench and judges who try to remake the values of
    America by court order.
        We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. We're changing
    the culture of our country 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 are responsible for the
    decisions we make

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    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 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 responsibility society, each
    of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be
    loved ourself.
        For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
    apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is
    expected of its leaders. These aren't one of those times. You and I are
    living in a period when the stakes are high, the challenges are
    difficult, a time when resolve is needed.
        None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another
    began. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin
    Towers. I'll never forget the day. A guy looked at me and said, ``Don't
    let me down.'' A lot of the workers were shouting, ``Whatever it takes.
    Whatever it takes, Mr. President.'' As we all did that day, these men
    and women searching through the rubble took it personally. I took it
    personally. I have a responsibility that goes on. I will never relent in
    bringing justice to our enemies. I will defend America, whatever it
    takes.
        In these times, I've also been witness to the character of this
    Nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about the American
    character. They had doubts about our capacity to meet a serious
    challenge or to serve a cause greater than self-interest. Americans have
    given their answer. I've seen the unselfish courage of our troops. I've
    seen the heroism of Americans in the face of danger. I've seen the
    spirit of service and compassion renewed in our country. We've all seen
    our Nation unite in common purpose when it mattered most.
        We'll need all these qualities for the work ahead. We have a war to
    win. And the world is counting on us to lead the cause of freedom and
    peace. We have a duty to spread opportunity to every part 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.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:10 p.m. at the Park Plaza Hotel and
    Towers. In his remarks, he referred to Massachusetts State Senator Jack
    Hart; Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and his wife, Ann; former U.S.
    Ambassador to Ireland Richard Egan; former Gov. William F. Weld of
    Massachusetts; and Joseph J. O'Donnell, fundraiser, and Mercer Reynolds,
    national finance chairman, Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.