    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [May 7, 2004]
    [Pages 799-807]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Dubuque, Iowa
    May 7, 2004

        The President. Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Thanks for
    coming. I'm really glad you're here. It is great to be back in Dubuque.
    Once again, here I'm asking for the vote. [Laughter] I'm asking for your
    help. I remember last time I campaigned here, the crowds weren't quite
    as big--[laughter]--neither was the entourage. [Laughter]
        But I am thrilled to be here. I know most of you are here to see
    Laura, and I appreciate you coming. She's such a
    fabulous First Lady and a great wife and wonderful mom that I think she
    deserves 4 more years as the First Lady.
        Now, I'm here to ask for your help. I want to thank those who are
    involved with the grassroots. I want to thank those who are willing to
    put up the signs and to talk to your neighbors, those who are willing to
    go to the community centers and the houses of worship, those who are
    willing to work door to door and remind people that this administration
    has a positive vision, a hopeful vision, an optimistic vision for
    everybody who lives in this country.
        I want you to remind them I got a plan to win the war on terror and
    to spread peace and freedom throughout the world, a plan that helps to
    create jobs and spreads opportunity to every corner of America, a plan
    that taps into the compassionate spirit of our country. Working
    together, we'll make this country safer and stronger and better. We got
    a positive platform, one that I am convinced the American people
    understand and appreciate. We will become reelected on November the 2d.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. Thank you all. When you're out there gathering up the
    vote--by the way, make sure you talk to discerning Democrats and
    independents as well. [Laughter] And remind them I put together a
    fantastic team of people to serve this country, people who have come to
    Washington, DC, from all walks of life, from different backgrounds, all
    bound together by the desire to serve this country, not their self-
    interest.
        We've got a fabulous Vice President in Dick Cheney. One time I had given a speech, and Mother was in the crowd. I said, ``You know, Dick Cheney is
    the finest Vice President our country has ever had.'' She said, ``Wait a
    minute, buster.'' [Laughter]
        I am proud to have traveled with some really fine Members of the
    Congress. Iowa sent some good, decent souls to Washington, DC, to
    represent you and to represent our Nation. And one such person is the
    fantastic United States Senator Chuck Grassley. Remember when we campaigned together? We'd be traveling
    the backroads of Iowa, and he would say, ``I know the farmer who lives
    there.'' [Laughter] And we'd go down the road for another couple of
    miles, and he'd say, ``Oh, I know who lives there.'' No wonder this guy
    is constantly reelected. He not only does his job, he knows everybody,
    everywhere across the State of Iowa.
        You've got a really good Congressman representing you in Washington,
    DC. I'm going to tell you, the budget chairman, Jim

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    Nussle, is a good man. I'm proud to call
    Congressman Jim Leach my friend, a good,
    thoughtful, decent guy. I'm proud that people from the other side of the
    State are coming here to east Iowa. And we got a fine Congressman from
    the western part of the State in Congressman Tom Latham. Thank you for coming, Congressman. I had your breakfast
    laid out for you on Air Force One, but you were a no-show. [Laughter] I
    won't hold it against you. [Laughter] And I, finally, appreciate--
    finally, I want to appreciate--send my appreciation to Congressman Steve
    King from the great State of Iowa. Thank you for
    coming, Congressman.
        I know there's a lot of State officials who are here today, senators
    and representatives. I'm honored you all are here. I want to thank you
    for your service to the State of Iowa. I appreciate the--I appreciate
    you working on behalf of the people of your districts.
        I was also honored to have been greeted by your mayor, Mayor Terry
    Duggan. He was out at the airport today. I am
    so honored, Mayor, that you took time to be here to greet the President
    of the United States. My only advice to you: Fill the potholes.
    [Laughter] No, they tell me he's doing a fine job--a fine job. And I
    really do appreciate you coming, Mayor.
        I want to thank my friend Michael Martin Murphy for coming today--appreciate you coming.
        Laura and I grew up in west Texas. We grew up in a town called
    Midland, Texas. That's right next door to Odessa, Texas. [Laughter] And
    when you lived in Midland, Texas, you didn't particularly care for the
    people who played football for Odessa, Texas. And I'm proud to be
    associated, however, with a former Odessa football star, a man who has
    made his mark in helping youngsters understand the values of life, a
    person who came to this State and captured the hearts of the citizens of
    Iowa because he's such a decent fellow, a pretty good football coach
    too, my friend Hayden Fry--appreciate you.
        When you're out rounding up the vote, you might start by reminding
    your friends and neighbors what this administration has accomplished.
    The last 3 years have brought serious challenges, and we have given
    serious answers. We've led. We've risen to the challenge. We came into
    office with a stock market in decline and an economy headed into
    recession. But we acted, delivered historic tax relief, and now our
    economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation in the
    world.
        We uncovered corporate crimes, crimes that cost people their jobs
    and their savings, so we worked with the Congress and we passed strong
    corporate reforms. Wrongdoers are being brought to account. It is clear
    in America, we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of our
    country.
        We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning, so we have
    pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed
    many leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest will learn there is
    no cave or hole deep enough to hide from American justice.
        When Dick Cheney and I came to Washington,
    we found a military that was underfunded and underappreciated, so we
    gave our military the resources and respect they deserve, and today, no
    one can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United
    States military.
        We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread
    of weapons of mass destruction. We ended two of the most violent and
    dangerous regimes on Earth. We liberated over 50 million people. Once
    again, America is proud to stand against tyranny and to set nations
    free.
        It is the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on
    to future Presidents and future generations. 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

    [[Page 801]]

    our economy. The security and prosperity of America are at stake. I look
    forward to this campaign. I'm running for a reason. I want our country
    to be safer and stronger and better. I've got a vision for the future of
    this country that is optimistic. I know where I want to lead us. I look
    forward to explaining it in clear and simple terms to the American
    people.
        And we've got a tough race, so I've asked you to come today to get
    your uniforms ready, get ready for the contest. I take nothing for
    granted. I look forward to getting out amongst the people and talking
    about my vision.
        I'm running against an experienced United States Senator. He's been in Washington an awful long period of time.
    He's been there so long--he's been there long enough to take both sides
    on just about every issue. He was for the PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for No
    Child Left Behind, and for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes the
    PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation of
    Iraq. His positions remind me of that old Texas saying, ``If you don't
    like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change.''
    [Laughter]
        No, he's an experienced Senator. He's a tough
    opponent, and I understand that. I look forward to an honest and calm
    debate on the issues. I look forward to gathering the support of the
    American people. That's the endorsement I seek. I seek your endorsement.
    I seek the people who are working every day.
        He claims to have picked up some important
    endorsements amongst foreign leaders. [Laughter] He just won't tell us
    their names. [Laughter] He did tell us--gave us a hint the other day. On
    national TV, he said, and I quote, ``What I said is true. I mean, you
    can go to New York City, and you can be in a restaurant, and you can
    meet a foreign leader.'' Now, I think this may be a case of mistaken
    identity. [Laughter] Just because a fellow has an accent--[laughter]--
    and a fancy suit and a nice table at a New York restaurant, it doesn't
    mean he's a foreign leader. [Laughter] But whoever these mystery people
    are, they will not determine the course of this election. The American
    people will decide the outcome of this election.
        The voters will have a clear choice. 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 working 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 look forward to taking on the
    big issues with a sense of optimism and resolve and determination. I
    will make it clear that I stand ready to lead this country for 4 more
    years.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. A big issue in this campaign and a big issue for
    every family in America is the Federal tax burden. With the largest tax
    relief since Ronald Reagan was the
    President, we have 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
    would have. Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The
    economy grew at a rate of 4.2 percent in the first quarter, and the
    economic growth over the past three quarters has been the fastest in
    nearly two decades. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Business
    investment is rising. Disposable income is up. Inflation is low.
    Mortgage and interest rates are at near-historic lows. Homeownership is
    at the highest rate ever. Our farm economy is strong. America has had 4
    straight years of rising farm exports, and last year we had the highest
    farm income on record.
        This morning, we got some more good news about our economy. Last
    month, America added 288,000 new jobs. The economy has overcome a lot
    because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. We've overcome a lot
    because of good policy. Since

    [[Page 802]]

    last August, we've added 1.1 million new jobs. People are finding work
    in this country. The tax relief we passed is working.
        This administration understands the role of Government is not to try
    to create wealth but an environment in which the small-business owner
    can grow to be a big business. We understand the importance of the
    entrepreneurial spirit and the importance of small-business owners in
    our society. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small-business
    owners. And therefore, this pro--a progrowth plan we passed has focused
    on small businesses.
        Today I met with Lynne Oyen. Lynne and her
    husband, Ken--Kevin--own an electrical supply
    company. It's a small business. It's a business that is creating new
    jobs. It's a business that's a Subchapter S corporation, which means
    they pay taxes at the individual income-tax level. Therefore, when you
    reduce income taxes on the individual, you're helping small businesses
    like Lynne's. Lynne is adding employees. Lynne is making investment
    decisions to expand our economy.
        I want to thank you for coming, Lynne. Lynne
    and her husband represent the importance of
    stimulating growth amongst the small-business owners of the Iowa
    economy. And that's what we're doing through good policy.
        As well we're helping individual families with good tax policy.
    We've got Greg and Lorie Foley with us today. They're right there. I appreciate them
    coming. [Applause] Some of their neighbors are here. The Foleys--first
    of all, Greg was deployed for 10 months on active duty. I appreciate his
    service as a member of the Iowa National Guard.
        Because the child credit went up and the marriage penalty went down
    and the 10-percent bracket was reduced because we reduced overall tax
    rates, this good family
    saved $2,200 on their taxes last year and this year--2,200 in one year
    and 2,200 in the next year. Now, that may not seem like a lot for some
    of the folks in Washington, DC, but it's a lot for them. It's a lot of
    money in their pocket to help them do their duty as a mom and a dad.
    That extra money comes in handy. It comes in handy when you're having
    trouble making the bills. It comes in handy when times have been tough.
        So I asked them, what
    are they going to do with the money. If they wanted to say, ``None of
    your business,'' I would have understood that. [Laughter] Fortunately,
    they said--they told me what they're going to do. They're going to
    improve their house. See, they'll make their house better for their
    family. Now, when they make a decision to make their house better,
    somebody has got to provide the supplies to make the house better, which
    means somebody is more likely to find work at the place that's selling
    the supplies. And somebody that made the supplies, that sells the
    supplies, is more likely to be able to keep a job.
        I said, ``Greg, you going to do it
    yourself?'' He said he didn't think so. He was going to hire somebody to
    come in and do it. So the person that comes in and helps remodel the
    home now has a little extra money in his pocket. That's the way the
    economy works. We stimulated the economy by letting these people keep
    more of their own money.
        And now Congress is debating whether to make sure this tax relief
    stays in their pocket. See, if they don't make sure that child credit
    stays at $1,000 next year, these good folks' taxes are going up. They'll
    be--the Government will be taking money out of their pocket. We don't
    need to be doing that at this time in our--when the economy is starting
    to grow. See, the more money in people's pockets, the stronger this
    economy will be.
        My opponent has a different view of that. He
    voted against every one of the tax measures that left more money in Greg
    and Lorie's pocket. He was a ``no.'' And when it comes time to raising
    taxes, it's a lot easier to get a ``yes'' vote out of him. That's

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    just his point of view. He voted to raise taxes over 350 times. He voted
    for raising the gas tax 11 times and one time favored a tax increase of
    50 cents a gallon.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Now, that would be a $5 or more increase on you every
    time you fill up your tank. You'd think with that amount of money,
    he'd at least throw in a free car wash.
    [Laughter]
        We just have a different view. We have a different point of view of
    how this economy works. The reason I bring up his view on taxes is
    because, in a campaign, as you know, it's easy to make political
    promises. Now, we've been watching carefully, and we've been toting up
    the amount of money he's promised to spend if he
    happens to be elected. That's $1.9 trillion so far, and we're just
    getting started in the campaign. [Laughter] And if he had a history of
    voting on tax increases, you can understand where he is going to get the
    money from. It's an important distinction in this campaign that people
    must understand. He said he's going to raise the money to pay for this
    by taxing the rich. We've heard that before, haven't we? The problem is
    you can't raise enough money by taxing the rich to pay for all those
    promises. So guess who is going to get to pay? You are. But we're not
    going to let him have that opportunity.
        This country--the people of this country understand that we must not
    raise taxes right now. Raising taxes will undermine growth and destroy
    jobs. We need to keep taxes low. We should not raise taxes on the
    American people.
        It is very important in this campaign for me to continue to lay out
    a vision of how America can be the most competitive country in the
    world, a good place to do business so people will be able to find work.
    That means a lot of things. It means we better have tort reform in this
    country. Frivolous and junk lawsuits make it awfully difficult for
    people to build their business. And part of that tort reform is medical
    liability reform so that we don't run up the cost of health care and run
    doctors out of business.
        If we want to be competitive, if we want to be able to create jobs
    in the 21st century, we better get us an energy policy. We better get an
    energy plan. There's one stuck in the Congress. Here's what it ought to
    say: It should say we ought to encourage conservation. And we will. We
    ought to make sure we have alternative sources of energy. Listen, I'd
    love to be the President that says, ``The corn crop is up,'' or
    ``There's more soybeans than ever before, and that means there's more
    ethanol available and more biodiesel available.'' Listen, we ought to
    be, at some point in time, in a position to have alternative sources of
    energy.
        And we also need to have clean coal technology. We ought to be
    having safe nuclear power. We ought to be using every ounce of our
    efforts to find more energy to make us less dependent on foreign sources
    of energy.
        The President has got to make sure that we're optimistic and
    confident in order for jobs to be created. That means we've got to
    reject what I call economic isolationism. Instead of shutting down
    markets and walling ourselves from the rest of the world, we ought to
    say to other nations, ``Treat us like we treat you. See, you're able to
    sell your goods in our country. We want to be able to sell our goods
    into yours. Just give us a chance.'' Give our farmers a chance to
    compete, give our workers a chance to compete, give our entrepreneurs a
    chance to compete, and we can compete with anybody, anywhere, anytime.
        We're going to make sure education systems work. The No Child Left
    Behind Act is a solid piece of legislation, really good reform, because
    we're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising
    the bar. We're saying, ``If you can't read, we're going to correct the
    reading problems early.'' We're not going to quit on any child. No, to
    make sure we're competitive in the 21st century, we've got to make sure

    [[Page 804]]

    our public school systems fulfill their functions, fulfill the goal of
    educating every child. And we've got to use our community college
    systems to make sure that we train workers for the jobs which actually
    exist, the jobs of the 21st century.
        No, I can't wait to explain my vision for America, a vision that's
    got great faith in the entrepreneurs of our country, a vision that's got
    great faith in the workers of America, a vision that clearly says we
    will be competitive in the 21st century so our people can find work and
    we can compete. And the way to do that is through a pro-growth, pro-
    entrepreneur, pro-small-business economic agenda.
        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 they are not broken. Terrorists are
    testing our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and
    Iran are challenging the peace. If America shows weaknesses 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, and now the dictator sits in a prison
    cell.
        September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will never forget and
    our Nation must never forget: America must confront threats before they
    fully materialize. In Iraq, my administration looked at the
    intelligence, and we saw a threat. The United States Congress looked at
    the intelligence, and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security
    Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a threat.
        In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a
    full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapon
    programs. They did so, and we joined with them because we remembered the
    history of Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein professed hatred for America.
    Saddam Hussein had terrorist ties. Saddam Hussein paid suiciders to go
    into Israel to kill innocent Israeli citizens. Saddam Hussein attacked
    his neighbors. Saddam Hussein had used weapons of mass destruction not
    only against his neighbors but against his own people.
        So the ultimatum was delivered. Saddam Hussein, as he had for decade--for a decade--chose defiance. So
    either I had to--I had a choice to make, see? I had to trust the word of
    a madman or take action to defend our country. And 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's torture chambers are closed. Because we acted,
    Iraq's weapons programs are ended forever. Because we acted, nations
    like Libya have gotten the message and have voluntarily disarmed.
    Because we acted, an example of democracy is rising at the very heart of
    the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free, and America
    is more secure.
        We've had a tough--tough weeks in Iraq. We face serious challenges.
    See, there's illegal militias and remnants of the regime who are joined
    by foreign terrorists. They're trying to take force by the power they
    can never gain by the ballot. That's what they're trying to do. They're
    trying to stop the advance of freedom. They can't stand freedom. They're
    trying to shake our will, is what they're trying to do. They don't

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    understand our country. They don't understand our nature. They don't
    understand our resolve. America will never be intimidated by thugs and
    assassins.
        We have a clear strategy as this country heads toward democracy and
    freedom. First, we'll make sure the country is secure. We've got some
    fantastic troops over there, brave men and women who are--they're
    working with Iraqis so that the Iraqis can stand up and secure their own
    country at the right time. We're training people. They've got
    instructions, of course, to protect themselves at all costs. They've
    also got instructions, their timing, to take care of those who are
    trying to stop the advance of freedom, to make the country as secure as
    possible, because we're fixing to transfer sovereignty to the people of
    Iraq.
        And that's the second phase of our strategy. There's a political
    strategy that we're now implementing. We put a schedule out there that
    says, ``On June 30th, we'll transfer sovereignty.'' We will meet that
    schedule. When America says something, we will do it. The Iraqi people--
    by far, the vast majority of Iraqis reject the few who are trying to
    stop the advance of freedom. Iraqis want to run their own Government.
    Iraqis want to be self-governed, and we look forward to helping them be
    there.
        The stakes are high. This is an historic opportunity to make the
    world a more free place and a peaceful place. Americans understand that
    free societies are peaceful societies. We also understand that freedom
    is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty's gift to
    each man and woman who lives in this world. It's hard work, but it is
    essential work. America will finish what we have begun, and we will win
    this essential victory in the war on terror.
        People in this country will have a clear choice when it comes to
    American security and national security. My opponent says he approves of bold action in the world, but only
    if other countries do not object. [Laughter] I'm all for listening to
    other countries. I'm all for working with other countries. We put
    together coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq to spread freedom and peace,
    but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to the
    leaders of other countries.
        We also have a difference of opinion on the war on terror. My
    opponent said, ``The war on terror is far less of
    a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering, law
    enforcement operation.'' I disagree--I 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 enemy was still training. The enemy was still plotting. The enemy
    was 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 allies declared war
    on the United States of America, and war is what they got.
        We'll give our troops the best equipment, best possible--for those
    of you who have got loved ones in the theater, I want to thank you for
    your service. You e-mail your guys and tell them the Commander in Chief
    is incredibly proud of what they're doing for the country.
        I look forward to working with the Members of Congress to make sure
    our troops get the best. That's why I asked for and Congress supported
    the $87 billion supplemental last fall. That means we spent money to
    make sure our troops had the best. My opponent
    voted ``no'' on that issue, so I asked him to explain his vote. He said,
    ``I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against
    it.'' [Laughter] Our troops don't need doubletalk. What they need is
    support, and I will support the troops.
        Our men and women in the military have taken great risks, and
    they're doing great work. At bases across our country and the world,
    I've had the privilege of meeting those who defend our country and
    sacrifice

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    for our security. The abhorrent pictures on our TV screens have stained
    our honor. They do not reflect the nature of the men and women we have
    sent overseas. We've sent decent, compassioned, honorable, sacrificing
    citizens. I've seen their decency and unselfish courage. And I can
    assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in good hands.
        This Nation is prosperous, and it is 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, and our religious congregations. These values and institutions
    are fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect of our
    Government.
        We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups 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
    to 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 or exploited or 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 or judges who try to remake the values of
    America by court order.
        We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. We are changing
    the culture of America. All of us are helping to change the culture 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 in life. If
    you're fortunate 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 are 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
    ourselves. No, the strength of this country lies in the hearts and souls
    of our fellow citizens.
        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 are not one of these times. You and I are
    living in a period when the stakes are high, when the challenges are
    difficult, a time when firm 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 fellow pointed at me and said, ``Do
    not let me down.'' Workers in hardhats and police and firefighters were
    shouting, ``Whatever it takes--whatever it takes.'' 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
    the security of America, whatever it takes.
        In these times, I have also been witness to the character of this
    Nation. You know, not so long ago, some had doubts about our character.
    They questioned our capacity to meet a serious challenge or to serve a
    cause greater than self-interest, but Americans gave their answer. I've
    seen the unselfish courage of our troops. I've seen the heroism of
    Americans in the face of

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    danger. I've seen the spirit of service and compassion renewed in our
    country. And we've all seen our Nation unite in common purpose when it
    mattered most.
        We'll all need these qualities for the work ahead. I'm here to ask
    for your help and ask for your vote because we have a war to win, and
    the world is counting on us to lead the cause of freedom and peace. I'm
    here because I believe we have a duty to spread opportunity to every
    part of America. I'm here to ask for your help so we can make this
    country safer and stronger and better. This is the work that history has
    set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our great land, the
    best days lie ahead.
        Thanks for coming. May God bless. God bless our great country. Thank
    you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:54 a.m. at the Grand River Center. In his
    remarks, he referred to Mayor Terry Duggan of Dubuque, IA; country music
    entertainer Michael Martin Murphy; and former President Saddam Hussein
    of Iraq. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    also included the remarks of the First Lady, who introduced the
    President.