    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 15, 2004]
    [Pages 72-77]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Atlanta, Georgia
    January 15, 2004

        Thank you very much. Thanks for coming. And thanks for your support.
    I'm honored--first, let me tell you how honored I am to be introduced by
    a bestselling author--[laughter]--and a great American. I am privileged
    to call Zell Miller my friend. The people of
    Georgia are privileged to call him United States Senator. He is a
    decent, honorable citizen of this country.
        I'm also proud to be on the stage with your Governor, Sonny. Sonny said, ``I want you to meet some of my friends
    from the legislature.'' He said, ``What's unusual about this bunch is
    they don't call themselves Republican.'' [Laughter] There's a handful of
    Democrat legislators here from the great State of Georgia. I know
    there's a handful of Republican legislators as well. I'm kind of taking
    you for granted tonight. [Laughter] But I do want to say thanks, Sonny--
    to Sonny and the Democrat legislators who've come. I'm proud to have you
    on my team. You're welcome on my team.
        And I'm proud you all are here. We put together a good team in
    Georgia in the year 2000. We're going to do better in the year 2004.
    We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national
    victory in November of 2004. And you're helping, and I appreciate your
    help.
        I'm loosening up. [Laughter] I'm getting ready. But I got a job to
    do for everybody who lives in this country. When you're going to your
    coffee shops and your community centers, they say, ``What is George W.
    up to,'' you tell them this, that I'm doing the people's business in
    Washington, DC, that I'm working hard to earn the confidence of every
    single American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous
    and free.
        I know that Zell's wife, Shirley,
    is with us today as well. Shirley, I'm proud you're here. Zell and I
    both married above ourselves. [Laughter] I regret that Laura hasn't joined us. She is a fabulous First Lady for this
    country. I'm really proud of her.
        And I'm proud as well of the junior Senator from the great State of
    Georgia, a close ally, good friend, good, honorable man, Saxby
    Chambliss.
        I better make sure I mention Mary Perdue
    as well, the first lady of the great State of Georgia. Governor, I
    appreciate what you're doing at the statehouse here.
        I'm proud of my friend Jamie Reynolds. I
    appreciate the team he has put together to help make this an incredibly
    successful fundraiser. Don't go overboard on Jamie. He's not bad for a
    country boy. [Laughter]
        I appreciate the members of the congressional delegation who are
    here: Mac Collins and Nathan
    Deal, Charlie Norwood, Phil Gingrey, and Max
    Burns. These are good ones, good, honorable
    citizens who are doing what they think is right for the country. I
    appreciate you all coming.
        I know my friend Nancy Coverdell is
    here. She is just a great personal friend of our family's. Nancy, thank
    you for taking time out of your schedule to be here.
        I'm honored that my friend Mercer
    Reynolds--happens to be related to Jamie--he's the national finance
    chairman for Bush-Cheney--is here. It's important to make sure that
    you've got plenty of cash on hand when you're running for President.

    [[Page 73]]

    You want to be well-financed. We're becoming well-financed. We've got a
    great national effort, a great Georgia effort. And again, I want to
    thank you all you all for participating in this.
        Ralph Reed is with us. He's the Southeast
    regional chairman and he's the Georgia chairman for my campaign, for the
    campaign of Vice President Cheney. Alec Poitevint is with us as well, who's the party chairman.
        And for the grassroots activists who are here, I want to thank you
    for what you're going to do. Thank you for the work that you're going to
    do as we're coming down the stretch. That's the work that's putting up
    the signs and talking the talk, getting on the phone, and addressing the
    envelopes. I appreciate what you're going to do. You cannot win a
    campaign unless hard-working grassroots people get out there and pound
    the pavement on behalf of this ticket. And I can assure you, we'll be
    right with you.
        And when you're out there, I want you to remind everybody that for
    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 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 that we are 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 the recession was
    just beginning. And then there was attacks on our country and scandals
    in corporate America and war, which all affected the people's
    confidence. But this administration 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.
        We understand 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. So we're returning more money to the people to
    help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital
    gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives
    to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying
    the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs so every single
    citizen in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream.
        Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger.
    The figures for the third quarter of 2003 show the economy grew at an
    annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years.
    Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing
    construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing, and
    we've added over a quarter-million new jobs over the past 5 months. The
    tax relief we passed is working.
        Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in
    Washington, but there just wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for
    and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid
    bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in
    a generation. We've increased spending at the Federal level,
    particularly for Title I students, for poor students. But for the first
    time, the

    [[Page 74]]

    Federal Government is saying, ``Why don't you show us whether or not the
    children can read and write and add and subtract.'' The reason why we're
    saying that is because we believe every child, regardless of their
    background, can learn to read and write and add and subtract. We expect
    every school to teach every child to read and write and add and
    subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low
    expectations. We expect results so that not one single child is left
    behind in America.
        We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland
    Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the
    American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new
    markets for Georgia's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and
    manufacturers. We passed much-needed budget agreements to help maintain
    spending discipline in Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the
    greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the
    founding of Medicare. The new Medicare bill that I signed will give
    older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more
    control over their health care. America's seniors deserve a modern
    health care system, and this administration delivered.
        On issue after issue--on issue after issue--this administration has
    acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the
    American people. And the Congress deserves a lot of credit. I enjoy
    working with Speaker Denny Hastert,
    Majority Leader Bill Frist. I enjoy working with
    Senator Miller and Chambliss and working with this Georgia congressional delegation.
    We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's too
    much needless politics up there. There's too much backbiting and
    backstabbing. The best way to fight through that noise is to focus on
    results, to do what I call the people's business, and get some things
    done. And we're getting a lot done.
        We're also getting a lot done because I've surrounded myself with
    plenty capable people, good, honorable, decent people from all walks of
    life who have come to serve in my administration with one thing in mind,
    to represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Our country
    has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second
    opinion. [Laughter]
        In 3 years, we've done a lot. 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 that is prosperous and compassionate
    so every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the
    great promise of America.
        It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the
    actions of America. We are freedom's home and freedom's defender. We
    welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror
    continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This
    country will not rest; we will not tire; we will not stop until this
    danger to civilization is removed.
        We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be
    certain they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam
    Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts largely
    responsible for the current violence now know there will be no return to
    corrupt power and the privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have
    taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side.
        We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent
    than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. You see, they know
    that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the
    cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will
    of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated by a
    bunch of thugs and assassins.

    [[Page 75]]

        We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them
    there so we do not have to face them in our own country. Other nations
    are helping to build a free Iraq because they understand a free and
    peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make us all more
    secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of
    their own defense and move toward self-government. These are not easy
    tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun,
    and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror.
        And part of winning the war on terror is to oppose proliferation
    around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and
    Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all
    its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now
    know this: Weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or
    prestige; they bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences.
    [Laughter] And nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will
    find an open path to better relations with the United States of America.
        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 destruction. 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 we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world;
    freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world.
        America also understands that unprecedented influence brings
    tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we
    see disease, starvation, and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On
    the continent of Africa, this great, mighty land is committed to
    bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and
    children now suffering with AIDS. This great country of ours is leading
    the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue.
        We face challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove
    that we're equal to these challenges. This administration will continue
    to promote a pro-growth, pro-small business, pro-entrepreneur economic
    agenda until everyone who wants to work can find a job.
        And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on
    the frivolous lawsuits which are driving up the cost of medicine. People
    who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the
    system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich
    settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and
    they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a
    national issue that requires a national solution.
        The House of Representatives passed a good bill. The bill is stuck
    in the United States Senate. Senators Miller and
    Chambliss are working to get it unstuck. The
    Senate must act on behalf of the American people. Some of those Senators
    must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit
    in America.
        I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial
    system runs well, and I 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. Yet 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
    Senate floor. I appreciate Senator Miller and
    Senator Chambliss' strong support for the
    nominees I've nominated. It's time for some of the Members of the United
    States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice.
        This country needs an energy plan, and Congress needs to complete
    the work on that bill and get it to my desk. We must

    [[Page 76]]

    promote energy efficiency and conservation and to develop cleaner
    technologies to help us explore in environmentally friendly ways. But
    for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security,
    we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation.
    I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism,
    which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task
    of helping fellow citizens in need. We need--there are millions of men
    and women in this country who want to end their dependence on government
    and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success
    of welfare reform, put good job-training programs in place that help
    people find work that actually exists, so that more people can have work
    and dignity in their lives.
        With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure that more
    Americans can serve their communities and their country through what's
    called the Citizen Service Program. Both Houses of the United States
    Congress must pass my Faith-Based Initiative. It is essential that our
    Government not fear the influence of faith in our society but welcome
    people of faith into serving the difficult problems of heart, the
    difficult problems of the homeless, the addiction, mentoring of
    children. Faith is one of the great strengths of America, and our
    Government must welcome faith-based programs.
        A compassionate society must promote opportunity for every single
    citizen, 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.
    In our country today, we have a minority homeownership gap, and that's
    not good for America. I have put forth plans, have worked with Senator
    Miller and Senator Chambliss to close this gap. We're working hard to encourage more
    people in America to own their own home. We want more people owning
    their own health care plans and managing their health care plans. We
    want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want
    more people owning their own small business, because we understand that
    when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future
    of America.
        A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another,
    respect their religious views, respect their backgrounds, and take
    responsibility for the decisions they 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 that we are responsible for the decisions
    we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father,
    you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're
    worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you
    live, you are 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 this new responsibility society,
    each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to
    be loved ourself.
        We can see that culture of service and responsibility growing around
    us. I went to a church in downtown New Orleans today that was full of
    neighborhood healers, people who have heard the universal call, people
    from all walks of life, different religions, all aimed at serving our
    Nation by helping somebody who hurts.
        I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans
    to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response
    has been fantastic. The strength of this country lies in the hearts and
    souls of our citizens. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear
    our Nation's uniform remind us what it means

    [[Page 77]]

    to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves in life. Once again,
    the children of this country 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 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 know that for our country,
    the best days lie ahead.
        May God bless you all. Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:12 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress
    Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia;
    Alec Poitevint, chairman, Georgia Republican Party; and former President
    Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He also referred to Title I of the Improving
    America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103-382), which amended
    Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public
    Law No. 89-10).