[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[March 20, 2004]
[Pages 416-422]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks in Orlando, Florida
March 20, 2004

    The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. It turns out the 
crowd is always a little bigger when Laura comes 
along. America loves her almost as much as I love her. I think she 
deserves 4 more years as the First Lady.
    No, it's great to be back in the great State of Florida again. 
There's a big election coming up, and I thought I'd come down for a 
little spring training. It's always a good chance to be with 
Brother. [Laughter] He's a great Governor of this 
great State. Like me, he married well. [Laughter] I appreciate 
Colu being here as well. I used to say that Jeb 
was the coolest Governor in the country. That's until 
Arnold got elected.
    Speaking about great leaders, I made a really good choice when I 
asked Dick Cheney to be my runningmate. He and I 
are grateful for the many strong supporters we have here in Florida. 
We're going to be spending some quality time in this State. We're here 
to earn the vote, and we need your help. I know you're here because you 
do want to help. One of the most important things you can do is 
encourage your neighbors to vote. We want a lot of people voting in this 
country. We want people from all walks of life doing their duty in this 
country, and that is to show up to the polls. And by the way, when you 
get them headed to the polls, you might suggest what's good for the 
country, and that is Bush-Cheney for 4 more years.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. And by the way, we set up a web site, so that you can 
get on to figure out how to volunteer. We need your help. That's what 
I'm here to ask for. It's not very complicated. It's georgewbush.com. 
That's an easy one for me to remember. [Laughter] With your help, we're 
going to make Florida a part of a great nationwide victory this 
November.
    I'm so thankful for you all coming. I'm proud of the fact that two 
Members of the United States Congress is with us, Ric Keller and Tom Feeney.
    Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings is here. 
I appreciate the Governor Jennings. Tom Gallagher is a statewide official. I'm proud my friend is here, Tom 
Gallagher. I want to thank all the statehouse members, all the local 
officials. The high sheriff is with us today. And thank all the law 
enforcement people that are with us today.
    I want to thank my friend Roberto Candelario for leading the invocation. Roberto, thank you for 
coming. Thank you, Lisa Faulkner, for leading 
this great crowd in the national anthem. I got here a little late; I 
didn't get to hear my friend Billy Ray Cyrus. Thank you, Billy Ray. The Katinas are with us as well. 
I'm proud they're here. I'm proud to have their support. My friend Lynn 
Swann is with us. He's welcome to come to Florida. We're a little 
nervous about inviting him down to Dallas. [Laughter] You know what I 
mean--a lot of Cowboy fans there. I appreciate so very much Footy for 
being here. Footy, thank you for emceeing this event.
    The chairman of Bush-Cheney, Marc Racicot, 
the former Governor of Montana, is with us today. Marc, thank you for 
coming. My friend Al Hoffman, who has worked so 
hard in this State, is with us. Carole Jean Jordan, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, is with 
us.
    But most importantly, you're with us. I appreciate you coming. I 
know many of you are getting on buses and vans today for a voter 
registration drive. Thanks for doing that. The effort is going to help 
us. It will help our entire ticket. We have a strong slate of 
candidates. We're coming

[[Page 417]]

into an historic election, and we're going to win an historic victory 
this November.
    The Presidential primary contest is over. I finally got an opponent.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. He's following an interesting strategy. The other 
day, here in Florida, he claimed some important endorsements from 
overseas. He won't tell us the name of the foreign admirers. That's 
okay. Either way, I'm not too worried, because I'm going to keep my 
campaign right here in America.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. He's an experienced Senator, and he's built up quite 
a record. In fact, Senator Kerry has been in 
Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue. 
[Laughter] Senator Kerry 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 strongly about each of 
these issues--[laughter]--so strongly that one position is never just 
enough. He demonstrated the technique the other day. Someone asked 
Senator Kerry why he voted against the $87-billion funding bill to help 
our troops in Iraq. Here is 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 clear, but the voters will have a very 
clear choice in this campaign. It is the 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.
    Now, I look forward to this debate. I look forward to this campaign. 
I'm looking forward to talking about what we've accomplished and what 
we're going to do. In the past 3 years, we've achieved great things, and 
most important, we have a positive vision for the years ahead: A 
positive vision for winning the war against terror; a positive vision 
for extending peace and freedom throughout our world; a positive vision 
for creating jobs and promoting opportunity and compassion here at home. 
We will leave no doubt where we stand. We will win on the 2d of 
November.

    The last 3 years have brought serious challenges, and we've given 
serious answers. We came to office with a stock market in decline and an 
economy heading into recession. We delivered historic tax relief. And 
now, our economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized 
nation. We had to confront corporate crimes that cost people their jobs 
and their savings. We passed strong corporate reforms, and we 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 have captured or killed 
many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them 
will know 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. Once again, 
America is proud to lead the armies of liberation.

    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. Today, no one 
can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United 
States military.

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    It is the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on 
to future Presidents or future generations. It is the President's job to 
step up and make the tough decisions and to keep his commitments. And 
that is how I will continue to lead our great Nation.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. 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 way of strategies to 
win the war or policies to expand our economy. So far, all we hear from 
that side is bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda for 
the future of America. We will take on the big issues with optimism and 
resolve and determination, and we will make it clear to the American 
people, we stand ready to lead this Nation for 4 more years.
    A big issue for every family in America is the Federal tax burden. 
With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was 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.
    Oh, I know there's some economic pessimists who refuse to accept 
good news about our economy. But I'm optimistic. I'll tell you why. I 
know what we've overcome. I've seen the spirit of the American people. 
I've seen Americans overcome economic challenges. Because of good 
policies and the hard work of the American people, our economy is 
strong, and it is growing stronger. 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. Interest rates are low. Homeownership is at the 
highest rate ever. Job creation is gaining strength. We've added more 
than 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.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted 
against it.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. When we created a lower 10-percent tax rate for 
working families, he voted against it.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. When we reduced the tax rate on dividends that many 
seniors depend on, Senator Kerry voted against 
it.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. When we gave small businesses a tax incentive to 
expand and to hire, he voted against it.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. We're beginning to see a pattern here. [Laughter] 
Senator Kerry is one of the main opponents of tax 
relief in the United States Congress. However, when tax increases are 
proposed, it's a lot easier to get a ``yes'' vote out of him. [Laughter] 
Over the years, he's voted over 350 times for higher taxes on the 
American people----
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. ----including the biggest tax increase in American 
history. He also supported a 50-cent gallon tax on gasoline.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. He wanted you to pay all that money at the pump and 
wouldn't even throw in a free car wash. [Laughter]
    Now, Senator Kerry is proposing a lot of new 
Federal spending in this campaign. He's going to have pay for it 
somehow. There's a gap between Senator Kerry's spending promises and 
Senator Kerry's promise of a lower deficit. It's what I call a tax gap. 
Given Senator Kerry's record of supporting tax increases, it's pretty 
clear

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how he's going to fill the tax gap. He's going to tax all of you.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. Fortunately, you're not going to give him that chance.
    Higher taxes right now would undermine growth and destroy jobs just 
as our economy is getting stronger. It's bad policy. To help grow the 
American economy and create more jobs for American workers, I have a 
better idea: We should make all the tax cuts permanent.
    We must do more to keep this economy growing to create jobs. We need 
to maintain spending discipline in our Nation's Capital. I have a plan 
to protect small-business owners and employees from frivolous and junk 
lawsuits and needless regulation. We have a plan to control the cost of 
health care and give people better access through association health 
care plans and health savings accounts. And in order to control health 
care costs and to make sure docs are available, we need national medical 
liability reform now.
    We have a strategy to make sure Florida goods are sold in markets 
all around the world. I proposed a great strategy to make sure our 
Nation has a sound energy plan, a plan that encourages conservation, a 
plan that modernizes the electricity system, a plan to make America less 
dependent on foreign sources of energy.
    They talk a lot about job creation. My opponent talks about it, but he's against every one of these job-
creating measures. Empty talk about jobs and economic isolationism won't 
get anyone hired. The way to create jobs is to reelect a pro-growth, 
pro-entrepreneur, small-business President, and that's George W. Bush.
    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, and the Taliban no longer 
are in power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror 
regime in Iraq. The dictator chose defiance, 
and the dictator today 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, and we saw a threat. Members 
of Congress looked at the intelligence, and they saw a threat. The 
United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a 
threat. The previous administration and Congress looked at the 
intelligence and made regime change in Iraq the policy of our 
Government.
    In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a 
full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons 
programs. And as he had for over a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to 
comply. So we had a choice to make, either take the word of a madman or 
to take action to defend America. Faced with 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 waiting 
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, nations like

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Libya have gotten the message and renounced their own weapons programs. 
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 still face thugs and terrorists in Iraq who would rather go on 
killing the innocent than accept the advance of liberty. There's a 
reason. They know that a free Iraq will be a major defeat for the cause 
of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the 
United States. They don't understand us. America will never be 
intimidated by thugs and assassins.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. 
We're on the offensive. We will defeat them there so we do not have to 
face them in our own cities.
    Other nations are helping us to build a free society in Iraq, 
because a free Iraq will make us all safer. We're standing with the 
Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward 
self-government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're 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 don't object.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. I'm all for united action, and so are our 34 
coalition partners in Iraq right now. Yet America must never outsource 
America's national security decisions to the leaders of other countries.
    Some are skeptical that the war on terror is really a war at all. 
Senator Kerry said, and I quote, ``The war on 
terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an 
intelligence gathering, law enforcement operation.''
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. 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. The terrorists 
were still training in Afghanistan. They were still plotting in other 
nations. They were still 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 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 unselfish 
courage. And 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 fellow citizens. 
We're strong because of the values we try to live by, courage and 
compassion, reverence and integrity. We are strong because of the 
institutions that help give us direction and purpose, families and 
schools and 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 discrimination by the Federal Government against 
people of faith.
    We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen 
marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find their 
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

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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. It's the 
culture of a country that's changing from one that has said, ``If it 
feels good, do it,'' and, ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody 
else,'' to a culture in which each of us understands we 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'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 ourselves.
    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 the leaders. This is not one of those times. You and I are 
living in a period when the stakes are high, 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 that day. One guy pointed at me and said, 
``Don't let me down.'' Workers in hardhats were shouting, ``Whatever it 
takes.'' And 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've also been witness to the character of this 
Nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about the American 
character, our capacity to meet serious challenges or to serve a cause 
greater than self-interest. But 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 sacrifice and 
compassion renewed in our country. We've all seen our country unite in 
common purpose when it mattered most.
    We'll need all these qualities for the work ahead. We have a war to 
win. The world is counting on us to lead the cause of freedom and peace. 
We have a duty to spread opportunity to every corner of America. With 
your help, we're going to share our message of optimism and national 
strength with every voter in the State of Florida.
    I'm looking forward to this campaign ahead. I'm going to give it my 
all. And I'm counting on you all to do the same. Talk to your friends. 
Talk to your neighbors. Get out the word. Ask people to join our cause 
to participate in democracy. With you at my side, there is no doubt in 
my mind we're headed to a victory on November the second.
    Thank you for coming. God bless. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 12:14 p.m. at the Orange County Convention 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, and his 
wife, Columba; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California; Lt. Gov. Toni 
Jennings of Florida; Tom Gallagher, chief financial officer, Florida 
Department of Financial Services; Kevin Beary, sheriff, Orange County, 
FL; Roberto Candelario, pastor, Centro de la Familia Cristiana, Orlando, 
FL; country music entertainer Billy Ray Cyrus; musical group the 
Katinas; pro football Hall of Fame receiver Lynn C. Swann;

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John ``Footy'' Kross, Miami Y100.7 radio personality; and Al Hoffman, 
finance chairman, Republican National Committee.