[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.

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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

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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.

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    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

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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

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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).