[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[May 7, 2004]
[Pages 823-830]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks in LaCrosse, Wisconsin
May 7, 2004
The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. It's a
great turnout. Laura and I are so honored so many
came out to say hello here in the great State of Wisconsin. I'm glad to
be back in LaCrosse. What a fine city, full of fine, fine people.
Listen, traveling your State on the bus is a fantastic experience,
particularly for two people who grew up in the desert. [Laughter] As
Laura said, people lined the road and were really
friendly. We had a stop at the Kuhle family farm. That's between Hazel
Green and Cuba City. It gave us a chance to shake hands with some hard-
working people just like you all. A guy asked me if I wanted to milk his
cows. I said, ``I think we better get back on the bus.'' [Laughter] Had
a little Culver's ice cream on the way here too, I want you to know.
I came here to ask for your vote. I came here to tell you I've got a
reason to be President for 4 more years. I want this country to be safer
and stronger and better, and working together, we can make it that way.
I also came here to ask for your help. I want you to feel so
inspired to put up the signs and knock on your neighbors' doors and go
to community centers and your houses of worship and encourage people to
vote. Tell them to go to the polls, and tell them when you're--when
you're telling them how to vote or suggesting to them how to vote--
[laughter]--remind
[[Page 824]]
them that we have a positive vision, an optimistic vision, a hopeful
vision for every single American who lives in this country.
If you can't figure out what else to say, tell them they need to put
me back in so that Laura can be the First Lady
for 4 more years. I'm really proud of Laura. She's been a fantastic
First Lady. She's a great wife and wonderful mom. She is--I'm a really
lucky guy--[laughter]--and I think the people of America are lucky to
have her as the First Lady.
I put together a fantastic team of people to serve this country,
people from all walks of life, people from different backgrounds, people
like Tommy Thompson of the State of
Wisconsin. By the way, Tommy is doing a great job. He's got a tough job,
but he's doing a great job. He helped us reform Medicare so we keep the
promise to the seniors of America. Tommy--you trained him well here in
Wisconsin.
I'm also running with a really fine man. Vice President Dick
Cheney is a great Vice President.
I want to thank Dan Kapanke, the--one of the
co-owners of the baseball team that plays here. I appreciate you opening
up your field. It's nice to be here in ``the Lumber Yard.'' It's a
beautiful stadium. You know I'm a baseball fan. I love baseball. It's a
perfect setting for us to talk about how to make sure our country is the
best it can possibly be. So thanks for opening up ``the Lumber Yard'' to
a bunch of tall timber. [Laughter]
I want to thank Congressman Mark Green and
Congressman Paul Ryan, two fine Members of the
United States House of Representatives.
I know the State treasurer Jack Voight is
with us today, and I'm proud that the treasurer has come. I appreciate
Mary Panzer and John Gard, two members of the statehouse who have joined us today,
the leader in the senate and the speaker. And I want to thank all the
members of the statehouse who are here. I particularly want to thank
State Senator Dale Schultz, the next
Congressman from this district.
We've even got them coming in from Milwaukee today. Scott
Walker, who is the Milwaukee County
Executive, has joined us. And I'm proud that Scott is here. Thank you
for coming, Scott.
And I want to thank Rick Graber, the party
chairman for the State.
I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here, people
who do the hard work at turning out the vote.
I appreciate my friend Larry Gatlin, who is
here today. Larry is a great friend of Laura of
me. Have you sung yet? Good. Gatlin and I both grew up in west Texas, so
when he sees trees and water, he's somewhat taken aback. [Laughter]
I want to thank all the military personnel who are with us today.
Thank you for serving this country.
Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
The President. When you're out rounding up the vote, remind the
people that you talk to that this administration and our country has
faced serious challenges in the last 3 years, and we have given serious
answers. We came to office with a stock market in decline and an economy
headed into a recession, but we acted. We delivered historic tax relief,
and now our economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized
nation.
We uncovered corporate crimes that cost people their jobs and their
savings. We passed strong corporate reforms. Wrongdoers are being
brought to account. And we have made it clear we will not tolerate
dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.
We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning. We pursued
the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed many key
leaders of the Al Qaida network. And the rest will learn this about
America: There is no cave or hole deep enough to hide from American
justice.
[[Page 825]]
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 and 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, so we ended two of the most violent and
dangerous regimes on Earth. We have 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. The President needs to
speak clearly, mean what he says, to step up and make the hard
decisions. And that is how I will continue to lead our country. 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.
We've got a tough race ahead of us, and that's why I'm glad so many
came out. That's why I'm glad you gave me a chance to ask for your help.
It's going to be a hard campaign, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm
looking forward to the challenge. I'm looking forward to the opportunity
to do what we have done today and explain to the American people why I'm
running and what I intend to do. Yes, we've done a lot in the past, but
there is more to do to make this country a better place and a safer
place and a stronger place.
Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
The President. We should not take my opponent
lightly. He is an experienced United States Senator. He has built up
quite a record. In fact, he's been in Washington long enough to take
both sides on just about every issue. [Laughter] He voted for the
PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for No Child Left Behind, and for the use of
force of Iraq. Now he opposes the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, No Child Left
Behind, and the liberation of Iraq. His positions on these issues remind
me of a saying we have in Texas: If you don't like the weather, just
wait a few minutes and it will change.
Now, we're both going to spend a lot of time
in this State. I've been here today picking up the endorsements of the
hard-working people of Wisconsin. I've been here--out there talking to
as many people as I can to let them know I have a desire to serve this
country for 4 more years. As you might remember, he claims to have
picked up some important endorsements among foreign leaders. The problem
is, he won't give us their names. [Laughter]
Now, he did say the other day on national TV,
``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.'' [Laughter] I
think this whole thing is a case of mistaken identity. [Laughter] I
mean, just because somebody has an accent and a suit and a nice table at
a New York restaurant doesn't make him a foreign leader.
But no matter who these mystery people are, they're not going to
decide the election. The American people will be deciding this election,
and there will be a clear choice--a clear choice, 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.
The other side hasn't offered much in the way of strategies and
plans to win the war on terror or to expand prosperity throughout our
country. As a matter of fact, all we hear is bitterness and old partisan
anger. But they're going to find out right quick that anger is not an
agenda for the future of America. I look forward to taking on the big
issues, the issues that matter,
[[Page 826]]
with optimism and resolve and determination. And 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 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 to--
helping to create new jobs, the American people have used their money
far better than the Federal Government would have.
This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. The
economy grew at a rate of 4.2 percent in the first quarter. 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 rates are
low. Homeownership rate amongst Americans is the highest ever. This farm
economy is strong. America has had 4 straight years of rising exports.
Last year, we had the highest farm income on record.
This morning, we got some more good news. Last month, America added
288,000 new jobs. Our people are going back to work. We've added 1.1
million jobs since last August. The unemployment rate in this State is
5.1 percent, down from 5.8 percent last summer. The tax relief we passed
is working.
There is a difference of opinion about tax relief in this campaign.
When you're out garnering the vote, remind people about the stands that
I have taken and the stands my opponent has
taken. See, on every one of the tax relief plans we passed the last 3
years, he voted against them. He voted against increasing the child
credit, for reducing the marriage penalty, for creating a 10-percent
lower bracket, for business investment breaks to small businesses.
And also remind them that when it comes to tax increases, it's been
a lot easier to get a yes vote out of him. These
are the facts. Since he's been representing the people of Massachusetts,
he voted for taxes 350 times. He's not afraid to raise the taxes on the
people. And that matters because, in a campaign, the tendency is for
people to make promises. We're counting up the promises. He has so far
promised $1.9 trillion of spending, and we're just getting started. And
there's 6 months more to go. [Laughter]
And the question you've got to ask of the Senator is, ``How are you going to pay for it?'' He said, ``by
taxing the rich.'' But the problem is, you can't raise enough money by
taxing the rich to pay for $1.9 trillion of new money. So he has a tax
gap, and given his record, you know who's going to have to pay that tax
gap. That's you, but we're not going to let him have the chance to do
so.
Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
The President. Raising taxes on the American people would wreck this
economic growth and destroy job creation. No, what we need to do is to
make sure this administration stays in office so we can keep taxes low
and not raise taxes on the hard-working people of this country.
And there's more we've got to do. I'll continue to bring fiscal
discipline to Washington, DC, by reminding the people over there whose
money they spend. In Washington, we don't spend the Government's money.
We spend your money, and we have an obligation to be wise about how we
spend your money.
In order to make sure this economy continues to grow, we need an
energy policy in America. We need a policy that encourages conservation.
But we need a policy, also, that encourages alternative sources of
energy. We ought to be using more corn and soybean to produce ethanol
and biodiesel. We need clean coal technology. We ought to be spreading
safe nuclear power. We ought to be exploring for natural gas in
environmentally friendly ways. We need
[[Page 827]]
an energy policy to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
We need association health care plans and tax-free health savings
accounts to help control the cost of medicine so people will be able to
find work. We need medical liability reform in Washington, DC, so that
the frivolous lawsuits don't keep running up the cost of medicine and
driving docs out of business.
We need to be confident when it comes to trade policy. Listen, other
Presidents before me have opened up U.S. markets for the good of
consumers. When you get more products coming into America, consumers get
better choices at better prices and better quality. What we need to do
is reject economic isolationism and say to other nations, ``Treat us the
way we treat you. Open up your markets.'' Create a level playing field
for America's workers and farmers and manufacturers, and we can compete
with anybody, anyplace, anywhere on the face of the Earth.
No, I'm running because I want to make sure this economic growth
continues. I'm running to make sure America is the greatest economy on
the face of the Earth. I'm running because I want our people with good,
solid jobs. I'm running to promote a pro-entrepreneur, pro-small-
business, pro-growth economic agenda.
America--our future, the future of this country also depends on our
leadership in the world. The momentum of freedom in our time is strong,
but we still face serious dangers. We're still at war. 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, nobody, no one, 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 are no longer in power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum
to the terror regime in Iraq. The dictator
chose defiance, and today, the dictator sits in a prison cell.
September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will never forget and
the country must never forget. America must confront threats before they
fully materialize. In Iraq, my administration looked at the
intelligence, and we saw a threat. I want to remind you that 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 U.N. Security Council yet again demanded a full
accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons
programs, and the reason why they did, again--because they remembered
the history. Not only did they see a threat, they remembered the actions
he had taken. He had attacked countries in his neighborhood. He had used
weapons of mass destruction against people in other countries as well as
people in his own country. He had ties to terrorism. He paid suiciders
to go in and kill innocent Israelis. No, we remembered the nature of the
man. Saddam Hussein, as he had for over a decade, refused to comply with
the demands of the free world. And so I had a choice to make: Either
trust the word of a madman, or defend America. 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. And that's really
important to keep the peace. 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
[[Page 828]]
voluntarily disarmed. Because we acted, an example of democracy is
rising in the heart of the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is
more free. Because we acted, America is more secure.
It's been tough days in Iraq for the American people, especially
those families with soldiers overseas and those families of a loved one
who has sacrificed for our freedom and security--tough work. And there's
a reason why. There are foreign fighters and remnants of the old tyrant
who can't stand the thought of freedom taking hold in Iraq. That's what
we're seeing. Freedom scares terrorists. Freedom scares people who hate.
Freedom scares people with no conscience.
What they're trying to do is they're trying to shake our will. They
want us to leave. They want us to show weakness. They do not understand
America, and they do not understand this President. No thug or assassin
will intimidate America. We will finish the work that we have begun, for
our own security. We will finish the work we have begun, for peace and
freedom. Free societies do not attack their neighbors. Free societies do
not breed hate. Free societies provide hope, so that moms and dads can
raise their children in a peaceful world, so their children can aspire
what we want our children to aspire to, a good education and a hopeful
life.
No, these are historic times. These are times that require strong
will and strong determination. These are times in which we could
literally change the world by the spread of freedom. Freedom is not
America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each
man and woman in this world. We will finish what we have begun, and we
will win this essential victory in the war on terror.
On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice.
My opponent says he approves of bold action in
the world but only if other countries do not object. Now, I'm for
working with other countries. I've put together coalitions to fight the
war on terror--the coalition in Afghanistan. There's over 30 nations
working with us in Iraq right now, because they understand what I
understand: A free Iraq will make the world more secure; a free Iraq
will change the Middle East for the better. But let me tell you this as
clearly as I can. I will never turn over America's national security
decisions to leaders of other countries.
And we have a difference of opinion about whether the war on terror
is really a war at all. My opponent says 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 terrorists were still training in
Afghanistan. They were still plotting in other nations. They were still
drawing up more ambitious plans.
After the carnage and chaos of September the 11th, it is not enough
to serve our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks, the
terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States of
America, and war is what they got.
And winning the war on terror requires that we use all our assets,
including a fantastic military. And as we use that military, our troops
must be given the best equipment in the world. That is why I went to
Congress and asked for an $87 billion appropriation last fall to help
our troops. I want to thank the two
Congressmen for supporting that supplemental. But
my opponent chose to vote no, and here's what he
said. He said, ``I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted
against it.'' [Laughter]
The American President must speak clearly. The American President
must mean what he says. And when I say the troops will get the support
they need, I mean that the troops will get the support they need to win
this war on terror.
[[Page 829]]
Our men and women in the military are taking great risks, and
they're doing great work. Like you, I was disgusted about the pictures I
saw on TV, about the humiliation given to the prisoners in Iraq. No
American can stand for that. That doesn't reflect us, nor does it
reflect the character and the decency and the honor of the men and women
who wear the uniform of the United States of America. I have seen their
decency, and I have seen their unselfish courage. And I assure you,
ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in really 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're strong because of the
institutions that help give us direction and purpose, families and
schools and our religious congregations. These values and institutions
are fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect of the
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. The culture of
this country is changing from one that has said ``If it feels good, just
go ahead and 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 a mom or a dad--if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a
dad, 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 this new
responsibility society, each of us--each of us is responsible for loving
our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself.
For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is
expected of its leaders. This isn't one of those times. You and I are
living in a period when the stakes are high, the challenges are
difficult, a time when firm, 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 that day. There were policemen and
firefighters shouting, ``Whatever it takes, Mr. President. Whatever it
takes.'' A guy in a hardhat pointed at me and said, ``Do not let me
down.'' 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.
Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
The President. In these times, I've also been witness to the
character of this Nation. Not so long ago, some had their
[[Page 830]]
doubts about the American character, our capacity to meet a serious
challenge or a willingness to serve a cause greater than self-interest.
Americans have given their answer. I have seen the unselfish courage of
our troops. I have seen the heroism of Americans in the face of danger.
I've seen the spirit of service and love and compassion renewed in our
country. And we've all seen our Nation unite in common purpose when it
mattered most.
We will need all of these qualities for the work ahead. See, we've
got work to do. We've got a job. We must win the war on terror, and the
world is counting on America to continue to lead the cause of freedom
and peace.
We have work to do. We must spread opportunity to every part of the
country. We must work together over the next 4 years to make America a
safer place, a stronger place, and a better place for every citizen.
This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and
we know that for our great country, the best days lie ahead.
May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our country.
Thank you for coming. Thank you all.
Note: The President spoke at 5:25 p.m. at Copeland Park. In his remarks,
he referred to Dan Kapanke, owner, Lacrosse Loggers baseball team and
candidate for Wisconsin State Senate; State Senator Mary Panzer and
State Representative John Gard of Wisconsin; country music entertainer
Larry Gatlin; Dale W. Schultz, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin's
Third Congressional District; and former President Saddam Hussein of
Iraq.