    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 23, 2004]
    [Pages 1406-1415]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the National Urban League Conference in Detroit, Michigan
    July 23, 2004

        The President. Thanks for the warm introduction. It's really good to
    be here. You know, Marc, you're right, the
    National Urban League is a vital and important part of the American
    scene. And I think the reason why is, not only is the mission important
    but the people involved in the Urban League are dignified, decent
    American citizens. And I am honored to be in your presence.
        I see some friends like Willard, who is--I don't know if you
    remember, Willard, but we were on the porch of the Governor's mansion in
    Texas. I'm not saying you drank all my beer, but--[laughter]. Never
    mind. [Laughter] That's unfair. [Laughter] But thanks for having me.
        Marc, I appreciate your leadership. I've
    had the opportunity to work with Marc. I look forward to continue
    working with Marc. He's a good man. He cares deeply about the country,
    the people in our country. He is--he has had a lot of experience. He
    has, after all, been a mayor. It's a heck of a lot tougher job than
    being President. After all, you've got to fill the potholes--
    [laughter]--and empty the garbage. And he did a fine job as mayor. He's
    doing a fine job for this very important organization.
        Speaking about mayors, the mayor of Detroit was here. He's cutting a ribbon, which most mayors do.
    He's a fabulous mayor, by the way. He's standing a little taller, as if
    he needed to, because the Detroit Pistons are now the NBA champs. I told
    him, I said--I asked Kwame if he took credit for it. He said, ``Of
    course.'' [Laughter]
        I appreciate so very much Mike Critelli, who is the chairman. Thank you, Mr.--Mike, it's great to
    see you again. And Charles Collins,
    senior--the vice chairman--these are distinguished gentlemen who are
    helping to lead a very distinguished board of directors. It was my honor
    to meet with members of the board before I came out here today. And I
    appreciate your service to our country.
        Rick, thank you very much. Rick Wagoner is the CEO of General Motors,

    [[Page 1407]]

    who is sponsoring this conference. I appreciate you doing that. It's an
    important conference, and corporate America needs to stand up and help
    organizations that are out to help other people, and you've done so. And
    I know people here appreciate that.
        I appreciate Reverend Ernest Ferrell's
    blessings. They asked me before the speech whether or not I would object
    to a prayer. I said, ``Absolutely not.'' All of us need prayer, and I
    appreciate that.
        And I appreciate Reverend Jesse Jackson. Thanks for coming, again.
        And it's hard to run for office. Isn't it, Al? [Laughter] Al Sharpton is with us. But I appreciate you
    putting your hat in the ring. [Laughter] It's not an easy thing. It
    looks easy.
        Democratic Presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton. It's not over.
        The President. There you go. It's not over. [Laughter] Just don't
    declare right now. [Laughter] Welcome. Glad you're here.
        Thank you all for coming.
        The thing I like about the National Urban League is you believe in
    the future of the African American community. You've got this great
    faith that the future is going to be better, and I share that. That's
    what I'm here to talk about. I believe the same thing. I believe this
    country can and will be a place of opportunity and hope for every single
    citizen. It's not a given; there's work to be done. But it's a goal, and
    it's an important goal.
        I don't care what party you're in, what city you live in, or what
    State you're from, the goal has got to be--America has got to be an
    hospitable, hopeful place for every single citizen. That's what I
    believe. That's kind of the heart of what they call compassionate
    conservatism, that the American experience must be alive and viable for
    everyone and that Government has a role to help people have the tools so
    they can help themselves. See, I believe in the human spirit; I believe
    if people have the opportunity and the ability, they will achieve their
    God-given talents. That's what I believe. And I think that's a proper
    role for the Federal Government, to help people.
        The last 3\1/2\ years, we've worked hard on that. We've worked hard
    to make opportunity available and prosperity real and justice not a
    word. And I'm here to tell you, we're making good progress.
        Progress for African Americans and all Americans require a healthy,
    growing economy. It's hard to realize dreams if you're in a recession;
    it's hard to realize dreams if jobs aren't being created; it's hard to
    realize dreams if the entrepreneurial spirit is flat, at best, and
    that's not the case today.
        It says a lot about our country that we've recovered from a
    recession. Remember, the recession was started before September the
    11th--as a matter of fact, right as I came to office. The stock market
    had been declining for 9 months. In other words, the indications weren't
    all that viable for the economy.
        And then we got hit, and the attacks hurt. It hurt our psyche. It
    hurt our economy. It hurt the ability to find work.
        And then we uncovered the fact that some of our citizens forgot what
    it meant to be a responsible citizen. See, we had some CEOs in corporate
    America that didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their
    employees. That also hurt the economy. It took confidence away from a
    system that requires confidence. We acted. It should be clear now to all
    Americans that we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms
    of America. We expect the high standard, and there will be enforcement
    of law to enforce that standard.
        So the economy went through a lot. But we acted. See, I happen to
    believe if people have more of their own money in their pocket, they're
    going to spend, save, or invest, and when they do, that revitalizes
    economic growth and entrepreneurship. That's what the tax cuts were all
    about. That's why we raised the child credit. If you happen to have a 2-
    year-old son like Marc does, it enables you
    to be--have more

    [[Page 1408]]

    money in your pocket. We reduced the marriage penalty. What kind of Tax
    Code is it, by the way, that penalizes marriage? We ought to be
    encouraging marriage in the United States of America.
        We reduced the 10-percent bracket; we reduced taxes on everybody. I
    think that's the fair way to do things. And as a result, the economy is
    growing. The economy, since last summer, has been growing at the fastest
    rate in nearly 20 years. That's the truth, and that's positive news. If
    people are looking for work, you've got to have an economy which is
    vibrant and growing.
        And that's the case. We've added 1.5 million new jobs since August.
    There's more work to do, of course. Job opportunity isn't in every
    neighborhood and every corner of the country; I fully recognize that.
    But the economy today is strong, and it's growing stronger. And we've
    always got to remember why. I mean, inherent in the--in new job creation
    is small businesses. That's the most important part of new job creation.
    See, most new jobs are created by the small-business owners of America.
    And therefore, policy has got to recognize that. That's why we've got to
    have fair--a fair legal system that doesn't--these frivolous lawsuits
    make it awfully difficult for a small-business owner to thrive.
        We've got to have affordable health care. We must have trade policy
    that enables small businesses to sell products overseas, that says we're
    going to level the playing field. Listen, we can compete with anybody,
    anyplace, anywhere if the rules are fair, which is precisely what this
    administration is doing. They need less regulation on small businesses.
        But remember about the tax policy in terms of small businesses. Most
    small businesses pay tax at the individual income-tax rate. See, that's
    reality. Ask your friends and neighbors who are entrepreneurs. They will
    tell you they're either a sole proprietorship or a Subchapter S
    corporation, which means they pay tax at the individual income-tax rate.
    And so when you cut the individual income taxes, you're really helping
    small-business owners. It's an entrepreneur--we're stimulating growth,
    and the small-business sector of America today is alive and well. And
    more minorities are owning their own small businesses, and that's really
    good for the future of the country.
        See, if you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of
    America. This administration promotes what I call the ownership society.
    When people tell me statistics, they say more people are owning their
    own small businesses and a lot of minorities are owning their own small
    businesses. That's really good news for the future of the country. It
    also happens to be really good news for the economy. The more small
    businesses there are, the more likely it is people are going to find
    work.
        And there's more we can do to help people start their own
    businesses. The SBA has got a vital role--that's the Small Business
    Administration. Loans to African Americans were up by 75 percent from
    last year. That's positive. In other words, somebody said, ``I need some
    help.'' They've come to the Federal Government. They said, ``I've got an
    idea. I want to start my own business. I want to say, `I'm the owner.'
    '' And the Government says, ``We want to help you.'' It's a legitimate
    role, to encourage ownership.
        And that's what's happening right now in our society. We've rewarded
    $6 billion in new markets tax credits. Those are important. They promote
    economic and community development in low-income areas. And when you do
    that, the spinoff is more ownership of businesses. When there's a
    vitality in a neighborhood that has been--that needed help, new
    businesses spring up. That's all part of a vital tomorrow. Our plan is
    to help people help themselves, is to create an environment where the
    entrepreneur can flourish.
        Marc, I read your comments, and the
    National Urban League is a partner in the $127 million reward we
    announced in May

    [[Page 1409]]

    this year just to do that, to create an environment where people have a
    chance to realize their dreams by owning their own business.
        An interesting project that's going on inside inner cities, which
    makes life better but also helps the entrepreneurial spirit, is the
    cleanup of brownfields. Since I've come to office, we've cleaned up more
    than 1,000 brownfields. Those are old industrial sites which have been
    abandoned. They're not only eyesores; they're blights in the
    communities. They've been cleaned up. They're now viable pieces of
    property. Businesses are springing up--businesses around--businesses are
    springing up. An integral part of stimulating economic growth and
    activity to give people a chance to start and own their own company is
    wise policy in the inner city, such as brownfields cleanup policy. We've
    been aggressive with brownfields just like we have with empowerment
    zones.
        What I'm telling you is, the role of Government is to create an
    environment where people from all walks of life have a chance to realize
    their dream. And that's precisely what's taking place in America. And
    the economy is better for it, and more people are finding work. And we
    must not go backward to the days of high taxes, high spending, more
    regulation, and more lawsuits if we expect more people to own their own
    business.
        Secondly, we've got work to do to encourage and train a new
    generation of entrepreneurs. And that's why I'm pleased to announce
    today that we're joining with the Urban League to expand minority
    businessownership. It's an interesting project. You can't say to
    somebody, ``You must be an entrepreneur.'' You can't say that. But you
    can say, ``If you want to start your own business, we'll help you.'' And
    I want to thank Marc's leadership on this and
    the board's leadership in understanding the need to work with the
    Federal Government to set up what they call one-stop centers where
    minority enterprise can receive business training. It's one thing to
    say, ``Let's go be an entrepreneur.'' But if you're not certain how to
    do it, people need help. You may have a great idea, but you're not sure
    how to keep the books. It's a practical application of Federal assets to
    help people understand how to own and run their own business. You can
    develop contacts there. You get advice on financing. It's practical ways
    to help people realize their dreams, is what we're talking about here.
        The Business Roundtable, I'm pleased to say--those are the CEOs of
    big corporate America--the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation--
    he used to be the owner of the Kansas City
    Royals; he's a fine guy from Missouri--will support the work of the
    centers. And so, in other words, it's a collaborate effort. The Federal
    Government, the Urban League, and these other citizens are coming
    together and saying, ``We're going to set up these centers to help
    people help themselves.''
        Progress for African Americans and progress for all Americans
    requires good schools. The system tended to shuffle kids through, and
    you know what I'm talking about. You know, the ``hard-to-educate'' were
    labeled that, and they just moved through; that's what was happening. We
    can play like it wasn't happening. It was happening. That's what you get
    when you get low expectations. It's what I call the soft bigotry of low
    expectations.
        When I first came to the Urban League, I vowed to change that
    attitude in Washington. It was one of the things I said. I said, ``Give
    me a chance to work the education system.'' And we have. We passed good
    law. Listen, the Government has got a funding responsibility. We have.
    We've increased Federal funding for K through 12 by 49 percent from
    2001. I label that significant.
        But you know what else has changed? For the first time, the Federal
    Government is asking the question, ``Can our children actually read?''
    And see, I feel comfortable asking that question, because I believe

    [[Page 1410]]

    every child can read. You don't ask that question if you believe certain
    children cannot read; you say, ``Okay, fine, shuffle them through''--the
    consequences of which, when people get out of high school, they're
    illiterate, they're lost, they're frustrated. They don't have a chance
    to realize the great promise of the country. We're changing that
    attitude in public schools.
        We say we're going to have local control of schools. I really don't
    want the Federal Government trying to run the school systems of America.
    I think that would be cumbersome, too bureaucratic, stifling. It
    wouldn't encourage innovation; it wouldn't say to the school boards,
    ``Be imaginative and strong and smart.''
        We stand with our teachers. But we're going to measure now in
    America, because we want to know. Our goal is for every child to be
    reading at grade level by the third grade, because we believe every
    child can do that. And now we want us to show--just please show us
    whether or not it's--whether or not you're achieving the objective.
    Because every child matters, see. If you don't measure, you do not know.
    If you don't take time to determine whether or not a child has got the
    skills necessary to succeed in America, you'll never find out until it's
    too late.
        The philosophy of the No Child Left Behind Act says every child can
    learn, we expect every child to learn, and we expect you to show us
    whether or not every child is learning.
        And it's paying off. The test scores, the accountability systems are
    beginning to show that African American fourth graders are catching up.
    There is an education gap in America, and so long as there is an
    education gap, we must be relentless in our pursuit for excellence.
        By the way, the law says that if--we're going to detect problems
    early, before they're too late, and correct them; that's why we started
    measuring early. And there's money in the budgets that say, ``If you
    need extra help, we'll help correct them.'' It says to parents that if
    the schools continue to fail, if they won't adjust, if a child is
    trapped in mediocrity, parents have different choices to make. See, this
    is all part of making sure we focus on the child, not the process, so no
    child in America is left behind.
        And there's more to do. I'm working with Congress, hopefully over
    the next 4 years, for intensive reading intervention programs. It's one
    thing to start early, but there's a--you can imagine there's a group of
    kids that need to be saved now, before it's too late--eighth and ninth
    grade intervention programs. I know in Florida there's some great
    intervention programs. Willard, you'll probably take credit for them,
    but they--[laughter]--they're beginning to work well. They're good. It
    says we're not going to quit on any child. We're going to be involved.
        We need to make sure a high school diploma means something. When a
    kid comes out of high school, an employer or community college--the
    college says that means something when they hold up a high school
    diploma.
        And so we've got to make sure we continue to work not only in the
    early grades but in the later grades in public education so that people
    can say, ``I've got something that means something.'' It's a
    certification for the ability to read, write, add, and subtract, to
    understand the sciences and maths as well. That's possible, see. You've
    got to think it's possible in the first place; otherwise, you wouldn't
    insist upon it.
        Plus, I want to make sure the community college system is vibrant. I
    put money aside and will continue to do so for the community colleges.
    They're available, affordable. They're accessible. They're good things.
    They can change their curriculum to meet the needs of a local community.
    They actually train people for jobs which exist. They're good
    opportunities for kids coming out of high school. Look, education is the
    future of the country. And that's why, under my administration, we've
    increased

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    the number of men and women who will be receiving Pell grants to nearly
    one million, and why, under my budget, funding for historically black
    colleges is at an alltime high. It's what I said I would do when I was
    running for President, see. I told people I'd do that, and I've done it.
    And the country is better off for it, because education is the
    cornerstone of a hopeful tomorrow.
        I was proud to support Mayor Tony Williams. He's my Mayor right now. I've got one mayor in Crawford
    and one mayor in Washington. [Laughter] Tony is the Mayor of Washington.
    He's a very good Mayor, by the way. He's a good man. Maybe you know him.
    But he and I--I work with Tony. And I signed a bill into law creating
    taxpayer-sponsored scholarships for students in Washington, DC. And let
    me tell you why. I believe this: If school choice is good for the
    wealthy, it's good enough for disadvantaged children in America. This is
    a good piece of legislation. It's a good piece of legislation which is
    going to help improve education for all children in the Nation's
    Capital.
        Progress for African Americans and all Americans depends on more
    citizens living the dream of owning their own home. There's nothing
    better than somebody saying, ``Welcome to my house. I'm putting out the
    welcome mat in my piece of property.'' And this has been a focus of this
    administration, because we want people owning their own home. It's a
    vital part of the American experience, isn't it.
        So we're providing downpayment assistance, good counseling. Listen,
    people walk in, first-time home buyers, and they take a look at the
    contracts and the print's about that big, and they say forget it, you
    know? They get driven away by the complexity of the situation. Sometimes
    they get skinned by loan sharks, you know? And we're doing everything we
    can to make sure the loan application process is understandable and fair
    and open. We're proposing tax credits to encourage the building of more
    affordable housing, particularly in inner-city America. In other words,
    we want there to be a greater supply of homes.
        Let me tell you something hopeful about the country. For the first
    time in our history, a majority of families and minority groups own
    their own homes. We're making progress. People are saying, ``This is my
    home.'' And we must continue the progress we're making.
        Progress for African Americans and all Americans depends on safe
    streets. Safe streets are important for any community, particularly
    important for communities in which parents feel like they've got to keep
    their kids locked in.
        And so we're making progress there. We've increased Federal
    prosecutors. And I want to tell you something: Federal gun law
    prosecutions are up by 68 percent in the last 3 years. See, it's one
    thing to, you know, say we're going to pass laws. The thing is, you've
    got to enforce the law. If you're going to want safe streets, you've got
    to do a good job of enforcing the laws on the books, which is precisely
    what we're doing. And as a result, violent crime in America is down by
    21 percent during my administration. That's positive for people.
    Property crime is down 13 percent.
        But there's more than just fighting crime. We need to help the
    600,000 men and women who are being released from prison each year. I
    went to the Congress in my State of the Union; I talked about a prison
    reentry program. I said, ``Put some money up to help these souls come
    out. Let's make sure we're the country of the second chance. Let's make
    sure people have got a chance to get an education and a job. Let's make
    sure there's--if need be, let's make sure there's church families
    available to welcome a person back in community.'' And so this prison
    reentry program is a vital part of making sure America is a safe
    country.
        Progress for this country, for African Americans and all Americans,
    depends on

    [[Page 1412]]

    the full protection of civil rights and equality before the law. My
    administration and its Justice Department has vigorously enforced the
    civil rights laws. The Civil Rights Division has opened a Federal
    investigation into the murder of Emmett Till. I'm the first President of
    the United States to ban racial profiling in Federal law enforcement.
    And to serve the cause of justice on the bench, the Federal bench, I
    have nominated outstanding men and women to the courts, including 6
    superbly qualified African Americans for the courts of appeal and 11 for
    district courts.
        Progress for African Americans and for all Americans depends on
    driving the drugs out of our neighborhoods. We put forth a comprehensive
    approach. We're doing everything we can to interdict drugs so they don't
    make it into the country in the first place. We have encouraged faith-
    based programs to help change hearts so people change habits. We've got
    money directed at the people who need the most help, which are the
    addicts of America--an intensive, focused, real effort to save lives.
        But we're also working to reduce demand in the country. It's a
    community effort. We're bringing together all aspects of the community
    organizations to say to our youngsters, ``Don't use those drugs.'' And
    we're making progress. From 2001 to 2003, youth drug use has declined by
    11 percent. We're headed in the right direction. We're saying to our
    kids, ``Be responsible with your bodies, be responsible with your
    behavior, and you have a chance to understand the great promise of
    America.'' It's a vital effort. This isn't a Republican cause or a
    Democrat cause. This is a community cause; this is an American cause;
    and it's important to work together.
        Progress for all our citizens, including African Americans, depends
    on the spirit of compassion for others. Government can hand out money,
    but it cannot put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in a
    person's lives. And we'll have the traditional programs of help, the
    safety nets. They're there. And that's an important part of Federal
    funding. But I strongly believe the Federal Government must welcome
    programs of faith into the compassionate delivery of help and service to
    those who hurt.
        My community- and faith-based initiative recognizes the true
    strength of this country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens;
    that we recognize that oftentimes there's--a change of heart will change
    behavior, and governments can't change hearts. That changes when
    somebody who has heard a universal call to love a neighbor puts their
    arm around somebody who hurts and says, ``I love you brother. I love you
    sister. What can I do to help you on your walk so your life is
    improved?'' This community- and faith-based initiative is a vital part
    of this administration's program to help save lives. We've opened up
    Federal grants to the faith community for the first time. I shouldn't
    say ``for the first time''--most vigorously, let me put it to you that
    way.
        And so now we've had over a billion dollars go out the door to
    faith-based programs, programs all aimed at serving America by saving
    lives. And it makes sense. It just makes sense. It makes sense to tap
    into the great strength and spirit of the country.
        The Associated Black Charities of Baltimore--ask them what it's like
    to be a partner with the Federal Government; or the Black Ministerial
    Alliance in Boston or the Metro Denver Black Church Initiative. These
    are all initiatives, all aimed at saying to somebody, ``The future is
    better for you. Somebody loves you. We care, and we're going to help
    you. We're going to help mentor you. We'll save you from drugs and
    alcohol. We'll do everything in our power to save America one soul at a
    time.''
        We've done a lot in 3\1/2\ years. I ask you to look at the record of
    accomplishment. And I didn't do this alone. I've got a good
    administration, really good people. It's a diverse Cabinet. It's a
    Cabinet full of strong people. It's a Cabinet who are

    [[Page 1413]]

    serving our country first, people like Rod Paige. You've heard my talk about education. I hope you have a
    sense of my passion to make sure we get it right. I understand the
    importance of schools in America. I picked a good man to serve as the
    head of the Education Department, Rod Paige. He was--[applause].
        You heard me talk about owning your own home; it's a vital part of
    this future of this country. Alphonso Jackson is the head of the Housing and Urban Development. Kay
    James runs the Office of Personnel
    Management. You know, the Government owns a lot of property. Steve
    Perry is the head of the GSA.
        We've got a diverse cabinet, diverse administration, people who
    serve our Nation with dignity. You know, when it comes time to money,
    Alan Greenspan is a smart guy; so is the Vice
    Chairman, Roger Ferguson, of the
    Federal Reserve. Chairman of the FCC, the Federal Communications
    Commission, Michael Powell--in other
    words, what I'm telling you is I feel I have an obligation to reach out
    to people from all walks of life. I have met that obligation, and the
    Government is better for it.
        And when it comes to national security, thankfully I've had a good
    team. We've had some big challenges in this country. And I've got a
    strong foreign policy, because the architects of that policy are people
    like Condi Rice and Colin Powell. These are good people. I've seen them under
    incredible pressure. I know their steadiness and their clear vision.
        See, our most solemn duty is to protect the American people. That's
    our most solemn duty. It's a duty brought upon us not at our asking,
    because we were attacked unmercifully by people who hate what we stand
    for. They hate the fact that we can have free dialog just like this.
    They hate the fact that there's open discourse. They hate the fact that
    we're a free society where people can worship any way they see fit. They
    hate the idea that we welcome people who worship God and we welcome
    people who don't worship God. They can't stand the thought that we're a
    society that says if you choose to worship, you're equally American if
    you're a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
        And so they attacked us. And we have a duty, all of us have a duty,
    to respond. This is an American effort to protect ourselves. And Colin
    Powell and Condi Rice have provided valuable, valuable advice and
    counsel during these tough times.
        And we're making progress. Listen, we're trying to do everything we
    can to protect our homeland. There's people from all walks of life
    working hard to protect the American people. There's no such thing as
    perfect security. I tell people we've got to be right 100 percent of the
    time; those who want to cause us harm have to be right once. But there's
    a lot of people working. It doesn't matter what your party is, they're
    working hard to protect the American people. And we've got a lot of
    people overseas working to protect us too, by bringing justice to the
    enemies before they strike again.
        Our foreign policy is tough, and it's compassionate. It's tough, and
    we have to be tough. It's compassionate. We liberated over 50 million
    people who were brutalized by tyrants. We're proud to lead the armies of
    liberation. We're standing true to this great American ideal that
    freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world.
        We've begun the largest initiative ever to combat global AIDS.
    America is in the lead on dealing with the pandemic that ravages the
    continent of Africa. We're taking the lead because we're a compassionate
    nation. We feed more of the hungry than any nation on the face of the
    Earth. We're a compassionate nation.
        We're also a wise nation when it comes to smart policy. I signed the
    African Growth and Opportunity Acceleration Act of 2004. It recognizes
    that the best way to help lift people out of poverty is to

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    trade; it's through the free flow of commerce. And it's working on the--
    this policy is working on the continent of Africa.
        Problems come to our desk because of our influence in the world.
    We've dealt with Liberia. We're now dealing with the Sudan. The United
    States is working closely with the United Nations. As a matter of fact,
    the Secretary of State was recently with Kofi Annan, talking about this very subject. We're working closely
    with the African Union to bring relief to the suffering people in that
    region. We've made our position very clear to the Sudanese Government:
    They must stop the Janjaweed violence. They must provide access for
    humanitarian relief to the people who suffer.
        Ours is a solid record of accomplishment. And that's why I've come
    to talk about compassionate conservatism and what I envision for the
    future. I'm here for another reason. I'm here to ask for your vote.
        No, I know. I know--I know. The Republican party has got a lot of
    work to do. I understand that. [Laughter] You didn't need to nod your
    head that hard, Jesse. [Laughter]
        Do you remember a guy named Charlie Gaines? Somebody gave me a quote he said, which I think kind
    of describes, maybe, the environment we're in today. I think he's a
    friend of Jesse's. He said, ``Blacks
    are gagging on the donkey but not yet ready to swallow the elephant.''
    [Laughter]
        Now that was said a while ago. [Laughter] I believe you've got to
    earn the vote and seek it. I think you've got to go to people and say,
    ``This is my heart. This is what I believe, and I'd like your help.''
    And as I do, I'm going to ask African American voters to consider some
    questions.
        Does the Democrat Party take African American voters for granted?
    It's a fair question. I know plenty of politicians assume they have your
    vote. But do they earn it, and do they deserve it? Is it a good thing
    for the African American community to be represented mainly by one
    political party? That's a legitimate question. How is it possible to
    gain political leverage if the party is never forced to compete? Have
    the traditional solutions of the Democrat Party truly served the African
    American community?
        That's what I hope people ask when they go to the community centers
    and places, as we all should do our duty and vote. People need to be
    asking these very serious questions.
        Does blocking the Faith-Based Initiative help neighborhoods where
    the only social service provider could be a church? Does the status quo
    in education really, really help the children of this country? Does
    class warfare--has class warfare or higher taxes ever created decent
    jobs in the inner city? Are you satisfied with the same answers on
    crime, excuses for drugs, and blindness to the problem of the family?
        Those are legitimate questions that I hope people ask as this
    election approaches. I'd like to hear those questions debated on talk
    radio. I'd like it debated in community centers, in the coffee shops.
    It's worthy of this country for this debate to go forward and these
    questions to be asked and answered.
        I'm here to say that there is an alternative this year. There is an
    alternative that has had a record that is easy to see. If you dream of
    starting a small business and building a nest egg and passing something
    of value to your children, take a look at my agenda. If you believe
    schools should meet high standards instead of making excuses, take a
    look at my agenda. If you believe the institutions of marriage and
    family are worth defending and need defending today, take a look at my
    agenda.
        If you believe in building a culture of life in America, take a look
    at my agenda. If you believe in a tireless fight against crime and
    drugs, take a look at this agenda. If you believe that our men and women

    [[Page 1415]]

    in uniform should be respected and supported 100 percent of the time,
    take a look at my agenda.
        If you're struggling to get into the middle class and you feel like
    you're paying plenty of taxes, take a look at my agenda. If you're a
    small-business owner who is trying to expand your job base and are
    worried about excessive lawsuits, increasing taxes, and over-regulation,
    take a look at this agenda.
        And finally, if you believe in the power of faith and compassion to
    defeat violence and despair and hopelessness, I hope you take a look at
    where I stand.
        You see, I believe in my heart that the Republican Party, the party
    of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, is not complete without the
    perspective and support and contribution of African Americans.
        And I believe in my heart that the policies and actions of this
    administration, policies that empower individuals and help communities,
    that lift up free enterprise and respect and honor the family, those
    policies are good for the Nation as a whole. That's what I believe. And
    I'm here to thank you for giving me a chance to come and express those
    beliefs.
        I'm proud to be with an organization that does so good--so much good
    for the American people. I'm honored that your chairman would extend an
    invitation to me. Thanks for coming. And may God bless you, and may God
    continue to bless the country.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:35 a.m. at the Detroit Marriott
    Renaissance Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Marc H. Morial,
    president and chief executive officer, National Urban League; Michael J.
    Critelli, chairman, and Charles M. Collins, senior vice chairman,
    National Urban League Board of Trustees; Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick of
    Detroit, MI; Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president, Rainbow/
    PUSH Coalition; and Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations.