    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 13, 2004]
    [Pages 1294-1301]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Marquette, Michigan
    July 13, 2004

        The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for inviting
    me. I'm proud to be here in Marquette, Michigan. I'm proud to be on this
    beautiful campus of Northern Michigan University. You know, I just heard
    that William H. Taft was the last sitting President to visit this city.
    The rest of them missed out on a lot. They should have come. And I'm
    glad I did come. By the way I'm looking at things, the UP is Bush-Cheney
    country.
        I'm here to ask for your vote. I'm here to ask for your help. I'm
    here to ask you to get your friends and neighbors to register. Tell them
    they have a duty as an American citizen to go to the polls. When you get
    them heading to the polls, make sure they pull that George W. lever. The
    best way to make sure America has strong, consistent, optimistic
    leadership is to put Dick Cheney and me back in
    office for 4 more years.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. I'm going to talk about what I intend to do for the
    next 4 years, but perhaps the best reason to put me back in there is so
    that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more
    years. I married a fabulous woman. She is a great First Lady. And
    traveling with me today is one of our daughters, a newly graduate from
    college, Barbara Bush. Thanks for coming,
    Barbara.
        I appreciate being introduced by Steve Mariucci. I told him so. [Applause] Yes. I told him so. Do you
    know what he said to me? He said, ``You get reelected, and I'm bringing
    the Lions to the White House.'' And if anybody can lead that group of
    men, he can. He's a fine man. I'm proud to call him friend. I know
    you're proud to call him citizen of the UP. Thank you, Steve, for
    coming. I'm proud you're here.

    [[Page 1295]]

        I want to thank Dr. Les Wong and
    Phyliss for greeting me. And thanks for opening
    up this beautiful facility. Thanks for working to educate our children
    too.
        I appreciate Steve Trent, a National Guard
    staff sergeant of the 652d Engineer Company that led the Pledge. I
    appreciate his service to the United States of America. I appreciate all
    who wear the uniform of the United States of America.
        I want to thank the grassroots supporters who are here. Those are
    the people that are going to turn out the vote. Those are the hard-
    working people that are going to do their duty in democracy and gather
    up the voters and get them to the polls. I want to thank you for what
    you're going to do and urge you to do so. If you'd like some
    instructions, if you'd like a go-by, get on the Internet at
    georgewbush.com and sign up to become a volunteer in this campaign. The
    stakes are high, and I'm ready to lead the country.
        The last 3\1/2\ years have brought serious challenges, and we have
    given serious answers. We came to office with the stock market in
    decline and an economy headed into recession. We delivered historic tax
    relief. Over the past 3 years, America has had the fastest growing
    economy of any major industrialized nation in the world.
        We uncovered corporate crimes that cost people their jobs and their
    savings, so we passed strong corporate reforms. We are bringing the
    wrongdoers to account. We are making it clear we will not tolerate
    dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.
        We saw grief and war arrive on a quiet September morning, so we
    pursued the terrorist enemy around the world. We've captured or killed
    many key leaders of the Al Qaida network. We will stay on the hunt until
    justice is served and America is safe.
        We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread
    of weapons of mass destruction, so we acted against two of the most
    violent and dangerous regimes on Earth. We have liberated over 50
    million people. Once again, America is proud to lead the armies of
    liberation.
        When the Vice President and I came to
    Washington, the military was underfunded and underappreciated, so we
    gave our Armed Forces 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've accomplished a lot on behalf of the American people. You see,
    I believe it is my job to confront problems, not to pass them on to
    future Presidents and future generations. It is my job to make the hard
    decisions and to keep my commitments. And with your help, that is how I
    will continue to lead our country for 4 more years.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. I enjoy campaigning. I like to be with the people.
    I'm not afraid to ask for the vote, because I know we've got a tough
    campaign. I'm running against a strong candidate.
    He's been in Washington a lot longer than I have. He's been there long
    enough to take both sides of just about every issue. He voted for the
    PATRIOT Act. He voted for NAFTA. He voted for the No Child Left Behind
    Act and for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes the PATRIOT Act. He
    opposes NAFTA. He opposes the No Child Left Behind Act and the
    liberation of Iraq. He kind of reminds me of the weather here--
    [laughter]--just wait a day, and it's going to change. Recently,
    campaigning in the Midwest, he even tried to claim he was the candidate
    with conservative values.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. I know--I know, but those were his own words. Kind of
    hard to square that with what he said when he said, ``I'm a liberal and
    proud of it.'' And now he has a runningmate. Senator Kerry is rated as the most liberal Member of the United States
    Senate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!

    [[Page 1296]]

        The President. And he chose a fellow lawyer
    who is the fourth most liberal Member of the
    United States Senate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Back in Massachusetts, that's what they call
    balancing the ticket. [Laughter]
        Great events will turn on this election. The person who sits in the
    Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the direction
    of our economy. I'm seeking the vote because I have a vision and a
    strategy to win the war on terror and extend peace and freedom
    throughout the world. I'm seeking your vote because I have a plan to
    continue to create jobs and opportunity for every single American. I
    want your help because I have a plan to rally the compassionate spirit
    of Americans so every single citizen has a chance to realize the great
    promise of our country. Give me a chance to be your President, and
    America will be safer and stronger and better.
        A big issue for every family in America is the tax burden. By
    providing the largest Federal tax relief since Ronald Reagan was the
    President, we have left more money in the hands that earned it. By
    spending and investing and helping create more jobs, the American people
    have used their money far better than the Government would have.
        This economy of ours is strong, and it's growing stronger. Since
    last summer, our economy has been growing at its fastest rate in nearly
    20 years. In less than a year's time, we've added 1.5 million new jobs.
    Here in Michigan, you've added over 29,600 new jobs since February. Your
    unemployment is 6.5 percent--too high--but it has dropped by more than a
    full point since December, and it is moving in the right direction.
        Across this country, the manufacturing sector is growing stronger.
    Homeownership rates are at an alltime high. Interest rates are low.
    Business investment is growing. Consumer confidence is at a 2-year high.
    Personal incomes are on the rise. The tax relief we passed is working.
        My opponents look at
    all this progress and somehow conclude that the sky is falling. But
    whether their message is delivered with a frown or a smile, it's the
    same old pessimism. And to cheer us up, they propose higher taxes, more
    Federal spending, and economic isolationism.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. That is the surest way to end economic growth and to
    put Americans out to work. This Nation is on the path to progress, and
    we will not turn back.
        To sustain this economic growth, we need to keep taxes low. Higher
    taxes right now would undermine growth and destroy jobs. To help grow
    the American economy and create more jobs, I have a better idea than
    raising taxes. We need to make the tax relief permanent. We ought not to
    be raising taxes on the American people.
        We need to be smart about how we spend the money in Washington, DC.
    We need fiscal discipline and fiscal sanity. It starts with
    understanding whose money we spend. We're not spending the Government's
    money in Washington, DC; we're spending your money. And you deserve
    fiscally sound Government.
        In order to make sure this economy grows and people can find work,
    we need to stop frivolous lawsuits. You cannot be pro-small-business and
    pro-trial-lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent has
    made his choice, and he put him on the ticket. I've made my choice: I
    will continue to push Congress for reform to end the junk lawsuits that
    are hurting small businesses and hurting the job creators of America.
        In order to make sure people can find work, Americans must have
    affordable health insurance. And the way to do that is not to have the
    Federal Government make all the decisions on behalf of the consumers of
    America. We must not federalize health care in America. The best way to
    do so is to empower the American

    [[Page 1297]]

    people through association health plans, tax-free health savings
    accounts. And for the sake of affordable health care, we need to pass
    national medical liability reform.
        To make sure people can find work, to make sure this is the most
    competitive place in the world to do business, Congress needs to pass my
    energy plan. Listen, I understand we need to modernize our electricity
    grid, and we've got a plan to do so. We will encourage more
    conservation. We will spend research and development monies on how to
    grow our way out of independence. Listen, I want to be the President who
    says, ``The corn crop is up, and we're less dependent on foreign sources
    of energy.'' But for the sake of economic security, we need to be
    developing our own resources in an environmentally friendly way. For the
    sake of national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources
    of energy.
        No, the best way to make sure this economy continues to grow is to
    make sure America is the best place for people to risk capital, to make
    sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, to have less regulation and
    less taxes for the small-business people of America. This administration
    understands how to create economic opportunity for all Americans.
    Reelect us, and you'll have a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, pro-small-
    business President of the United States.
        America's future also depends on our willingness to lead 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 continue
    to attack in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and Iran are
    challenging the peace. If America shows weakness or uncertainty in this
    decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on my
    watch.
        After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this Nation resolved
    to fight terrorists where they dwell. We resolved to hold regimes that
    hide and sponsor terrorists to account. Afghanistan was a terrorist
    state, a training camp for the Al Qaida killers. Because we acted,
    Afghanistan is a rising democracy; Afghanistan is an ally in the war on
    terror. And because we acted, a barbaric regime was removed from power,
    and many young girls now go to school for the first time in their lives.
        Iraq, only last year, was controlled by a dictator who threatened the civilized world, a dictator who had
    used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. For decades, he
    tormented and tortured the people of Iraq. Because we acted, Iraq today
    is a free and sovereign nation. Because we acted, its dictator is now in
    a prison cell and will receive the justice he denied so many for so
    long.
        September the 11th taught a lesson I will never forget and America
    must never forget: America must confront threats before they fully
    materialize. My administration looked at the facts and the history and
    looked at the intelligence in Iraq, and we saw a threat. Members of the
    United States Congress from both political parties looked at the same
    intelligence, and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council
    looked at the intelligence, and it saw a threat. The previous
    administration and the previous Congress looked at the intelligence and
    made regime change in Iraq the policy of our country.
        In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a
    full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons
    programs. They did so because they saw a threat. And as he had for over
    a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to comply. He deceived the inspectors.
    He did everything he can to deny access to the truth. And so I had a
    choice to make: Either take the word of a madman, or defend the United
    States of America. And given that choice, I will defend America every
    time.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

    [[Page 1298]]

        The President. Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of
    mass destruction, we were right to go into Iraq. And America is safer
    today because we did. We removed a declared enemy of America who had the
    capability of producing weapons of mass destruction and could have
    passed that capability to terrorists bent on acquiring them. In the
    world after September the 11th, that was a risk we could not afford to
    take.
        We still have important and difficult work to do. Our immediate task
    in Iraq and Afghanistan is to capture or kill the terrorists and foreign
    fighters. You see, you can't talk sense into these people. You can't
    negotiate with the terrorists. You can't sit back and hope for the best.
    We must engage these enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the
    world so we do not have to face them here at home.
        In a country as big as ours, there's no such thing as perfect
    security, and threats to our homeland are real. We know the terrorists
    want to strike the United States again, to spread fear and disrupt our
    way of life. So we reorganized the Government to better protect the
    homeland. There's a lot of good people--really a lot of good people--
    working hard on your behalf. Speaking for everybody here, I want to
    thank the first-responders of the UP, the firefighters and the police
    and the emergency teams.
        No, we're doing everything we can to defend the homeland, and we'll
    stay strong and relentless in defeating the terrorists abroad. Yet in
    the long run, our safety requires something more: We must work to change
    the conditions that gave rise to terror in the Middle East, the poverty
    and the hopelessness and the resentment that terrorists can exploit.
    Life in that region will be far more hopeful and peaceful when men and
    women can choose their own leaders and the people can decide their own
    future.
        By serving the ideal of liberty, we are bringing hope to others, and
    that makes America more secure. By serving the ideal of liberty, we also
    serve the deepest ideals of our country. We understand that freedom is
    not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to
    each man and woman in this world.
        The world is changing for the better because of American leadership.
    America is safer today because we're leading the world. Afghanistan was
    once the home base of Al Qaida. Now terror camps are closed, democracy
    on the rising, and the American people are safer. Pakistan used to be a
    safe transit point for terrorists on missions of murder. Now Pakistani
    forces are rounding up terrorists, and the American people are safer. In
    Saudi Arabia, terrorists were meeting little opposition. And today, the
    Saudi Government is taking the fight to Al Qaida, and the American
    people are safer. Not long ago, Libya was spending millions to acquire
    weapons of mass destruction. Now, thousands of Libya's chemical
    munitions have been destroyed; Libya has given up nuclear processing
    equipment; and the American people are safer. Not long ago, the
    dictator in Iraq had the capability of
    producing weapons of mass murder. And now, the dictator is a threat to
    nobody, and the American people are safer.
        We will finish the work we have begun in Afghanistan and Iraq. These
    nations have courageous and responsible leaders, people who believe in
    the future of their countries. And nations around the world are helping.
    The NATO Alliance, the EU, the United Nations are standing behind the
    newly liberated peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan. And these good people
    are taking more and more responsibility. They're beginning to defend
    themselves because they want to live in a free society.
        And these people must hear our voices loud and clear: They can count
    on America and on our coalition. We promised to help deliver them from
    tyranny, to restore their sovereignty, and to set them on the path to
    democracy. And when America gives its word, America keeps its word.

    [[Page 1299]]

        And our men and women in the military are keeping America's
    commitment, and they're taking great risks for our security. At bases
    across the country and the world, I've had the privilege of meeting with
    those who defend our country and sacrifice for our security. It's
    important for those loved ones who have lost a husband or a wife or a
    son or daughter to know that the best way to honor the memory of your
    loved one is to complete the mission, is to work for peace and freedom
    around the world. I've seen the decency of our troops; I know their
    unselfish courage. And I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of
    freedom is in really good hands.
         And we owe it to the loved ones of our troops to make sure that
    their mission is fully funded, that they have the best. That's why I
    proposed what they call supplemental funding to support our military
    mission. I did so last fall. The legislation provided funding for body
    armor and vital equipment, for hazard pay, for health benefits, for
    ammunition, for fuel, for spare parts. In the Senate, only a small, out-
    of-the-mainstream minority voted against the legislation. And 2 of those
    12 Senators are my opponent and his
    runningmate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Senator Kerry tried to explain
    his vote by saying this: ``I actually did vote for the $87 billion,
    before I voted against it.'' [Laughter] That sure clears things up.
    [Laughter] And now, just recently, he offered a different explanation.
    Yesterday my opponent said he is proud that he and his
    runningmate voted against funding the troops.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Now, listen, he's entitled to
    his view--he's entitled to his view. But Members of Congress should not
    vote to send troops into battle and then vote against funding them and
    then brag about it. Leaders need to stand up with our military. We need
    to back them 100 percent. And that is what I will continue to do as the
    Commander in Chief of a great United States military.
        America is leading the world with confidence and moral clarity. We
    have a strong coalition to help us defeat the terrorists: 60 nations in
    the Proliferation Security Initiative; nearly 40 nations in Afghanistan;
    we have more than 30 countries with us in Iraq. We will continue to
    build our alliances and work with our friends in the cause of security
    and peace. But I will never turn over America's national security
    decisions to leaders of other foreign countries.
        Our Nation is strong because--the Nation is strong because we're
    prosperous. We're strong because we've got a great military. Yet we need
    to remember that our greatest strength is in the character of our
    citizens. The other day my opponent said, when he
    was with some entertainers from Hollywood, that they were the heart and
    soul of America.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. I believe the heart and soul of America is found in
    places right here in Marquette, Michigan. We are 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: our families, our schools, and our religious
    congregations. These values and institutions are fundamental to our
    lives. They deserve the respect of our Government.
        We stand for high standards in our public schools. We believe in
    local control of schools. We believe in strong accountability. We
    believe in parental involvement so no child is left behind in America.
         We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups so they can
    receive Federal support for their works of compassion and healing. We
    stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen marriage,
    which have helped millions of Americans find independence and dignity.
    We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which are the
    foundations of our society.

    [[Page 1300]]

    We stand for judges who strictly and faithfully interpret the law,
    instead of legislating from the bench.
         We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and
    every person counts. We've been making progress on building the culture
    of life here in America. Members of both political parties believe that
    moms and dads should be involved in important decisions of their minor
    daughters. Members of both parties came together to pass the Unborn
    Victims of Violence Act, to punish the violent crimes against mothers
    and their unborn children. Members of both parties voted to end the
    brutal practice of partial-birth abortion. Republicans and Democrats
    agree on these issues. Yet on these positions that so many Americans
    share, my opponent is on the other side.
        We also stand for a culture of responsibility in America. We're
    changing the culture of America from one that has said, ``If it feels
    good, do it,'' and ``If you 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 fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're
    responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your
    soul. If you're worried about the quality of the education right here in
    Marquette, 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 this new responsibility
    society, 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 where the stakes are high and the 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. There were workers in hardhats
    shouting, ``Whatever it takes.'' A guy grabbed me by the arm--he was a
    firefighter or a policeman--his eyes were bloodshot. He said, ``Don't
    you 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 the United States, whatever it takes.
        In these times, I've also been witness to the character of the
    Nation. 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
    service and compassion renewed in our country. We've all seen our Nation
    unite in common purpose when it mattered most. We will need all these
    qualities for the work ahead. We have a war to win, and the world is
    counting on us to lead the cause of freedom and peace. We have a duty to
    spread opportunity to every part of America.
        This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And
    we know that for our blessed land, the best days lie ahead.
        Thanks for coming. May God bless. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. in the Superior Dome at Northern
    Michigan University. In his remarks, he referred to Steve Mariucci, head
    coach, Detroit Lions, National Football League; and Leslie E. Wong,
    president, Northern Michigan University, and his wife, Phyliss.

    [[Page 1301]]