    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [September 24, 2004]
    [Pages 2212-2221]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Racine, Wisconsin
    September 24, 2004

        The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming out. As you can
    tell, I've been traveling your good State by bus. Nothing better than
    taking a bus trip throughout southern Wisconsin. What a fantastic,
    beautiful part of the world, full of great people. And a great place to
    end is right here in Racine. Thanks for coming out today.
        Listen, the reason I'm traveling around by bus is because I'm asking
    for the vote. I'm here to ask for your vote, and I'm here to ask for
    your help. I think it's really important for you to convince your
    friends and neighbors to go to the polls. We live in a free society, and
    we have an obligation to vote in a free society. So the first thing I'm
    doing--I'm going to ask you to do is to register your friends and
    neighbors. And make sure that as you register your friends and
    neighbors, to register discerning Democrats like Zell Miller. And then, after you register them to vote, head them to
    the polls. And when you get them to the polls, tell them, if they want a
    safer, stronger, and better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office.

    [[Page 2213]]

        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. I'm sorry that Laura is not
    here. I wish she were here. She is a great wife, a wonderful mother, and
    a great First Lady. And I appreciate my runningmate, Dick
    Cheney. Look, he doesn't have the waviest hair
    in the race. [Laughter] I didn't pick him for his hair. [Laughter] I
    picked him for his experience, his judgment, and the fact that he can
    get the job done for the American people.
        Listen, I'm proud of my Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    You've trained him well. You taught Tommy Thompson a lot. He is a great friend, and he's doing a terrific job
    on behalf of our country.
        I'm proud to be traveling with Congressman Paul Ryan. He is a breath of fresh air. He's a good, honest man
    who, like me, married well. [Laughter] I appreciate Congressman Mark
    Green being here today too. Both of them
    represent your State well.
        The State treasurer is with us; Milwaukee County Executive Scott
    Walker. I call him Scott W. [Laughter] A lot
    of State and local officials here. Tim Michels,
    running for the United States Senate is here. I look forward to working
    with him in the United States Senate.
        I appreciate my friend Rick Graber,
    who is the party chairman of Wisconsin. I appreciate him being here.
    Mary Buestrin is the national
    committeewoman.
        Listen, what I'm doing is I'm telling you thanks for the grassroots
    activists. All of the people who have put the signs and get on the
    telephones and encourage people to register and vote, thank you for what
    you're doing, and thank you for what you're going to do as you're coming
    down the stretch. We're going to carry the State of Wisconsin.
        I appreciate Charlie Sykes, who emceed
    this program.
        Listen, today on the bus, I had the honor of meeting with Casey
    Perry and some other State--members of the
    National Troopers Coalition. These are law enforcement officers who are
    out there every single day to protect the people of Wisconsin and around
    the country. I always found, when you're riding down the highway, it's
    good to have some troopers with you. [Laughter] These men were here to
    inform me that the National Troopers Coalition endorsed my candidacy for
    President. I am honored to have their endorsement. I'm honored to have
    it because of the risks they take. I'm honored to have it because of the
    values they stand for. I'm honored to have it because of the kind of
    people they are. I'm proud to have you by my side. God bless you all.
    Thank you.
        You know, I'm looking forward to this campaign. I've been coming to
    Wisconsin a lot. I suspect I'll be coming some more. I enjoy coming
    here. I'm looking forward to coming back. I want to tell you where I
    stand, what I believe, and where I intend to lead this Nation for 4 more
    years.
        I believe every child can learn and that every school must teach.
    That's what I believe. I went to Washington to challenge the soft
    bigotry of low expectations. See, like you, I was tired of that practice
    of just shuffling kids through the schools, year after year, grade after
    grade, without teaching them the basics. I believe every child can
    learn, and I expect every school to teach. That's why we've raised the
    standards. That's why we're measuring early, before it's too late to
    solve problems. That's why we believe in local control of schools. And
    that's why we're closing an achievement gap in America, and we're not
    turning back.
        I believe we have a moral responsibility to honor our seniors with
    good health care. Medicine was changing, but Medicare wasn't. I went to
    Washington to solve problems. We had a problem in Medicare. See,
    Medicare would pay nearly $100,000 for the heart surgery but would not
    pay one dime for the prescription drugs to prevent the heart surgery
    from being needed in the first place. That didn't make any sense.

    [[Page 2214]]

    Medicare needs to be modernized. I worked with Republicans and
    Democrats. We've strengthened Medicare. Seniors will get prescription
    drugs in 2006, and we're not going to turn back to the old days.
        I believe in the energy, innovative spirit of America's workers,
    small-business owners, farmers. And that's why we unleashed that energy
    with the largest tax cut in a generation. When you're out rounding up
    the vote, remind people what this economy has been through. It's been
    through a recession. As a matter of fact, the stock market started to
    head down about 5 months before we showed up in Washington. Then there
    was a recession. And then we found out some of our citizens didn't tell
    the truth. There were some corporate scandals. We passed new laws, and
    we made it abundantly clear we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in
    the boardrooms of America.
        And then we got attacked, and that hurt our economy. But our economy
    is strong and growing stronger. We've overcome these obstacles. We've
    got great workers, great farmers. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong,
    and the tax cuts made a difference.
        We've added about 1.7 million new jobs since August of '03. We've
    added 107,000 manufacturing jobs since January. The national
    unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, which is lower than the average of the
    seventies, the eighties, and the 1990s. And right here in Wisconsin,
    your unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. This economy is strong. It's
    getting stronger, and we're not turning back.
        I believe the most solemn duty of the American President is to
    protect the American people. If we show uncertainty and weakness in this
    decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This isn't going to happen
    on my watch.
        I'm running for President with a clear and positive plan to build a
    safer world and a more hopeful America. I'm running with a compassionate
    conservative philosophy that Government should help people improve their
    lives, not try to run their lives. I believe this Nation wants steady,
    consistent, principled leadership. And that is why with your help, we'll
    carry Wisconsin and win a great victory in November.
        The world in which we live is changing. The generation of our dads
    and granddads--in that generation, a man generally had one job, one
    career, and moms stayed at home. But times have changed a lot since
    then. Many workers have more than one job and more than one career, and
    many women work inside the house and outside the house. And yet the
    systems of our Government, the most fundamental systems, the Tax Code,
    health coverage, pension plans, worker training, labor law, was all
    designed for yesterday, not tomorrow. In the next 4 years, we'll work to
    transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared, and
    thus truly free to be able to make your own choices and to realize the
    great promise of America.
        I fully understand a hopeful society is one that has a growing
    economy. I have a plan to make sure this recovery is lasting prosperity.
    If you want to keep jobs here in America, America must be the best place
    in the world to do business. It's as simple as that. That means less
    regulations on the employers and job creators. That means less frivolous
    lawsuits on the employers and job creators.
        If we want to keep jobs here in America, Congress needs to pass my
    energy plan. I sent up a plan that encourages conservation, encourages
    the use of renewables like ethanol and biodiesel, that says we've got to
    modernize our electricity grid, that says we'll use clean coal
    technology, that we'll explore for natural gas in environmentally
    friendly ways. In order to keep jobs here in America, this country must
    be less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        In order to make sure this economy grows and people in Racine,
    Wisconsin, can find work, we've got to open up markets. See, we open up
    our markets for goods from other countries. If you've got more products
    to choose from, you're likely to

    [[Page 2215]]

    get the product you want at a better price and better quality. That's
    why Republicans and Democrat administrations have opened up our markets.
    So what I'm saying to places like China is, ``You treat us the way we
    treat you.'' See, we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere so long
    as the rules are fair.
        In order to make sure this economy grows, we've got to be wise about
    how we spend your money in Washington. And we've got to keep your taxes
    low. Taxes are an issue in this campaign. Make no mistake about it. The
    fellow I'm running against has promised $2.2
    trillion in new Federal spending--so far.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. I say ``so far'' because we still got October to go.
    [Laughter] Two-point-two trillion is a lot, even for a Senator from
    Massachusetts. [Laughter] So they said, ``How are you going to pay for
    it?'' He said, ``That's easy. We'll just tax the
    rich.'' We've heard that before, haven't we? First of all, you can't
    raise enough money by taxing the rich to pay for $2.2 trillion in new
    spending, so there's a tax gap. Guess who usually gets stuck with
    filling the tax gap? Secondly, when you hear that language ``tax the
    rich,'' hold on to your wallets, because the rich hire lawyers and
    accountants for a reason. So you get stuck. The good news is, we're not
    going to let him tax you, because we're going to win in November.
        Let me say something else about the Tax Code. It's a complicated
    mess; it's a million pages long. The American people spend 6 billion
    hours a year filling out the tax forms. In a new term, I'm going to
    bring Republicans and Democrats together to simplify the Tax Code so
    you're treated more fairly.
        Today, down the road, I talked about making sure workers have the
    skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. Our workforce is
    changing. Sometimes workers don't have the skills necessary to fill the
    jobs of the 21st century. That's why I'm such a big believer in the
    community college system here in Wisconsin and around the world. We're
    going to spend more Federal money to make sure community colleges are
    more accessible.
        Do you realize most jobs--or new jobs are filled by people with at
    least 2 years of college, yet only about one in four of our students
    gets there. That's why I believe, in our high schools, we should fund
    early intervention programs to help at-risk students. We need to place
    special emphasis on math and science. Over time, we'll require a
    rigorous exam before graduation. By raising performance in our high
    schools and by expanding Pell grants for low- and middle-income American
    families, we'll make sure more families--more workers start their career
    with a college diploma.
        We're going to do something about our health care system too. But I
    promise you this: When we reform health care, we're going to let you
    make the decisions. There's a fundamental difference in this campaign;
    there is a philosophical divide. My opponent
    wants Government to dictate to you.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. I think that's the wrong approach to health care.
    See, we're going to make sure the poor and the indigent get good health
    care by expanding community health centers in every poor county in
    America. That makes sense. We'll make sure the children's health
    programs for low-income Americans are fully subscribed to by those who
    qualify. That makes sense. We have a practical, commonsense plan.
        I understand half the working uninsured work for small businesses.
    There's a reason why they're uninsured. Small businesses are having
    trouble affording health care. And one of the reasons they're having
    trouble affording health care is because they can't pool risk. So I
    think we ought to allow small businesses to pool together across
    jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy health care at the same
    discounts big companies get to. We'll expand tax-free health savings
    accounts. We'll give small-business

    [[Page 2216]]

    tax credits to encourage them to put money into health savings accounts
    for their employees.
        In order to make sure that health care is available and affordable
    in Wisconsin and around the country, we've got to do something about
    these frivolous lawsuits that are driving good doctors out of practice
    and running up your costs. There's a difference of opinion in this
    campaign. You cannot be pro-doctor, pro-patient, pro-hospital, and pro-
    trial-lawyer at the same time. I think you have to make a choice. My
    opponent made his choice, and he put a trial
    lawyer on the ticket. I made my choice. I am
    for medical liability reform--now.
        Listen, we have a commonsense, practical plan to make sure health
    care is available and affordable. In all we do to make sure medicine
    works in America, we will make sure that the decisions are made by
    doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
        In times of change, in a changing world, it helps if somebody owns
    something to bring stability in their lives. The homeownership rate is
    at an alltime high under my administration. More and more people from
    all walks of life are able to open up the door where they live and say,
    ``Welcome to my home. Welcome to my piece of property.'' And over the
    next 4 years, we'll continue to expand homeownership to every corner of
    our country.
        In terms of our retirement systems, they were designed for
    yesterday. They need to be designed for tomorrow. If you're on Social
    Security today, you have nothing to worry about. You will get your
    check. I don't care what the political rhetoric is in a campaign, you're
    going to get paid. You remember, 4 years ago in Wisconsin, they were
    saying, ``If George W. gets in, the seniors aren't going to get their
    checks.'' You might remember that. Yes, well--[laughter]--that's what
    happens. Seniors got paid. You will get paid again. If you're a baby
    boomer, you're fine. We're fine. There's enough money in the trust to
    take care of us.
        But we need to worry about our younger workers. We need to worry
    about our children and our grandchildren. I think in order to make sure
    Social Security is around for a new generation, younger workers ought to
    be able to take some of their own money and set up a personal savings
    account that they can call their own.
        In a world of change, some things won't change, the values we try to
    live by, courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. In times of
    change, we will support the institutions that give our lives direction
    and purpose, our families, our schools, our religious congregations. We
    stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every
    being counts. We stand for marriage and family, which are the
    foundations of our society. I stand for the appointment of Federal
    judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict
    interpretation of the law.
        This election will also determine how America responds to the
    continuing danger of terrorism. Since the terrible morning of September
    the 11th, 2001, we have fought the terrorists across the globe, not for
    pride, not for power, but because the lives of citizens are at stake.
    Our strategy is clear. We're defending the homeland. We're transforming
    our military. We're strengthening our intelligence gathering services.
    We're staying on the offensive. We are striking the terrorists abroad so
    we do not have to face them here at home.
        We will continue to work to advance liberty in the broader Middle
    East and around the world, and we'll prevail. Our strategy is
    succeeding. Our strategy is succeeding. Think about the world only 4
    short years ago: Afghanistan was the home base of Al Qaida; Pakistan was
    a transit point of terrorist groups; Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for
    terrorist fundraising; Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons; Iraq
    was a gathering threat; and Al Qaida was largely unchallenged as it
    planned attacks.

    [[Page 2217]]

        Because we acted, the Government of a free Afghanistan is fighting
    terror; Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders; Saudi Arabia is making
    raids and arrests; Libya is dismantling its weapons programs; the army
    of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom; and more than three-quarters of
    Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. We have led. Many have joined, and America and the
    world are safer.
        This progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose, and
    some tough decisions. And the toughest came on Iraq. We knew Saddam
    Hussein's record of aggression and support
    for terror. We knew he had harbored Abu Nidal, the leader of a terrorist
    organization that carried out attacks in Asia and Europe. We knew Abu
    Abbas had been in Iraq--he's the fellow that killed Leon Klinghoffer. We
    knew Zarqawi had been in Baghdad. He's
    the person now beheading our citizens in order to shake our will. We
    knew that--we knew his long history, Saddam's history of pursuing and
    even using weapons of mass destruction. He was firing at our pilots
    enforcing the world's sanctions. Saddam Hussein was a threat. It is
    important this country never forget the lessons of September the 11th.
    We must take threats seriously before they fully materialize. We cannot
    forget that lesson.
        So I went to the Congress. The Congress looked at the intelligence,
    the same intelligence I looked at, remembered the same history I
    remembered, and concluded that Saddam Hussein
    was a threat and authorized the use of force. My opponent looked at the same intelligence I did, concluded that
    Saddam was a threat, and voted yes when it came to the authorization of
    force.
        Before the Commander in Chief commits troops into harm's way, he
    must try all options to solve a problem. And so I was hopeful that
    diplomacy would work. I was hopeful that we wouldn't have to commit our
    troops. And so I went to the United Nations, and I gave a speech there,
    and I said, ``We see a threat.'' They looked at the same intelligence.
    They remembered the same history, and they concluded that Saddam
    Hussein was a threat. As a matter of fact, by
    a U.N. Security Council resolution they voted 15 to nothing to say,
    ``Disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences.'' I believe when an
    international body speaks, it must mean what it says.
        Saddam Hussein wasn't about to listen to
    the demands of the free world. He had ignored the demands of the free
    world for over a decade. I think this was maybe the 17th resolution that
    had been passed. He doubted whether or not the international body would
    keep its word. He defied the inspectors the U.N. sent in. So I have a
    choice to make at this point in time. Diplomacy has failed. Saddam
    Hussein was given a last chance. Do I forget the lessons of September
    the 11th and trust a madman----
        Audience members. No-o-o!
        The President. ----or do I take action to defend this country? Given
    that choice, I will defend America every time.
        Listen, we didn't find the stockpiles we all thought would be there,
    but Saddam Hussein had the capability of manufacturing weapons, and he
    could have passed that capability on to an enemy. And after September
    the 11th, that is a risk we could not afford to take. Knowing what I
    know today, I would have made the same decision. And America and the
    world are safer with Saddam Hussein sitting
    in a prison cell.
        Because we acted in our self-interests, 50 million people in
    Afghanistan and Iraq are now free. Think about Afghanistan, what life
    was like there less than 4 years ago. Think about it. Young girls were
    not allowed to go to school. The Taliban was so dark in their vision
    that they'd haul their mothers out in the public square and whip them if
    they didn't toe their line. They

    [[Page 2218]]

    didn't believe in freedom at all. Their mindset was the exact opposite
    of what America stands for. Today, because we acted, 10 million citizens
    in Afghanistan, 41 percent of whom are women, have registered to vote in
    the upcoming Presidential election. Fantastic. This society is going
    from darkness to light because the people are free, and we're better off
    for it. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror.
        In Iraq, despite ongoing acts of horrible violence, that country has
    got a strong Prime Minister, and it's going to
    have elections in January. It's in our interests that Iraq be free. Free
    societies will be hopeful societies. Free societies will not breed
    resentments and export for terror. Free societies will fight terrorists
    instead of harboring them. Our strategy is clear. We'll help the Iraqis
    and the Afghans defend themselves by training citizens--their own
    citizens so they can do the hard work. We'll help them get on the path
    of stability and democracy as quickly as possible, and our troops will
    come home with the honor they have earned.
        We got a great military. I want to thank the veterans who are here
    for having set such a great example to those who wear the uniform. We
    appreciate your service. I've had the privilege of meeting those who
    wear the uniform at bases here at home and across the world. I know
    their courage and their unselfish decency. Ladies and gentlemen, the
    cause of freedom is in really good hands.
        And we owe our troops and their loved ones the full support of the
    Federal Government. That's why I went to the Congress last September, a
    year ago, to ask for $87 billion of supplemental funding to support our
    troops in harm's way. This was really important legislation. This was
    vital money, money for spare parts and ammunition, for body armor, for
    hazard pay, for health benefits. It's the kind of thing that you'd want
    your troops to have--and the troops not only in Iraq but Afghanistan as
    well. We received great bipartisan support for that funding request, so
    strong that only 12 United States Senators voted against it, 2 of whom
    are my opponent and his runningmate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. When you're out there campaigning, tell people about
    this statistic: Only four United States Senators voted to authorize the
    use of force and then voted against funding for our troops. And two of
    those four are my opponent and his
    runningmate. They asked him. Of course, you
    know this. He said his answer to why he voted the way he did, he said,
    ``I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.''
    [Laughter] You've heard that. They then said, well--they kept pressing
    him. He said he was proud of his vote. And finally, he just said, ``The
    whole thing was a complicated matter.'' There's nothing complicated
    about supporting our troops in combat.
        We've got hard work to do in Iraq. And it's tough, and it's hard. I
    know it's hard. The terrorists over there cannot defeat our military.
    The only tool they've got is the ability to shake our will. We care for
    human rights and human dignity. Every life matters to the American
    people. And therefore, when we see people beheaded on our screens, we
    cry and we weep, and the terrorists know that. They know we've got a
    conscience. And we know they don't have a conscience. We must not allow
    them to shake our will. It's important that we succeed in Iraq. It's
    important for our security and for the peace of the world that we defeat
    the terrorists there. This is a central front in the war on terror.
        Fortunately, we've got a partner, a strong partner in Iraq named
    Prime Minister Allawi. I was with him yesterday
    in the Oval Office, had a great visit with him. When I was in New York
    and saw him, I asked him, ``Is it true that--about the story I had
    heard?'' He said, ``It's true.'' He told me the story about the night he
    woke up in a bed in a flat in London. See, he had been--he had left the
    country

    [[Page 2219]]

    because Saddam Hussein wanted to kill him.
    And he woke up one night--this is a true story--his wife in his bed next
    to him, and there's two people next to his bed with axes, sent by Saddam
    Hussein. They were trying to ax him to death. He survived. He's now the
    Prime Minister of that country. He's a tough guy who understands. He
    understands we must not yield. We'll stand with him. When America gives
    its word, America must keep its word.
        If we expect to win this war on terror and secure the homeland, we
    must be clear about what we say. And the President must mean what he
    says. That's why you can't keep changing positions based upon polls. My
    opponent has had seven or eight different
    positions on Iraq. He can't decide if we should be there or not be
    there. You cannot lead if you don't know where you want to lead. You
    cannot lead if you don't know what you believe. You cannot lead if you
    get blown around by the political winds. Yesterday he criticized the
    Prime Minister of Iraq.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Right after the Prime Minister spoke to the United States Congress, right after he gave
    an important speech, Senator Kerry went out and
    stood in front of the cameras and questioned Prime Minister Allawi's
    credibility.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Earlier this week, he said he
    would prefer the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the situation in Iraq today.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. In order for us to succeed in Iraq, the Iraqi people
    must believe the American people will stand with them. In order to have
    credibility with those people who are fighting for freedom, the leaders
    of this country must not send mixed signals. They must earn the
    credibility of the Iraqi people. Twenty-five million people want to be
    free in that country, and when they're free, we're better off for it.
    I'll continue to lead this country with clarity. When I say something,
    I'll mean what I say.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. Part of our strategy is to continue working with our
    friends and allies. I was on the phone this morning with Prime Minister
    Tony Blair. He understands that Iraq is a central
    front in the war on terror. He understands the stakes. He understands
    the need for leaders to stand up and lead, and he is a leader. And I
    appreciate him. I thank him every time I have a chance to for joining
    this coalition. Do you realize we've got over 40 nations involved in
    Afghanistan, some 30 nations involved in Iraq. Over the next 4 years,
    I'll continue to work to strengthen alliances, but I will never turn
    over America's national security decisions to leaders of other
    countries.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. I believe in the transformational power of liberty.
    That's what I believe. The wisest use of American strength is to advance
    freedom. Recently in New York, I had a visit with Prime Minister
    Koizumi of Japan. I said, ``I'll tell you,
    I'm traveling the country talking about you.'' He said, ``Fine, make
    sure you tell them I like Elvis.'' [Laughter] And so I do talk about him
    because I find it really interesting, really interesting. And I want the
    youngsters to understand--to listen to this because I think it will give
    you some clarity about why I decide what I decide--is that I sit down
    and talk with the leader of a country that we were at war with some 60
    years ago. That's a lot of time if you're 58 like me. [Laughter] It
    seems like forever. [Laughter] It's not a lot of time, though, in the
    march of history. It wasn't all that long ago, in other words, that we
    were at war with Japan. My dad fought
    against the Japanese. I promise you, a lot of folks out here relatives
    fought against the Japanese too in what was one tough war. A lot of
    people lost their lives.
        After World War II, my predecessor Harry S. Truman believed that we
    should

    [[Page 2220]]

    work with the Japanese to build a democracy. A lot of people in this
    country questioned the wisdom. You can understand why; there was a lot
    of bitterness toward the Japanese. They were our enemy. We had just
    fought them. But there were folks in this country that believed in the
    power of liberty to transform an enemy into an ally. And so they did the
    hard work after World War II, developing that country, and to build that
    country into a democracy. And because of that work, today, I talk to
    Prime Minister Koizumi, talking about the
    peace we all want, talking about how to make the world more peaceful.
        So when you hear me say, ``I believe in the transformational power
    of liberty,'' think about the fact that the American President and the
    leader of Japan are working together for peace. Some day, an American
    President and a duly elected leader of Iraq will sit down at the table
    to talk about peace, and our children and our grandchildren will be
    better off for it.
        I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in silence for
    their freedom. I believe women in the Middle East long to be free. I
    believe they want their young daughters to be able to grow up in a
    hopeful society. I believe that if given a chance, the people in the
    broader Middle East will embrace the most honorable form of government
    ever devised by man. And I believe these things because freedom is not
    America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each
    man and woman in this world.
        This young century will be liberty's century. By promoting freedom
    at home and abroad, we'll build a safer world and a more hopeful
    America. By reforming our systems of Government, we'll help more
    Americans realize their dreams. We'll spread ownership and opportunity
    to every corner of this land. We'll pass the enduring values of our
    country on to a new generation. We'll continue to lead the cause of
    freedom and peace.
        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. This is a time
    when we need firm resolve, clear vision, and a deep faith in the values
    that makes us a great nation.
        None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another
    began. On the bus, we were talking to the troopers about that day,
    September the 14th, 2001, when we stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers.
    It's a day I know I'll never forget. There were workers in hardhats
    there yelling at the top of their lungs, ``Whatever it takes.'' I
    remember talking to a guy who came out of the rubble, had bloodshot
    eyes, and he's exhausted for trying to find his buddies and people that
    were hurt. And he looked me right in the eye and said, ``You don't let
    me down.'' I wake up every morning since that day trying to better
    figure out how to protect our country. I will never relent in defending
    the security of America, whatever it takes.
        Four years ago, as I traveled your great State and our country, I
    made a pledge that if you gave me the chance to serve I would uphold the
    honor and the dignity of the office to which I have been elected. With
    your hard help--with your hard work and your help, I will continue to do
    so for 4 more years.
        God bless. Thank you all for coming. On to victory. Thank you all.
    Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:20 p.m. at General John J. Pershing Park.
    In his remarks, he referred to Senator Zell Miller of Georgia, who made
    the keynote address at the 2004 Republican National Convention;
    Wisconsin State Treasurer Jack C. Voight; Richard W. Graber, State
    chairman, and Mary F. Buestrin, national committeewoman, Republican
    Party of Wisconsin; radio show host Charlie Sykes; senior Al Qaida
    associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi;

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    Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim Government; Prime
    Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; and Prime Minister Junichiro
    Koizumi of Japan.