    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 13, 2004]
    [Pages 1301-1307]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Duluth, Minnesota
    July 13, 2004

        The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for inviting me, and
    thanks for coming. Laura and I last came to
    Duluth in November of 2000. It was a little colder that day. [Laughter]
    Any day is a good day to be here in this beautiful part of the world,
    and I'm really glad to be back.
        I appreciate the good folks from Minnesota and Iron Ridge and
    Northern Wisconsin who are with us today. Thanks for coming. And by the
    look of things, I'm in Bush-Cheney country.
        I'm here to ask for the vote. I'm here to ask for your help. I'm so
    proud you all came. Thanks a lot. Here's what I want to tell you today:
    To make sure America has strong, consistent, optimistic leadership, send
    us back to the White House for 4 more years.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. Today I want to explain how I want to continue to
    lead this country, but perhaps the best reason to send me back to the
    White House is so that Laura will be First Lady
    for 4 more years. I'm a lucky man. I'm a lucky man when she said yes
    when I asked her to marry me. What a fabulous lady and First Lady she
    has become. I'm sorry she's not here. But I am proud that one of our
    daughters, Barbara, is traveling with me
    today. I love that you're here, darling. Thanks for coming.
        I appreciate the fact that the Governor
    was here. I'm proud to call him friend. I know you're proud to call him
    Governor. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for being here today. Thanks for coming, Governor. I'm
    proud you're here. I know the State auditor, Pat Anderson, is with us. Thanks for coming, Pat. I appreciate you
    coming. I want to thank all those who serve the State and serve your
    local community for your willingness to serve the people.
        I appreciate so very much Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya for being here today. Joe, thanks for coming,
    sir. I'm proud to have the Minnesota veterans for me. Thank you for your
    service.
        I thank my friend Dan Urshan for being
    here. He's in charge of the grassroots campaign. His job is to turn out
    the vote, and so is yours. If you're interested in helping, get on the
    Internet for georgewbush.com. It's a place where you can learn how to
    volunteer. See, I'm here to nurture those grassroots. I'm here to say I
    can't win it without your help. And I appreciate you coming.
        I want to thank Bob Lessard, who's the
    Minnesota Sportsmen for Bush chairman. I'm honored that so many
    sportsmen, hunters, and fishermen are here. Thank you all for coming. I
    want to thank the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir for being here today.
    Most of all, I want to thank you all. I'm so honored you came. We're
    going to win.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. When you're out rounding up the vote, remind the
    folks that the last 3\1/2\ years have brought serious challenges, and we
    have given serious answers. When we came to office, the stock market was
    in decline and the economy was headed into a recession. We delivered
    historic tax relief. And over the past 3 years, America has had the
    fastest growing economy of any major industrialized nation in the world.
        We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning, so we have
    pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed
    many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and we will stay on the hunt
    until justice is done and America is secure.

    [[Page 1302]]

        We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread
    of weapons of mass destruction. We acted against two of the most violent
    and dangerous regimes on Earth. We liberated over 50 million people.
    America is once again proud to lead the armies of liberation.
        When my really fine Vice President, Dick Cheney, 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.
        These accomplishments are important to the security and the
    prosperity of America. It is the President's job to confront problems,
    not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. A
    President must make hard decisions and keep his commitments, and that is
    how I will lead our country for 4 more years.
        I'm ready for the race. I look forward to it, and it's going to be a
    tough contest. Now, I'm running against an experienced United States
    Senator. He's been in Washington a lot longer
    than I have.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. He's been there long enough to
    take both sides of just about every issue. He voted for the PATRIOT Act,
    for NAFTA, for the No Child Left Behind Act, and for the use of force in
    Iraq. Now, he opposes the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind
    Act, and the liberation of Iraq.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. If you disagree with my----
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. If you disagree with my opponent on most any issue, you may just have caught him on the
    wrong day. Recently here 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 that's what he said. [Laughter] A bit hard to square that with my
    opponent's previous statement when he said, ``I'm liberal and proud of
    it.'' [Laughter]
        Now he has a runningmate. Senator Kerry is rated as the most liberal Member of the
    United States Senate, 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 asking for your vote because I have a vision and a
    strategy to win the war on terror and to extend peace and freedom
    throughout the world. I'm asking for your vote because I have a plan to
    continue to create jobs and opportunity for every single American. I'm
    asking for your vote because I have a plan and a deep desire to rally
    the compassionate spirit of America, so every single American has a
    chance to realize his or her dreams. When the people give us 4 more
    years, America will be safer, America will be stronger, and America will
    be better.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. A big issue in this campaign and a big issue for
    every family in America is their tax burden----

    [At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience.]

        The President. By providing the largest tax relief since Ronald
    Reagan was the President, we have left more money in the hands that
    earned it. By spending and investing and helping create new jobs, the
    American people have used their money far better than the Government
    would have.

    [[Page 1303]]

        Our economy is strong, and it is getting 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 more than 1.5 million new
    jobs. People are going back to work here in America. Here in the great
    State of Minnesota, the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.3 percent.
    Across this country, the manufacturing sector is growing stronger, with
    64,000 jobs created since January. The homeownership rate is at an
    alltime high. 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.
    [Laughter] 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. The
    surest way to end economic growth and put Americans out of work is their
    plan. This Nation is on the path to progress, and we're not going there.
        To sustain economic growth, we need to keep taxes low. Higher taxes
    would undermine growth and destroy jobs. To help the American economy
    and create more jobs for American workers, my message to Congress is
    this: Make the tax relief permanent. Do not raise the taxes on the
    American people.
        In order to make sure this economy continues to grow, we've got to
    be smart about how we spend your money. We need to set priorities. We
    need to make sure we don't overpromise with the people's money. The best
    way to make sure that we're wise with your money is to remember whose
    money we spend in the first place. It is not the Government's money we
    spend in Washington; it is the people's money.
        And there's more we need to do. We need to stop the 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. [Laughter] I made my
    choice. I will continue to push Congress for reform to end the junk
    lawsuits that are hurting our small businesses all across America.
        In order to make sure people work in America and to make sure this
    economy is strong, we've got to help more Americans better afford health
    insurance by giving people better access to health care through
    association health plans, giving Americans more control over their
    health care through tax-free health savings accounts. And to make sure
    you've got a doctor around here and to make sure the cost of health care
    goes down, we need to pass medical liability reform in Washington, DC.
        In order to make sure America is a good place to invest so people
    can find work, we need to pass sound energy legislation. I submitted a
    bill to the United States Congress 2 years ago. They need to get the
    bill to my desk. It's a bill that will modernize our electricity system.
    It is a bill that will encourage conservation. It is a bill that
    encourages alternative sources of energy. But it is also a bill that
    recognizes we can explore for coal and natural gas in environmentally
    friendly ways. For the sake of economic security and national security,
    we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
        The Minnesota farmers are doing well. You know why? Because we're
    selling farm products all over the world. When you're good at something,
    you ought to encourage it. We're good at growing things. We're good at
    building things. And we ought to be opening up markets rather than
    falling prey to the false hopes of economic isolationism. This country
    needs to have a President that's willing to knock down the barriers so
    that we can compete anytime, anyplace, anywhere on a level playing
    field.
        What I'm telling you is in order to make sure this economy is robust
    today and tomorrow, you need to put back in the White House a pro-
    growth, a pro-entrepreneur, a

    [[Page 1304]]

    pro-farmer, a pro-small-business President, and that's George W. Bush.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. 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's
    not going to happen on my watch.
        After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this Nation resolved,
    and I resolved, to fight the terrorists wherever they dwell. We resolved
    to hold regimes that hide and sponsor terrorists to account. Afghanistan
    was a terrorist state, a training camp for Al Qaida killers. Because we
    acted, Afghanistan is a rising democracy and an ally in the war on
    terror. Because we acted, many young girls go to school for the first
    time in their life.
        Iraq, only last year, was controlled by a dictator who threatened the civilized world and had used
    weapons of mass destruction on 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, the dictator is now in a prison
    cell and will receive the justice he denied so many for so long.
        September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson this Nation must never
    forget. It's a lesson I will never forget: America must confront threats
    before they fully materialize. And so my administration, remembering the
    history of Saddam Hussein, looked at the
    intelligence, 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
    Congress looked at the same intelligence and made regime change in Iraq
    the policy of our Government.
        In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a
    full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons
    programs. The world came together. The world saw a threat and said,
    ``Declare, disarm, or face serious consequences.'' As he had for over a
    decade, he defied the free world. He refused to comply. As a matter of
    fact, he systematically deceived the inspectors. What was he trying to
    hide?
        So we had a choice to make--I had a choice to make: Either take the
    word of a madman, or defend our country. Given that choice, I will
    defend America every time.
        Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of mass
    destruction, we were right to go into Iraq. America and the world is
    safer 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 to them. You can't negotiate
    with these people. You can't sit back and hope for the best. We must
    engage our 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 that the
    terrorists want to strike the United States again to spread fear and
    disrupt our way of life. So we have reorganized our Government to better
    protect the homeland. And a lot of good people--I mean, a lot of good
    people--are working long

    [[Page 1305]]

    hours to protect you and the American people. I know I speak for
    everybody here when I thank the Nation's first-responders--the police
    and firefighters and emergency teams of Duluth, Minnesota.
        We're defending our homeland. We're defeating the terrorists abroad.
    Yet, in the long run, our safety requires something more. We must work
    to change the conditions that give 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're also serving 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 because of our leadership. Three years ago,
    Afghanistan was the home base of Al Qaida. Now the terror camps are
    closed, and democracy is rising, and the American people are safer.
    Three years ago, Pakistan was a safe transit point for terrorists on
    missions of murder. Now Pakistani forces are rounding up the terrorists.
    They're joining us in the war on terror, and the American people are
    safer. Three years ago in Saudi Arabia, the terrorists were finding
    little opposition. Now the Saudi Government is taking the fight to Al
    Qaida, and America is safer for it. Three years 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 for it.
        The world is changing for the better. Three years ago, a dictator in
    Iraq had the capability of producing weapons of mass destruction. He had
    ties to terrorist organizations. He hated America. He was paying
    families of suicide bombers. That dictator is no longer a threat, and
    the American people are safer.
        We have more work to do. We're determined to finish the work of
    democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those nations now have courageous and
    responsible leaders. And nations around the world are rallying to help.
    The NATO Alliance, the EU, and United Nations are standing behind the
    newly liberated people of Iraq and Afghanistan. These good people are
    taking more and more responsibility for their own security. They want to
    live in freedom, just like you and I love to live in freedom. And those
    people need to know they can count on America. We promised to help
    deliver them from tyranny, to restore their sovereignty, and to set them
    on the path to democracy. When America gives its word, America keeps its
    word.
        Our men and women in the military are keeping America's commitment.
    They're taking great risks on our behalf. At bases across our country
    and the world, I've had the privilege of meeting with those who defend
    our country and those who sacrifice for our country. I've had the
    privilege of meeting the family members of those who have been lost in
    combat. The best way to honor their memory is to complete the work
    before us.
        We've got a fantastic military because we've got fantastic people in
    the military. I've seen their great decency and their unselfish courage.
    I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in really
    good hands.
        And we better make sure they have all they need. Last September, I
    proposed what we call supplemental funding to support our military in
    its mission. The legislation provided funding for body armament and
    vital equipment, for hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel, and
    spare parts for our military. This was an important vote. In the United
    States Senate only a

    [[Page 1306]]

    small, out-of-the-mainstream minority* voted against the legislation.
    And 2 of those 12 Senators are my opponent and
    his runningmate.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        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,'' end quote. [Laughter] That really clears it
    up. [Laughter] Now he is offering a different explanation. Yesterday,
    Senator Kerry said he is proud that he and his runningmate voted against
    the funding for the troops. Now listen, he's entitled to his view. But
    Members of Congress should not vote to send troops into battle and then
    vote against funding them.
        America is leading the world with confidence and moral clarity. We
    have built strong coalitions to make the world a safer place. We've got
    over 60 nations in the Proliferation Security Initiative; nearly 40
    nations are in Afghanistan; more than 30 countries are in Iraq. As your
    President, I will continue to build our alliances and work with our
    friends in the cause of peace and freedom and security. But I will never
    turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other
    countries.
        This Nation is prosperous and strong, yet we need to remember that
    our greatest strength is in the character of our citizens. The other
    day, my opponent said that a bunch of
    entertainers from Hollywood conveyed 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 like Duluth, Minnesota.
        Our Nation is strong because of the values we try to live by:
    courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We're strong because of
    the institution that helped to give us direction and purpose: our
    families, our schools, and our religious congregations. These values and
    institutions are fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect
    of our Government.
        We stand for high standards in our public schools, local control of
    our public schools, accountability in our public schools, 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 would help millions of Americans find
    independence and dignity. We stand for institutions like marriage and
    family, which are the foundations of our society. 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're making progress on building that culture of
    life here in America. Members of both parties believe that moms and dads
    should be involved in important decisions by their minor daughters.
    Members of parties came together to pass the Unborn Victims of Violence
    Act, to punish 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 can agree on these issues. Yet on the
    positions that so many Americans share, my opponent is on the other
    side. That's not the mainstream of this country. We stand for a culture
    of responsibility in America. The culture of this country is changing
    from one that has said, ``If it feels good, do it,'' and ``If you've got
    a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each of us
    understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life.
        If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're
    responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul.
    If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in
    which you live, you're responsible for

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    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 a 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 when the stakes are high and the challenges are
    difficult, a time when firm resolve is needed.
        None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another
    began. September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin
    Towers. I'll never forget that day. Workers in hardhats were chanting,
    ``Whatever it takes.'' I remember working--trying to console people, and
    either a firefighter or a policeman said, ``Do not let me down.''
        As we all did that day, these men and women searching through the
    rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I have a responsibility
    that goes on. I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies. I
    will defend the security of America, whatever it takes.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. In these times, I have seen the--witness--I have been
    witness to the character of this 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.
    And 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 the duty to spread opportunity to every corner of this
    country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it.
    And we know that for our blessed country, the best days lie ahead.
        God bless. Thank you for coming. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 6 p.m. in the Duluth Entertainment
    Convention Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and
    Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau of Minnesota; Lt. Col. Joe Repya, USA (Ret.),
    Minnesota veterans cochair, and Dan Urshan, Minnesota leadership team,
    Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. A
    portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was
    incomplete.