    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [August 30, 2004]
    [Pages 1828-1835]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Taylor, Michigan
    August 30, 2004

        The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. You know
    something--Bo knows Michigan, and he just
    told me we're going to carry this State, and I agree. I want to thank
    you all for coming. It is great to be here in Taylor, Michigan.
        Laura and I are thrilled to be here, home of
    the WNBA champs; it's the home of the NBA champs. More importantly, it's
    the home of really decent people, good, hard-working American citizens,
    and I'm proud to be in your midst. I'm here to ask for your vote.
        That's what we're doing. We're traveling your important State asking
    for the vote. I'm here to tell you I've got some--more to do to make
    this country a safer place and a more hopeful place for every American.
    But perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that
    Laura will have 4 more years. I'm proud of her. I
    love her dearly. She's a great mom, a wonderful wife, and a terrific
    First Lady.
        And I'm proud to be standing by Bo. What
    a great man Bo Schembechler is. He is a strong, honorable citizen of
    this great State. You know, a few weeks ago, when my opponent was campaigning in Ohio, he said, ``There's nothing
    better than Buckeye football, period.''
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Then he came over here to
    Michigan, and he said, ``I just go for Buckeye football.''
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. It's a good thing Bo
    wasn't there. Then he remembered where he was,
    and he called an audible. [Laughter] He said that the University of
    Michigan was a powerhouse team. You see, I'm running against a fellow
    who is a Washington politician, who has taken both sides of just about

    [[Page 1829]]

    every issue, and now we can add Big Ten football to that list.
        I'm running with a good man in Dick Cheney,
    a fine man. He--I admit it, he's not the prettiest face in the race.
    [Laughter] But I didn't pick him for his looks. I picked him for his
    judgment, his experience. I picked him because he can get the job done.
        I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here, the
    people that are out putting up the signs and making the phone calls. Not
    only are we here to ask for the vote, we're here to ask for your help. I
    believe we have a duty in this country to vote. I believe all of us have
    an obligation to go to the polls. I'm asking you to register your
    friends and neighbors. Give them a chance to vote. And then when you get
    them headed to the polls--[laughter]--remind them that if they want a
    safer country, a stronger country, and a better country, to put Dick
    Cheney and me back in office.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. In the past few years, we have been through a lot
    together, and we've accomplished a great deal. But there's only one
    reason to look backward at the record, and that is to determine who best
    to lead this Nation forward. I am here to let you know that we have a
    plan to make this a safer world and a more hopeful America. I'm here to
    ask for your vote and your help. You see, there is more to do. There is
    more work to be done.
        We've got more to do to make our public schools the centers of
    excellence we all know they can be. When we came to office 3 years ago,
    too many of our children were being shuffled through school, grade by
    grade, year after year, without learning the basics. I went to
    Washington to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're
    reforming our public schools by demanding high standards,
    accountability, and local control of schools. My administration will
    challenge those schools that will not teach and will not change. We want
    no child left behind in America.
        There is more work to be done to maintain this path to excellence.
    We'll make sure there's more math and science in our high school
    classrooms so our kids will be prepared for the jobs of the 21st
    century. We'll make sure technology is in our classrooms. We want a high
    school diploma to mean something. What I'm telling you, after 4 more
    years, a rising generation of Americans will have the skills and
    confidence necessary to realize the great dreams of the American system.
        We got more to do to make sure health care is available and
    affordable. You might remember the old Medicare debate. Campaign after
    campaign, politicians came around and said, ``Oh, we're going to fix
    Medicare.'' But it was called ``Medi-scare.'' People didn't want to deal
    with it, but the system was failing our seniors. In order to make sure
    our seniors have got prescription drug coverage, which they will in
    2006, I led the United States Congress to strengthen Medicare, and our
    health care is better for the seniors of this country.
        We've expanded community health centers for low-income Americans.
    We've created health savings accounts so families can save tax-free for
    their own health care needs. There's more work to be done. We'll
    introduce technologies into the health care to hold down costs.
        Most Americans get their health care through their jobs. Most new
    jobs are created by small businesses, and many small businesses are
    having trouble affording health care. The best way to enable American
    families to get health care is to allow small businesses to pool
    resources together so they can buy insurance at the same discount big
    businesses can.
        In order to make sure you've got good health care here in Michigan,
    we need to stop these frivolous lawsuits that are running docs out of
    businesses and raising your costs. See, I don't think you can be pro-
    doctor, pro-hospital, pro-patient, and pro-

    [[Page 1830]]

    plaintiff-attorney at the same time. I think you have to make a choice.
    My opponent made his choice, and he put
    him on the ticket. [Laughter] I made my choice.
    I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to improve health
    care here in this country, we will make sure the health decisions are
    made by patients and doctors, not by bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
        I'm running because I know we've got more work to do to keep this
    economy growing. You might remember what our economy has been through
    during the last 3\1/2\ years. We've been through a recession. We've been
    through corporate scandals. By the way, it's now clear that we will not
    tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. We've been through the
    terror attack, all of which affected job creation here in America.
        But we're overcoming those obstacles. We're overcoming it because
    we've got great workers in America. We're overcoming them because our
    farmers and ranchers are good at what they do. We're overcoming them
    because the entrepreneurial spirit in this country is strong. We're also
    overcame them because of well-timed tax cuts.
        When it came time to reduce taxes, we did it the fair way. We said,
    ``If you're paying taxes, you ought to get relief.'' We raised the child
    credit to help our families. We reduced the marriage penalty. The Tax
    Code sends the wrong message. We ought to be encouraging marriage in
    America, not discouraging marriage. We helped our small businesses. This
    time, the check actually was in the mail.
        Because we acted, our economy has been growing at rates as fast as
    any in nearly 20 years. We've added over 1.5 million jobs since last
    August. The national unemployment rate is down to 5.5 percent, well
    below the national average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
        There is still more work to be done here in Michigan. The recovery
    has lagged here. And so as long as anybody is looking for a job, I'll
    work to make sure the environment for job creation is strong.
        See, in order to make sure jobs are here in America, we need an
    energy policy. We need to become less dependent on foreign sources of
    energy. I submitted a plan to the United States Congress that encourages
    conservation, encourages research on alternative sources of energy,
    encourages the use of coal in environmentally friendly ways, exploring
    for natural gas. But in all we do, we better make sure that we no longer
    have to beg for energy from other parts of the world. This country can
    do a better job.
        We've got to make sure regulations are fair and reasonable on the
    employers of America. To keep jobs here in this country, we need
    reasonable automobile policies. American automobile makers are making
    the cleanest cars and trucks in history. We can do more. My
    administration has worked with manufacturers to set wise fuel efficiency
    standards. We will cut air pollution from diesel vehicles by more than
    90 percent. My opponent has taken a different
    approach. He's consistently supported arbitrary, unfair fuel standards
    that could cost Michigan thousands of jobs and makes our cars less safe.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. Now it's campaign time here in this great State, and
    he's shifted into reverse. [Laughter] Says he's
    not committed to drastically increasing efficiency standards. You know,
    he hasn't sounded this confused since he tried to decide if he owns an
    SUV.
        In order to make sure jobs are here, we want to make sure that we're
    treated fairly around the world. Listen, our markets are open, and
    that's good for Michigan consumers. You've got more choices to choose
    from. You're going to get better price and better quality. What I'm
    saying is, is that we're treating you one way; you treat us the same
    way. We can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the
    playing field is level.

    [[Page 1831]]

        In order to make sure jobs stay here in America, we will expand our
    access to our community colleges so workers are able to gain the skills
    necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. In order to keep jobs
    here in America, we'll be wise about how we spend your money. See, I
    think the Federal Government ought to set priorities and let you keep
    your own money. You can spend your money far better than the Federal
    Government can.
        In order to keep jobs here in America, we've got to keep your taxes
    low. Running up taxes on the American people will hurt this economic
    recovery. We have a difference of opinion in this race. My
    opponent went out there, and he's already
    promised about $2 trillion in new spending.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. We've still got September and October to go.
    [Laughter] So they said, ``How are you going to pay for it?'' He said, ``Tax the rich.'' You've heard that before,
    haven't you? You know what that means. The rich dodge, and you pay. But
    we're not going to let him. We're going to carry Michigan and this
    country in November.
        We have more to do----
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. We have more to do. We've got more to do to wage and
    win the war on terror. Our future depends on our willingness to lead in
    this world. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the
    world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my
    watch.
        The world changed on that terrible September morning, and since that
    day, we have changed the world. Before September the 11th, Afghanistan
    served as the home base of Al Qaida, which trained and deployed
    thousands of killers to set up terror cells around the world, including
    our own country. Because we acted, Afghanistan is a rising democracy. I
    don't know if you know this or not, but over 10 million people have
    registered to vote in the upcoming Afghan Presidential elections.
    Because we acted, many young girls now go to school for the first time
    in Afghanistan. Because we acted, Afghanistan is an ally in the war on
    terror, and America and the world are safer.
        Before September the 11th, Libya was spending millions to acquire
    weapons of mass destruction. Today, because America and our allies sent
    a clear and easy-to-understand message, the leader of Libya has abandoned his pursuit of weapons
    of mass destruction, and America and the world are safer.
        Before September the 11th, the ruler of Iraq was a sworn enemy of America. He was defying the
    world. He was firing weapons at American pilots who were enforcing the
    world's sanctions. He had pursued and he had used weapons of mass
    destruction. He harbored terrorists. He attacked his neighbors. He
    subsidized the families of suicide bombers. He and his henchmen murdered
    thousands of his own citizens. He was a source of great instability in
    the world's most volatile region. I saw a threat.
        After September the 11th--one of the lessons of September the 11th,
    an important lesson that this country must never forget, is that we must
    take threats seriously before they fully materialize.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. And so I went to the United States Congress. I said,
    ``We see a threat.'' The Congress looked at the same intelligence,
    remembered the same history of Saddam, and
    concluded that Saddam Hussein was a threat and authorized the use of
    force. My opponent came to the same conclusion
    that Saddam Hussein was a threat and authorized the use of force.
        The last option of a President is the use of military. And so,
    therefore, I went to the United Nations in the hopes that we could solve
    this problem diplomatically, that we could deal with this threat through
    diplomatic means. There was a debate in the

    [[Page 1832]]

    United Nations, and the Security Council of the United Nations voted
    unanimously to say to Saddam Hussein,
    ``Disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences.'' The world spoke with
    united voice about the threat of Saddam Hussein.
        But as he had over a decade, he chose to
    defy the demands of the free world. He ignored the demands of the free
    world. As a matter of fact, when the U.N. sent inspectors into Iraq, he
    systematically deceived them. So I had a choice to make: either forget
    the lessons of September the 11th and trust the word of a madman, or
    take action to defend this country. Given that choice, I will defend
    America.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. Even though we did not find the stockpiles we
    expected to find, Saddam had the capability of making weapons and could
    have passed that capability on to the enemy. That was a risk we could
    not afford to take after September the 11th. Given what I know today, I
    would have made the same decision. America and the world are safer with
    Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell.
        Now, almost 2 years after he voted for the
    war in Iraq and 7 months after switching positions to declare himself
    the antiwar candidate, my opponent has now found a new nuance. He now
    agrees it was the right decision to go into Iraq. After months of
    questioning my motives and even my credibility, my opponent now agrees
    with me that even though we haven't found the stockpiles we all thought
    were there, knowing everything we know today, he would have voted to go
    into Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from
    power. I appreciate the fact that he cleared that up. [Laughter] But I
    do want to remind you, there are still 64 days for him to change his
    mind again.
        I'm running because I know we've got more to do to defend this
    country. We must continue to work with friends and allies around the
    world to aggressively pursue the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq and
    elsewhere. You cannot talk sense to these people. You cannot negotiate
    with them. After September the 11th, you just can't hope for the best.
    We must aggressively pursue them around the world so we do not have to
    face them here at home.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. America will continue to lead the world with
    confidence and moral clarity. We have put together a strong coalition to
    help us defeat the enemy. There are nearly 40 nations involved in
    Afghanistan; some 30 nations are involved in Iraq. During the next 4
    years, we will continue to build on these alliances, call upon our
    friends to work in concert to make us more secure. 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. We will keep our commitments to the people of
    Afghanistan and Iraq. We will help them become democratic and peaceful
    societies. It's in our national interest that they do so. These nations
    are now governed by two strong leaders who believe in the aspirations of their people. We've
    got a clear goal in those countries, countries that will be allies in
    the war on terror, countries that are headed down the road to democracy.
        Our troops are helping to stabilize those countries. More
    importantly, they're helping to train Afghan citizens and Iraq citizens
    so they can do the hard work, so they can fight off the terrorists, so
    they can realize their dreams of a free society. Our military will
    complete this mission as quickly as possible so our troops do not stay a
    day longer than necessary.
        And we will prevail. One of the reasons we'll prevail is because
    we've got a fantastic United States military. I've seen--I've had the
    privilege of meeting with them around our country and all around the
    world. I've seen their decency and their unselfish courage. I want to
    thank the veterans who are

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    here for setting such a fine example for those who wear our uniform.
        I made a commitment to those who wear our uniform and to the loved
    ones of those who wear the uniform, that they will have the resources
    they need to fight and win this war against the terrorists. I went to
    the United States Congress last September and proposed supplemental
    funding to support our troops in their missions in Afghanistan and in
    Iraq. This legislation provided funding for body armor and vital
    equipment, hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel, and spare
    parts. It was necessary funding. We received great bipartisan support
    for the funding request. As a matter of fact, the support was so strong
    that only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against it----
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. ----2 of whom are my opponent
    and his runningmate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. And so they say--asked him why. He said, ``Well, I actually did vote for the $87 billion,
    before I voted against it.'' Then they pressed him further, and he said,
    well, he was proud of his vote. Then they pressed him even further, and
    he said, ``Well, the whole thing is a complicated matter.'' [Laughter]
    There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.
        In the long run, our security is not guaranteed by force alone. We
    must work to change the conditions that give rise to terror, poverty and
    hopelessness and resentment. A free and peaceful Iraq, a free and
    peaceful Afghanistan will be powerful examples in a part of the world
    that is desperate for freedom. Free nations do not export terror. Free
    nations listen to the hopes and aspirations of their people. By serving
    the cause of liberty, we're helping others, but we're making America
    more secure. By serving the cause of liberty, we are spreading the
    peace.
        Laura and I were having dinner one evening
    with the Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo.
    He's a fellow who's running a country that my dad was at war with. So
    was your dads and granddads. They were the enemy. But after World War
    II, my predecessors and others had this great, deep faith that liberty
    could transform societies, that liberty could convert an enemy into a
    friend. And they stood strong on those values.
        The Prime Minister and I were talking
    about the peace. We were talking about how to work together to make the
    world a more peaceful place. By standing the line for what we believe
    in, by holding true to our values, someday an American President will be
    sitting down with a duly elected leader of Iraq, talking about how to
    make the world a more peaceful place.
        By serving the ideal of liberty, we're serving the deepest ideals of
    the American soul. Freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom
    is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world.
        We've got more to do to protect this country. I'm running because I
    understand there's an enemy out there that still lurks. They hate what
    we stand for. You know, we have a difference of opinion on these
    terrorists. My opponent said that going to war
    with them is actually improving their recruiting efforts. I'm sure
    you've heard that before. I believe the logic is upside-down. I think it
    shows that people don't understand the nature of these folks. See,
    during the 1990s, the terrorists were recruiting and training for war
    with us, long before America went to war with them. They don't need an
    excuse for their hatred. You don't create terrorists by fighting back.
    You defeat the terrorists by fighting back.
        There's a lot of really good people at the Federal level and the
    State level and local level who are working hard to protect you. We
    reorganized the homeland defenses into the Department of Homeland
    Security to better communicate, to better respond. We're making needed
    reforms in our intelligence gathering. It is essential that we renew the
    PATRIOT Act so our

    [[Page 1834]]

    law enforcement officials have the tools necessary to disrupt the
    terrorist cells. We're doing more to protect our borders and our ports.
        We're working hard, but reform in Washington isn't easy. There's a
    lot of entrenched interests there, a lot of people who say, ``I love the
    status quo.'' It's not enough to advocate reform; you've got to be able
    to get the job done. So when you're out gathering the vote, remind
    people that when it comes to reforming the schools and raising the
    standards and closing the achievement gap, we're getting the job done.
    When it comes to health care reforms to give our families and seniors
    more access and more choices, we're getting the job done. When it comes
    to improving this economy so people can find work, we're getting the job
    done. When it comes to better securing the homeland and defeating the
    terrorists and spreading freedom and peace, we're getting the job done.
    When you're out there campaigning, remind people, when it comes time to
    choose a President, put somebody back in there who can get the job done.
        You know, we're living in exciting times. We really are. But they're
    times of change, and change can be unsettling for American families and
    workers. That's why I believe so strongly in promoting an ownership
    society in America. We want people owning their own health care accounts
    that they can take from job to job. We want people owning their own
    retirement accounts. Listen, baby boomers like me are just fine when it
    comes to Social Security. But for you younger workers out there, look
    carefully at the rhetoric during this campaign. Look carefully at the
    fiscal solvency of the Social Security system. I believe younger workers
    ought to have the option of taking some of their own money and putting
    it in personal savings accounts that they can call their own.
        We want more people owning their own business in America. You know,
    one of the most hopeful statistics at the beginning of the 21st century
    is the homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. We'll
    continue to promote homeownership in America. I love the fact that
    somebody opens up their door to their house and says, ``Welcome to my
    home. This is my piece of property.'' I believe strongly in ownership,
    because I know if you own something, you have a vital stake in the
    future of the United States of America.
        In these changing times of ours, however, there are some things that
    won't change, the individual values we try to live by, courage and
    compassion, reverence and integrity. Our beliefs won't change, in
    liberty and opportunity and the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity.
    During changing times, we must support the institutions that give us
    direction and purpose, our families, our schools, and our religious
    congregations.
        We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which are the
    foundations of society. We stand for a culture of life in America, where
    every person counts and every person matters. We stand for judges who
    faithfully interpret the law instead of legislating from the bench.
        We stand for a culture of responsibility in this country. You know,
    the culture is changing from one that had said, ``If it feels good, just
    go ahead and do it,'' and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody
    else,'' to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible
    for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a
    mom or a dad, you are 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 are responsible for
    supporting your teachers and 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.

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        Today I got off Air Force One and met Annie Kaigler. She is--she works for the foster grandparent program.
    She is a volunteer. She takes time out of her life to mentor children.
    She takes time out of her life to change America one heart at a time.
    The strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American
    people. During the next 4 years, I will continue to rally the armies of
    compassion so this country can be a great, hopeful place.
        For all Americans, these years in our history will 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 great belief in the values that make
    us a great country.
        None of us will ever forget that day when one era ended and another
    began. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin
    Towers. It's a day I'll never forget. There were workers in hardhats
    yelling at me, ``Whatever it takes.'' A fellow grabbed me by the arm as
    I was trying to thank people, and he looked me right in the eye, and he
    said, ``Do not let me down.''
        I have a duty that goes on for this country. I wake up every morning
    trying to--how best to secure this country. I will never relent in
    defending America, whatever it takes.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. We have come through much together. We've done a lot
    of hard work, but there's more to do. Over the next 4 years, we'll
    spread ownership and opportunity and hopes throughout every corner of
    this country. We'll pass the enduring values of our country on to a
    young generation. We will continue to spread freedom and peace.
        When I traveled your State 4 years ago, I said if I had the great
    honor of serving the American people as your President, I would uphold
    the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard
    work and help, I will do so for the next 4 years.
        May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Thank you all. Thank
    you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 6:53 p.m. at Heritage Park.
    In his remarks, he referred to Bo Schembechler, former head coach,
    University of Michigan football team; Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-
    Qadhafi, leader of Libya; President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; Prime
    Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim Government; and Prime Minister
    Junichiro Koizumi of Japan. The transcript released by the Office of the
    Press Secretary also included the remarks of the First Lady, who
    introduced the President.