[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
[July 14, 2004]
[Pages 1307-1315]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks in Waukesha, Wisconsin
July 14, 2004
The President. Thanks for coming. It's good to be back here in
Waukesha. What a beautiful day. Listen, I was talking to
Tommy, and I said, ``You know, I need to
get back to Wisconsin.'' He said, ``You sure do.'' I said, ``Do you know
your way around there?'' [Laughter] So he and I have gotten on this
modest little bus here. [Laughter] And we're going to travel your
beautiful State.
I'm here asking for the vote. I've come back to this important State
to say to the people of Wisconsin, I know what I need to do to lead this
country. I know what I need to do to make the world more peaceful,
America more hopeful. I know what I want to do to make America safer,
[[Page 1308]]
stronger, and better. I'm here to ask for your help for 4 more years.
And I couldn't have come with a better escort. You educated
him well. [Laughter] I picked a good man
when I asked him to come to Washington to lead a very important agency.
He is a superb leader. He's a great organizer. He's got a clear vision.
He cares deeply about the people of Wisconsin and the United States of
America. Tommy Thompson is doing a fabulous job on behalf of the
American people.
My only regret, and I'm sure it's yours as well, is that Laura is not traveling with me. No, I know, most people are
wise enough to say, ``Why don't you just go ahead and stay at home and
let her carry the burden.'' [Laughter] I was a lucky man when she said
yes. She's a great lady and a fabulous First Lady for America. She's
campaigning somewhere else, but today I am fortunate that one of our
college graduates, one of our daughters, is traveling with me. I'm
really proud to introduce Barbara Bush. Made
it out of college in 4 years. [Laughter]
I know Sue Ann Thompson is with us, and
so is Tommy--Tommy's daughter. I appreciate
the Thompson family as well for enabling Tommy to serve the country so
well. Listen, being in public life isn't easy on the families, and Tommy
has got a great family. And I appreciate their supporting him so well.
I appreciate Cheryl Sensenbrenner
representing her husband, Jim.
The chairman is doing a fine job. He's a good Congressman. I enjoy
working with him. I know you're going to send him back, and I know
you're going to send me back, so we'll be working together for 4 more
years.
I want to thank my friend State Senator Mary Panzer, the majority leader of the statehouse, the State senate,
for being here today. Thanks for coming, Mary. Mary Lazich as well, who's the State senator. Thanks for the members
of the senate and the house and all the local officials who are here to
say hello. Turn out the vote. Thanks for serving. But join these
grassroots activists in finding people to register, and tell them
they've got a duty as an American to show up and vote on election day.
And when you get them steered toward the polls, give them a little nudge
in our direction. [Laughter] They're going to like the message. It's
hopeful. It's optimistic. It's positive about the future of this great
country.
I appreciate Jim Klauser and Mary
Buestrin, all the people who have dedicated
themselves to being involved in the political process. By the way, if
you're interested in volunteering, we've gone high tech--
georgewbush.com. It's an easy one to remember. [Laughter] Why don't you
just go ahead and log on, and it will show you how you can help in the
campaign. I'm serious. It's a--I can't win this without you.
I can't win--and when you're talking to the voters, remind them that
over the last 3 years, we have faced serious challenges, and this
administration has given serious answers. You might remind the voters
that when we came to office, the stock market was in decline and the
economy was headed into recession. We acted. We delivered historic tax
relief. And over the past 3 years, America has had the fastest growing
economy of any major industrialized nation.
When we arrived in Washington, DC--when the great Vice President
Dick Cheney and I arrived in Washington, DC--the
military was underfunded, and it was underappreciated. You might
remember back to those times. 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 saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning. We pursued
the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed many of
the 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
[[Page 1309]]
of mass destruction. We acted against two of the most violent and
dangerous regimes on Earth. We liberated over 50 million people. Once
again, America is proud to lead the armies of liberation.
These accomplishments are important to the security and prosperity
of America. They should say to the American people, I understand it is
my job to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents
and future generations. It's the President's job to make the tough
decisions and to keep his commitments. And that is how I will continue
to lead this country for 4 more years.
I'm working hard because this is going to be a tough campaign. I
know it, and you know it. We take nothing for granted. We got a lot of
work to do. I've got to take my message out to the people. I've got to
rally the volunteers such as yourselves to go to work. I'm looking
forward to it. My opponent is a highly
experienced United States Senator. He's been in Washington----
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
The President. He's been in Washington a lot
longer than I've been in Washington. He's been there so long, he's taken
about both sides of just about every issue. He voted for PATRIOT Act. He
voted for NAFTA. He voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, and he voted
for the use of force in Iraq. Now--[laughter]--he opposes the PATRIOT
Act and NAFTA and the No Child Left Behind Act and the liberation of
Iraq. If you disagree with John Kerry on most any issue, you may just
have caught him on the wrong day. [Laughter]
He came out here to the Midwest, and he said
he was the candidate with the conservative values.
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
The President. I know. I know--I know. [Laughter] I'm just quoting
what he said. [Laughter] It's hard to square that
when he said, ``I'm liberal and proud of it.'' 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. Now
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 set the course,
the direction of our economy. I'm here to ask for the vote because I
have a clear vision and a strategy to win the war on terror and to
extend peace and freedom throughout the world. I'm here asking for your
vote--I'm here in this vital State asking for the vote because I have a
plan to continue to create jobs and, therefore, opportunity throughout
our entire country. I'm here to ask for the vote because I have a plan
to rally--to continue to rally the compassionate spirit of the American
people so every single citizen has a chance to realize the great promise
of our country. When you give me 4 more years, America will be safer,
America will be stronger, and America will be a better country.
A big issue for every family, and a big issue in this campaign, is
the Federal tax burden. It's a big issue. 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 to helping
create jobs, the American people have used their money far better than
the Government could have.
Today I met Scott and Shelly
Mueller and their children. They're from New
Berlin. They've got four kids. The tax relief that we passed--and we
raised the child credit and reduced the marriage penalty and created a
10-percent bracket and reduced all rates. Our view is if anybody pays
taxes, all people ought to--if we have tax relief, everybody ought to
get tax relief. That's what we thought. That's the fair way to do
things. Well, the Muellers saved $2,700 on their taxes in '03. They'll
save the same this year. And the reason I bring
[[Page 1310]]
them up is oftentimes in Washington, they speak in terms of billions of
this and billions of that, and we tend to forget what tax relief means
for the families of America, what it means for the individuals. The
$2,700 for the Muellers means a lot.
Here's what Shelly said. She said, ``We
used that money for home improvement projects.'' See, it's their home,
and they're trying to improve their home. That's a positive development.
She said, ``We just couldn't afford these investment projects on our
monthly budget. This is something we're counting on.''
Tax relief matters to the people of this country. Oh, some of the
sophisticates will say that $2,700 doesn't matter to the Muellers--it doesn't sound
like a lot to me. It's a lot to them. That's what counts. And when they
have more money in their pocket, the economy benefits.
When people fully understand what they did, they'll understand a big
component of the tax relief was to encourage the growth of our small
businesses in America. See, 70 percent of new jobs are created by small
businesses. Therefore, the tax relief must address the needs of the
small-business owners.
Today I met Kyle Stoehr. He's got a
manufacturing company. His business is strong--at least that's what he
told me, and I take him for his word for it. He said he hired seven new
workers. See, that's what's happening all across the country. Small
business after small business after small business is gaining confidence
about the future, and they're putting people on the payroll. He's
planning to invest $400,000 in software and machinery. Because of the
tax relief, he's going to save $65,000 this year. See, that tax relief
matters to small-business owners. It's helping the small businesses of
the United States of America.
Steve Ziegler, he's the president of the
InPro Corporation. He's a small-business owner. He makes architectural
projects--products. He hired eight workers this year. He's planning on
investing money; the tax relief has encouraged him to invest money. The
reason I bring up these small-business owners is because it's not
Government that creates wealth; it's the small-business owners that are
expanding, that are creating the opportunity for Americans from all
walks of life.
I don't know if you know this or not, but there are thousands of
small businesses which pay tax at the individual income-tax rate level.
See, if you're a Subchapter S corporation or a sole proprietorship like
most small businesses, you pay tax at the individual income-tax level.
And so when you hear them talking in Washington about running up those
taxes--kind of taxing the rich--really what you need to be hearing is,
they're going to tax small-business owners. And that would be bad for
this economy. Now is not the time to be raising taxes on small
businesses or on working people in America. Now is the time to make sure
we've got permanency in the Tax Code. Now is the time to make sure we
don't ruin this economic growth by running up the taxes on the American
people.
Tax relief is working. It's working. Since last summer, our economy
has been growing at its fastest rate in nearly 20 years. As Tommy said,
since last August we've added 1.5 million new jobs. People are going
back to work. Here in Wisconsin, the unemployment rate has dropped to
5.1 percent. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high. That's a
fantastic statistic, isn't it? We want more people owning their own
home. When you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of
the United States of America.
Interest rates are low. Business investment is growing. Consumer
confidence is at a 2-year high. Personal incomes are up. The economic
stimulus plan that we worked with Congress on is paying off. This
economy is strong, and it is getting stronger.
And there's a different view, of course. That's what campaigns are
all about. My
[[Page 1311]]
opponents looked at this progress and somehow
concluded the sky is falling. It doesn't matter whether their message is
delivered with a frown or a smile, it's the same old pessimism--same old
pessimism. And they're going to cheer us up with higher taxes--
[laughter]--more Federal spending, and economic isolationism. The good
news is, we're not going to let them do that. We're going to keep taxes
low to make sure people can find work and people to be able to realize
their dream.
We're going to continue to bring fiscal discipline to Washington,
DC. See, it starts with understanding that we're not spending the
Government's money; we're spending your money. And we must be good
stewards with your money in the Nation's Capital.
I hear it all the time that small-business owners are very worried
about some things, and so am I. We got to solve these problems to make
sure people can find work. I want this economy not only to be strong
today, I want it to be strong 10 years from now. I want this to be the
best place in the world to do business so people can find good, high-
paying jobs.
We've got to do something about these 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 to reform the laws of America
to end these frivolous and junk lawsuits that make it hard for small
businesses to grow their businesses.
Tommy mentioned we've got a plan for
better and affordable health care for the American people and for the
small-business owners of America that includes association health plans
and tax-free health savings accounts. Now, I agree with Tommy. In order
to make sure you've got good doctors here in Wisconsin practicing their
healing, in order to make sure health care is affordable, we need
medical liability reform. We need the Federal Government to make sure
that people can have their day in court, but we've got to stop these
lawsuits that are driving docs out of business. It's in your interest.
It's in the people's interest that we get this done.
Listen, in order to make sure this economy is a place where people
can find work, we need an energy plan. I submitted one to the United
States Congress. They need to pass that to my desk. It calls for
modernizing the electricity system. It calls for the use of alternative
sources of energy. It encourages conservation, but we can explore for
energy in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic
security, for the sake of national security, we must be less dependent
on foreign sources of energy.
I know we've got some farmers here. Listen, our farm economy is
strong, and I intend to keep it that way. That's a good sign for States
like Wisconsin. The farming families of this State are making a good
living, and one of the reasons why is because they're selling Wisconsin
products overseas. If you're good at something, we want people buying
it. We're real good at growing things. We're very good at making things.
I'm a person who believes that we ought to be opening up markets, not
closing markets. Just listen: My view is, give our workers and farmers
and entrepreneurs a chance to compete, and we can compete with anybody,
anywhere, anytime.
There's a clear difference in this campaign on how to make sure this
is a good place for people to find work. If you reelect me, I'll
continue to pursue a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, pro-farmer, pro-
small-business agenda, and America will be better off for it.
Our future also depends on our willingness to lead in this 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 and uncertainty in this
decade, the
[[Page 1312]]
world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.
Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
The President. After the attacks of September the 11th, I resolved
and this Nation resolved to bring justice to the terrorists, no matter
where they dwell. We resolved to hold regimes that hide and sponsor
terrorists to account. We made that resolution. And when you say
something, you better mean it. In order for the world to be peaceful,
when you say something, you better mean it. And I meant what we said.
Afghanistan was a terrorist state. It was a training camp for Al Qaida
killers. Because we acted, Afghanistan is a rising democracy,
Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror, and many young girls now go
to school for the first time.
Iraq, only last year, was controlled by a dictator who threatened the civilized world. It's important for
our fellow citizens to remember, he used weapons of mass destruction
against his own people. For decades, he has tormented and tortured the
people of his country. Because we acted, Iraq today is a free and
sovereign nation. Because we acted, its dictator now sits in a prison
cell and will receive the justice he denied so many for so long.
September the 11th, 2001, taught us a lesson we must never forget.
It's a lesson I'll never forget. And it's this: America must confront
threats before they fully materialize, before it's too late. That's the
lesson that we must never forget as a nation. And so, remembering that
and remembering the past of the dictator, we
looked at the intelligence, and we saw a threat. Now, the United States
Congress, including members of 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.
I went to the United Nations and said, ``For years, you've passed
resolutions, and for years, the dictator in Iraq has ignored the resolutions.'' I said, ``Why don't we
work together to pass a resolution and, this time, mean what we say.''
See, they had seen the threat. So on a 15-nothing vote, the U.N.
Security Council demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons
programs, or face serious consequences. And as he had for over a decade,
the dictator deceived the world. The dictator chose defiance. It was his
choice to make. He refused to comply. So I had a choice to make: Ignore
the lessons of September the 11th and hope for the best, trust the word
of a madman; or defend America. Given that choice, I will defend our
country every time.
Although we haven't found the 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. He had that capability, and he could have passed that
capability to terrorists bent on acquiring them. After September the
11th, that was a risk we could not afford to take.
And we've got hard work to do there and important work to do there.
Our immediate task around the world and in Iraq and Afghanistan is to
bring those terrorists to justice. See, you can't talk sense to them.
You can't negotiate with terrorists. You can't sit back and hope that
somehow therapy will work and they will change their ways. [Laughter]
That's just not the way it is. We must engage the enemies in Afghanistan
and Iraq and around the world so we do not have to face them here at
home.
We know these terrorists want to strike us again because they want
to disrupt our way of life and spread fear. That's what they want to do.
So we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. You just need
to know there are a lot of really decent, hard-working people that are
spending hours on our mutual behalf to do everything we can to disrupt a
potential attack.
[[Page 1313]]
We're sharing intelligence like never before. We're running down every
lead. And I know I speak for everybody when I thank the police and the
firefighters and the emergency teams from the great State of Wisconsin
who are serving as great first-responders.
We will stay on the offense. We'll protect our homeland. 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 the terrorists can exploit.
Life in that region is going to be far more hopeful and more peaceful
when men and women choose their own leaders. It will be a much better
place, a much more hopeful place when the people get to decide their own
fate.
You see, 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 serve the deepest ideals of our own country because, you
see, we understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world;
freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world.
The world is changing for the better because of American leadership.
Three years ago, Afghanistan was the home base of Al Qaida. Now, the
terror camps are closed, 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, we're working with the Pakistani
Government to find those killers in remote regions of that country, and
America is safer. Three years ago, Saudi--in Saudi Arabia, terrorists
were not challenged by that Government. Today, we're working with the
Saudi Government, and the Saudi Government is running down Al Qaida
leadership, and America is safer. Three years ago, Libya was spending
millions of dollars to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Now,
thousands of Libyan chemical munitions have been destroyed. Libya has
given up its nuclear processing equipment, and America is safer. No, the
world is changing for the better. Three years ago, the dictator in
Iraq was a threat. He was a threat to us. He
was a threat to the free world. He was a threat to the people in the
neighborhood, and he was a threat to his own people. That dictator is no
longer a threat, and the American people are safer.
I need 4 more years to complete the work. There's more to do to make
America a safer place. There's more work to do to make the world a more
peaceful place. We will finish the work of democracy in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
Listen, the good leaders have stepped up there, people who believe
in the aspirations of their people. And we will support them. And the
good people in those countries are taking more responsibility for their
own security. They want to live in freedom. There moms and dads want
their children to be able to grow up in a peaceful and free society.
They can count on us. That's what they need to hear. They need to hear
from America they can count on the American people. You see, when we
give our word, we keep our word.
I see people who proudly wear our uniform here, and I want to thank
you for your service. At bases across our country and the world, I've
had the privilege of meeting with those who defend our country and
sacrifice for our country. I had the high honor of meeting those family
members whose son or daughter paid the ultimate sacrifice. The best way
to honor their bravery is to complete the mission and make sure America
is safer and the world is more free.
Anytime we put our troops in harm's way, they deserve the best
training, the best pay, the best possible support. That's why last
September, I proposed what we call a supplemental funding request to
support our military in its mission. That's more money for the troops--
money that would help pay for body armor or vital equipment
[[Page 1314]]
or hazard pay or health benefits, ammunition, fuel, spare parts. It was
money to support them.
In the Senate, only a small, out-of-mainstream minority voted
against the legislation. Two of those twelve Senators are my
opponent and his runningmate.
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
The President. Now, when Senator Kerry tried
to explain his vote, here's what he said. He said, ``I actually did vote
for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.'' [Laughter] End quote.
It sure doesn't clear it up, does it? [Laughter] Now he's offering a
different explanation. Earlier this week, he said he is proud he and his
runningmate voted against the funding for our troops.
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
The President. No, he's entitled to his view,
but here's mine: Members of Congress should not vote to send troops into
battle and then vote against funding them. As the Commander in Chief of
this great military, I will see to it they have what is needed to
complete their mission.
We are leading the world with confidence and moral clarity, and
we're calling on other nations to help us. There are over 60 nations
involved in the Proliferation Security Initiative, nearly 40 nations in
Afghanistan, over 30 nations in Iraq--countries committed to the same
thing we're committed to, our own security through spreading democracy
and peace and freedom. Over the next 4 years, I will continue to build
coalitions to make the world a peaceful place. But I will never turn
over America's national security decisions to leaders of other foreign
countries.
This Nation is prosperous and strong; yet, we need to remember that
our greatest strength is in the character of our citizens. The true
strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow 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. No, I believe the heart and soul of America is found
in places in Wisconsin, in places just like Waukesha. Our Nation is
strong because of the values we try to live by: courage, compassion,
reverence, and integrity. We're strong because of the institutions that
help give us direction and purpose: our families, our schools, 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. We stand for
local control of our public schools. We stand for accountability in our
public schools so no child is left behind in America. We stand for
welfare reforms that require work and strengthen marriage, which have
helped millions of Americans find independence and dignity in their
lives. We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which are the
foundations of society. We stand for a culture of life in which every
person matters. We stand for judges who strictly and faithfully
interpret the law, instead of legislating from the bench. 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 a culture of responsibility. 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're 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 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.
[[Page 1315]]
For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
apart. There are quiet times in a 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, 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. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin
Towers. I'm never going to forget that moment. There were workers in
hardhats yelling at me, ``Whatever it takes.'' I remember looking in the
eyes of either a policeman or firefighter, and he said, ``Do not let me
down.''
Like--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 American people, whatever
it takes.
I've also been witness to the great character of this country. 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 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 country, the best days lie ahead.
Thanks for coming. God bless. May God bless you all. Thank you all.
Note: The President spoke at 9:15 a.m. at the Waukesha County Exposition
Center. In his remarks, he referred to James R. Klauser, chair,
Wisconsin Leadership Team, Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.; Mary F. Buestrin,
national committeewoman, Republican Party of Wisconsin; and former
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.