[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
[August 10, 2004]
[Pages 1566-1573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks in Pensacola, Florida
August 10, 2004

    The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thank you 
all. Thanks for coming. What a great welcome. I'm so honored. You know, 
you're in good country when you've got a guy holding a sign up that says 
``Bubbas for Bush.'' No, the heart and soul of America is right here in 
Pensacola, Florida.
    It's an honor to land Air Force One at the Pensacola Naval Air 
Station, right here in the cradle of naval aviation. And it's an honor 
to stand with one of the really fine naval aviators in our Nation's 
history, Senator John McCain. Forty-six years 
ago this month, Ensign John McCain reported for duty in Pensacola. He 
trained to fly here; he launched a life of true service to America that 
continues to this day. As a naval officer, as a Congressman, as a United 
States Senator from Arizona, John McCain has embodied honor and 
integrity, courage and strength. And I'm honored to have him by my side.
    We're kicking off a bus trip. We're starting here, and we're heading 
east across the panhandle of this important State. I'm asking for the 
vote. Everywhere we're going the crowds are big, the enthusiasm is high, 
and with your help, Dick Cheney and I will be 
honored to serve this country for 4 more years.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. I wish Laura was here today. 
She is a wonderful wife, a great mom, and she's doing a fabulous job as 
this country's First Lady. I'll give you some reasons why I think you 
ought to put me back into office, but perhaps the most important reason 
of all is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years.
    I'm running with a good man in Dick Cheney. 
Listen, I recognize he's not the prettiest face on the ticket. 
[Laughter] I didn't pick him for his looks. I picked him because of his 
experience and his sound judgment and his ability to do the job.
    I've been looking around for the Governor. 
[Laughter] I had a few words for the Governor. Actually, I saw him over 
the weekend. His son George P. got married. 
Yes, it was a great wedding. He's working. He's doing what you want him 
to do. He's working on behalf of all the people of Florida. I'm proud of 
the job Jeb is doing as the Governor of this vital State.
    I'm honored that your very fine Congressman, Jeff Miller, is traveling with us today. He's doing a heck of a job 
for the people of the Panhandle.
    I want to thank all the local and State officials who are here. 
Thanks for serving your State and our country. I appreciate Joe 
Scarborough. I'm glad to 
know he's still standing and making a living. I kissed his little 
girl on the way down the stairs. 
Fortunately, she's got her mom's looks. 
[Laughter] I appreciate Ricky Skaggs. I'm 
honored Ricky took time to come over and sing for you all.
    I'm honored to be with the men and women who wear our uniform, proud 
to be here. I want to thank all the veterans who are here today. I want 
to thank you for setting such a good example.
    I want to thank all the grassroots activists. Those are the people 
who are going to put up the signs and make the phone calls and register 
the voters. I'm here to ask for your help. Not only I want your vote, 
I'd like for your help. I'd like you to go to your neighbors--listen, 
find those discerning Democrats and wise independents as well as our 
fellow Republicans, and urge them to do their duty on Election Day. See, 
we have a duty in this country to participate when it comes to voting 
time. And when you get them headed towards the polls, give them a nudge 
our way.

[[Page 1567]]

    Every incumbent who asks for the vote has to answer an essential 
question, why--why should the American people give me the great 
privilege of serving as your President for 4 more years? In the past 
years, Americans have been through a lot together, a whole lot, 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 will best lead our 
Nation forward. I'm asking for your vote because so much is at stake. We 
have much more to do to move this country forward. I want to be your 
President for 4 more years to make this country safer, to make our 
economy stronger, and to make the future better and brighter for every 
single citizen.
    From creating jobs to improving schools, from fighting terror to 
spreading peace, we've made much progress, and there's more work to be 
done. We have more to do to make our public schools the centers of 
excellence we all know they can be, so that no child is left behind in 
America.
    Remember, when we came to office 3\1/2\ years ago, too many children 
were being shuffled from grade to grade, year after year, without 
learning the basics. So we challenged what I call the soft bigotry of 
low expectations. We raised the bar. We believe in accountability 
because we want to know whether or not our children are learning to read 
and write. We believe in local control of schools. We believe in 
challenging the status quo when the status quo is failing the children 
of this country. Today, children across America are showing real 
progress in reading and math. When it comes to improving America's 
public schools, we're turning the corner, and we're not turning back.
    We have more to do. There's more work to do. The world is changing, 
and the jobs of the future will require greater knowledge and higher-
level skills. We're going to reform our high schools to make sure a high 
school diploma means something. We will expand math and science 
education so our young people can compete in the high-tech world. We'll 
expand the use of the Internet to bring high-level training into our 
classrooms. With 4 more years, we will help a rising generation gain the 
skills and confidence to achieve the American Dream.
    We have more to do to make quality health care available and 
affordable. When we came to office, too many older Americans could not 
afford prescription drugs, and Medicare didn't pay for them. You might 
remember the past debates. Leaders of both political parties had 
promised prescription drug coverage in campaign after campaign. We got 
the job done. More than 4 million seniors have signed up for drug 
discount cards that provide real savings. Beginning in 2006, all seniors 
on Medicare will be able to choose a plan that suits their needs and 
gives them coverage for prescription drugs.
    To help more people get access to quality care, 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. When it comes to giving Americans more choices about their own 
health care and making health care more affordable, we're moving America 
forward, and we're not turning back.
    This world is changing. Most Americans get their health care 
coverage through their work. But today, most of the new jobs are created 
by small businesses, which too often cannot afford to provide health 
coverage. To help more American families get health insurance, we must 
allow small employers to join together to purchase insurance at the same 
discounts big companies are able to do.
    To make sure health care is available and affordable, we must end 
the frivolous lawsuits that raise the cost of health care. You cannot be 
pro-doctor and pro-patient and pro-trial-lawyer at the same time. You 
have to choose. My opponent made his choice, and 
he put him on the ticket. [Laughter] I made my 
choice: I'm going to continue

[[Page 1568]]

to work with the United States Congress for medical liability reform.
    We'll do more to harness technology to reduce costs and prevent 
health care mistakes. We will expand research and seek new cures for 
terrible diseases. In all we do to improve health care in America, we 
will make sure that the health decisions are made by doctors and 
patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
    We'll do more to make this economy stronger. We've come through a 
lot. We've come through a recession and corporate scandals and terrorist 
attacks. We've overcome these obstacles because of the hard work of the 
American people. We've got great workers. We've got great farmers. We've 
got great ranchers. We've got great entrepreneurs. I also think one of 
the reasons we've come through this tough period is because of well-
timed tax cuts. We didn't try to pick winners or losers. We did it the 
fair way: If you paid taxes, you got relief. That's a fair way for tax 
relief. The tax relief helped families with children. The tax relief 
helped married couples. I mean, what kind of Tax Code is it that 
penalizes marriage? We ought to be encouraging marriage in our society. 
We helped our small businesses. And this time, the check really was in 
the mail.
    Because we acted, our economy since last summer has grown at a rate 
as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Because we acted, we've added about a 
million--1.5 million new jobs since last year, last August. The 
unemployment rate is down to 5.5 percent, well below the national 
average of the seventies, eighties, and nineties. Because we acted, 
Florida has added nearly 300,000 jobs since the end of 2001. Florida's 
unemployment rate is now 4.7 percent. When it comes to creating jobs for 
American workers, here in Florida you have proved we're moving America 
forward, and we're not turning back.
    There's more work to do. We need to make our economy more job-
friendly, America's workplaces more family-friendly. To keep American 
jobs here in America, regulations must be reasonable and must be fair. 
Many of you small-business owners know what I'm talking about when it 
comes to regulations. I can't guarantee anybody in Washington has ever 
read the forms you filled out. [Laughter] To keep jobs here in America, 
we must reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. To keep 
American jobs in America, we must end the junk lawsuits and enact tort 
reform. To keep American jobs in America, to keep American jobs here in 
our country, we must not overspend your money. And we will keep your 
taxes low.
    Listen, to keep jobs here, we must not become economic 
isolationists. We must be bold about our ability to compete in the 
world. I believe America's workers and farmers can compete with anybody, 
anytime, anywhere so long as the rules are fair. To keep jobs here, 
we've got to make sure our workers have the skills necessary to fill the 
jobs of the 21st century. We're going to offer American workers a 
lifetime of learning. And to be aggressive in helping them get the 
training they need for the jobs of the future at places like our 
community colleges--the education training they offer can be a bridge 
between people's lives as they are and people's lives as they want them 
to be.
    You know what else we need to do? We need to make sure our families 
have something they never have enough of, and that is time--time to be 
with your kids, time to volunteer in your community, time to take care 
of your parents, time to go back to school. I'm going to work with 
Congress to enact comp-time and flex-time to help American families 
better juggle the demands of the workplace.
    When you give us 4 more years, this economy is going to be stronger, 
more small businesses, better and higher-paying jobs. And America will 
continue to lead the world with the world's strongest economy.

[[Page 1569]]

    We have more to do to wage and win the war against terror. America's 
future depends on our willingness to lead in the world. If America shows 
uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward 
tragedy. This isn't going to happen on my watch.
    See, the world changed on a terrible September morning, and since 
that day we have changed the world. Before September the 11th, 
Afghanistan served as the home base for Al Qaida, which trained and 
deployed thousands of killers to set up terror cells in dozens of 
countries, including our own. Today, Afghanistan is a rising democracy. 
Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. And thanks to the United 
States and thanks to members of our coalition, many young girls now go 
to school for the first time in Afghanistan.
    Because we acted, America and the world are safer. Before September 
the 11th, Pakistan was a safe transit point for terrorists. Today, 
Pakistani forces are aggressively helping to round up the terrorists. 
Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror, and America and the world are 
safer.
    Before September the 11th, in Saudi Arabia, terrorists were raising 
money and recruiting and operating with little opposition. Today, the 
Saudi Government is taking the fight to Al Qaida, 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 have 
sent a strong and clear 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 invaded his neighbors. He 
subsidized the families of suicide bombers. He murdered tens of 
thousands of his own citizens. He was a source of great instability in 
the world's most volatile region.
    After September the 11th, we looked at all the threats of the world 
in a new light. One of the lessons of September the 11th is that America 
must take threats seriously, before they fully materialize. We saw a 
threat. My administration looked at the intelligence and saw a threat. 
The United States Congress looked at the same intelligence--members of 
both political parties, including my opponent--
looked at the intelligence and came to the same conclusion.
    We went to the United Nations, which looked at the intelligence and 
demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs, or face serious consequences. After 
12 years of defiance, he again refused to comply. He deceived the 
weapons inspectors. So I had a choice to make: either forget the lessons 
of September the 11th and take the word of a madman who hated America, 
or defend this country. Given that choice, I will defend America.
    Even though we did not find the stockpiles that we expected to find, 
removing Saddam Hussein from power was the 
right thing to do. Saddam Hussein had the capability to make weapons of 
mass destruction. And he could have passed that capability on to 
terrorist enemies. After September the 11th, that was a chance we could 
not afford to take. And America and the world are safer because Saddam 
Hussein sits in a prison cell.
    And now, almost 2 years after he voted for the war in Iraq and 
almost 220 days after switching positions to declare himself the antiwar 
candidate, my opponent has 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, Senator Kerry now agrees 
with me that even though we have not found the stockpile of weapons we 
all believed were there, knowing everything we

[[Page 1570]]

know today, he would have voted to go into Iraq and remove Saddam 
Hussein from power. I want to thank Senator 
Kerry for clearing that up--although there are still 84 days left in the 
campaign.
    We have more to do. I'm seeking the office because we must continue 
to work with our friends and allies around the world to aggressively 
pursue the terrorists and foreign fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan and 
elsewhere. See, you can't talk sense to these people. You cannot 
negotiate with them. You cannot hope for the best. We must engage these 
enemies around the world so we do not have to face them here at home.
    America will continue to lead the world with confidence and moral 
clarity. We put together a strong coalition to help us defeat the 
terror. There's 60 nations involved with the Proliferation Security 
Initiative. Nearly 40 nations are in Afghanistan. Some 30 nations are 
involved in Iraq. I know you join me in thanking the leaders of those 
countries who have committed their troops to peace and freedom around 
the world. We'll continue to strengthen our alliances and work with our 
friends for the cause of security and peace. But I'll never turn over 
national--America's national security decisions to leaders of other 
countries.
    We'll keep our commitments to help Afghanistan and Iraq become 
peaceful, democratic societies. Listen, these two nations are now 
governed by strong leaders. These are people who are willing to listen 
to the hopes and aspirations of their people. The moms and dads of 
Afghanistan and Iraq want their children to grow up in a peaceful and 
hopeful society. That's what they want. People of Afghanistan and Iraq 
are beginning the make the hard work of going from tyranny to freedom. 
More and more troops are stepping up in Iraq--Iraqis saying, ``What can 
I do to secure my country so my family can grow up in a peaceful 
world?''
    The people of these countries can count on us. When we acted to 
protect our own security, we promised to help deliver them from tyranny, 
to restore their sovereignty, and to set them on the path to liberty. 
And when America gives its word, America keeps its word.
    In these crucial times, America's commitments are kept by the men 
and women of our military. 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 security. I've seen their great decency and their 
unselfish courage. The cause of freedom is in really good hands. And 
anytime--and those who wear our Nation's uniform deserve the full 
support of our Nation's Government.
    Last September, while our troops were in combat in both Afghanistan 
and Iraq, I proposed supplemental funding to support them in their 
missions. The legislation provided funding for body armor and vital 
equipment, hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel, and spare 
parts. In the Senate only a small, out-of-the-mainstream minority of 12 
Senators voted against the legislation. And 2 of those 12 Senators are 
my opponent and his runningmate.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. Senator Kerry tried to explain 
his vote this way: ``I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I 
voted against it.'' [Laughter] That's not the way they talk here in the 
Panhandle of Florida. He's had some different explanations. He said he 
was proud of his vote, and then he further said the whole thing is a 
complicated matter. [Laughter] There's nothing complicated about 
supporting our troops in combat.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. In the long run, our security is not guaranteed by 
force alone. We will work to change the conditions that give rise to 
terror: poverty and hopelessness, resentment. A free and peaceful Iraq 
and a free and peaceful Afghanistan will be powerful examples in their 
neighborhood, a neighborhood that is desperate for freedom. See, free 
nations do not export terror.

[[Page 1571]]

Free nations enhance the dreams of their citizens. Free nations are 
peaceful nations.
    By serving the ideal of liberty, we're bringing hope to others, and 
that makes our country more secure. By serving the ideal of liberty, 
we're spreading the peace. And by serving the ideal of liberty, we serve 
the highest values of our own country. Freedom is not America's gift to 
the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in 
this world.
    We have more to do to protect America. There's enemies who still 
hate us, and they're plotting. My opponent says 
that going to war with the terrorists is actually improving their 
recruiting efforts. The logic is upsidedown. It shows a dangerous 
misunderstanding of the enemy we face. During the nineties, these 
terrorists were recruiting and training for war with us--long before we 
went to war with them. They don't need an excuse for their hatred. It is 
wrong to blame America for the anger and evil of the killers. We don't 
create terrorists by fighting back; we defeat terrorist by fighting 
back.
    I agree with the conclusion the 9/11 Commission has said: Because of 
the actions we have taken since September the 11th, our homeland is 
safer, but we're not yet safe. I understand that. The way to make this 
country more secure is to be on the offense, is to find these terrorists 
and to bring the enemies to justice. And the way to make this country 
more secure is to start the hard process of reform.
    We've transformed our defenses. We created a new Department of 
Homeland Security. We passed the PATRIOT Act to give our law enforcement 
officers tools to track terrorists. The mission of the FBI is now 
focused on preventing terrorism. We're integrating intelligence and law 
enforcement better than we ever have before. We're already taking action 
on a large majority of the 9/11 Commission Report. And we've got more to 
do to better secure our ports and borders and to train our first-
responders, to dramatically improve intelligence gathering capability.
    Today I nominated a fine Floridian, Congressman Porter Goss, to head the Central Intelligence Agency. And we'll 
work with Congress to create a position of the National Intelligence 
Director so that one person is in charge of coordinating all our 
intelligence efforts overseas and at home.
    These reforms aren't going to be easy. Reform is never easy in 
Washington. There's a lot of entrenched interests there, people who are 
willing to defend the status quo. It's not enough to advocate reform. 
You've got to be able to get the job done. See, when it came to 
reforming schools, provide excellent education for our children, we got 
the job done, and results matter. When it came to health care reforms to 
give our families more access and more choices, we're getting the job 
done, and results matter. When it came to improving our economy and 
creating jobs, results matter. When it comes to better securing our 
homeland, when it comes to spreading the peace, results matter. When it 
comes to electing a President, results matter.
    Listen, we're living in changing times. These are changing times, 
and they're exciting times. And Government needs to stand side by side 
with the American people during these changing times. Do you know what 
that says to me? It says to me, we've got to continue to promote an 
ownership society in America. We want you to own and control your own 
health care accounts, so that if you go from one job to the next, the 
health care account is yours and stays with you.
    You know, I'm worried about younger workers in America. I'm worried 
about whether or not the Social Security system is fiscally sound enough 
for our younger workers. Old guys like me and McCain, we're set when it comes to Social Security. But to make 
sure the Social Security system works, we've got to let our younger 
workers have an option of taking some of their own money and 
establishing a personal savings

[[Page 1572]]

account that they can pass from one generation to the next.
    I'll tell you, I love the fact that more people now own their home 
in America than ever before. We love homeownership in my administration. 
I met Jack and Julie Broomes behind stage. They said, ``This year, thanks to your 
tax relief, we were able to buy a home.'' What a fantastic thought, to 
have that good family open their door and say, ``Welcome to my house.''
    We believe in ownership in this administration. We want more people 
owning their small business. I love the fact that more minority--
minorities are owning their own business. It's a hopeful sign for 
America. In a changing world, one way to help the American people is to 
promote an ownership society. When you own something you have a vital 
stake in the future of our country.
    In this world of rapid change, there's going to be some things that 
won't change: our belief in liberty and opportunity and the 
nonnegotiable demands of human dignity. We believe in the individual 
values we try to live by, courage and compassion, reverence and 
integrity. We honor the institutions that give us direction and purpose, 
our families, our schools, 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 which every 
person matters and every being counts. We stand for judges who 
faithfully interpret the law instead of legislating from the bench.
    We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. This culture of 
our 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 understands we're responsible for the decisions we make 
in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're 
responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. 
Listen, if you're worried about the quality of the education in this 
community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a 
CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to 
your shareholders and your employees. And in this responsibility 
society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like 
we'd like to be loved ourselves.
    The strength of this country is the hearts and souls of our 
citizens; that's the strength of America. Over the next 4 years, I'll 
continue to rally the armies of compassion and call upon people to help 
solve some of the most difficult problems of our society. Government can 
hand out money; it can't put hope in a person's heart or a sense of 
purpose in a person's life. That happens when a loving soul puts their 
arm around a lonely heart and says, ``I love you. What can I do to help 
you?'' I'm running for 4 more years to continue to call upon the great 
strength of America so we can change our country, one heart, one soul, 
one conscience at a time.
    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. It's a time when we need 
firm resolve and clear vision. See, 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. It's a day I'll never forget. I 
remember the people in hardhats yelling, ``Whatever it takes.'' I 
remember walking the ropeline. A guy grabbed me by his arm. He had just 
been searching in the rubble for a loved one. He said, ``Do not let me 
down.''
    As we all did that day, that fellow and the people searching through 
the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I have a duty that 
goes on. I wake up every morning thinking how best to keep America safe. 
I will never relent in defending our country, whatever it takes.

[[Page 1573]]

    We have come through a lot together. We've done hard work. We're 
moving this country forward. During the next 4 years, we'll spread 
ownership and opportunity to ever corner of America. We'll pass the 
enduring values of our country on to another generation. We will lead 
the cause of freedom and peace, and we will prevail.
    Four years ago, I traveled this great State and our wonderful 
country asking for the vote, and I made a pledge to my fellow Americans. 
I said if you honored me with this great responsibility, I would uphold 
the dignity and the honor of the office to which I had been elected. And 
with your help, I will do so for 4 more years.
    May God bless you. Thank you all for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 10:53 a.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center. 
In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; former 
Representative Joe Scarborough of Florida; entertainer Ricky Skaggs; 
Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi, leader of Libya; former President 
Saddam Hussein of Iraq; and the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks 
Upon the United States (9/11 Commission).