[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 37 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Pages 1158-1162]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Indianapolis

September 5, 2003

    Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you all. Please 
be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in the 
great State of Indiana. It's such a beautiful part of America. You know, 
Vice President Cheney and I did pretty well in the year 2000 in this 
State. [Laughter] The next time around we should do even better, riding 
on the coattails of my man Mitch.

    I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It's a spectacular 
turnout. What we're doing is laying the groundwork for a strong 
foundation for what will become a great victory in November of 2004.

    I'm going to count on you for energizing the grassroots, for putting 
up the signs and mailing out the mailers and making the phone calls, for 
going to the coffee shops and reminding your fellow citizens that ours 
is a vision that includes everybody. Ours is a hopeful and optimistic 
vision for everybody who lives in the United States of America.

    The political season is coming pretty soon, and I'm loosening up. 
I'm getting ready, but right now I've got a job to do. And my job is to 
work on behalf of the people of America. I'm going to continue to work 
hard to earn the confidence of every American, keeping this Nation 
secure and strong and prosperous and free.

    I appreciate so very much my friend Al Hubbard. I didn't realize he 
was so articulate. [Laughter] Maybe he wasn't. [Laughter] But he's a 
great friend. I want to thank his leadership.

    My regret tonight is that the First Lady is not traveling with me. I 
married above myself. Laura is a remarkable person. I love her dearly. 
She's doing a great job on behalf of the American people.

    I want to thank Bob Graham for his work on this event. I, too, want 
to thank all the table captains and people who have worked hard to make 
this an enormous success. I appreciate my friend Mercer Reynolds from

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Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 
campaign. He's a business guy who's taking time out of his life to help 
us collect enough money to wage a viable campaign in 2004.
    I'm honored that members of the congressional delegation are with 
us. I'm particularly pleased that the chairman is with us, a fine 
American, a great friend, a person whose counsel and advice I take 
seriously, Senator Dick Lugar; a person with whom I've played golf and 
don't intend to play again since he took money from me--[laughter]--
Congressman Dan Burton; and another star of the congressional delegation 
is with us, and that's Congressman Mike Pence.
    I'm so pleased we've got State officials with us, Todd Rokita, who 
is the secretary of state--Mr. Secretary, I'm glad you're here--the 
State auditor, Connie Nass, is with us; the Republican house leader, 
Brian Bosma, is with us today, as is State Representative Mike Murphy. 
I'm so honored you all are taking time out of your day to be here. All 
politics is local. You have to work to prepare the groundwork for a new 
Governor who's coming soon, Mitch Daniels.
    Speaking about my man Mitch, I noticed a gracious move by David 
McIntosh in today's newspaper, a move of party unity, a move of serving 
something greater than himself. David, I appreciate your class act. I'm 
proud to call you friend, and I'm glad you're here tonight. Thank you 
for coming.
    There are people who have worked in my administration who are here. 
But one of the more famous Indianapolis citizens is with us tonight, who 
is serving our country with distinction, a man who understands the 
Faith-Based Initiative about as well as anybody in the country, and 
that's my friend Stephen Goldsmith. Thank you for coming, Stephen.
    Finally, I'd like to thank Jim Kittle, who is the chairman of the 
Indiana Republican Party. Get your uniform on, Jim. We're ready to roll. 
But I appreciate your service. Thank you all again for coming. It's a 
huge turnout.
    In the last 2\1/2\ years, our Nation has acted decisively to 
confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not 
to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to 
seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. I believe this 
administration is meeting the tests of our time.
    Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is 
what they got. We've captured or killed many leaders of the Al Qaida 
network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan, 
in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose 
defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people--50 
million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now 
they live in freedom.
    Two-and-a-half years ago, our military was not receiving the 
resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased 
the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, 
no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the 
spirit of the United States military.
    Two-and-a-half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And 
then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate 
America, and war. All affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We 
passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get 
the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to 
pass historic tax relief for the American people.
    Here is what I know, and here's what I believe, that when Americans 
have more take-home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole 
economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand 
whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money 
we spend. It's the people's money.
    We're returning more money to people to help them raise their 
families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to 
encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand 
and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the 
foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every 
single person in this country has a chance to realize the American 
Dream.
    Two-and-a-half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education 
reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and 
Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan 
majority,

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we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're 
bringing high standards, and in return for Federal money, strong 
accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe 
that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we 
believe every school must teach the basics. This administration is 
challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse-
making are over when it comes to education. We now expect results in 
every classroom so that not one child in America is left behind.
    During these 2\1/2\ years, we reorganized our Government and created 
the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and 
ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion 
authority to open up new markets for Indiana's farmers and ranchers and 
entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help 
maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue 
after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its 
word, and has made progress for the American people.
    The U.S. Congress has shared in these great achievements. I've got a 
great working relationship with Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist, and I 
intend to keep it that way. I look forward to working with Members of 
Congress to change the tone in Washington, DC, to get rid of the 
needless partisan bickering, and to focus on results, so the people know 
we have done our job.
    And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my 
administration. I've put together a fantastic administration to serve 
the American people, good, honorable, decent people. Our Nation has had 
no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have 
a different opinion. [Laughter]
    In 2\1/2\ years, in 2\1/2\ years' time, we have come far, but our 
work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. 
First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace 
for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in 
our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion 
so that every citizen--every single citizen--has a chance to work and to 
succeed and realize the great promise of our land.
    It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the 
actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's 
defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our 
war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and 
neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will 
not stop until this danger to civilization is removed.
    Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive 
threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of 
human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations 
do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world 
with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the 
deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom 
is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future 
of every nation.
    America also understands that unprecedented influence brings 
tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we 
see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. 
On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the 
healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now 
suffering with AIDS. I've called upon a fine citizen of Indianapolis to 
lead an incredibly important mission of human rescue. I want to thank 
Randy Tobias for his willingness to serve in a great cause.
    We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that 
we're equal to those challenges. The economy is getting better, but so 
long as people who want to work are looking for a job, I will continue 
to work to make the conditions for capital investment for the 
entrepreneurial spirit to remain strong. I care when I hear that people 
are not working.
    As well, we have a duty to make a commitment to America's seniors by 
strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the Congress 
took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the 
first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate passed 
reforms to increase

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choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. 
Now that the Congress is back from their August break, it is time for 
the House and the Senate to iron out their differences and to get a bill 
to my desk. The sooner they get the job done, the sooner American 
seniors will get the health care they need.
    And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on 
the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who 
have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court, yet the 
system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich 
settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health 
care, they affect the Federal budget. And therefore, medical liability 
reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I have 
proposed a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives 
responded with a good bill. The bill is now stuck in the United States 
Senate. Senators must realize that no one in America has ever been 
healed by a frivolous lawsuit.
    I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial 
system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men 
and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not 
legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep 
my nominees off the bench by blocking up-or-down votes. Every judicial 
nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on the floor of 
the United States Senate. It is time for some Members of the Senate to 
stop playing politics with American justice.
    In order to make sure we have economic vitality, the Congress needs 
to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must realize 
that our electricity grid needs to be modernized. I have proposed a 
modernization plan to the Congress. We need to promote alternative 
sources of energy like ethanol. We need to use our technologies to be 
able to explore for energy here at home in environmentally friendly 
ways. We need clean coal technology. For the sake of economic security 
and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less 
dependent on foreign sources of energy. Both the Senate and House have 
passed an energy bill. They need to get together and get a bill to my 
desk.
    Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate 
nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate 
conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the 
task of helping our fellow citizens in need.
    There are still millions of men and women who want to end their 
dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. 
Congress must work with us to build on the success of welfare reform, to 
bring work and dignity into more of--in the lives of more of our fellow 
citizens.
    Congress should complete the ``Citizen Service Act'' so that more 
Americans can serve their community and their country. And both Houses 
should reach agreement on my Faith-Based Initiative to support the 
armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, that are caring 
for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. Our Nation 
should not fear faith. We should welcome faith into the lives and to 
help heal our fellow citizens who hurt.
    A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including 
the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This 
administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in 
America. We want more people owning a home. We will continue to promote 
policies which will close the minority homeownership gap in America. We 
want people controlling their own health care plans. We want people in 
control of their own retirement accounts. And we want more people owning 
a small business, because we understand in this administration, when an 
American owns something, he or she has a piece of the future, a vital 
stake in the future of our country.
    In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take 
responsibility for the decisions they make. The old culture of America 
is changing. The old culture used to say, ``If it feels good, do it,'' 
and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody else.'' It's changing to a 
new day in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the 
decisions we make in life.
    If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible 
for loving your

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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 the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for 
loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture 
of service and the culture of responsibility is growing around us. I 
started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to 
extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has 
been strong. People have heard the call to serve our country.
    Our charities are strong. Our faith-based efforts are vibrant. 
People are being healed because fellow Americans are serving our Nation 
by loving somebody. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our 
Nation's uniform are constantly reminding us what it means to sacrifice 
for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America 
believe in heroes, because they see them every day.
    In these challenging times, the world is seeing the resolve and the 
courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and 
character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2\1/2\ years 
have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that 
strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in 
ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift 
whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by 
spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that 
history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our 
country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead.
    May God bless you all. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 6:18 p.m. at the Murat Centre. In his 
remarks, he referred to Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mitchell 
Daniels, Jr.; Allan B. Hubbard, former chairman, Indiana State 
Republican Party; former Indiana gubernatorial candidate David McIntosh, 
who withdrew his candidacy September 4; Stephen Goldsmith, chair, board 
of directors, Corporation for National and Community Service; and 
Randall Tobias, nominee to be Global AIDS Coordinator. This item was not 
received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.