[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 45 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Pages 1551-1556]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Luncheon in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina

November 7, 2003

    Thanks for your warm welcome. Thank you for coming. I appreciate 
you. Thanks. Thank you all. Please be seated. Listen, it is great to be 
back in Winston-Salem. It's a incredibly beautiful part of our country, 
but more beautiful are the people who live here. And I want to thank you 
for your friendship. I want to thank you for your support. I want to 
thank you for coming today. What we're doing is laying the foundation 
for what will be a great national victory in November of 2004.
    We had a good run in 2000, thanks to you all. And the Vice President 
and I expressed our deepest appreciation for the hard work you all put 
in in the year 2000. We'll do even better in 2004 here in North 
Carolina. I want to thank you for--[applause]. I'm loosening up. 
[Laughter] I'm getting ready, but I've got a job to do. I've got to work 
on the people's business in Washington, DC. We've got a lot on the 
agenda, and so when you go to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, 
or your community centers, please tell them, Republican, Democrat, or 
independent alike, that the President is focused on the people's 
business and he will keep this Nation secure and strong and prosperous 
and free.
    I regret that Laura isn't with me today. You drew the short straw. 
[Laughter] She's a fabulous wife, a great mother, a wonderful First 
Lady. I'm really proud of the job she has done. She sends our very best 
to our friends here in North Carolina--her very best to our friends here 
in North Carolina. We've got a great friend in the Culbertsons. I'm so 
proud to know the Culbertsons. I want to thank them for their friendship 
and their leadership.
    I appreciate so very much traveling today with Congressman Richard 
Burr. He flew down on Air Force One. There isn't much air rage on Air 
Force One. [Laughter] He is going to make a great United States Senator 
for North Carolina. It's good to see Brooke Burr. I appreciate so very 
much that David Burr was here, his dad, who gave the invocation.
    I'm sorry that Senator Elizabeth Dole is not here, who, by the way, 
is doing a really good job for the people of North Carolina. I 
appreciate the Senator whose place she took, a man who stood strong, a 
man who stood on principle, Jesse Helms. Speaking about former Senators, 
I know Jim Broyhill is here. I appreciate you coming, Senator. I will 
pass your best on to your good friend my--I will pass your best on to 
your good friend number 41--[laughter]--if you know who I'm talking 
about there--[laughter]--who, by the way, is going to jump out of

[[Page 1552]]

an airplane on his 80th birthday. I know it--[laughter]--Mother had the 
same reaction. [Laughter]
    I want to thank very much my friend the mayor of Charlotte, Pat 
McCrory, who is here with us today. Mayor, thank you for coming. Good to 
see you. I know there's a lot of statehouse folks here and local 
government officials. I want to thank you all for being here. I 
appreciate your service to your great State and to your communities.
    I've asked a North Carolina graduate to serve as the national 
finance chairman for the Bush-Cheney campaign of '04. Mercer Reynolds is 
doing a fantastic job of working hard on our behalf, and I want to thank 
Mercer for his dedication and his friendship. I also want to 
appreciate--appreciate Dr. Aldona Wos, the State chairman for Bush-
Cheney. Thank you very much for your hard work.
    We've got a lot of grassroots activists who are here, people who are 
actually going to get on the phone and put up the signs and lick the 
envelopes, all necessary to make sure that we run a vibrant campaign. I 
want to thank Ferrell Blount for his leadership here in North Carolina. 
I want to thank all the grassroots activists for what you're fixing to 
do when we're coming down the stretch in 2004.
    Chief Linda Davis is here. I'm honored the chief is with us. I 
appreciate the fine job she is doing. It's not the first time I have 
seen the chief. I know you're proud of the job she does here in Winston-
Salem. I want to thank her for coming.
    But most of all, thank you all once again. It's a great turnout. It 
makes a fellow feel good to see so many people supporting him.
    The last 2\1/2\ years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront 
great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of 
passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to 
seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My 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 of the key leaders of the 
Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In 
Afghanistan and 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 countries once lived under tyranny, 
and today, 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. So we increased 
the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, 
no one in the world can doubt or question the skill or the strength or 
the spirit of the United States military.
    Two-and-a-half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession, and 
then our Nation was attacked. And then we had some scandals in corporate 
America, and then we marched to war, war in Afghanistan and Iraq, all of 
which affected the people's confidence. That's tough hurdles to cross, 
when it came to our economy. Yet, this administration 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.
    I know that when Americans have more take-home pay to spend, to 
save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to 
find a job. So we're returning more money to the 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 
so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration 
has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across 
America so every single citizen can 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, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a 
generation. We believe every child can learn to read and write and add 
and subtract. We expect every child to learn to read and write and add 
and subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low 
expectations.

[[Page 1553]]

    We dramatically increased Title I funding. For the first time, the 
Federal Government is now asking the question, ``Are you succeeding?'' 
We're asking the question of every single public school: whether or not 
we're meeting the high standards that we expect. The days of excuse-
making are over. This country will stay focused on the basics to make 
sure every child learns to read and write and add and subtract so not 
one single child is left behind.
    We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland 
Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and to better protect 
the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up 
markets for North Carolina's farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs. But I 
understand that trade is a two-way street, that if we have trade with 
other neighbors and countries, we expect there to be fair trade coming 
the other way. We passed much needed budget agreements to help maintain 
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. A lot 
of the credit goes to the Congress, people like Congressman Burr, people 
with whom we've--people like Speaker Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill 
Frist.
    We're working hard to focus the town on results, not on senseless 
politics. There's too much politics in Washington, DC. The leadership in 
the administration--we're trying to set a better standard. See, the 
people want us there to do the business. People there want us to do 
what's right for the country. That's what we're working hard to do, to 
change that culture in Washington.
    And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in our 
Government. I put together a fantastic team of people from all walks of 
life to serve the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice 
President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. [Laughter]
    In 2\1/2\ years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is 
only beginning. I've 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 to realize the great promise of America.
    It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the 
actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's 
defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The 
war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom aren't 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.
    We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and 
foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw that country into 
chaos by attacking coalition forces, by attacking the people who are 
there to provide aid to the long-suffering Iraqi citizens, and by 
attacking Iraqi citizens themselves. See, they know that the advance of 
freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This 
collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the 
civilized world, and this country will not be intimidated.
    Impressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there 
so we will not have to face them in our own country, we're calling on 
other nations to help. But you see, a free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, a 
peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make the entire world 
more secure.
    We're standing with the Iraqi people, the very capable, competent 
Iraqi people, as they assume more of their own defense and as they move 
toward self-government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential 
tasks. And we will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential 
victory in the war on terror.
    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.

[[Page 1554]]

    America also understands that unprecedented influence brings 
tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this 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, the healing power of medicine to millions of men and 
women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful, 
strong, compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly 
important work of human rescue.
    We face challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove 
equal to those challenges. So long as any of our citizens who want to 
work can't find a job, it says to me we've got a problem. I will 
continue to try to create an environment of job creation and job growth 
by enhancing the entrepreneurial spirit of America. We've had some good 
news recently about our economy. But we won't rest until everybody who 
wants to work can find a job.
    I'm going to talk today at one of your fine community colleges about 
the need for us to make sure there is adequate worker training programs 
to train--to help train the good citizens of North Carolina for the jobs 
which actually exist in the State of North Carolina.
    We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by 
strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, Congress took 
historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first 
time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have 
passed reforms, reforms which will increase the choices for our seniors, 
reforms which will provide coverage for prescription drugs.
    The next step is for both Houses to reconcile their differences and 
to get a good bill to my desk. We must handle our responsibilities in 
Washington by making sure the Medicare system is vibrant and viable and 
real, not only for seniors today but for those of us who are fixing to 
be seniors tomorrow.
    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 a rich settlement. 
Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore 
affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue 
which requires a national solution. I put forth a good piece of 
legislation which passed the House of Representatives. It is stuck in 
the United States Senate. It is time for some of the Senators to 
understand that no one has every been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We 
need medical liability reform today.
    I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial 
system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men 
and women to serve on the Federal courts, people who will interpret the 
law, not legislate from the bench. Here in Carolina, I nominated Judge 
Terry Boyle for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. I nominated this 
good man, this man of integrity, more than 2 years ago. We're still 
waiting for his vote in the United States Senate because a small group 
of Senators is willfully obstructing the process. Too many nominees like 
Judge Boyle are being denied an up-or-down vote. These needless delays 
in the system are harming the administration of justice. They're deeply 
unfair to the nominees and their families themselves. It is time for 
some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics 
with American justice.
    The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. 
Our Nation must promote better energy efficiency, better conservation. 
We must develop clean technology to help us explore in environmentally 
friendly ways. But for the sake of economic security, for the sake of 
national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign 
sources of energy.
    A prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will 
continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which says 
we will apply the most innovative ideas, the most effective ideas to the 
task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt.
    There are still millions of men and women who want to end their 
dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We 
must build on the success of the welfare reform by bringing work and 
dignity into the lives of more of our fellow

[[Page 1555]]

citizens. Congress should complete the ``Citizen Service Act'' so more 
Americans can serve their communities 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, 
caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. Oftentimes, 
many of the problems that our citizens face are problems of the heart. 
And Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's 
hearts or sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when people 
from any faith put their arms around a brother and sister in need and 
says, ``I love you.'' Our Government should not fear the work of our 
faith-based programs. We ought to welcome faith-based programs and the 
healing of 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 their own home. Today in America, we 
have a minority homeownership gap. I've submitted a plan to the United 
States Congress to close that gap. We want more people owning and 
managing their own retirement accounts. We want them owning and managing 
their own health care accounts. We want more people owning their own 
small business in America. We understand that when a person owns 
something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country.
    In a compassionate society, people respect each other and people 
take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America 
is changing from one that has said, ``If it feels good, do it,'' and 
``You got a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each 
of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life.
    If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible 
for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the 
quality of the education in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 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 would like to be loved ourself. The 
culture of service and the culture of responsibility is growing around 
us here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps in 
order to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a citizen 
in need, and the response has been fantastic. People from all walks of 
life are willing to help, willing to stand up, willing to make a 
difference in their communities. Our faith-based programs are strong and 
vibrant and growing. The social entrepreneurship in American is an 
integral part of the fabric of our society.
    You've got policemen and firefighters and people who wear our 
Nation's uniform remind 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 has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been 
privileged to see the compassion and the 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, the 
best days lie ahead.
    May God bless you all.



Note: The President spoke at 12 noon in the M.C. Benton, Jr. Convention 
and Civic Center. In his remarks, he referred to Jim Culbertson, event 
organizer; Brooke Burr, wife of Representative Richard Burr; Ferrell 
Blount, chairman, North Carolina Republican Party; and Linda Davis, 
chief, Winston-Salem Police Department.

[[Page 1556]]