[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 19 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Pages 748-754]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Sterling Heights, Michigan

May 3, 2004

    The President. Thanks for coming. It is great to be back in 
Michigan. In case you haven't heard, we're on the George W. Bush bus 
tour. It's my way to let the people of Michigan know how much I 
appreciate their support, how much I'm counting on your support. It's my 
way of letting you know I want to win and be President for 4 more years.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Thank you all for coming. The first thing is I'd like 
to ask you to volunteer in the campaign. Get your neighbors to register 
to vote. Put the signs up. Talk to people from all walks of life and 
tell them this, that I've got a positive vision for the future of this 
country. I've got a positive vision for winning the war on terror and to 
spreading peace and freedom throughout the world, a positive vision for 
creating jobs and opportunity for every single American, a positive 
vision for capturing the great spirit of this country so every citizen 
has a chance to realize their dreams. I've got a goal to make sure this 
country is safer and stronger and better. I will leave no doubt where we 
stand, and we will win on November the 2d.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. We've had a fabulous day today. It's been somewhat 
diminished by the fact that Laura had to go home early. No, I know, you 
drew the short straw. [Laughter] There's a lot of reasons why I think I 
need to be reelected, but for certain, one of the most important reasons 
is to make sure that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years.

[At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience.]

    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. I can't tell you how proud I am of Laura. She is a 
fantastic First Lady. She is the love of my life. I am really proud of 
her, and I appreciate the job she has done.

[[Page 749]]

She loves the children of America. She understands the importance of 
teaching every child to read. And she sends her very best to all our 
friends here in the Detroit area of the great State of Michigan.
    I picked a really good man to be the Vice President of the United 
States in Dick Cheney. I want to thank Congresswoman Candice Miller for 
being my State campaign coordinator. I appreciate so very much 
Congressman Joe Knollenberg for being here today. Congressman Mike 
Rogers is with us as well.
    I want to thank the secretary of state Terri Lynn Land for--Terri 
Lynn just drove with us from Kalamazoo here to the Detroit area on the 
George W. Bush bus.
    I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I 
want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank 
my friend Travis Tritt for coming up from Nashville. I appreciate it. 
Billy Cerveny--I appreciate both of these great artists for coming 
today. I'm honored to have your support and your friendship. It means a 
lot to me.
    The last 3 years have brought serious challenges, and we have given 
serious answers. We came to office with the stock market in decline and 
an economy headed into recession. We delivered historic tax relief, and 
now our economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized 
country in the world. We uncovered corporate crimes that cost people 
their jobs and their savings, so we passed strong corporate reforms, 
brought the wrongdoers to account, and made it clear we will not 
tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.
    We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning. We pursued 
the terrorist enemy across the world. We have captured or killed many 
key leaders of the Al Qaida network. The rest of them will learn there 
is no cave or hole deep enough to hide from American justice.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror 
and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, so we ended two of the 
most violent and dangerous regimes on Earth. We liberated over 50 
million people. Once again, America is proud to stand against tyranny 
and to set nations free.
    When Dick Cheney and I came to office, we found a military that was 
underfunded and underappreciated, so we gave our military the resources 
and the respect they deserve. And today, no one can question the skill 
and the strength and the spirit of the United States military.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. It is the President's job to confront problems, not 
to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. The 
President needs to step up to make the hard decisions and to keep his 
commitment, and that is how I will continue to lead our Nation for 4 
more years.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Great events will turn on this election. The man who 
sits in the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the 
direction of our economy. The security and prosperity of America are at 
stake. The stakes are high.
    I'll have a tough race, and that's why I'm counting on your help. 
I'm running against an experienced United States Senator.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. He's been in Washington for quite a long time. He's 
been there long enough to take both sides of just about every issue. He 
voted for the PATRIOT Act. He voted for NAFTA. He voted for No Child 
Left Behind, and he voted for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes 
the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation 
of Iraq.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. He's been on both sides of big issues. And if he 
could find a third side--[laughter]. He recently gave us another example 
of his technique. Last winter, my opponent was in Michigan and somebody 
asked him about the cars he had. [Laughter] Here in the great auto-
producing State, he said, quote, ``We have some SUVs.'' He was talking 
about having a couple of minivans and a big Suburban. Last month, on 
Earth Day, Senator Kerry had a different description of his fleet. 
[Laughter] He said, and I quote,

[[Page 750]]

``I don't own an SUV.'' To clear up the confusion he said, ``The family 
has it. I don't have it.'' [Laughter] In other words, he doesn't have an 
SUV except when he's in Michigan. [Laughter] Now, there's a fellow who's 
getting a lot of mileage out of his Suburban. [Laughter]
    Whatever he drives, the voters this year will have a clear choice. 
It is a choice between keeping the tax relief that is moving this 
economy forward or putting the burden of higher taxes back on the 
American people. It is a choice between an America that leads the world 
with strength and confidence or an America that is uncertain in the face 
of danger.
    The other side hasn't offered much in the way of strategies to win 
the war or policies to help people find work. We're well into the 
campaign, and all we hear is bitterness and outbursts instead of calm 
debate. They will find out that anger is not an agenda for the future of 
America. I will take on the big issues with optimism and resolve and 
determination. And I will make it clear, we stand ready to lead this 
country for 4 more years.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. A big issue for every family in America is the 
Federal tax burden. With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was 
the President, we have left more money in the hands of those who earned 
it. By spending and investing and helping create new jobs, the American 
people have used their money far better than the Government would have.
    We've overcome some tough challenges in this country, but I'm an 
optimist, because I understand the entrepreneurial spirit of America. 
I've seen small-business owners dream big dreams. I know you're facing 
economic challenges here in the great State of Michigan. Manufacturing 
communities have been especially hard hit. There are workers who are 
concerned about their jobs. I understand that--I understand that. Our 
economy is in a time of transition, and if you're the one going through 
transition, it's not an easy experience.
    Workers and businesses in Michigan are meeting the challenges, 
though, with energy and optimism because of good policy. Because of the 
hard work of the people of this State and other States, our economy is 
strong, and it is growing stronger.
    The economy grew at a strong rate of 4.2 percent in the first 
quarter of this year. Economic growth over the past three quarters has 
been the fastest in nearly two decades. In March, America added 308,000 
new jobs, the highest monthly job growth total in almost 4 years; 5,900 
of those new jobs was created here in Michigan.
    Across this country, manufacturing activity is increasing. Business 
investment is rising. Disposable income is up. Inflation is low. 
Mortgage and interest rates are low. Homeownership is at the highest 
rate ever. The tax relief we passed is working.
    My opponent has a different view of letting the American people keep 
more of their own income. When we passed an increase in the child credit 
to help families, he voted no. When we reduced the marriage penalty, he 
voted against it. When we created a lower 10-percent tax rate for 
working families, he voted no. When we gave small businesses a tax 
incentive to expand and hire, he voted against it.
    When tax increases are proposed, it's a lot easier to get a ``yes'' 
vote out of him. [Laughter] He voted for taxes over--for higher taxes 
over 350 times since he's been a United States Senator. He supported gas 
tax increases 11 times and once favored an increase of 50 cents a 
gallon.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. By the way, it costs you $5 every time you filled up 
your car. For that, he at least ought to throw in a free car wash. 
[Laughter]
    He's also proposing a lot of new spending. You've got to be careful 
about these folks that go around the country making promises with your 
money. He's increased spending over a trillion dollars, and we're just 
getting started in the campaign. He says he's going to pay for it by 
raising taxes on the rich. But he's got a problem--he's got a problem. 
All that new spending can't raise enough money--can't be paid for by 
raising money on the rich. Guess who he's going to raise taxes on: You. 
In order to pay for that new spending he's promised, he's either going 
to break the promise, or he's going to have to

[[Page 751]]

raise the taxes on the hard-working American people. And we're not going 
to let him have a chance to do so.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. See, you and I understand that higher taxes would 
undermine growth and destroy jobs just as our economy is getting 
stronger. To help grow the American economy and to create more jobs for 
American workers, I've got a better idea: We should keep the tax rates 
low. We should not raise taxes on the American people.
    I want to be your President for 4 more years because I got a plan to 
make sure our country is the strongest economy in the world so people 
can find work. I have a plan to protect small-business owners and 
employees from frivolous lawsuits and needless regulations. We got a 
plan to help control the cost of health care by giving people better 
access through health savings accounts and association health care 
plans. I understand what frivolous lawsuits do to the cost of medicine. 
We need medical liability reform at the Federal level.
    In order to make sure this economy is strong over the next decade, 
we need to have an energy plan. We need to encourage conservation, 
alternative sources of energy, but we need clean coal technology. We 
need exploration for natural gas. We need to become less dependent on 
foreign sources of energy.
    In order to keep this economy strong and to make sure we're the 
leader in the world in economic growth so people can find work, I will 
continue to knock down trade barriers in foreign countries. Listen, 
we're the best in the world at growing things and manufacturing things 
in the high-tech world. All our people need is a level playing field. We 
should reject economic isolationism and work to make sure that our 
workers are treated fairly in overseas markets.
    Empty talk about jobs and economic isolationism won't get anybody 
hired. The way to make sure this country is strong and people can find 
work is to reelect a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, pro-small-business 
President, and that is George W. Bush.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. Our future also depends on America's leadership in 
the world. The momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but we still 
face serious dangers. Al Qaida is wounded but not broken. Terrorists are 
testing our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and 
Iran are challenging the peace. If America shows weakness and 
uncertainty in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This 
will not happen on my watch.
    This Nation is strong and confident in the cause of freedom. And 
today, no friend or enemy doubts the word of the United States of 
America. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime 
in Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance, and the Taliban are no 
longer in power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror 
regime in Iraq. The dictator chose defiance, and now the dictator sits 
in a prison cell.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will 
never forget and America must never forget. America must confront 
threats before they fully materialize. In Iraq, my administration looked 
at the intelligence, and we saw a threat. Members of Congress looked at 
the intelligence, and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security 
Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a threat. As a matter of 
fact, the previous administration and the Congress looked at the 
intelligence and made regime change in Iraq the policy of our country.
    In 2002, the United Nations Security Council, yet again, demanded a 
full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. As he had for over 
a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to comply. I remembered the history of 
this man. He invaded his neighbors. He hated America. He had used 
weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He paid for 
suiciders----

[At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience.]

    The President. ----he paid for suiciders to attack Israelis. He had 
ties to terrorists. So I had a choice: Either take the word of a madman, 
or defend America. Given that choice, I will defend America every time.

[[Page 752]]

    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. My opponent admits that Saddam Hussein was a threat. 
He just didn't support my decision to remove Saddam from power. Maybe he 
was hoping Saddam would lose the next Iraqi election. [Laughter]
    We showed the dictator and a watching world that America means what 
it says. Because we acted, Saddam's torture chambers are closed. Because 
we acted, Iraq's weapons programs are ended forever. Because we acted, 
nations like Libya got the message and renounced their own weapons 
programs. Because we acted, an example of democracy is rising at the 
very heart of the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free, 
and America is more secure.
    On the ground in Iraq, we still face serious challenges. It's hard 
work, but it's necessary work. Illegal militias and remnants of the 
regime, joined by foreign terrorists, are trying to take by force the 
power they could never gain by the ballot. They know a free Iraq will be 
a major defeat for the cause of terror. These groups have found little 
support among the Iraqi people. And they will find no success in their 
attempts to shake the will of America. You see, they don't understand 
our country. We will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins.
    Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
    The President. A free Iraq is an historic opportunity to change the 
world for the better. A free Iraq will be a peaceful Iraq, and we're 
implementing a clear strategy in Iraq. First, we will ensure there's an 
atmosphere of security as Iraqis move toward self-government. We support 
the effort of local Iraqis to convince the radicals to disarm. We made 
it clear that militias in Najaf and elsewhere must disarm, or they will 
face serious consequences. American and coalition forces are in place, 
and we are fully prepared to bring security and order in Fallujah and 
Najaf and around the country of Iraq.
    The second element of our strategy is to return sovereignty to the 
people of Iraq on the schedule that we agreed to. We must keep our word. 
Like any proud people, Iraqis want to manage their own affairs, and I 
believe they can. It's a common goal we share. So on June 30th, a 
sovereign Iraq interim government will take office. We will still have 
hard work to do. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. 
We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential 
victory in the war on terror.
    On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice. 
My opponent says he approves of bold action in the world but only if 
other countries do not object.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. I'm all for united action. We built strong 
coalitions. There are more than 30 coalition partners in Iraq right now. 
But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to 
leaders of other countries.
    We have a different point of view on security matters. Over the 
years, my opponent has opposed many of the aircraft and weapons 
programs, including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Tomahawk Cruise 
Missile you build right here in Michigan, programs that are vital to our 
Nation's defense and programs that are now helping us win the war on 
terror. Last year, he voted against funding for ammunition and supplies 
and body armor for our troops on the frontlines of the war on terror.
    Audience members. Boo-o-o!
    The President. Someone recently asked Senator Kerry why he voted 
against the 87 billion supplemental bill to fund those essential needs 
for our troops, and here is what he said: ``I actually did vote for the 
87 billion, before I voted against it.'' [Laughter] The President must 
speak clearly and mean what he says.
    Some are skeptical the war on terror is really a war at all. Again, 
my opponent says the war on terror is far less a military operation and 
far more an intelligence-gathering, law enforcement operation. I 
disagree. Our Nation followed this approach after the World Trade Center 
was bombed in 1993. The matter was handled in the courts and thought by 
some to be settled. But the terrorists were still training in 
Afghanistan. They were still plotting in other nations. They were still 
drawing up more ambitious plans.
    After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough 
to serve our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks,

[[Page 753]]

the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States of 
America, and war is what they got.
    Our men and women in the military are taking great risks, and 
they're doing great work. At bases across our country and the world, I 
have 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. And I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of 
freedom is in good hands.
    Audience members. Bush! Bush! Bush!
    The President. This Nation is prosperous and strong. Yet, we need to 
remember that our greatest strength is in the hearts and souls of the 
American citizens. We are strong because of the values we try to live 
by, courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We are strong 
because of the institutions that 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 the fair treatment of faith-based groups so they can 
receive Federal support for their works of compassion and healing. We 
will not stand for Government discrimination against people of faith.
    We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen 
marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find independence and 
dignity. We will not stand for any attempt to weaken those reforms and 
to send people back into lives of dependence.
    We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and 
every person matters. We will not stand for the treatment of any life as 
a commodity to be experimented upon or exploited or cloned.
    We stand for the confirmation of judges who strictly and faithfully 
interpret the law. We will not stand for judges who undermine democracy 
by legislating from the bench or judges who try to remake the values of 
America by court order.
    We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. The culture of 
our country is changing from one that has said, ``If it feels good, just 
go ahead and do it,'' and ``If 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 a mom or a dad, you are responsible for loving your child 
with all your heart. 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 this responsibility society, each of us is responsible 
for loving our neighbor just like we like to be loved ourselves.
    For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand 
apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is 
expected of the leaders. This isn't one of those times. You and I are 
living in a period when 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'll never forget that day. The workers in the hardhats were 
shouting, ``Whatever it takes.'' One man pointed at me and said, ``Don't 
let me down.'' As we 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 
the enemies. I will defend the security of America, whatever it takes.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
    The President. In these times, I've also been witness to the 
character of this Nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about 
the America character, our capacity to meet serious challenges or to 
serve a cause greater than self-interest, but Americans have given their 
answer. 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 of these qualities for the work ahead. We've got 
work to do for this Nation. We've got 4 more years to make--[applause].
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

[[Page 754]]

    The President. We've got 4 more years to make sure that we win the 
war on terror. 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 country, the best days lie ahead.
    I'm honored to have your support. May God bless you, and may God 
continue to bless America. Thank you all very much.

Note: The President spoke at 8:44 p.m. in the Jerome-Duncan Theatre at 
Freedom Hall. In his remarks, he referred to Michigan Secretary of State 
Terri Lynn Land; and country music entertainers Travis Tritt and Billy 
Cerveny. The transcript of these remarks was released by the Office of 
the Press Secretary on May 4.