[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 19 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Pages 813-814]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Lancaster, Wisconsin

May 7, 2004

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for coming 
out. Come on, Laura. As you can see, I'm traveling with the A team of 
the Bush family. We're really glad to be here in Wisconsin, and I want 
to thank you all for coming out to say hello.
    We're on a bus trip because I'm out asking for the vote. I'm here to 
tell the people of this State I'd like to be your President for 4 more 
years. And one of the best reasons why is to keep Laura as the First 
Lady for 4 years.
    I'm not really here to politic you too much, but I do want you to 
know that I've got a plan to win this war on terror, and I've got a plan 
to spread freedom and peace. That's what I want to do. We're going to 
have to be tough in the years coming, and we've got to be compassionate 
too. This economy of ours is getting better. I hope the people in this 
part of the State are working. I know the farm economy is strong, and 
that's good for America. It's good for this part of Wisconsin.
    I've got a plan to keep us going, so people can find work and 
realize their dreams. We got some good news today. They added--we added 
288,000 new jobs last month. That's a good sign. Part of it has to do 
with making sure you get to keep more of your own money. That stimulus 
plan is working.
    And finally, my job is to tap into the compassion of America. Let me 
tell you where the strength of the country is. The strength of the 
country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens, like the people 
living right here in Lancaster. That's the strength of this country, and 
for those of you who are--those of

[[Page 814]]

you who are loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, 
I'm here to thank you for that; thanking you for mentoring children; 
thanking you for feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless; 
thank you for hearing that universal call--that universal call to help 
change this country one heart and one soul at a time. My job is to rally 
the spirit of this great country, and that's what I'm--that's what I'm 
doing, traveling your great State.
    I'm proud you're here, Mr. Mayor. Thanks for coming. Come on up 
here, Mr. Mayor. I always like to give the mayors advice. My advice is: 
Fill the potholes. [Laughter] Thanks for coming, Mayor.

[Mayor Jerry Wehrle of Lancaster made brief remarks and presented the 
President with a key to the city.]

    The President. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thanks for coming.
    Again, thank you all for coming out to say hello. We're kind of 
heading down the road, but before I leave I do want to say, I ask for 
God's blessings on you, and may God continue to bless our country.
    Thank you. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 12:28 p.m. at the Grant County Courthouse 
Square. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.