[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 23 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Pages 991-996]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Victory 2004 Reception in Denver, Colorado

June 1, 2004

    Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you all being here. I 
want to thank you all for coming tonight. What we have done is we have 
made sure we're going to carry Colorado again. I love coming to this 
State. It's a State where the cowboy hats outnumber the ties. It's great 
to be here, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you all have 
taken time to come by to say hello.
    I bring greetings from First Lady Laura Bush. She is a fabulous 
First Lady, and she is a wonderful wife. I was a lucky guy when she said 
yes. There I was on bended knee in Midland, Texas. I said, ``Would you 
marry me?'' She said, ``Just so long as you don't get into politics.'' 
[Laughter] She is--she's come to realize what I know, that in this job 
you can do things to help influence people's lives in such a positive 
way. She speaks clearly about literacy. She's got a passion for helping 
people learn to read.
    I'll never forget the time she did the radio address, the 
Presidential radio address, and she spoke to the hopes and aspirations 
of the women in Afghanistan. And the feedback she got was such 
incredibly positive feedback. People said--people from that desperate 
part of the world sent word back that they so appreciated the fact that 
Laura lifted their souls and sights and spirits with just some kind and 
gentle words. I think there's a lot of reasons you need to put me back 
in office, but perhaps the most important is so that Laura can be the 
First Lady for 4 more years.
    I look forward to working with the Vice President for 4 more years. 
I'm very proud of the job that Dick Cheney has done. He's steady. He's 
strong. He's reliable. He is an excellent Vice President. I used to say 
he's the best Vice President we ever had, until one day Mother yelled 
out, ``Wait a minute, buster.'' [Laughter] But he's a good, solid friend 
and a good man.
    I really appreciate Governor Owens. He's one of the most articulate 
spokesmen for compassionate conservatism in the country. I'm proud to 
call him friend. I'm proud that Frances is here along with him. I 
appreciate your service, Governor, and thank you very much for what 
you've done for the State.
    I want to thank Benson--Bruce Benson. I knew he would amount to 
something one of these days. [Laughter] Thank you very much for leading 
this effort, Bruce. You and Marcy have been longtime friends, and I 
appreciate that. You know, in this line of work, if you can't count on 
your friends, it's going to be an empty journey. And the Bensons have 
been long-time friends, for which I'm grateful.
    I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who 
has been in charge of the Bush-Cheney fundraising effort and is now in 
charge of raising money for the Victory committees. Victory committees 
mean that we're going to have a little water in the bucket to water the 
grassroots, to turn out the vote. And for those of you who are what they 
call grassroots activists, I want to thank you for what you're fixing to 
do, which is to put up the signs, find the voters, and turn them out--
find out who they are and say, ``You owe it to our country to 
participate in democracy.''
    And don't be afraid to talk to discerning Democrats and independents 
too, because we've got a good, positive message. We've got something 
that lifts--our message lifts the spirits of this country. First, when 
you're convincing them, remind them that this administration has 
confronted serious challenges. We--when we came to office, the stock 
market was in decline and the economy was headed into recession. But we 
acted. We delivered historic tax relief. And over the past year, this 
economy of ours is the fastest growing of any industrialized--major 
industrialized nation in the world.
    We uncovered corporate crimes. Those corporate crimes affected the 
American people. And we worked with Congress to pass tough laws--I mean, 
tough laws--and made it abundantly clear we're not going to tolerate 
dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.
    We saw war and grief arrive on a September morning, and so we have 
pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We have been steadfast and 
strong in our--doing our duty, which is to protect America. We've 
captured or killed many of the key leaders of

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the Al Qaida network, and I assure you, the rest of them know we're on 
their trail.
    We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread 
of weapons of mass destruction. We ended two of the most violent and 
dangerous regimes on Earth. And now, thanks to our brave troops and 
coalition troops, 50 million people live in freedom.
    When we got to Washington, the military was underfunded and not very 
well appreciated. We anticipated the problem. We worked with Congress to 
pass robust defense budgets. And today, no one can question the skill or 
the strength or the spirit of the United States military. And tomorrow I 
look forward to going to the Air Force Academy to congratulate the 
newest class of Air Force officers and to thank them on behalf of a 
grateful nation for the service they're going to render.
    See, I hope you can tell that I understand it is the President's job 
to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and 
future generations. This is an important election. The man who sits in 
the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the 
direction of the economy. The security and the prosperity of our country 
are at stake in this election.
    And I've got a tough race. I'm looking forward to it--I'm looking 
forward to it. I'm running against an experienced United States Senator. 
He has been in Washington long enough to take both sides of just about 
every issue. [Laughter] He voted for the PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for the 
No Child Left Behind Act, and 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. He's kind of like the Colorado weather--[laughter]--
if you don't like it, just wait a few minutes and it will change.
    I'm running hard to seek the endorsement of the American people. My 
opponent claims he's picked up some endorsements as well, from foreign 
leaders. [Laughter] He just won't tell us who they are. [Laughter] He 
was asked this question on TV one time, and he said, ``What I said is 
true''--this is what my opponent said--he said, ``What I said is true. I 
mean, you can go to New York City, and you can be in a restaurant, and 
you can meet a foreign leader.'' I think this whole thing is a--
[laughter]--is a case of mistaken identity. [Laughter] Just because 
somebody has an accent--[laughter]--a nice suit, or a good table at a 
fancy New York restaurant does not make them a foreign leader. Foreign 
leaders will not be deciding this election. Fortunately, the American 
people will be deciding this election, and we are going to win 4 more 
years.
    The voters will have a unmistakable choice in the campaign. I mean, 
it's a clear choice. It's a choice between keeping the tax relief that's 
moving this economy forward or putting the burden of higher taxes back 
on the American people. It's a choice between an America that leads the 
world with strength and confidence or an America that is uncertain in 
the face of danger.
    I look forward to the debate. I look forward to laying out exactly 
where I want to lead this Nation. I've got a clear vision of how to make 
sure this economy continues to grow and for people to be able to realize 
their dreams. I know exactly what we need to do to win the war on terror 
and to bring freedom and peace to the world.
    I look forward to debating the issue of taxes. It's a big issue for 
every American family. With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan 
was the President, we have left more money in the hands that earned it. 
And by spending and investing and helping to create new jobs, the 
American people have used their money far better than the Federal 
Government would have.
    We've been through recession, corporate scandal, emergencies, and 
war. And yet, our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. In 
April, America added 288,000 new jobs. Manufacturing jobs have increased 
for 3 straight months. Since August, the economy has added 1.1 million 
new jobs. The first quarter of 2004, the economy grew at a rate of 4.4 
percent. Over the past year, economic growth has been the fastest in 
nearly 20 years. Business investment is up. Inflation is low. Mortgage 
rates are down. More people own a home in America than ever before. The 
economy is strong. It is getting stronger. The tax relief we passed is 
working.
    And there is a big difference in this campaign when it comes to 
taxes. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors, Republican and 
Democrat and independent, that

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when we passed the child credit to help families, my opponent voted 
against it. When we increased the child credit to help families, he 
voted against it. When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted against 
it. When we created a lower 10-percent rate for working families, he 
voted against it. When we reduced the tax rate on dividends that helps a 
lot of America's seniors, he voted ``no.'' When we passed tax relief to 
help small businesses, he voted ``no.'' I think we see a pattern here. 
It's a lot easier to get a ``yes'' vote out of him as a United States 
Senator when it comes to raising taxes. You make sure your friends and 
neighbors understand that as a United States Senator, he voted over 350 
times for higher taxes on the American people.
    We're now in the middle--we're now in the beginning of a campaign, 
and my opponent, thus far, has proposed $1.9 trillion of new spending at 
last count. And we really haven't gotten into the main thrust of the 
campaign. He said he's going to pay for it by taxing the rich. You can't 
raise enough money from the so-called rich in order to pay for all these 
new spending promises. There is a tax gap. And given his record, I know 
how he's going to fill the tax gap. He's going to have to tax the 
working people of the United States. But the good news is, he's not 
going to have that opportunity.
    It is very important for our citizens to understand that higher 
taxes will destroy economic growth. The American people will reject 
higher taxes. They're going to reelect a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, 
pro-small-businessowner President, George W. Bush.
    This campaign really is going to be a debate about who understands 
how to make sure America has the best economy in the world by making 
sure we're the best place to do business in the world. In order for 
people to find work, this has to be a good place to do business, a place 
that's competitive with other countries around the world.
    First, we've got to have spending discipline in Washington, DC. I 
look forward to working with the Congress to hold the line on spending 
the people's money. We've got to have--make sure that our country has 
got reasonable tort reform. There's too many junk and frivolous lawsuits 
that make it difficult for people to expand the job base.
    We've got to work to control the cost of health care through health 
savings accounts and association health care plans as well as medical 
liability reform at the Federal level. People in this country have got 
to understand that these lawsuits against our docs are running docs out 
of business and running up the cost of medicine.
    I've been--in order to make sure we're competitive, in order to make 
sure people can find work in this country, we need an energy policy. 
I've been calling upon the United States Congress to pass an energy plan 
for nearly 2 years, but they haven't listened. And now, people are going 
to the pump and finding out what I was talking about. We are too 
dependent on foreign sources of oil. Of course we need to encourage 
conservation and develop alternative sources of energy. But for the sake 
of national security and economic security, we need to be finding 
natural gas and crude oil right here at home, in environmentally 
friendly ways.
    We need to reject economic isolationism and be confident in our 
ability to compete around the world. There's some who want to shut down 
markets. Not me--I want to open markets. I know we're good at things. 
We're good at growing things. We're good at building things. Just give 
us a chance to compete on a level playing field, and we can out-compete 
anybody, anytime, anywhere in the world.
    I look forward to the debate on how to make sure this country stays 
competitive so people can find work. We've got the right philosophy in 
this campaign: The role of Government is not to create wealth; the role 
of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can 
flourish.
    The future of this country also depends on this Nation's leadership 
in the world. The momentum of freedom is strong, but we still face 
serious dangers. Al Qaida is wounded; Al Qaida is not broken. Terrorists 
are testing our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and 
Iran challenge the peace. If America shows weakness or uncertainty in 
this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to 
happen on my watch.

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    We are strong, and we are confident in the cause of freedom. We know 
that freedom is not America's gift to the world but the Almighty's gift 
to every person in this world. Today, nobody doubts the word of the 
United States of America, and the world is more peaceful for it.
    America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in 
Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance; the Taliban is no longer in 
power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in 
Iraq. The dictator chose defiance; the dictator sits in a prison cell. 
September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson this Nation must never forget: 
We 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. The previous administration and previous Congress 
looked at the same intelligence and made regime change in Iraq the 
policy of our country.
    In 2002, the U.N. Security Council yet again demanded a full 
accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. They were worried about 
Saddam Hussein. I was worried about Saddam Hussein. After all, he had 
attacked countries in his neighborhood. He had terrorist ties. Zarqawi, 
who's now running loose in Iraq, was in Baghdad prior to our arrival. He 
had funded terrorist activities. He paid suiciders to kill--the families 
of suiciders who killed innocent Israelis. He had used weapons of mass 
destruction on his own people. The world spoke and said, ``Disarm.'' And 
as he had for over a decade, he refused to comply. So I had a choice to 
make: either to take the word of a madman or to defend the security of 
this country. And given that choice, I will defend America every time.
    My opponent admits that Saddam was a threat. He just didn't support 
my decision to remove him from power. Maybe he was hoping Saddam would 
lose the next election. [Laughter] We showed the dictator and a watching 
world that America means what it says. Because we acted, because our 
coalition acted, Saddam's torture chambers are closed. Because we acted, 
Iraq's weapons programs are ended forever. Because we acted, nations 
like Libya have gotten the message and renounced their own weapons 
programs. Because we acted, an example of democracy is rising at the 
heart of the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free and 
America is more secure.
    The work in Iraq has been hard. It's been tough. We've--we faced the 
changing conditions of war. And that has required perseverance and 
sacrifice and the ability to adapt. Instead of being killed or captured 
on the battlefield, some elements of Saddam's repressive regime and 
secret police were able to escape, and they have since reorganized, and 
they've adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics. That's what you're 
seeing.
    They've linked up with foreign fighters. I mentioned the guy 
Zarqawi. He's an Al Qaida associate. He's a coldblooded killer. He and 
these others are trying to sow chaos by killing innocent people. They're 
trying to shake our will. They're trying to frighten the Iraqis. They 
don't know this country, obviously. America will never be intimidated by 
thugs and assassins.
    We will honor our duty to those who've fallen on the battlefield, to 
complete the mission. We will honor our word to the Iraqi people when we 
say we'll stand with them as a free society emerges. This is an historic 
times. This is a great moment in history. As a free country emerges, it 
serves as an example in a part of the world that's so desperate for 
freedom, a part of the world where people are angry and hostile because 
they don't have any hope.
    The world will see that free societies are peaceful societies. And 
the Middle East will see that free societies are societies that meet the 
aspirations and hopes of moms and dads who yearn for the same thing we 
yearn for: a child to be educated, their child to have a chance at 
realizing a dream. These aren't easy tasks, I know that. I've asked a 
lot of this country, and I've asked a lot of our coalition. But they are 
essential tasks. They're necessary tasks. We will finish what we have 
begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror.
    I look forward to the debate on national security. Americans have a 
clear choice. My opponent says he approves of bold action in

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the world, but only if other countries do not object. I'm all for united 
action--so are the over 30 countries that are working with us in Iraq 
today. But I will never turn over America's national security decision 
to leaders of other countries.
    And we have another disagreement that I look forward to debating. My 
opponent has said the war on terror is far less of a military operation 
and far more of 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, and they were 
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. The terrorists and their allies 
declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got.
    And winning this war requires a great military, and a great military 
requires giving our troops the best training and best equipment in the 
world. And that's why I went to the Congress last fall and proposed an 
$87 billion supplemental appropriation. Most of that money went to our 
troops to make sure they're well-equipped. My opponent voted against the 
87 billion. You might remember his answer when they asked him why he 
voted against it. And here is what he said: ``I actually did vote for 
the $87 billion, before I voted against it.'' The American President 
must speak clearly and mean what he says.
    Our men and women in the military take great risks on our behalf. 
And if you've got a loved one in the military, you tell him the 
Commander in Chief is incredibly proud. And I know you are as well.
    The conduct of those people inside that prison was disgraceful, and 
their action does not represent the true character of the United States 
military. I have seen the great decency and courage of our troops. And I 
assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in good hands.
    This Nation is strong, and it is prosperous. Yet, we need to 
remember, our greatest strength is in the hearts and souls of our 
citizens. We're strong because of the values we try to live by: courage 
and compassion, reverence and integrity. We're strong because of the 
institutions that help give us direction: our families, our schools, and 
our religious congregations. These values and institutions are 
fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect of the 
Government.
    We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups so they can 
receive Federal support for their works of healing and compassion. We 
stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen marriage, 
which have helped millions of Americans find independence and dignity. 
We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and every 
person matters. We stand for institutions defended by judges who 
strictly and faithfully interpret the law.
    We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. The culture of 
this country is changing from one that has said, ``If it feels good, 
just go ahead and do it,'' and ``If you've got a problem, blame somebody 
else,'' to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible 
for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a 
mother or a father--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 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 a responsibility society, each 
of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be 
loved ourself.
    You know, for all our country, these years in our history will 
always stand apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when 
little is expected of its leaders. These aren't one of those times. You 
and I are living in a period when the stakes are high and the challenges 
are difficult, a time when firm resolve is needed.
    I know none of us will ever forget the week when one era ended and 
another began. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the 
Twin Towers. It was a day I'll never forget. I remember people in 
hardhats shouting at me, ``Whatever it takes.'' People

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were kind of grabbing me as I was walking by and say, ``Don't let me 
down.''
    As we did that day, and as I'm sure you did, and I know those men 
and women felt, we were--we took it personally. I took it personally. I 
will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies. I will defend the 
security of America, whatever it takes.
    And during these tough times, I have also seen the character of this 
country. You know, it wasn't so long ago people had doubts about 
America. They had doubts about our character. They had doubts about our 
capacity to meet a serious challenge or to serve something greater than 
self-interest. But Americans gave their answer loud and clear. 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. I saw America, just like you did, unite when it 
mattered most.
    We're going to need all these qualities for the work ahead. We have 
a war to win. The world is counting on our country to lead the cause of 
freedom and peace. We have a duty to spread 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 great land, the best days lie ahead.
    May God bless you all. Thanks for coming. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 6:45 p.m. at the Lawrence C. Phipps 
Memorial Conference Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Bill 
Owens of Colorado and his wife, Frances; Bruce D. Benson, Victory 2004 
Colorado finance chairman, and his wife, Marcy; and former President 
Saddam Hussein of Iraq.