[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 20 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Pages 819-824]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Republican National Committee Dinner

May 17, 2005

    Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thanks for coming. 
Please be seated. [Laughter] Thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you 
for supporting the Republican Party. I am proud to be here today to not 
only offer my thanks but to remind you that our party has a positive, 
hopeful, optimistic vision for every single person who is fortunate 
enough to be an American.
    We are driving the debate on all key domestic and foreign policy 
issues. Because of our achievements, the American people see the 
Republican Party as the party of reform and optimism, the party of 
ideals and vision. And one of the reasons I asked Ken Mehlman to serve 
as the chairman of our party is because he is a man of vision; he is an 
idealistic soul. He is willing to take our message to every neighborhood 
in the United States of America. He did a fabulous job in managing my 
campaign in 2004. I'm proud to call him chairman of the Republican 
Party.
    The Comedian in Chief--[laughter]--is tied up, but she sends her 
love. Many of you know Laura as a friend. I'm fortunate to know her as a 
wife. She is a great mother and a fabulous First Lady for the United 
States. If you ever want to get a laugh, all you have to do is poke fun 
at the President and his mother. [Laughter]
    I want to thank my Secretary of Interior; Gale Norton is with us.
    I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I just had a 
chance to shake hands with Leader Bill Frist, who's doing a

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fabulous job. I enjoy working with the leadership of the House. Denny 
Hastert is a great Speaker of the House. Tom DeLay is a fine majority 
leader. Roy Blunt is a great whip. I thank all the Members of the Senate 
who are here, Members of the House who are here.
    I appreciate my friend Governor Haley Barbour from the great State 
of Mississippi, who has joined us.
    I want to thank Dwight Schar, the RNC finance chairman, and his 
wife, Martha. And I want to thank all the committee who is up here for 
working so hard to make this a successful evening. I appreciate your 
leadership. I appreciate your hard work. I appreciate your 
contributions. I want to thank Jo Ann Davidson, the RNC cochairman.
    I appreciate my friend Ambassador Mercer Reynolds, who is here. You 
might have heard from Mercer--[laughter]--in the course of the 2004 
year. [Laughter] I appreciate his hard work on my behalf.
    I want to thank The Spinners, and I want to thank Ricky Skaggs.
    But most of all, I thank you all. I want to thank you for supporting 
this event, and I want to thank you for supporting our party over the 
past years.
    You know, we took on the 2004 campaign with good ideas and a bold 
agenda. But the reason the people listened is because we did a lot in 
2000 and 2002--2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. In other words, we came to 
Washington, DC, to solve problems. We came with some principles on how 
to solve those problems. And most importantly, we have shown the 
American people we're capable of delivering results that are good for 
the American people.
    I mean, we understand that when you face economic hard times, the 
best way to get out of a recession is to let people keep more of their 
own money. We understand that when entrepreneurs and small businesses 
have more money in their treasury, they're more likely to hire somebody. 
And the economic policies we put in place during rough economic times 
are paying off. Our economy is growing. Since May 2003, we've added 3\1/
2\ million new jobs. More people are working in America today than ever 
before in our Nation's history.
    We came to Washington to challenge the status quo when it came to 
education. A lot of us were appalled at a system that just simply 
shuffled kids through the system. And so we wanted to challenge the soft 
bigotry of low expectations. And we successfully have challenged the 
soft bigotry of low expectations by insisting on high results and 
measurement so we can determine whether or not every child is learning 
to read and write and add and subtract. Because we acted, test scores 
are rising in America, the achievement gap for minority students is 
closing, the door of opportunity in our great country is opening more 
and more to every single child. No child will be left behind in America.
    We came to Washington to help keep commitments. Our Nation has made 
a commitment to health care for our seniors. And yet, the Medicare 
system that was available for our seniors was old and antiquated. We 
modernized Medicare. We said to seniors that you've got to have a 
medicine--a medical system that is up to date and current. Because we 
acted, we have given our seniors the medicine and pharmaceuticals that 
they deserve and they need to have good health care in their elder 
years.
    And we believe in ownership. We want more people owning something in 
America. We want more entrepreneurs owning their own business. Do you 
realize, today, more people own a home than ever before in our Nation's 
history. More minority families own a home than ever before in our 
Nation's history. Our party likes the idea when somebody opens their 
door and say, ``Welcome to my house. Welcome to my piece of property.'' 
We understand that when you own something, you have a vital stake in the 
future of the United States of America.
    No, we came to Washington to solve problems, and a major problem was 
presented to us, and that was the problem of a terrorist attack. But we 
acted. We put together the Homeland Security Department. It's the 
largest reorganization of Government in nearly a half a century. And I 
put good people in positions of responsibility and authority. I've asked 
them to streamline our Government so that I can look you in the eye and 
tell you, ``The United States Government

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is doing everything we can to protect the people of this country.'' But 
the best way to protect the people of America is to stay on the offense 
against the terrorists and bring them to justice.
    We have supported the United States military, and I can't tell you 
how proud I am to be the Commander in Chief of such a fine group of men 
and women. We've closed down terrorist networks and cells. We've 
disrupted their finances. We have chased their leaders down in mountains 
and deserts. We have been relentless, and we will stay relentless.
    Our most important duty is to protect the American people from these 
coldblooded killers. And when the American President speaks, he must 
mean what he says. And I meant what I said, ``If you harbor a terrorist, 
you're equally as guilty as the terrorist.'' And I was speaking directly 
to people like the Taliban. And because we acted, not only did we uphold 
doctrine and enhance the credibility of the United States of America, 
but we freed nearly 30 million people from the clutches of one of the 
most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. And I took great heart 
in recognizing that the first voter in the first Presidential election 
in years in Afghanistan was a 19-year-old woman.
    Because we acted, the Middle East and the world are rid of Saddam 
Hussein and his murderous regime. And like you, I was overwhelmed by the 
courage of the over 8 million Iraqis who defied the suiciders and car 
bombers and assassins to cast their vote in the country's first free and 
democratic election in decades. We were successful. We delivered results 
because we stayed true to our principles, and we were not afraid to push 
forward with new ideas.
    Let me put it to you this way: I do not need a poll or a focus group 
to tell me where I need to lead this country. In the midst of the Civil 
War, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, said, ``As our 
case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.'' And we continue that 
proud tradition today, as we're heading into the second term.
    Many of the most fundamental systems, the Tax Code, pension plans, 
health coverage, legal systems, and public education, were created to 
meet the needs of an earlier time. In the next 4 years, we'll reform 
these institutions to meet the needs of a new century. See, we have a 
duty. The job of the President is to confront problems, not to pass them 
on to future Presidents and future generations.
    And that's why I'm talking about Social Security, and the debate has 
only just begun. But I believe the side of reform is going to prevail, 
because the American people now are beginning to realize we have a 
serious problem when it comes to Social Security. And that problem 
begins with people like me. See, I'm fixing to retire. [Laughter] As a 
matter of fact, I turn retirement age in 2008. It turns out to be a 
convenient time. [Laughter] But there's a lot of people like me; there's 
a lot of baby boomers getting ready to retire. As a matter of fact, when 
we fully retire there will be over 70 million people retired. To put 
that in perspective, today there are 40 million retirees. So there's a 
lot of us who will be receiving greater benefits.
    They used to say when you're running for Congress, ``Vote for me. 
I'm going to increase the benefits.'' [Laughter] Sure enough, people got 
elected--[laughter]--and they increased the benefits. [Laughter] To 
compound things even worse, we're going to live longer. I urge you to 
exercise on a daily basis. [Laughter] You got a lot of people receiving 
greater benefits, living longer, with fewer people paying into the 
system. In 2017, the Social Security system goes into the red.
    See, somebody--as I travel the country--and I'm going to go to 
Milwaukee here later on this week for yet another stop--this is an 
education program. I've got to educate people about the truth, about the 
reality. See, a lot of people think there's a lockbox--[laughter]--that 
we take your money, and we save it for you. This is a pay-as-you-go 
system. You pay your payroll taxes, and we go ahead and spend it here in 
Washington, DC. [Laughter] In 2017, the system goes into the red. In 
2027, we're $200 billion short on what we owe people like me, relative 
to the payroll taxes. In 2041, the system goes bankrupt. We've got a 
serious problem.
    We don't have a problem for those people receiving Social Security 
today. As a matter of fact, if you were born prior to 1950, the system 
is in good shape. You're going to get

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your check. We have a problem for generations to come, and now is the 
time to act. Now is the time for people to come together and solve this 
problem once and for all.
    Not only do we need to save Social Security permanently for younger 
generations, we've got to make it a better deal for people coming up. 
That's why I believe younger people ought to be able to take some of 
their own money and set it aside in a voluntary personal savings 
account, so they can get a better rate of return on their money than the 
Government can get for them. But this idea has got more benefits to our 
society than just better rates of return. See, I don't subscribe to the 
notion that only certain people are a part of the investor class. I 
believe every American should be a part of the investor class. I believe 
every American should be encouraged to own assets, so they can pass it 
on to whomever they choose, assets that the Federal Government can never 
take away.
    Our party is the party of growth, and we're showing the country 
we're also the party of spending restraint. That's why I submitted the 
first budget to actually cut non-security, discretionary spending since 
Ronald Reagan was in office. Congress is on track to hold 
nondiscretionary--non-security, discretionary spending below last year's 
levels. And that's an important message to send. And the message is 
this: We're going to spend your money wisely, or we're not going to 
spend it at all.
    Our Tax Code is out of date. It is incoherent. [Laughter] We spend 
too many hours trying to figure it out. So I've appointed a bipartisan 
panel to examine the code from top to bottom. And when their 
recommendations are delivered, we're going to work together to put 
together a Tax Code that is progrowth, pro-entrepreneur, easy to 
understand, and fair to all.
    I've been spending some time talking about a subject that I know is 
dear to your heart. See, you've been going to the gasoline pumps lately. 
This country needs a--we need an energy plan. I submitted a plan to the 
Congress when I first arrived here. Four years of debate is enough. We 
need a plan that encourages conservation, encourages environmentally 
sensitive exploration for oil and gas in our own hemisphere, in our own 
country. We need a plan that encourages the use of renewables. We need a 
plan that makes wise use of coal and nuclear power. We need a plan that 
allows us to diversify away from hydrocarbons. We need a plan that is 
good for economic security and national security, a plan that makes us 
less reliable on foreign sources of energy.
    I put that plan to the United States Congress. The House passed a 
good bill. Now it is time for the United States Senate to follow suit. 
And I expect them, for the sake of this country and for the sake of our 
economy, to get me a bill by the August recess, a bill that I can sign.
    We're going to continue to work to free our businesses, small and 
large, from needless regulations and to protect honest job creators from 
the junk lawsuits. We're making progress. I signed a bill that passed 
both the House and the Senate, for class-action reform and bankruptcy 
reform. Now we need to pass asbestos litigation reform. And for the sake 
of good medical care, we need to stop these junk lawsuits that are 
running good docs out of practice and running up the price of your 
medical bills.
    We've got a clear agenda to make health care more affordable and to 
give families greater access to coverage and more control over their 
health care decisions. We're going to move forward to improve 
information technology. We're going to continue to expand health savings 
accounts. Congress needs to pass association health care plans so small 
businesses are able to pool risk and buy insurance at the same discounts 
that big business is going to do. One thing we're not going to do is 
we're not going to allow the Federal Government to make the health care 
decisions for patients and doctors in America.
    We'll continue to pass along to future generations time-honored 
values that sustain freedom and personal responsibility here at home. 
One of the most important initiatives I've laid out, and that we're now 
implementing, is our faith-based and community groups initiative. It's 
an initiative that understands that in parts of our country, people of 
faith and people of good will are able to heal broken hearts. The 
Federal Government should not fear faith-based institutions. We

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ought to welcome the healing works of the faith community in America.

    This party of ours will continue to promote a culture of life, and 
we will defend the institution of marriage from being redefined forever 
by activist judges.

    And speaking about judges--[laughter]--in the last two elections, 
the American people made clear that they want judges who faithfully 
interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. I have a duty to 
nominate well-qualified men and women to the Federal judiciary. I have 
done just that, and I will continue to do so.

    The Senate also has a duty to promptly consider each of these 
nominees on the Senate floor, discuss and debate their qualifications, 
and then give them the up-or-down vote they deserve. And speaking of 
confirmations, the Senate should also promptly confirm Mr. John Bolton, 
my nominee to be our Ambassador to the United Nations, so we can get on 
to the business of reforming that vital institution.

    Over the next 4 years, we'll be relentless in tracking down the 
terrorists. We will confront them abroad so we don't have to face them 
here at home. And as we do so, I want you to understand, I understand 
that the best way to make America more secure is to spread freedom and 
democracy.

    Freedom is on the march, because I believe etched in everybody's 
soul is the desire to be free. I don't care what your religion is. I 
don't care where you're from. Deep in your soul is the desire to be 
free. I believe every mother across the globe wants to raise her child 
in a peaceful and free society. I believe everybody wants to be able to 
express themselves freely and worship freely without fear of government.

    People in the Palestinian Territories cast their ballot against 
violence and corruption. The people of Lebanon are rising up to demand 
freedom and independence. The people in Egypt are taking its first steps 
on the path to democratic reform. The people in the Ukraine have stood 
strongly for their rights. I was in Georgia recently, the site of the 
Rose Revolution, where people stood in the town square and said, ``Let 
us be free.'' Freedom is on the march, and the world will be more 
peaceful as a result of it.

    We have a duty for future generations. We have a duty to leave this 
world more peaceful. We have a duty to reform the institutions that are 
old and tired. That's our duty.

    You know, political parties can take one of two approaches to great 
problems. One approach is simply to do nothing, to deny that a problem 
exists or delay solutions or refuse to take responsibility. The 
political parties that choose this option will not gain the trust of the 
American people. The other approach is to lead, to focus on the people's 
business, and to take on the tough problems. And that's exactly what 
we're doing here in Washington, DC. We're focusing on the people's 
business, and we are taking on the tough problems. And that's why the 
American people have entrusted us with the leadership of this Nation at 
an historic time.

    It's a great privilege to serve the American people, and it carries 
great responsibilities. You see, the actions that we take today will 
shape the course of events for the next half-century. We've set big 
goals, and they're not always easy to achieve. The truth of the matter 
is, if they're easy, somebody else would have already done it. 
[Laughter] But we're going to continue to be the party of idealism and 
reform. And we'll continue to lead, no matter how tough the challenge.

    We'll trust the American people. We'll continue to give them a clear 
choice. And so long as we stay true to our values and our ideas, we will 
do what Americans have always done, and that is to build a better world 
for our children and our grandchildren.

    Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 6:56 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. In his 
remarks, he referred to Ken Mehlman, chairman, Republican National 
Committee; Mercer Reynolds, former Victory national finance chairman, 
Bush-Cheney '04 campaign; entertainers The Spinners and Ricky Skaggs; 
and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He also referred to the 
President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform.

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