SPEECHES
FROM THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
George W. Bush
Campaign Rally
Remarks
July 20, 2004 • St. Charles, Missouri
Thank you all very much. I am proud
to be back in Missouri, in this great city of St. Charles.
(Applause.) John Ashcroft told me this morning that St.
Charles was the first capital of Missouri. (Applause.)
Today, the way things look, St. Charles is the capital
of Bush-Cheney country. (Applause.) I always enjoy coming
to the St. Louis area. You might remember the last time
I was here, I brought my 30-mile-an-hour fastball. (Applause.)
Now look at the Cardinals. (Applause.)
I'm here to ask for your vote. (Applause.) I'm here to
let you know I've got more to do for this country and I
want your help. I want you to go to your community centers
and your places of worship and your -- all around this
important part of the country and tell folks they have
an obligation to vote. (Applause.) And you might remind
them if they want optimistic, hopeful, determined leadership,
vote for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. (Applause.)
With your help, we carried Missouri in 2000; with your
help, we'll carry Missouri in 2004 as a part of a great
nationwide victory. (Applause.) So thanks for coming. (Applause.)
My only regret is that Laura is not traveling with me.
AUDIENCE: Awwww!
THE PRESIDENT: That's generally the reaction. (Laughter.)
And the reason why is because the people understand she
is a great First Lady. (Applause.) And I understand I'm
a lucky man to have such a fine person as my wife. (Applause.)
Tonight I'll give you some reasons why you need to put
me back in office, but perhaps the most important reason
is so that Laura will have four more years. (Applause.)
I want to thank Madam Speaker for her kind introduction.
Catherine, thank you for your leadership and your service.
I want to thank my friend, Matt Blunt. Good to see you,
Governor. (Applause.) Peter Kinder is here, and I'm proud
Peter is here. I want to thank him for his friendship.
Mike Gibbons, all those who serve at the state and local
level, thank you for serving our communities and our country.
I particularly want to say thanks to the grassroots activists
who are here -- (applause.) The unsung heroes who make
all the phone calls and put up the signs, and get people
to register to vote, and remind people that if they're
interested in helping, they can get on the Internet at
the georgewbush.com site. (Applause.) I'm counting on your
help. I'm counting on your support. I'll lay out the vision,
you get the people to the polls, and we'll have four more
years. (Applause.)
And when you're convincing people to do their duty, remind
them that the last three-and-a-half years have brought
serious challenges, and we have given serious answers.
(Applause.) We came to office with the stock market in
decline, and an economy headed into recession. But we acted.
We delivered historic tax relief, and over the past three
years America has had the fastest growing economy of any
major industrialized nation. (Applause.)
We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning.
So we pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We
have captured or killed many leaders of the al Qaeda network.
We will stay on the hunt until justice is done and America
is secure. (Applause.)
We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror, the
spread of weapons of mass destruction. So we acted against
two of the most violent and dangerous regimes on earth.
We liberated over 50 million people. Once again, America
is proud to lead the armies of liberation. (Applause.)
When our great Vice President, Dick Cheney, and I -- (applause)
-- when we came to Washington, the military was under funded
and underappreciated. (Applause.) So we gave our armed
forces the resources and respect they deserve, and today,
nobody can question the skill and the strength and the
spirit of the United States military. (Applause.)
These accomplishments are important to the security and
the prosperity of America. You see, it is the President's
job to confront problems, not to pass them on to future
Presidents and future generations. (Applause.) A President
must make the hard decisions and keep his commitments.
And with your help, that is how I will continue to lead
our great nation for four more years. (Applause.)
THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: I'm looking forward to the contest. (Applause.)
And it's going to be a hard race -- that's why I'm here
to ask for your help. I'm running against -- I'm running
against an experienced United States senator.
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: He's been in Washington a long time --
long time. He's been there long enough to take both sides
of just about every issue. (Laughter and applause.) He
voted for the Patriot Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind
Act, and for the force -- use of force in Iraq. Now, he
opposes the Patriot Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind
Act, and the liberation of Iraq. (Laughter.) If you disagree
with the senator on most any issue, you may just have caught
him on the wrong day. (Laughter and applause.)
And as you know, he's picked a running mate. Senator Kerry
is rated as the most liberal member of the United States
Senate. And he chose a fellow lawyer, who is the fourth
most liberal member of the United States Senate.
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, in Massachusetts, that's what they
call balancing the ticket. (Laughter and applause.)
Great events will turn on this election. The person who
sits in the Oval Office will set the course of the war
on terror. and the direction of our economy. I'm asking
for your vote because I have a vision and a strategy to
win the war on terror and to extend freedom and peace throughout
the world. (Applause.) I'm asking for your vote because
I have a plan and strategy to continue to create jobs and
opportunity for every single American. I'm asking for your
vote because I have a plan to continue to rally the armies
of compassion, the compassionate spirit of this country,
so every single American has a chance to realize the great
promise of our land. I'm asking for your help -- and after
four more years, America will be safer, stronger, and a
better nation. (Applause.)
THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: A big issue for every family is the federal
tax burden. By providing the largest --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Oh, it's killing me! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: By providing the largest federal tax relief
since Ronald Reagan was the President -- (applause) --
we've left more money in the hands that earned it. (Applause.)
By spending and investing and helping create new jobs,
the American people have used their money far better than
the federal government would have. (Applause.)
This economy of ours is strong and it's getting stronger.
Since last summer, our economy has been growing at its
fastest rate in nearly 20 years. (Applause.) In less than
a year's time, we've added 1.5 million new jobs. (Applause.)
In this great state, in the state of Missouri, 27,600 people
went to work at a new job in June. (Applause.) Your unemployment
rate is now 5.2 percent -- (applause) -- down from 5.8
percent last July. (Applause.) The homeownership rate is
at its all-time high. (Applause.) Business investment is
up, consumer confidence is strong. The tax relief we passed
is working. (Applause.)
My opponent looks at all this progress and somehow concludes
that the sky is falling. (Laughter.) Whether their message
is delivered with a frown or a grin, it's the same old
pessimism. And to cheer us up, they propose higher taxes,
more federal spending, more lawsuits, economic isolationism.
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: The surest way to end economic growth and
to put Americans out of work is to adopt their vision.
This nation is on the path to progress and opportunity,
and we're not going back. (Applause.) To sustain economic
growth we need to keep taxes low. (Applause.) Higher taxes
would undermine growth and destroy jobs just as the economy
is gaining more steam. To help grow the economy so people
can find work, my message to Congress is: Do not raise
taxes on the American people. (Applause.)
In order to make sure Americans can find work today, and
work tomorrow, we must be wise about how we spend the people's
money. My plan calls for spending discipline. It calls
for setting clear priorities. I also understand whose money
we spend in Washington, D.C. -- we don't spend the government's
money, we spend the people's money. (Applause.)
In order to make sure this economy continues to grow and
people can find work, we must stop the frivolous lawsuits.
(Applause.) You cannot be pro-small business and pro-trial
lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) You have to choose.
My opponent has made his choice -- and he put him on the
ticket.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I made my choice. I will continue to push
the United States Congress to reform the legal system to
end the junk and frivolous lawsuits that plague our small
businesses. (Applause.)
In order to make sure we continue to expand our job base,
I have a plan to help more Americans afford health insurance,
by giving people better access to health care through association
health plans, giving Americans more control over their
health care through tax-free health savings accounts. And
to make sure that people have got affordable and available
health care, we need medical liability reform into Washington,
D.C. (Applause.)
In order to make sure people can find work today and tomorrow,
we need to pass sound energy legislation. I have proposed
a plan to the United States Congress over two years ago.
It is a plan that calls for more conservation. It's a plan
that says we will develop renewable sources of energy.
It's a plan that says we must modernize our electricity
grid. It's also a plan that recognizes we can explore and
use resources in the United States in environmentally friendly
ways. (Applause.) For the sake -- for the sake of national
security, and for the sake of economic security, we must
become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
I know we've got some farmers here. (Applause.) Thanks
for working the land. (Applause.) The best way to make
sure you continue -- your prosperity continues, is to sell
your products overseas. The best way to make sure we've
got jobs today and tomorrow is to make sure countries treat
us like we treat them. We open our markets to their products,
they open their markets to our product -- American compete
with anybody, anytime, anywhere if the playing field is
level. (Applause.)
To sustain economic growth we need to make sure you reelect
a pro-small business, pro-entrepreneur, pro-farmer administration.
And that is the Bush-Cheney administration. (Applause.)
America's future also depends on our willingness to lead
in the world. The momentum of freedom in our time is strong.
We still face serious dangers. Al Qaeda is wounded, but
not broken. Terrorists continue to attack in places like
Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and Iran are
challenging the peace. If America shows weakness or uncertainty
in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This
will not happen on my watch. (Applause.)
THE AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: After the attacks of September the 11th,
2001, this nation, the people of America resolved to fight
the terrorists where they dwell. We resolved to hold regimes
that hide and sponsor terrorists to account. Afghanistan
was a terrorist state, a training camp for al Qaeda killers.
Because we acted, Afghanistan is a rising democracy, Afghanistan
is an ally in the war on terror. And because we acted,
many young girls go to school for the first times in their
lives. (Applause.)
Iraq only last year was controlled by a dictator who threatened
the civilized world and had used weapons of mass destruction
against his own people. For decades he tormented and tortured
the people of Iraq. Because we acted, Iraq is free and
a sovereign nation. Because we acted, its dictator now
sits in a prison cell and will receive the justice he denied
so many for so long. (Applause.)
September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will never
forget. And it is a lesson this country must never forget:
America must confront threats before they fully materialize.
(Applause.) With this lesson in mind, my administration
looked at the intelligence and we saw a threat. Members
of the United States Congress, from both political parties,
looked at the same intelligence and they saw a threat.
The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence
and it saw a threat. The previous administration and the
United States Congress looked at the intelligence and made
regime change in Iraq the policy of our government. In
2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded
a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs.
And as he had for decades -- for over a decade, he deceived
the world. As he had for over a decade, he refused to comply.
So I had a choice to make: Either trust the word of a
madman, or take action to defend our country. (Applause.)
And given that choice, I will defend America every time.
(Applause.)
Although we have not found the stockpiles of weapons of
mass destruction that we thought were there, we were right
to go into Iraq. (Applause.) America is safer because we
did. (Applause.) We removed a declared enemy of America
who had the capability of producing weapons of mass destruction,
and could have passed that capability to terrorists bent
on acquiring them. In a world after September the 11th,
that was a risk we could not afford to take. (Applause.)
We still have important and difficult work to do. Our
immediate task in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere is
to capture or kill the terrorists. You can't talk sense
to the terrorists. You cannot negotiate with these terrorists.
You cannot sit back and hope for the best. We will engage
these enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world,
so we do not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)
In this big, sweet country of ours, there's no such thing
as perfect security. And the threats to this homeland are
real. We know that the terrorists want to strike the United
States again, they want to disrupt our way of life, or
cause panic or great fear. We reorganized this government
of ours to better protect the people. There's much better
communication now between the federal, state and local
governments. The FBI has changed its mission to make sure
-- changed its priorities to make sure that counterterrorism
is the most important thing they do.
I want you to know there are a lot of really good people
working on your behalf -- good, decent, honorable people.
I know you'll join me in thanking the police and firefighters
and emergency teams of St. Louis, Missouri. (Applause.)
Over these next four years we will defend our homeland.
Over the next four years we'll be relentless in the pursuit
of the enemy abroad. Yet, in the long run, our safety requires
something more. We must work to change the conditions that
give rise to terror in the Middle East -- the poverty,
the hopelessness, and the resentments that terrorists can
exploit.
See, life in that region will be far more hopeful and
peaceful when men and women can choose their own leaders,
when the people can decide their own future. You see, by
serving the ideal of liberty, we're bringing hope to others.
And that makes America more secure. By serving the ideal
of liberty, we serve the deepest ideals of our country.
Freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is
the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this
world. (Applause.)
America is leading the world, and the world is changing
because of our leadership. Three years ago, Afghanistan
was the home base of al Qaeda. Now the camps are closed,
democracy is rising and the American people are safer.
(Applause.) Three years ago -- three years ago, Pakistan
was a safe transit point for terrorists on missions of
murder. Now Pakistan forces are rounding up the terrorists,
Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror and the American
people are safer. (Applause.)
Three years ago, in Saudi Arabia, terrorists were moving
with little opposition. Now the Saudi government has taken
the fight to al Qaeda, and Americans are safer for it.
Three years ago, Libya was spending millions to acquire
weapons of mass destruction. Now, thousands of Libya's
chemical munitions have been destroyed. Libya has given
up nuclear processing equipment and the American people
are safer for it. (Applause.)
Three years ago there was a network run by a Pakistan
nuclear scientist named A.Q. Khan that was selling secrets,
nuclear secrets to countries like Iran and North Korea
and Libya. Thanks to the hard work of CIA agents, thanks
to cooperation between the British and United States government,
that network has been dismantled, it is no longer a problem
and America is safer for it. (Applause.)
In the last three years the world is changing, for the
better. Just like Iraq is changing for the better. We will
finish our work of spreading democracy and helping the
Iraqis achieve democracy. We'll finish our work to help
the Afghan citizens achieve democracy. Democratic states,
free states are peaceful states. It's in our long-term
interest that these countries survive, and we've got good
allies there. (Applause.) President Karzai believes in
the future of the people of Afghanistan. Prime Minister
Allawi believes in the future of the people of Iraq. He
wants there to be a free country, just like the fathers
and mothers of Iraqi children want their children to grow
up in a free and peaceful country. (Applause.)
People in Iraq are stepping up. They understand the stakes.
They're fighting the foreign fighters and the terrorists.
They're bringing them to justice so they can live in a
free society. And the people of those countries can count
on the United States of America -- when we give our word,
when we'll stay with people striving to become a free society
-- we will keep our word. (Applause.)
America is safer not only because we've led; America is
safer because we've got a great United States military.
(Applause.) At bases around our country and around the
world, I have had the privilege of meeting with those who
defend our country and sacrifice for our freedom. I've
seen their great decency, their unselfish courage. And
I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom
is in good hands. (Applause.)
And we must make sure those who wear our uniform have
the best training, the best pay and the best equipment.
(Applause.) That's why last September I proposed supplemental
funding to support our military in its mission. This legislation
provided funding for body armor and vital equipment, for
hazard pay, for health benefits, for ammunition, for fuel,
for spare parts. In the Senate, only a small, out of the
mainstream minority voted against that legislation. Two
of those 12 senators are my opponent and his running mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Kerry tried to explain his vote
by saying, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion,
before I voted against it." (Laughter.) That sure
clears things up. (Laughter.) Now he's offering a different
explanation. Last week, Senator Kerry said he's proud that
he and his running mate voted against funding for the troops.
Later he said his vote against funding for our troops in
Iraq and Afghanistan was a complicated matter. (Laughter.)
There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops
in combat. (Applause.)
Over the next four years as the Commander-in-Chief, I
will see to it our troops have the best possible pay, equipment
and training. (Applause.) America is leading this world
with confidence and moral clarity. We've got a lot of fine
folks helping us, too. There's over 60 nations involved
in the Proliferation Security Initiative. Nearly 40 nations
are involved in Afghanistan. Some 30 nations are involved
in Iraq. I'll continue to work with allies such as Tony
Blair and Silvio Berlusconi and -- (applause) -- Prime
Minister Koizumi of Japan, to work together to protect
our peoples and to spread freedom and democracy. But I
will never turn over America's national security decisions
to leaders of other nations. (Applause.)
This nation is prosperous and strong, yet, we need to
remember that our greatest strength is in the character
of our citizens. Earlier this month, my opponent said that
a bunch of entertainers from Hollywood conveyed the heart
and soul of America.
THE AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I believe the heart and soul of America
is found in places like St. Charles, Missouri. (Applause.)
Our nation is strong because of the values we try to live
by: courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We
are strong because of the institutions that help give us
direction and purpose -- our families and our schools and
our religious congregations. (Applause.) These values and
institutions are fundamental to our lives. They deserve
the respect of our government. We stand for high standards
in our public schools. We stand for local control of schools.
We stand for strong accountability in schools, so no child
is left behind in America. (Applause.)
We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen
marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find
independence and dignity. (Applause.) We stand for a culture
of life in which every person counts and everybody matters.
(Applause.) We stand for institutions like marriage and
family. (Applause.) We stand for judges who strictly and
faithfully interpret the law, instead of legislating from
the bench. (Applause.) We are building a culture of responsibility
in America. We're changing the culture of America from
one that has said, if it feels good do it, and if you've
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. (Applause.)
If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father,
you're responsible for loving your child with all your
heart and all your soul. (Applause.) If you're worried
about the quality of the education in the community in
which you live, you are responsible for doing something
about it. (Applause.) Like supporting your teachers. (Applause.)
If you are a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible
for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees.
(Applause.) And in a new responsibility society, each of
us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd
like to be loved ourselves. (Applause.)
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 its leaders. This isn't one
of those times. You and I are living in a period where
the stakes are high, the challenges are difficult, and
a time when firm resolve is needed. (Applause.)
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. It is a day that I will
never forget. There were workers in hard-hats who shouted
at me, "Whatever it takes." Either a fireman
or a policeman grabbed me and said, "Do not let me
down." As we all 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 our enemies. I
will defend our country, whatever it takes. (Applause.)
In these times, I've also been a witness to the character
of this nation. I've seen the unselfish courage of our
troops; seen the heroism of Americans in the face of danger.
I've seen the spirit of service and compassion renewed
in our country. We've all seen our nation unite in common
purpose when it mattered most. We will need all these qualities
for the work ahead. We have a war to win, and the world
is counting on us to lead the cause of freedom and peace.
We have a duty to spread opportunity to every corner of
our country. This is the work that history has set before
us. We welcome it. And we know that for our blessed country,
the best days lie ahead.
God bless. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) Thank you, sir.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
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