For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 10, 2004
President's Remarks at Pensacola, Florida Rally
Pensacola Civic Center
Pensacola, Florida
10:53 A.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming.
(Applause.) Thank you all. Thanks for coming. What a great welcome.
I'm so honored. You know, you know you're in good country when you got
a guy holding a sign up that says, "Bubba's for Bush." (Applause.)
No, the heart and soul of America is right here, in Pensacola,
Florida. (Applause.)
It's an honor to land Air Force One at the Pensacola Naval Air
Station -- (applause) -- right here in the cradle of naval aviation.
And it's an honor to stand with one of the really fine naval aviators
in our nation's history, Senator John McCain. (Applause.) Forty-six
years ago this month, Ensign John McCain reported for duty in
Pensacola. He trained to fly here; he launched a life of true service
to America that continues to this day. As a naval officer, as a
Congressman, as a United States Senator from Arizona, John McCain has
embodied honor and integrity, courage and strength. And I'm honored to
have him by my side. (Applause.)
We're kicking off a bus trip. We're starting here and we're
heading east across the panhandle of this important state. I'm asking
for the vote. (Applause.) Everywhere we're going the crowds are big,
the enthusiasm is high, and with your help Dick Cheney and I will be
honored to serve this country for four more years. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: I wish Laura was here today. (Applause.) She is a
wonderful wife, a great mom, and she's doing a fabulous job as this
country's First Lady. (Applause.) I'll give you some reasons why I
think you ought to put me back in office, but perhaps the most
important reason of all is so that Laura is the First Lady for four
more years. (Applause.)
I'm running with a good man in Dick Cheney. Listen, I recognize
he's not the prettiest face on the ticket. (Laughter.) I didn't pick
him for his looks. I picked him because of his experience, and his
sound judgment, and his ability to do the job. (Applause.)
I've been looking around for the Governor. (Laughter.) I had a
few words for the Governor. Actually, I saw him over the weekend --
his son, George P., got married. (Applause.) Yes, it was a great
wedding. He's working. He's doing what you want him to do. He's
working on behalf of all the people of Florida. I'm proud of the job
Jeb is doing as the Governor of this vital state. (Applause.)
I'm honored that your very fine Congressman, Jeff Miller, is
traveling with us today. He's doing a heck of a job for the people of
the Panhandle. (Applause.) I want to thank all the local and state
officials who are here. Thanks for serving your -- your state and our
country. I appreciate Joe Scarborough. I'm glad to know he's still
standing and making a living. (Applause.) I kissed his little girl on
the way down the stairs. Fortunately, she's got her mom's looks.
(Laughter.) I appreciate Ricky Skaggs. I'm honored Ricky took time to
come over and sing for you all. (Applause.)
I'm honored to be with the men and women who wear our uniform,
proud to be here. (Applause.) I want to thank all the veterans who
are here today. I want to thank you for setting such a good example.
(Applause.) I want to thank all the grassroots activists. Those are
the people who are going to put up the signs and make the phone calls
and register the voters. I'm here to ask for your help. Not only I
want your vote, I'd like for your help. I'd like you to go to your
neighbors -- listen, find those discerning Democrats and wise
independents, as well as our fellow Republicans, and urge them to do
their duty on Election Day. See, we have a duty in this country to
participate when it comes to voting time. And when you get them headed
towards the polls, give them a nudge our way. (Applause.)
Every incumbent who asks for the vote has to answer an essential
question: Why? Why should the American people give me the great
privilege of serving as your President for four more years? In the
past years, Americans have been through a lot together -- a whole lot
-- and we've accomplished a great deal. (Applause.) But there's only
one reason to look backward at the record, and that is to determine who
will best lead our nation forward. I'm asking for your vote because so
much is at stake. We have much more to do to move this country
forward. I want to be your President for four more years to make this
country safer, to make our economy stronger, and to make the future
better and brighter for every single citizen. (Applause.)
From creating jobs to improving schools, from fighting terror to
spreading peace, we've made much progress, and there's more work to be
done. We have more to do to make our public schools the centers of
excellence we all know they can be, so that no child is left behind in
America. (Applause.)
Remember when we came to office three and a half years ago, too
many children were being shuffled from grade to grade, year after year,
without learning the basics. So we challenged what I call the soft
bigotry of low expectations. We raised the bar. We believe in
accountability because we want to know whether or not our children are
learning to read and write. We believe in local control of schools.
We believe in challenging the status quo when the status quo is failing
the children of this country. (Applause.)
Today children across America are showing real progress in reading
and math. When it comes to improving America's public schools, we're
turning the corner and we're not turning back. (Applause.) We have
more to do. There's more work to do. The world is changing and the
jobs of the future will require greater knowledge and higher-level
skills. We're going to reform our high schools to make sure a high
school diploma means something. Applause.) We will expand math and
science education so our young people can compete in the high-tech
world. We'll expand the use of the Internet to bring high-level
training into our classrooms. With four more years, we will help a
rising generation gain the skills and confidence to achieve the
American Dream. (Applause.)
We have more to do to make quality health care available and
affordable. When we came to office, too many older Americans could not
afford prescription drugs and Medicare didn't pay for them. You might
remember the past debates; leaders of both political parties had
promised prescription drug coverage in campaign after campaign. We got
the job done. (Applause.) More than 4 million seniors have signed up
for drug discount cards that provide real savings. Beginning in 2006,
all seniors on Medicare will be able to choose a plan that suits their
needs and gives them coverage for prescription drugs. To help more
people get access to quality care, we've expanded community health
centers for low-income Americans. We've created health savings
accounts so families can save tax-free for their own health care
needs. When it comes to giving Americans more choices about their own
health care and making health care more affordable, we're moving
America forward, and we're not turning back. (Applause.)
This world is changing. Most Americans get their health care
coverage through their work. But today, most of the new jobs are
created by small businesses, which too often cannot afford to provide
health coverage. To help more American families get health insurance,
we must allow small employers to join together to purchase insurance at
the same discounts big companies are able to do. (Applause.)
To make sure health care is available and affordable, we must end
the frivolous lawsuits that raise the cost of health care.
(Applause.) You cannot be pro -- pro-doctor and pro-patient and
pro-trial lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) You have to choose.
My opponent made his choice, and he put him on the ticket. (Laughter
and applause.) I made my choice -- I'm going to continue to work with
the United States Congress for medical liability reform. (Applause.)
We'll do more to harness technology to reduce costs and prevent
health care mistakes. We will expand research and seek new cures for
terrible diseases. In all we do to improve health care in America, we
will make sure that the health decisions are made by doctors and
patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. (Applause.)
We'll do more to make this economy stronger. We've come through a
lot. We've come through a recession and corporate scandals and
terrorist attacks. We've overcome these obstacles because of the hard
work of the American people. We've got great workers. We've got great
farmers. We've got great ranchers. We've got great entrepreneurs. I
also think one of the reasons we've come through this tough period is
because of well-timed tax cuts. (Applause.) We didn't try to pick
winners or losers. We did it the fair way -- if you paid taxes you got
relief. That's a fair way for tax relief. (Applause.) The tax relief
helped families with children. The tax relief helped married couples.
And what kind of tax code is it that penalizes marriage? We ought to
be encouraging marriage in our society. (Applause.)
We helped our small businesses. And this time the check really was
in the mail. Because we acted, our economy, since last summer, has
grown at a rate as fast as any in nearly 20 years. (Applause.)
Because we acted, we've added about a million -- 1.5 million new jobs
since last year, last August. The unemployment rate is down to 5.5
percent, well below the national average of the '70s, '80s, and '90s.
(Applause.) Because we acted, Florida has added nearly 300,000 jobs
since the end of 2001. Florida's unemployment rate is now 4.7
percent. (Applause.) When it comes to creating jobs for American
workers, here in Florida you have proved we're moving America forward,
and we're not turning back. (Applause.)
There's more work to do. We need to make our economy more
job-friendly, America's workplaces more family-friendly. To keep
American jobs here in America, regulations must be reasonable and must
be fair. Many of you small business owners know what I'm talking about
when it comes to regulations. I can't guarantee anybody in Washington
has every read the forms you filled out. (Laughter.) To keep jobs
here in America, we must reduce our dependence on foreign sources of
energy. (Applause.) To keep American jobs in America, we must end the
junk lawsuits and enact tort reform. To keep American jobs in America
-- (applause) -- to keep American jobs here in our country, we must not
overspend your money. And we will keep your taxes low. (Applause.)
Listen, to keep jobs here, we must not become economic
isolationists. We must be bold about our ability to compete in the
world. I believe America's workers and farmers can compete with
anybody, anytime, anywhere so long as the rules are fair. (Applause.)
To keep jobs here, we got to make sure our workers have the skills
necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. We're going to offer
American workers a lifetime of learning. And to be aggressive in
helping them get the training they need for the jobs of the future at
places like our community colleges -- the education training they offer
can be a bridge between people's lives and they are, and people's lives
as they want them to be. (Applause.)
You know what else we need to do? We need to make sure our
families have something they never have enough of, and that is time --
time to be with your kids, time to volunteer in your community, time to
take care of your parents, time to go back to school. I'm going to
work with Congress to enact comp-time and flex-time to help American
families better juggle the demands of the workplace. (Applause.)
When you give us four more years this economy is going to be
stronger, more small businesses, better and higher-paying jobs. And
America will continue to lead the world with the world's strongest
economy. (Applause.)
We have more to do wage and win the war against terror. America's
future depends on our willingness to lead in the world. If America
shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift
toward tragedy. This isn't going to happen on my watch. (Applause.)
The world changed on a terrible September morning, and since that
day we have changed the world. Before September the 11th, Afghanistan
served as the home base for al Qaeda, which trained and deployed
thousands of killers to set up terror cells in dozens of countries,
including our own. Today, Afghanistan is a rising democracy.
Afghanistan -- (applause) -- Afghanistan is an ally in the war on
terror. And thanks to the United States, and thanks to members of our
coalition, many young girls now go to school for the first time in
Afghanistan. (Applause.)
Because we acted, America and the world are safer. Before
September the 11th -- (applause) -- before September the 11th, Pakistan
was a safe transit point for terrorists. Today, Pakistani forces are
aggressively helping to round up the terrorists. Pakistan is an ally
in the war on terror, and America and the world are safer.
(Applause.) Before September the 11th, in Saudi Arabia, terrorists
were raising money and recruiting and operating with little
opposition. Today, the Saudi government is taking the fight to al
Qaeda, and America and the world are safer. (Applause.) Before
September the 11th, Libya was spending millions to acquire weapons of
mass destruction. Today, because America and our allies have sent a
strong and clear message, the leader of Libya has abandoned his pursuit
of weapons of mass destruction, and America and the world are safer.
(Applause.)
Before September the 11th, the ruler of Iraq was a sworn enemy of
America. He was defying the world. He was firing weapons at American
pilots who were enforcing the world's sanctions. He had pursued and he
had used weapons of mass destruction. He harbored terrorists. He
invaded his neighbors. He subsidized the families of suicide bombers.
He murdered tens of thousands of his own citizens. He was the source
of great instability in the world's most volatile region.
After September the 11th we looked at all the threats of the world
in a new light. One of the lessons of September the 11th is that
America must take threats seriously before they fully materialize.
(Applause.) We saw a threat. My administration looked at the
intelligence and saw a threat. The United States Congress looked at
the same intelligence; members of both political parties, including my
opponent, looked at the intelligence and came to the same conclusion.
We went to the United Nations, which looked at the intelligence and
demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs, or
face serious consequences. After 12 years of defiance, he again
refused to comply. He deceived the weapons inspectors. So I had a
choice to make: either forget the lessons of September the 11th and
take the word of a madman who hated America, or defend this country.
Given that choice, I will defend America. (Applause.)
Even though we did not find the stockpiles that we expected to
find, removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right thing to do.
(Applause.) Saddam Hussein had the capability to make weapons of mass
destruction. And he could have passed that capability on to terrorist
enemies. After September the 11th, that was a chance we could not
afford to take. And America and the world are safer because Saddam
Hussein sits in a prison cell. (Applause.)
And now -- and now, almost two years after he voted for the war in
Iraq, and almost 220 days after switching positions to declare himself
the anti-war candidate, my opponent has found a new nuance. He now
agrees it was the right decision to go into Iraq. After months of
questioning my motives and even my credibility, Senator Kerry now
agrees with me that even though we have not found the stockpile of
weapons we all believe were there, knowing everything we know today, he
would have voted to go into Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power.
I want to thank Senator Kerry for clearing that up. (Applause.)
Although there are still 84 days left in the campaign, we have more
to do. I'm seeking the office because we must continue to work with
our friends and allies around the world to aggressively pursue the
terrorists and foreign fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere.
See, you can't talk sense to these people. You cannot negotiate with
them. You cannot hope for the best. We must engage these enemies
around the world so we do not have to face them here at home.
(Applause.)
America will continue to lead the world with confidence and moral
clarity. We put together a strong coalition to help us defeat the
terror. There's 60 nations involved with the Proliferation Security
Initiative; nearly 40 nations are in Afghanistan; some 30 nations are
involved in Iraq. I know you join me in thanking the leaders of those
countries who have committed their troops to peace and freedom around
the world. (Applause.) We'll continue to strengthen our alliances and
work with our friends for the cause of security and peace. And I'll
never turn national -- America's national security decisions to leaders
of other countries. (Applause.)
We'll keep our commitments to help Afghanistan and Iraq become
peaceful, democratic societies. Listen, these two nations are now
governed by strong leaders. These are people who are willing to listen
to the hopes and aspirations of their people. The moms and dads of
Afghanistan and Iraq want their children to grow up in a peaceful and
hopeful society. That's what they want. (Applause.) People of
Afghanistan and Iraq are beginning the make the hard work of going from
tyranny to freedom. More and more troops are stepping up in Iraq --
Iraqis saying, what can I do to secure my country so my family can grow
up in a peaceful world.
The people of these countries can count on us. When we acted to
protect our own security, we promised to help deliver them from
tyranny, to restore their sovereignty, and to set them on the path to
liberty. And when America gives its word, America keeps its word.
(Applause.)
In these crucial times, America's commitments are kept by the men
and women of our military. (Applause.) At bases across our country
and the world, I've 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. The cause of freedom is in really
good hands. And any time -- (applause) -- and those who wear our
nation's uniform deserve the full support of our nation's government.
(Applause.)
Last September while our troops were in combat in both Afghanistan
and Iraq, I proposed supplemental funding to support them in their
missions. The legislation provided funding for body armor and vital
equipment, hazard pay, health benefits, ammunition, fuel and spare
parts. In the Senate only a small out-of-the-mainstream minority of 12
senators voted against the legislation. And two of those 12 senators
are my opponent and his running mate.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Kerry tried to explain his vote this way,
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
(Laughter.) That's not the way they talk here in the Panhandle of
Florida. (Applause.) He's had some different explanations. He said
he was proud of his vote, and then he further said, the whole thing is
a complicated matter. (Laughter.) There's nothing complicated about
supporting our troops in combat. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: In the long run, our security is not guaranteed by
force alone. We will work to change the conditions that give rise to
terror -- poverty and hopelessness, resentment. A free and peaceful
Iraq and a free and peaceful Afghanistan will be powerful examples in
their neighborhood -- (applause) -- a neighborhood that is desperate
for freedom. Free nations do not export terror. Free nations enhance
the dreams of their citizens. Free nations are peaceful nations.
By serving the ideal of liberty we're bringing hope to others, and
that makes our country more secure. By serving the ideal of liberty
we're spreading the peace. And by serving the ideal of liberty we
serve the highest values of our own 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.)
We have more to do to protect America. There's enemies that still
hate us, and they're plotting. My opponent says that going to war with
the terrorists is actually improving their recruiting efforts. The
logic is upside-down. It shows a dangerous misunderstanding of the
enemy we face. During the '90s, these terrorists were recruiting and
training for war with us -- long before we went to war with them. They
don't need an excuse for their hatred. It is wrong to blame America
for the anger and evil of the killers. (Applause.) We don't create
terrorists by fighting back. We defeat terrorist by fighting back.
(Applause.)
I agree with the conclusion the 9/11 Commission has said -- because
of the actions we have taken since September the 11th our homeland is
safer, but we're not yet safe. I understand that. The way to make
this country more secure is to be on the offense, is to find these
terrorists and to bring the enemies to justice. And the way to make
this country more secure is to start the hard process of reform.
We've transformed our defenses. We created a new Department of
Homeland Security. We passed the Patriot Act to give our law
enforcement officers tools to track terrorists. (Applause.) The
mission of the FBI is now focused on preventing terrorism. We're
integrating intelligence and law enforcement better than we ever have
before. We're already taking action on a large majority of the 9/11
Commission report. And we've got more to do to better secure our ports
and borders and to train our first responders, to dramatically improve
intelligence-gathering capability.
Today, I nominated a fine Floridian, Congressman Porter Goss, to
head the Central Intelligence Agency. (Applause.) And we'll work with
Congress to create a position of the National Intelligence Director so
that one person is in charge of coordinating all our intelligence
efforts overseas and at home.
These reforms aren't going to be easy. Reform is never easy in
Washington. There's a lot of entrenched interests there, people who
are willing to defend the status quo. It's not enough to advocate
reform. You've got to be able to get the job done. See, when it came
to reforming schools, provide excellent education for our children, we
got the job done, and results matter. When it came to health care
reforms to give our families more access and more choices, we're
getting the job, and results matter. When it came to improving our
economy and creating jobs, results matter. When it comes to better
securing our homeland, when it comes to spreading the peace, results
matter. When it comes to electing a President, results matter.
(Applause.)
Listen, we're living in changing times. These are changing times,
and they're exciting times. And government needs to stand side-by-side
with the American people during these changing times. Do you know what
that says to me? It says to me we've got to continue to promote an
ownership society in America. We want you to own and control your own
health care accounts, so that if you go from one job to the next, the
health care account is yours and stays with you.
You know, I'm worried about younger workers in America. I'm
worried about whether or not the Social Security system is fiscally
sound enough for our younger workers. Old guys like me and McCain,
we're set when it comes to Social Security. But to make sure the
Social Security system works we've got to let our younger workers have
an option of taking some of their own money and establishing a personal
savings account that they can pass from one generation to the next.
(Applause.)
I'll tell you, I love the fact that more people now own their home
in America than ever before. We love homeownership in my
administration. I met Jack and Julie Broomes behind stage. They said,
this year, thanks to your tax relief, we were able to buy a home. What
a fantastic thought, to have that good family open their door and say,
"Welcome to my house."
We believe in ownership in this administration. We want more
people owning their small business. I love the fact that more minority
-- minorities are owning their own business. It's a hopeful sign for
America. In a changing world, one way to help the American people is
to promote an ownership society. When you own something you have a
vital stake in the future of our country. (Applause.)
In this world of rapid change there's going to be some things that
won't change: our belief in liberty and opportunity, and the
non-negotiable demands of human dignity. We believe in the individual
values we try to live by: courage and compassion, reverence and
integrity. We honor the institutions that give us direction and
purpose: our families, our schools, our religious congregations.
(Applause.)
We stand for institutions like marriage and family, which are the
foundations of society. (Applause.) We stand for a culture of life in
which every person matters and every being counts. (Applause.) We
stand for judges who faithfully interpret the law instead of
legislating from the bench. (Applause.)
We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. This culture
of our country is changing 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 understands we're responsible for the decisions we make
in life. (Applause.) If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a
father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart
and all your soul. Listen, if you're worried about the quality of the
education in this community, you're responsible for doing something
about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible
for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees.
(Applause.) And in this responsibility society, each of us is
responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved
ourselves. (Applause.)
The strength of this country is the hearts and souls of our
citizens; that's the strength of America. Over the next four years,
I'll continue to rally the armies of compassion, and call upon people
to help solve some of the most difficult problems of our society.
Government can hand out money; it can't put hope in a person's heart,
or a sense of purpose in a person's life. That happens when a loving
soul puts their arm around a lonely heart and says, I love you, what
can I do to help you. (Applause.)
I'm running for four more years to continue to call upon the great
strength of America so we can change our country, one heart, one soul,
one conscience at a time. (Applause.)
For all Americans, these years in our history will 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. It's a time when we
need firm resolve and clear vision. See, none of us will ever forget
that week when one era ended and another began. September the 14th,
2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I'll never
forget. I remember the people in hard-hats yelling, "Whatever it
takes." I remember walking the rope line; a guy grabbed me by his
arm. He had just been searching in the rubble for a loved one. He
said, "Do not let me down." (Applause.)
As we all did that day, that fellow and the people searching
through the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I have a
duty that goes on. I wake up every morning thinking how best to keep
America safe. I will never relent in defending our country, whatever
it takes. (Applause.)
We have come through a lot together. We've done hard work. We're
moving this country forward. During the next four years, we'll spread
ownership and opportunity to ever corner of America. We'll pass the
enduring values of our country on to another generation. We will lead
the cause of freedom and peace, and we will prevail. (Applause.)
Four years ago -- four years ago, I traveled this great state and
our wonderful country asking for the vote, and I made a pledge to my
fellow Americans. I said, if you honored me with this great
responsibility, I would uphold the dignity and the honor of the office
to which I had been elected. (Applause.) And with your help, I will
do so for four more years.
May God bless you. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.)
END 11:42 A.M. CDT
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