For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2004
Remarks by the President at Florida Rally
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
12:14 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) It
turns out the crowd is always a little bigger when Laura comes along.
America loves her almost as much as I love her. (Applause.) I think
she deserves four more years as the First Lady. (Applause.)
No, it's great to be back in the great state of Florida again.
(Applause.) There's a big election coming up, and I thought I'd come
down for a little spring training. (Applause.) It's always a good
chance to be with Brother. (Laughter.) He's a great governor of this
great state. (Applause.) Like me, he married well. (Laughter.) I
appreciate Colu being here, as well. (Applause.)
I used to say that Jeb was the coolest governor in the country.
That's until Arnold got elected. (Applause.) Speaking about great
leaders, I made a really good choice when I asked Dick Cheney to be my
running mate. (Applause.) He and I are grateful for the many strong
supporters we have here in Florida. We're going to be spending some
quality time in this state. (Applause.) We're here to earn the vote.
And we need your help. I know you're here because you do want to
help. One of the most important things you can do is encourage your
neighbors to vote. We want a lot of people voting in this country. We
want people from all walks of life doing their duty in this country,
and that is to show up to the polls. And by the way, when you get them
headed to the polls, you might suggest what's good for the country, and
that is Bush-Cheney for four more years. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: And by the way, we set up a web site, so that you
can get on to figure out how to volunteer. We need your help. That's
what I'm here to ask for. (Applause.) It's not very complicated, it's
georgewbush.com. (Applause.) That's an easy one for me to remember.
(Laughter.) With your help, we're going to make Florida a part of a
great nationwide victory this November. (Applause.)
I'm so thankful for you all coming. I'm proud of the fact that two
members of the United States Congress is with us: Ric Keller and Tom
Feeney. (Applause.) Lt. Governor Toni Jennings is here. I appreciate
the Governor Jennings. Tom Gallagher is a statewide official. I'm
proud my friend is here, Tom Gallagher. (Applause.)
I want to thank all the statehouse members, all the local
officials. The high sheriff is with us today. (Applause.) And thank
all the law enforcement people that are with us today. (Applause.) I
want to thank my friend, Roberto Candelario, for leading the
invocation. Roberto, thank you for coming. Thank you, Lisa Faulkner
for leading this great crowd in the National Anthem. (Applause.) I
got here a little late. I didn't get to hear my friend, Billy Ray
Cyrus. (Applause.) Thank you, Billy Ray. The Katinas are with us, as
well. I'm proud they're here. I'm proud to have their support.
(Applause.) My friend, Lynn Swann is with us. (Applause.) He's
welcome to come to Florida. We're a little nervous about inviting him
down to Dallas. (Laughter.) You know what I mean -- a lot of Cowboy
fans there. (Applause.)
I appreciate so very much Footy for being here. Footy, thank you
for emceeing this event. (Applause.) The chairman of Bush-Cheney,
Marc Racicot, the former Governor of Montana, is with us today. Marc,
thank you for coming. (Applause.) My friend, Al Hoffman, who has
worked so hard in this state, is with us. Carole Jean Jordan, the
chairman of the Florida Republican Party, is with us. (Applause.)
But most importantly, you're with us. (Applause.) I appreciate
you coming. I know many of you are getting on buses and vans today for
a voter registration drive. Thanks for doing that. (Applause.) The
effort is going to help us; it will help our entire ticket. We have a
strong slate of candidates. We're coming into an historic election,
and we're going to win an historic victory this November. (Applause.)
The presidential primary contest is over. I finally got an
opponent.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: He's following an interesting strategy. The other
day, here in Florida, he claimed some important endorsements from
overseas. He won't tell us the name of the foreign admirers. That's
okay, either way I'm not too worried because I'm going to keep my
campaign right here in America. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: He's an experienced Senator and he's built up quite
a record. In fact, Senator Kerry has been in Washington long enough to
take both sides on just about every issue. (Laughter and applause.)
Senator Kerry 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. My opponent clearly feels strongly about each of these issues.
(Laughter.) So strongly that one position is never just enough.
(Applause.) He demonstrated the technique the other day. Someone
asked Senator Kerry why he voted against the $87-billion funding bill
to help our troops in Iraq. Here is what he said: "I actually did
vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it." (Laughter.) End
of quote. (Laughter.) That sure clears things up, doesn't it?
(Laughter.)
His answers aren't always clear, but the voters will have a very
clear choice in this campaign. (Applause.) It is the choice between
-- it's the choice between keeping the tax relief that is moving this
economy forward, or putting the burden of higher taxes back on the
American people. It is a choice between an America that leads the
world with strength and confidence -- (applause) -- or an America that
is uncertain in the face of danger.
No, I look forward to this debate. I look forward to this
campaign. I'm looking forward to talking about what we've accomplished
and what we're going to do. In the past three years, we've achieved
great things, and most important, we have a positive vision for the
years ahead. (Applause.) A positive vision for winning the war against
terror; a positive vision for extending peace and freedom throughout
our world; a positive vision for creating jobs and promoting
opportunity and compassion here at home. (Applause.) We will leave no
doubt where we stand; we will win on the 2nd of November. (Applause.)
The last three years have brought serious challenges, and we've
given serious answers. We came to office with a stock market in
decline and an economy heading into recession. We delivered historic
tax relief. And now, our economy is the fastest growing of any major
industrialized nation. (Applause.) We had to confront corporate crimes
that cost people their jobs and their savings. We passed strong
corporate reforms, and we made it clear, we will not tolerate
dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. (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 of the key leaders of the al Qaeda network. (Applause.)
And the rest of them will know there is no cave or hole deep enough to
hide from American justice. (Applause.)
We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread
of weapons of mass destruction. So we ended two of the most violent
and dangerous regimes on Earth. We freed over 50 million people. Once
again, America is proud to lead the armies of liberation. (Applause.)
When Dick Cheney and I came to Washington, we found a military that
was underfunded and underappreciated. So we gave our military the
resources and respect they deserve. (Applause.) Today, no one can
question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States
military. (Applause.)
It is the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on
to future Presidents or future generations. (Applause.) It is the
President's job to step up and make the tough decisions and to keep his
commitments. And that is how I will continue to lead our great
nation. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Great events will turn on this election. The man
who sits in the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror
and the direction of our economy. The security and prosperity of
America are at stake. The other side hadn't offered much in the way of
strategies to win the war, or policies to expand our economy. So far,
all we hear from that side is bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is
not an agenda for the future of America. (Applause.) We will take on
the big issues with optimism and resolve and determination. And we
will make it clear to the American people we stand ready to lead this
nation for four more years. (Applause.)
A big issue for every family in America is the federal tax burden.
With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was President, we have
left more money in the hands that earned it. (Applause.) 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.
(Applause.)
Oh, I know there's some economic pessimists who refuse to accept
good news about our economy. But I'm optimistic. I'll tell you why.
I know what we've overcome. I've seen the spirit of the American
people. I've seen Americans overcome economic challenges. And because
of good policies and the hard work of the American people, our economy
is strong and it is growing stronger. (Applause.) Economic growth in
the second half of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years.
(Applause.) Manufacturing activity is increasing; business investment
is rising; disposable income is rising; inflation is low; interest
rates are low; home ownership is at the highest rate ever.
(Applause.) Job creation is gaining strength. We've added more than
350,000 new jobs over the last six months. The tax relief we passed is
working. (Applause.)
My opponent has a different view of tax relief. When we passed an
increase in the child credit to help families, he voted against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted
against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: When we created a lower 10-percent tax rate for
working families, he voted against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: When we reduced the tax rate on dividends that many
seniors depend on, Senator Kerry voted against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: When we gave small businesses a tax incentive to
expand and to hire, he voted against it.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: We're beginning to see a pattern here. (Laughter.)
Senator Kerry is one of the main opponents of tax relief in the United
States Congress. However, when tax increases are proposed, it's a lot
easier to get a "yes" vote out of him. (Laughter.) Over the years,
he's voted over 350 times for higher taxes on the American people --
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: -- including the biggest tax increase in American
history. He also supported a $.50 gallon tax on gasoline.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: He wanted you to pay all that money at the pump and
wouldn't even throw in a free car wash. (Laughter.) Now, Senator Kerry
is proposing a lot of new federal spending in this campaign. He's
going to have pay for it somehow. There's a gap between Senator
Kerry's spending promises and Senator Kerry's promise of a lower
deficit. It's what I call a tax gap. Given Senator Kerry's record of
supporting tax increases, it's pretty clear how he's going to fill the
tax gap. He's going to tax all of you.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Fortunately, you're not going to give him that
chance. (Applause.)
Higher taxes right now would undermine growth and destroy jobs just
as our economy is getting stronger. It's bad policy. To help grow the
American economy and create more jobs for American workers, I have a
better idea: We should make all the tax cuts permanent. (Applause.)
We must do more to keep this economy growing to create jobs. We
need to maintain spending discipline in our Nation's Capital. I've a
plan to protect small business owners and employees from frivolous and
junk lawsuits and needless regulation. (Applause.) We have a plan to
control the cost of health care and give people better access through
association health care plans and health savings accounts. And in
order to control health care costs and to make sure docs are available,
we need national medical liability reform now. (Applause.)
We have a strategy to make sure Florida goods are sold in markets
all around the world. I proposed a great strategy to make sure our
nation has a sound energy plan -- a plan that encourages conservation,
a plan that modernizes the electricity system; a plan to make American
less dependent on foreign sources of energy. (Applause.)
They talk a lot about job creation. My opponent talks about it,
but he's against every one of these job-creating measures. Empty talk
about jobs and economic isolationism won't get anyone hired. The way
to create jobs is to reelect a pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, small
business President, and that's George W. Bush. (Applause.)
Our future also depends on America's leadership in the world. The
momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but we still face serious
dangers. Al Qaeda is wounded, but not broken. Terrorists are testing
our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and Iran are
challenging the peace. If America shows weakness and uncertainty in
this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen
on my watch. (Applause.)
This nation is strong and confident in the cause of freedom. And
today, no friend or enemy doubts the word of the United States of
America. (Applause.) America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the
terror regime in Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance and the
Taliban no longer are in power. (Applause.) America and our allies
gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in Iraq. The dictator chose
defiance, and the dictator today sits in a prison cell. (Applause.)
September the 11th, 2001 taught a lesson I will never forget:
America 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 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 over a decade, Saddam Hussein refused to comply. So we had a
choice to make: either take the word of a madman, or to take action to
defend America. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every
time. (Applause.)
My opponent admits that Saddam Hussein was a threat. He just
didn't support my decision to remove Saddam from power. Maybe he was
hoping Saddam would lose the next Iraqi election. (Laughter.)
We showed the dictator and a waiting world that America means what
it says. (Applause.) Because our coalition acted, Saddam Hussein's
torture chambers are closed. (Applause.) Because we acted, Iraq's
weapons programs are ended forever. (Applause.) Because we acted,
nations like Libya have gotten the message and renounced their own
weapons programs. (Applause.) Because we acted, an example of
democracy is rising at the very heart of the Middle East. Because we
acted, the world is more free and America is more secure. (Applause.)
We still face thugs and terrorists in Iraq who would rather go on
killing the innocent than accept the advance of liberty. There's a
reason. They know that a free Iraq will be a major defeat for the
cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the
will of the United States. They don't understand us. America will
never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: We are aggressively striking the terrorists in
Iraq. We're on the offensive. We will defeat them there so we do not
have to face them in our own cities. (Applause.)
Other nations are helping us to build a free society in Iraq,
because a free Iraq will make us all safer. We're standing with the
Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward
self-government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential
tasks. America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this
essential victory in the war on terror. (Applause.)
On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice.
My opponent says he approves of bold action in the world, but only if
other countries don't object.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I'm all for united action, and so are our 34
coalition partners in Iraq right now. (Applause.) Yet America must
never outsource America's national security decisions to the leaders of
other countries. (Applause.)
Some are skeptical that the war on terror is really a war at all.
Senator Kerry said, and I quote, "The war on terror is far less of a
military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering law
enforcement operation."
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: I disagree. 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. The
terrorists were still training in Afghanistan. They're still plotting
in other nations. They're still 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. (Applause.) With those attacks,
the terrorists and supporters declared war on the United States of
America -- and war is what they got. (Applause.)
Our men and women in the military are taking great risks and
they're doing great work. (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 unselfish courage. And I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the
cause of freedom is in good hands. (Applause.)
This nation is prosperous and strong; yet we need to remember that
our greatest strength is in the hearts and souls of our fellow
citizens. We're strong because of the values we try to live: courage
and compassion, reverence and integrity. We are strong because of the
institutions that help give us direction and purpose: families and
schools and religious congregations. (Applause.) These values and
institutions are fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect
of our government. (Applause.)
We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups so they can
receive federal support for their works of compassion and healing. We
will not stand for discrimination by the federal government against
people of faith. (Applause.) We stand for welfare reforms that
require work and strengthen marriage, which have helped millions of
Americans find their independence and dignity. (Applause.) We will
not stand for any attempt to weaken those reforms and send people back
into lives of dependence. (Applause.) We stand for a cultural life in
which every person counts and every person matters. (Applause.) We
will not stand for the treatment of any life as a commodity to be
experimented upon or exploited or cloned. (Applause.)
We stand for the confirmation of judges who strictly and faithfully
interpret the law. (Applause.) We will not stand for judges who
undermine democracy by legislating from the bench -- (applause) -- or
judges who try to remake the values of America by court order.
(Applause.)
We stand for a culture of responsibility in America. (Applause.)
It's the culture of a country that's 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 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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) If you're a CEO
in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your
shareholders and your employees. (Applause.) And in the
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 the leaders. This is not one of those times. You and I
are living in a period when the stakes are high, challenges are
difficult, a time when resolve is needed.
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. I'll never forget that day. One guy pointed at me
and said, "Don't let me down." Workers in hard hats were shouting,
"Whatever it takes!" And 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 the security of
America, whatever it takes. (Applause.)
In these times, I've also been witness to the character of this
nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about the American
character, our capacity to meet serious challenges, or to serve a cause
greater than self-interest. But Americans have given their answer.
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 sacrifice
and compassion renewed in our country. We've all seen our country
unite in common purpose when it mattered most.
We'll need all these qualities for the work ahead. We have a war
to win. 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
America. With your help, we're going to share our message of optimism
and national strength with every voter in the state of Florida.
(Applause.)
I'm looking forward to this campaign ahead. I'm going to give it
my all. (Applause.) And I'm counting -- I'm counting on you all to do
the same. (Applause.) Talk to your friends; talk to your neighbors;
get out the word; ask people to join our cause to participate in
democracy. With you at my side, there is no doubt in my mind we're
headed to a victory on November the 2nd. (Applause.)
Thank you for coming. God bless. Thank you all. (Applause.)
END 12:56 P.M. EST
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