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Skriven 2005-05-17 23:33:12 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0505179) for Tue, 2005 May 17
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Remarks by the President at Republican National Committee Gala
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2005

Remarks by the President at Republican National Committee Gala



REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE GALA

Grand Hyatt Hotel Washington, D.C.

6:56 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)
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 to be an American. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.)

The Comedian-in-Chief -- (laughter) -- is tied up. But she sends her love.
(Applause.) 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. (Applause.) 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 fabulous job. (Applause.) I
enjoy working with the leadership of the House -- Danny Hastert is a great
Speaker of the House; Tom DeLay is a fine Majority Leader. (Applause.) Roy
Blunt is a great Whip. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

I want to thank Dwight Schar, the RNC Finance Chairman, and his wife
Martha. 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 Co-Chairman. 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, D.C.
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.
(Applause.)

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.
(Applause.) 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 three-and-a-half
million new jobs. More people are working in America today than ever before
in our nation's history. (Applause.)

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 -- (applause) -- and we successfully have challenged the
soft bigotry of low expectations -- (applause) -- 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.
(Applause.)

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. (Applause.)

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? (Applause.) More minority families own a home than ever before in
our nation's history. (Applause.) 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 a -- 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 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.
(Applause.)

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. (Applause.) 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
cold-blooded killers. And when the American President speaks, he must mean
what he says. (Applause.) 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 State s of
America, but we freed nearly 30 million people from the clutches of one of
the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

Because we acted, the Middle East and the world are rid of Saddam Hussein
and his murderous regime. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) 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 four 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. (Applause.)

And that's why I'm talking about Social Security. And the debate has only
just begun. (Applause.) 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 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,
D.C. (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 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. (Applause.)

Not only do we need to save Social Security permanently for younger
generations, we 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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

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 non-discretionary -- 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. (Applause.)

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
pro-growth, pro-entrepreneur, easy to understand and fair to all.
(Applause.)

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 gas -- 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. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

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
goodwill are able to heal broken hearts. The federal government should not
fear faith-based institutions. We ought to welcome the healing works of the
faith community in America. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.) And speaking of
confirmations, the Senate should also promptly confirm Mr. John Bolton, my
nominee -- (applause) -- my nominee to be our ambassador to the United
Nations, so we can get on to the business of reforming that vital
institution. (Applause.)

Over the next four 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.
(Applause.)

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 every -- (applause) -- 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. (Applause.)

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, D.C. 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. 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. (Applause.)

END 7:21 P.M. EDT

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