Text: Remarks by Rep. Dennis Hastert to the Republican National Convention

The remarks by Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the convention's permanent chairman, as delivered at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

HASTERT: Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to being the permanent chairman of this convention, I'm proud to be a representative of the 14th District of the great state of Illinois...

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... the home of our first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln.

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Ronald Reagan grew up in Dixon, Illinois, which is in my district. Both President Lincoln and President Reagan believed in the American Dream. They both believed in power of freedom. And they believed in the Republican Party.

George W. Bush shares the hopeful vision of Lincoln and Reagan. He believes in peace through strength. He believes that the economy grows when the private sector grows, not when the government grows. 

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He understands that government has an important but limited role in the lives of the people.

HASTERT: But John Kerry doesn't share that vision. He's on the wrong side of taxation. He's on the wrong side of litigation. And he's on the wrong side of regulation. These are the job killers. They add costs to our products and put American workers at a disadvantage.

But you know, John Kerry doesn't see it that way, folks. 

No, at his Boston tax party, John Kerry promised to increase taxes on the job creators. Instead of throwing tea in the Boston Harbor, John Kerry wants to throw the taxpayers overboard. 

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Both President Lincoln and President Reagan understood that in order to be respected around the world, you have to have the courage to stand up for America.

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George W. Bush shares the Lincoln and the Reagan vision. 

Does anybody really know where John Kerry stands on the war? 

AUDIENCE: No!

BUSH: You know, he's voted for it, and he's voted against it.

My friends, this is no time to pick a leader who is weak on the war and wrong on taxes. 

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George W. Bush is a strong leader with the right vision for America.

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It is the Lincoln vision. It is the Reagan vision. And it is the American vision. 

Thank you very much.

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