President Bush made campaign appearence Monday in Springfield, Ohio. Here is a transcript of his remarks as released by the White House.
[*]
BUSH: Thank you all for being here. Appreciate you being here, thanks for coming.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you all.
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
BUSH: Okay, thanks. We got to get started here. Thank you. Thank you all for coming; please be seated. I'm honored so many came out. Thanks for the warm welcome here in Springfield, it's such a pleasure to be here.
(APPLAUSE)
I'm excited to be here.
(APPLAUSE)
I've come to let you know that I've got a reason for seeking the vote again; that I'm not only here to ask for your vote, I'm here to explain to you why I want to be President for four more years.
(APPLAUSE)
See, I don't think you can just -- I don't think you can just hold the office of President, I think you have to have a reason to hold the office. And so we're going to talk about some key issues about how to make sure America is a safer place, a stronger place and a better place.
I'm also here to ask for your help. See, I understand you can't win a race for the presidency alone -- it requires the grassroots, those people who put up the signs and make the phone calls and register the voters. Thank you all for doing that.
(APPLAUSE)
First of all, I understand a crowd this big just doesn't happen -- somebody had to work to make it happen, so thanks for organizing this event, thank you for coming.
You notice I've been joined by some of your fellow citizens here. We're here to talk about education, but before we do so, I've got some other things on my mind.
(APPLAUSE)
First thing on my mind is for you to get out and register friends and neighbors -- don't overlook discerning Democrats, like Zell Miller.
(APPLAUSE)
I know a lot of Democrats who want America to be a safer place. I know a lot of Democrats who want our schools to fulfill their promise. I know a lot of Democrats who are interested in having a health care system that works. I know a lot of Democrats who are going to vote for us. So when you get people going to the polls, make sure you remind your Republican friends, your independent friends and your discerning Democrat friends to vote for Bush-Cheney.
(APPLAUSE)
So I woke up on the ranch this morning, and Laura said, tell everybody “hello” in Ohio. So, Laura says, “hello.” (APPLAUSE)
She was a public school librarian when I met her, again. We went to 7th grade at San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. And so, years later, my friend, O'Neill, brought me over to his backyard for a barbecue, and there was Laura. I fell in love -- love at first sight.
(APPLAUSE)
So I said -- eventually, I said -- eventually, I asked her to marry me. She said, fine, just so long as I never have to give a political speech.
(LAUGHTER)
I said, okay, you've got a deal. Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. People of this country got to see Laura in New York City give a speech. They saw a compassionate, decent, fine woman.
(APPLAUSE)
Really proud of her.
I hope you leave here realizing that I'm going to give you some -- well, I -- I know I'm going to give you some reasons why you should put me back in, but perhaps the most important one of all is so that Laura is First Lady for four more years.
(APPLAUSE)
I'm proud of my running mate, Dick Cheney. He's a fine man. You know, I admit it, he doesn't have the waviest hair in the race.
(LAUGHTER)
Of course, I didn't pick him because of his hair. I picked him because of his experience, his judgment. I picked him because he can get the job done for the American people.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank my friend, Mike DeWine, and Fran, for joining us today. He's a great United States senator. Proud you're here, Mike.
(APPLAUSE)
He's on the bus. He said as we pulled in here, he said, make sure you remind everybody that he, Mike DeWine, was born right here in Springfield.
(APPLAUSE)
He's what we call a home boy.
(LAUGHTER)
I want to thank my friend, Dave Hobson, the congressman from this district. I appreciate you, Dave, proud you're here.
(APPLAUSE)
Chairman John Boehner is with us today. Mr. Chairman, the congressman from the district next door, thanks for coming. We're going to talk a little bit about education. I want you to understand he is the father of this fantastic reform we put in place. He carried the legislation in the House of Representatives. It would not have happened without his leadership. A great congressman. Thanks for coming.
(APPLAUSE)
Congressman Mike Turner, from Dayton, Ohio -- appreciate you coming, Mike. Real proud of you.
(APPLAUSE)
Sounds like they've heard of you.
I want to thank Joe Deters, who is with us today, the treasurer of the state of Ohio. Thanks for coming, Joe.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank all the -- all the state and local officials. I know the party chairman is here. I want to thank Bob Bennett for his leadership for the Ohio party. But most of all, I want to thank you all. I really do appreciate you coming. I want to thank you for giving me a chance to share some thoughts with you.
(APPLAUSE)
I like getting out amongst the people. I like sharing my philosophy with people. I like to tell people what I believe. First of all, I want you to know I understand that we're living in changing times. Now, think about this, when our dads were coming up, or our grandfathers were growing up, a person generally had one career and one job -- with one pension plan and one health care system. And that person was usually a man.
Today, we live in a different world when you think about it. The work force has changed dramatically. People tend to change jobs, and sometimes careers, often. And the work force not only has men in it, but it has got women who work both in the house and outside the house.
(APPLAUSE)
We have time -- times have changed, yet, the fundamental systems of our government have not changed. The fundamental systems of government were designed for yesterday, not for tomorrow. I'm running for four more years to help redesign the systems of government so people have a chance to realize their dreams.
