President Bush, speaking in Onalaska, Wisc., on Tuesday, questioned Democrat John F. Kerry’s commitment to the United States’ security and asked Democratic voters disappointed in their party to crossover and support his relection. Here is a transcript of Bush’s speech.
BUSH: Thank you all.
| U.S. President | | Updated 2:09 AM ET | Precincts:0% |
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(APPLAUSE)
What a great way to spend a Tuesday, and that’s to be on a bus traveling throughout the great state of Wisconsin.
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Thank you all for coming out to say hello. It’s such an honor to be here.
Laura and I -- our spirits are lifted up because so many have come out to say hello. We’re honored you are here. I’m here to ask for your vote. I’m here to ask for your help. There is no doubt in my mind if we turn out our vote in Wisconsin, we’ll win a great victory on November 2nd.
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I don’t know if you know the history of me and Laura. We were in the seventh grade together in San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. And then we became reacquainted a year later when she was a public school librarian. And I asked her to marry me -- I’m sure some of you can relate to this.
She said, “Fine, but make me a promise.”
I said, “What is it?”
“Well, promise me I’ll never have to give a political speech.”
(LAUGHTER)
I said, “OK, you’ve got a deal.”
Fortunately, she didn’t hold me to that promise. She’s giving a lot of speeches and when she does, the American people see a warm, compassionate, great first lady.
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BUSH: I have been traveling your state a lot talking about the reasons why I think people ought to put me back into office, but perhaps the most important one is so that Laura will be first lady for four more years.
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I’m proud of my running mate, Dick Cheney.
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In all due respect to those who are here who are follicly challenged, I readily concede my running mate does not have the waviest hair in the race.
(LAUGHTER)
You’ll be pleased to know I did not pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his experience and his judgment and his ability to get the job done.
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And I’m proud of your friend Tommy Thompson. He has done a great job.
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I gave him one of the toughest jobs in Washington, D.C., and he has responded. He has done a fabulous job to help those who hurt.
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Just take the issue of Medicare. Tommy and I went to Washington to solve problems, not to pass them on to future presidents and future generations. That’s our job: to tackle the tough problems.
Medicare was a problem. See, Medicare hadn’t changed, but medicine had.
BUSH: For example, they’d pay nearly $100,000 for a heart surgery, but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place.
Tommy recognized that wasn’t fair. I recognized it wasn’t fair. We brought Republicans and Democrats together. We did what other presidents and other secretaries couldn’t do: We modernized Medicare. And starting in 2006, our seniors will get prescription drug coverage.
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Let me say one other thing to our seniors here in Wisconsin.
You might remember the 2000 campaign when they ran those ads that said, “If George W. gets elected, our seniors are not going to get their Social Security checks.” You remember those?
Well, I want you as you’re gathering up the vote remind your friends and neighbors that George W. did get elected and our seniors did get their Social Security checks.
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And our seniors will continue to get their Social Security checks, but we’re also going to strengthen Social Security for a younger generation. Our youngsters ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account they call their own, an account the government cannot take away.
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I want to thank Congressman Mark Green, who’s with us today.
Congressman, appreciate you coming.
He’s a fine, good, young member of the House of Representatives.
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I want to thank the mayor of Onalaska with us today.
Mr. Mayor, I’m proud you’re here. Thanks for coming. Fill the potholes.
(LAUGHTER)
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BUSH: I’m proud to be standing with the next United States senator from Wisconsin, Tim Michels.
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He married a lady named Barbara. I know some Barbaras. One of them’s still telling me what to do.
(LAUGHTER)
And I’m still listening, I want you to know.
I’m very impressed by a candidate for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, a man I hope you support, the next congressman, Dale Schultz.
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I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here, the people who are putting up the signs, making the phone calls, the people who helped turn out such a huge crowd here. I’m honored to have your support.
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Now’s the time to keep the work up. Now’s the time to find every single voter and tell them we have a duty in this country to vote.
When you get them headed to the polls, remind them if they want a safer America, a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office.
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BUSH: We’re only one week away from the vote and I’m focusing on the big issues that are facing our country’s families. This election comes down to five clear choices for our families: your family’s security, your family’s budget, your quality of life, your retirement and the bedrock values that are so critical to our country’s future.
(APPLAUSE)
First and foremost, I’ve talked about the quality of retirement. When I’m talking about Medicare and making sure it exists and strong, that helps our families. When I’m talking about Social Security and making sure it’s around today as well as around tomorrow, that helps our families.
But the first biggest concern of any president is your security. Our nation is at war against a terrorist enemy unlike any we have faced before.
The most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people.
