Remarks in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Nov 8, 2004

November 1, 2004

The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here. I am so honored so many came out to say hello. I'm here to ask for your vote and ask for your help. It is close to voting time, and I'm out here to ask you to get our fellow Republicans and wise independents and discerning Democrats here in western Pennsylvania to do our duty and go to the polls tomorrow. And remind your friends and neighbors, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back into office.

Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I regret that she's not here. We started-Audience

Audience members. Aw-w-w!

The President. I understand. [Laughter] We were campaigning together yesterday. * She's off on her own for a while, which is wise use of her time. [Laughter] A lot of people have come to know her like I know her. She is a warm, compassionate, great First Lady.

I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I really don't intend to insult anybody who's follically challenged--[laughter]--but I readily concede that the Vice President does not have the waviest hair in the race. [Laughter] The people of western Pennsylvania Will be pleased to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. [Laughter] I picked him because of his judgment and his experience. He's getting the job done.

I want to thank Curt and Shonda Schilling for taking time out of a busy life to come and endorse my candidacy for President. We all know him as a great baseball player. I know him as a great dad, a wonderful husband, a man of enormous character and value. I'm proud to have his support. And Santorum talks about Shonda lobbying the Congress; she's pretty effective about lobbying the President too, [Laughter] I want to thank them for their concern, their care, and their compassion. Thank you all for coming.

I want to thank my friend the Senator from Pennsylvania, Picky Santorum. I wish Senator Aden Specter all the best. When you put me in, put him in too. I appreciate Congressman Tim Murphy, his dedication and service in the United States Congress. I want to thank Congresswoman Melissa Hart for her service. I want to thank all the candidates who are here, those running statewide and those running locally. I want to thank my friend Lynn Swann for his friendship and leadership.

I want to thank Mark Wills and Daron Norwood for being here today. Both of them are fine singers.

I want to thank the Wingmen for Bush. They are a coalition of guys I served with. I am honored they're here. I appreciate your friendship. Thank you all for taking time to come.

Most of all, I want to thank the grassroots activists for being here. I want to thank you for putting up the signs. I want to thank yen for making the phone calls. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do over the next 24 hours. By turning out the vote, by finding people who are concerned about the future of this country, we are going to carry Pennsylvania and win a great victory on Tuesday.

Tomorrow the people of this good State and the people of our Nation will be heading to the polls. And I'm excited about election day, and I'm optimistic about the future of this country. You know, one of my favorite sayings comes from a fellow Texan who said this: He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent a lot of time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming.

I see a great day coming for America. I see a day where prosperity reaches every, corner of this country. I see a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful so our children and our grandchildren can grow up in the peace we all want. I see a day that's better for every American, And tomorrow, the American people have a chance to bring that better day voting for Bush-Cheney.

The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The President must lead based on principle and conviction and conscience.

During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you re going to need them, and whatever your weaknesses are, people will notice them. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. [Laughter] I get that from my dad. [Laughter] But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead.

This election--

Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

The President. This election comes down to clear choices on five vital issues facing our families. And the first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help morns and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We lowered taxes on everybody who pays taxes.