美国总统候选人布什与克里第一场电视辩论

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美国总统候选人布什与克里第一场电视辩论

[dvnews_page]TheFirstBush-KerrypresidentialDebate
30September20xx,UniversityofMiami,CoralGables,FL美国东部时间9月30日晚9时（北京时间10月1日上午9时），争取连任的美国总统布什和民主党总统候选人克里在佛罗里达州的迈阿密大学展开首场辩论，主题是外交政策和国土安全。

pRESIDENTIALCANDIDATES’DEBATE,OOREDBYTHEMICCOSUKEETRIBEOFINDIAOFFLORIDA,UNIVERSITYOFMIAMI,CORALGABLES,FLORIDA
EAKERS:GEORGEW.BUSH,pRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
U.S.SENATORJOHNF.KERRY(MA),DEMOCRATICpRESIDENTIALNOMINEE
JIMLEHRER,ANCHORANDEXECUTIVEEDITOR,’S"THENEWSHOUR"
LEHRER:GoodeveningfromtheUniversityofMiamiConvocationCenterinCoralGables,Florida.I’mJimLehrerof"TheNewsHour"on.
AndIwelcomeyoutothefirstofthe20xxpresidentialdebatesbetweenpresidentGeorgeW.Bush,theRepublicannominee,andSenatorJohnKerry,theDemocraticnominee.
ThesedebatesareooredbytheCommiiononpresidentialDebates.
Tonight’swilllast90minutes,followingdetailedrulesofengagementworkedoutbyrepresentativesofthecandidates.Ihaveagreedtoenforcetheirrulesonthem.
Theumbrellatopicisforeignpolicyandhomelandsecurity,buttheecificsubjectswerechosenbyme,thequestiowerecomposedbyme,thecandidateshavenotbeentoldwhattheyare,norhasanyoneelse.
Foreachquestiontherecanonlybeatwo-minutereoe,a90-secondrebuttaland,atmydiscretion,adiscuionexteionofoneminute.
Agreenlightwillcomeonwhen30secondsremaininanygivenawer,yellowat15,redatfiveseconds,andthenflashingredmeatime’sup.Thereisalsoabackupbuzzersystemifneeded.
Candidatesmaynotdirectaquestiontoeachother.Therewillbetwo-minuteclosingstatements,butnoopeningstatements.
Thereisanaudiencehereinthehall,buttheywillremainaolutelysilentforthenext90minutes,exceptfornow,whentheyjoinmeinwelcomingpresidentBushandSenatorKerry.
(ALAUSE)
LEHRER:Goodevening,Mr.president,SenatorKerry.
Asdeterminedbyacointo,thefirstquestiongoestoyou,SenatorKerry.Youhavetwominutes.
DoyoubelieveyoucoulddoabetterjobthanpresidentBushinpreventinganother9/11-typeterroristattackontheUnitedStates?
KERRY:Yes,Ido.
ButbeforeIawerfurther,letmethankyouformoderating(主

美国总统候选人布什与克里第一场电视辩论第2页

持/会议讨论,节目等)).IwanttothanktheUniversityofMiamiforhostingus.AndIknowthepresidentwilljoinmeinwelcomingallofFloridatothisdebate.You’vebeenthroughtheroughestweeksanybodycouldimagine.Ourheartsgoouttoyou.Andweadmireyourpluckandperseverance.
IcanmakeAmericansaferthanpresidentBushhasmadeus.
AndIbelievepresidentBushandIbothloveourcountryequally.ButwejusthaveadifferentsetofconvictioabouthowyoumakeAmericasafe.
IbelieveAmericaissafestandstrongestwhenweareleadingtheworldandweareleadingstrongalliances.
I’llnevergiveavetotoanycountryoveroursecurity.ButIalsoknowhowtoleadthosealliances.
Thispresidenthaslefttheminshattersacrotheglobe,andwe’renow90percentofthecasualtiesinIraqand90percentofthecosts.
Ithinkthat’swrong,andIthinkwecandobetter.
Ihaveabetterplanforhomelandsecurity.Ihaveabetterplantobeabletofightthewaronterrorbystrengtheningourmilitary,strengtheningourintelligence,bygoingafterthefinancingmoreauthoritatively,bydoingwhatweneedtodotorebuildthealliances,byreachingouttotheMuslimworld,whichthepresidenthasalmostnotdone,andbegiingtoisolatetheradicalIslamicMuslims,nothavethemisolatetheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
IknowIcandoabetterjobinIraq.Ihaveaplantohaveasummitwithalloftheallies,somethingthispresidenthasnotyetachieved,notyetbeenabletodotobringpeopletothetable.
WecandoabetterjoboftrainingtheIraqiforcestodefendthemselves,andIknowthatwecandoabetterjobofpreparingforelectio.
Allofthese,andeeciallyhomelandsecurity,whichwe’lltalkaboutalittlebitlater.
LEHRER:Mr.president,youhavea90-secondrebuttal.
BUSH:I,too,thanktheUniversityofMiami,andsayourprayersarewiththegoodpeopleofthisstate,who’vesufferedalot.
Septemberthe11thchangedhowAmericamustlookattheworld.Andsincethatday,ournationhasbeenonamulti-prongedstrategytokeepourcountrysafer.
WepursuedAlQaidawhereverAlQaidatriestohide.Seventy-fivepercentofknownAlQaidaleadershavebeenbroughttojustice.Therestofthemknowwe’reafterthem.
We’veupheldthedoctrinethatsaidifyouharboraterrorist,you’reequallyasguiltyastheterrorist.
AndtheTalibanarenolongerinpower.TenmillionpeoplehaveregisteredtovoteinAfghanistanintheupcomingpresidentialelection.
InIraq,wesawathreat,andwerealizedthatafterSeptemberthe11th,wemusttakethreatsseriously,beforetheyfullymaterialize.SaddamHueinnowsitsinaprisoncell.Americaandtheworldaresaferforit.Wecontinuetopursueourpolicyofdisruptingthosewhoproliferateweapoofmadestruction.
Libyahasdisarmed.TheA.Q.Khannetworkhasbeenbroughttojustice.
And,aswell,we’repursuingastrategyoffreedomaroundtheworld,becauseIunderstandfreenatiowillrejectterror.Freenatiowillawerthehopesandairatiooftheirpeople.Freenatiowillhelpusachievethepeaceweallwant.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president,twominutes.
DoyoubelievetheelectionofSenatorKerryonNovemberthe2ndwouldincreasethechancesoftheU.S.beinghitbyanother9/11-typeterroristattack?
BUSH:No,Idon’tbelieveit’sgoingtohaen.IbelieveI’mgoingtowin,becausetheAmericanpeopleknowIknowhowtolead.I’veshowntheAmericanpeopleIknowhowtolead.
Ihave--Iunderstandeverybodyinthiscountrydoe’tagreewiththedecisioI’vemade.AndImadesometoughdecisio.ButpeopleknowwhereIstand.
peopleouttherelisteningknowwhatIbelieve.Andthat’showbestitistokeepthepeace.
Thisnationofourshasgotasolemndutytodefeatthisideologyofhate.Andthat’swhattheyare.Thisisagroupofkillerswhowillnotonlykillhere,butkillchildreninRuia,that’llattackunmercifullyinIraq,hopingtoshakeourwill.
Wehaveadutytodefeatthisenemy.Wehaveadutytoprotectourchildrenandgrandchildren.
Thebestwaytodefeatthemistoneverwaver,tobestrong,touseeveryaetatourdiosal,istocotantlystayontheoffeiveand,atthesametime,readliberty.
Andthat’swhatpeopleareseeingnowishaeninginAfghanistan.
Tenmillioncitizehaveregisteredtovote.It’saphenomenalstatistic.They’regivenachancetobefree,andtheywillshowupatthepolls.Forty-onepercentofthose10millionarewomen.
InIraq,nodoubtaboutit,it’stough.It’shardwork.It’sincrediblyhard.Youknowwhy?Becauseanenemyrealizesthestakes.TheenemyunderstandsafreeIraqwillbeamajordefeatintheirideologyofhatred.That’swhythey’refightingsovociferously.
TheyshowedupinAfghanistanwhentheywerethere,becausetheytriedtobeatusandtheydidn’t.Andthey’reshowingupinIraqforthesamereason.They’retryingtodefeatus.
Andifweloseourwill,welose.Butifweremainstrongandresolute,wewilldefeatthisenemy.
LEHRER:Ninetysecondreoe,SenatorKerry.
KERRY:Ibelieveinbeingstrongandresoluteanddetermined.AndIwillhuntdownandkilltheterrorists,wherevertheyare.
Butwealsohavetobesmart,Jim.AndsmartmeanotpertingyourattentionfromtherealwaronterrorinAfghanistanagaitOsamabinLadenandtakingifofftoIraqwherethe9/11Commiionconfirmstherewasnocoectionto9/11itselfandSaddamHuein,andwherethereasonforgoingtowarwasweapoofmadestruction,nottheremovalofSaddamHuein.
Thispresidenthasmade,Iregrettosay,acoloalerrorofjudgment.AndjudgmentiswhatwelookforinthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
I’mproudthatimportantmilitaryfigureswhoaresuortingmeinthisrace:formerChairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaffJohnShalikashvili;justyesterday,GeneralEisenhower’sson,GeneralJohnEisenhower,endorsedme;GeneralAdmiralWilliamCrowGeneralTonyMcBeak,whorantheAirForcewarsoeffectivelyforhisfather--allbelieveIwouldmakeastrongercommanderinchief.AndtheybelieveitbecausetheyknowIwouldnottakemyeyeoffofthegoal:OsamabinLaden.
Unfortunately,heescapedinthemountaiofToraBora.Wehadhimsurrounded.Butwedidn’tuseAmericanforces,thebesttrainedintheworld,togokillhim.ThepresidentreliedonAfghanwarlordsandheoutsourcedthatjobtoo.That’swrong.
LEHRER:Newquestion,twominutes,SenatorKerry.
"Coloalmisjudgments."Whatcoloalmisjudgments,inyouropinion,haspresidentBushmadeintheseareas?
KERRY:Well,wheredoyouwantmetobegin?
Firstofall,hemadethemisjudgmentofsayingtoAmericathathewasgoingtobuildatruealliance,thathewouldexhausttheremediesoftheUnitedNatioandgothroughtheiectio.
Infact,hefirstdidn’tevenwanttodothat.Anditwa’tuntilformerSecretaryofStateJimBakerandGeneralScowcroftandotherspushedpubliclyandsaidyou’vegottogototheU.N.,thatthepresidentfinallychangedhismind--hiscampaignhasawordforthat--andwenttotheUnitedNatio.
Now,oncethere,wecouldhavecontinuedthoseiectio.
WehadSaddamHueintraed.
HealsopromisedAmericathathewouldgotowarasalastresort.
Thosewordsmeansomethingtome,assomebodywhohasbeenincombat."Lastresort."You’vegottobeabletolookintheeyesoffamiliesandsaytothoseparents,"Itriedtodoeverythinginmypowertopreventtheloofyoursonanddaughter."
Idon’tbelievetheUnitedStatesdidthat.
Andwepushedouralliesaside.
Andso,today,weare90percentofthecasualtiesand90percentofthecost:$200billion--$200billionthatcouldhavebeenusedforhealthcare,forschools,forcotruction,forprescriptiondrugsforseniors,andit’sinIraq.
AndIraqisnoteventhecenterofthefocusofthewaronterror.ThecenterisAfghanistan,where,incidentally,thereweremoreAmericakilledlastyearthantheyearbefore;wheretheopiumproductionis75percentoftheworld’sopiumproductiowhere40to60percentoftheeconomyofAfghanistanisbasedonopium;wheretheelectiohavebeenpostponedthreetimes.
Thepresidentmovedthetroo,sohe’sgot10timesthenumberoftrooinIraqthanhehasinAfghanistan,whereOsamabinLadenis.DoesthatmeanthatSaddamHueinwas10timesmoreimportantthanOsamabinLaden--than,excuseme,SaddamHueinmoreimportantthanOsamabinLaden?Idon’tthinkso.
LEHRER:Ninety-secondreoe,Mr.president.
BUSH:MyoonentlookedatthesameintelligenceIlookedatanddeclaredin20xxthatSaddamHueinwasagravethreat.
HealsosaidinDecemberof20xxthatanyonewhodoubtsthattheworldissaferwithoutSaddamHueindoesnothavethejudgmenttobepresident.
Iagreewithhim.TheworldisbetteroffwithoutSaddamHuein.
Iwashopingdiplomacywouldwork.Iunderstandtheseriouscoequencesofcommittingourtroointoharm’sway.
It’sthehardestdecisionapresidentmakes.SoIwenttotheUnitedNatio.Ididn’tneedanybodytotellmetogototheUnitedNatio.Idecidedtogotheremyself.
AndIwenttherehopingthat,onceandforall,thefreeworldwouldactinconcerttogetSaddamHueintolistentoourdemands.Theypaedtheresolutionthatsaid,"Disclose,disarm,orfaceseriouscoequences."Ibelieve,whenaninternationalbodyeaks,itmustmeanwhatitsays.
SaddamHueinhadnointentionofdisarming.Whyshouldhe?Hehad16otherresolutioandnothingtookplace.Asamatteroffact,myoonenttalksaboutiectors.Thefactsarethathewassystematicallydeceivingtheiectors.
Thatwa’tgoingtowork.That’skindofapre-September10thmentality,thehopethatsomehowresolutioandfailediectiowouldmakethisworldamorepeacefulplace.Hewashopingwe’dturnaway.Buttherewasfortunatelyothersbesidehimselfwhobelievedthatweoughttotakeaction.
Wedid.TheworldissaferwithoutSaddamHuein.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president.Twominutes.
WhataboutSenatorKerry’spoint,thecomparisonhedrewbetweentheprioritiesofgoingafterOsamabinLadenandgoingafterSaddamHuein?
BUSH:Jim,we’vegotthecapabilityofdoingboth.
Asamatteroffact,thisisaglobaleffort.
We’refacingagroupoffolkswhohavesuchhatredintheirheart,they’llstrikeanywhere,withanymea.
Andthat’swhyit’seentialthatwehavestrongalliances,andwedo.
That’swhyit’seentialthatwemakesurethatwekeepweapoofmadestructionoutofthehandsofpeoplelikeAlQaida,whichweare.
Buttosaythatthere’sonlyonefocusonthewaronterrordoe’treallyunderstandthenatureofthewaronterror.
Ofcoursewe’reafterSaddamHuein--ImeanbinLaden.He’sisolated.Seventy-fivepercentofhispeoplehavebeenbroughttojustice.Thekiller--themastermindoftheSeptember11thattacks,KhalidSheikMohammed,isinprison.
We’remakingprogre.
Butthefrontonthiswarismorethanjustoneplace.Thephiliines--we’vegothelp--we’rehelpingthemtheretobring--tobringAlQaidaaffiliatestojusticethere.
And,ofcourse,Iraqisacentralpartinthewaronterror.That’swhyZarqawiandhispeoplearetryingtofightus.Theirhopeisthatwegrowwearyandweleave.
ThebiggestdisasterthatcouldhaenisthatwenotsucceedinIraq.Wewillsucceed.We’vegotaplantodoso.Andthemainreasonwe’llsucceedisbecausetheIraqiswanttobefree.
IhadthehonorofvisitingwithprimeMinisterAllawi.He’sastrong,courageousleader.HebelievesinthefreedomoftheIraqipeople.
Hedoe’twantU.S.leadership,however,tosendmixedsignals,tonotstandwiththeIraqipeople.
Hebelieves,likeIbelieve,thattheIraqisarereadytofightfortheirownfreedom.Theyjustneedthehelptobetrained.TherewillbeelectioinJanuary.We’reendingrecotructionmoney.Andourallianceisstrong.
That’stheplanforvictory.
AndwhenIraqiffree,Americawillbemoresecure.
LEHRER:SenatorKerry,90seconds.
KERRY:ThepresidentjusttalkedaboutIraqasacenterofthewaronterror.Iraqwasnotevenclosetothecenterofthewaronterrorbeforethepresidentinvadedit.
ThepresidentmadethejudgmenttopertforcesfromunderGeneralTommyFranksfromAfghanistanbeforetheCongreevenarovedittobegintopreparetogotowarinIraq.
AndherushedthewarinIraqwithoutaplantowinthepeace.Now,thatisnotthejudgmentthatapresidentoftheUnitedStatesoughttomake.Youdon’ttakeAmericatowarunlehavetheplantowinthepeace.Youdon’tsendtrootowarwithoutthebodyarmorthattheyneed.
I’vemetkidsinOhio,parentsinWiscoinplaces,Iowa,wherethey’regoingoutontheInternettogetthestate-of-the-artbodygeartosendtotheirkids.Someofthemgotthemforabirthdaypresent.
Ithinkthat’swrong.Humvees--10,000outof12,000Humveesthatareovertherearen’tarmored.Andyougovisitsomeofthosekidsinthehoitalstodaywhoweremaimedbecausetheydon’thavethearmament.
Thispresidentjust--Idon’tknowifheseeswhat’sreallyhaenedonthere.Butit’sgettingworsebytheday.MoresoldierskilledinJunethanbefore.MoreinJulythanJune.MoreinAugustthanJuly.MoreinSeptemberthaninAugust.
Andnowweseebeheadings.Andwegotweapoofmadestructioncroingthebordereverysingleday,andthey’reblowingpeopleup.Andwedon’thaveenoughtroothere.
BUSH:CanIreondtothat?
LEHRER:Let’sdooneoftheseone-minuteexteio.Youhave30seconds.
BUSH:Thankyou,sir.Firstofall,whatmyoonentwantsyoutoforgetisthathevotedtoauthorizetheuseofforceandnowsaysit’sthewrongwaratthewrongtimeatthewrongplace.
Idon’tseehowyoucanleadthiscountrytosucceedinIraqifyousaywrongwar,wrongtime,wrongplace.Whatmeagedoesthatsendourtroo?Whatmeagedoesthatsendtoourallies?WhatmeagedoesthatsendtheIraqis?
No,thewaytowinthisistobesteadfastandresolvedandtofollowthroughontheplanthatI’vejustoutlined.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds,Senator.
KERRY:Yes,wehavetobesteadfastandresolved,andIam.AndIwillsucceedforthosetroo,nowthatwe’rethere.Wehavetosucceed.Wecan’tleaveafailedIraq.Butthatdoe’tmeanitwa’tamistakeofjudgmenttogothereandtakethefocusoffofOsamabinLaden.Itwas.Now,wecansucceed.ButIdon’tbelievethispresidentcan.Ithinkweneedapresidentwhohasthecredibilitytobringthealliesbacktothetableandtodowhat’snecearytomakeitsoAmericai’tdoingthisalone.
LEHRER:We’llcomebacktoIraqinamoment.ButIwanttocomebacktowhereIbegan,onhomelandsecurity.Thisisatwo-minutenewquestion,SenatorKerry.
Aspresident,whatwouldyoudo,ecifically,inadditiontoordifferentlytoincreasethehomelandsecurityoftheUnitedStatesthanwhatpresidentBushisdoing?
KERRY:Jim,letmetellyouexactlywhatI’lldo.Andtherearealonglistofthing.Firstofall,whatkindofmixedmeagedoesitsendwhenyouhave$500milliongoingovertoIraqtoputpoliceofficersinthestreetsofIraq,andthepresidentiscuttingtheCOprograminAmerica?
WhatkindofmeagedoesitsendtobesendingmoneytoopenfirehousesinIraq,butwe’reshuttingfirehouseswhoarethefirst-reondershereinAmerica.
Thepresidentha’tputonenickel,notonenickelintotheefforttofixsomeofourtuelsandbridgesandmostexposedsubwaysystems.That’swhytheyhadtoclosedownthesubwayinNewYorkwhentheRepublicanConventionwasthere.Wehadn’tdonetheworkthatoughttobedone.
Thepresident--95percentofthecontainersthatcomeintotheports,righthereinFlorida,arenotiected.Civiliagetontoaircraft,andtheirluggageisX-rayed,butthecargoholdisnotX-rayed.
DoesthatmakeyoufeelsaferinAmerica?
ThispresidentthoughtitwasmoreimportanttogivethewealthiestpeopleinAmericaataxcutratherthaninvestinhomelandsecurity.Thosearen’tmyvalues.IbelieveinprotectingAmericafirst.
AndlongbeforepresidentBushandIgetataxcut--andthat’swhogetsit--longbeforewedo,I’mgoingtoinvestinhomelandsecurityandI’mgoingtomakesurewe’renotcuttingCOprogramsinAmericaandwe’refullystaffedinourfirehousesandthatweprotectthenuclearandchemicalplants.
Thepresidentalsounfortunatelygaveintothechemicalindustry,whichdidn’twanttodosomeofthethingsnecearytostrengthenourchemicalplantexposure.
Andthere’sanenormousundonejobtoprotecttheloosenuclearmaterialsintheworldthatareabletogettoterrorists.That’sawholeothersubject,butIseewestillhavealittlebitmoretime.
Letmejustquicklysay,atthecurrentpace,thepresidentwillnotsecuretheloosematerialintheSovietUnion--formerSovietUnionfor13years.I’mgoingtodoitinfouryears.Andwe’regoingtokeepitoutofthehandsofterrorists.
LEHRER:Ninety-secondreoe,Mr.president.
BUSH:Idon’tthinkwewanttogettohowhe’sgoingtopayforallthesepromises.It’slikeahugetaxgap.Anyway,that’sforanotherdebate.
Myadministrationhastripledtheamountofmoneywe’reendingonhomelandsecurityto$30billionayear.
MyadministrationworkedwiththeCongretocreatetheDepartmentofHomelandSecuritysowecouldbettercoordinateourbordersandports.We’vegot1,000extraborderpatrolonthesouthernborder;want1,000onthenorthernborder.We’remodernizingourborders.
Weent$3.1billionforfireandpolice,$3.1billion.
We’redoingourdutytoprovidethefunding.
Butthebestwaytoprotectthishomelandistostayontheoffee.
Youknow,wehavetoberight100percentofthetime.Andtheenemyonlyhastoberightoncetohurtus.
There’salotofgoodpeopleworkinghard.
Andbytheway,we’vealsochangedthecultureoftheFBItohavecounterterrorismasitsnumberonepriority.We’recommunicatingbetter.We’regoingtoreformourintelligenceservicestomakesurethatwegetthebestintelligencepoible.
ThepatriotActisvital--isvitalthattheCongrerenewthepatriotActwhichenablesourlawenforcementtodisruptterrorcells.
Butagain,Irepeattomyfellowcitize,thebestwaytoprotectionistostayontheoffee.
LEHRER:Yes,let’sdoalittle--yes,30seconds.
KERRY:ThepresidentjustsaidtheFBIhadchangeditsculture.WejustreadonthefrontpagesofAmerica’spapersthatthereareover100,000hoursoftapes,unlistenedto.Ononeofthosetapesmaybetheenemybeingrightthenexttime.
Andthetestisnotwhetheryou’reendingmoremoney.Thetestis,areyoudoingeverythingpoibletomakeAmericasafe?
Wedidn’tneedthattaxcut.Americaneededtobesafe.
BUSH:Ofcoursewe’redoingeverythingwecantoprotectAmerica.IwakeupeverydaythinkingabouthowbesttoprotectAmerica.That’smyjob.
IworkwithDirectorMuelleroftheFBI;comesinmyofficewhenI’minWashingtoneverymorning,talkingabouthowtoprotectus.There’salotofreallygoodpeopleworkinghardtodoso.
It’shardwork.But,again,IwanttotelltheAmericanpeople,we’redoingeverythingwecanathome,butyoubetterhaveapresidentwhochasestheseterroristsdownandbringthemtojusticebeforetheyhurtusagain.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president.Twominutes.
WhatcriteriawouldyouusetodeterminewhentostartbringingU.S.troohomefromIraq?
BUSH:LetmefirsttellyouthatthebestwayforIraqtobesafeandsecureisforIraqicitizetobetrainedtodothejob.
Andthat’swhatwe’redoing.We’vegot100,000trainednow,125,000bytheendofthisyear,200,000bytheendofnextyear.Thatisthebestway.We’llneversucceedinIraqiftheIraqicitizedonotwanttotakemattersintotheirownhandstoprotectthemselves.Ibelievetheywantto.primeMinisterAllawibelievestheywantto.
Andsothebestindicationaboutwhenwecanbringourtroohome--whichIreallywanttodo,butIdon’twanttodosoforthesakeofbringingthemhome;Iwanttodosobecausewe’veachievedanobjective--istoseetheIraqisperformandtoseetheIraqisstepupandtakereoibility.
Andso,theawertoyourquestionis:WhenourgeneralisonthegroundandAmbaadorNegropontetellsmethatIraqisreadytodefendherselffromtheseterrorists,thatelectiowillhavebeenheldbythen,thattheirstabilityandthatthey’reontheirwayto,youknow,anationthat’sfree;that’swhen.
AndIhopeit’sassoonaspoible.ButIknowputtingartificialdeadlineswon’twork.Myoonentatonetimesaid,"Well,getmeelected,I’llhavethemoutofthereinsixmonths."Youcan’tdothatandexpecttowinthewaronterror.Mymeagetoourtroois,"Thankyouforwhatyou’redoing.We’restandingwithyoustrong.We’llgiveyoualltheequipmentyouneed.Andwe’llgetyouhomeassoonasthemiion’sdone,becausethisisavitalmiion."
AfreeIraqwillbeanallyinthewaronterror,andthat’seential.AfreeIraqwillsetapowerfulexampleinthepartoftheworldthatisdeerateforfreedom.AfreeIraqwillhelpsecureIsrael.AfreeIraqwillenforcethehopesandairatioofthereformersinplaceslikeIran.AfreeIraqiseentialforthesecurityofthiscountry.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds,SenatorKerry.
KERRY:Thankyou,Jim.
Mymeagetothetrooisalso:Thankyouforwhatthey’redoing,butit’salsohelpisontheway.Ibelievethosetroodeservebetterthanwhattheyaregettingtoday.
Youknow,it’sinteresting.WhenIwasinaropelinejusttheotherday,comingoutherefromWiscoin,acoupleofyoungreturneeswereintheline,oneactiveduty,onefromtheGuard.Andtheybothlookedatmeandsaid:Weneedyou.You’vegottohelpusoverthere.
NowIbelievethere’sabetterwaytodothis.Youknow,thepresident’sfatherdidnotgointoIraq,intoBaghdad,beyondBasra.Andthereasonhedidn’tis,hesaid--hewroteinhisbook--becausetherewasnoviableexitstrategy.Andhesaidourtroowouldbeoccupiersinabitterlyhostileland.
That’sexactlywherewefindourselvestoday.There’saseeofAmericanoccupation.TheonlybuildingthatwasguardedwhenthetroowhenintoBaghdadwastheoilministry.Wedidn’tguardthenuclearfacilities.
Wedidn’tguardtheforeignoffice,whereyoumighthavefoundinformationaboutweapoofmadestruction.Wedidn’tguardtheborders.
Almosteverystepoftheway,ourtroohavebeenleftontheseextraordinarilydifficultmiio.Iknowwhatit’sliketogooutononeofthosemiiowhenyoudon’tknowwhat’saroundthecorner.
AndIbelieveourtrooneedotherallieshelping.I’mgoingtoholdthatsummit.Iwillbringfreshcredibility,anewstart,andwewillgetthejobdoneright.
LEHRER:Allright,goahead.Yes,sir?
BUSH:Ithinkit’sworthyforafollow-up.
LEHRER:Sure,right.
(CROTALK)LEHRER:Wecando30secondseachhere.Allright.
BUSH:Myoonentsayshelpisontheway,butwhatkindofmeagedoesitsaytoourtrooinharm’sway,"wrongwar,wrongplace,wrongtime"?Notameageacommanderinchiefgives,orthisisa"greatpersion."
Aswell,helpisontheway,butit’scertainlyhardtotellitwhenhevotedagaitthe$87-billionsulementaltoprovideequipmentforourtroo,andthensaidheactuallydidvoteforitbeforehevotedagaitit.
Notwhatacommanderinchiefdoeswhenyou’retryingtoleadtroo.
LEHRER:SenatorKerry,30seconds.
KERRY:Well,youknow,whenItalkedaboutthe$87billion,ImadeamistakeinhowItalkaboutthewar.ButthepresidentmadeamistakeininvadingIraq.Whichisworse?
Ibelievethatwhenyouknowsomething’sgoingwrong,youmakeitright.That’swhatIlearnedinVietnam.WhenIcamebackfromthatwarIsawthatitwaswrong.Somepeopledon’tlikethefactthatIstooduptosayno,butIdid.Andthat’swhatIdidwiththatvote.AndI’mgoingtoleadthosetrootovictory.
LEHRER:Allright,newquestion.Twominutes,SenatorKerry.
eakingofVietnam,youoketoCongrein1971,afteryoucamebackfromVietnam,andyousaid,quote,"Howdoyouaskamantobethelastmantodieforamistake?"
AreAmericanowdyinginIraqforamistake?
KERRY:No,andtheydon’thaveto,providingwehavetheleadershipthatweput--thatI’moffering.
Ibelievethatwehavetowinthis.ThepresidentandIhavealwaysagreedonthat.Andfromthebegiing,Ididvotetogivetheauthority,becauseIthoughtSaddamHueinwasathreat,andIdidacceptthatintelligence.
ButIalsolaidoutaverystrictseriesofthingsweneededtodoinordertoproceedfromapositionofstrength.Thenthepresident,infact,promisedthem.HewenttoCinciatiandhegaveaeechinwhichhesaid,"Wewillplancarefully.Wewillproceedcautiously.Wewillnotmakewarinevitable.Wewillgowithourallies."
Hedidn’tdoanyofthosethings.Theydidn’tdotheplaing.TheylefttheplaingoftheStateDepartmentintheStateDepartmentdesks.Theyavoidedeventheadviceoftheirowngeneral.GeneralShiheki,theArmychiefofstaff,saidyou’regoingtoneedseveralhundredthousandtroo.Iteadoflisteningtohim,theyretiredhim.Theterrorismczar,whohasworkedforeverypresidentsinceRonaldReagan,said,"InvadingIraqinreoeto9/11wouldbelikeFranklinRooseveltinvadingMexicoinreoetopearlHarbor."That’swhatwehavehere.
Andwhatweneednowisapresidentwhounderstandshowtobringtheseothercountriestogethertorecognizetheirstakesinthis.Theydohavestakesinit.They’vealwayshadstakesinit.
TheArabcountrieshaveastakeinnothavingacivilwar.TheEuropeancountrieshaveastakeinnothavingtotaldisorderontheirdoorstep.
Butthispresidentha’tevenheldthekindofstatesman-likesummitsthatpullpeopletogetherandgetthemtoinvestinthosestates.Infact,he’sdonetheoosite.Hepushedthemaway.
WhentheSecretaryGeneralKofiAanofferedtheUnitedNatio,hesaid,"No,no,we’llgodothisalone."
TosaveforHalliburtontheoilsofthewar,theyactuallyiuedamemorandumfromtheDefeeDepartmentsaying,"Ifyouweren’twithusinthewar,don’tbotheralyingforanycotruction."
That’snotawaytoinvitepeople.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds.
BUSH:That’stotallyaurd.Ofcourse,theU.N.wasinvitedin.AndwesuorttheU.N.effortsthere.TheypulledoutafterSergiodeMellogotkilled.Butthey’renowbackinhelpingwithelectio.
Myoonentsayswedidn’thaveanyalliesinthiswar.What’shesaytoTonyBlair?What’shesaytoAlexanderKwaiewskiofpoland?Youcan’texpecttobuildanalliancewhenyoudenigratethecontributioofthosewhoareservingsidebysidewithAmericantrooinIraq.
plus,hesaysthecornerstoneofhisplantosucceedinIraqistocalluponnatiotoserve.Sowhat’sthemeagegoingtobe:"pleasejoinusinIraq.We’reagrandpersion.Joinusforawarthatisthewrongwaratthewrongplaceatthewrongtime?"
Iknowhowthesepeoplethink.Idealwiththemallthetime.Isitdownwiththeworldleadersfrequentlyandtalktothemonthephonefrequently.They’renotgoingtofollowsomebodywhosays,"Thisisthewrongwaratthewrongplaceatthewrongtime."
Iknowhowthesepeoplethink.Idealwiththemallthetime.Isitdownwiththeworldleadersfrequentlyandtalktothemonthephonefrequently.
They’renotgoingtofollowsomebodywhosaysthisisthewrongwaratthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.They’renotgoingtofollowsomebodywhosecoreconvictiokeepchangingbecauseofpoliticsinAmerica.
Andfinally,hesaysweoughttohaveasummit.Well,therearesummitsbeingheld.Japanisgoingtohaveasummitforthedonor$14billionpledged.AndprimeMinisterKoizumiisgoingtocallcountriestoaccount,togetthemtocontribute.
Andthere’sgoingtobeanArabsummit,oftheneighborhoodcountries.AndColinpowellhelpedsetupthatsummit.
LEHRER:Fortyseconds,Senator.
KERRY:TheUnitedNatio,KofiAanofferedhelpafterBaghdadfell.Andweneverpickedhimuponthatanddidwhatwasnecearytotraferauthorityandtotraferrecotruction.ItwasalwaysAmerican-run.
Secondly,whenwewentin,therewerethreecountries:GreatBritain,AustraliaandtheUnitedStates.That’snotagrandcoalition.Wecandobetter.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:Well,actually,heforgotpoland.Andnowthere’s30natioinvolved,standingsidebysidewithourAmericantroo.
AndIhonortheirsacrifices.AndIdon’tareciateitwhencandidateforpresidentdenigratesthecontributioofthesebravesoldiers.
Youcaotleadtheworldifyoudonothonorthecontributioofthosewhoarewithus.Hecalledthemcoercedandthebribed.That’snothowyoubringpeopletogether.
Ourcoalitionisstrong.Itwillremainstrong,solongasI’mthepresident.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president,twominutes.Youhavesaidtherewasa,quote,"miscalculation,"ofwhattheconditiowouldbeinpost-warIraq.Whatwasthemiscalculation,andhowdidithaen?
BUSH:No,whatIsaidwasthat,becauseweachievedsucharapidvictory,moreoftheSaddamloyalistswerearound.Imean,wethoughtwe’dwhipmoreofthemgoingin.
ButbecauseTommyFranksdidsuchagreatjobinplaingtheoperation,wemovedrapidly,andalotoftheBaathistsandSaddamloyalistslaiddowntheirarmsanddisaeared.Ithoughttheywouldstayandfight,buttheydidn’t.
Andnowwe’refightingthemnow.Andit’shardwork.Iunderstandhowharditis.Igetthecasualtyreportseveryday.IseeontheTVscreehowharditis.Butit’snecearywork.
AndI’moptimistic.See,Ithinkyoucanberealisticandoptimisticatthesametime.I’moptimisticwe’llachieve--Iknowwewon’tachieveifwesendmixedsignals.Iknowwe’renotgoingtoachieveourobjectiveifwesendmixedsignalstoourtroo,ourfriends,theIraqicitize.
We’vegotaplaninplace.TheplansaystherewillbeelectioinJanuary,andtherewillbe.Theplansayswe’lltrainIraqisoldierssotheycandothehardwork,andweare.
Andit’snotonlyjustAmerica,butNATOisnowhelping,Jordan’shelpingtrainpolice,UAEishelpingtrainpolice.
We’veallocated$7billionoverthenextmonthsforrecotructionefforts.Andwe’remakingprogrethere.
Andourallianceisstrong.AndasIjusttoldyou,there’sgoingtobeasummitoftheArabnatio.Japanwillbehostingasummit.We’remakingprogre.
Itishardwork.Itishardworktogofromatyraytoademocracy.It’shardworktogofromaplacewherepeoplegettheirhandscutoff,orexecuted,toaplacewherepeoplearefree.
Butit’snecearywork.AndafreeIraqisgoingtomakethisworldamorepeacefulplace.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds,SenatorKerry.
KERRY:WhatIthinktroublesalotofpeopleinourcountryisthatthepresidenthasjustsortofdescribedonekindofmistake.Butwhathehassaidisthat,evenknowingtherewerenoweapoofmadestruction,evenknowingtherewasnoimminentthreat,evenknowingtherewasnocoectionwithAlQaida,hewouldstillhavedoneeverythingthesameway.Thosearehiswords.
Now,Iwouldnot.SowhatI’mtryingtodoisjusttalkthetruthtotheAmericanpeopleandtotheworld.Thetruthiswhatgoodpolicyisbasedon.It’swhatleadershipisbasedon.
ThepresidentsaysthatI’mdenigratingthesetroo.IhavenothingbutreectfortheBritish,TonyBlair,andforwhatthey’vebeenwillingtodo.
Butyoucan’ttellmethatwhenthemosttrooanyothercountryhasonthegroundisGreatBritain,with8,300,andbelowthatthefourothersarebelow4,000,andbelowthat,therei’tanybodyoutofthehundreds,thatwehaveagenuinecoalitiontogetthisjobdone.
Youcan’ttellmethatonthedaythatwewentintothatwaranditstarted--itwasprincipallytheUnitedStates,theAmericaandGreatBritainandoneortwoothers.That’sit.Andtoday,weare90percentofthecasualtiesand90percentofthecosts.Andmeanwhile,NorthKoreahasgotnuclearweapo.Talkaboutmixedmeages.Thepresidentistheonethatsaid,"Wecan’tallowcountriestogetnuclearweapo."Theyhave.I’llchangethat.
LEHRER:Newquestion.SenatorKerry,twominutes.Youjust--you’verepeatedlyaccusedpresidentBush--notheretonight,butelsewherebefore--ofnottellingthetruthaboutIraq,eentiallyoflyingtotheAmericanpeopleaboutIraq.Giveussomeexamplesofwhatyoucoidertobehisnottellingthetruth.
KERRY:Well,I’venever,everusedtheharshestword,asyoudidjustthen.AndItrynotto.I’vebeen--butI’llnevertheletellyouthatIthinkhehasnotbeencandidwiththeAmericanpeople.AndI’lltellyouexactlyhow.
Firstofall,weallknowthatinhisstateoftheunionmeage,hetoldCongreaboutnuclearmaterialsthatdidn’texist.
WeknowthathepromisedAmericathathewasgoingtobuildthiscoalition.Ijustdescribedthecoalition.Itisnotthekindofcoalitionweweredescribedwhenweweretalkingaboutvotingforthis.
ThepresidentsaidhewouldexhausttheremediesoftheUnitedNatioandgothroughthatfullproce.Hedidn’t.Hecutifoff,sortofarbitrarily.
Andweknowthattherewerefurtherdiplomaticeffortsunderway.Theyjustdecidedthetimefordiplomacyisoverandrushedtowarwithoutplaingforwhathaeafterwards.
Now,hemisledtheAmericanpeopleinhiseechwhenhesaidwewillplancarefully.Theyobviouslydidn’t.HemisledtheAmericanpeoplewhenhesaidwe’dgotowarasalastresort.Wedidnotgoasalastresort.AndmostAmericaknowthedifference.
Now,thishascostusdeeplyintheworld.IbelievethatitisimportanttotellthetruthtotheAmericanpeople.I’veworkedwiththoseleadersthepresidenttalksabout,I’veworkedwiththemfor20years,forlongerthanthispresident.AndIknowwhatmanyofthemsaytoday,andIknowhowtobringthembacktothetable.
AndIbelievethatafreshstart,newcredibility,apresidentwhocanunderstandwhatwehavetodotoreachouttotheMuslimworldtomakeitclearthatthisisnot,youknow--OsamabinLadenusestheinvasionofIraqinordertogoouttopeopleandsaythatAmericahasdeclaredwaronIslam.
Weneedtobesmarteraboutnowwewageawaronterror.Weneedtodenythemtherecruits.Weneedtodenythemthesafehave.Weneedtorebuildouralliances.
IbelievethatRonaldReagan,JohnKeedy,andtheothersdidthatmoreeffectively,andI’mgoingtotrytofollowintheirfootste.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:Myoonentjustsaidsomethingamazing.HesaidOsamabinLadenusestheinvasionofIraqasanexcusetoreadhatredforAmerica.OsamabinLadeni’tgoingtodeterminehowwedefendourselves.
OsamabinLadendoe’tgettodecide.TheAmericanpeopledecide.
IdecidedtherightactionwasinIraq.Myoonentcallsitamistake.Itwa’tamistake.
HesaidImisledonIraq.Idon’tthinkhewasmisleadingwhenhecalledIraqagravethreatinthefallof20xx.
Idon’tthinkhewasmisleadingwhenhesaidthatitwasrighttodisarmIraqintheringof20xx.
Idon’tthinkhemisledyouwhenhesaidthat,youknow,anyonewhodoubtedwhethertheworldwasbetteroffwithoutSaddamHueininpowerdidn’thavethejudgmenttobepresident.Idon’tthinkhewasmisleading.
IthinkwhatismisleadingistosayyoucanleadandsucceedinIraqifyoukeepchangingyourpositioonthiswar.Andhehas.Asthepoliticschange,hispositiochange.Andthat’snothowacommanderinchiefacts.
Letmefinish.
TheintelligenceIlookedatwasthesameintelligencemyoonentlookedat,theverysameintelligence.AndwhenIstoodupthereandoketotheCongre,Iwaseakingoffthesameintelligencehelookedattomakehisdecisiotosuorttheauthorizationofforce.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds.We’lldoa30secondhere.
KERRY:Iwa’tmisleadingwhenIsaidhewasathreat.NorwasImisleadingonthedaythatthepresidentdecidedtogotowarwhenIsaidthathehadmadeamistakeinnotbuildingstrongalliancesandthatIwouldhavepreferredthathedidmorediplomacy.
I’vehadoneposition,onecoistentposition,thatSaddamHueinwasathreat.Therewasarightwaytodisarmhimandawrongway.Andthepresidentchosethewrongway.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:Theonlycoistentaboutmyoonent’spositionisthathe’sbeenincoistent.Hechangespositio.Andyoucaotchangepositiointhiswaronterrorifyouexpecttowin.
AndIexpecttowin.It’snecearywewin.
We’rebeingchallengedlikeneverbefore.AndwehaveadutytoourcountryandtofuturegeneratioofAmericatoachieveafreeIraq,afreeAfghanistan,andtoridtheworldofweapoofmadestruction.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president.Twominutes.
HasthewarinIraqbeenworththecostofAmericanlives,1,052asoftoday?
BUSH:Youknow,everylifeisprecious.Everylifematters.Youknow,myhardest--thehardestpartofthejobistoknowthatIcommittedthetrooinharm’swayandthendothebestIcantoprovidecomfortforthelovedoneswholostasonoradaughterorahuandorwife.
Youknow,IthinkaboutMiyJohon.She’safantasticladyImetinCharlotte,NorthCarolina.SheandhersonBryan,theycametoseeme.HerhuandpJgotkilled.He’dbeeninAfghanistan,wenttoIraq.
Youknow,it’shardworktotrytoloveherasbestasIcan,knowingfullwellthatthedecisionImadecausedherlovedonetobeinharm’sway.
ItoldherafterweprayedandtearedupandlaughedsomethatIthoughtherhuand’ssacrificewasnobleandworthy.BecauseIunderstandthestakesofthiswaronterror.IunderstandthatwemustfindAlQaidawherevertheyhide.
Wemustdealwiththreatsbeforetheyfullymaterialize.AndSaddamHueinwasathreat,andthatwemustreadlibertybecauseinthelongrun,thewaytodefeathatredandtyrayandoreionistoreadfreedom.
Miyunderstoodthat.That’swhatshetoldmeherhuandunderstood.Soyousay,"Wasitworthit?"Everylifeisprecious.That’swhatdistinguishesusfromtheenemy.Everybodymatters.ButIthinkit’sworthit,Jim.
Ithinkit’sworthit,becauseIthink--IknowinthelongtermafreeIraq,afreeAfghanistan,willsetsuchapowerfulinapartoftheworldthat’sdeerateforfreedom.Itwillhelpchangetheworld;thatwecanlookbackandsaywedidourduty.
LEHRER:Senator,90seconds.
KERRY:Iunderstandwhatthepresidentistalkingabout,becauseIknowwhatitmeatolosepeopleincombat.Andthequestion,isitworththecost,remindsmeofmyownthinkingwhenIcamebackfromfightinginthatwar.
Anditremindsmethatitisvitalforusnottoconfusethewar,ever,withthewarriors.Thathaenedbefore.
Andthat’soneofthereasowhyIbelieveIcangetthisjobdone,becauseIamdeterminedforthosesoldiersandforthosefamilies,forthosekidswhoputtheirlivesontheline.
Thatisnoble.That’sthemostnoblethingthatanybodycando.AndIwanttomakesuretheoutcomehonorsthatnobility.
Now,wehaveachoicehere.I’velaidoutaplanbywhichIthinkwecanbesuccefulinIraq:withasummit,bydoingbettertraining,faster,bycutting--bydoingwhatweneedtodowithreecttotheU.N.andtheelectio.
There’sonly25percentofthepeopleinthere.Theycan’thaveanelectionrightnow.
Thepresident’snotgettingthejobdone.
SothechoiceforAmericais,youcanhaveaplanthatI’velaidoutinfourpoints,eachofwhichIcantellyoumoreaboutoryoucangotojohnkerry.comandseemoreofit;oryouhavethepresident’splan,whichisfourwords:moreofthesame.
Ithinkmyplanisbetter.
Andmyplanhasabetterchanceofstandingupandfightingforthosetroo.
Iwillneverletthosetroodown,andwillhuntandkilltheterroristswherevertheyare.
LEHRER:Allright,sir,goahead.Thirtyseconds.
BUSH:Yes,Iunderstandwhatitmeatothecommanderinchief.AndifIweretoeversay,"Thisisthewrongwaratthewrongtimeatthewrongplace,"thetroowouldwonder,howcanIfollowthisguy?
Youcaotleadthewaronterrorifyoukeepchangingpositioonthewaronterrorandsaythingslike,"Well,thisisjustagrandpersion."It’snotagrandpersion.Thisisaneentialthatwegetitright.
Andso,theplanhetalksaboutsimplywon’twork.
LEHRER:SenatorKerry,youhave30seconds.Youhave30seconds,right.Andthenthepresident.
KERRY:SecretaryofStateColinpowelltoldthispresidentthepotteryBarnrule:Ifyoubreakit,youfixit.
Now,ifyoubreakit,youmadeamistake.It’sthewrongthingtodo.Butyouownit.Andthenyou’vegottofixitanddosomethingwithit.
Nowthat’swhatwehavetodo.There’snoincoistency.Soldiersknowovertherethatthisi’tbeingdonerightyet.I’mgoingtogetitrightforthosesoldiers,becauseit’simportanttoIsrael,it’simportanttoAmerica,it’simportanttotheworld,it’simportanttothefightonterror.
ButIhaveaplantodoit.Hedoe’t.
LEHRER:eakingofyourplan,newquestion,SenatorKerry.Twominutes.
Canyougiveusecifics,intermsofascenario,timelines,etcetera,forendingmajorU.S.militaryinvolvementinIraq?
KERRY:ThetimelinethatI’vesetout--andagain,Iwanttocorrectthepresident,becausehe’smisledagainthiseveningonwhatI’vesaid.Ididn’tsayIwouldbringtroooutinsixmonths.Isaid,ifwedothethingsthatI’vesetoutandwearesucceful,wecouldbegintodrawthetroodowninsixmonths.
AndIthinkacriticalcomponentofsucceinIraqisbeingabletoconvincetheIraqisandtheArabworldthattheUnitedStatesdoe’thavelong-termdesigonit.
AsIunderstandit,we’rebuildingsome14militarybasestherenow,andsomepeoplesaythey’vegotaratherpermanentconcepttothem.
Whenyouguardtheoilministry,butyoudon’tguardthenuclearfacilities,themeagetoalotofpeopleismaybe,"Wow,maybethey’reinterestedinouroil."
Now,theproblemisthattheydidn’tthinkthesethingsthroughproperly.Andthesearethethingsyouhavetothinkthrough.
WhatIwanttodoischangethedynamicsontheground.AndyouhavetodothatbybegiingtonotbackoffoftheFallujahsandotherplaces,andsendthewrongmeagetotheterrorists.Youhavetoclosetheborders.
You’vegottoshowyou’reseriousinthatregard.Butyou’vealsogottoshowthatyouarepreparedtobringtherestoftheworldinandsharethestakes.
Iwillmakeaflatstatement:TheUnitedStatesofAmericahasnolong-termdesigonstayinginIraq.
Andourgoalinmyadministrationwouldbetogetallofthetroooutoftherewithaminimalamountyouneedfortrainingandlogisticsaswedoinsomeothercountriesintheworldafterawartobeabletosustainthepeace.
Butthat’showwe’regoingtowinthepeace,byrapidlytrainingtheIraqisthemselves.
Eventheadministrationhasadmittedtheyhaven’tdonethetraining,becausetheycamebacktoCongreafewweeksagoandaskedforacompletereprogrammingofthemoney.
Nowwhatgreateradmiionisthere,16monthsafterwards."Oo,wehaven’tdonethejob.Wehavetostarttoendthemoneynow.Willyouguysgiveuspermiiontoshiftitoverintotraining?"
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds.
BUSH:Thereare100,000trootrained,police,guard,ecialunits,borderpatrol.There’sgoingtobe125,000trainedbytheendofthisyear.Yes,we’regettingthejobdone.It’shardwork.Everybodyknowsit’shardwork,becausethere’sadeterminedenemythat’stryingtodefeatus.
Now,myoonentsayshe’sgoingtotrytochangethedynamicsontheground.Well,primeMinisterAllawiwashere.Heistheleaderofthatcountry.He’sabrave,braveman.Whenhecame,aftergivingaeechtotheCongre,myoonentquestionedhiscredibility.
Youcan’tchangethedynamicsonthegroundifyou’vecriticizedthebraveleaderofIraq.
OneofhiscampaignpeopleallegedthatprimeMinisterAllawiwaslikeapuet.That’snowaytotreatsomebodywho’scourageousandbrave,thatistryingtoleadhiscountryforward.
Thewaytomakesurethatwesucceedistosendcoistent,soundmeagestotheIraqipeoplethatwhenwegiveourword,wewillkeepourword,thatwestandwithyou,thatwebelieveyouwanttobefree.AndIdo.
Ibelievethat25millionpeople,thevastmajority,longtohaveelectio.
Irejectthisnotion--andI’msuggestingmyoonenti’t--Irejectthenotionthatsomesaythatifyou’reMuslimyoucan’tfree,youdon’tdesirefreedom.Idisagree,stronglydisagreewiththat.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds.
KERRY:Icouldn’tagreemorethattheIraqiswanttobefreeandthattheycouldbefree.
ButIthinkthepresident,again,stillha’tshownhowhe’sgoingtogoaboutittherightway.Hehasmoreofthesame.
Now,primeMinisterAllawicamehere,andhesaidtheterroristsarepouringovertheborder.That’sAllawi’saement.
ThenationalintelligenceaementthatwasgiventothepresidentinJulysaid,best-casescenario,moreofthesameofwhatweseetoday;worst-casescenario,civilwar.
Icandobetter.
BUSH:Yes,letme...
LEHRER:Yes,30seconds.
BUSH:ThereasonwhyprimeMinisterAllawisaidthey’recomingacrotheborderisbecauseherecognizesthatthisisacentralpartofthewaronterror.They’refightingusbecausethey’refightingfreedom.
TheyunderstandthatafreeAfghanistanorafreeIraqwillbeamajordefeatforthem.Andthosearethestakes.
Andthat’swhyitiseentialwenotleave.That’swhyit’seentialweholdtheline.That’swhyit’seentialwewin.Andwewill.Undermyleadershipwe’regoingtowinthiswarinIraq.
LEHRER:Mr.president,newquestion.Twominutes.DoestheIraqexperiencemakeitmorelikelyorlelikelythatyouwouldtaketheUnitedStatesintoanotherpreemptivemilitaryaction?
BUSH:IwouldhopeIneverhaveto.Iunderstandhowharditistocommittroo.Neverwantedtocommittroo.WhenIwasruing--whenwehadthedebatein20xx,neverdreamtI’dbedoingthat.
Buttheenemyattackedus,Jim,andIhaveasolemndutytoprotecttheAmericanpeople,todoeverythingIcantoprotectus.
Ithinkthatbyeakingclearlyanddoingwhatwesayandnotsendingmixedmeages,itislelikelywe’lleverhavetousetroo.
Butapresidentmustalwaysbewillingtousetroo.Itmust--asalastresort.
IwashopefuldiplomacywouldworkinIraq.Itwasfallingapart.TherewasnodoubtinmymindthatSaddamHueinwashopingthattheworldwouldturnablindeye.
Andifhehadbeeninpower,inotherwords,ifwewouldhavesaid,"Lettheiectorswork,orlet’s,youknow,hopetotalkhimout.Maybean18thresolutionwouldwork,"hewouldhavebeenstrongerandtougher,andtheworldwouldhavebeenalotworseoff.There’sjustnodoubtinmymindwewouldruetheday,hadSaddamHueinbeeninpower.
Soweusediplomacyeverychanceweget,believeme.AndIwouldhopetoneverhavetouseforce.
Butbyeakingclearlyandsendingmeagesthatwemeanwhatwesay,we’veaffectedtheworldinapositiveway.
LookatLibya.Libyawasathreat.Libyaisnowpeacefullydismantlingitsweapoprograms.
LibyaunderstoodthatAmericaandotherswillenforcedoctrineandthattheworldisbetterforit.
Sotoaweryourquestion,Iwouldhopeweneverhaveto.Ithinkbyactingfirmlyanddecisively,itwillmeanitislelikelywehavetouseforce.
LEHRER:SenatorKerry,90seconds.
KERRY:Jim,thepresidentjustsaidsomethingextraordinarilyrevealingandfranklyveryimportantinthisdebate.InawertoyourquestionaboutIraqandsendingpeopleintoIraq,hejustsaid,"Theenemyattackedus."
SaddamHueindidn’tattackus.OsamabinLadenattackedus.AlQaidaattackedus.AndwhenwehadOsamabinLadencorneredinthemountaiofToraBora,1,000ofhiscohortswithhiminthosemountai.WiththeAmericanmilitaryforcesnearbyandinthefield,wedidn’tusethebesttrainedtroointheworldtogokilltheworld’snumberonecriminalandterrorist.
TheyoutsourcedthejobtoAfghanwarlords,whoonlyaweekearlierhadbeenontheothersidefightingagaitus,neitherofwhomtrustedeachother.
That’stheenemythatattackedus.That’stheenemythatwasallowedtowalkoutofthosemountai.That’stheenemythatisnowin60countries,withstrongerrecruits.
HealsosaidSaddamHueinwouldhavebeenstronger.Thatisjustfactuallyincorrect.Two-thirdsofthecountrywasano-flyzonewhenwestartedthiswar.Wewouldhavehadsanctio.WewouldhavehadtheU.N.iectors.SaddamHueinwouldhavebeencontinuallyweakening.
Ifthepresidenthadshownthepatiencetogothroughanotherroundofresolution,tositdownwiththoseleaders,say,"Whatdoyouneed,whatdoyouneednow,howmuchmorewillittaketogetyoutojoinus?"we’dbeinastrongerplacetoday.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds.
BUSH:Firstofall,ofcourseIknowOsamabinLadenattackedus.Iknowthat.
Andsecondly,tothinkthatanotherroundofresolutiowouldhavecausedSaddamHueintodisarm,disclose,isludicrous,inmyjudgment.Itjustshowsasignificantdifferenceofopinion.
Wetrieddiplomacy.Wedidourbest.Hewashopingtoturnablindeye.And,yes,hewouldhavebeenstrongerhadwenotdealtwithhim.Hehadthecapabilityofmakingweapo,andhewouldhavemadeweapo.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds,Senator.
KERRY:Thirty-fivetofortycountriesintheworldhadagreatercapabilityofmakingweapoatthemomentthepresidentinvadedthanSaddamHuein.Andwhilehe’sbeenperted,with9outof10activedutypisioofourArmy,eithergoingtoIraq,comingbackfromIraq,orgettingreadytogo,NorthKorea’sgottennuclearweapoandtheworldismoredangerous.Iranismovingtowardnuclearweapoandtheworldismoredangerous.Darfurhasagenocide.
Theworldismoredangerous.I’dhavemadeabetterchoice.
LEHRER:Newquestion.Twominutes,SenatorKerry.
Whatisyourpositiononthewholeconceptofpreemptivewar?KERRY:Thepresidentalwayshastheright,andalwayshashadtheright,forpreemptivestrike.ThatwasagreatdoctrinethroughouttheColdWar.Anditwasalwaysoneofthethingswearguedaboutwithreecttoarmscontrol.
Nopresident,throughallofAmericanhistory,haseverceded,andnorwouldI,therighttopreemptinanywaynecearytoprotecttheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Butifandwhenyoudoit,Jim,youhavetodoitinawaythatpaesthetest,thatpaestheglobaltestwhereyourcountrymen,yourpeopleunderstandfullywhyyou’redoingwhatyou’redoingandyoucanprovetotheworldthatyoudiditforlegitimatereaso.
HerewehaveourownsecretaryofstatewhohashadtoapologizetotheworldforthepresentationhemadetotheUnitedNatio.
Imean,wecanrememberwhenpresidentKeedyintheCubanmiilecrisissenthissecretaryofstatetoparistomeetwithDeGaulle.Andinthemiddleofthediscuion,totellthemaboutthemiilesinCuba,hesaid,"Here,letmeshowyouthephotos."AndDeGaullewavedthemoffandsaid,"No,no,no,no.ThewordofthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesisgoodenoughforme."
Howmanyleadersintheworldtodaywouldreondtous,asaresultofwhatwe’vedone,inthatway?SowhatisattesthereisthecredibilityoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaandhowweleadtheworld.AndIranandIraqarenowmoredangerous--IranandNorthKoreaarenowmoredangerous.
Now,whetherpreemptionisultimatelywhathastohaen,Idon’tknowyet.ButI’lltellyouthis:Aspresident,I’llnevertakemyeyeoffthatball.I’vebeenfightingforproliferationtheentiretime--anti-proliferationtheentiretimeI’vebeenintheCongre.Andwe’vewatchedthispresidentactuallyturnawayfromsomeofthetreatiesthatwereonthetable.
Youdon’thelpyourselfwithothernatiowhenyouturnawayfromtheglobalwarmingtreaty,foritance,orwhenyourefusetodealatlengthwiththeUnitedNatio.
Youhavetoearnthatreect.AndIthinkwehavealotofearningbacktodo.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds.
BUSH:Letme--I’mnotexactlysurewhatyoumean,"paestheglobaltest,"youtakepreemptiveactionifyoupaaglobaltest.
MyattitudeisyoutakepreemptiveactioninordertoprotecttheAmericanpeople,thatyouactinordertomakethiscountrysecure.
Myoonenttalksaboutmenotsigningcertaintreaties.LetmetellyouonethingIdidn’tsign,andIthinkitshowsthedifferenceofouropinion--thedifferenceofopinio.Andthatis,Iwouldn’tjointheInternationalCriminalCourt.It’sabodybasedinTheHaguewhereunaccountablejudgesandprosecutorscanpullourtrooordiplomatsupfortrial.
AndIwouldn’tjoinit.AndIunderstandthatincertaincapitalsaroundtheworldthatthatwa’tapopularmove.Butit’stherightmovenottojoinaforeigncourtthatcould--whereourpeoplecouldbeprosecuted.
MyoonentisforjoiningtheInternationalCriminalCourt.Ijustthinktryingtobepopular,kindof,intheglobalsee,ifit’snotinourbestinterestmakesnosee.I’minterestedinworkingwithournatioanddoalotofit.ButI’mnotgoingtomakedecisiothatIthinkarewrongforAmerica.
LEHRER:Newquestion,Mr.president.DoyoubelievethatdiplomacyandsanctiocanresolvethenuclearproblemswithNorthKoreaandIran?Taketheminanyorderyouwouldlike.
BUSH:NorthKorea,first,Ido.Letmesay--Icertainlyhopeso.BeforeIwasswornin,thepolicyofthisgovernmentwastohavebilateralnegotiatiowithNorthKorea.
AndwesignedanagreementwithNorthKoreathatmyadministrationfoundoutthatwasnotbeinghonoredbytheNorthKorea.
AndsoIdecidedthatabetterwaytoaroachtheiuewastogetothernatioinvolved,justbesidesus.AndinCrawford,Texas,JiangZeminandIagreedthatthenuclear-weapo-freepeniula,Koreanpeniula,wasinhisinterestandourinterestandtheworld’sinterest.
AndsowebegananewdialoguewithNorthKorea,onethatincludednotonlytheUnitedStates,butnowChina.AndChina’sagotalotofinfluenceoverNorthKorea,somewaysmorethanwedo.
Aswell,weincludedSouthKorea,JapanandRuia.SonowtherearefivevoiceseakingtoKimJongIl,notjustone.
AndsoifKimJongIldecidesagaintonothonoranagreement,he’snotonlydoinginjusticetoAmerica,he’dbedoinginjusticetoChina,aswell.
AndIthinkthiswillwork.It’snotgoingtoworkifweopenupadialoguewithKimJongIl.Hewantstounravelthesix-partytalks,orthefive-nationcoalitionthat’ssendinghimaclearmeage.
OnIran,Ihopewecandothesamething,continuetoworkwiththeworldtoconvincetheIranianmullahstoabandontheirnuclearambitio.
WeworkedverycloselywiththeforeignministersofFrance,GermanyandGreatBritain,whohavebeenthefolksdeliveringthemeagetothemullahsthatifyouexpecttobepartoftheworldofnatio,getridofyournuclearprograms.
TheIAEAisinvolved.There’saecialprotocolrecentlybeenpaedthatallowsforiectio.
Ihopewecandoit.Andwe’vegotagoodstrategy.
LEHRER:SenatorKerry,90seconds.
KERRY:WithreecttoIran,theBritish,French,andGermaweretheoneswhoinitiatedaneffortwithouttheUnitedStates,regrettably,tobegintotrytomovetocurbthenuclearpoibilitiesinIran.Ibelievewecouldhavedonebetter.IthinktheUnitedStatesshouldhaveofferedtheoortunitytoprovidethenuclearfuel,testthem,seewhetherornottheywereactuallylookingforitforpeacefulpurposes.Iftheyweren’twillingtoworkadeal,thenwecouldhaveputsanctiotogether.Thepresidentdidnothing.
WithreecttoNorthKorea,therealstory:WehadiectorsandtelevisioncamerasinthenuclearreactorinNorthKorea.SecretaryBillperrynegotiatedthatunderpresidentClinton.Andweknewwherethefuelrodswere.Andweknewthelimitsontheirnuclearpower.
Colinpowell,oursecretaryofstate,aouncedonedaythatweweregoingtocontinuethedialogofworkingwiththeNorthKorea.ThepresidentreverseditpubliclywhilethepresidentofSouthKoreawashere.
AndthepresidentofSouthKoreawentbacktoSouthKoreabewilderedandembarraedbecauseitwentagaithispolicy.Andfortwoyears,thisadministrationdidn’ttalkatalltoNorthKorea.
Whiletheydidn’ttalkatall,thefuelrodscameout,theiectorswerekickedout,thetelevisioncameraswerekickedout.Andtoday,therearefourtosevennuclearweapointhehandsofNorthKorea.
Thathaenedonthispresident’swatch.
Now,that,Ithink,isoneofthemostserious,sortof,reversalsormixedmeagesthatyoucouldpoiblysend.
LEHRER:Iwanttomakesure--yes,sir--butinthisoneminute,Iwanttomakesurethatweunderstand--thepeoplewatchingunderstandthedifferencesbetweenthetwoofyouonthis.
Youwanttocontinuethemultinationaltalks,correct?
BUSH:Right.
LEHRER:Andyou’rewillingtodoit...
KERRY:Both.Iwantbilateraltalkswhichputalloftheiues,fromthearmisticeof1952,theeconomiciues,thehumanrightsiues,theartillerydiosaliues,theDMZiuesandthenucleariuesonthetable.
LEHRER:Andyou’reoosedtothat.Right?
BUSH:Theminutewehavebilateraltalks,thesix-partytalkswillunwind.That’sexactlywhatKimJongIlwants.Andbytheway,thebreachontheagreementwasnotthroughplutonium.Thebreachontheagreementishighlyenricheduranium.That’swhatwecaughthimdoing.That’swherehewasbreakingtheagreement.
Secondly,hesaid--myoonentsaidwhereheworkedtoputsanctioonIran--we’vealreadysanctionedIran.Wecan’tsanctionthemanymore.TherearesanctioinplaceonIran.
Andfinally,wewereapartytotheconvention--toworkingwithGermany,FranceandGreatBritaintosendtheirforeignministersintoIran.
LEHRER:Newquestion,twominutes.
SenatorKerry,youmentionedDarfur,theDarfurregionofSudan.Fiftythousandpeoplehavealreadydiedinthatarea.Morethanamillionarehomele.Andit’sbeenlabeledanactofongoinggenocide.YetneitheroneofyouoranyoneelsecoectedwithyourcampaigoryouradministrationthatIcanfindhasdiscuedthepoibilityofsendingintroo.
Whynot?
KERRY:Well,I’lltellyouexactlywhynot,butIfirstwanttosaysomethingaboutthosesanctioonIran.
OnlytheUnitedStatesputthesanctioonalone,andthat’sexactlywhatI’mtalkingabout.
Inorderforthesanctiotobeeffective,weshouldhavebeenworkingwiththeBritish,FrenchandGermaandothercountries.Andthat’sthedifferencebetweenthepresidentandme.
Andthere,again,hesortofslidbythequestion.
Now,withreecttoDarfur,yes,itisagenocide.Andmonthsago,manyofuswerepreingforaction.
Ithinkthereasonthatwe’renotsayingsendAmericantrooinatthispointisseveralfold.
Numberone,wecandothisthroughtheAfricanUnion,providingwegivethemthelogisticalsuort.Rightnowallthepresidentisprovidingishumanitariansuort.Weneedtodomorethanthat.They’vegottohavethelogisticalcapacitytogoinandstopthekilling.Andthat’sgoingtorequiremorethanisonthetabletoday.
Ialsobelievethatitis--oneofthereasowecan’tdoitiswe’reoverextended.
Askthepeopleinthearmedforcestoday.We’vegotGuardsandReserveswhoaredoingdoubleduties.We’vegotabackdoordrafttakingplaceinAmericatoday:peoplewithstop-loprogramswherethey’retoldyoucan’tgetoutofthemilitary;nineoutofour10activedutypisiocommittedtoIraqonewayortheother,eithergoing,comingorpreparing.
SothisisthewaythepresidenthasoverextendedtheUnitedStates.
That’swhy,inmyplan,IaddtwoactivedutypisiototheUnitedStatesArmy,notforIraq,butforourgeneraldemandsacrotheglobe.Ialsointendtodoublethenumberofecialforcessothatwecandothejobweneedtodowithreectfightingtheterroristsaroundtheworld.Andifwedothat,thenwehavetheabilitytobeabletoreondmorerapidly.
ButI’lltellyouthis,aspresident,ifittookAmericanforcestosomedegreetocoalescetheAfricanUnion,I’dbepreparedtodoitbecausewecouldneverallowanotherRwanda.
It’sthemoralreoibilityforusandtheworld.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds.
BUSH:BacktoIran,justforasecond.
ItwasnotmyadministrationthatputthesanctioonIran.ThathaenedlongbeforeIarrivedinWashington,D.C.
IntermsofDarfur,Iagreeit’sgenocide.AndColinpowellsostated.
Wehavecommitted$200millionworthofaid.We’retheleadingdonorintheworldtohelpthesufferingpeoplethere.Wewillcommitmoreovertimetohelp.
WewereverymuchinvolvedattheU.N.onthesanctionpolicyoftheBashirgovernmentintheSudan.priortoDarfur,AmbaadorJackDanforthhadbeennegotiatinganorth-southagreementthatwewouldhavehopedwouldhavebroughtpeacetotheSudan.
Iagreewithmyoonentthatweshouldn’tbecommittingtroo.WeoughttobeworkingwiththeAfricanUniontodoso--preciselywhatwedidinLiberia.Wehelpedstabilizethesituationwithsometroo,andwhentheAfricanUnioncame,wemovedthemout.
MyhopeisthattheAfricanUnionmovesrapidlytohelpsavelives.Andfortunatelytherainyseasonwillbeendingshortly,whichwillmakeiteasiertogetaidthereandhelpthelong-sufferingpeoplethere.
LEHRER:Newquestion,presidentBush.Clearly,aswehaveheard,majorpolicydifferencesbetweenthetwoofyou.Aretherealsounderlyingcharacteriuesthatyoubelieve,thatyoubelieveareseriousenoughtodenySenatorKerrythejobascommanderinchiefoftheUnitedStates?
BUSH:That’saloadedquestion.Well,firstofall,IadmireSenatorKerry’sservicetoourcountry.Iadmirethefactthatheisagreatdad.Iareciatethefactthathisdaughtershavebeensokindtomydaughtersinwhathasbeenaprettyhardexperiencefor,Igue,younggirls,seeingtheirdadsouttherecampaigning.
Iadmirerthefactthatheservedfor20yearsintheSenate.AlthoughI’mnotsosureIadmiretherecord.
Iwon’tholditagaithimthathewenttoYale.There’snothingwrongwiththat.
Myconceraboutthesenatoristhat,inthecourseofthiscampaign,I’vebeenlisteningverycarefullytowhathesays,andhechangespositioonthewarinIraq.Hechangespositioonsomethingasfundamentalaswhatyoubelieveinyourcore,inyourheartofhearts,isrightinIraq.
Youcaotleadifyousendmixedmeages.Mixedmeagessendthewrongsignalstoourtroo.Mixedmeagessendthewrongsignalstoourallies.MixedmeagessendthewrongsignalstotheIraqicitize.
Andthat’smybiggestconcernaboutmyoonent.Iadmirehisservice.ButIjustknowhowthisworldworks,andthatinthecouncilsofgovernment,theremustbecertaintyfromtheU.S.president.
Ofcourse,wechangetacticswhenneedto,butweneverchangeourbeliefs,thestrategicbeliefsthatarenecearytoprotectthiscountryintheworld.
LEHRER:Ninetysecondreoe,Senator.
KERRY:Well,firstofall,Iareciateenormouslythepersonalcommentsthepresidentjustmade.AndIsharethemwithhim.Ithinkonlyifyou’redoingthis--andhe’sdoneitmorethanIhaveintermsofthepresidency--canyoubegintogetaseeofwhatitmeatoyourfamilies.Andit’stough.AndsoIacknowledgethathisdaughters--I’vewatchedthem.
I’vechuckledafewtimesatsomeoftheircomments.
(LAUGHTER)
And...
BUSH:I’mtryingtoputaleashonthem.
(LAUGHTER)
KERRY:Well,Iknow.I’velearnednottodothat.
(LAUGHTER)
AndIhavegreatreectandadmirationforhiswife.Ithinkshe’saterrificperson...
BUSH:Thankyou.
KERRY:...andagreatfirstlady.
Butwedohavedifferences.I’mnotgoingtotalkaboutadifferenceofcharacter.Idon’tthinkthat’smyjobormybusine.
Butletmetalkaboutsomethingthatthepresidentjustsortoffinishedupwith.Maybesomeonewouldcallitacharactertrait,maybesomebodywouldn’t.
Butthisiueofcertainty.It’sonethingtobecertain,butyoucanbecertainandbewrong.
It’sanothertobecertainandberight,ortobecertainandbemovingintherightdirection,orbecertainaboutaprincipleandthenlearnnewfactsandtakethosenewfactsandputthemtouseinordertochangeandgetyourpolicyright.
WhatIworryaboutwiththepresidentisthathe’snotacknowledgingwhat’sontheground,he’snotacknowledgingtherealitiesofNorthKorea,he’snotacknowledgingthetruthofthescienceofstem-cellresearchorofglobalwarmingandotheriues.
Andcertaintysometimescangetyouintrouble.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds.
BUSH:Well,Ithink--listen,Ifullyagreethatoneshouldshifttactics,andwewill,inIraq.Ourcommandershavegotalltheflexibilitytodowhatisnecearytosucceed.
ButwhatIwon’tdoischangemycorevaluesbecauseofpoliticsorbecauseofpreure.
AnditisoneofthethingsI’velearnedintheWhiteHouse,isthatthere’senormouspreureonthepresident,andhecaotwiltunderthatpreure.Otherwise,theworldwon’tbebetteroff.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds.
KERRY:Ihavenointentionofwilting.I’veneverwiltedinmylife.AndI’veneverwaveredinmylife.
IknowexactlywhatweneedtodoinIraq,andmypositionhasbeencoistent:SaddamHueinisathreat.Heneededtobedisarmed.WeneededtogototheU.N.Thepresidentneededtheauthoritytouseforceinordertobeabletogethimtodosomething,becauseheneverdiditwithoutthethreatofforce.
Butwedidn’tneedtorushtowarwithoutaplantowinthepeace.
LEHRER:Newquestion,twominutes,SenatorKerry.
Ifyouareelectedpresident,whatwillyoutaketothatofficethinkingisthesinglemostseriousthreattothenationalsecuritytotheUnitedStates?
KERRY:Nuclearproliferation.Nuclearproliferation.There’ssome600-plustoofuecuredmaterialstillintheformerSovietUnionandRuia.Attheratethatthepresidentiscurrentlysecuringit,it’lltake13yearstogetit.
Ididalotofworkonthis.Iwroteabookaboutitseveralyearsago--six,sevenyearsago--called"TheNewWar,"whichsawthedifficultiesofthisinternationalcriminalnetwork.Andbackthen,weinterceptedasuitcaseinaMiddleEasterncountrywithnuclearmaterialsinit.Andtheblackmarketsalepricewasabout$250million.
Now,thereareterroriststryingtogettheirhandsonthatstufftoday.
Andthispresident,Iregrettosay,hassecuredlenuclearmaterialinthelasttwoyearssince9/11thanwedidinthetwoyearspreceding9/11.
Wehavetodothisjob.Andtodothejob,youcan’tcutthemoneyforit.Thepresidentactuallycutthemoneyforit.Youhavetoputthemoneyintoitandthefundingandtheleadership.
AndpartofthatleadershipissendingtherightmeagetoplaceslikeNorthKorea.
Rightnowthepresidentisendinghundredsofmillioofdollarstoresearchbunker-bustingnuclearweapo.TheUnitedStatesispursuinganewsetofnuclearweapo.Itdoe’tmakesee.
Youtalkaboutmixedmeages.We’retellingotherpeople,"Youcan’thavenuclearweapo,"butwe’repursuinganewnuclearweaponthatwemightevencontemplateusing.
Notthispresident.I’mgoingtoshutthatprogramdown,andwe’regoingtomakeitcleartotheworldwe’reseriousaboutcontainingnuclearproliferation.
Andwe’regoingtogetthejobofcontainingallofthatnuclearmaterialinRuiadoneinfouryears.Andwe’regoingtobuildthestrongestinternationalnetworktopreventnuclearproliferation.
ThisisthescaleofwhatpresidentKeedysetouttodowiththenucleartestbantreaty.It’sourgeneration’sequivalent.AndIintendtogetitdone.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:Actually,we’veincreasedfundingfordealingwithnuclearproliferationabout35percentsinceI’vebeenthepresident.Secondly,we’vesetupwhat’scalledthe--well,firstofall,Iagreewithmyoonentthatthebiggestthreatfacingthiscountryisweapoofmadestructioninthehandsofaterroristnetwork.Andthat’swhyproliferationisoneofthecenterpiecesofamulti-prongstrategytomakethecountrysafer.
Myadministrationstartedwhat’scalledtheproliferationSecurityInitiative.Over60natioinvolvedwithdisruptingthetra-shipmentofinformationand/orweapoofmadestructionmaterials.
Andwe’vebeeneffective.WebustedtheA.Q.Khannetwork.ThiswasaproliferatoroutofpakistanthatwassellingsecretstoplaceslikeNorthKoreaandLibya.WeconvincedLibyatodisarm.It’sacentralpartofdealingwithweapoofmadestructionandproliferation.
I’lltellyouanotherwaytohelpprotectAmericainthelongrunistocontinuewithmiiledefees.Andwe’vegotarobustresearchanddevelopmentprogramthathasbeenongoingduringmyadministration.We’llbeimplementingamiile-defeesystemrelativelyquickly.
Andthatisanotherwaytohelpdealwiththethreatsthatwefaceinthe21stcentury.
Myoonentoosedthemiiledefees.
LEHRER:Justforthisone-minutediscuionhere,justforwhateversecondsittakes:Soit’scorrecttosay,thatifsomebodyislisteningtothis,thatbothofyouagree,ifyou’rereelected,Mr.president,andifyouareelected,thesinglemostseriousthreatyoubelieve,bothofyoubelieve,isnuclearproliferation?
BUSH:Inthehandsofaterroristenemy.
KERRY:Weapoofmadestruction,nuclearproliferation.
Butagain,thetestorthedifferencebetweenus,thepresidenthashadfouryearstotrytodosomethingaboutit,andNorthKoreahasgotmoreweapoIranismovingtowardweapo.Andathispace,itwilltake13yearstosecurethoseweapoinRuia.
I’mgoingtodoitinfouryears,andI’mgoingtoimmediatelysetouttohavebilateraltalkswithNorthKorea.
LEHRER:Yourreoetothat?
BUSH:Again,Ican’ttellyouhowbigamistakeIthinkthatis,tohavebilateraltalkswithNorthKorea.It’spreciselywhatKimJongIlwants.Itwillcausethesix-partytalkstoevaporate.ItwillmeanthatChinanolongerisinvolvedinconvincing,alongwithus,forKimJongIltogetridofhisweapo.It’sabigmistaketodothat.
WemusthaveChina’sleverageonKimJongIl,besidesourselves.
Andifyouenterbilateraltalks,they’llbehaytowalkawayfromthetable.Idon’tthinkthat’llwork.
LEHRER:Allright.Mr.president,thisisthelastquestion.Andtwominutes.It’sanewsubject--newquestion,andithastodowithpresidentputinandRuia.Didyoumisjudgehimorareyou--doyoufeelthatwhatheisdoinginthenameofantiterrorismbychangingsomedemocraticproceesisOK?
BUSH:No,Idon’tthinkit’sOK,andsaidsopublicly.Ithinkthatthereneedstobechecksandbalancesinademocracy,andmadethatveryclearthatbycoolidatingpowerinthecentralgovernment,he’ssendingasignaltotheWesternworldandUnitedStatesthatperhahedoe’tbelieveinchecksandbalances,andItoldhimthat.
Imean,he’salsoastrongallyinthewaronterror.Heis--listen,theywentthroughahorriblesituationinBeslan,wheretheseterroristsgueddownyoungschoolkids.That’sthenatureoftheenemy,bytheway.That’swhyweneedtobefirmandresolveinbringingthemtojustice.
That’spreciselywhatVladimirputinunderstands,aswell.
I’vegotagoodrelationwithVladimir.Andit’simportantthatwedohaveagoodrelation,becausethatenablesmetobettercommenttohim,andtobettertodiscuwithhim,someofthedecisiohemakes.Ifoundthat,inthisworld,thatit’simportanttoestablishgoodpersonalrelatiohiwithpeoplesothatwhenyouhavedisagreements,you’reabletodisagreeinawaythatiseffective.
AndsoI’vetoldhimmyopinion.
Ilookforwardtodiscuingitmorewithhim,astimegoeson.Ruiaisacountryintraition.Vladimirisgoingtohavetomakesomehardchoices.AndIthinkit’sveryimportantfortheAmericanpresident,aswellasotherWesternleaders,toremindhimofthegreatbenefitsofdemocracy,thatdemocracywillbesthelpthepeoplerealizetheirhopesandairatioanddreams.AndIwillcontinueworkingwithhimoverthenextfouryears.
LEHRER:Ninetyseconds,SenatorKerry.
KERRY:Well,letmejustsayquicklythatI’vehadanextraordinaryexperienceofwatchingupcloseandpersonalthattraitioninRuia,becauseIwasthererightafterthetraformation.AndIwasprobablyoneofthefirstsenators,alongwithSenatorBobSmithofNewHamhire,aformersenator,godownintotheKGBunderneathTreblinkaSquareandseereamsoffileswithnamesinthem.
ItsortofbroughthomethetraitiontodemocracythatRuiawastryingtomake.
Iregretwhat’shaenedinthesepastmonths.AndIthinkitgoesbeyondjustthereoetoterror.Mr.putinnowcontrolsallthetelevisionstatio.Hispoliticaloositionisbeingputinjail.
AndIthinkit’sveryimportanttotheUnitedStates,obviously,tohaveaworkingrelatiohipthatisgood.Thisisaveryimportantcountrytous.Wewantapartnership.
Butwealwayshavetostandupfordemocracy.AsGeorgeWillsaidtheotherday,"Freedomonthemarch;notinRuiarightnow."
Now,I’dliketocomebackforaquickmoment,ifIcan,tothatiueaboutChinaandthetalks.Becausethat’soneofthemostcriticaliueshere:NorthKorea.
Justbecausethepresidentsaysitcan’tbedone,thatyou’dloseChina,doe’tmeanitcan’tbedone.Imean,thisisthepresidentwhosaid"Therewereweapoofmadestruction,"said"Miionaccomplished,"saidwecouldfightthewaronthecheap--noneofwhichweretrue.
WecouldhavebilateraltalkswithKimJongIl.AndwecangetthoseweapoatthesametimeaswegetChina.BecauseChinahasaninterestintheoutcome,too.
LEHRER:Thirtyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:YouknowmyopiniononNorthKorea.Ican’tsayitanymoreplainly.
LEHRER:Well,butwhenheusedtheword"truth"again...
BUSH:pardonme?
LEHRER:...talkingaboutthetruthofthematter.Heusedtheword"truth"again.Didthatraiseanyhackleswithyou?
BUSH:Oh,I’maprettycalmguy.Idon’ttakeitpersonally.
LEHRER:OK.Allright.
BUSH:Youknow,welookedatthesameintelligenceandcametothesameconclusion:thatSaddamHueinwasagravethreat.
AndIdon’tholditagaithimthathesaidgravethreat.I’mnotgoingtogoaroundthecountrysayinghedidn’ttellthetruth,whenhelookedatthesameintelligenceIdid.
KERRY:Itwasathreat.That’snottheiue.Theiueiswhatyoudoaboutit.
Thepresidentsaidhewasgoingtobuildatruecoalition,exhausttheremediesoftheU.N.andgotowarasalastresort.
Thosewordsreallyhavetomeansomething.And,unfortunately,hedidn’tgotowarasalastresort.
NowwehavethisincrediblemeinIraq--$200billion.It’snotwhattheAmericanpeoplethoughttheyweregettingwhentheyvoted.
LEHRER:Allright,thatbringsustoclosingstatements.
And,again,asdeterminedbyacointo,SenatorKerry,yougofirst,andyouhavetwominutes.
KERRY:Thankyou,Jim,verymuch.
Thankyouverymuchtotheuniversity,again.
Thankyou,Mr.president.
MyfellowAmerica,asI’vesaidattheverybegiingofthisdebate,bothpresidentBushandIlovethiscountryverymuch.There’snodoubt,Ithink,aboutthat.
Butwehaveadifferentsetofconvictioabouthowwemakeourcountrystrongerhereathomeandreectedagainintheworld.
Iknowthatformanyofyousittingathome,parentsofkidsinIraq,youwanttoknowwho’sthepersonwhocouldbeacommanderinchiefwhocouldgetyourkidshomeandgetthejobdoneandwinthepeace.
AndforalltherestoftheparentsinAmericawhoarewonderingabouttheirkidsgoingtotheschooloranywhereelseintheworld,whatkindofworldthey’regoingtogrowupin,letmelookyouintheeyeandsaytoyou:Idefendedthiscountryasayoungmanatwar,andIwilldefenditaspresidentoftheUnitedStates.
ButIhaveadifferencewiththispresident.Ibelievewhenwe’restrongestwhenwereachoutandleadtheworldandbuildstrongalliances.
IhaveaplanforIraq.Ibelievewecanbesucceful.I’mnottalkingaboutleaving.I’mtalkingaboutwiing.Andweneedafreshstart,anewcredibility,apresidentwhocanbringalliestoourside.
Ialsohaveaplantowinthewaronterror,fundinghomelandsecurity,strengtheningourmilitary,cuttingourfinances,reachingouttotheworld,againbuildingstrongalliances.
IbelieveAmerica’sbestdaysareaheadofusbecauseIbelievethatthefuturebelongstofreedom,nottofear.
That’sthecountrythatI’mgoingtofightfor.AndIaskyoutogivemetheoortunitytomakeyouproud.Iaskyoutogivemetheoortunitytoleadthisgreatnation,sothatwecanbestrongerhereathome,reectedagainintheworld,andhavereoibleleadershipthatwedeserve.
Thankyou.AndGodbleAmerica.
LEHRER:Mr.president,twominutes.
BUSH:Thankyouverymuchtonight,Jim.Senator.
IfAmericashowsuncertaintyorweakneinthisdecade,theworldwilldrifttowardtragedy.That’snotgoingtohaen,solongasI’myourpresident.
Thenextfouryearswewillcontinuetostrengthenourhomelanddefees.Wewillstrengthenourintelligence-gatheringservices.Wewillreformourmilitary.Themilitarywillbeanall-volunteerarmy.
Wewillcontinuetostayontheoffee.Wewillfighttheterroristsaroundtheworldsowedonothavetofacethemhereathome.
We’llcontinuetobuildouralliances.I’llneverturnoverAmerica’snationalsecurityneedstoleadersofothercountries,aswecontinuetobuildthosealliances.Andwe’llcontinuetoreadfreedom.Ibelieveinthetraformationalpowerofliberty.IbelievethatthefreeIraqisinthisnation’sinterests.IbelieveafreeAfghanistanisinthisnation’sinterest.
AndIbelievebothafreeAfghanistanandafreeIraqwillserveasapowerfulexampleformilliowhopleadinsilenceforlibertyinthebroaderMiddleEast.
We’vedonealotofhardworktogetheroverthelastthreeandahalfyears.We’vebeenchallenged,andwe’verisentothosechallenges.We’veclimbedthemightymountain.Iseethevalleybelow,andit’savalleyofpeace.
Bybeingsteadfastandresoluteandstrong,bykeepingourword,bysuortingourtroo,wecanachievethepeaceweallwant.
Iareciateyourlisteningtonight.Iaskforyourvote.AndmayGodcontinuetobleourgreatland.
LEHRER:Andthatendstonight’sdebate.Areminder,thesecondpresidentialdebatewillbeaweekfromtomorrow,October8th,fromWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis.CharlesGionofABewswillmoderateatownhall-typeevent.Then,onOctober13th,fromArizonaStateUniversityinTempe,BobSchiefferofewswillmoderateanexchangeondomesticpolicythatwillbesimilarinformattotonight’s.
Also,thiscomingTuesday,atCaseWesternReserveUniversityinCleveland,thevicepresidentialcandidates,VicepresidentCheneyandSenatorEdwards,willdebatewithmycolleague,GwenIfill,moderating.
Fornow,thankyou,SenatorKerry,presidentBush.
FromCoralGables,Florida,I’mJimLehrer.Thankyouandgoodnight.
(ALAUSE)

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?à1ú×üí3oò??è?2?ê2ó???à?μú?t3?μ?êó±???

[dvnews_page]TheSecondBush-KerrypresidentialDebate
?????à1ú??2?ê±??8è?íí￡??à1ú×üí3oò??è?2?ê2ó???à??ú?ü??à??Yê￥?·ò×μ??aê￠?ù′ó?§(WASHINGTONUNIVERSITY,ST.LOUIS,MIOURI)?ùDDá?μú?t3?μ?êó±???￡?±????úèY?ˉ?D?úòá???￠???°?￠?íòμoíò?á?μè·????￡??μ÷??ê?2?ê2?úê×3?±????D2?μD??à?￡??ùò?±?′?±?????2?ê2òaò???′ó?￡
EAKERS:GEORGEW.BUSH,pRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
U.S.SENATORJOHNF.KERRY(MA),DEMOCRATICpRESIDENTIALNOMINEE
CHARLESGION,ABCANCHOR
GION:GoodeveningfromtheFieldHouseatWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis.I?ˉmCharlesGionofABewsand"GoodMorningAmerica."
Iwelcomeyoutothesecondofthe20xxpresidentialdebatesbetweenpresidentGeorgeW.Bush,theRepublicannominee,andSenatorJohnKerry,theDemocraticnominee.
ThedebatesareooredbytheCommiiononpresidentialDebates.
Tonight?ˉsformatisgoingtobeabitdifferent.Wehaveaembledatown-hallmeeting.We?ˉreintheShow-MeState,aseveryoneknowsMiouritobe,soMiouriresidentswillaskthequestio.
These140citizewereidentifiedbytheGallupOrganizationasnotyetcommittedinthiselection.
Now,earliertoday,eachaudiencemembergavemetwoquestiooncardslikethis,onethey?ˉdliketoaskthepresident,theotherthey?ˉdliketoaskthesenator.
Ihaveselectedthequestiotobeaskedandtheorder.Noonehasseenthefinallistofquestiobutme,certainlynotthecandidates.
Noaudiencememberknowsifheorshewillbecalledupon.Audiencemicrophoneswillbeturnedoffafteraquestionisasked.
Audiencememberswilladdretheirquestiontoaecificcandidate.He?ˉllhavetwominutestoawer.Theothercandidatewillhaveaminuteandahalfforrebuttal.AndIhavetheoptionofextendingdiscuionforoneminute,tobepidedequallybetweenthetwomen.
Allsubjectsareopenfordiscuion.
Andyouprobablyknowthelightsystembynow.Greenlightat30seconds,yellowat15,redatfive,andflashingredmeayou?ˉredone.
Thosearethecandidates?ˉrules.Iwillholdthecandidatestothetimelimitsforcefullybutpolitely,Ihope.
Andnow,pleasejoinmeinwelcomingwithgreatreect,presidentBushandSenatorKerr

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y.
(ALAUSE)
Gentlemen,tothebusineathand.
ThefirstquestionisforSenatorKerry,anditwillcomefromCherylOtis,whoisrightbehindme.
OTIS:SenatorKerry,aftertalkingwithseveralco-workersandfamilyandfriends,Iaskedtheoneswhosaidtheywerenotvotingforyou,"Why?"Theysaidthatyouweretoowishy-washy.
Doyouhaveareplyforthem?
KERRY:Yes,Icertainlydo.
(LAUGHTER)
Butletmejustfirst,Cheryl,ifyouwill,IwanttothankCharlieformoderating.IwanttothankWashingtonUniversityforhostingusherethisevening.
Mr.president,it?ˉsgoodtobewithyouagainthisevening,sir.
Cheryl,thepresidentdidn?ˉtfindweapoofmadestructioninIraq,sohe?ˉsreallyturnedhiscampaignintoaweaponofmadeception.Andtheresultisthatyou?ˉvebeenbombardedwithadvertisementssuggestingthatI?ˉvechangedapositiononthisorthatortheother.
Now,thethreethingstheytrytosayI?ˉvechangedpositiononarethepatriotAct;Ihaven?ˉt.Isuortit.Ijustdon?ˉtlikethewayJohnAshcrofthasaliedit,andwe?ˉregoingtochangeafewthings.ThechairmanoftheRepublicanpartythinksweoughttochangeafewthings.
NoChildLeftBehindAct,Ivotedforit.Isuortit.Isuortthegoals.
Butthepresidenthasunderfundeditby$28billion.
RighthereinSt.Louis,you?ˉvelaidoff350teachers.You?ˉre150--excuseme,Ithinkit?ˉsalittlemore,about$100millionshyofwhatyououghttobeundertheNoChildLeftBehindActtohelpyoureducationsystemhere.
SoIcomplainaboutthat.I?ˉvearguedthatweshouldfullyfundedit.ThepresidentsaysI?ˉvechangedmymind.Ihaven?ˉtchangedmymind:I?ˉmgoingtofullyfundit.
Sothesearethedifferences.
Now,thepresidenthaspresidedoveraneconomywherewe?ˉvelost1.6millionjo.Thefirstpresidentin72yearstolosejo.
Ihaveaplantoputpeoplebacktowork.That?ˉsnotwishy-washy.
I?ˉmgoingtoclosetheloopholesthatactuallyencouragecompaniestogooverseas.Thepresidentwantstokeepthemopen.IthinkI?ˉmright.Ithinkhe?ˉswrong.
I?ˉmgoingtogiveyouataxcut.Thepresidentgavethetop1percentofincome-earnersinAmerica,got$89billionlastyear,morethanthe80percentofpeoplewhoearn$100,000orleallputtogether.Ithinkthat?ˉswrong.That?ˉsnotwishy-washy,andthat?ˉswhatI?ˉmfightingfor,you.
GION:Mr.president,aminuteandahalf.BUSH:Charlie,thankyou,andthankourpanelists.
And,Senator,thankyou.
Ican--andthanks,WashingtonU.aswell.
Icanseewhypeopleatyourworkplacethinkhechangespositioalot,becausehedoes.Hesaidhevotedforthe$87billion,andvotedagaititrightbeforehevotedforit.Andthatsendsaconfusingsignaltopeople.
HesaidhethoughtSaddamHueinwasagravethreat,andnowhesaiditwasamistaketoremoveSaddamHueinfrompower.
No,Icanseewhypeoplethinkthathechangespositionquiteoften,becausehedoes.
Youknow,forawhilehewasastrongsuorterofgettingridofSaddamHuein.Hesawthewisdom--untiltheDemocratprimarycamealongandHowardDean,theanti-warcandidate,begantogainonhim,andhechangedpositio.
Idon?ˉtseehowyoucanleadthiscountryinatimeofwar,inatimeofuncertainty,ifyouchangeyourmindbecauseofpolitics.
Hejustbroughtupthetaxcut.Yourememberweincreasedthatchildcreditby$1,000,reducedthemarriagepenalty,createda10percenttaxbracketforthelower-incomeAmerica.That?ˉsrightatthemiddlecla.
Hevotedagaitit.Andyethetellsyouhe?ˉsforamiddle-clataxcut.It?ˉs--you?ˉvegottobecoistentwhenyou?ˉrethepresident.There?ˉsalotofpreures.Andyou?ˉvegottobefirmandcoistent.
GION:Mr.president,Iwouldfollowup,butwehaveaseriesofquestioonIraq,andsoIwillturntothenextquestioner.
ThequestionisforpresidentBush,andthequestionerisRobinDahle.
DAHLE:Mr.president,yesterdayinastatementyouadmittedthatIraqdidnothaveweapoofmadestruction,butjustifiedtheinvasionbystating,Iquote,"Heretainedtheknowledge,thematerials,themeaandtheintenttoproduceweapoofmadestructionandcouldhavepaedthisknowledgetoourterroristenemies."
Doyousincerelybelievethistobeareasonablejustificationforinvasionwhenthisstatementaliestosomanyothercountries,includingNorthKorea?BUSH:Eachsituationisdifferent,Robin.
Andobviouslywehopethatdiplomacyworksbeforeyoueveruseforce.Thehardestdecisionapresidentmakesisevertouseforce.After9/11,wehadtolookattheworlddifferently.After9/11,wehadtorecognizethatwhenwesawathreat,wemusttakeitseriouslybeforeitcomestohurtus.
Intheolddayswe?ˉdseeathreat,andwecoulddealwithitifwefeltlikeitornot.But9/11changeditall.
IvowedtoourcountrymenthatIwoulddoeverythingIcouldtoprotecttheAmericanpeople.That?ˉswhywe?ˉrebringingAlQaidatojustice.Seventyfivepercentofthemhavebeenbroughttojustice.
That?ˉswhyIsaidtoAfghanistan:Ifyouharboraterrorist,you?ˉrejustasguiltyastheterrorist.AndtheTalibanisnolongerinpower,andAlQaidanolongerhasaplacetoplan.
AndIsawauniquethreatinSaddamHuein,asdidmyoonent,becausewethoughthehadweapoofmadestruction.
AndtheuniquethreatwasthathecouldgiveweapoofmadestructiontoanorganizationlikeAlQaida,andtheharmtheyinflictedonuswithairplaneswouldbemultipliedgreatlybyweapoofmadestruction.Andthatwastheserious,seriousthreat.
SoItrieddiplomacy,wenttotheUnitedNatio.ButaswelearnedinthesamereportIquoted,SaddamHueinwasgamingtheoil-for-foodprogramtogetridofsanctio.Hewastryingtogetridofsanctioforareason:Hewantedtorestarthisweapoprograms.
Weallthoughttherewasweapothere,Robin.Myoonentthoughttherewasweapothere.That?ˉswhyhecalledhimagravethreat.
Iwa?ˉthaywhenwefoundouttherewa?ˉtweapo,andwe?ˉvegotanintelligencegrouptogethertofigureoutwhy.
ButSaddamHueinwasauniquethreat.Andtheworldisbetteroffwithouthiminpower.
Andmyoonent?ˉsplaleadmetoconcludethatSaddamHueinwouldstillbeinpower,andtheworldwouldbemoredangerous.
Thankyou,sir.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Robin,I?ˉmgoingtoaweryourquestion.
I?ˉmalsogoingtotalk--reondtowhatyouasked,Cheryl,atthesametime.
Theworldismoredangeroustoday.Theworldismoredangeroustodaybecausethepresidentdidn?ˉtmaketherightjudgments.
Now,thepresidentwishesthatIhadchangedmymind.Hewantsyoutobelievethatbecausehecan?ˉtcomehereandtellyouthathe?ˉscreatednewjoforAmerica.He?ˉslostjo.
Hecan?ˉtcomehereandtellyouthathe?ˉscreatedhealthcareforAmericabecause,what,we?ˉvegot5millionAmericawhohavelosttheirhealthcare,96,000ofthemrighthereinMiouri.
Hecan?ˉtcomehereandtellyouthathe?ˉsleftnochildbehindbecausehedidn?ˉtfundnochildleftbehind.
Sowhatdoeshedo?He?ˉstryingtoattackme.HewantsyoutobelievethatIcan?ˉtbepresident.Andhe?ˉstryingtomakeyoubelieveitbecausehewantsyoutothinkIchangemymind.
Well,letmetellyoustraightup:I?ˉveneverchangedmymindaboutIraq.IdobelieveSaddamHueinwasathreat.Ialwaysbelievedhewasathreat.Believeditin1998whenClintonwaspresident.IwantedtogiveClintonthepowertouseforceifneceary.
ButIwouldhaveusedthatforcewisely,Iwouldhaveusedthatauthoritywisely,notrushedtowarwithoutaplantowinthepeace.
Iwouldhavebroughtouralliestoourside.Iwouldhavefoughttomakecertainourtroohadeverybodypoibletohelpthemwinthemiion.
Thispresidentrushedtowar,pushedouralliesaside.AndIrannowismoredangerous,andsoisNorthKorea,withnuclearweapo.Hetookhiseyeofftheball,offofOsamabinLaden.
GION:Mr.president,Idowanttofollowuponthisone,becausetherewereseveralquestiofromtheaudiencealongthisline.
BUSH:(OFF-MIKE)
GION:Goahead.Goahead.
(CROTALK)
GION:Well,Iwasgoingtohaveyoudotherebuttalonit,butyougoahead.
(LAUGHTER)
You?ˉreup.
BUSH:Yourememberthelastdebate?
MyoonentsaidthatAmericamustpaaglobaltestbeforeweusedforcetoprotectourselves.That?ˉsthekindofmindsetthatsayssanctiowereworking.That?ˉsthekindofmindsetthatsaid,"Let?ˉskeepitattheUnitedNatioandhopethingsgowell."
SaddamHueinwasathreatbecausehecouldhavegivenweapoofmadestructiontoterroristenemies.Sanctiowerenotworking.TheUnitedNatiowasnoteffectiveatremovingSaddamHuein.
GION:Senator?
KERRY:ThegoalofthesanctiowasnottoremoveSaddamHuein,itwastoremovetheweapoofmadestruction.And,Mr.president,justyesterdaytheDuelferreporttoldyouandthewholeworldtheyworked.Hedidn?ˉthaveweapoofmadestruction,Mr.president.Thatwastheobjective.
Andifwe?ˉdusedsmartdiplomacy,wecouldhavesaved$200billionandaninvasionofIraq.Andrightnow,OsamabinLadenmightbeinjailordead.That?ˉsthewaragaitterror.
GION:We?ˉregoingtohaveanotherquestionnowonthesubjectofIraq.
AndI?ˉmgoingtoturntoAnthonyBaldiwithaquestionforSenatorKerry.
Mr.Baldi?
BALDI:SenatorKerry,theU.S.ispreparinganewIraqgovernmentandwillproceedtowithdrawU.S.troo.
WouldyouproceedwiththesameplaaspresidentBush?
KERRY:Anthony,Iwouldnot.Ihavelaidoutadifferentplan,becausethepresident?ˉsplanisnotworking.Youseethateverynightontelevision.
There?ˉschaosinIraq.KingAbdullahofJordansaidjustyesterdayorthedaybeforeyoucan?ˉtholdelectioinIraqwiththechaosthat?ˉsgoingontoday.
SenatorRichardLugar,theRepublicanchairmanoftheForeignRelatioCommittee,saidthatthehandlingoftherecotructionaidinIraqbythisadministrationhasbeenincompetent.ThosearetheRepublicanchairman?ˉswords.
SenatorHagelofNebraskasaidthatthehandlingofIraqisbeyondpitiful,beyondembarraing;it?ˉsinthezoneofdangerous.
ThosearethewordsoftwoRepublica,reected,bothontheForeignRelatioCommittee.
Now,Ihavetotellyou,Iwoulddosomethingdifferent.Iwouldreachouttoouralliesinawaythatthispresidentha?ˉt.Hepushedthemawaytimeandagain,pushedthemawayattheU.N.,pushedthemawayinpidually.
Twoweeksago,therewasameetingoftheNorthAtlanticCouncil,whichisthepoliticalarmofNATO.TheydiscuedthepoibilityofasmalltrainingunitorhavingatotaltakeoverofthetraininginIraq.
DidouradministrationpushforthetotaltrainingofIraq?No.Weretheysilent?Yes.Wasthereanefforttobringallthealliestogetheraroundthat?No,becausethey?ˉvealwayswantedthistobeanAmericaneffort.
Youknow,theyevenhadtheDefeeDepartmentiueamemorandumsaying,"Don?ˉtbotheralyingforaistanceorforbeingpartoftherecotructionifyouweren?ˉtpartofouroriginalcoalition."
Now,that?ˉsnotagoodwaytobuildsuortandreducetheriskforourtrooandmakeAmericasafer.
I?ˉmgoingtogetthetrainingdoneforourtroo.I?ˉmgoingtogetthetrainingofIraqisdonefaster.AndI?ˉmgoingtogetouralliesbacktothetable.
BUSH:TwodaysagointheOvalOffice,ImetwiththefinanceministerfromIraq.Hecametoseeme.Andhetalkedabouthowoptimistichewasandthecountrywasaboutheadingtowardelectio.
Thinkaboutit:They?ˉregoingfromtyraytoelectio.
Hetalkedabouttherecotructioneffortsthatarebegiingtotakehold.HetalkedaboutthefactthatIraqislovetobefree.
Hesaidhewasoptimisticwhenhecamehere,thenheturnedontheTVandlistenedtothepoliticalrhetoricandallofasuddenhewaspeimistic.
Now,thisisguyawho,alongwithothers,hastakengreatriskforgreatfreedom.Andweneedtostandwithhim.
Myoonentsayshehasaplaitsoundsfamiliar,becauseit?ˉscalledtheBushplan.We?ˉregoingtotraintroo,andweare.We?ˉllhave125,000trainedbytheendofDecember.We?ˉreendingabout$7billion.
Hetalksaboutagrandidea:Let?ˉshaveasummit;we?ˉregoingtosolvetheprobleminIraqbyholdingasummit.
Andwhatishegoingtosaytothosepeoplethatshowupatthesummit?Joinmeinthewrongwaratthewrongtimeatthewrongplace.Riskyourtrooinawaryou?ˉvecalledamistake.
Nobodyisgoingtofollowsomebodywhodoe?ˉtbelievewecansucceedandwithsomebodywhosaysthatwarwhereweareisamistake.
Iknowhowthesepeoplethink.Imeetwiththemallthetime.ItalktoTonyBlairallthetime.ItalktoSilvioBerlusconi.They?ˉrenotgoingtofollowanAmericanpresidentwhosaysfollowmeintoamistake.Ourplanisworking.We?ˉregoingtomakeelectio.AndIraqisgoingtobefree,andAmericawillbebetteroffforit.
GION:Doyouwanttofollowup,Senator?
KERRY:Yes,sir,please.
Ladiesandgentlemen,therightwarwasOsamabinLadenandAfghanistan.Thatwastherightplace.AndtherighttimewasToraBora,whenwehadhimcorneredinthemountai.
Now,everyoneintheworldknowsthattherewerenoweapoofmadestruction.ThatwasthereasonCongregavehimtheauthoritytouseforce,notafterexcusetogetridoftheregime.
Nowwehavetosucceed.I?ˉvealwayssaidthat.Ihavebeencoistent.Yes,wehavetosucceed,andIhaveabetterplantohelpusdoit.
BUSH:Firstofall,wedidn?ˉtfindouthedidn?ˉthaveweapountilwegotthere,andmyoonentthoughthehadweapoandtoldeverybodyhethoughthehadweapo.
Andsecondly,it?ˉsafundamentalmisunderstandingtosaythatthewaronterrorisonlyOsamabinLaden.Thewaronterroristomakesurethattheseterroristorganizatiodonotendupwithweapoofmadestruction.That?ˉswhatthewaronterrorisabout.
Ofcourse,we?ˉregoingtofindOsamabinLaden.We?ˉvealready75percentofhispeople.Andwe?ˉreonthehuntforhim.
Butthisisaglobalconflictthatrequiresfirmresolve.
GION:ThenextquestionisforpresidentBush,anditcomesfromNikkiWashington.
WASHINGTON:Thankyou.
Mr.president,mymotherandsistertraveledabroadthissummer,andwhentheygotbacktheytalkedtousabouthowshockedtheywereattheinteityofaggravationthatothercountrieshadwithhowwehandledtheIraqsituation.
Diplomacyisobviouslysomethingthatwereallyhavetoreallyworkon.
Whatisyourplantorepairrelatiowithothercountriesgiventhecurrentsituation?
BUSH:No,Iareciatethat.I--listen,I--we?ˉvegotagreatcountry.Iloveourvalues.AndIrecognizeI?ˉvemadesomedecisiothathavecausedpeopletonotunderstandthegreatvaluesofourcountry.
IrememberwhenRonaldReaganwasthepresident;hestoodonprinciple.Somebodycalledthatstuorn.HestoodonprinciplestandinguptotheSovietUnion,andwewonthatconflict.Yetatthesametime,hewasvery--wewereveryuopularinEuropebecauseofthedecisiohemade.
IrecognizethattakingSaddamHueinoutwasuopular.ButImadethedecisionbecauseIthoughtitwasintherightinterestsofoursecurity.
Youknow,I?ˉvemadesomedecisioonIsraelthat?ˉsuopular.Iwouldn?ˉtdealwithArafat,becauseIfeltlikehehadlettheformerpresidentdown,andIdon?ˉtthinkhe?ˉsthekindofpersonthatcanleadtowardapalestinianstate.
AndpeopleinEuropedidn?ˉtlikethatdecision.Andthatwasuopular,butitwastherightthingtodo.
Ibelievepalestiniaoughttohaveastate,butIknowtheyneedleadershipthat?ˉscommittedtoademocracyandfreedom,leadershipthatwouldbewillingtorejectterrorism.
ImadeadecisionnottojointheInternationalCriminalCourtinTheHague,whichiswhereourtroocouldbebroughtto--broughtinfrontofajudge,anunaccountedjudge.
Idon?ˉtthinkweoughttojointhat.Thatwasuopular.
Andso,whatI?ˉmtellingyouis,isthatsometimesinthisworldyoumakeuopulardecisiobecauseyouthinkthey?ˉreright.
We?ˉllcontinuetoreachout.
Listen,thereis30natioinvolvedinIraq,some40natioinvolvedinAfghanistan.
peopleloveAmerica.Sometimestheydon?ˉtlikethedecisiomadebyAmerica,butIdon?ˉtthinkyouwantapresidentwhotriestobecomepopularanddoesthewrongthing.
Youdon?ˉtwanttojointheInternationalCriminalCourtjustbecauseit?ˉspopularincertaincapitalsinEurope.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Nikki,that?ˉsaquestionthat?ˉsbeenraisedbyalotofpeoplearoundthecountry.
Letmeaddreitbutalsotalkabouttheweapothepresidentjusttalkedabout,becauseeverypartofthepresident?ˉsawerjustnowpromisesyoumoreofthesameoverthenextfouryears.
Thepresidentstoodrighthereinthishallfouryearsago,andhewasaskedaquestionbysomebodyjustlikeyou,"Underwhatcircumstanceswouldyousendpeopletowar?"
Andhisawerwas,"Withaviableexitstrategyandonlywithenoughforcestogetthejobdone."
Hedidn?ˉtdothat.Hebrokethatpromise.Wedidn?ˉthaveenoughforces.
GeneralShieki,theArmychiefofstaff,toldhimhewasgoingtoneedseveralhundredthousand.Andguewhat?TheyretiredGeneralShiekifortellinghimthat.
Thispresidentha?ˉtlistened.
IwenttomeetwiththemembersoftheSecurityCouncilintheweekbeforewevoted.IwenttoNewYork.ItalkedtoallofthemtofindouthowserioustheywereaboutreallyholdingSaddamHueinaccountable.
Icameawayconvincedthat,ifweworkedatit,ifwewerereadytoworkandlettingHaBlixdohisjobandthoroughlygothroughtheiectio,thatifpushcametoshove,they?ˉdbetherewithus.
Butthepresidentjustarbitrarilybroughtthehammerdownandsaid,"Nope.Sorry,timefordiplomacyisover.We?ˉregoing."
Herushedtowarwithoutaplantowinthepeace.
Ladiesandgentleman,hegaveyouaeechandtoldyouhe?ˉdplancarefully,takeeveryprecaution,takeourallieswithus.Hedidn?ˉt.Hebrokehisword.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:IremembersittingintheWhiteHouselookingatthosegenerals,saying,"Doyouhavewhatyouneedinthiswar?Doyouhavewhatittakes?"
IremembergoingdowntothebasementoftheWhiteHousethedaywecommittedourtrooaslastresort,lookingatTommyFranksandthegeneralsontheground,askingthem,"Dowehavetherightplanwiththerighttrooplevel?"
Andtheylookedmeintheeyeandsaid,"Yes,sir,Mr.president."Ofcourse,Ilistentoourgenerals.That?ˉswhatapresidentdoes.Apresidentsetsthestrategyandreliesupongoodmilitarypeopletoexecutethatstrategy.
GION:Senator?
KERRY:Yourelyongoodmilitarypeopletoexecutethemilitarycomponentofthestrategy,butwiingthepeaceislargerthanjustthemilitarycomponent.
GeneralShiekihadthewisdomtosay,"You?ˉregoingtoneedseveralhundredthousandtrootowinthepeace."Themilitary?ˉsjobistowinthewar.
Apresident?ˉsjobistowinthepeace.
Thepresidentdidnotdowhatwasneceary.Didn?ˉtbringinenoughnation.Didn?ˉtdeliverthehelp.Didn?ˉtcloseofftheborders.Didn?ˉtevenguardtheammodum.Andnowourkidsarebeingkilledwithammosrightoutofthatdump.
GION:ThenextquestionisforSenatorKerry,anditcomesfromoverhere,fromRandeeJaco.
You?ˉllneedamicrophone.
KERRY:IsitRandee?
JACO:Yes,Randee.
IranoorsterrorismandhasmiilescapableofhittingIsraelandsouthernEurope.Iranwillhavenuclearweapointwotothreeyearstime.
IntheeventthatU.N.sanctiodon?ˉtstopthisthreat,whatwillyoudoaspresident?
KERRY:Idon?ˉtthinkyoucanjustrelyonU.N.sanctio,Randee.Butyou?ˉreaolutelycorrect,itisathreat,it?ˉsahugethreat.
Andwhat?ˉsinterestingis,it?ˉsathreatthathasgrownwhilethepresidenthasbeenpreoccupiedwithIraq,wheretherewa?ˉtathreat.
Ifhe?ˉdlettheiectorsdotheirjobandgoon,wewouldn?ˉthave10timesthenumbersofforcesinIraqthatwehaveinAfghanistanchasingOsamabinLaden.
Meanwhile,whileIranismovingtowardnuclearweapo,some37toofwhattheycalledyellowcake,thestufftheyusetomakeenricheduranium,whilethey?ˉredoingthat,NorthKoreahasmovedfromonebombmaybe,maybe,tofourtosevenbom.
Fortwoyears,thepresidentdidn?ˉtevenengagewithNorthKorea,didnothingatall,whileitwasgrowingmoredangerous,deitethewarningsofformerSecretaryofDefeeWilliamperry,whonegotiatedgettingtelevisioncamerasandiectorsintothatreactor.
WeweresaferbeforepresidentBushcametooffice.Nowtheyhavethebomandwe?ˉrelesafe.
Sowhatdowedo?We?ˉvegottojoinwiththeBritishandtheFrench,withtheGerma,who?ˉvebeeninvolved,intheirinitiative.We?ˉvegottoleadtheworldnowtocrackdownonproliferationasawhole.
Butthepresident?ˉsbeenslowtodothat,eveninRuia.
Athispace,it?ˉsgoingtotake13yearstoreduceandgetaholdofalltheloosenuclearmaterialintheformerSovietUnion.I?ˉveproposedaplanthatcancaptureitandcontainitandcleanitwithinfouryears.
Andthepresidentismovingtothecreationofourownbunker-bustingnuclearweapon.It?ˉsveryhardtogetothercountriestogiveuptheirweapowhenyou?ˉrebusydevelopinganewone.
I?ˉmgoingtoleadtheworldinthegreatestcounterproliferationeffort.AndifwehavetogettoughwithIran,believeme,wewillgettough.
GION:Mr.president,aminuteandahalf.
BUSH:Thataweralmostmademewanttoscowl.
Hekeetalkingabout,"Lettheiectorsdotheirjob."It?ˉsnaiveanddangeroustosaythat.That?ˉswhattheDuelferreportshowed.Hewasdeceivingtheiectors.
Secondly,ofcoursewe?ˉvebeeninvolvedwithIran.
Ifullyunderstandthethreat.Andthat?ˉswhywe?ˉredoingwhathesuggestedwedo:GettheBrits,theGermaandtheFrenchtogomakeitverycleartotheIraniathatiftheyexpecttobeapartytotheworldtogiveuptheirnuclearambitio.We?ˉvebeendoingthat.
LetmetalkaboutNorthKorea.
Itisnaiveanddangeroustotakeapolicythathesuggestedtheotherday,whichistohavebilateralrelatiowithNorthKorea.Remember,he?ˉsthepersonwho?ˉsaccusingmeofnotactingmultilaterally.Henowwantstotakethesix-partytalkswehave--China,NorthKorea,SouthKorea,Ruia,JapanandtheUnitedStates--andunderminethembyhavingbilateraltalks.
That?ˉswhatpresidentClintondid.HehadbilateraltalkswiththeNorthKorea.Andguewhathaened?
Hedidn?ˉthonortheagreement.Hewasenrichinguranium.Thatisabadpolicy.Ofcourse,we?ˉrepayingattentiontothese.It?ˉsagreatquestionaboutIran.That?ˉswhyinmyeechtotheCongreIsaid:There?ˉsan"AxisofEvil,"Iraq,IranandNorthKorea,andwe?ˉrepayingattentiontoit.Andwe?ˉremakingprogre.
GION:We?ˉregoingtomoveon,Mr.president,withaquestionforyou.AnditcomesfromDanielFarley.
Mr.Farley?
FARLEY:Mr.president,sincewecontinuetopolicetheworld,howdoyouintendtomaintainourmilitarypresencewithoutreititutingadraft?
BUSH:Yes,that?ˉsagreatquestion.Thanks.
Ihearthere?ˉsrumorsontheInternets(sic)thatwe?ˉregoingtohaveadraft.We?ˉrenotgoingtohaveadraft,period.Theall-volunteerarmyworks.Itworksparticularlywhenwepayourtroowell.Itworkswhenwemakesurethey?ˉvegothousing,likewehavedoneinthelastmilitarybudgets.
Anall-volunteerarmyisbestsuitedtofightthenewwarsofthe21stcentury,whichistobeecializedandtofindthesepeopleastheyhidearoundtheworld.
Wedon?ˉtneedmaarmiesanymore.Oneofthethingswe?ˉvedoneiswe?ˉvetakenthe--we?ˉrebegiingtotraformourmilitary.
AndbythatImeanwe?ˉremovingtroooutofKoreaandreplacingthemwithmoreeffectiveweapo.Wedon?ˉtneedasmuchmaowerontheKoreanpeniulatokeepadeterrent.
InEurope,wehavemaedtrooasiftheSovietUnionexistedandwasgoingtoinvadeintoEurope,butthosedaysareoverwith.Andsowe?ˉremovingtroooutofEuropeandreplacingitwithmoreeffectiveequipment.
Sotoaweryourquestionis,we?ˉrewithdrawing,notfromtheworld,we?ˉrewithdrawingmaowersotheycanbestationedhereinAmerica,sothere?ˉslerotation,solifeiseasierontheirfamiliesandthereforemorelikelytobe--we?ˉllbemorelikelytobeabletokeeppeopleintheall-volunteerarmy.
Oneofthemoreimportantthingswe?ˉredoinginthisadministrationistraformation.Therearesomereallyinterestingtechnologies.
Foritance,we?ˉreflyingunmaedvehiclesthatcansendreal-timemeagesbacktostatiointheUnitedStates.Thatsavesmaower,anditsavesequipment.
Italsomeathatwecantargetthingseasierandmovemorequickly,whichmeaweneedtobelighterandquickerandmorefacileandhighlytrained.
Now,forgetallthistalkaboutadraft.We?ˉrenotgoingtohaveadraftsolongasIamthepresident.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Daniel,Idon?ˉtsuortadraft.
Butletmetellyouwherethepresident?ˉspolicieshaveputus.
Thepresident--andthisisoneofthereasowhyIamveryproudinthisracetohavethesuortofGeneralJohnShalikashvili,formerchairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff;AdmiralWilliamCrowe,formerchairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff;GeneralTonyMcpeak,whorantheairwarforthepresident?ˉsfatheranddidabrilliantjob,suortingme;GeneralWesClark,whowonthewarinKosovo,suortingme;becausetheyall--andGeneralBaca,whowastheheadoftheNationalGuard,suortingme.
Why?Becausetheyunderstandthatourmilitaryisoverextendedunderthepresident.
OurGuardandreserveshavebeenturnedintoalmostactiveduty.You?ˉvegotpeopledoingtwoandthreerotatio.You?ˉvegotstop-lopolicies,sopeoplecan?ˉtgetoutwhentheyweresuosedto.You?ˉvegotaback-doordraftrightnow.
Andalotofourmilitaryareunderpaid.Thesearefamiliesthatgethurt.Ithurtsthemiddlecla.Ithurtscommunities,becausetheseareourfirstreonders.Andthey?ˉrecalledup.Andthey?ˉreoverthere,notoverhere.
Now,I?ˉmgoingtoadd40,000activedutyforcestothemilitary,andI?ˉmgoingtomakepeoplefeelgoodaboutbeingsafeinourmilitary,andnotoverextended,becauseI?ˉmgoingtorunaforeignpolicythatactuallydoeswhatpresidentReagandid,presidentEisenhowerdid,andothers.
We?ˉregoingtobuildalliances.We?ˉrenotgoingtogounilaterally.We?ˉrenotgoingtogoalonelikethispresidentdid.
GION:Mr.president,let?ˉsextendforaminute...
BUSH:Letmejust--I?ˉvegottoawerthis.
GION:Exactly.AndwithReservistsbeingheldonduty...
(CROTALK)
BUSH:Letmeawerwhathejustsaid,aboutaroundtheworld.
GION:Well,Iwanttogetintotheiueoftheback-doordraft...
BUSH:YoutellTonyBlairwe?ˉregoingalone.TellTonyBlairwe?ˉregoingalone.TellSilvioBerlusconiwe?ˉregoingalone.TellAleksanderKwaiewskiofpolandwe?ˉregoingalone.
Thereare30countriesthere.Itdenigratesanalliancetosaywe?ˉregoingalone,todiscounttheirsacrifices.Youcaotleadanallianceifyousay,youknow,you?ˉregoingalone.Andpeoplelisten.They?ˉresacrificingwithus.
GION:Senator?
KERRY:Mr.president,countriesareleavingthecoalition,notjoining.Eightcountrieshaveleftit.
IfMiouri,justgiventhenumberofpeoplefromMiouriwhoareinthemilitaryovertheretoday,wereacountry,itwouldbethethirdlargestcountryinthecoalition,behindGreatBritainandtheUnitedStates.
That?ˉsnotagrandcoalition.
NinetypercentofthecasualtiesareAmerican.Ninetypercentofthecostsarecomingoutofyourpockets.
Icoulddoabetterjob.Myplandoesabetterjob.Andthat?ˉswhyI?ˉllbeabettercommanderinchief.
GION:Thenextquestion,SenatorKerry,isforyou,anditcomesfromABroing,whoIbelieveisoverinthisarea.
brOING:SenatorKerry,wehavebeenfortunatethattherehavebeennofurtherterroristattacksonAmericansoilsince9/11.Whydoyouthinkthisis?Andifelected,whatwillyoudotoaureoursafety?
KERRY:Thankyouverymuch,A.
I?ˉveaskedinmysecuritybriefingswhythatis,andIcan?ˉtgointoalltheawers,etcetera,butletmesaythistoyou.
Thispresidentandhisadministrationhavetoldyouandallofusit?ˉsnotaquestionofwhen,it?ˉsaquestionof--excuseme--notaquestionofif,it?ˉsaquestionofwhen.We?ˉvebeentoldthat.
ThewhenIcan?ˉttellyou.BetweentheWorldTradeCenterbombingin,whatwasit,1993orso,andthenexttimewasfiveyears,sevenyears.Thesepeoplewait.They?ˉllplan.Theyplot.
Iagreewiththepresidentthatwehavetogoafterthemandgetthemwherevertheyare.IjustthinkIcandothatfarmoreeffectively,becausethemostimportantweaponindoingthatisintelligence.You?ˉvegottohavethebestintelligenceintheworld.
Andinordertohavethebestintelligenceintheworldtoknowwhotheterroristsareandwheretheyareandwhatthey?ˉreplotting,you?ˉvegottohavethebestcooperationyou?ˉveeverhadintheworld.
Now,togobacktoyourquestion,Nikki,we?ˉrenotgettingthebestcooperationintheworldtoday.We?ˉvegotawholebunchofcountriesthatpayapricefordealingwiththeUnitedStatesofAmericanow.I?ˉmgoingtochangethat.
AndI?ˉmgoingtoputinplaceabetterhomelandsecurityeffort.
Look,95percentofourcontainerscomingintothiscountryarenotiectedtoday.Whenyougetonanairplane,yourbagisX-rayed,butthecargoholdi?ˉtX-rayed.Doyoufeelsafer?
Thispresidentinthelastdebatesaid,"Well,thatwouldbeabigtaxgapifwedidthat."
Ladiesandgentlemen,it?ˉshistaxplan.HechoseataxcutforthewealthiestAmericaovergettingthatequipmentoutintothehomelandasfastaspoible.
Wehavebridgesandtuelsthataren?ˉtbeingsecured,chemicalplants,nuclearplantsthataren?ˉtsecured,hoitalsthatareovercrowdedwiththeiremergencyrooms.
Ifwehadadisastertoday,couldtheyhandleit?
Thispresidentchoseataxcutoverhomelandsecurity.Wrongchoice.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:That?ˉsanoddthingtosay,sincewe?ˉvetripledthehomelandsecuritybudgetfrom$10billionto$30billion.
Listen,we?ˉlldoeverythingwecantoprotectthehomeland.
Myoonent?ˉsright,weneedgoodintelligence.It?ˉsalsoacuriousthingforhimtosaysincerightafter1993hevotedtocuttheintelligencebudgetby$7.5billion.
ThebestwaytodefendAmericainthisworldweliveinistostayontheoffee.Wegottoberight100percentofthetimehereathome,andtheygottoberightonce.Andthat?ˉsthereality.
Andthere?ˉsalotofgoodpeopleworkinghard.We?ˉredoingthebestwepoiblycantoshareinformation.That?ˉswhythepatriotActwasimportant.
ThepatriotActisvital,bytheway.It?ˉsatoolthatlawenforcementnowusestobeabletotalkbetweeneachother.Myoonentsayshehadn?ˉtchangedhispositiononit.No,buthe?ˉsforweakeningit.
Idon?ˉtthinkmyoonenthasgottherightviewabouttheworldtomakeussafe;Ireallydon?ˉt.
Firstofall,Idon?ˉtthinkhecansucceedinIraq.AndifIraqweretofail,it?ˉdbeahavenforterrorists,andtherewouldbemoneyandtheworldwouldbemuchmoredangerous.
Idon?ˉtseehowyoucanwininIraqifyoudon?ˉtbelieveweshouldbethereinthefirstplace.Idon?ˉtseehowyoucanleadtrooifyousayit?ˉsthewrongwaratthewrongplaceatthewrongtime.
Idon?ˉtseehowtheIraqisaregoingtohaveconfidenceintheAmericanpresidentifalltheyhearisthatitwasamistaketobethereinthefirstplace.
Thiswarisalong,longwar,anditrequiressteadfastdeterminationanditrequiresacompleteunderstandingthatwenotonlychasedownAlQaidabutwedisruptterroristsafehaveaswellaspeoplewhocouldprovidetheterroristswithsuort.
GION:Iwanttoextendforaminute,Senator.AndI?ˉmcuriousaboutsomethingyousaid.Yousaid,"It?ˉsnotwhen,butif."Youthinkit?ˉsinevitablebecausetheseeofsecurityisaverybasicthingwitheverybodyinthiscountryworriedabouttheirkids.
KERRY:Well,thepresidentandhisexpertshavetoldAmericathatit?ˉsnotaquestionofif;it?ˉsaquestionofwhen.AndIacceptwhatthepresidenthassaid.Theseterroristsareserious,they?ˉredeadly,andtheyknownothingexcepttryingtokill.
Iunderstandthat.That?ˉswhyIwillneverstopatanythingtohuntdownandkilltheterrorists.
Butyouheardthepresidentjustsaytoyouthatwe?ˉveaddedmoney.
Folks,thetestisnotifyou?ˉveaddedmoney;thetestisthatyou?ˉvedoneeverythingpoibletomakeAmericasecure.HechoseataxcutforwealthyAmericaoverthethingsthatIlistedtoyou.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:Well,we?ˉlltalkaboutthetaxcutformiddleclahereinaminute.Butyes,I?ˉmworried.I?ˉmworried.I?ˉmworriedaboutourcountry.AndallIcantellyouiseverydayIknowthatthere?ˉspeopleworkingovertime,doingtheverybesttheycan.AndthereasonI?ˉmworriedisbecausethere?ˉsaviciousenemythathasanideologyofhate.
Andthewaytodefeatthemlong-term,bytheway,istoreadfreedom.
Libertycanchangehabits.Andthat?ˉswhat?ˉshaeninginAfghanistanandIraq.
GION:Mr.president,we?ˉregoingtoturntoquestionowondomesticpolicy.Andwe?ˉregoingtostartwithhealthiues.
AndthefirstquestionisforpresidentBushandit?ˉsfromJohnHorstman.
HORSTMAN:Mr.president,whydidyoublockthereimportationofsaferandinexpeivedrugsfromCanadawhichwouldhavecut40to60percentoffofthecost?
BUSH:Ihaven?ˉtyet.Justwanttomakesurethey?ˉresafe.WhenadrugcomesinfromCanada,Iwanttomakesureitcuresyouanddoe?ˉtkillyou.
Andthat?ˉswhytheFDAandthat?ˉswhythesurgeongeneralarelookingverycarefullytomakesureitcanbedoneinasafeway.I?ˉvegotanobligationtomakesureourgovernmentdoeseverythingwecantoprotectyou.
Andwhatmyworryisisthat,youknow,itlookslikeit?ˉsfromCanada,anditmightbefromathirdworld.
Andwe?ˉvejustgottomakesure,beforesomebodythinksthey?ˉrebuyingaproduct,thatitworks.Andthat?ˉswhywe?ˉredoingwhatwe?ˉredoing.
Now,itmayverywellbehereinDecemberyou?ˉllhearmesay,Ithinkthere?ˉsasafewaytodoit.
Thereareotherwaystomakesuredrugsarecheaper.Oneistoeedupgenericdrugstothemarketplace,quicker.pharmaceuticalswereusingloopholestokeepbrand--branddrugsinplace,andgenericsaremuchleexpeivethanbranddrugs.Andwe?ˉredoingjustthat.
Anotheristopa--togetourseniorstosignuptothesedrugdiscountcards,andthey?ˉreworking.
WandaBlackmoreImetherefromMiouri,thefirsttimesheboughtdrugswithherdrugdiscountcard,shepaid$1.14,Ithinkitwas,forabout$10worthofdrugs.
Thesecardsmakesee.
And,youknow,in20xxseniorsaregoingtogetprescriptiondrugcoverageforthefirsttimeinMedicare.BecauseIwenttoWashingtontofixproblems.
Medicare--theiueofMedicareusedtobecalled"Mediscare."peopledidn?ˉtwanttotouchitforfearofgettinghurtpolitically.
Iwantedtogetsomethingdone.Ithinkourseniorsdeserveamodernmedicalsystem.Andin20xx,ourseniorswillgetprescriptiondrugcoverage.
Thankyouforasking.
GION:Senator,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:John,youheardthepresidentjustsaythathethoughthemighttrytobeforit.
Fouryearsago,righthereinthisforum,hewasaskedthesamequestion:Can?ˉtpeoplebeabletoimportdrugsfromCanada?Youknowwhathesaid?"Ithinkthatmakessee.Ithinkthat?ˉsagoodidea"--fouryearsago.
Now,thepresidentsaid,"I?ˉmnotblockingthat."Ladiesandgentlemen,thepresidentjustdidn?ˉtlevelwithyourightnowagain.
Hedidblockit,becausewepaeditintheUnitedStatesSenate.WesentitovertotheHouse,thatyoucouldimportdrugs.Wetookcareofthesafetyiues.
We?ˉrenottalkingaboutthird-worlddrugs.We?ˉretalkingaboutdrugsmaderighthereintheUnitedStatesofAmericathathaveAmericanbrandnamesonthemandAmericanbottles.Andwe?ˉreaskingtobeabletoallowyoutogetthem.
Thepresidentblockedit.ThepresidentalsotookMedicare,whichbelongstoyou.AndhecouldhaveloweredthecostofMedicareandloweredyourtaxesandloweredthecoststoseniors.
Youknowwhathedid?Hemadeitillegal,illegalforMedicaretodowhattheV.A.does,whichisbulkpurchasedrugssothatyoucanlowerthepriceandgetthemouttoyoulower.
Heput$139billionofwindfallprofitintothepocketsofthedrugcompaniesrightoutofyourpockets.That?ˉsthedifferencebetweenus.Thepresidentsideswiththepowercompanies,theoilcompanies,thedrugcompanies.AndI?ˉmfightingtoletyougetthosedrugsfromCanada,andI?ˉmfightingtoletMedicaresurvive.
I?ˉmfightingforthemiddlecla.Thatisthedifference.
BUSH:Ifthey?ˉresafe,they?ˉrecoming.Iwanttoremindyouthatitwa?ˉtjustmyadministrationthatmadethedecisiononsafety.presidentClintondidthesamething,becausewehaveanobligationtoprotectyou.
Now,hetalksaboutMedicare.He?ˉsbeenintheUnitedStatesSenate20years.ShowmeoneaccomplishmenttowardMedicarethatheaccomplished.
I?ˉvebeeninWashington,D.C.,threeandahalfyearsandledtheCongretoreformMedicaresoourseniorshavegotamodernhealthcaresystem.That?ˉswhatleadershipisallabout.
KERRY:Actually,Mr.president,in1997wefixedMedicare,andIwasoneofthepeopleinvolvedinit.
WenotonlyfixedMedicareandtookitwayoutintothefuture,wedidsomethingthatyoudon?ˉtknowhowtodo:Webalancedthebudget.Andwepaiddownthedebtofournationfortwoyearsinarow,andwecreated23millionnewjoatthesametime.
Andit?ˉsthepresident?ˉsfiscalpoliciesthathavedrivenupthebiggestdeficitsinAmericanhistory.He?ˉsaddedmoredebttothedebtoftheUnitedStatesinfouryearsthanallthewayfromGeorgeWashingtontoRonaldReaganputtogether.Gofigure.
GION:ThenextquestionisforSenatorKerry.AndthiscomesfromNorma-JeanLaurent.
LAURENT:SenatorKerry,you?ˉvestatedyourconcernfortherisingcostofhealthcare,yetyouchoseavicepresidentialcandidatewhohasmademillioofdollarssuccefullysuingmedicalprofeionals.Howdoyoureconcilethiswiththevoters?
KERRY:Veryeasily.JohnEdwardsistheauthorofthepatients?ˉBillofRights.Hewantedtogivepeoplerights.JohnEdwardsandIsuorttortreform.Webothbelievethat,aslawyers--I?ˉmalawyer,too.AndIbelievethatwewillbeabletogetafixthathasalludedeverybodyelsebecauseweknowhowtodoit.
It?ˉsinmyhealth-careproposal.Gotojohnkerry.com.YoucanpullitoffoftheInternet.Andyou?ˉllfindatortreformplan.
Now,ladiesandgentlemen,importanttounderstand,thepresidentandhisfriendstrytomakeabigdealoutofit.Isitaproblem?Yes,it?ˉsaproblem.Doweneedtofixit,particularlyforOGBY(sic)andforbrainsurgeoandothers?Yes.
Butit?ˉslethan1percentofthetotalcostofhealthcare.
Yourpremiumsaregoingup.You?ˉvegoneup,inMiouri,about$3,500.You?ˉvegoneup64percent.You?ˉveseenco-paysgoup,deductiblesgoup.Everything?ˉsgoneup.
Fivemillionpeoplehavelosttheirhealthiuranceunderthispresident.He?ˉsdonenothingaboutit.
Ihaveaplan.Ihaveaplantolowerthecostofhealthcareforyou.Ihaveaplantocoverallchildren.Ihaveaplantoletyoubuyintothesamehealthcaresenatorsandcongremengivethemselves.
Ihaveaplanthat?ˉsgoingtoallowpeople55to64tobuyintoMedicareearly.
AndIhaveaplanthatwilltakethecatastrophiccasesoutofthesystem,offyourbacks,payforitoutofafederalfund,whichlowersthepremiumsforeverybodyinAmerica,makesAmericanbusinemorecompetitiveandmakeshealthcaremoreaffordable.
Now,allofthatcanhaen,butIhavetoaskyoutodoonething:Joinmeinrollingbackthepresident?ˉsunaffordabletaxcutforpeopleearningmorethan$200,000ayear.That?ˉsall.
Ninety-eightpercentofAmerica,I?ˉmgivingyouataxcutandI?ˉmgivingyouhealthcare.
GION:Mr.president,aminuteandahalf.
BUSH:Letmeseewheretostarthere.
First,theNationalJournalnamedSenatorKeedythemostliberalsenatorofall.Andthat?ˉssayingsomethinginthatbunch.Youmightsaythattookalotofhardwork.
ThereasonIbringthatupisbecausehe?ˉsproposed$2.2trillioninnewending,andhesayshegoingtotaxtherichtoclosethetaxgap.
Hecan?ˉt.He?ˉsgoingtotaxeverybodyheretofundhisprograms.That?ˉsjustreality.
Andwhatarehishealthprograms?First,hesayshe?ˉsformedicalliabilityreform,particularlyforOB/GY.There?ˉsabillontheflooroftheUnitedStatesSenatethathecouldhaveshowedupandvotedforifhe?ˉssomuchforit.
Secondly,hesaysthatmedicalliabilitycostsonlycausea1percentincrease.Thatshowsalackofunderstanding.Doctorspracticedefeivemedicinebecauseofallthefrivolouslawsuitsthatcostourgovernment$28billionayear.
Andfinally,hesaidhe?ˉsgoingtohaveanovelhealthcareplan.Youknowwhatitis?Thefederalgovernmentisgoingtorunit.
It?ˉsthelargestincreaseinfederalgovernmenthealthcareever.Anditfitswithhisphilosophy.That?ˉswhyItoldyouabouttheawardhewonfromtheNationalJournal.
That?ˉswhatliberalsdo.Theycreategovernment-ooredhealthcare.Maybeyouthinkthatmakessee.Idon?ˉt.Government-ooredhealthcarewouldleadtorationing.ItwouldruinthequalityofhealthcareinAmerica.
GION:SenatorKerry,wegotseveralquestioalongthisline,andI?ˉmjustcuriousifyou?ˉdgofurtheronwhatyoutalkedaboutwithtortreform.Wouldyoubefavoringcaingawardsonpainandsuffering?Wouldyoulimitattorney?ˉsfees?
KERRY:Afollow-up...
GION:Yes.Afollow-uponthisfor...
KERRY:Yes,Ithinkweshouldlookatthepunitiveandweshouldhavesomelimitatio.
Butlook,what?ˉsreallyimportant,Charlie,isthepresidentisjusttryingtoscareeverybodyherewiththrowinglabelsaround.Imean,"compaionatecoervative,"whatdoesthatmean?Cutting500,000kidsfromafter-schoolprograms,cutting365,000kidsfromhealthcare,ruingupthebiggestdeficitsinAmericanhistory.
Mr.president,you?ˉrebatting0for2.
Imean,seriously--labelsdon?ˉtmeananything.Whatmeasomethingis:Doyouhaveaplan?AndIwanttotalkaboutmyplansomemore--Ihopewecan.
GION:We?ˉllgettothatinjustaminute.
Thirtyseconds,presidentBush.
BUSH:You?ˉreright,whatdoesmatterisaplan.Hesaidhe?ˉsfor--you?ˉrenowforcaingpunitivedamages?
That?ˉsodd.YoushouldhaveshownuponthefloorintheSenateandvotedforitthen.
Medicalliabilityiuesareaproblem,asignificantproblem.He?ˉsbeenintheUnitedStatesSenatefor20yearsandheha?ˉtaddreedit.
WepaeditoutoftheHouseofRepresentatives.Guewhereit?ˉsstuck?It?ˉsstuckintheSenate,becausethetriallawyerswon?ˉtactonit.Andheputatriallawyerontheticket.
GION:ThenextquestionisforpresidentBush,anditcomesfromMatthewO?ˉBrien.
O?ˉbrIEN:Mr.president,youhaveenjoyedaRepublicanmajorityintheHouseandSenateformostofyourpresidency.Inthattime,you?ˉvenotvetoedasingleendingbill.Excluding$120billionentinIranand--I?ˉmsorry,IraqandAfghanistan,therehasbeen$700billionentandnotpaidforbytaxes.
pleaseexplainhowtheendingyouhavearovedandnotpaidforisbetterfortheAmericanpeoplethantheendingproposedbyyouroonent.
BUSH:Right,thankyouforthat.
Wehaveadeficit.Wehaveadeficitbecausethiscountrywentintoareceion.YoumightrememberthestockmarketstartedtodeclinedramaticallysixmonthsbeforeIcametooffice,andthenthebuleofthe1990spoed.Andthatcostusrevenue.Thatcostusrevenue.
Secondly,we?ˉreatwar.AndI?ˉmgoingtoendwhatittakestowinthewar,morethanjust$120billionforIraqandAfghanistan.We?ˉvegottopayourtroomore.Wehave.We?ˉveincreasedmoneyforammunitionandweapoandpayandhomelandsecurity.
Ijusttoldthisladyoverhereweent--wentfrom$10billionto$30billiontoprotectthehomeland.Ithinkwehaveanobligationtoendthatkindofmoney.
Andplus,wecuttaxesforeverybody.Everybodygottaxrelief,sothattheygetoutofthereceion.
Ithinkifyouraisetaxesduringareceion,youheadtodepreion.Icomefromtheschoolofthoughtthatsayswhenpeoplehavemoremoneyintheirpocketduringeconomictimes,itincreasesdemandorinvestment.Smallbusineesbegintogrow,andjoareadded.
Wefoundouttodaythatoverthepast13months,we?ˉveadded1.9millionnewjointhelast13months.
Iproposedaplan,detailedbudget,thatshowsuscuttingthedeficitinhalfbyfiveyears.
Andyou?ˉreright,Ihaven?ˉtvetoedanyendingbills,becauseweworktogether.
Non-homeland,non-defeediscretionaryendingwasraisingat15percentayearwhenIgotintooffice.Andtodayit?ˉslethan1percent,becausewe?ˉreworkingtogethertotrytobringthisdeficitundercontrol.
Likeyou,I?ˉmconcernedaboutthedeficit.ButIamnotgoingtoshortchangeourtrooinharm?ˉsway.AndI?ˉmnotgoingtorunuptaxes,whichwillcostthiseconomyjo.
Thankyouforyourquestion.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Letmebeginbysayingthatmyhealth-careplanisnotwhatthepresidentdescribed.Itisnotagovernmenttakeover.
Youhavechoice.Chooseyourdoctor,chooseyourplan.Thegovernmenthasnothingtodowithit.
Infact,itdoe?ˉtaskyoutodoanything--ifyoudon?ˉtwanttotakeit,youdon?ˉthaveto.Ifyoulikeyourhighpremiums,youkeepthem.That?ˉsthewayweleaveit.
Nowwithreecttothedeficit,thepresidentwashandeda$5.6trillionsurplus,ladiesandgentlemen.That?ˉswherehewaswhenhecameintooffice.
Wenowhavea$2.6trilliondeficit.Thisisthebiggestturnaroundinthehistoryofthecountry.He?ˉsthefirstpresidentin72yearstolosejo.
Hetalkedaboutwar.ThisisthefirsttimetheUnitedStatesofAmericahaseverhadataxcutwhenwe?ˉreatwar.
FranklinRoosevelt,HarryTruman,others,knewhowtolead.TheyknewhowtoasktheAmericanpeoplefortherightthings.
OnepercentofAmerica,thehighestonepercentofincomeearnersinAmerica,got$89billionoftaxcutlastyear.OnepercentofAmericagotmorethanthe80percentofAmericathatearnedfrom$100,000down.
Thepresidentthinksit?ˉsmoreimportanttofightforthattop1percentthantofightforfiscalreoibilityandtofightforyou.
Iwanttoputmoneyinyourpocket.Iam--Ihaveaproposalforataxcutforallpeopleearninglethanthe$200,000.TheonlypeopleaffectedbymyplanarethetopincomeearnersofAmerica.
GION:Iboth--Iheardyoubothsay--Ihaveheardyoubothsayduringthecampaign,Ijustheardyousayit,thatyou?ˉregoingtocutthedeficitbyahalfinfouryears.ButIdidn?ˉthearonethinginthelastthreeandahalfminutesthatwouldindicatehoweitheroneofyoudothat.
BUSH:Well,lookatthebudget.OneismakesureCongredoe?ˉtoverend.
Butletmetalkbackaboutwherewe?ˉvebeen.Thestockmarketwasdecliningsixmonthspriortomyarrival.
Itwasthelargeststockmarketcorrection--oneofthelargestinhistory,whichforetoldareceion.
Becausewecuttaxesoneverybody--remember,weranupthechildcreditby$1,000,wereducedthemarriagepenalty,wecreateda10percentbracket,everybodywhopaystaxesgotrelief--thereceionwasoneoftheshortestinournation?ˉshistory.
GION:SenatorKerry,30seconds.
KERRY:After9/11,afterthereceionhadended,thepresidentaskedforanothertaxcutandpromised5.6millionjowouldbecreated.Helost1.6million,ladiesandgentlemen.Andmostofthattaxcutwenttothewealthiestpeopleinthecountry.
Hecameandaskedforataxcut--wewantedataxcuttokicktheeconomyintogear.Doyouknowwhathepresenteduswith?A$25billiongiveawaytothebiggestcorporatioinAmerica,includinga$254millionrefundchecktoEnron.
Wrongpriorities.Youaremypriority.
GION:SenatorKerry,thenextquestionwillbeforyou,anditcomesfromJamesVarner,whoIbelieveisinthissection.
Mr.Varner?Youneedamicrophone.
VARNER:Thankyou.
SenatorKerry,wouldyoubewillingtolookdirectlyintothecameraand,usingsimpleandunequivocallanguage,givetheAmericanpeopleyoursolemnpledgenottosignanylegislationthatwillincreasethetaxburdenonfamiliesearninglethan$200,000ayearduringyourfirstterm?
KERRY:Aolutely.Yes.Rightintothecamera.Yes.Iamnotgoingtoraisetaxes.
Ihaveataxcut.Andhere?ˉsmytaxcut.
Iraisethechild-carecreditby$1,000forfamiliestohelpthembeabletotakecareoftheirkids.
Ihavea$4,000tuitiontaxcreditthatgoestoparents--andkids,ifthey?ˉreearningforthemselves--tobeabletopayforcollege.
AndIlowerthecostofhealthcareinthewaythatIdescribedtoyou.EverypartofmyprogramI?ˉveshownhowI?ˉmgoingtopayforit.
AndI?ˉvegottengoodpeople,likeformerSecretaryoftheTreasuryBobRubin,foritance,whoshowedhowtobalancebudgetsandgiveyouagoodeconomy,tohelpmecrunchthesenumbersandmakethemwork.
I?ˉveevenscaledbacksomeofmyfavoriteprogramsalready,likethechild-careprogramIwantedtofundandthenationalserviceprogram,becausethepresident?ˉsdeficitkeegrowingandI?ˉvesaidasapledge,"I?ˉmgoingtocutthedeficitinhalfinfouryears."
Now,I?ˉmgoingtorestorewhatwedidinthe1990s,ladiesandgentlemen:payasyougo.We?ˉregoingtodoitlikeyoudoit.Thepresidentbrokethepay-as-you-gorule.
Somebodyhereaskedthequestionabout,"Whyhaven?ˉtyouvetoedsomething?"It?ˉsagoodquestion.Ifyoucareaboutit,whydon?ˉtyouvetoit?
IthinkJohnMcCaincalledtheenergybillthe"NoLoyistLeftBehind"bill.
Imean,you?ˉvegottostandupandfightsomewhere,folks.
I?ˉmpledgingIwillnotraisetaxeI?ˉmgivingataxcuttothepeopleearninglethan$200,000ayear.
Now,forthepeopleearningmorethan$200,000ayear,you?ˉregoingtoseearollbacktothelevelwewereatwithBillClinton,whenpeoplemadealotofmoney.
Andlookingaroundhere,atthisgrouphere,Isuectthereareonlythreepeopleherewhoaregoingtobeaffected:thepresident,me,and,Charlie,I?ˉmsorry,youtoo.
(LAUGHTER)
GION:Mr.president,90seconds.
BUSH:He?ˉsjustnotcrediblewhenhetalksaboutbeingfiscallycoervative.He?ˉsjustnotcredible.IfyoulookathisrecordintheSenate,hevotedtobreaktheca--theendingca--over200times.
Andherehesayshe?ˉsgoingtobeafiscalcoervative,allofasudden.It?ˉsjustnotcredible.Youcaotbelieveit.
Andofcoursehe?ˉsgoingtoraiseyourtaxes.Yousee,he?ˉsproposed$2.2trillionofnewending.Andyousay:Well,howareyougoingtopayforit?Hesays,well,he?ˉsgoingtoraisethetaxesontherich--that?ˉswhathesaid--thetoptwobrackets.Thatraises,hesays$800billiowesay$600billion.
We?ˉvegotbattlinggreeneyeshades.
Somewhereinbetweenthosenumbers--andsothere?ˉsadifference,whathe?ˉspromisedandwhathecanraise.
Now,eitherhe?ˉsgoingtobreakallthesewonderfulpromiseshe?ˉstoldyouaboutorhe?ˉsgoingtoraisetaxes.AndIsuect,givenhisrecord,he?ˉsgoingtoraisetaxes.
Ismytimeupyet?
GION:No,youcankeepgoing.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH:Good.Youlookedatmelikemyclockwasup.
Ithinkthatthewaytogrowthiseconomyistokeeptaxeslow,ishaveanenergyplan,istohavelitigationreform.AsItoldyou,we?ˉvejustgotareportthatsaidoverthepast13months,we?ˉvecreated1.9millionnewjo.
Andsothefundamentalquestionofthiscampaignis:Who?ˉsgoingtokeeptheeconomygrowingsopeoplecanwork?That?ˉsthefundamentalquestion.
GION:I?ˉmgoingtocomebackonemoretimetohowthesenumbersaddupandhowyoucancutthatdeficitinhalfinfouryears,givenwhatyou?ˉvebothsaid.KERRY:Well,firstofall,thepresident?ˉsfiguresof$2.2trillionjustaren?ˉtaccurate.Thosearethefuzzymathfiguresputtogetherbysomegroupthatworksforthecampaign.That?ˉsnotthenumber.
Numbertwo,JohnMcCainandIhaveaproposal,jointly,foracommiionthatclosescorporategiveawayloopholes.We?ˉvegot$40billiongoingtoBermuda.We?ˉvegotallkindsofgiveaways.Weoughttobeshuttingthosedown.
Andthird,credible:Ladiesandgentlemen,in1985,IwasoneofthefirstDemocratstomovetobalancethebudget.Ivotedforthebalancedbudgetin?ˉ93and?ˉ97.Wedidit.Wedidit.AndIwasthere.
GION:Thirtyseconds.I?ˉmsorry,thirtyseconds,Mr.president.
BUSH:Yes,Imean,he?ˉsgotarecord.It?ˉsbeentherefor20years.Youcanrun,butyoucan?ˉthide.Hevoted98timestoraisetaxes.Imean,thesearen?ˉtmake-upfigures.
Andsopeoplearegoingtohavetolookattherecord.Lookattherecordofthemanruingforthepresident.
Theydon?ˉtnamehimthemostliberalintheUnitedStatesSenatebecauseheha?ˉtshownuptomanymeetings.Theynamedhimbecauseofhisvotes.Andit?ˉsreality.
It?ˉsjustnotcredibletosayhe?ˉsgoingtokeeptaxesdownandbalancebudgets.
GION:Mr.president,thenextquestionisforyou,anditcomesfromJamesHuoverhere.
HU:Mr.president,howwouldyourateyourselfasanenvironmentalist?Whatecificallyhasyouradministrationdonetoimprovetheconditionofournation?ˉsairandwatersuly?
BUSH:Off-roaddieselengines--wehavereachedanagreementtoreducepollutionfromoff-roaddieselenginesby90percent.
I?ˉvegotaplantoincreasethewetlandsby3million.We?ˉvegotanaggreivebrownfieldprogramtorefurbishier-citysoreotstousefulpiecesofproperty.
IproposedtotheUnitedStatesCongreaClearSkiesInitiativetoreducesulfurdioxide,nitrogenoxideandmercuryby70percent.
Ihave--wasfoughtforaverystrongtitleinthefarmbillforthecoervationreserveprogramtosetasidemillioofacresoflandtohelpimprovewildlifeandthehabitat.
Weproposedandpaedahealthyforestbillwhichwaseentialtoworkingwith--particularlyinWesternstates--tomakesurethatourforestswereprotected.Whathaeinthoseforests,becauseoflousyfederalpolicy,istheygrowtobe--theyarenot--they?ˉrenotharvested.They?ˉrenottakencareof.Andasaresult,they?ˉreliketinderboxes.
AndoverthelastsummersI?ˉveflownoverthere.Andso,thisisareasonablepolicytoprotectoldstandsoftreesandatthesametimemakesureourforestsaren?ˉtvulnerabletotheforestfiresthathavedestroyedacresafteracresintheWest.
We?ˉvegotagood,common-seepolicy.
Now,I?ˉmgoingtotellyouwhatIreallythinkisgoingtohaenovertimeistechnologyisgoingtochangethewayweliveforthegoodfortheenvironment.
That?ˉswhyIproposedahydrogenautomobile--hydrogen-generatedautomobile.We?ˉreending$1billiontocomeupwiththetechnologiestodothat.
That?ˉswhyI?ˉmabigproponentofcleancoaltechnology,tomakesurewecanusecoalbutinacleanway.
Igueyou?ˉdsayI?ˉmagoodstewardoftheland.
Thequalityoftheair?ˉscleanersinceI?ˉvebeenthepresident.FewerwatercomplaintssinceI?ˉvebeenthepresident.MorelandbeingrestoredsinceI?ˉvebeenthepresident.
Thankyouforyourquestion.
GION:SenatorKerry,minuteandahalf.
KERRY:Boy,tolistentothat--thepresident,Idon?ˉtthink,islivinginaworldofrealitywithreecttotheenvironment.
Now,ifyou?ˉreaRedSoxfan,that?ˉsOK.Butifyou?ˉreapresident,it?ˉsnot.
Letmejustsaytoyou,numberone,don?ˉtthrowthelabelsaround.Labelsdon?ˉtmeananything.
Isuortedwelfarereform.Iledthefighttoput100,000coonthestreetsofAmerica.I?ˉvebeenforfaith-basedinitiativeshelpingtointerveneinthelivesofyoungchildrenforyears.Iwas--brokewithmypartyin1985,oneofthefirstthreeDemocratstofightforabalancedbudgetwhenitwasheresy.
Labelsdon?ˉtfit,ladiesandgentlemen.
Now,whenitcomestotheiueoftheenvironment,thisisoneoftheworstadministratioinmodernhistory.TheClearSkiesbillthathejusttalkedabout,it?ˉsoneofthoseOrwelliannamesyoupulloutofthesky,slapitontosomething,like"NoChildLeftBehind"butyouleavemillioofchildrenbehind.Herethey?ˉreleavingtheskiesandtheenvironmentbehind.
IftheyjustlefttheCleanAirActallalonethewayitistoday,nochange,theairwouldbecleanerthatitisifyoupatheClearSkiesact.We?ˉregoingbackwards.
Infact,hisenvironmentalenforcementchiefair-qualitypersonattheEpAresignedinprotestoverwhatthey?ˉredoingtowhatarecallingthenewsourceperformancestandardsforairquality.
They?ˉregoingbackwardsonthedefinitionforwetlands.They?ˉregoingbackwardsonthewaterquality.
Theypulledoutoftheglobalwarming,declareditdead,didn?ˉtevenacceptthescience.I?ˉmgoingtobeapresidentwhobelievesinscience.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:Well,hadwejoinedtheKyototreaty,whichIguehe?ˉsreferringto,itwouldhavecostAmericaalotofjo.
It?ˉsoneofthesedealswhere,inordertobepopularinthehallsofEurope,yousignatreaty.ButIthoughtitwouldcostalot--Ithinkthere?ˉsabetterwaytodoit.
AndIjusttoldyouthefacts,sir.ThequalityoftheairiscleanersinceI?ˉvebeenthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.Andwe?ˉllcontinuetoendmoneyonresearchanddevelopment,becauseItrulybelievethat?ˉsthewaytogetfromhowwelivetodaytobeingabletoliveastandardoflivingthatwe?ˉreaccustomedtoandbeingabletoprotectourenvironmentbetter,theuseoftechnologies.
GION:SenatorKerry,30seconds.
KERRY:ThefactisthattheKyototreatywasflawed.IwasinKyoto,andIwaspartofthat.Iknowwhathaened.Butthispresidentdidn?ˉttrytofixit.Hejustdeclareditdead,ladiesandgentlemen,andwewalkedawayfromtheworkof160natioover10years.
Youwonder,Nikki,whyitisthatpeopledon?ˉtlikeusinsomepartsoftheworld.Youjustsay:Hey,wedon?ˉtagreewithyou.Goodbye.
Thepresident?ˉsdonenothingtotrytofixit.Iwill.
GION:SenatorKerry,thenextquestionisforyou.Itinvolvesjo,whichisatopicofthenewstoday.
Andforthequestion,we?ˉregoingtoturntoJaneBarrow.
BARROW:SenatorKerry,howcantheU.S.becompetitiveinmanufacturinggiven--inmanufacturing,excuseme--giventhewagenecearyandcomfortablyacceptedforAmericanworkerstomaintainthestandardoflivingthattheyexpect?
KERRY:Jane,therearealotofwaystobecompetitive.AndunfortunatelyagainIregretthisadministrationhasnotseizedthemandembracedthem.Letmegiveyouanexample.
Thereisataxloopholerightnow.Ifyou?ˉreacompanyinSt.Louisworking,tryingtomakejohere,thereisactuallyanincentiveforyoutogoaway.Yougetmoremoney,youkeepmoreofyourtaxesbygoingabroad.
I?ˉmgoingtoshutthatloophole,andI?ˉmgoingtogivethetaxbenefittothecompaniesthatstayhereinAmericatohelpmakethemmorecompetitive.
Secondly,we?ˉregoingtocreateamanufacturingjocreditandanewjocreditforpeopletobeabletohelphireandbemorecompetitivehereinAmerica.
Third,what?ˉsreallyhurtingAmericanbusinemorethananythingelseisthecostofhealthcare.
Now,youdidn?ˉthearanyplanfromthepresident,becausehedoe?ˉthaveaplantolowerthecostofhealthcare.
FivemillionAmericahavelosttheirhealthcare;620,000Miouriahavenohealthcareatall;96,000MiouriahavelosttheirhealthcareunderpresidentBush.
Ihaveaplantocoverthosefolks.Andit?ˉsaplanthatlowerscostforeverybody,coversallchildren.AndthewayIpayforit--I?ˉmnotfiscallyirreoible--isIrollbackthetaxcutthispresidentsofiercelywantstodefend,theoneforhimandmeandCharlie.
Ithinkyououghttogetthebreak.Iwanttoloweryourcosttohealthcare.Iwanttofullyfundeducation,NoChildLeftBehind,ecial-needseducation.Andthat?ˉshowwe?ˉregoingtobemorecompetitive,bymakingsureourkidsaregraduatingfromschoolandcollege.
ChinaandIndiaaregraduatingmoregraduatesintechnologyandsciencethanweare.
We?ˉvegottocreatetheproductsofthefuture.That?ˉswhyIhaveaplanforenergyindependencewithin10years.
Andwe?ˉregoingtoputourlaboratoriesandourcollegesandouruniversitiestowork.Andwe?ˉregoingtogetthegreatentrepreneurialiritofthiscountry,andwe?ˉregoingtofreeourselvesfromthisdependencyonMideastoil.
That?ˉshowyoucreatejoandbecomecompetitive.
GION:Mr.president,minuteandahalf.
BUSH:Letmestartwithhowtocontrolthecostofhealthcare:medicalliabilityreform,forstarters,whichhe?ˉsoosed.
Secondly,allowsmallbusineestopooltogethersotheycanshareriskandbuyiuranceatthesamediscountsbigbusineesgettodo.
Thirdly,readwhat?ˉscalledhealthsavingsaccounts.It?ˉsgoodforsmallbusinees,goodforowners.Youownyourownaccount.Youcansavetax-free.Yougetacatastrophicplantohelpyouonit.
Thisisdifferentfromsaying,"OK,letmeincentyoutogoonthegovernment."
He?ˉstalkingabouthisplantokeepjohere.Youknowhecallsitanoutsourcingtokeep--stopoutsourcing.RobertRubinlookedathisplanandsaiditwon?ˉtwork.ThebestwaytokeepjohereinAmericais,one,haveanenergyplan.IproposedonetotheCongretwoyearsago,encouragescoervation,encouragestechnologytoexploreforenvironmentallyfriendlywaysforcoal--tousecoalandgas.Itencouragestheuseofrenewableslikeethanolandbiodiesel.
It?ˉsstuckintheSenate.Heandhisruing-matedidn?ˉtshowuptovotewhentheycouldhavegotitgoingintheSenate.
Leregulatioifwewantjohere;legalreformifwewantjohere;andwe?ˉvegottokeeptaxeslow.
Now,hesayshe?ˉsonlygoingtotaxtherich.Doyourealize,900,000smallbusineeswillbetaxedunderhisplanbecausemostsmallbusineesareSubchapterScororlimitedpartnershi,andtheypaytaxattheinpidualincometaxlevel.
Andsowhenyou?ˉreruingupthetaxeslikethat,you?ˉretaxingjobcreators,andthat?ˉsnothowyoukeepjohere.
GION:Senator,Iwanttoextendforaminute,youtalkabouttaxcutstostopoutsourcing.ButwhenyouhaveIBMdocumentsthatIsawrecentlywhereyoucanhireaprogrammerfor$12inChina,$56anhourhere,taxcreditswon?ˉtcutit.
KERRY:Youcan?ˉtstopalloutsourcing,Charlie.I?ˉveneverpromisedthat.I?ˉmnotgoingto,becausethatwouldbepandering.Youcan?ˉt.
Butwhatyoucandoiscreateafairplayingfield,andthat?ˉswhatI?ˉmtalkingabout.
Butletmejustaddrewhatthepresidentjustsaid.
Ladiesandgentlemen,that?ˉsjustnottruewhathesaid.TheWallStreetJournalsaid96percentofsmallbusineesarenotaffectedatallbymyplan.
Andyouknowwhyhegetsthatcount?Thepresidentgot$84fromatimbercompanythatow,andhe?ˉscountedasasmallbusine.DickCheney?ˉscountedasasmallbusine.That?ˉshowtheydothings.That?ˉsjustnotright.
BUSH:Iownatimbercompany?
(LAUGHTER)
That?ˉsnewstome.
(LAUGHTER)
Needsomewood?
(LAUGHTER)
MostsmallbusineesareSubchapterScor.Theyjustare.ImetGrantMilliron,Mafield,Ohio.He?ˉscreatingjo.Mostsmallbusinees--70percentofthenewjoinAmericaarecreatedbysmallbusinees.
Taxesaregoingupwhenyourunupthetoptwobrackets.It?ˉsafact.
GION:presidentBush,thenextquestionisforyou,anditcomesfromRobFowler,whoIbelieveisoverinthisarea.
FOWLER:presidentBush,45daysafter9/11,CongrepaedthepatriotAct,whichtakesawaychecksonlawenforcementandweakeAmericancitize?ˉrightsandfreedoms,eeciallyFourthAmendmentrights.
WithexpaiotothepatriotActandpatriotActII,myquestiontoyouis,whyaremyrightsbeingwatereddownandmycitize?ˉaroundme?Andwhataretheecificjustificatioforthesereforms?
BUSH:Iareciatethat.
Ireallydon?ˉtthinkyourrightsarebeingwatereddown.Asamatteroffact,Iwouldn?ˉtsuortitifIthoughtthat.
Everyactionbeingtakenagaitterroristsrequirescourtorder,requiresscrutiny.
Asamatteroffact,thetoolsnowgiventotheterroristfightersarethesametoolsthatwe?ˉvebeenusingagaitdrugdealersandwhite-collarcriminals.
SoIreallydon?ˉtthinkso.Ihopeyoudon?ˉtthinkthat.Imean,I--becauseIthinkwhoeveristhepresidentmustguardyourliberties,mustnoterodeyourrightsinAmerica.
ThepatriotActisneceary,forexample,becausepartsoftheFBIcouldn?ˉttalktoeachother.Theintelligence-gatheringandthelaw-enforcementarmsoftheFBIjustcouldn?ˉtshareintelligenceundertheoldlaw.Andthatdidn?ˉtmakeanysee.
Ourlawenforcementmusthaveeverytoolnecearytofindanddisruptterroristsathomeandabroadbeforetheyhurtusagain.That?ˉsthetaskofthe21stcentury.
Andso,Idon?ˉtthinkthepatriotActabridgesyourrightsatall.
AndIknowit?ˉsneceary.IcanrememberbeinginutateNewYorktalkingtoFBIagentsthathelpedbustaLackawaacellupthere.Andtheytoldmetheycouldnothaveperformedtheirduty,thedutyweallexpectofthem,iftheydidnothavetheabilitytocommunicatewitheachotherunderthepatriotAct.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.KERRY:FormerGovernorRacicot,aschairmanoftheRepublicanparty,saidhethoughtthatthepatriotActhastobechangedandfixed.
CongremanJimSeereer,heisthechairmanoftheHouseJudiciaryCommittee,saidoverhisdeadbodybeforeitgetsrenewedwithoutbeingthoroughlyrechecked.
AwholebunchoffolksinAmericaareconcernedaboutthewaythepatriotActhasbeenalied.Infact,theiectorgeneraloftheJusticeDepartmentfoundthatJohnAshcrofthadtwicealieditinwaysthatwereinaropriate.
people?ˉsrightshavebeenabused.
Imetamanwhoenteightmonthsinprison,wa?ˉtevenallowedtocallhislawyer,wa?ˉtallowedtoget--finally,SenatorDickDurbinofIllinoisintervenedandwasabletogethimout.
Thisisinourcountry,folks,theUnitedStatesofAmerica.
They?ˉvegoteak-and-peeksearchesthatareallowed.They?ˉvegotpeopleallowedtogointochurchesnowandpoliticalmeetingswithoutanyshowingofpotentialcriminalactivityorotherwise.
Now,IvotedforthepatriotAct.Ninety-nineUnitedStatessenatorsvotedforit.Andthepresident?ˉsbeenverybusyruingaroundthecountryusingwhatIjustdescribedtoyouasareasontosayI?ˉmwishy-washy,thatI?ˉmaflip-floer.
Nowthat?ˉsnotaflip-flop.IbelieveinthepatriotAct.WeneedthethingsinitthatcoordinatetheFBIandtheCIA.Weneedtobestrongeronterrorism.
ButyouknowwhatwealsoneedtodoasAmericaisneverlettheterroristschangetheCotitutionoftheUnitedStatesinawaythatdisadvantagesourrights.
GION:SenatorKerry,thenextquestionisforyou,anditcomesfromElizabethLong.
LONG:SenatorKerry,thousandsofpeoplehavealreadybeencuredortreatedbytheuseofadultstemcellsorumbilicalcordstemcells.However,noonehasbeencuredbyusingembryonicstemcells.
Wouldn?ˉtitbewidetousestemcellsobtainedwithoutthedestructionofanembryo?
KERRY:Youknow,Elizabeth,Ireallyreectyour--thefeelingthat?ˉsinyourquestion.Iunderstandit.Iknowthemoralitythat?ˉspromptingthatquestion,andIreectitenormously.
ButlikeNancyReagan,andsomanyotherpeople--youknow,IwasataforumwithMichaelJ.FoxtheotherdayinNewHamhire,who?ˉssufferingfromparkion?ˉs,andhewantsustodostemcell,embryonicstemcell.Andthisfellowstoodup,andhewasquivering.Hiswholebodywasshakingfromthenervedisease,themusculardiseasethathehad.
Andhesaidtomeandtothewholehall,hesaid,"Youknow,don?ˉttakeawaymyhope,becausemyhopeiswhatkeemegoing."
ChrisReeveisafriendofmine.ChrisReeveexerciseseverysingledaytokeepthosemusclesaliveforthedaywhenhebelieveshecanwalkagain,andIwanthimtowalkagain.
Ithinkwecansavelives.
Now,Ithinkwecandoethicallyguidedembryonicstem-cellresearch.
Wehave100,000to200,000embryosthatarefrozeninnitrogentodayfromfertilityclinics.Theseweren?ˉttakenfromabortionorsomethinglikethat.They?ˉrefromafertilityclinic.Andthey?ˉreeithergoingtobedestroyedorleftfrozen.
AndIbelieveifwehavetheoption,whichscientiststelluswedo,ofcuringparkion?ˉs,curingdiabetes,curing,youknow,somekindofa,youknow,paraplegicorquadriplegicor,youknow,ainalcordinjury,anything,that?ˉsthenatureofthehumanirit.
Ithinkitisreectinglifetoreachforthatcure.Ithinkitisreectinglifetodoitinanethicalway.
Andthepresidenthaschosenapolicythatmakesitimpoibleforourscientiststodothat.Iwantthefuture,andIthinkwehavetograbit.
GION:Mr.president,aminuteandahalf.
BUSH:Embryonicstem-cellresearchrequiresthedestructionoflifetocreateastemcell.I?ˉmthefirstpresidentevertoallowfunding--federalfunding--forembryonicstem-cellresearch.IdidtobecauseItoohopethatwe?ˉlldiscovercuresfromthestemcellsandfromtheresearchderived.
ButIthinkwe?ˉvegottobeverycarefulinbalancingtheethicsandthescience.
AndsoImadethedecisionwewouldn?ˉtendanymoremoneybeyondthe70lines,22ofwhicharenowinaction,becausescienceisimportant,butsoisethics,soisbalancinglife.Todestroylifetosavelifeis--it?ˉsoneoftherealethicaldilemmasthatweface.
Thereisgoingtobehundredsofexperimentsoffthe22linesthatnowexistthatareactive,andhopefullywefindacure.Butaswell,weneedtocontinuetopursueadultstem-cellresearch.
IhelpeddoubletheNIHbudgetto$28billionayeartofindcures.AndthearoachItookisonethatIthinkisabalancedandnecearyaroach,tobalancescienceandtheconcerforlife.
GION:Senator,30seconds,leextent.
KERRY:Well,youtalkaboutwalkingawaffleline--hesayshe?ˉsallowedit,whichmeahe?ˉsgoingtoallowthedestructionoflifeuptoacertainamountandthenhei?ˉtgoingtoallowit.
Idon?ˉtknowhowyoudrawthatline.
Butletmetellyou,pointblank,thelinesofstemcellsthathe?ˉsmadeavailable,everyscientistinthecountrywilltellyou,"Notadequate,"becausethey?ˉrecontaminatedbymousecells,andbecausetherearen?ˉt60or70--they?ˉreareonlyabout11to20now--andtherearen?ˉtenoughtobeabletodotheresearchbecausethey?ˉrecontaminated.
We?ˉvegottoopenupthepoibilitiesofthisresearch.AndwhenIampresident,I?ˉmgoingtodoitbecausewehaveto.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:Letmemakesureyouunderstandmydecision.Thosestem-cellslinesalreadyexisted.Theembryohadalreadybeendestroyedpriortomydecision.
Ihadtomakethedecisiontodestroymorelife,sowecontinuetodestroylife--Imadethedecisiontobalancescienceandethics.
GION:Mr.president,thenextquestionisforyou,anditcomesfromJonathanMichaelson,overhere.
MICHAELSON:Mr.president,iftherewereavacancyintheSupremeCourtandyouhadtheoortunitytofillthatpositiontoday,whowouldyouchooseandwhy?
BUSH:I?ˉmnottelling.
(LAUGHTER)
Ireallydon?ˉthave--haven?ˉtpickedanybodyyet.plus,Iwantthemallvotingforme.
(LAUGHTER)
Iwouldpicksomebodywhowouldnotallowtheirpersonalopiniontogetinthewayofthelaw.IwouldpicksomebodywhowouldstrictlyinterprettheCotitutionoftheUnitedStates.
Letmegiveyouacoupleofexamples,Igue,ofthekindofpersonIwouldn?ˉtpick.
Iwouldn?ˉtpickajudgewhosaidthatthepledgeofAllegiancecouldn?ˉtbesaidinaschoolbecauseithadthewords"underGod"init.Ithinkthat?ˉsanexampleofajudgeallowingpersonalopiniontoenterintothedecision-makingproceasoosedtoastrictinterpretationoftheCotitution.
AnotherexamplewouldbetheDredScottcase,whichiswherejudges,yearsago,saidthattheCotitutionallowedslaverybecauseofpersonalpropertyrights.
That?ˉsapersonalopinion.That?ˉsnotwhattheCotitutionsays.TheCotitutionoftheUnitedStatessayswe?ˉreall--youknow,itdoe?ˉtsaythat.Itdoe?ˉteaktotheequalityofAmerica.
Andso,Iwouldpickpeoplethatwouldbestrictcotructionists.We?ˉvegotplentyoflawmakersinWashington,D.C.Legislatorsmakelaw;judgesinterprettheCotitution.
AndIsuectoneofuswillhaveapickattheendofnextyear--thenextfouryears.Andthat?ˉsthekindofjudgeI?ˉmgoingtoputonthere.NolitmustestexceptforhowtheyinterprettheCotitution.
Thankyou.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Thankyou,Charlie.
Afewyearsagowhenhecametooffice,thepresidentsaid--thesearehiswords--"Whatweneedaresomegoodcoervativejudgesonthecourts."
AndhesaidalsothathistwofavoritejusticesareJusticeScaliaandJusticeThomas.
Soyougetaprettygoodseeofwherehe?ˉsheadingifheweretoaointsomebody.Now,here?ˉswhatIbelieve.Idon?ˉtbelieveweneedagoodcoervativejudge,andIdon?ˉtbelieveweneedagoodliberaljudge.Idon?ˉtbelieveweneedagoodjudgeofthatkindofdefinitiononeitherside.
IsucribetotheJusticepotterStewartstandard.HewasajusticeontheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates.Andhesaidthemarkofagoodjudge,goodjustice,isthatwhenyou?ˉrereadingtheirdecision,theiropinion,youcan?ˉttellifit?ˉswrittenbyamanorwoman,aliberaloracoervative,aMuslim,aJeworaChristian.Youjustknowyou?ˉrereadingagoodjudicialdecision.
WhatIwanttofind,ifIamprivilegedtohavetheoortunitytodoit--andtheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesisatstakeinthisrace,ladiesandgentlemen.
Thefutureofthingsthatmattertoyou--intermsofcivilrights,whatkindofJusticeDepartmentyou?ˉllhave,whetherwe?ˉllenforcethelaw.Willwehaveequaloortunity?Willwomen?ˉsrightsbeprotected?Willwehaveequalpayforwomen,whichisgoingbackwards?Willawoman?ˉsrighttochoosebeprotected?
Thesearecotitutionalrights,andIwanttomakesurewehavejudgeswhointerprettheCotitutionoftheUnitedStatesaccordingtothelaw.
GION:Goingtogotothefinaltwoquestionow,andthefirstonewillbeforSenatorKerry.AndthiscomesfromSarahDegenhart.
DEGENHART:SenatorKerry,suoseyouareeakingwithavoterwhobelievedabortionismurderandthevoteraskedforreaurancethathisorhertaxdollarswouldnotgotosuortabortion,whatwouldyousaytothatperson?
KERRY:IwouldsaytothatpersonexactlywhatIwillsaytoyourightnow.
Firstofall,IcaottellyouhowdeeplyIreectthebeliefaboutlifeandwhenitbegi.I?ˉmaCatholic,raisedaCatholic.Iwasanaltarboy.Religionhasbeenahugepartofmylife.Ithelpedleadmethroughawar,leadsmetoday.
ButIcan?ˉttakewhatisanarticleoffaithformeandlegislateitforsomeonewhodoe?ˉtsharethatarticleoffaith,whethertheybeagnostic,atheist,Jew,protestant,whatever.Ican?ˉtdothat.
ButIcancouelpeople.Icantalkreasonablyaboutlifeandaboutreoibility.Icantalktopeople,asmywifeTeresadoes,aboutmakingotherchoices,andaboutatinence,andaboutalltheseotherthingsthatweoughttodoasareoiblesociety.
Butasapresident,Ihavetorepresentallthepeopleinthenation.AndIhavetomakethatjudgment.
Now,Ibelievethatyoucantakethatpositionandnotbepro-abortion,butyouhavetoaffordpeopletheircotitutionalrights.Andthatmeabeingsmartaboutallowingpeopletobefullyeducated,toknowwhattheiroptioareinlife,andmakingcertainthatyoudon?ˉtdenyapoorpersontherighttobeabletohavewhateverthecotitutionaffordsthemiftheycan?ˉtafforditotherwise.
That?ˉswhyIthinkit?ˉsimportant.That?ˉswhyIthinkit?ˉsimportantfortheUnitedStates,foritance,nottohavethisrigidideologicalrestrictiononhelpingfamiliesaroundtheworldtobeabletomakeasmartdecisionaboutfamilyplaing.
You?ˉllhelppreventAIDS.
You?ˉllhelppreventunwantedchildren,unwantedpregnancies.
You?ˉllactuallydoabetterjob,Ithink,ofpaingonthemoralreoibilitythatisexpreedinyourquestion.AndItrulyreectit.
GION:Mr.president,minuteandahalf.
BUSH:I?ˉmtryingtodecipherthat.
Myaweris,we?ˉrenotgoingtoendtaxpayers?ˉmoneyonabortion.
ThisisaniuethatpidesAmerica,butcertainlyreasonablepeoplecanagreeonhowtoreduceabortioinAmerica.
Isignedthepartial-birth--thebanonpartial-birthabortion.It?ˉsabrutalpractice.It?ˉsonewaytohelpreduceabortio.Myoonentvotedagaittheban.
Ithinkthereoughttobeparentalnotificationlaws.He?ˉsagaitthem.
IsignedabillcalledtheUornVictimsofViolenceAct.
Inotherwords,ifyou?ˉreamomandyou?ˉrepregnantandyougetkilled,themurderergetstriedfortwocases,notjustone.Myoonentwasagaitthat.
ThesearereasonablewaystohelppromoteacultureoflifeinAmerica.IthinkitisaworthygoalinAmericatohaveeverychildprotectedbylawandwelcomedinlife.
Ialsothinkweoughttocontinuetohavegoodadoptionlawasanalternativetoabortion.
Andweneedtopromotematernitygrouphomes,whichmyadministrationhasdone.
Cultureoflifeisreallyimportantforacountrytohaveifit?ˉsgoingtobeahoitablesociety.
Thankyou.
GION:Senator,doyouwanttofollowup?Thirtyseconds.
KERRY:Well,again,thepresidentjustsaid,categorically,myoonentisagaitthis,myoonentisagaitthat.Youknow,it?ˉsjustnotthatsimple.No,I?ˉmnot.
I?ˉmagaitthepartial-birthabortion,butyou?ˉvegottohaveanexceptionforthelifeofthemotherandthehealthofthemotherunderthestrictesttestofbodilyinjurytothemother.
Secondly,withreecttoparentalnotification,I?ˉmnotgoingtorequirea16-or17-year-oldkidwho?ˉsbeenrapedbyherfatherandwho?ˉspregnanttohavetonotifyherfather.Soyougottohaveajudicialintervention.Andbecausetheydidn?ˉthaveajudicialinterventionwhereshecouldgosomewhereandgethelp,Ivotedagaitit.It?ˉsneverquiteassimpleasthepresidentwantsyoutobelieve.
GION:And30seconds,Mr.president.
KERRY:Well,it?ˉsprettysimplewhentheysay:Areyouforabanonpartialbirthabortion?Yesorno?
Andhewasgivenachancetovote,andhevotedno.Andthat?ˉsjustthewayitis.That?ˉsavote.Itcamerightup.It?ˉsclearforeverybodytosee.AndasIsaid:Youcanrunbutyoucan?ˉthidethereality.
GION:AndthefinalquestionoftheeveningwillbeaddreedtopresidentBushanditwillcomefromLindaGrabel.LindaGrabel?ˉsoverhere.
LindaGrabel?ˉsoverhere.
BUSH:putaheadfakeonus.
(LAUGHTER)
GION:Igotfakedoutmyself.
BUSH:Hi,Linda.
GRABEL:presidentBush,duringthelastfouryears,youhavemadethousandsofdecisiothathaveaffectedmilliooflives.pleasegivethreeitancesinwhichyoucametorealizeyouhadmadeawrongdecision,andwhatyoudidtocorrectit.Thankyou.
BUSH:Ihavemadealotofdecisio,andsomeofthemlittle,likeaointmentstoboardsyouneverheardof,andsomeofthembig.
Andinawar,there?ˉsalotof--there?ˉsalotoftacticaldecisiothathistoriawilllookbackandsay:Heshouldn?ˉthavedonethat.Heshouldn?ˉthavemadethatdecision.AndI?ˉlltakereoibilityforthem.I?ˉmhuman.
Butonthebigquestio,aboutwhetherornotweshouldhavegoneintoAfghanistan,thebigquestionaboutwhetherweshouldhaveremovedsomebodyinIraq,I?ˉllstandbythosedecisio,becauseIthinkthey?ˉreright.
That?ˉsreallywhatyou?ˉre--whentheyaskaboutthemistakes,that?ˉswhatthey?ˉretalkingabout.They?ˉretryingtosay,"DidyoumakeamistakegoingintoIraq?"Andtheaweris,"Aolutelynot."Itwastherightdecision.
TheDuelferreportconfirmedthatdecisiontoday,becausewhatSaddamHueinwasdoingwastryingtogetridofsanctiosohecouldrecotituteaweapoprogram.AndthebiggestthreatfacingAmericaisterroristswithweapoofmadestruction.
Weknewhehatedus.Weknewhe?ˉdbeen--invadedothercountries.Weknewhetorturedhisownpeople.
Onthetaxcut,it?ˉsabigdecision.Ididtherightdecision.Ourreceionwasoneoftheshallowestinmodernhistory.
Now,youaskedwhatmistakes.Imadesomemistakesinaointingpeople,butI?ˉmnotgoingtonamethem.Idon?ˉtwanttohurttheirfeelingsonnationalTV.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH:Buthistorywilllookback,andI?ˉmfullypreparedtoacceptanymistakesthathistoryjudgestomyadministration,becausethepresidentmakesthedecisio,thepresidenthastotakethereoibility.
GION:SenatorKerry,aminuteandahalf.
KERRY:Ibelievethepresidentmadeahugemistake,acatastrophicmistake,nottoliveuptohisownstandard,whichwas:buildatrueglobalcoalition,givetheiectorstimetofinishtheirjobandgothroughtheU.N.procetoitsendandgotowarasalastresort.
Iaskeachofyoujusttolookintoyourhearts,lookintoyourguts.Gut-checktime.Wasthisreallygoingtowarasalastresort?
Thepresidentrushedournationtowarwithoutaplantowinthepeace.Andsimplethingsweren?ˉtdone.
That?ˉswhySenatorLugarsays:incompetentinthedeliveryofservices.That?ˉswhySenatorHagel,Republican,says,youknow:beyondpitiful,beyondembarraing,inthezoneofdangerous.
Wedidn?ˉtguard850,000toofammo.Thatammoisnowbeingusedagaitourkids.Tenthousandoutof12,000Humveesaren?ˉtarmored.Ivisitedsomeofthosekidswithnolimtoday,becausetheydidn?ˉthavethearmoronthosevehicles.Theydidn?ˉthavetherightbodyarmor.
I?ˉvemetparentswho?ˉveontheInternetgottenthearmortosendtheirkids.
ThereisnobiggerjudgmentforapresidentoftheUnitedstatesthanhowyoutakeanationtowar.Andyoucan?ˉtsay,becauseSaddammighthavedoneit10yearsfromnow,that?ˉsareasothat?ˉsanexcuse.
GION:Mr.president?
BUSH:Hecomplaiaboutthefactourtroodon?ˉthaveadequateequipment,yethevotedagaitthe$87billionsulementalIsenttotheCongreandtheniuedoneofthemostamazingquotesinpoliticalhistory:"Iactuallydidvoteforthe$87billionbeforeIvotedagaitit."
SaddamHueinwasarisktoourcountry,ma?ˉam.Andhewasariskthat--andthisiswherewejusthaveadifferenceofopinion.
Thetruthofthatmatteris,ifyoulistencarefully,SaddamwouldstillbeinpowerifhewerethepresidentoftheUnitedStates,"Andtheworldwouldbealotbetteroff."
GION:And,SenatorKerry,30seconds.
KERRY:Notnecearilybeinpower,buthere?ˉswhatI?ˉllsayaboutthe$87billion.
ImadeamistakeinthewayItalkaboutit.HemadeamistakeininvadingIraq.Whichisaworsedecision?
Now,IvotedthewayIvotedbecauseIsawthathehadthepolicywrongandIwantedaccountability.Ididn?ˉtwanttogiveaslushfundtoHalliburton.IalsothoughtthewealthiestpeopleinAmericaoughttopayforit,ladiesandgentlemen.Hewantsyourkidstopayforit.Iwantedustopayforit,sincewe?ˉreatwar.Idon?ˉtthinkthat?ˉsabaddecision.
GION:That?ˉsgoingtoconcludethequestioning.We?ˉregoingtogonowtoclosingstatements,twominutesfromeachcandidate.
AndthefirstclosingstatementgoestoSenatorKerry.Ibelievethatwastheagreement.
KERRY:Doyouwanttogofirst?
BUSH:Eitherway.
KERRY:Thankyou.
Charlie,thankyou.
Andthankyouall.
KERRY:Thankyou,allofyou,fortakingpart.
Thanksforyourquestiotonight,very,verymuch.
ObviouslythepresidentandIbothhaveverystrongconvictio.Ireecthimforthat.ButwehaveaverydifferentviewabouthowtomakeAmericastrongerandsafer.Iwillnevercedetheauthorityofourcountryoroursecuritytoanyothernation.I?ˉllnevergiveavetooverAmericansecuritytoanyotherentity--notanation,notacountry,notanititution.
ButIknow,asIthinkyoudo,thatourcountryisstrongestwhenweleadtheworld,whenweleadstrongalliances.Andthat?ˉsthewayEisenhowerandReaganandKeedyandothersdidit.
Wearenotdoingthattoday.Weneedto.
Ihaveaplanthatwillhelpusgooutandkillandfindtheterrorists.
AndIwillnotstopinoureffortstohuntdownandkilltheterrorists.ButI?ˉllalsohaveabetterplanofhowwe?ˉregoingtodealwithIraq:trainingtheIraqiforcesmorerapidly,gettingouralliesbacktothetablewithafreshstart,withnewcredibility,withapresidentwhosejudgmenttherestoftheworldtrusts.
Inadditiontothat,Ibelievewehaveacrisishereathome,acrisisofthemiddleclathatisincreasinglysqueezed,health-carecostsgoingup.
IhaveaplantoprovidehealthcaretoallAmerica.
IhaveaplantoprovideforourschoolssowekeepthestandardsbutwehelpourteachersteachandelevateourschoolsbyfundingNoChildLeftBehind.
Ihaveaplantoprotecttheenvironmentsothatweleavethisplaceinbettershapetoourchildrenthanwewerehandeditbyourparents.That?ˉsthetest.
IbelieveAmerica?ˉsbestdaysareaheadofus.I?ˉmanoptimist,butwehavetomaketherightchoices,tobefiscallyreoibleandtocreatethenewjoofthefuture.Wecandothis.
AndIaskyoufortheprivilegeofleadingournationtobestrongerathomeandreectedagainintheworld.
Thankyou.
GION:Senator.
AndaclosingstatementfrompresidentBush.
BUSH:Charlie,thanks.
Thankyouallverymuch.It?ˉsbeenenjoyable.
Thegreatcontestforthepresidencyisaboutthefuture,whocanlead,whocangetthingsdone.
We?ˉvebeenthroughalottogetherasacountry--beenthroughareceion,corporatescandals,war.
Andyetthinkaboutwhereweare:Added1.9millionnewjooverthepast13months.ThefarmincomeinAmericaishigh.Smallbusineesareflourishing.Homeownershiprateisatanall-timehighinAmerica.
We?ˉreonthemove.
TonightIhadachancetodiscuwithyouwhattodotokeepthiseconomygoing:keepthetaxeslow,don?ˉtincreasethescopeofthefederalgovernment,keepregulatiodown,legalreform,ahealth-carepolicythatdoesnotempowerthefederalgovernmentbutempowersinpiduals,andanenergyplanthatwillhelpusbecomeledependentonforeignsourcesofenergy.
Andabroad,we?ˉreatwar.Anditrequiresapresidentwhoissteadfastandstronganddetermined.IvowedtotheAmericanpeopleafterthatfatefuldayofSeptemberthe11ththatwewouldnotrestnortireuntilwe?ˉresafe.
The9/11CommiionputoutareportthatsaidAmericaissaferbutnotyetsafe.Thereismoreworktobedone.
We?ˉllstayonthehuntonAlQaida.We?ˉlldenysanctuarytotheseterrorists.We?ˉllmakesuretheydonotendupwithweapoofmadestruction.It?ˉsthegreatnexus.Thegreatthreattoourcountryisthatthesehatersendupwithweapoofmadestruction.
Butourlong-termsecuritydependsonourdeepfaithinliberty.Andwe?ˉllcontinuetopromotefreedomaroundtheworld.
Freedomisonthemarch.Tomorrow,Afghanistanwillbevotingforapresident.InIraq,we?ˉllbehavingfreeelectio,andafreesocietywillmakethisworldmorepeaceful.
Godble.
GION:Mr.president,SenatorKerry,thatconcludestonight?ˉsdebate.
IwanttogiveyouareminderthatthethirdandfinaldebateoniuesofdomesticpolicywillbeheldnextWednesday,October13th,atArizonaStateUniversityinTempe,Arizona,hostedbyBobSchiefferofews.
IwanttothankpresidentBushandSenatorKerryfortonight.IwanttothankthesecitizeoftheSt.Louisareawhoaskedthequestio,whogavesowillinglyoftheirtime,andwhotooktheirreoibilityveryseriously.
ThankyoualsotoeveryoneatWashington...
(ALAUSE)
IwanttothankeveryoneatWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louisforbeingsosuchgracioushosts.
I?ˉmCharlesGionfromABews.FromSt.Louis,goodnight.

美国总统布什在清华大学的演讲

美国总统布什在清华大学的演讲

美国总统布什在清华大学的演讲

名人演讲稿

presidentBush:

VicepresidentHu,thankyouforyourwordsofwelcome.Iamgratefulforyourhoitality,andhonoredbythisreceptionatoneofChina’sgreatuniversities.
TsinghuaUniversitywasfounded,withthesuortofAmerica,tofurtherthetiesbetweenourtwonatio.IknowhowimportantthisplaceistotheVicepresident,whoearnedhisdegreehereandevenmoreimportant,methisgraciouswifeLiuYongqinghere.

Ialsothankthestudentshereforthisoortunitytomeetwithyou,totalkalittlebitaboutmycountryandawersomeofyourquestio.Thestandardsandreputationofthisuniversityareknownaroundtheworld,andIknowwhatanachievementitistobehere.MywifeLauraandIhavetwodaughtersincollege,oneatYaleandtheotherattheUniversityofTexas.WeareproudofourdaughtersjustlikeIamsureyourparentsareproudofyou.

MyvisittoChinacomesonanimportantaiversary.Thirtyyearsagothisweek,anAmericanpresidentarrivedinChinaonatripdesignedtoenddecadesofestrangementandconfrontcenturiesofsuicion.presidentRichardNixonshowedtheworldthattwovastlydifferentgovernmentscouldmeetonthegroundsofcommoninterest,andinairitofmutualreect.Astheylefttheairportthatday,premierZhouEnlaisaidtopresidentNixon,``Yourhandshakecameoverthevastestoceanintheworldtwenty-fiveyearsofnocommunication.’’

Duringthe30yearssince,AmericaandChinahaveexchangedmanyhandshakesoffriendshipandcommerce.Andaswehavehadmorecontactwitheachother,thecitizeofourtwocountrieshavegraduallylearnedmoreabouteachother.

Once,AmericaknewChinaonlybyitshistoryasagreatandenduringcivilization.Today,weseeaChinathatisstilldefinedbynobletraditiooffamily,scholarship,andhonor.AndweseeaChinathatisbecomingoneofthemostdynamicandcreativesocietiesintheworldasdemotratedbyalltheknowledgeandpotentialrighthereinthisroom.

Chinaisonarisingpath,andAmericawelcomestheemergenceofastrong,peaceful,andproerousChina.

AsAmericalearmoreaboutChina,IamconcernedthattheChinesepeopledonotalwaysseeaclearpictureofmycountry.Thishaeformanyreaso,someofthemofourownmaking.Ourmoviesandtelevisionshowsoftendonotportr

美国总统布什在清华大学的演讲第2页

aythevaluesoftherealAmericaIknow.OursuccefulbusineesshowthestrengthofAmericancommerce,butthecommunityiritandcontributioofthosebusineesarenotalwaysasvisibleastheirmonetarysucce.SomeoftheerroneouspicturesofAmericaarepaintedbyothers.Myfriend,theAmbaadortoChina,tellsmethatsomeChinesetextbookstalkofAmerica``bullyingtheweakandrepreingthepoor.’’AnotherChinesetextbook,publishedjustlastyear,teachesthatecialagentsoftheFBIareusedto``repretheworkingpeople.’’

Neitheroftheseistrueandwhilethebooksmaybeleftoversfromapreviousera,theyaremisleadingandharmful.Infact,Americafeelaecialreoibilityforthepoorandtheweak.Ourgovernmentendsbillioofdollarstoprovidehealthcareandfoodandhousingforthosewhocaothelpthemselvesandevenmoreimportant,manyofourcitizecontributetheirownmoneyandtimetohelpthoseinneed.Americancompaionstretcheswaybeyondourborders.Wearethenumberoneproviderofhumanitarianaidtopeopleinneedthroughouttheworld.AsforthemenandwomenofourFBIandlawenforcement,theyarethemselvesworkingpeoplewhodevotetheirlivestofightingcrimeandcorruption.

Mycountrycertainlyhasitsshareofproblemsandfaultlikemostnatiowe’reonalongjourneytowardachievingourownidealsofequalityandjustice.Yetthereisareasonournationshinesasabeaconofhopeandoortunity,areasonmanythroughouttheworlddreamofcomingtoAmerica.

Weareafreenation,wheremenandwomenhavetheoortunitytoachievetheirdreams.Nomatteryourbackgroundorcircumstanceofbirth,inAmericayoucangetagoodeducation,startabusine,raiseafamily,worshipfreelyandhelpelecttheleadersofyourcommunityandcountry.Youcansuortthepoliciesofourgovernment,oryouarefreetoopenlydisagreewiththem.Thosewhofearfreedomsometimesargueitcouldleadtochaos,butitdoesnot,becausefreedommeamorethaneverymanforhimself.

Libertygivesourcitizemanyrights,yetexpectsthemtoexerciseimportantreoibilities.Ourlibertyisgivendirectionandpurposebymoralcharacter,shapedinstrongfamilies,strongcommunities,andstrongreligiousititutioandoverseenbyastrongandfairlegalsystem.

Mycountry’sgreatestsymboltotheworld,theStatueofLiberty,wasdesignedwithgreatcare.Asyoulookclosely,youwillseethatsheisholdingnotoneobject,buttwo.Inonehandisthefamiliartorch,thelightofliberty.Intheotherisabookoflaw.

WeareaNationoflaws.Ourcourtsarehonestandindependent.Thepresidentcan’ttellthecourtshowtoruleandneithercananyothermemberoftheexecutiveorlegislativebranch.Underourlaw,everyonestandsequal.Nooneisabovethelaw,andnooneisbeneathit.

AllpoliticalpowerinAmericaislimitedandtemporary,andonlygivenbyafreevoteofthepeople.WehaveaCotitution,nowtwocenturiesold,whichlimitsandbalancesthepowersofthethreebranchesofourgovernment:judicial,legislativeandexecutive.

ManyofthevaluesthatguideourlifeinAmericaarefirstshapedinourfamilies,justastheyareinyourcountry.AmericanMomsandDadslovetheirchildrenandworkhardandsacrificeforthem,becausewebelievelifecanalwaysbebetterforthenextgeneration.Inourfamilies,wefindloveandlearnreoibilityandcharacter.

AndmanyAmericavoluntarilydevotepartoftheirlivestoservingothers.AnamazingnumbernearlyhalfofalladultsinAmericavolunteertimeeveryweektomaketheircommunitiesbetterbymentoringchildrenvisitingthesickcaringfortheelderlyandhelpingwithathousandotherneedsandcauses.Thisisoneofthegreatstrengthsofmycountry.peopletakereoibilityforhelpingotherswithoutbeingtold,motivatedbytheirgoodheartsandoftenbytheirfaith.

Americaisanationguidedbyfaith.Someoneoncecalledus``anationwiththesoulofachurch.’’Ninety-fivepercentofAmericasaytheybelieveinGod,andI’moneofthem.

WhenImetwithpresidentJiangZemininShanghaiafewmonthsago,Itoldhimhowfaithhasshapedmyownlife,andhowfaithcontributestothelifeofmycountry.Faithpointstoamorallawbeyondman’slawandcallsustodutieshigherthanmaterialgain.Freedomofreligionisnotsomethingtobefearedbuttobewelcomed,becausefaithgivesusamoralcoreandteachesustoholdourselvestohighstandards,toloveandserveothers,andtolivereoiblelives.

IfyoutravelacroAmerica,youwillfindpeopleofmanydifferentethicbackgroundsandmanydifferentfaiths.Weareavariedcountry.Wearehometo2.3millionAmericaofChineseancestry,whocanbefoundworkingintheofficesofourbiggestcompanies,servinginmyownCabinet,andskatingforAmericaattheOlympics.Everyimmigrant,bytakinganoathofallegiancetoourcountry,becomesjustasmuchanAmericanasthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.Americashowsthatasocietycanbevastandvaried,andyetstillonecountry,commandingtheallegianceandloveofitspeople.

AllofthesequalitiesofAmericawerevividlydilayedonasingleday,September11th,whenterroristsattackedAmerica.Americanpolicemenandfirefighters,bythehundreds,ranintoburningtowersinthedeeratehopeofsavingotherlives.Volunteerscamefromeverywheretohelpwiththerescueefforts.Americadonatedblood,andgavemoneytohelpthefamiliesofvictims.peoplewenttoprayerservicesalloverAmerica,andraisedflagstoshowtheirprideandunity.Noneofthiswasorderedbythegovernment;ithaenedontaneously,bytheinitiativeofafreepeople.

LifeinAmericashowsthatliberty,pairedwithlaw,isnottobefeared.Inafreesociety,persityisnotdisorder.Debateisnotstrife.Anddientisnotrevolution.Afreesocietytrustsitscitizetoseekgreatneinthemselvesandtheircountry.

ItwasmyhonortovisitChinain1975,andalothaschangedinyourcountrysincethen.Chinahasmadeamazingprogreinopee,andenterprise,andeconomicfreedom.AndthisprogrepreviewsChina’sgreatpotential.

ChinahasjoinedtheWorldTradeOrganization,andasyouliveuptoitsobligatio,theywillbringchangesinChina’slegalsystem.AmodernChinawillhaveacoistentruleoflawtogoverncommerceandsecuretherightsofitspeople.

ThenewChinayourgenerationisbuildingwillneedtheprofoundwisdomofyourtraditio.Thelureofmaterialismchallengessocietyinourcountryandinmanysuccefulcountries.Yourancientethicofpersonalandfamilyreoibilitywillserveyouwell.

BehindChina’seconomicsuccetodayaretalented,energeticpeople.Inthenearfuture,thesesamemenandwomenwillplayafullandactiveroleinyourgovernment.Thisuniversityisnotsimplyturningoutecialists,itispreparingcitize.Andcitizearenotectatorsintheaffairsoftheircountry.Theyareparticipantsinitsfuture.

Changeiscoming.Chinaisalreadyhavingsecretballotandcompetitiveelectioatthelocallevel.Nearlytwentyyearsago,DengXiaopingsaidthatChinawouldeventuallyexpanddemocraticelectioallthewaytothenationallevelandIlookforwardtothatday.

TeofmillioofChinesetodayarerelearningBuddhist,Taoist,andlocalreligioustraditio,orpracticingChristianity,Islam,andotherfaiths.Regardleofwhereorhowthesebelieversworship,theyarenothreattopublicorder;infact,theymakegoodcitize.Forcenturies,thiscountryhadatraditionofreligioustolerance.Myprayeristhatallpersecutionwillend,sothatallinChinaarefreetogatherandworshipastheywish.

Allofthesechangeswillleadtoastronger,moreconfidentChinaaChinathatcanastonishandenrichtheworld,aChinathatyourgenerationwillhelpcreate.Thisisoneofthemostexcitingtimesinthehistoryofyourcountryatimewheneventhegrandesthopesseemwithinyourreach.

Mynationoffersyouourreectandourfriendship.Sixyearsfromnow,athletesfromAmericaandaroundtheworldwillcometoyourcountryfortheOlympicgames.AndIamconfidenttheywillfindaChinathatisbecomingadaguo,aleadingnation,atpeacewithitspeopleandatpeacewiththeworld.

ThankyouandnowIlookforwardtoaweringsomequestio
胡副主席，非常感谢您的欢迎致辞，非常感谢您在这里接待我和我的夫人劳拉。我也看到我的助理赖斯女士，她曾经是斯德莫大学的校长，因此她回到校园是最适合不过的了。非常感谢各位对我的热情的接待，很荣幸能够来到中国，甚至是世界最伟大的一座学府之一，这所大学恰好是在美国的支持下成立的，成立的目标是为了推动我们两国间的关系。我也知道清华这所大学对于副主席先生有着十分重要的意义，他不仅在这里获得了学位，而且是在这里与他优雅的夫人相识的。我想同时，也感谢在座的各位学生给我这个机会跟大家见面，谈一谈我自己的国家，并且回答大家的一些问题。
清华大学的治学标准和名声闻名于世，我也知道能考入这所大学本身是一个很大的成就，祝贺你们。

我和我的太太有两个女儿，像你们一样正在上大学，有一个女儿上的是德州大学，一个女儿上的是耶鲁大学，他们是双胞胎。我们对我们的两个女儿倍感骄傲，我想你们的父母对你们的成就也是同样的引以为荣的。我这次访华恰逢一个重要的周年纪念日，副主席刚才也谈到了，三十年前这一周，一个美国的总统来到了中国，他的访华之旅目的是为了结束长达数十年的隔阂，和长达数百年的相互猜疑，本着相互利益，本着相互尊重的精神站在一起。那天他们离开机场的时候，周恩来总理对尼克松总统说了这样一番话，他说，你与我的握手越过了世界上最为辽阔的海洋，这个海洋就是互不交往的25年。自从那时以来，美国和中国已经握过多次的友谊之手和商业之手。

随着我们两国间接触的日益频繁，我们两国的国民也逐渐地加深了对彼此的了解，这是非常非常重要的。曾经一度，美国人只知道中国是一个历史悠久的一个伟大的国家，有伟大的文明。今天，我们仍然看到中国奉行着重视家庭、学业和荣誉的优良的传统，同时，我们所看到的中国正日益成为世界上一个最富活力和最富创造力的社会之一，这一点最佳的验证便是在座诸位所具备的知识和潜力。中国正走在一个发展的道路上，而美国欢迎一个强大、和平与繁荣的中国的出现。我同美国人在更进一步了解中国的同时，也担心中国人不一定总是能够很清楚地看到我的国家的真实面貌，这里面有多种原因，其中有一些是我们自己造成的。我们的电影，还有电视节目，往往并没有全面反映出美国。我们成功的企业显示了美国商业的力量。但是我们的精神、我们的社区精神，还有我们相互对彼此的贡献往往并不像我们金钱方面的成功那样的显而易见。版权所有

更为重要的是，我们许多的公民主动捐出自己的金钱，自己的时间来帮助有需求的人士。美国的同情心，同时也远远超越了我们自己的国界，在人道主义援助方面，我们居于世界首位，援助世界各地的人们。至于联邦调查局和执法界的工作人员，他们自己就是劳动人民的一员，他们献身于打击犯罪，打击腐败。

我们有一部宪法，已经有二百年的历史，它限制并且平衡三个部门之间的权利，这三个部门就是司法、立法和行政机构，我是行政机构的一员，指导我们的很多的价值观是在家庭中陶冶形成的，就像在中国一样，美国的妈妈们，爸爸们疼爱他们的孩子，为他们辛勤地劳动，作出牺牲，因为我们相信，下一代的生活总会更好，在我们的家庭中，我们可以找到关爱，可以学习如何负起责任，如何陶冶人格。很多美国人都抽出时间为其他人服务，成年中的一半人每周都拿出时间，使得他们的社区办得更好，他们辅导儿童，探访病人，照顾老人，并且帮助做许许多多数不胜数的事情。这就是我的国家的一大优点。我们主动承担起责任，帮助他们，他们的原动力就是善良的心，还有他们的信仰。

如果你去美国旅行的话，你会见到来自不同种族背景，有着不同信仰的人。我们是一个多元化、多姿多彩的国家，在那里有230万华人，他们在那里繁衍生息。在我们大公司的办公室里有华人工作，在美国政府中有华人工作，在奥林匹克比赛中代表美国参加滑冰比赛的也有华人。

诸位，重视个人和家庭责任的古老道德传统将使诸位受益匪浅。在中国如今经济成功的背后，有着有活力的人才。在不久的将来，这些人无论是男是女，将在这个政府中发挥积极和全面的作用。清华大学它不仅在培养专家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他们国家的事务中不是袖手旁观者，他们是建设未来的参与者。

所有的这些变化，将导致中国更加强大，更加有自信，这个中国将使世界瞩目，也使世界更加丰富。这个中国就是诸位这一代人所帮助创立的中国，现在在中国的历史上是一个非常令人振奋的时刻。此时此刻，就连最宏伟的梦想也似乎唾手可得。我的国度，对中国提出尊敬和友谊，再过六年，来自美国和世界的运动员将到贵国来参加奥林匹克比赛，我坚信，他们能够见到的中国将是正在变成一个大国的中国，一个走在世界前沿的国家，一个与其人民无争，与世界和平相处的中国。

谢谢诸位让我到此来演讲。下面欢迎大家提问。版权所有

候选人表态发言

候选人表态发言

表态发言
主任、副主任、秘书长、各位委员：
经过省市公开选拔、培训，我荣幸地被委派回家乡工作。本次常委会经县人大主任提名，拟任我为县政府副县长，这是组织对我的信任和重托。如果能够通过对我的任命，我会十分珍惜这次机会，竭尽全力做好本职工作，决不辜负各级组织和人民对我的期望。工作中，我将牢记党的宗旨，坚持做到立党为公，执政为民，以满腔的热忱，全部的智慧，辛勤的汗水，投入到每一天的工作中，为全县人民做好每一件事情，把党和人民赋予的权利，全部用于报效党的事业和人民利益上。我将求真务实，勤政为民。以党的事业为重，以人民的利益为重，关心群众疾苦，全心全意为全县人民谋福利，将自己全部的能量，全部的才智，用在服务于全县人民，服务于经济发展上。我将加强业务和理论学习，在县政府工作，我还是一名新兵，我决心要向各位领导学习，向同志们学习，始终保持谦虚谨慎、戒骄戒躁的作风，增强公仆意识，不断提高自己的执政水平和执政能力，尽快适应新的工作岗位，胜任本职工作，出色完成党和人民交予的任务，成为一名合格的人民公仆。我将紧密协作、全力配合县长和各位副县长做好政府工作，把发展作为第一要务，想大事，干实事，不计利益，不怕困难，开拓进取，一往直前。我将依法行政，接受监督。在今后的政府工作中，我将恪尽职守，依法行政，积极主动地接受群众监督、社会监督，特别是自觉接受县人大的依法监督。如果没有通过对我的任命，说明我的工作还存在差距，我会正确对待，继续加倍努力，认真做好其他工作。
谢谢大家！

演讲稿具有宣传、鼓动、教育和欣赏等作用，它可以把演讲者的观点、主张与思想感情传达给听众以及读者，使他们信服并在思想感情上产生共鸣。希望《美国总统候选人布什与克里第一场电视辩论》一文能帮助您解决关于2024“村委候选人发言稿”相关的问题，再次感谢您的阅读！