民主党总统候选人克里关于9/11三周年广播讲话

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民主党总统候选人克里关于9/11三周年广播讲话

[dvnews_page]JohnKerry’sRadioAddreon9/11totheNation
JohnKerry:Goodmorning,thisisJohnKerry.
Threeyearsagotoday,onabrightSeptembermorning,ayoungcoupletooktheirthree-yearolddaughteronherfirstairplaneflight–AmericanFlight11,fromBostontoLosAngeles.Onthatmorning,asecurityguardstoodwatchattheWorldTradeCenter,proudthatinjustsixdays,hewouldbecomeanAmericancitizen.Hehadalreadytoldhiswifetowearhernicestdretotheceremony.Onthatmorning,afirefighterlefthispregnantwife,andreportedfordutyatRescueCompany4tofillinforsomeoneelse.Itwassuosedtobehisdayoff.
OnSeptember11,20xx,theyandnearly3,000otherswerelivingoutthedailyrhythmoflifeinanationatpeace.Butonthatmorning,inasinglemoment,theywerelost,andourlandwaschangedforever.
Inthehoursaftertheattacks,wedrewstrengthfromfirefighterswhoranupthestairsandriskedtheirlivessothatothersmightlive.Fromrescuerswhorushedintosmokeandfireatthepentagon.FromthemenandwomenofFlight93whosacrificedthemselvestosaveournation’sCapitol.Theydidn’tthinktwice.Theydidn’tlookback.Andtheircourageliftedournation.
Thatwasjustthebegiing.Inthedaysthatfollowed,wesawanoutpouringofloveaspeopleacroAmericaandaroundtheworldaskedthemselves,“WhatcanIdotohelp?”HowcanI,astheScripturesays,helprepairthebreach?[Isaiah58:12]
InWhitehallTowhip,peylvania,ChristiaandJewscametogethertoattendservicesatalocalmosque.TheycametosuorttheirMuslimfriendsandneighbors–andtogether,theyprayedasone.
ThepeopleofAkron,OhiowantedtodosomethingforthefirefightersofNewYork.Sotheydugdeepintotheirpocketsanddonatedenoughmoneytobuyafiretruck,twoambulances,andthreepolicecars.
AndinReno,Nevada,twolittlegirlsstartedapeydrivetohelpthefamiliesofthevictims.Theyhoped,asoneofthemputit,to“maketheirheartsfeelbetter.”
SowhileSeptember11thwastheworstdaythisnationhaseverseen,itbroughtoutthebestinallofus.
Iknowthatforthosewholostlovedonesthatday

民主党总统候选人克里关于9/11三周年广播讲话第2页

,thepastthreeyearshavebeenalmostuearable.Theircourageandfaithhavebeentestedinawaytheyneverimagined.Butdayafterday,theyhaveheldon.Anddayafterday,theyandwehavefoundhopeandcomfortandstrengthbythequietgraceofGod.
WeareoneAmericainourprayersforthosewhoweretakenfromusonSeptember11thandfortheirfamilies.AndweareoneAmericainouruendingdeterminationtodefendourcountry–tofindandgettheterroristsbeforetheygetus.
Apoetoncewrotethatthosewhohaveleftus“…haveasilencethateaksforthematnight…Theysay:ourdeathsarenotourtheyareyourtheywillmeanwhatyoumakethem…Theysay:weleaveyouourdeaths.Givethemtheirmeaning.”
Inthepastthreeyears,withcountleactsofbraveryandkindne–largeandsmall–Americahavegivenmeaningtothoselives.Thatterribledayhasrenewedourseeofpurpose.Andintheyearsaheadwewillshareitsleowithourchildrenandgrandchildren.WewilltellthemthatonSeptember11th,ordinarymenandwomenbecameheroesatamoment’snotice–andsocanyou.Wewilltellthemthatwewerestrongbecausewetookcareofeachother–andsocanyou.Wewilltellthemthatwecametogetherintragedy,choseconfidenceoverfear,andthatourloveforAmericafaroutshonethedarkneofthosewhohateus.
Finally,wewilltellthemthatonSeptember11thandthedaysthatfollowed,welearnedinthehardestwaypoiblethattheAmericaniritendures.Itisthatiritwhichleadsustodefytheterroristsandaffirmthatfreedomwillwin.ItisthatiritwhichsustaithefamiliesofSeptember11thastheyrebuildtheirlives.Anditisthatiritwhichwillguideusaswerebuildthosetowers–stronger,higher,andmorebeautifulthaneverbefore.JustlikeAmerica.
Thanksforlistening.

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里广播讲话

[dvnews_page]JohnKerry’sradioaddretotheNation
October16,20xx
JohnKerry:Goodmorning,thisisJohnKerry.
Thispastweek,Americalostoneofitsheroesandmyfriend,ChristopherReeve.ChriswasoneofthemosthopefulpeopleI’veevermet.Hetreatedeverysingledaylikeagift,andhislifewasagifttoallofus.Hiscourage,compaion,anddeterminationwereaniiration–andI’maolutelyconfidentthatbecauseofhiswork,millioofAmericawillultimatelylivehealthierlives.
Butthefactisthatrightnow,we’renotdoingeverythingwecantohelpAmericarealizethisdream.Threeyearsago,GeorgeW.Bushputinplaceabanonfederalfundingforstemcellresearch–abanthat’stiedthehandsofourscientistsandshutdownsomeofourmostpromisingworkoninalcordinjuries,Alzheimer’s,Diabetes,parkion’sandotherlife-threateningdiseases.
Today,aroximately100millionAmericasufferfromillneesthatmayonedaybetreatedorcuredwithstem-celltherapy.Stemcellsmayholdthekeytotreatingheartdiseaseandcancer.Theymayhavethepowertoslowtheloofagrandmother’smemory,calmthehandofanunclewithparkion’s,orsaveachildfromalifetimeofdailyiulinshots.
Byrestrictingstemcellresearch,presidentBushhasturnedhisbackonthishope.He’smadethewrongchoicetosacrificescienceforextremeright-wingideology.Andrightnow,thereissuchpoibilityfortreatmentsthatcouldtraformourlives–butbecauseofthestemcellban,theyarestillbeyondourreach.
That’snottheAmericanway.HereinAmerica,we’vealwayspushedtheboundariesofknowledgeandusedthepowerofsciencetoimprovethelivesofourpeople.ThefirstcartorolloffanaemblylinewasmaderighthereinAmerica.ThefirstairplanetookofffromAmericansoil.AndthefirstfootprintsonthemoonwereleftbyanAmericanastronaut.Nowwestandattheedgeofthenextgreatfrontier–butiteadofleadingtheway,we’restuckonthesidelines.
ButpresidentBushjustdoe’tgetit.Facedwiththefacts,heturaway.Timeandtimeagain,he’sproventhathe’sstuorn,outoftouch,andunwillingtochangecourse.
Leadersfrombothpoliticalparties–

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includingSenatorsOrrinHatchfromUtahandJohnMcCainfromArizona–bothsuortstemcellresearchaswellasmanyothers.AndthemajorityofAmericado.Butiteadoflisteningtothem,thisAdministrationclaimsthatsuortingstemcellresearchcreatesfalsehope.
Thinkaboutthatforaminute.Imagineifwe’dtoldresearchersstudyingpoliotheywerecreatingfalsehope.Imagineifwe’dtoldthoseworkingtoeradicatesmallpoxtheywerecreatingfalsehope.It’sunthinkable,i’tit?Butthat’sexactlywhatthisAdministrationissayingtoscientistswhowanttostudyparkion’s,Alzheimer’s,Diabetes,inalcordinjuriesandsomanyotherdebilitatingconditio.
Andthat’sjustanhonestdifferenceofopinionbetweenGeorgeBushandme.Ibelievethatwhenitcomestoourmostpromisingresearch–there’snosuchthingasfalsehope.Iknowthatwhenweputourbestmindstoworkstudyingourworstdiseases–timeandtimeagain,wefindtreatments,andcures,andvaccines.Butwhenwedon’t–whenwehaveapresidentwhodismiesourscientistsandturhisbackonscience–thenwesaynotodiscovery,notoiovation,andnotohopeforsomanyAmerica
WhenI’mpresident,we’regoingtostopsayingno.We’regoingtosayyes.We’regoingtoliftthebanonfederalfundingforstemcellresearchonceandforall.We’regoingtomakefundingforthisresearchatoppriorityinourgovernmentagencies,ouruniversities,andourmedicalcommunity.Andwe’llcontinuetoleadtheworldingreatdiscoveries–allwhileupholdingthehighestethicalstandards.That’stherightchoiceforAmerica.
ChristopherReeveonceremarkedthat“Somanyofourdreamsatfirstseemimpoible,thentheyseemimprobable,andthen,whenwesummonthewill,theysoonbecomeinevitable.”Together,we’regoingtofighttomakeChris’impoibledreamabeautifulreality.We’regoingtoonceagainsayyestoscience,yestodiscovery,andyestoaneweraofhopeforallAmerica.
Thanksforlistening.

美国总统候选人布什与克里第三场电视辩论

[dvnews_page]TheThirdBush-KerrypresidentialDebate
October13,20xx
ArizonaStateUniversityTempe,AZ
美国当地时间10月13日晚上9时（北京时间14日上午9时），美国总统布什与民主党总统候选人克里在亚利桑那州立大学举行第三场电视辩论，辩论的焦点问题是美国国内问题，涉及就业、医疗、堕胎等百姓生活话题。第三次辩论由哥伦比亚广播公司(C)王牌主持人鲍勃希弗(BOBSCHIEFFER)主持。布什与克里在进行了前两场辩论以后，支持率相当，大选进入白热化阶段。

SCHIEFFER:GoodeveningfromArizonaStateUniversityinTempe,Arizona.I’mBobSchiefferofews.Iwanttowelcomeyoutothethirdandlastofthe20xxdebatesbetweenpresidentGeorgeBushandSenatorJohnKerry.
AsJimLehrertoldyoubeforethefirstone,thesedebatesareooredbytheCommiiononpresidentialDebates.
Tonightthetopicwillbedomesticaffairs,buttheformatwillbethesameasthatfirstdebate.I’llmoderateourdiscuionunderdetailedrulesagreedtobythecandidates,butthequestioandtheareastobecoveredwerechosenbyme.Ihavenottoldthecandidatesoranyoneelsewhattheyare.
Torefreshyourmemoryontherules,Iwillaskaquestion.Thecandidateisallowedtwominutestoawer.Hisoonentthenhasaminuteandahalftoofferarebuttal.
Atmydiscretion,Icanextendthediscuionbyofferingeachcandidateanadditional30seconds.
Agreenlightwillcomeontosignalthecandidatehas30secondsleft.Ayellowlightsignals15secondsleft.Aredlightmeafivesecondsleft.
Thereisalsoabuzzer,ifitisneeded.
Thecandidatesmaynotquestioneachotherdirectly.Therearenoopeningstatements,buttherewillbetwo-minuteclosingstatements.
Thereisanaudienceheretonight,buttheyhaveagreedtoremainsilent,exceptforrightnow,whentheyjoinmeinwelcomingpresidentGeorgeBushandSenatorJohnKerry.
(ALAUSE)
Gentlemen,welcometoyouboth.
Bycointo,thefirstquestiongoestoSenatorKerry.
Senator,IwanttosetthestageforthisdiscuionbyaskingthequestionthatIthinkhangsoverallofourpoliticstodayandisprobablyonthemindsofmanypeoplewatchingthisdebatetonight.
Andthatis,willourchildrenandgrandchildreneverliveinaworldassaf

美国总统候选人布什与克里第三场电视辩论第2页

eandsecureastheworldinwhichwegrewup?
KERRY:Well,firstofall,Bob,thankyouformoderatingtonight.
Thankyou,ArizonaState,forwelcomingus.
AndthankyoutothepresidentialCommiionforundertakingthisenormoustask.We’reproudtobehere.
Mr.president,I’mgladtobeherewithyouagaintosharesimilaritiesanddifferenceswiththeAmericanpeople.
Willweeverbesafeandsecureagain?Yes.Weaolutelymustbe.That’sthegoal.
Now,howdoweachieveitisthemostcriticalcomponentofit.
Ibelievethatthispresident,regrettably,rushedusintoawar,madedecisioaboutforeignpolicy,pushedalliancesaway.And,asaresult,Americaisnowbearingthisextraordinaryburdenwherewearenotassafeasweoughttobe.
Themeasurementisnot:Arewesafer?Themeasurementis:Areweassafeasweoughttobe?Andthereareahostofoptiothatthispresidenthadavailabletohim,likemakingsurethatatallourportsinAmericacontainersareiected.Only95percentofthem--95percentcomeintodayuniected.That’snotgoodenough.
peoplewhoflyonairplanestoday,thecargoholdisnotX-rayed,butthebaggageis.That’snotgoodenough.Firehousesdon’thaveenoughfirefightersinthem.policeofficersarebeingcutfromthestreetsofAmericabecausethepresidentdecidedtocuttheCOprogram.
Sowecandoabetterjobofhomelandsecurity.Icandoabetterjobofwagingasmarter,moreeffectivewaronterrorandguaranteethatwewillgoaftertheterrorists.
Iwillhuntthemdown,andwe’llkillthem,we’llcapturethem.We’lldowhateverisnecearytobesafe.
ButIpledgethistoyou,America:IwilldoitinthewaythatFranklinRooseveltandRonaldReaganandJohnKeedyandothersdid,wherewebuildthestrongestalliances,wheretheworldjoitogether,wherewehavethebestintelligenceandwhereweareable,ultimately,tobemoresafeandsecure.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,youhave90seconds.
BUSH:Thankyouverymuch.
IwanttothankArizonaStateaswell.
Yes,wecanbesafeandsecure,ifwestayontheoffeeagaittheterroristsandifwereadfreedomandlibertyaroundtheworld.
IhavegotacompreheivestrategytonotonlychasedowntheAlQaida,whereveritexists--andwe’remakingprogrethree-quartersofAlQaidaleadershavebeenbroughttojustice--buttomakesurethatcountriesthatharborterroristsareheldtoaccount.
AsaresultofsecuringourselvesandriddingtheTalibanoutofAfghanistan,theAfghanpeoplehadelectiothisweekend.Andthefirstvoterwasa19-year-oldwoman.Thinkaboutthat.Freedomisonthemarch.
WeheldtoaccountaterroristregimeinSaddamHuein.
Inotherwords,inordertomakesurewe’resecure,theremustbeacompreheiveplan.Myoonentjustthisweekendtalkedabouthowterrorismcouldbereducedtoanuisance,comparingittoprostitution,illegalgambling.Ithinkthatattitudeandthatpointofviewisdangerous.Idon’tthinkyoucansecureAmericaforthelongrunifyoudon’thaveacompreheiveviewastohowtodefeatthesepeople.
Athome,we’lldoeverythingwecantoprotectthehomeland.Isignedthehomelandsecuritybilltobetteralignouraetsandresources.Myoonentvotedagaitit.
We’redoingeverythingwecantoprotectourbordersandports.
Butaolutelywecanbesecureinthelongrun.Itjusttakesgood,strongleadership.
SCHIEFFER:Anythingtoadd,SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Yes.WhenthepresidenthadanoortunitytocaptureorkillOsamabinLaden,hetookhisfocusoffofthem,outsourcedthejobtoAfghanwarlords,andOsamabinLadenescaped.
SixmonthsafterhesaidOsamabinLadenmustbecaughtdeadoralive,thispresidentwasasked,"WhereisOsamabinLaden?"Hesaid,"Idon’tknow.Idon’treallythinkabouthimverymuch.I’mnotthatconcerned."
Weneedapresidentwhostaysdeadlyfocusedontherealwaronterror.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Gosh,Ijustdon’tthinkIeversaidI’mnotworriedaboutOsamabinLaden.It’skindofoneofthoseexaggeratio.
Ofcoursewe’reworriedaboutOsamabinLaden.We’reonthehuntafterOsamabinLaden.We’reusingeveryaetatourdiosaltogetOsamabinLaden.
Myoonentsaidthiswarisamatterofintelligenceandlawenforcement.No,thiswarisamatterofusingeveryaetatourdiosaltokeeptheAmericanpeopleprotected.
SCHIEFFER:Newquestion,Mr.president,toyou.
Wearetalkingaboutprotectingourselvesfromtheunexpected,butthefluseasonissuddenlyuponus.Flukillsthousandsofpeopleeveryyear.
Suddenlywefindourselveswithasevereshortageoffluvaccine.Howdidthathaen?
BUSH:Bob,werelieduponacompanyoutofEnglandtoprovideabouthalfofthefluvaccinesfortheUnitedStatescitizen,anditturnedoutthatthevaccinetheywereproducingwascontaminated.Andsowetooktherightactionanddidn’tallowcontaminatedmedicineintoourcountry.We’reworkingwithCanadatohopefully--thatthey’llproducea--helpusrealizethevaccinenecearytomakesureourcitizehavegotfluvaccinatioduringthisupcomingseason.
MycalltoourfellowAmericaisifyou’rehealthy,ifyou’reyounger,don’tgetaflushotthisyear.Helpusprioritizethosewhoneedtogettheflushot,theelderlyandtheyoung.
TheCDC,reoibleforhealthintheUnitedStates,issettingthoseprioritiesandisallocatingthefluvaccineaccordingly.
Ihaven’tgottenaflushot,andIdon’tintendtobecauseIwanttomakesurethosewhoaremostvulnerablegettreated.
WehaveaproblemwithlitigationintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Vaccinemanufacturersareworriedaboutgettingsued,andthereforetheyhavebackedofffromprovidingthiskindofvaccine.
OneofthereasoI’msuchastrongbelieverinlegalreformissothatpeoplearen’tafraidofproducingaproductthatisnecearyforthehealthofourcitizeandthenendupgettingsuedinacourtoflaw.
Butthebestthingwecandonow,Bob,giventhecircumstanceswiththecompanyinEnglandisforthoseofuswhoareyoungerandhealthy,don’tgetaflushot.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:ThisreallyunderscorestheproblemwiththeAmericanhealth-caresystem.It’snotworkingfortheAmericanfamily.Andit’sgottenworseunderpresidentBushoverthecourseofthelastyears.
FivemillionAmericahavelosttheirhealthiuranceinthiscountry.You’vegotaboutamillionrighthereinArizona,justshy,950,000,whohavenohealthiuranceatall.82,000ArizonialosttheirhealthiuranceunderpresidentBush’swatch.223,000kidsinArizonahavenohealthiuranceatall.
Allacroourcountry--gotoOhio,1.4millionOhioahavenohealthiurance,114,000ofthemlostitunderpresidentBush;Wiscoin,82,000WiscoiniteslostitunderpresidentBush.
ThispresidenthasturnedhisbackonthewellneofAmerica.Andthereisnosystem.Infact,it’sstartingtofallapartnotbecauseoflawsuits--thoughtheyareaproblem,andJohnEdwardsandIarecommittedtofixingthem--butbecauseofthelargeriuethatwedon’tcoverAmerica.
Childrenacroourcountrydon’thavehealthcare.We’retherichestcountryonthefaceoftheplanet,theonlyindustrializednationintheworldnottodoit.
IhaveaplantocoverallAmerica.We’regoingtomakeitaffordableandacceible.We’regoingtoleteverybodybuyintothesamehealth-careplansenatorsandcongremengivethemselves.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,wouldyouliketoaddsomething?
BUSH:Iwould.Thankyou.
Iwanttoremindpeoplelisteningtonightthataplanisnotalitanyofcomplaints,andaplanisnottolayoutprogramsthatyoucan’tpayfor.
Hejustsaidhewantseverybodytobeabletobuyintothesameplanthatsenatorsandcongremenget.Thatcoststhegovernment$7,700perfamily.IfeveryfamilyinAmericasignedup,likethesenatorsuggested,ifwouldcostus$5trillionover10years.
It’sanemptypromise.It’scalledbaitandswitch.
SCHIEFFER:Time’sup.
BUSH:Thankyou.
KERRY:Actually,it’snotanemptypromise.
It’sreallyinteresting,becausethepresidentusedthatveryplanasareasonforseniorstoaccepthisprescriptiondrugplan.Hesaid,ifit’sgoodenoughforthecongremenandsenatorstohavechoice,seniorsoughttohavechoice.
Whatwedoiswehavechoice.IchooseBlueCro/BlueShield.Othersenators,othercongremenchooseotherprograms.
Butthefactis,we’regoingtohelpAmericabeabletobuyintoit.Thosethatcanafforditaregoingtobuyinthemselves.We’renotgivingthisawayfornothing.
SCHIEFFER:Allright.
SenatorKerry,anewquestion.Let’stalkabouteconomicsecurity.Youpledgedduringthelastdebatethatyouwouldnotraisetaxesonthosemakinglethan$200,000ayear.Butthepriceofeverythingisgoingup,andweallknowit.Health-carecosts,asyouaretalkingabout,isskyrocketing,thecostofthewar.
Myquestionis,howcanyouoranypresident,whoeveriselectednexttime,keepthatpledgewithoutruingthiscountrydeeperintodebtandpaingonmoreofthebillsthatwe’reruinguptoourchildren?
KERRY:I’lltellyouexactlyhowIcandoit:byreitatingwhatpresidentBushtookaway,whichiscalledpayasyougo.
Duringthe1990s,wehadpay-as-you-gorules.IfyouweregoingtopasomethingintheCongre,youhadtoshowwhereyouaregoingtopayforitandhow.
presidentBushhastaken--he’stheonlypresidentinhistorytodothis.He’salsotheonlypresidentin72yearstolosejo--1.6millionjolost.He’stheonlypresidenttohaveincomesoffamiliesgodownforthelastthreeyeartheonlypresidenttoseeexportsgodowtheonlypresidenttoseethelowestlevelofbusineinvestmentinourcountryasitistoday.
Now,I’mgoingtoreversethat.I’mgoingtochangethat.We’regoingtorestorethefiscaldisciplinewehadinthe1990s.
EveryplanthatIhavelaidout--myhealth-careplan,myplanforeducation,myplanforkidstobeabletogetbettercollegeloa--I’veshownexactlyhowI’mgoingtopayforthose.
Andwestart--wedon’tdoitexclusively--butwestartbyrollingbackGeorgeBush’sunaffordabletaxcutforthewealthiestpeople,peopleearningmorethan$200,000ayear,andwepa,hopefully,theMcCain-KerryCommiionwhichidentifiedsome$60billionthatwecanget.
WeshuttheloopholewhichhasAmericanworkersactuallysuidizingthelooftheirownjob.Theyjustpaedanexpaionofthatloopholeinthelastfewdays:$43billionofgiveaways,includingfavorstotheoilandgasindustryandthepeopleimportingceilingfafromChina.
I’mgoingtostandupandfightfortheAmericanworker.AndIamgoingtodoitinawaythat’sfiscallysound.IshowhowIpayforthehealthcare,howwepayfortheeducation.
Ihaveamanufacturingjocredit.Wepayforitbyshuttingthatloopholeoverseas.Weraisethestudentloa.Ipayforitbychangingtherelatiohipwiththebanks.
Thispresidenthasneveroncevetoedonebill;thefirstpresidentinahundredyearsnottodothat.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Well,hisrhetoricdoe’tmatchhisrecord.
Hebeenasenatorfor20years.Hevotedtoincreasetaxes98times.Whentheytriedtoreducetaxes,hevotedagaitthat127times.Hetalksaboutbeingafiscalcoervative,orfiscallysound,buthevotedover--hevoted277timestowaivethebudgetca,whichwouldhavecostthetaxpayers$4.2trillion.
HetalksaboutpAYGO.I’lltellyouwhatpAYGOmea,whenyou’reasenatorfromMaachusetts,whenyou’reacolleagueofTedKeedy,paygomea:Youpay,andhegoesaheadandends.
He’sproposed$2.2trillionofnewending,andyettheso-calledtaxontherich,whichisalsoataxonmanysmall-busineownersinAmerica,raises$600millionbyouraccount--billion,$800billionbyhisaccount.
Thereisataxgap.Andguewhousuallyendsupfillingthetaxgap?Themiddlecla.
Iproposeadetailedbudget,Bob.IsentupmybudgetmantotheCongre,andhesays,here’showwe’regoingtoreducethedeficitinhalfbyfiveyears.Itrequirespro-growthpoliciesthatgrowoureconomyandfiscalsanityinthehallsofCongre.
SCHIEFFER:Let’sgotoanewquestion,Mr.president.Twominutes.Andlet’scontinueonjo.
Youknow,thereareallkindofstatisticsoutthere,butIwanttobringitdowntoaninpidual.
Mr.president,whatdoyousaytosomeoneinthiscountrywhohaslosthisjobtosomeoneoverseaswho’sbeingpaidafractionofwhatthatjobpaidhereintheUnitedStates?
BUSH:I’dsay,Bob,I’vegotpoliciestocontinuetogrowoureconomyandcreatethejoofthe21stcentury.Andhere’ssomehelpforyoutogogetaneducation.Here’ssomehelpforyoutogotoacommunitycollege.
We’veexpandedtradeadjustmentaistance.Wewanttohelppayforyoutogaintheskillsnecearytofillthejoofthe21stcentury.
Youknow,there’salotoftalkabouthowtokeeptheeconomygrowing.Wetalkaboutfiscalmatters.ButperhathebestwaytokeepjohereinAmericaandtokeepthiseconomygrowingistomakesureoureducationsystemworks.
IwenttoWashingtontosolveproblems.AndIsawaprobleminthepubliceducationsysteminAmerica.Theywerejustshufflingtoomanykidsthroughthesystem,yearafteryear,gradeaftergrade,withoutlearningthebasics.
Andsowesaid:Let’sraisethestandards.We’reendingmoremoney,butlet’sraisethestandardsandmeasureearlyandsolveproblemsnow,beforeit’stoolate.
No,educationishowtohelpthepersonwho’slostajob.Educationishowtomakesurewe’vegotaworkforcethat’sproductiveandcompetitive.
Gotfourmoreyears,I’vegotmoretodotocontinuetoraisestandards,tocontinuetorewardteachersandschooldistrictsthatareworking,toemphasizemathandscienceintheclarooms,tocontinuetoexpandpellGrantstomakesurethatpeoplehaveanoortunitytostarttheircareerwithacollegediploma.
Andsothepersonyoutalkedto,Isay,here’ssomehelp,here’ssometradeadjustmentaistancemoneyforyoutogoacommunitycollegeinyourneighborhood,acommunitycollegewhichisprovidingtheskillsnecearytofillthejoofthe21stcentury.Andthat’swhatIwouldsaytothatperson.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Iwantyoutonoticehowthepresidentswitchedawayfromjoandstartedtalkingabouteducationprincipally.
Letmecomebackinonemomenttothat,butIwanttoeakforasecond,ifIcan,towhatthepresidentsaidaboutfiscalreoibility.
BeinglecturedbythepresidentonfiscalreoibilityisalittlebitlikeTonySopranotalkingtomeaboutlawandorderinthiscountry.
(LAUGHTER)
Thispresidenthastakena$5.6trillionsurplusandturneditintodeficitsasfarastheeyecansee.Health-carecostsfortheaverageAmericanhavegoneup64percent;tuitiohavegoneup35percent;gasolinepricesup30percent;Medicarepremiumswentup17percentafewdaysago;prescriptiondrugsareup12percentayear.
Butguewhat,America?ThewagesofAmericahavegonedown.ThejothatarebeingcreatedinArizonarightnowarepayingabout$13,700lethanthejothatwe’relosing.
Andthepresidentjustwalksonbythisproblem.Thefactisthathe’scutjob-trainingmoney.$1billionwascut.Theyonlyaddedalittlebitbackthisyearbecauseit’sanelectionyear.
They’vecutthepellGrantsandtheperkiloatohelpkidsbeabletogotocollege.
They’vecutthetrainingmoney.They’vewoundupnotevenextendingunemploymentbenefitsandnotevenextendinghealthcaretothosepeoplewhoareunemployed.
I’mgoingtodothosethings,becausethat’swhat’srightinAmerica:Helpworkerstotraitionineveryreect.
SCHIEFFER:Newquestiontoyou,SenatorKerry,twominutes.Andit’sstillonjo.Youknow,manyexpertssaythatapresidentreallydoe’thavemuchcontroloverjo.Forexample,ifsomeoneinventsamachinethatdoestheworkoffivepeople,that’sprogre.That’snotthepresident’sfault.
SoIaskyou,isitfairtoblametheadministrationentirelyforthisloofjo?
KERRY:Idon’tblamethementirelyforit.Iblamethepresidentforthethingsthepresidentcoulddothathasanimpactonit.
Outsourcingisgoingtohaen.I’veacknowledgedthatinunionhallsacrothecountry.I’vehadshopstewardsstandupandsay,"Willyoupromisemeyou’regoingtostopallthisoutsourcing?"AndI’velookedthemintheeyeandI’vesaid,"No,Ican’tdothat."
WhatIcanpromiseyouisthatIwillmaketheplayingfieldasfairaspoible,thatIwill,foritance,makecertainthatwithreecttothetaxsystemthatyouasaworkerinAmericaarenotsuidizingtheloofyourjob.
Today,ifyou’reanAmericanbusine,youactuallygetabenefitforgoingoverseas.Yougettodeferyourtaxes.
Soifyou’relookingatacompetitiveworld,yousaytoyourself,"Hey,IdobetteroverseasthanIdohereinAmerica."
That’snotsmart.Idon’twantAmericanworkerssuidizingthelooftheirownjob.AndwhenI’mpresident,we’regoingtoshutthatloopholeinananosecondandwe’regoingtousethatmoneytolowercorporatetaxratesinAmericaforallcorporatio,5percent.Andwe’regoingtohaveamanufacturingjocreditandajobhiringcreditsoweactuallyhelppeoplebeabletohirehere.
Thesecondthingthatwecandoisprovideafairtradeplayingfield.Thispresidentdidn’tstandupforBoeingwhenAirbuswasviolatinginternationalrulesandsuidies.HediscoveredBoeingduringthecourseofthiscampaignafterI’dbeentalkingaboutitformonths.
ThefactisthatthepresidenthadanoortunitytostandupandtakeonChinaforcurrencymanipulation.Therearecompaniesthatwantedtopetitiontheadministration.Theyweretold:Don’tevenbother;we’renotgoingtolistentoit.
Thefactisthattherehavebeenmarketsshuttousthatwehaven’tstoodupandfoughtfor.I’mgoingtofightforafairtradeplayingfieldfortheAmericanworker.AndIwillfightfortheAmericanworkerjustashardasIfightformyownjob.That’swhattheAmericanworkerwants.Andifwedothat,wecanhaveanimpact.
plus,weneedfiscaldiscipline.Restorefiscaldiscipline,we’lldoalotbetter.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Whew!
LetmestartwiththepellGrants.Inhislastlitanyofmitatements.HesaidwecutpellGrants.We’veincreasedpellGrantsbyamillionstudents.That’safact.
Youknow,hetalkstotheworkers.Letmetalktotheworkers.
You’vegotmoremoneyinyourpocketasaresultofthetaxreliefwepaedandheoosed.
Ifyouhaveachild,yougota$1,000childcredit.That’smoneyinyourpocket.
Ifyou’remarried,wereducedthemarriagepenalty.Thecodeoughttoencouragemarriage,notdiscouragemarriage.
Wecreateda10percentbrackettohelplower-incomeAmerica.Afamilyoffourmaking$40,000receivedabout$1,700intaxrelief.
It’syourmoney.Thewaymyoonenttalks,hesaid,"We’regoingtoendthegovernment’smoney."No,we’reendingyourmoney.Andwhenyouhavemoremoneyinyourpocket,you’reabletobetteraffordthingsyouwant.
Ibelievetheroleofgovernmentistostandsidebysidewithourcitizetohelpthemrealizetheirdreams,nottellcitizehowtolivetheirlives.
Myoonenttalksaboutfiscalsanity.HisrecordintheUnitedStatesSenatedoesnotmatchhisrhetoric.
Hevotedtoincreasetaxes98timesandtobustthebudget277times.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Bob,anybodycanplaywiththesevotes.Everybodyknowsthat.
Ihavesuortedorvotedfortaxcutsover600times.Ibrokewithmypartyinordertobalancethebudget,andRonaldReagansignedintolawthetaxcutthatwevotedfor.IvotedforIRAtaxcuts.Ivotedforsmall-businetaxcuts.
ButyouknowwhythepellGrantshavegoneupintheirnumbers?Becausemorepeoplequalifyforthembecausetheydon’thavemoney.
Butthey’renotgettingthe$5,100thepresidentpromisedthem.They’regettinglemoney.
Wehavemorepeoplewhoqualify.That’snotwhatwewant.
BUSH:Senator,noone’splayingwithyourvotes.Youvotedtoincreasetaxes98times.Whentheyvoted--whentheyproposedreducingtaxes,youvotedagaitit126times.
Hevotedtoviolatethebudgetcap277times.Youknow,there’samainstreaminAmericanpoliticsandyousitrightonthefarleftbank.Asamatteroffact,yourrecordissuchthatTedKeedy,yourcolleague,isthecoervativesenatorfromMaachusetts.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,let’sgetbacktoeconomiciues.Butlet’sshifttosomeotherquestiohere.
Bothofyouareoosedtogaymarriage.Buttounderstandhowyouhavecometothatconclusion,Iwanttoaskyouamorebasicquestion.Doyoubelievehomosexualityisachoice?
BUSH:Youknow,Bob,Idon’tknow.Ijustdon’tknow.IdoknowthatwehaveachoicetomakeinAmericaandthatistotreatpeoplewithtoleranceandreectanddignity.It’simportantthatwedothat.
AndIalsoknowinafreesocietypeople,coentingadultscanlivethewaytheywanttolive.
Andthat’stobehonored.
Butaswereectsomeone’srights,andasweprofetolerance,weshouldn’tchange--orhavetochange--ourbasicviewsonthesanctityofmarriage.Ibelieveinthesanctityofmarriage.Ithinkit’sveryimportantthatweprotectmarriageasanititution,betweenamanandawoman.
Iproposedacotitutionalamendment.ThereasonIdidsowasbecauseIwasworriedthatactivistjudgesareactuallydefiningthedefinitionofmarriage,andthesurestwaytoprotectmarriagebetweenamanandwomanistoamendtheCotitution.
Ithasalsothebenefitofallowingcitizetoparticipateintheproce.Afterall,whenyouamendtheCotitution,statelegislaturesmustparticipateintheratificationoftheCotitution.
I’mdeeplyconcernedthatjudgesaremakingthosedecisioandnotthecitizenryoftheUnitedStates.Youknow,CongrepaedalawcalledDOMA,theDefeeofMarriageAct.
Myoonentwasagaitit.Itbasicallyprotectedstatesfromtheactionofonestatetoanother.Italsodefinedmarriageasbetweenamanandwoman.
ButI’mconcernedthatthatwillgetoverturned.Andifitgetsoverturned,thenwe’llendupwithmarriagebeingdefinedbycourts,andIdon’tthinkthat’sinournation’sinterests.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:We’reallGod’schildren,Bob.AndIthinkifyouweretotalktoDickCheney’sdaughter,whoisaleian,shewouldtellyouthatshe’sbeingwhoshewas,she’sbeingwhoshewasbornas.
Ithinkifyoutalktoanybody,it’snotchoice.I’vemetpeoplewhostruggledwiththisforyears,peoplewhowereinamarriagebecausetheywerelivingasortofconvention,andtheystruggledwithit.
AndI’vemetwiveswhoaresuortiveoftheirhuandsorviceversawhentheyfinallysortofbrokeoutandallowedthemselvestolivewhotheywere,whotheyfeltGodhadmadethem.
Ithinkwehavetoreectthat.
ThepresidentandIsharethebeliefthatmarriageisbetweenamanandawoman.Ibelievethat.Ibelievemarriageisbetweenamanandawoman.
ButIalsobelievethatbecausewearetheUnitedStatesofAmerica,we’reacountrywithagreat,uelievableCotitution,withrightsthatweaffordpeople,thatyoucan’tdiscriminateintheworkplace.Youcan’tdiscriminateintherightsthatyouaffordpeople.
Youcan’tdisallowsomeonetherighttovisittheirpartnerinahoital.Youhavetoallowpeopletotraferproperty,whichiswhyI’mforpartnershiprightsandsoforth.
Now,withreecttoDOMAandthemarriagelaws,thestateshavealwaysbeenabletomanagethoselaws.Andthey’reprovingtoday,everystate,thattheycanmanagethemadequately.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry,anewquestionforyou.
TheNewYorkTimesreportsthatsomeCatholicarchbishoaretellingtheirchurchmembersthatitwouldbeasintovoteforacandidatelikeyoubecauseyousuortawoman’srighttochooseanabortionandunlimitedstem-cellresearch.
Whatisyourreactiontothat?
KERRY:Ireecttheirviews.Icompletelyreecttheirviews.IamaCatholic.AndIgrewuplearninghowtoreectthoseviews.ButIdisagreewiththem,asdomany.
IbelievethatIcan’tlegislateortrafertoanotherAmericancitizenmyarticleoffaith.WhatisanarticleoffaithformeisnotsomethingthatIcanlegislateonsomebodywhodoe’tsharethatarticleoffaith.
Ibelievethatchoiceisawoman’schoice.It’sbetweenawoman,Godandherdoctor.Andthat’swhyIsuortthat.
Now,IwillnotallowsomebodytocomeinandchangeRoev.Wade.
Thepresidenthasneversaidwhetherornothewoulddothat.Butweknowfromthepeoplehe’striedtoaointtothecourthewantsto.
Iwillnot.IwilldefendtherightofRoev.Wade.
Now,withreecttoreligion,youknow,asIsaid,IgrewupaCatholic.Iwasanaltarboy.Iknowthatthroughoutmylifethishasmadeadifferencetome.
AndaspresidentKeedysaidwhenheranforpresident,hesaid,"I’mnotruingtobeaCatholicpresident.I’mruingtobeapresidentwhohaetobeCatholic."
MyfaithaffectseverythingthatIdo,intruth.There’sagreatpaageoftheBiblethatsays,"Whatdoesitmean,mybrother,tosayyouhavefaithiftherearenodeeds?Faithwithoutworksisdead."
AndIthinkthateverythingyoudoinpubliclifehastobeguidedbyyourfaith,affectedbyyourfaith,butwithouttraferringitinanyofficialwaytootherpeople.
That’swhyIfightagaitpoverty.That’swhyIfighttocleanuptheenvironmentandprotectthisearth.
That’swhyIfightforequalityandjustice.Allofthosethingscomeoutofthatfundamentalteachingandbeliefoffaith.
ButIknowthis,thatpresidentKeedyinhisinauguraladdretoldallofusthathereonEarth,God’sworkmusttrulybeourown.Andthat’swhatwehaveto--Ithinkthat’sthetestofpublicservice.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Ithinkit’simportanttopromoteacultureoflife.Ithinkahoitablesocietyisasocietywhereeverybeingcountsandeverypersonmatters.Ibelievetheidealworldisoneinwhicheverychildisprotectedinlawandwelcomedtolife.Iunderstandthere’sgreatdifferencesonthisiueofabortion,butIbelievereasonablepeoplecancometogetherandputgoodlawinplacethatwillhelpreducethenumberofabortio.
Take,forexample,thebanonpartialbirthabortion.It’sabrutalpractice.peoplefrombothpoliticalpartiescametogetherinthehallsofCongreandvotedoverwhelminglytobanthatpractice.Itmadealotofsee.Myoonent,inthathe’soutofthemaitream,votedagaitthatlaw.
WhatI’msayingis,isthataswepromotelifeandpromoteacultureoflife,surelytherearewayswecanworktogethertoreducethenumberofabortio:continuetopromoteadoptionlaws--it’sagreatalternativetoabortion--continuetofundandpromotematernitygrouphomeIwillcontinuetopromoteatinenceprograms.
Thelastdebate,myoonentsaidhiswifewasinvolvedwiththoseprograms.That’sgreat.Iareciatethatverymuch.Allofusoughttobeinvolvedwithprogramsthatprovideaviablealternativetoabortion.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,let’shaveanewquestion.Itgoestoyou.Andlet’sgetbacktoeconomiciues.
Healthiurancecostshaverisenover36percentoverthelastfouryearsaccordingtoTheWashingtonpost.We’repayingmore.We’regettingle.
Iwouldliketoaskyou:Whobearsreoibilityforthis?Isitthegovernment?Isittheiurancecompanies?Isitthelawyers?Isitthedoctors?Isittheadministration?
BUSH:Gosh,Isurehopeit’snottheadministration.
There’sa--no,look,there’sasystemicproblem.Health-carecostsareontherisebecausethecoumersarenotinvolvedinthedecision-makingproce.Mosthealth-carecostsarecoveredbythirdparties.Andtherefore,theactualuserofhealthcareisnotthepurchaserofhealthcare.Andthere’snomarketforcesinvolvedwithhealthcare.
It’soneofthereasoI’mastrongbelieverinwhattheycallhealthsavingsaccounts.Theseareaccountsthatallowsomebodytobuyalow-premium,high-deductiblecatastrophicplanandcoupleitwithtax-freesavings.Busineescancontribute,employeescancontributeonacontractualbasis.Butthisisawaytomakesurepeopleareactuallyinvolvedwiththedecision-makingproceonhealthcare.
Secondly,Idobelievethelawsuits--Idon’tbelieve,Iknow--thatthelawsuitsarecausinghealth-carecoststoriseinAmerica.That’swhyI’msuchastrongbelieverinmedicalliabilityreform.
Inthelastdebate,myoonentsaidthoselawsuitsonlycausedthecosttogoupby1percent.Well,hedidn’tincludethedefeivepracticeofmedicinethatcoststhefederalgovernmentsome$28billionayearandcostsoursocietybetween$60billionand$100billionayear.
Thirdly,oneofthereasowhythere’sstillhighcostinmedicineisbecausethisis--theydon’tuseanyinformationtechnology.It’slikeifyoulookedatthe--it’stheequivalentofthebuggyandhorsedays,comparedtootherindustrieshereinAmerica.
Andso,we’vegottointroducehightechnologyintohealthcare.We’rebegiingtodoit.We’rechangingthelanguage.Wewanttheretobeelectronicmedicalrecordstocutdownonerror,aswellasreducecost.
peopletellmethatwhenthehealth-carefieldisfullyintegratedwithinformationtechnology,it’llwringsome20percentofthecostoutofthesystem.
Andfinally,movinggenericdrugstothemarketquicker.
Andso,thosearefourwaystohelpcontrolthecostsinhealthcare.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Thereasonhealth-carecostsaregettinghigher,oneoftheprincipalreasoisthatthisadministrationhasstoodinthewayofcommon-seeeffortsthatwouldhavereducedthecosts.Letmegiveyouaprimeexample.
IntheSenatewepaedtherightofAmericatoimportdrugsfromCanada.ButthepresidentandhisfriendstookitoutintheHouse,andnowyoudon’thavethatright.ThepresidentblockedyoufromtherighttohaveleexpeivedrugsfromCanada.
WealsowantedMedicaretobeabletonegotiatebulkpurchasing.TheVAdoesthat.TheVAprovideslower-costdrugstoourvetera.WecouldhavedonethatinMedicare.
MedicareispaidforbytheAmericantaxpayer.Medicarebelongstoyou.Medicareisforseniors,whomanyofthemareonfixedincome,toliftthemoutofpoverty.
Butratherthanhelpyou,thetaxpayer,havelowercost,ratherthanhelpseniorshaveleexpeivedrugs,thepresidentmadeitillegal--illegal--forMedicaretoactuallygooutandbargainforlowerprices.
Result:$139billionwindfallprofittothedrugcompaniescomingoutofyourpockets.That’salargepartofyour17percentincreaseinMedicarepremiums.
WhenI’mpresident,I’msendingthatbacktoCongreandwe’regoingtogetarealprescriptiondrugbenefit.
Now,wealsohavepeoplesickerbecausetheydon’thavehealthiurance.Sowhetherit’sdiabetesorcancer,theycometohoitalslateranditcostsAmericamore.
WegottohavehealthcareforallAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:Goahead,Mr.president.
BUSH:Ithinkit’simportant,sincehetalkedabouttheMedicareplan,hashebeenintheUnitedStatesSenatefor20years?Hehasnorecordonreformingofhealthcare.Norecordatall.
Heintroducedsome300billsandhe’spaedfive.
Norecordofleadership.
IcametoWashingtontosolveproblems.Iwasdeeplyconcernedaboutseniorshavingtochoosebetweenprescriptiondrugsandfood.AndsoIled.Andin20xx,ourseniorswillgetaprescriptiondrugcoverageinMedicare.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?Thirtyseconds.
KERRY:Onceagain,thepresidentismisleadingAmerica.I’veactuallypaed56inpidualbillsthatI’vepersonallywrittenand,inadditiontothat,andnotalwaysundermyname,thereisamendmentsoncertainbills.
Butmoreimportantly,withreecttothequestionofnorecord,Ihelpedwrite--Ididwrite,Iwasoneoftheoriginalauthorsoftheearlychildhoodhealthcareandtheexpaionofhealthcarethatwedidinthemiddleofthe1990s.AndI’mveryproudofthat.
Sothepresident’swrong.
SCHIEFFER:Letmedirectthenextquestiontoyou,SenatorKerry,andagain,let’sstayonhealthcare.
Youhave,asyouhaveproposedandasthepresidenthascommentedontonight,proposedamaiveplantoextendhealth-carecoveragetochildren.You’realsotalkingaboutthegovernmentpickingupabigpartofthecatastrophicbillsthatpeoplegetatthehoital.
Andyouhavesaidthatyoucanpayforthisbyrollingbackthepresident’staxcutontheuer2percent.
Youheardthepresidentsayearliertonightthatit’sgoingtocostawholelotmoremoneythanthat.
I’djustaskyou,whereareyougoingtogetthemoney?
KERRY:Well,twoleadingnationalnewsnetworkshavebothsaidthepresident’scharacterizationofmyhealth-careplanisincorrect.Onecalleditfiction.Theothercalledituntrue.
Thefactisthatmyhealth-careplan,America,isverysimple.Itgivesyouthechoice.Idon’tforceyoutodoanything.It’snotagovernmentplan.Thegovernmentdoe’trequireyoutodoanything.Youchooseyourdoctor.Youchooseyourplan.
Ifyoudon’twanttotaketheofferoftheplanthatIwanttoputforward,youdon’thavedo.Youcankeepwhatyouhavetoday,keepahighdeductible,keephighpremiums,keepahighco-pay,keeplowbenefits.
ButIgotabetterplan.AndIdon’tthinkalotofpeoplearegoingtowanttokeepwhattheyhavetoday.
Here’swhatIdo:WetakeoverMedicaidchildrenfromthestatessothateverychildinAmericaiscovered.Andinexchange,ifthestateswantto--they’renotforcedto,theycanchooseto--theycoverinpidualsupto300percentofpoverty.It’stheirchoice.
Ithinkthey’llchooseit,becauseit’sanetplusof$5billiontothem.
Weallowyou--ifyouchooseto,youdon’thaveto--butwegiveyoubroadercompetitiontoallowyoutobuyintothesamehealthcareplanthatsenatorsandcongremengivethemselves.Ifit’sgoodenoughforus,it’sgoodenoughforeveryAmerican.IbelievethatyourhealthcareisjustasimportantasanypoliticianinWashington,D.C.
Youwanttobuyintoit,youcan.Wegiveyoubroadercompetition.Thathellowerprices.
Inadditiontothat,we’regoingtoallowpeople55to64tobuyintoMedicareearly.Andmostimportantly,wegivesmallbusinea50percenttaxcreditsothatafterwelowerthecostsofhealthcare,theyalsoget,whetherthey’reself-employedorasmallbusine,alowercosttobeabletocovertheiremployees.
Now,whathaeiswhenyoubegintogetpeoplecoveredlikethat--foritanceindiabetes,ifyoudiagnosediabetesearly,youcouldsave$50billioninthehealthcaresystemofAmericabyavoidingsurgeryanddialysis.Itworks.AndI’mgoingtoofferittoAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Inallduereect,I’mnotsosureit’scredibletoquoteleadingnewsorganizatioabout--oh,nevermind.Anyway,letmequotetheLewinreport.TheLewinreportisagroupoffolkswhoarenotpoliticallyaffiliated.Theyanalyzedthesenator’splan.Itcost$1.2trillion.
TheLewinreportaccuratelynotedthattherearegoingtobe20millionpeople,over20millionpeopleaddedtogovernment-controlledhealthcare.Itwouldbethelargestincreaseingovernmenthealthcareever.
IfyouraisetheMedicaidto300percent,itprovidesanincentiveforsmallbusineesnottoprovideprivateiurancetotheiremployees.Whyshouldtheyiuresomebodywhenthegovernment’sgoingtoiureitforthem?
It’sestimatedthat8millionpeoplewillgofromprivateiurancetogovernmentiurance.
Wehaveafundamentaldifferenceofopinion.Ithinkgovernment-runhealthwillleadtopoor-qualityhealth,willleadtorationing,willleadtolechoice.
Onceahealth-careprogramendsupinalineiteminthefederalgovernmentbudget,itleadstomorecontrols.
Andjustlookatothercountriesthathavetriedtohavefederallycontrolledhealthcare.Theyhavepoor-qualityhealthcare.
Ourhealth-caresystemistheenvyoftheworldbecausewebelieveinmakingsurethatthedecisioaremadebydoctorsandpatients,notbyofficialsinthenation’scapital.
SCHIEFFER:Senator?
KERRY:Thepresidentjustsaidthatgovernment-runhealthcareresultsinpoorquality.
Now,maybethatexplaiwhyheha’tfullyfundedtheVAandtheVAhoitalishavingtroubleandveteraarecomplaining.MaybethatexplaiwhyMedicarepatientsarecomplainingaboutbeingpushedoffofMedicare.Hedoe’tadequatelyfundit.
ButletmejustsaytoAmerica:Iamnotproposingagovernment-runprogram.That’snotwhatIhave.IhaveBlueCro/BlueShield.Senatorsandcongremenhaveawidechoice.Americaoughttohaveittoo.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:TalkabouttheVA:We’veincreasedVAfundingby$22billioninthefouryearssinceI’vebeenpresident.That’stwicetheamountthatmypredeceorincreasedVAfunding.
Ofcoursewe’remeetingourobligationtoourvetera,andtheveteraknowthat.
We’reexpandingvetera’healthcarethroughoutthecountry.We’realigningfacilitieswheretheveteralivenow.Veteraaregettingverygoodhealthcareundermyadministration,andtheywillcontinuetodosoduringthenextfouryears.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,thenextquestionistoyou.WeallknowthatSocialSecurityisruingoutofmoney,andithastobefixed.Youhaveproposedtofixitbylettingpeopleputsomeofthemoneycollectedtopaybenefitsintoprivatesavingsaccounts.Butthecriticsaresayingthat’sgoingtomeanfinding$1trillionoverthenext10yearstocontinuepayingbenefitsasthoseaccountsarebeingsetup.
Sowheredoyougetthemoney?Areyougoingtohavetoincreasethedeficitbythatmuchover10years?
BUSH:First,letmemakesurethateveryseniorlisteningtodayunderstandsthatwhenwe’retalkingaboutreformingSocialSecurity,thatthey’llstillgettheirchecks.
Irememberthe20xxcampaign,peoplesaidifGeorgeW.getselected,yourcheckwillbetakenaway.Well,peoplegottheirchecks,andthey’llcontinuetogettheirchecks.
Thereisaproblemforouryoungsters,arealproblem.Andifwedon’tacttoday,theproblemwillbevaluedinthetrillio.AndsoIthinkweneedtothinkdifferently.We’llhonorourcommitmenttoourseniors.Butforourchildrenandourgrandchildren,weneedtohaveadifferentstrategy.
Andrecognizingthat,Icalledtogetheragroupofourfellowcitizetostudytheiue.ItwasacommitteechairedbythelateSenatorDanielpatrickMoynihanofNewYork,aDemocrat.Andtheycameupwithavarietyofideasforpeopletolookat.
Ibelievethatyoungerworkersoughttobeallowedtotakesomeoftheirownmoneyandputitinapersonalsavingsaccount,becauseIunderstandthattheyneedtogetbetterratesofreturnthantheratesofreturnbeinggiveninthecurrentSocialSecuritytrust.
AndthecompoundingrateofinteresteffectwillmakeitmorelikelythattheSocialSecuritysystemissolventforourchildrenandourgrandchildren.IwillworkwithRepublicaandDemocrats.It’llbeavitaliueinmysecondterm.ItisaniuethatIamwillingtotakeon,andsoI’llbringRepublicaandDemocratstogether.
Andwe’reofcoursegoingtohavetocoiderthecosts.ButIwanttowarnmyfellowcitize:Thecostofdoingnothing,thecostofsayingthecurrentsystemisOK,farexceedsthecostsoftryingtomakesurewesavethesystemforourchildren.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:YoujustheardthepresidentsaythatyoungpeopleoughttobeabletotakemoneyoutofSocialSecurityandputitintheirownaccounts.
Now,myfellowAmerica,that’saninvitationtodisaster.
TheCBOsaidveryclearlythatifyouweretoadoptthepresident’splan,therewouldbea$2trillionholeinSocialSecurity,becausetoday’sworkerspayintothesystemfortoday’sretirees.AndtheCBOsaid--that’stheCongreionalBudgetOffice;it’sbipartisan--theysaidthattherewouldhavetobeacutinbenefitsof25percentto40percent.
Now,thepresidenthasneverexplainedtoAmerica,ever,ha’tdoneittonight,wheredoesthetraitionalmoney,that$2trillion,comefrom?
He’salreadygot$3trillion,accordingtoTheWashingtonpost,ofexpeesthathe’sputonthelinefromhisconventionandthepromisesofthiscampaign,noneofwhicharepaidfor.Notoneofthemarepaidfor.
ThefactisthatthepresidentisdrivingthelargestdeficitsinAmericanhistory.He’sbrokenthepay-as-you-gorules.
Ihavearecordoffightingforfiscalreoibility.In1985,IwasoneofthefirstDemocrats--brokewithmyparty.Webalancedthebudgetinthe’90s.Wepaiddownthedebtfortwoyears.
Andthat’swhatwe’regoingtodo.We’regoingtoprotectSocialSecurity.Iwillnotprivatizeit.Iwillnotcutthebenefits.Andwe’regoingtobefiscallyreoible.AndwewilltakecareofSocialSecurity.
SCHIEFFER:LetmejuststayonSocialSecuritywithanewquestionforSenatorKerry,because,SenatorKerry,youhavejustsaidyouwillnotcutbenefits.
AlanGreean,thechairmanoftheFederalReserve,saysthere’snowaythatSocialSecuritycanpayretireeswhatwehavepromisedthemunlewerecalibrate.
Whathe’ssuggesting,we’regoingtocutbenefitsorwe’regoingtohavetoraisetheretirementage.Wemayhavetotakesomeotherreform.Butifyou’vejustsaid,you’vepromisednochanges,doesthatmeanyou’rejustgoingtoleavethisasaproblem,anotherproblemforourchildrentosolve?
KERRY:Notatall.Aolutelynot,Bob.Thisisthesamethingweheard--remember,Iaearedon"Meetthepre"withTimRuertin1990-something.Weheardthesamething.Wefixedit.
Infact,weputtogethera$5.6trillionsurplusinthe’90sthatwasforthepurposeofsavingSocialSecurity.IfyoutakethetaxcutthatthepresidentoftheUnitedStateshasgiven--presidentBushgavetoAmericainthetop1percentofAmerica--justthattaxcutthatwenttothetop1percentofAmericawouldhavesavedSocialSecurityuntiltheyear2075.
ThepresidentdecidedtogiveittothewealthiestAmericainataxcut.Now,AlanGreean,whoIthinkhasdoneaterrificjobinmonetarypolicy,suortsthepresident’staxcut.Idon’t.Isuortitforthemiddlecla,notthatpartofitthatgoestopeopleearningmorethan$200,000ayear.
AndwhenIrollitbackandweinvestinthethingsthatIhavetalkedabouttomoveoureconomy,we’regoingtogrowsufficiently,itwouldbegintocutthedeficitinhalf,andwegetbacktowherewewereattheendofthe1990swhenwebalancedthebudgetandpaiddownthedebtofthiscountry.
Now,wecandothat.
Now,iflateronafteraperiodoftimewefindthatSocialSecurityisintrouble,we’llpulltogetherthetopexpertsofthecountry.We’lldoexactlywhatwedidinthe1990s.Andwe’llmakewhateveradjustmentisneceary.
ButthefirstandmostimportantthingistostartcreatingjoinAmerica.Thejothepresidentiscreatingpay$9,000lethanthejothatwe’relosing.Andthisisthefirstpresidentin72yearstopresideoveraneconomyinAmericathathaslostjo,1.6millionjo.
Elevenotherpresidents--sixDemocratsandfiveRepublica--hadwars,hadreceio,hadgreatdifficultienoneofthemlostjothewaythispresidenthas.
IhaveaplantoputAmericabacktowork.Andifwe’refiscallyreoibleandputAmericabacktowork,we’regoingtofixSocialSecurity.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:HeforgottotellyouhevotedtotaxSocialSecuritybenefitsmorethanonetime.Ididn’thearanyplantofixSocialSecurity.Iheardmoreofthesame.
Hetalksaboutmiddle-clataxcuts.That’sexactlywherethetaxcutswent.Mostofthetaxcutswenttolow-andmiddle-incomeAmerica.Andnowthetaxcodeismorefair.Twentypercentoftheuer-incomepeoplepayabout80percentofthetaxesinAmericatodaybecauseofhowwestructuredthetaxcuts.peoplelisteningoutthereknowthebenefitsofthetaxcutswepaed.Ifyouhaveachild,yougottaxrelief.Ifyou’remarried,yougottaxrelief.Ifyoupayanytaxatall,yougottaxrelief.Allofwhichwasoosedbymyoonent.
Andthetaxreliefwasimportanttourcoumptionandinvestmenttogetusoutofthisreceion.
peopleneedtoremember:Sixmonthspriortomyarrival,thestockmarketstartedtogodown.Anditwasoneofthelargestdeclinesinourhistory.Andthenwehadareceionandwegotattacked,whichcostus1millionjo.
Butweacted.IledtheCongre.Wepaedtaxrelief.Andnowthiseconomyisgrowing.Weadded1.9millionnewjooverthelast13months.
Sure,there’smoreworktodo.Butthewaytomakesureoureconomygrowsisnottoraisetaxesonsmall-busineowners.It’snottoincreasethescopeofthefederalgovernment.It’stomakesurewehavefiscalsanityandkeeptaxeslow.
SCHIEFFER:Let’sgotoanewquestion,Mr.president.
Igotmoree-mailthisweekonthisquestionthananyotherquestion.Anditisaboutimmigration.
I’mtoldthatatleast8,000peoplecroourbordersillegallyeveryday.Somepeoplebelievethisisasecurityiue,asyouknow.Somebelieveit’saneconomiciue.Someseeitasahuman-rightsiue.
Howdoyouseeit?Andwhatdoweneedtodoaboutit?
BUSH:Iseeitasaseriousproblem.Iseeitasasecurityiue,Iseeitasaneconomiciue,andIseeitasahuman-rightsiue.
We’reincreasingthebordersecurityoftheUnitedStates.We’vegot1,000moreBorderpatrolagentsonthesouthernborder.
We’reusingnewequipment.We’reusingunmaedvehiclestootpeoplecomingacro.
Andwe’llcontinuetodosooverthenextfouryears.It’sasubjectI’mveryfamiliarwith.Afterall,Iwasabordergovernorforawhile.
Manypeoplearecomingtothiscountryforeconomicreaso.They’recomingheretowork.Ifyoucanmake50centsintheheartofMexico,forexample,ormake$5hereinAmerica,$5.15,you’regoingtocomehereifyou’reworthyoursalt,ifyouwanttoputfoodonthetableforyourfamilies.Andthat’swhat’shaening.
Andsoinordertotakepreureofftheborders,inordertomakethebordersmoresecure,Ibelievethereoughttobeatemporaryworkercardthatallowsawillingworkerandawillingemployertomateup,solongasthere’snotanAmericanwillingtodothatjob,tojoinupinordertobeabletofulfilltheemployers’needs.
Thathasthebenefitofmakingsureouremployersaren’tbreakingthelawastheytrytofilltheirworkforceneeds.Itmakessurethatthepeoplecomingacrotheborderarehumanelytreated,thatthey’renotkeptintheshadowsofoursociety,thatthey’reabletogobackandforthtoseetheirfamilies.See,thecard,it’llhaveaperiodoftimeattachedtoit.
Italsomeaittakespreureofftheborder.Ifsomebodyiscomingheretoworkwithacard,itmeathey’renotgoingtohavetoeakacrotheborder.Itmeaourborderpatrolwillbemorelikelytobeabletofocusondoingtheirjob.
Now,it’sveryimportantforourcitizetoalsoknowthatIdon’tbelieveweoughttohaveamnesty.Idon’tthinkweoughttorewardillegalbehavior.Thereareplentyofpeoplestandinginlinetobecomeacitizen.Andweoughtnottocrowdthesepeopleaheadoftheminline.
Iftheywanttobecomeacitizen,theycanstandinline,too.
AndhereiswheremyoonentandIdiffer.InSeptember20xx,hesuortedamnestyforillegalalie.
SCHIEFFER:Time’sup.
Senator?
KERRY:Letmejustaweronepartofthelastquestionquickly,andthenI’llcometoimmigration.
TheAmericanmiddle-clafamilyi’tmakingitrightnow,Bob.Andwhatthepresidentsaidaboutthetaxcutshasbeenwipedoutbytheincreaseinhealthcare,theincreaseingasoline,theincreaseintuitio,theincreaseinprescriptiondrugs.
Thefactis,thetake-homepayofatypicalAmericanfamilyasashareofnationalincomeislowerthanit’sbeensince1929.Andthetake-homepayoftherichest.1percentofAmericaisthehighestit’sbeensince1928.
UnderpresidentBush,themiddleclahasseentheirtaxburdengoupandthewealthiest’staxburdenhasgonedown.Nowthat’swrong.
Now,withreecttoimmigrationreform,thepresidentbrokehispromiseonimmigrationreform.Hesaidhewouldreformit.Fouryearslaterheisnowpromisinganotherplan.
Here’swhatI’lldo:Numberone,thebordersaremoreleakingtodaythantheywerebefore9/11.Thefactis,wehaven’tdonewhatweneedtodototoughenupourborders,andIwill.
Secondly,weneedaguest-workerprogram,butifit’sallwehave,it’snotgoingtosolvetheproblem.
Thesecondthingweneedistocrackdownonillegalhiring.It’sagaitthelawintheUnitedStatestohirepeopleillegally,andweoughttobeenforcingthatlawproperly.
Andthirdly,weneedanearned-legalizationprogramforpeoplewhohavebeenhereforalongtime,stayedoutoftrouble,gotajob,paidtheirtaxes,andtheirkidsareAmerican.Wegottostartmovingthemtowardfullcitizehip,outoftheshadows.SCHIEFFER:Doyouwanttoreond,Mr.president?
BUSH:Well,tosaythatthebordersarenotasprotectedastheywerepriortoSeptemberthe11thshowshedoe’tknowtheborders.They’remuchbetterprotectedtodaythantheywerewhenIwasthegovernorofTexas.
Wehavemuchmoremaowerandmuchmoreequipmentthere.
Hejustdoe’tunderstandhowtheborderswork,evidently,tosaythat.Thatisanoutrageousclaim.
Andwe’llcontinuetoprotectourborders.We’recontinuingtoincreasemaowerandequipment.
SCHIEFFER:Senator?
KERRY:Fourthousandpeopleadayarecomingacrotheborder.
ThefactisthatwenowhavepeoplefromtheMiddleEast,allegedly,comingacrotheborder.
Andwe’renotdoingwhatweoughttodointermsofthetechnology.Wehaveiris-identificationtechnology.Wehavethumrint,fingerprinttechnologytoday.Wecanknowwhothepeopleare,thatthey’rereallythepeopletheysaytheyarewhentheycrotheborder.
Wecouldeeditup.Therearehugedelays.
Thefactisourbordersarenotassecureastheyoughttobe,andI’llmakethemsecure.
SCHIEFFER:Nextquestiontoyou,SenatorKerry.
Thegapbetweenrichandpoorisgrowingwider.Morepeoplearedroingintopoverty.Yettheminimumwagehasbeenstuckat,what,$5.15anhournowforaboutsevenyears.Isittimetoraiseit?
KERRY:Well,I’mgladyouraisedthatquestion.
It’slongoverduetimetoraisetheminimumwage.
And,America,thisisoneofthoseiuesthatseparatesthepresidentandmyself.
Wehavefoughttotrytoraisetheminimumwageinthelastyears.ButtheRepublicanleadershipoftheHouseandSenatewon’tevenletushaveavoteonit.We’renotallowedtovoteonit.Theydon’twanttoraisetheminimumwage.Theminimumwageisthelowestminimumwagevalueithasbeeninournationin50years.
Ifweraisetheminimumwage,whichIwilldooverseveralyearsto$7anhour,9.2millionwomenwhoaretryingtoraisetheirfamilieswouldearnanother$3,800ayear.
Thepresidenthasdenied9.2millionwomen$3,800ayear,buthedoe’thesitatetofightfor$136,000toamillionaire.
OnepercentofAmericagot$89billionlastyearinataxcut,butpeopleworkinghard,playingbytherules,tryingtotakecareoftheirkids,familyvalues,thatwe’resuosedtovaluesomuchinAmerica--I’mtiredofpoliticiawhotalkaboutfamilyvaluesanddon’tvaluefamilies.
Whatweneedtodoisraisetheminimumwage.Wealsoneedtoholdontoequalpay.Womenworkfor76centsonthedollarforthesameworkthatmendo.That’snotrightinAmerica.
Andwehadaninitiativethatwewereworkingontoraisewomen’spay.They’vecutitoff.They’vestoedit.Theydon’tenforcethesekindsofthings.
Now,Ithinkthatit’samatteroffundamentalrightthatifweraisetheminimumwage,15millionAmericawouldbepositivelyaffected.We’dputmoneyintothehandsofpeoplewhoworkhard,whoobeytherules,whoplayfortheAmericandream.
Andifwedidthat,we’dhavemorecoumptionabilityinAmerica,whichiswhatweneedrightnowinordertokickoureconomyintogear.Iwillfighttoothandnailtopatheminimumwage.
BUSH:Actually,MitchMcCoellhadaminimum-wageplanthatIsuortedthatwouldhaveincreasedtheminimumwage.
Butletmetalkaboutwhat’sreallyimportantfortheworkeryou’rereferringto.Andthat’stomakesuretheeducationsystemworks.It’stomakesureweraisestandards.
Listen,theNoChildLeftBehindActisreallyajoactwhenyouthinkaboutit.TheNoChildLeftBehindActsays,"We’llraisestandards.We’llincreasefederalending.Butinreturnforextraending,wenowwantpeopletomeasure--statesandlocaljurisdictiotomeasuretoshowuswhetherornotachildcanreadorwriteoraddandsubtract."
Youcaotsolveaproblemunleyoudiagnosetheproblem.Andweweren’tdiagnosingproblems.Andthereforejustkidswerebeingshuffledthroughtheschool.
Andguewhowouldgetshuffledthrough?Childrenwhoseparentswouldn’teakEnglishasafirstlanguagejustmovethrough.
Manyier-citykidsjustmovethrough.We’vestoedthatpracticenowbymeasuringearly.Andwhenwefindaproblem,weendextramoneytocorrectit.
IrememberaladyinHouston,Texas,toldme,"Readingisthenewcivilright,"andshe’sright.Inordertomakesurepeoplehavejoforthe21stcentury,we’vegottogetitrightintheeducationsystem,andwe’rebegiingtocloseaminorityachievementgapnow.
Yousee,we’llneverbeabletocompeteinthe21stcenturyunlewehaveaneducationsystemthatdoe’tquitonchildren,aneducationsystemthatraisesstandards,aneducationthatmakessurethere’sexcellenceineveryclaroom.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,IwanttogobacktosomethingSenatorKerrysaidearliertonightandaskafollow-upofmyown.Hesaid--andthiswillbeanewquestiontoyou--hesaidthatyouhadneversaidwhetheryouwouldliketooverturnRoev.Wade.SoI’daskyoudirectly,wouldyouliketo?
BUSH:Whathe’saskingmeis,willIhavealitmustestformyjudges?Andtheaweris,no,Iwillnothavealitmustest.IwillpickjudgeswhowillinterprettheCotitution,butI’llhavenolitmustest.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry,you’dliketoreond?
KERRY:Isthatanewquestionora30-secondquestion?
SCHIEFFER:That’sanewquestionforSenator--forpresidentBush.
KERRY:Whichtimelimit...
SCHIEFFER:Youhave90seconds.
KERRY:Thankyouverymuch.
Well,again,thepresidentdidn’tawerthequestion.
I’llaweritstraighttoAmerica.I’mnotgoingtoaointajudgetotheCourtwho’sgoingtoundoacotitutionalright,whetherit’stheFirstAmendment,ortheFifthAmendment,orsomeotherrightthat’sgivenunderourcourtstoday--undertheCotitution.AndIbelievethattherightofchoiceisacotitutionalright.
SoIdon’tintendtoseeitundone.
Clearly,thepresidentwantstoleaveinambivalenceorintendstoundoit.
Butletmegoastepfurther.WehavealongdistanceyettotravelintermsoffairneinAmerica.Idon’tknowhowyoucangoverninthiscountrywhenyoulookatNewYorkCityandyouseethat50percentoftheblackmalesthereareunemployed,whenyousee40percentofHianicchildren--ofblackchildreninsomecities--droingoutofhighschool.
AndyetthepresidentwhotalksaboutNoChildLeftBehindrefusedtofullyfund--by$28billion--thatparticularprogramsoyoucanmakeadifferenceinthelivesofthoseyoungpeople.
NowrighthereinArizona,thatdifferencewouldhavebeen$131milliontothestateofArizonatohelpitskidsbeabletohavebettereducationandtoliftthepropertytaxburdenfromitscitize.ThepresidentrenegedonhispromisetofundNoChildLeftBehind.
He’lltellyouhe’sraisedthemoney,andhehas.Buthedidn’tputinwhathepromised,andthatmakesadifferenceinthelivesofourchildren.
SCHIEFFER:Yes,sir?
BUSH:Twothings.One,heclearlyhasalitmustestforhisjudges,whichIdisagreewith.
Andsecondly,onlyaliberalsenatorfromMaachusettswouldsaythata49percentincreaseinfundingforeducationwasnotenough.
We’veincreasedfunds.Butmoreimportantly,we’vereformedthesystemtomakesurethatwesolveproblemsearly,beforethey’retoolate.
Hetalkedabouttheunemployed.Aolutelywe’vegottomakesuretheygeteducated.
Hetalkedaboutchildrenwhoseparentsdon’teakEnglishasafirstlanguage?Aolutelywe’vegottomakesuretheygeteducated.
Andthat’swhattheNoChildLeftBehindActdoes.
SCHIEFFER:Senator?
KERRY:Youdon’tmeasureitbyapercentageincrease.Mr.president,youmeasureitbywhetheryou’regettingthejobdone.
Fivehundredthousandkidslostafter-schoolprogramsbecauseofyourbudget.
Now,that’snotinmygut.That’snotinmyvaluesystem,andcertainlynotsothatthewealthiestpeopleinAmericacanwalkawaywithanothertaxcut.
$89billionlastyeartothetop1percentofAmerica,butkidslosttheirafter-schoolprograms.Youbethejudge.
SCHIEFFER:Allright,let’sgotoanotherquestion.AnditistoSenatorKerry.
Youhavetwominutes,sir.
Senator,thelastdebate,presidentBushsaidhedidnotfavoradraft.Youagreedwithhim.ButourNationalGuardandReserveforcesarebeingseverelystrainedbecausemanyofthemarebeingheldbeyondtheirenlistments.Someofthemsaythatit’saback-doordraft.
IsthereanyreliefthatcouldbeofferedtothesebraveAmericaandtheirfamilies?
Ifyoubecamepresident,SenatorKerry,whatwouldyoudoaboutthissituationofholdingNationalGuardandReservistsfortheseextendedperiodsoftimeandtheserepeatedcall-uthatthey’renowfacing?
KERRY:Well,Ithinkthefactthatthey’refacingtheserepeatedcall-u,someofthemtwoandthreedeployments,andthere’sastop-lopolicythatpreventspeoplefrombeingabletogetoutwhentheirtimewasup,isareflectionofthebadjudgmentthispresidentexercisedinhowhehasengagedintheworldanddeployedourforces.
Ourmilitaryisoverextended.Nineoutof10active-dutyArmypisioareeitherinIraq,goingtoIraqorhavecomebackfromIraq.Onewayortheother,they’rewraedupinit.
Now,I’veproposedaddingtwoactive-dutypisiotothearmedforcesoftheUnitedStates--onecombat,onesuort.
Inaddition,I’mgoingtodoublethenumberofecialForcessothatwecanfightamoreeffectivewaronterror,withlepreureontheNationalGuardandReserve.AndwhatIwouldliketodoisseetheNationalGuardandReservebedeployeddifferentlyhereinourowncountry.There’smuchwecandowiththemwithreecttohomelandsecurity.Weoughttobedoingthat.Andthatwouldrelieveanenormousamountofpreure.
ButthemostimportantthingtorelievethepreureonallofthearmedforcesisfranklytorunaforeignpolicythatrecognizesthatAmericaisstrongestwhenweareworkingwithrealalliances,whenwearesharingtheburdeoftheworldbyworkingthroughourstatesmahipatthehighestlevelsandourdiplomacytobringothernatiotoourside.
I’vesaiditbefore,Isayitagain:IbelievethepresidentbrokefaithtotheAmericanpeopleinthewaythathetookthisnationtowar.Hesaidhewouldworkthrougharealalliance.HesaidinCinciatiwewouldplancarefully,wewouldtakeeveryprecaution.Well,wedidn’t.Andtheresultisourforcestodayareoverextended.
Thefactisthathedidnotchoosetogotowarasalastresult.AndAmericanowispaying,already$120billion,upto$200billionbeforewe’refinishedandmuchmoreprobably.AndthatistheresultofthispresidenttakinghiseyeoffofOsamabinLaden.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:ThebestwaytotakethepreureoffourtrooistosucceedinIraq,istotrainIraqissotheycandothehardworkofdemocracy,istogivethemachancetodefendtheircountry,whichispreciselywhatwe’redoing.We’llhave125,000trootrainedbytheendofthisyear.
IremembergoingonanairplaneinBangor,Maine,tosaythankstothereservistsandGuardthatwereheadedoverseasfromTeeeeandNorthCarolina,Georgia.Someofthemhadbeentherebefore.
ThepeopleItalkedtotheiriritswerehigh.Theydidn’tviewtheirserviceasaback-doordraft.Theyviewedtheirserviceasanoortunitytoservetheircountry.
Myoonent,thesenator,talksaboutforeignpolicy.
InourfirstdebateheproposedAmericapaaglobaltest.Inordertodefendourselves,we’dhavetogetinternationalaroval.That’soneofthemajordifferenceswehaveaboutdefendingourcountry.
I’llworkwithallies.I’llworkwithfriends.We’llcontinuetobuildstrongcoalitio.ButIwillneverturnoverournational-securitydecisiotoleadersofothercountries.
We’llberesolute,we’llbestrong,andwe’llwageacompreheivewaragaittheterrorists.
SCHIEFFER:Senator?
KERRY:Ihaveneversuggestedatestwhereweturnoveroursecuritytoanynation.Infact,I’vesaidtheoosite:IwillneverturnthesecurityoftheUnitedStatesovertoanynation.Nonationwilleverhaveavetooverus.
ButIthinkitmakessee,IthinkmostAmericaintheirgutsknow,thatweoughttopaasortoftruthstandard.That’showyougainlegitimacywithyourowncountrypeople,andthat’showyougainlegitimacyintheworld.
ButI’llneverfailtoprotecttheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
BUSH:In1990,therewasavastcoalitionputtogethertorunSaddamHueinoutofKuwait.Theinternationalcommunity,theinternationalworldsaidthisistherightthingtodo,butwhenitcametimetoauthorizetheuseofforceontheSenatefloor,myoonentvotedagaittheuseofforce.
Aarentlyyoucan’tpaanytestunderhisvisionoftheworld.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,newquestion,twominutes.
YousaidthatifCongrewouldvotetoextendthebanonaaultweapo,thatyou’dsignthelegislation,butyoudidnothingtoencouragetheCongretoextendit.Whynot?
BUSH:Actually,Imademyintentio--mademyviewsclear.Ididthinkweoughttoextendtheaaultweapoban,andwastoldthefactthatthebillwasnevergoingtomove,becauseRepublicaandDemocratswereagaittheaaultweaponban,peopleofbothparties.Ibelievelaw-abidingcitizeoughttobeabletoownagun.Ibelieveinbackgroundchecksatgunshowsoranywheretomakesurethatgudon’tgetinthehandsofpeoplethatshouldn’thavethem.
Butthebestwaytoprotectourcitizefromguistoprosecutethosewhocommitcrimeswithgu.Andthat’swhyearlyinmyadministrationIcalledtheattorneygeneralandtheU.S.attorneysandsaid:puttogetherataskforceallaroundthecountrytoprosecutethosewhocommitcrimeswithgu.Andtheprosecutioareupbyabout68percent--Ibelieve--isthenumber.
Neighborhoodsaresaferwhenwecrackdownonpeoplewhocommitcrimeswithgu.
Tome,that’sthebestwaytosecureAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:Senator?
KERRY:Ibelieveitwasafailureofpresidentialleadershipnottoreauthorizetheaaultweapoban.
Iamahunter.I’magunowner.I’vebeenahuntersinceIwasakid,12,13yearsold.AndIreecttheSecondAmendmentandIwillnottamperwiththeSecondAmendment.
ButI’lltellyouthis.I’malsoaformerlawenforcementofficer.Iranoneofthelargestdistrictattorney’sofficesinAmerica,oneofthetenlargest.Iputpeoplebehindbarsfortherestoftheirlife.I’vebrokenuporganizedcrime.Iknowsomethingaboutprosecuting.
AndmostofthelawenforcementagenciesinAmericawantedthataaultweapoban.Theydon’twanttogointoadrugbustandbefacinganAK-47.
IwashuntinginIowalastyearwithasherifffromoneofthecountiesthere,andhepointedtoahouseinbackofus,andsaid,"Seethehouseover?Wejustdidadrugbustaweekearlier,andtheguywearrestedhadanAK-47lyingonthebedrightbesidehim."
Becauseofthepresident’sdecisiontoday,lawenforcementofficerswillwalkintoaplacethatwillbemoredangerous.TerroristscannowcomeintoAmericaandgotoagunshowand,withoutevenabackgroundcheck,buyanaaultweapontoday.
Andthat’swhatOsamabinLaden’shandbooksaid,becausewecaptureditinAfghanistan.Itencouragedthemtodoit.
SoIbelieveAmerica’slesafe.
IfTomDeLayorsomeoneintheHousesaidtome,"Sorry,wedon’thavethevotes,"I’dhavesaid,"Thenwe’regoingtohaveafight."
AndI’dhavetakenitouttothecountryandI’dhavehadeverylawenforcementofficerinthecountryvisitthosecongremen.We’dhavewonwhatBillClintonwon.
SCHIEFFER:Let’sgotoanewquestion.Foryou,SenatorKerry,twominutes.
Affirmativeaction:Doyouseeaneedforaffirmativeactionprograms,orhavewemovedfarenoughalongthatwenolongerneedtouseraceandgenderasafactorinschooladmiioandfederalandstatecontractsandsoon?
KERRY:No,Bob,regrettably,wehavenotmovedfarenoughalong.
AndIregrettosaythatthisadministrationhasevenblockedstethatcouldhelpusmovefurtheralong.I’llgiveyouanexample.
IservedontheSmallBusineCommitteeforalongtime.Iwaschairmanofitonce.NowI’mtheseniorDemocratonit.Weusedto--youknow,wehaveagoalthereforminorityset-asideprograms,totrytoencourageownershipinthecountry.Theydon’treachthosegoals.Theydon’tevenfighttoreachthosegoals.They’vetriedtoundothem.
Thefactisthatintoomanypartsofourcountry,westillhavediscrimination.Andaffirmativeactionisnotjustsomethingthataliestopeopleofcolor.SomepeoplehaveamistakenviewofitinAmerica.Italsoiswithreecttowomen,it’swithreecttoothereffortstotrytoreachoutandbeinclusiveinourcountry.
Ithinkthatwehavealongwaytogo,regrettably.Ifyoulookatwhat’shaened--we’vemadeprogre,Iwanttosaythatatthesametime.
DuringtheClintonyears,asyoumayrecall,therewasafightoveraffirmativeaction.Andthereweremanypeople,likemyself,whooosedquotas,whofelttherewereplaceswhereitwasoverreaching.Sowehadapolicycalled"Mendit,don’tendit."Wefixedit.
Andwefixeditforareason:becausetherearetoomanypeoplestillinthiscountrywhofeelthestarkresistanceofracism,andsowehaveadistancetotravel.Aspresident,Iwillmakecertainwetravelit.
Now,letmejustsharesomething.Thispresidentisthefirstpresidentever,Ithink,nottomeetwiththeNAACp.Thisisapresidentwhoha’tmetwiththeBlackCongreionalCaucus.Thisisapresidentwhohasnotmetwiththecivilrightsleadershipofourcountry.
Ifapresidentdoe’treachoutandbringpeopleinandbeinclusive,thenhowarewegoingtogetoverthosebarriers?Iseethataspartofmyjobaspresident,andI’llmakemybestefforttodoit.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:Well,firstofall,itisjustnottruethatIhaven’tmetwiththeBlackCongreionalCaucus.ImetwiththeBlackCongreionalCaucusattheWhiteHouse.
Andsecondly,likemyoonent,Idon’tagreeweoughttohavequotas.Iagree,weshouldn’thavequotas.
Butweoughttohaveanaggreiveefforttomakesurepeopleareeducated,tomakesurewhentheygetoutofhighschoolthere’spellGrantsavailableforthem,whichiswhatwe’vedone.We’veexpandedpellGrantsbyamillionstudents.
DoyourealizetodayinAmerica,weend$73billiontohelp10millionlow-andmiddle-incomefamiliesbetteraffordcollege?
That’stheacceIbelieveisneceary,istomakesureeverychildleartoread,write,addandsubtractearly,tobeabletobuildonthateducationbygoingtocollegesotheycanstarttheircareerswithacollegediploma.
Ibelievethebestwaytohelpoursmallbusineesisnotonlythroughsmall-busineloa,whichwehaveincreasedsinceI’vebeenthepresidentoftheUnitedStates,buttouundlegovernmentcontractssopeoplehaveachancetobeabletobidandreceiveacontracttohelpgettheirbusinegoing.
Minorityownershipofbusineesareup,becausewecreatedanenvironmentfortheentrepreneurialirittobestrong.
Ibelievepartofahopefulsocietyisoneinwhichsomebodyowsomething.TodayinAmericamoreminoritiesownahomethaneverbefore.Andthat’shopeful,andthat’spositive.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president,let’sgotoanewquestion.
Youwereaskedbeforetheinvasion,oraftertheinvasion,ofIraqifyou’dcheckedwithyourdad.AndIbelieve,Idon’trememberthequoteexactly,butIbelieveyousaidyouhadcheckedwithahigherauthority.
Iwouldliketoaskyou,whatpartdoesyourfaithplayonyourpolicydecisio?
First,myfaithplaysalot--abigpartinmylife.Andthat’s,whenIwasaweringthatquestion,whatIwasreallysayingtothepersonwasthatIprayalot.AndIdo.
Andmyfaithisavery--it’sverypersonal.Iprayforstrength.Iprayforwisdom.Iprayforourtrooinharm’sway.Iprayformyfamily.Iprayformylittlegirls.
ButI’mmindfulinafreesocietythatpeoplecanworshipiftheywanttoornot.You’reequallyanAmericanifyouchoosetoworshipanalmightyandifyouchoosenotto.
Ifyou’reaChristian,JeworMuslim,you’reequallyanAmerican.That’sthegreatthingaboutAmerica,istherighttoworshipthewayyouseefit.
prayerandreligionsustainme.Ireceivecalmneinthestormsofthepresidency.
Ilovethefactthatpeopleprayformeandmyfamilyallaroundthecountry.Somebodyaskedmeonetime,"Well,howdoyouknow?"Isaid,"Ijustfeelit."
Religionisanimportantpart.Ineverwanttoimposemyreligiononanybodyelse.
ButwhenImakedecisio,Istandonprinciple,andtheprinciplesarederivedfromwhoIam.
Ibelieveweoughttoloveourneighborlikeweloveourself,asmanifestedinpublicpolicythroughthefaith-basedinitiativewherewe’veunleashedthearmiesofcompaiontohelphealpeoplewhohurt.
IbelievethatGodwantseverybodytobefree.That’swhatIbelieve.
Andthat’sbeenpartofmyforeignpolicy.InAfghanistan,IbelievethatthefreedomthereisagiftfromtheAlmighty.AndIcan’ttellyouhowencouragedIamtoseefreedomonthemarch.
AndsomyprinciplesthatImakedecisioonareapartofme,andreligionisapartofme.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Well,Ireecteverythingthatthepresidenthassaidandcertainlyreecthisfaith.Ithinkit’simportantandIshareit.IthinkthathejustsaidthatfreedomisagiftfromtheAlmighty.
EverythingisagiftfromtheAlmighty.AndasImeasurethewordsoftheBible--andwealldo;differentpeoplemeasuredifferentthings--theKoran,theTorah,or,youknow,NativeAmericawhogavemeableingtheotherdayhadtheirownecialseeofcoectednetoahigherbeing.Andpeopleallfindtheirwaystoexpreit.
Iwastaught--IwenttoachurchschoolandIwastaughtthatthetwogreatestcommandmentsare:LovetheLord,yourGod,withallyourmind,yourbodyandyoursoul,andloveyourneighborasyourself.Andfrankly,Ithinkwehavealotmorelovingofourneighbortodointhiscountryandonthisplanet.
WehaveaseparateandunequalschoolsystemintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.There’soneforthepeoplewhohave,andthere’soneforthepeoplewhodon’thave.Andwe’restrugglingwiththattoday.
AndthepresidentandIhaveadifferenceofopinionabouthowweliveoutourseeofourfaith.
ItalkedaboutitearlierwhenItalkedabouttheworksandfaithwithoutworksbeingdead.
Ithinkwe’vegotalotmoreworktodo.Andaspresident,Iwillalwaysreecteverybody’srighttopracticereligionastheychoose--ornottopractice--becausethat’spartofAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry,after9/11--andthisisanewquestionforyou--itseemedtomethatthecountrycametogetherasI’veneverseenitcometogethersinceWorldWarII.Butsomeofthatseemstohavemeltedaway.Ithinkit’sfairtosaywe’vebecomeprettypolarized,perhabecauseofthepoliticalseason.
Butifyouwereelectedpresident,orwhoeveriselectedpresident,willyousetapriorityintryingtobringthenationbacktogether?Orwhatwouldbeyourattitudeonthat?
KERRY:Verymuchso.
Letmepayacomplimenttothepresident,ifImay.Ithinkinthosedaysafter9/11,Ithoughtthepresidentdidaterrificjob.AndIreallywasmoved,aswellasimpreed,bytheeechthathegavetotheCongre.
AndIthinkthehugTomDaschlegavehimatthatmomentwasaboutasgenuineaseeoftherebeingnoDemocrats,noRepublica,wewerealljustAmerica.That’swherewewere.
That’snotwherewearetoday.Iregrettosaythatthepresidentwhocalledhimselfauniter,notapider,isnowpresidingoverthemostpidedAmericaintherecentmemoryofourcountry.I’veneverseensuchideologicalsqualesintheCongreoftheUnitedStates.I’veneverseenmembersofapartylockedoutofmeetingsthewaythey’relockedouttoday.
Wehavetochangethat.Andaspresident,Iamcommittedtochangingthat.Idon’tcareiftheideacomesfromtheothersideorthisside.Ithinkwehavetocometogetherandworktochangeit.
AndI’vedonethat.Over20yearsintheUnitedStatesSenate,I’veworkedwithJohnMcCain,who’ssittinghere,I’veworkedwithothercolleagues.I’vereachedacrotheaisle.I’vetriedtofindthecommonground,becausethat’swhatmakesusstrongasAmerica.
AndifAmericatrustmewiththepresidency,Icanpledgetoyou,wewillhavethemostsignificanteffort,openly--notsecretmeetingsintheWhiteHousewithecialinterests,notideologicallydriveneffortstopushpeopleaside--butagenuineefforttotrytorestoreAmerica’shopeandpoibilitiesbybringingpeopletogether.
Andoneofthewayswe’regoingtodoitis,I’mgoingtoworkwithmyfriend,JohnMcCain,tofurthercampaignfinancereformsowegettheseincredibleamountsofmoneyoutofthesystemandopenituptoaveragepeople,soAmericaisreallyrepresentedbythepeoplewhomakeupAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:MybiggestdisaointmentinWashingtonishowpartisanthetownis.IhadarecordofworkingwithRepublicaandDemocratsasthegovernorofTexas,andIwashopefulI’dbeabletodothesamething.
Andwemadegoodprogreearlyon.TheNoChildLeftBehindAct,incrediblyenough,wasgoodworkbetweenmeandmyadministrationandpeoplelikeSenatorTedKeedy.
AndweworkedtogetherwithDemocratstorelievethetaxburdenonthemiddleclaandallwhopaytaxesinordertomakesurethiseconomycontinuestogrow.
ButWashingtonisatoughtown.AndthewayIviewitisthere’salotofentrenchedecialintereststhere,peoplewhoare,youknow,ononesideoftheiueoranotherandtheyendenormoussumsofmoneyandtheyconvincedifferentsenatorstotauttheirwayordifferentcongrementotalkabouttheiriue,andtheydigin.
I’llcontinue,inthefouryears,tocontinuetotrytoworktodoso.
Myoonentsaidthisisabitterlypidedtime.prettypidedinthe20xxelection.Soinotherwords,it’sprettypidedduringthe1990saswell.
We’rejustinaperiod--we’vegottoworktobringit--myoonentkeementioningJohnMcCain,andI’mgladhedid.JohnMcCainisformeforpresidentbecauseheunderstandsIhavetherightviewinwiingthewaronterrorandthatmyplanwillsucceedinIraq.AndmyoonenthasgotaplanofretreatanddefeatinIraq.
SCHIEFFER:We’vecome,gentlemen,toourlastquestion.AnditoccurredtomeasIcametothisdebatetonightthatthethreeofussharesomething.Allthreeofusaresurroundedbyverystrongwomen.We’reallmarriedtostrongwomen.Eachofushavetwodaughtersthatmakeusveryproud.
I’dliketoaskeachofyou,whatisthemostimportantthingyou’velearnedfromthesestrongwomen?
BUSH:Tolistentothem.
(LAUGHTER)
Tostandupstraightandnotscowl.
(LAUGHTER)
Ilovethestrongwomenaroundme.Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIlovemywifeandourdaughters.
Iam--youknowit’sreallyinteresting.Itellthepeopleonthecampaigntrail,whenIaskedLauratomarryme,shesaid,"Fine,justsolongasIneverhavetogiveaeech."Isaid,"OK,you’vegotadeal."Fortunately,shedidn’tholdmetothatdeal.Andshe’soutcampaigningalongwithourgirls.AndsheeaksEnglishalotbetterthanIdo.Ithinkpeopleunderstandwhatshe’ssaying.
Buttheyseeacompaionate,strong,greatfirstladyinLauraBush.Ican’ttellyouhowluckyIam.WhenImetherinthebackyardatJoeandJanO’Neill’sinMidland,Texas,itwastheclaicbackyardbarbecue.O’Neillsaid,"Comeonover.Ithinkyou’llfindsomebodywhomightinterestyou."SoIsaidallright.Boedoverthere.Therewasonlyfourofusthere.Andnotonlydidsheinterestme,Igueyouwouldsayitwasloveatfirstsight.
SCHIEFFER:SenatorKerry?
KERRY:Well,IguethepresidentandyouandIarethreeexamplesofluckypeoplewhomarriedup.
(LAUGHTER)
Andsomewouldsaymaybememoresothanothers.
(LAUGHTER)
ButIcantakeit.
(LAUGHTER)
CanIsay,ifIcouldjustsayawordaboutawomanthatyoudidn’taskabout,butmymompaedawayacoupleyearsago,justbeforeIwasdecidingtorun.Andshewasinthehoital,andIwentintotalktoherandtellherwhatIwasthinkingofdoing.
Andshelookedatmefromherhoitalbedandshejustlookedatmeandshesaid,"Remember:integrity,integrity,integrity."Thosearethethreewordsthatsheleftmewith.
Andmydaughtersandmywifearepeoplewhojustarefilledwiththatseeofwhat’sright,what’swrong.
Theyalsokickmearound.Theykeepmehonest.Theydon’tletmegetawaywithanything.Icansometimestakemyselftooseriously.Theysurelydon’tletmedothat.
AndI’mbleed,asIthinkthepresidentisbleed,asIsaidlasttime.I’vewatchedhimwiththefirstlady,whoIadmireagreatdeal,andhisdaughters.He’sagreatfather.AndIthinkwe’rebothverylucky.
SCHIEFFER:Well,gentlemen,thatbringsustotheclosingstatements.
SenatorKerry,Ibelieveyou’refirst.
KERRY:MyfellowAmerica,asyouheardfromBobSchiefferamomentago,Americaisbeingtestedbypision.Morethanever,weneedtobeunitedasacountry.
And,likeFranklinRoosevelt,Idon’tcarewhetheranideaisaRepublicanideaoraDemocratidea.IjustcarewhetheritworksforAmericaandwhetherit’sgoingtomakeusstronger.
Thesearedangeroustimes.IbelieveIoffertested,strongleadershipthatcancalmthewatersofthetroubledworld.AndIbelievethatwecantogetherdothingsthatarewithinthegraofAmerica.
Wecanliftourschoolsup.Wecancreatejothatpaymorethanthejowe’relosingoverseas.WecanhavehealthcareforallAmerica.Wecanfurtherthecauseofequalityinournation.
Letmejustmakeitclear:Iwillneverallowanycountrytohaveavetooveroursecurity.JustasIfoughtforourcountryasayoungman,withthesamepaionIwillfighttodefendthisnationthatIlove.
And,withfaithinGodandwithconvictioninthemiionofAmerica,Ibelievethatwecanreachhigher.Ibelievewecandobetter.
Ithinkthegreatestpoibilitiesofourcountry,ourdreamsandourhopes,areouttherejustwaitingforustograbontothem.AndIaskyoutoembarkonthatjourneywithme.
Iaskyouforyourtrust.Iaskyouforyourhelp.Iaskyoutoallowmetheprivilegeofleadingthisgreatnationofours,ofhelpingustobestrongerhereathomeandtobereectedagainintheworldand,mostofall,tobesaferforever.
Thankyou.Goodnight.AndGodbletheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
SCHIEFFER:Mr.president?
BUSH:IntheOvalOffice,there’sapaintingbyafriendofLauraandminenamed--byTomLee.Andit’saWestTexaspainting,apaintingofamountainscene.
Andhesaidthisaboutit.
Hesaid,"SarahandIliveontheeastsideofthemountain.It’sthesunriseside,notthesuetside.It’sthesidetoseethedaythatiscoming,nottoseethedaythatisgone."
Ilovetheoptimisminthatpainting,becausethat’showIfeelaboutAmerica.Andwe’vebeenthroughalottogetherduringthelast33/4years.We’vecomethroughareceion,astockmarketdecline,anattackonourcountry.
Andyet,becauseofthehardworkoftheAmericanpeopleandgoodpolicies,thiseconomyisgrowing.Overthenextfouryears,we’llmakesuretheeconomycontinuestogrow.
Wereformedourschoolsystem,andnowthere’sanachievementgapinAmericathat’sbegiingtoclose.Overthenextfouryears,we’llcontinuetoiistonexcellenceineveryclaroominAmericasothatourchildrenhaveachancetorealizethegreatpromiseofAmerica.
Overthenextfouryears,we’llcontinuetoworktomakesurehealthcareisavailableandaffordable.
Overthenextfouryears,we’llcontinuetorallythearmiesofcompaion,tohelphealthehurtthatexistsinsomeofourcountry’sneighborhoods.
I’moptimisticthatwe’llwinthewaronterror,butIunderstanditrequiresfirmresolveandclearpurpose.Wemustneverwaverinthefaceofthisenemythat--theseideologuesofhate.
Andaswepursuetheenemywhereveritexists,we’llalsoreadfreedomandliberty.Wegotgreatfaithintheabilityoflibertytotraformsocieties,toconvertahostileworldtoapeacefulworld.
MyhopeforAmericaisaproerousAmerica,ahopefulAmericaandasaferworld.
Iwanttothankyouforlisteningtonight.
I’maskingforyourvote.
Godbleyou.
SCHIEFFER:Thankyou,Mr.president.
Thankyou,SenatorKerry.
Well,thatbringsthesedebatestoaclose,butthecampaigngoeson.
IwanttowishbothofyoutheverybestofluckbetweennowandElectionDay.
That’sitforusfromArizonaStateUniversityinTempe,Arizona.I’mBobSchiefferatews.
Goodnight,everyone.
(ALAUSE)

美国总统候选人布什与克里第二场电视辩论

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[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.

圣诞节前美国总统发表全国广播讲话

圣诞节前美国总统发表全国广播讲话(20xx)

名人演讲稿

THEpRESIDENT:

Goodmorning.AsfamiliesacrothenationgathertocelebrateChristmas,LauraandIwanttoextendourbestwishesfortheholidays.

WehopethatthisChristmaswillbeatimeofhaineinyourhome,andatimeofpeaceintheworld.Inthisseason,wecelebratewithourfamiliesanddeeplymiloveoneswhoarenolongerwithus.ThousandsoffamiliesinournationarestillgrievingovertheterribleloesthatcametothemlastyearonSeptemberthe11th.Wehavenotforgottentheirloandwecontinuetoprayfortheircomfort.版权所有

TheChristmasseasonbringsadeeperconcernforfellowcitizeinneed.Ourcountryisproerous,yetwemustalsoremembertherearepocketsofdeairinAmerica.Somemenandwomenarefacingthestrugglesofillneandoldagewithnoonetohelpthemorpraywiththem.OtherAmericafightagaitterribleaddictio.Someyoungmenhavenofamilybutagang.Someteenagemomsareabandonedandalone.Andsomechildrenwonderifanybodylovesthem.

Weallshareareoibilitytohelp,boththroughourgovernmentandthroughinpidualactsofcompaion.Inthisseasonofgiving,IhopeallAmericawilllookforoortunitiestodonateandvolunteerwheretheneedisgreatest.Byreachingouttoaneighborinneed,wemakeourcountryamorejustandgenerousplace.

Ourentirenationisalsothinkingatthistimeofyearofthemenandwomeninthemilitary,manyofwhomwillendChristmasatpostsandbasesfarfromhome.TheystandbetweenAmericaandgravedanger.Theyserveinthecauseofpeaceandfreedom.Theyweartheuniformproudly,andwearesoproudofthem.

IhavemetwiththeseidealisticyoungmenandwomenacroAmericaandaroundtheworld.Iknowthesacrificestheymake.Andineveryplacetheyserve,theycanknowthattheyhavetheloveoftheirfamiliesandthegratitudeoftheirnation.

Atthistimeofyear,weareciateallthebleingsthatfillourlives,eeciallythegreatbleingthatcameonaholynightinBethlehem.TheChristmasstoryeakstoeverygeneration.Itisthestoryofaquietbirthinalittletownonthemargiofanindifferentempire.Yetthatsingleeventsetthedirectionofhistoryandstillchangesmilliooflives.

Forovertwomilleia,ChristmashascarriedthemeagethatGodiswithus,andbecauseheiswith

圣诞节前美国总统发表全国广播讲话第2页

uswecanalwaysliveinhope.TheworldweliveinisverydifferentfromtheworldofancientBethlehem.Ourneedforthathopeisstillunchanged.Inallthechallengesanddangersofourday,westillseekthepromiseofpeaceonEarth.

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《民主党总统候选人克里关于9/11三周年广播讲话》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！

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