Before I begin,
I want to note the presence of some distinguished guests. We all know that the
presidency is the highest office in the land - but there is an even greater
distinction that our country bestows: and that is the Congressional Medal of
Honor. It is the “highest award for valor in action against an enemy force.”
Only 151 living Americans hold the Medal of Honor. When you meet one of them,
remember the moment - because you have just met one of the bravest men in your
country’s history. Three are here today. May I ask them to please stand and be
recognized.
From the first day of this campaign, I have talked about the goal of a
responsibility era.
And even before that, it was my concern as a governor. For too long, our culture
has sent the message, “If it feels good, do it. If you’ve got a problem,
blame somebody else.” Each of us must understand we are responsible for the
choices we make in life.
Usually, in the political season, you hear promises. From my opponent, you have
heard eight years of them. The responsibility era is not merely a set of
political promises - it is a set of challenges, for the American people and
their government. It is not something a president can do alone. It is something
we must do together.
Each citizen is responsible for loving the children he or she brings into this
world - to love them and teach them right from wrong. The character of our
children is the destiny of our country.
Churches and synagogues and mosques are responsible, not only to worship, but
also to serve. Charities and community groups are not our last resort; they are
our best hope.
Communities are responsible to educate children of every background, and to help
those in need.
This is the kind of country we want to be - a country of strong communities and
self-governing citizens.
And this is the kind of country our government should encourage. In helping
families and communities, we should give them options, not orders. We should
trust people with responsibility. We should help them live their lives, not try
to run their lives.
On every major issue before America, this is the choice.
I believe younger workers should be trusted to invest some of their payroll tax
for their own retirement, as part of a stronger Social Security system that
builds personal wealth and independence. My opponent is opposed to it.
I believe education is a national priority, but a local responsibility. I want
to give schools the resources and authority to chart their own path to
excellence. My opponent thinks Washington knows best.
I believe that when low-income children are trapped in failing schools, their
parents should be trusted to make other choices. My opponent would deny them
those options.
I believe that seniors should have a better Medicare system, with prescription
drugs, access to the latest medical technology, and more control over their
health care. My opponent has a one-size-fits-all answer, dictated by Washington,
from Washington.
I believe every American deserves a tax cut. My opponent offers tax cuts only
for the few and the favored, for those he calls the “right” people.
And even his “right” people only get tax cuts when they do what government
says.
I do not believe a President should choose right Americans - all Americans are
the right people.
I believe in supporting the good work of churches and charities in communities
across America. My opponent calls their work the “crumbs of compassion” and
looks to government instead.
I trust people and communities with responsibility, and my proposals help them
meet those responsibilities in practical ways.
My opponent would expand government more than we’ve seen in 35 years. And
that’s a threat to our prosperity. But the problem runs deeper. Even if we
could afford to pay for the Vice President’s ideas, they would still be the
wrong ideas. They would still be the failed policies of the past.
For decades, we have tried to solve problem with rules and mandates from distant
bureaucracies and theories from far away federal experts. But this doesn’t
solve communities’ problems. It doesn’t answer the need. Vice President Gore
is promoting a big build-up of big government -- more spending, more programs,
more of Washington talking down to us and thinking on our behalf.
I believe government works best when it relies on the good judgment and common
sense of the people themselves. Americans are not asking for a bigger, more
intrusive government. They deserve a government that gives them the tools to
dream and build and prosper on their own.
In a responsibility era, government should trust the people. And in a
responsibility era, people should also be able to trust their government.
Public officials should call on Americans to be responsible. But lectures
don’t replace leadership. Leaders lead by example.
Leaders must be responsible, and in our great democracy, the top responsibility
rests with the President of the United States. I am prepared to assume this
awesome responsibility, and I will be guided by principles and convictions that
will not change.
When I ran for Governor of Texas, I told my fellow Texans that I would be guided
by four fundamental principles - they shaped every decision I made as Governor,
and they will shape every decision I make as President. I believe government
should be limited and efficient. I believe in local control, because local
people know better than anyone else the needs of their schools and their
communities.
I believe all laws and public policy should support strong families. And I
believe in individual responsibility - that all individuals are responsible for
their actions and decisions.
Responsible leadership is the most important task of an American president - and
it should be the most important question Americans ask before they vote: what
kind of leader will a potential president be?
A responsible leader sets a clear agenda and brings people together to achieve
it. A leader accepts responsibility and shares credit. A leader stands on
principle, a good leader is predictable - he doesn’t try to be all things to
all people, or change personalities, say, for different debates.
Leaders get things done -they realize they can’t do that alone, so they
surround themselves with good people and build a strong team. Responsible
leaders confront problems - they don’t pass them along to others. Leaders are
never content with the status quo - they look down the road, anticipate and
prepare for new challenges and new opportunities. And good leaders create a
climate of honesty and integrity.
Our nation needs leadership. Because even in these good times, we face some big
challenges.
On Social Security, the crisis is coming - in the red within two decades,
bankrupt by 2037. On education, the crisis is here - stagnating scores and
American students who perform near the bottom among industrialized nations.
On both these issues, the Clinton/Gore administration has left faint footprints
- marking time, not making progress. And on both of these issues, my opponent
would add four years of drift to eight years of failed leadership.
His idea is to issue government IOUs to fill the Social Security trust fund - a
massive transfer from one government pocket to another. These IOUs amount to $40
trillion. But IOUs don’t pay benefits, and eventually they will come due. Our
children and grandchildren will be forced to pay them, with massive new taxes or
major cuts in benefits.
It is not responsible leadership to deny future generations a chance to have a
secure retirement - all for the purpose of frightening the greatest generation
into believing that reform is their enemy. Pitting grandparents against
grandchildren is the worst kind of old style politics. More importantly, it is a
failure of leadership.
There was a time when leaders spoke of passing the torch to a new generation of
Americans. On Social Security, my opponent would pass the buck and the bill to
the next generation of Americans- leaving trillions in debt to voters he will
never face.
Education is a similar story. My opponent talks about reform. And talks, and
talks. But for eight years there has been little progress - few results - and
his current proposals don’t require any.
Now Vice President Gore is attacking our success in boosting student achievement
in Texas - aligning himself with the voices of the status quo and those who
oppose testing - and revealing his true stripes.
During our debate, he claimed to support accountability. But unless you measure,
unless you test every child, every year from third to eighth grade, reform is an
illusion. The Vice President and the forces of the status quo find lots of
excuses to avoid accountability. But without accountability, standards are just
scraps of paper and parents won’t ever know if their children are learning.
Vice President Gore’s plan has no new accountability, and in too many schools,
this will mean another generation of children lost to the soft bigotry of low
expectations.
That is not my idea of leadership.
When you govern by focus groups, and act for interest groups, you can’t
confront the real problems. When you wait for the latest polls to point the way,
you can’t lead.
When you hold your finger to the wind, you can’t put your finger on a problem.
And when you hold on to power for power’s sake, you cannot govern.
My opponent’s campaign is a fitting close to the Clinton/Gore years. They are
going out as they came in: Their guide, the nightly polls. Their goal, the
morning headlines. Their legacy, the fruitless search for a legacy.
Should I be elected president, I’m going to confront the hard issues. I’m
not going to leave Social Security as a problem for others to solve.
My plan strengthens Social Security by increasing the rate of return that
younger workers get on payroll taxes they pay into the system. We will create
real assets, and a more secure retirement, for the next generation.
I know this is supposed to be the third rail of American politics - the one that
shocks you when you touch it. Some advised me to stay away from this issue. But
if you don’t touch it, you can’t fix it. And I intend to fix it.
I will also lead on education. We will no longer fund failure, year after year.
We will test every year, and require results for our children.
I believe our public schools will rise to the occasion, as they have in Texas.
But if schools do not teach and will not change, parents will be given better
options. That is what accountability means. And that is what leadership demands.
Responsible leadership sets a tone of civility and bipartisanship that gets
things done.
In recent years, there’s been too much argument in Washington and not enough
discussion. Too many standoffs and showdowns and shutdowns. Too much deadlock
and gridlock.
And Americans don’t like what they see.
My opponent has set a negative tone. He talked of “ripping the lungs out” of
political adversaries. Part of his campaign headquarters is called “the
slaughterhouse.” And his staff proudly calls itself a band of “killers.”
This is a sample of what we could expect from a Gore administration - a bitter,
negative tone that has nearly destroyed bipartisanship in Washington. The same
attack politics that have disillusioned so many Americans, especially young
people, who want to believe in a cause larger than themselves.
I will change the tone of Washington. I’ll bring good people to our nation’s
Capitol, and surround myself with a strong team of capable leaders.
I sent a clear signal of my intentions when I named a great citizen to be my
running mate: Dick Cheney.
It would be presumptuous for me to name other names before the people have
spoken, but I have great respect for the man who introduced me today -- and I
hope his greatest days of service to his country might still lie ahead.
Should I earn your confidence, I intend to work with Republicans and Democrats
to get things done for the American people that both parties represent.
We won’t always agree, but I’ll work to keep our disagreements respectful
and I’ll work to find common ground. I will do everything I can to restore
civility to our national politics - a respect for honest differences, and decent
regard for one another.
I know you can’t take the politics out of politics. I’m a realist. But I’m
convinced our government can show more courage in confronting hard problems;
more good will toward the other side; more integrity in the exercise of power.
This isn’t always easy, but it is always important. It is what people expect
of their leaders, and what leaders must require of themselves. My administration
will provide responsible leadership.
Finally, a leader upholds the dignity and honor of his office. In my
administration, we will ask not only what is legal, but also what is right - not
just what the lawyers allow, but what the public deserves.
In my administration we will make it clear there is the controlling authority of
conscience. We will make people proud again - so that Americans who love their
country can once again respect their government.
Thank you.
Before I begin,
I want to note the presence of some distinguished guests. We all know that the
presidency is the highest office in the land - but there is an even greater
distinction that our country bestows: and that is the Congressional Medal of
Honor. It is the “highest award for valor in action against an enemy force.”
Only 151 living Americans hold the Medal of Honor. When you meet one of them,
remember the moment - because you have just met one of the bravest men in your
country’s history. Three are here today. May I ask them to please stand and be
recognized.
From the first day of this campaign, I have talked about the goal of a
responsibility era.
And even before that, it was my concern as a governor. For too long, our culture
has sent the message, “If it feels good, do it. If you’ve got a problem,
blame somebody else.” Each of us must understand we are responsible for the
choices we make in life.
Usually, in the political season, you hear promises. From my opponent, you have
heard eight years of them. The responsibility era is not merely a set of
political promises - it is a set of challenges, for the American people and
their government. It is not something a president can do alone. It is something
we must do together.
Each citizen is responsible for loving the children he or she brings into this
world - to love them and teach them right from wrong. The character of our
children is the destiny of our country.
Churches and synagogues and mosques are responsible, not only to worship, but
also to serve. Charities and community groups are not our last resort; they are
our best hope.
Communities are responsible to educate children of every background, and to help
those in need.
This is the kind of country we want to be - a country of strong communities and
self-governing citizens.
And this is the kind of country our government should encourage. In helping
families and communities, we should give them options, not orders. We should
trust people with responsibility. We should help them live their lives, not try
to run their lives.
On every major issue before America, this is the choice.
I believe younger workers should be trusted to invest some of their payroll tax
for their own retirement, as part of a stronger Social Security system that
builds personal wealth and independence. My opponent is opposed to it.
I believe education is a national priority, but a local responsibility. I want
to give schools the resources and authority to chart their own path to
excellence. My opponent thinks Washington knows best.
I believe that when low-income children are trapped in failing schools, their
parents should be trusted to make other choices. My opponent would deny them
those options.
I believe that seniors should have a better Medicare system, with prescription
drugs, access to the latest medical technology, and more control over their
health care. My opponent has a one-size-fits-all answer, dictated by Washington,
from Washington.
I believe every American deserves a tax cut. My opponent offers tax cuts only
for the few and the favored, for those he calls the “right” people.
And even his “right” people only get tax cuts when they do what government
says.
I do not believe a President should choose right Americans - all Americans are
the right people.
I believe in supporting the good work of churches and charities in communities
across America. My opponent calls their work the “crumbs of compassion” and
looks to government instead.
I trust people and communities with responsibility, and my proposals help them
meet those responsibilities in practical ways.
My opponent would expand government more than we’ve seen in 35 years. And
that’s a threat to our prosperity. But the problem runs deeper. Even if we
could afford to pay for the Vice President’s ideas, they would still be the
wrong ideas. They would still be the failed policies of the past.
For decades, we have tried to solve problem with rules and mandates from distant
bureaucracies and theories from far away federal experts. But this doesn’t
solve communities’ problems. It doesn’t answer the need. Vice President Gore
is promoting a big build-up of big government -- more spending, more programs,
more of Washington talking down to us and thinking on our behalf.
I believe government works best when it relies on the good judgment and common
sense of the people themselves. Americans are not asking for a bigger, more
intrusive government. They deserve a government that gives them the tools to
dream and build and prosper on their own.
In a responsibility era, government should trust the people. And in a
responsibility era, people should also be able to trust their government.
Public officials should call on Americans to be responsible. But lectures
don’t replace leadership. Leaders lead by example.
Leaders must be responsible, and in our great democracy, the top responsibility
rests with the President of the United States. I am prepared to assume this
awesome responsibility, and I will be guided by principles and convictions that
will not change.
When I ran for Governor of Texas, I told my fellow Texans that I would be guided
by four fundamental principles - they shaped every decision I made as Governor,
and they will shape every decision I make as President. I believe government
should be limited and efficient. I believe in local control, because local
people know better than anyone else the needs of their schools and their
communities.
I believe all laws and public policy should support strong families. And I
believe in individual responsibility - that all individuals are responsible for
their actions and decisions.
Responsible leadership is the most important task of an American president - and
it should be the most important question Americans ask before they vote: what
kind of leader will a potential president be?
A responsible leader sets a clear agenda and brings people together to achieve
it. A leader accepts responsibility and shares credit. A leader stands on
principle, a good leader is predictable - he doesn’t try to be all things to
all people, or change personalities, say, for different debates.
Leaders get things done -they realize they can’t do that alone, so they
surround themselves with good people and build a strong team. Responsible
leaders confront problems - they don’t pass them along to others. Leaders are
never content with the status quo - they look down the road, anticipate and
prepare for new challenges and new opportunities. And good leaders create a
climate of honesty and integrity.
Our nation needs leadership. Because even in these good times, we face some big
challenges.
On Social Security, the crisis is coming - in the red within two decades,
bankrupt by 2037. On education, the crisis is here - stagnating scores and
American students who perform near the bottom among industrialized nations.
On both these issues, the Clinton/Gore administration has left faint footprints
- marking time, not making progress. And on both of these issues, my opponent
would add four years of drift to eight years of failed leadership.
His idea is to issue government IOUs to fill the Social Security trust fund - a
massive transfer from one government pocket to another. These IOUs amount to $40
trillion. But IOUs don’t pay benefits, and eventually they will come due. Our
children and grandchildren will be forced to pay them, with massive new taxes or
major cuts in benefits.
It is not responsible leadership to deny future generations a chance to have a
secure retirement - all for the purpose of frightening the greatest generation
into believing that reform is their enemy. Pitting grandparents against
grandchildren is the worst kind of old style politics. More importantly, it is a
failure of leadership.
There was a time when leaders spoke of passing the torch to a new generation of
Americans. On Social Security, my opponent would pass the buck and the bill to
the next generation of Americans- leaving trillions in debt to voters he will
never face.
Education is a similar story. My opponent talks about reform. And talks, and
talks. But for eight years there has been little progress - few results - and
his current proposals don’t require any.
Now Vice President Gore is attacking our success in boosting student achievement
in Texas - aligning himself with the voices of the status quo and those who
oppose testing - and revealing his true stripes.
During our debate, he claimed to support accountability. But unless you measure,
unless you test every child, every year from third to eighth grade, reform is an
illusion. The Vice President and the forces of the status quo find lots of
excuses to avoid accountability. But without accountability, standards are just
scraps of paper and parents won’t ever know if their children are learning.
Vice President Gore’s plan has no new accountability, and in too many schools,
this will mean another generation of children lost to the soft bigotry of low
expectations.
That is not my idea of leadership.
When you govern by focus groups, and act for interest groups, you can’t
confront the real problems. When you wait for the latest polls to point the way,
you can’t lead.
When you hold your finger to the wind, you can’t put your finger on a problem.
And when you hold on to power for power’s sake, you cannot govern.
My opponent’s campaign is a fitting close to the Clinton/Gore years. They are
going out as they came in: Their guide, the nightly polls. Their goal, the
morning headlines. Their legacy, the fruitless search for a legacy.
Should I be elected president, I’m going to confront the hard issues. I’m
not going to leave Social Security as a problem for others to solve.
My plan strengthens Social Security by increasing the rate of return that
younger workers get on payroll taxes they pay into the system. We will create
real assets, and a more secure retirement, for the next generation.
I know this is supposed to be the third rail of American politics - the one that
shocks you when you touch it. Some advised me to stay away from this issue. But
if you don’t touch it, you can’t fix it. And I intend to fix it.
I will also lead on education. We will no longer fund failure, year after year.
We will test every year, and require results for our children.
I believe our public schools will rise to the occasion, as they have in Texas.
But if schools do not teach and will not change, parents will be given better
options. That is what accountability means. And that is what leadership demands.
Responsible leadership sets a tone of civility and bipartisanship that gets
things done.
In recent years, there’s been too much argument in Washington and not enough
discussion. Too many standoffs and showdowns and shutdowns. Too much deadlock
and gridlock.
And Americans don’t like what they see.
My opponent has set a negative tone. He talked of “ripping the lungs out” of
political adversaries. Part of his campaign headquarters is called “the
slaughterhouse.” And his staff proudly calls itself a band of “killers.”
This is a sample of what we could expect from a Gore administration - a bitter,
negative tone that has nearly destroyed bipartisanship in Washington. The same
attack politics that have disillusioned so many Americans, especially young
people, who want to believe in a cause larger than themselves.
I will change the tone of Washington. I’ll bring good people to our nation’s
Capitol, and surround myself with a strong team of capable leaders.
I sent a clear signal of my intentions when I named a great citizen to be my
running mate: Dick Cheney.
It would be presumptuous for me to name other names before the people have
spoken, but I have great respect for the man who introduced me today -- and I
hope his greatest days of service to his country might still lie ahead.
Should I earn your confidence, I intend to work with Republicans and Democrats
to get things done for the American people that both parties represent.
We won’t always agree, but I’ll work to keep our disagreements respectful
and I’ll work to find common ground. I will do everything I can to restore
civility to our national politics - a respect for honest differences, and decent
regard for one another.
I know you can’t take the politics out of politics. I’m a realist. But I’m
convinced our government can show more courage in confronting hard problems;
more good will toward the other side; more integrity in the exercise of power.
This isn’t always easy, but it is always important. It is what people expect
of their leaders, and what leaders must require of themselves. My administration
will provide responsible leadership.
Finally, a leader upholds the dignity and honor of his office. In my
administration, we will ask not only what is legal, but also what is right - not
just what the lawyers allow, but what the public deserves.
In my administration we will make it clear there is the controlling authority of
conscience. We will make people proud again - so that Americans who love their
country can once again respect their government.
Thank you.