Feb. 21 / Administration of George Bush, 1992 travel safely home and abroad and that the move into the 21st century. Nation’s transportation systems are ready to

Remarks to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Charleston, February 21, 1992

The President. Thank you, thank you. It victory in November 1992. is great to be here in Charleston, I’ll tell And just to be perfectly clear about it, you. I’m delighted to be back in the South. I am confident of winning the Presidency And may I say to our Governor, my dear for 4 more years. I come here fired up and friend Carroll Campbell, we’re grateful for confident. But I’ll need your support. We your hospitality and even more for your have much to do these next few months leadership as one of the finest Governors because we have much to do these next in the entire country, a real leader, Carroll few years. Together, we can finish what Campbell. And I might say how pleased I we’ve started and move this country for- am that Governor Campbell will serve as ward. our national cochairman of the campaign Let me open with a true story from my and once again as southern regional chair- own past about the old days, Midland, man. I couldn’t be in better hands, and Texas, 1956, trying to organize—I hear thank you very much. Ernie Angelo over there—[laughter]—try- May I thank the Citadel Bulldog Band ing to organize a Republican Party. And this over there for some fine music. I appreciate is the gospel truth. I was a precinct judge, it very much. And this is a real star-studded a poll judge, polling judge at primary elec- event. And I want to salute the Governors tion time, the first time the Republican here today, past and present. I know Gov- Party had ever held a primary in Midland ernor Jim Martin’s here from North Caro- County. And Barbara and I were there al- lina. And Members of the United States Congress, I think four or five Congressmen ternating at the polls, poll watchers. She and with us here today, a couple of them with I voted Republican, and we represented us right here: Congressman Ravenel, home- two-thirds of the Republican vote that year, town boy, and others. And other distin- gospel truth. The only other guy that voted guished guests. And may I say that an early was a slightly inebriated Democrat. He supporter and friend of mine is running for thought he was voting in the—[laughter]— the Senate here, Tommy Hartnett. And I and you can go back and look up the want to see him elected to the United States records. Senate—former Member of Congress. And But some of you all are old enough to I also want to acknowledge key members remember those days. And sometimes if you of our political team: Rich Bond is with us, tried to register Republican, they’d tell you our new chairman, and Jeanie Austin, doing not to bother because there was no Repub- a superb job. And of course, the conference licans to vote for in the primary. Or times, chairman Martha Edens’ superb work here. out and out, there was intimidation, some- Keep up the good work, and thank you very times violence. And we went through a lot much, Martha. back then. And in fact, I’m sure many of And it’s great to be here in South Caro- you can share similar experiences. lina, host for the first time, but I’m sure And you say, well, why did we do it? Why not the last time, of this prestigious South- did we build a Republican Party in the ern Republican Leadership Conference. South when some said it was impossible? Four years ago, the South led our party to We did it because we wanted change, and a great victory across the entire country. we did it because we believed in some fun- And this year, the South will lead us to damental values: faith and family, responsi-

292 Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Feb. 21 bility and respect, community and of course Well, today the Republican Party is the country, the United States of America. And force for positive change in the New South, we did it because we saw the Government and I’m proud to have played a modest role getting too big and getting into our pockets, in that success. Our message then and our into every corner of our lives. And we did message now is simple. Carroll said a lot it because we worried about our families of it. We believe Government is too big and our schools and our neighborhoods. and spends too much. We believe in good And we did it because our taxes always schools and safe streets and a Government seem to go up at the same time America’s worthy of the people’s respect. And so, we problems got worse. And each of us in our believe in less Government, low taxes. Sure- own small way finally said, ‘‘Enough is ly we believe in a strong defense. And we enough.’’ believe that we put America first when we We were upstarts and mavericks. And we put America’s families first. challenged the status quo. We challenged And so, we believe that parents, not the the old, what was known as the courthouse Government, should make the big decisions. crowd, the closed-door, one-party rule of Parents, not Government, should choose the Democrats. And we did it because we their children’s schools. Parents, not the knew Republican principles were right. And Government, should decide the family’s they fought us every step of the way. But health care. And parents should choose who we fought hard, and we fought fair. And cares for their children, not some bureau- we took our message, smaller Government, crat in Washington, DC, telling us how to better Government, to the people of the do it. And yes, we believe it ought to be Carolinas and Virginia and and okay to have a voluntary prayer for children and the rest of this great region of in the classroom, and I’m not going to America. change my view on that ever. And we started winning, at first a House Those are our beliefs. And those are why seat here and a Senate race there. But our we built a party in the South and why we momentum grew. Momentum grew, and it continue, with your help, to build it today. grew. And we owe a great debt of gratitude Those beliefs don’t change from one elec- to our standard bearer in those early days, tion to the next. They still guide each and those that were out front: Howard Baker, every one of us each and every day. the late John Tower, the Bo Calloways and And now we’re at the beginning of a new Bill Brocks, Drake Edens and Clark Reeds, era in the history of our country. The cold and Bill Dickinson and John Paul Hammer- war is over, and America won. The Soviet schmidt and of course, the phenomenal fa- Union, as we remember it, has collapsed, vorite son of South Carolina, right behind gone. Imperial communism is finished for me, Strom Thurmond. When I think back good. American leadership changed the to one year ago almost to this very day, world. Republican leadership will change the tough decision that had to be made America. about committing your sons and daughters I know we’ve got tough times, but I am into a war, Strom Thurmond was of more totally confident about our future. But support to me than any single Senator in we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. There the United States Senate. And we should are some things that are simply on the be grateful for him. wrong track in our country. Take our courts, Well, these leaders paved the way, and for example. When fathers stop coaching they inspired a generation of talent that Little League because they’re afraid of li- transformed the Nation’s political landscape. ability lawsuits, something is wrong. And And I’m thinking now of another South when doctors stop delivering babies Carolinian, a good man and a good friend, because they fear a malpractice lawsuit, Lee Atwater. We miss him. We miss him something’s wrong. Or when people stop still. And it was great to have Sally Atwater volunteering to help each other because flying down with us this afternoon on Air they fear ambulance-chasing lawyers, some- Force One. Sally, we’re so pleased to be thing is terribly wrong. These days a sharp with you. lawyer would tell the Good Samari-

293 Feb. 21 / Administration of George Bush, 1992 tan, ‘‘Keep on walking.’’ the bills and providing a home and teaching We’ve proposed reforms to our court sys- the kids and putting aside for our retire- tem—they’ve got them sitting up there in ment. the United States Senate now—to address The American people, your neighbors, the questions of frivolous lawsuits, and that’s want this economy fired up again, and so a good step. But the real answer for solving do I. And in my State of the Union Address, problems is to be more concerned with I put forward a two-part plan. And the first helping each other than suing each other. part gets business growing again right now, And then I think about our Nation’s instantly upgrading plant and equipment health care system. Our health care system again, hiring workers again. It uses incen- provides, and let’s not forget this, the high- tives like an investment tax allowance. And est quality care anywhere in the world. But yes, it is clearly time for the Congress to it’s not perfect. We all know that. And too many people do not have access to health wake up and cut that tax on capital gains. insurance. Too many people worry that And to get housing back on its feet, I they’re going to lose their coverage if they put forth several commonsense proposals— change jobs or, worse still, if they lose their they’re sitting right there in House now— job. And anybody who’s had even minor to get people buying and building homes. surgery knows that health care costs are And perhaps the most easily understood going through the roof. proposal is a $5,000 tax credit for first-time The answer is not to go down the road homebuyers. With our plan, young people of socialized medicine with its long lines almost able to buy that first home could and faceless, impersonal service. If that’s do it with the extra $5,000 in their pocket. what we wanted, we’d put our doctors and And the plan we’re fighting against in the nurses to work for the department of motor Congress this very day gives them absolutely vehicles. Our plan, my approach, written nothing, nothing to that first-time home- out in detail, is to reform our health system, buyer. make insurance available to all, keep the You’re worried about the Democrats’ cur- quality high, the bureaucracy low, and pre- rent plan. I don’t want to say too much serve choice. And that is vital. And the last about it. It’s a nice evening here, and I thing we want is the Government standing don’t want to ruin it. Current plan, I say between you and your doctor. current because it seems to change just And then there’s the sorry welfare system. about every hour as they change it to garner It’s pretty obvious that the system now too in some votes from the special interests, to often perpetuates dependency when it buy votes. And that’s why it’s really not a should promote independence, promote ini- plan. It is simply a bad deal. It smacks of, tiative. We need to encourage individual and you’ve heard it before, class warfare. success through personal responsibility, the dignity of a job. And so, I’ve asked the de- And listen to the tradeoff in their deal: 25 partments and agencies to make it easier— cents a day in temporary tax relief for 2 and this is upon the advice of Jim Martin years, paid for, true to form for the Demo- and Carroll Campbell and others—to make crats, by a large permanent tax increase. it easier for State and local government to Now, some Democrats in the Senate have reform the system, reform policies that pro- other ideas. They want to get a bidding war mote broken families. We need to get peo- going. But to pay for that they’d have to ple to work, go after the deadbeat fathers hike tax rates for the middle class, people who run out on those little kids, or as they making $35,000, you know, people like do in Wisconsin, to make recipients work teachers and factory workers and everyday or study and to keep families together. Americans. And they won’t tell you that But we all know what the number one about their sorry plan. But that’s the esti- issue on the minds of Americans is, and mate I’ve been given by our experts. Any it is the economy. And it’s people worried economist will tell you the last thing our about their jobs, providing for their families, economy needs now is a tax increase by meeting the everyday challenges of paying that Democratic Congress. And their plan

294 Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Feb. 21 adds almost $30 billion to this deficit. And just exactly that. We’ve made headway. We the jobs it creates are more likely to be have made dramatic headway with this in- for more tax collectors. crease in exports, but we are going to do I believe the American people have about even better. had it with this tax-and-spend thinking. And Some people wish the rest of the world we drew a line in the sand in the Persian would just go away. That is naive, and that Gulf and kept our word, and I’ll draw an- is defeatist. They’re saying that a level play- other line in the sand right here today. If ing field isn’t level enough, that American the Democrats send me this nonsense ingenuity, American know-how, and the they’re talking about now, I will send it American can-do spirit are simply a bunch right back. I will veto it the minute it hits of hackneyed phrases. I don’t believe it. I my desk. don’t believe that for one minute, and nei- I sent them a plan, a good one. And that’s what they ought to work on, not some ther do you. America is not going to cut phony partisan maneuver that they know and run, ever. We’re going to stay involved, won’t fly. And I’ll say it again to the Con- and we are going to continue to lead the gress: Here’s the deadline, March 20th. And entire world. if we act by then, we can see some results Before I finish now, I have something to this spring. No more games, no more empty say about this primary campaign. Of course, gestures, just pass this plan and get the this campaign is important, not just to me economy going again, and then we can have but to you and to our country. And for the all the political fights we want. But let’s set sake of our country, we must not turn over it aside now and do something for the the Nation’s leadership to the Democrats. American people that are hurting out there. Republican leadership must continue. I said the plan had two parts; you may For 8 years, Ronald Reagan, I was at his remember that from the State of the Union. side, led this country. For the last 3 years, The second part is a long-term plan to keep I’ve stood on our principles and against a this country competitive, keep us vigorous. Democratic Congress that would undermine And it’s a road map for competing and lead- them. And with the help of our Republican ing America in this fast-changing world of leadership on Capitol Hill, 25 times our the 21st century. principles were upheld, vetoes of bad legis- Our plan revolutionizes America’s edu- lation sustained. cational system. Our plan gets the billions And the next 5 years of American history of dollars’ worth of cutting-edge Govern- are just too important to entrust to the inex- ment research and development into the perienced. I believe the American people hands of our private sector businesses and want to hear about how we’re going to ad- the workers faster than ever before. And dress our country’s challenges, how we can that helps us get a real return on your tax unite our people, create more opportunity dollars, investment helping to create new and hope for all Americans. And I believe jobs and products. Our plan provides tax relief to strengthen the American people want to hear solutions, the family. We raised the tax deduction for not just a lot of name-calling and running children by $500. Make no mistake, I want this country down. this plan passed in this session of Congress. And frankly, I also believe that sometimes Keep the heat on the Congress, and we can somebody’s got to stand up and say what’s get that done. right about the United States of America. But a central idea behind our approach And you can’t hear it from this campaign is that to succeed economically at home, going on out there. We are number one, we have to lead economically abroad. Car- and make no mistake about it, and we’re roll touched on this very eloquently. What going to stay that way. he means and what I mean is jobs right And another thing, maybe this is just my here in America by opening markets for our personal prejudice talking, let’s not listen to exports all over the world. And I’m going the gloom and doom from all those intense to fight hard in every foreign market to do talking heads who are happy only when

295 Feb. 21 / Administration of George Bush, 1992 they say something negative. We are the And yes, we have many challenges before United States of America, and we don’t us. I guarantee you, we will meet them, have to put up with all that. each and every one of them. And yes, Audience members. Four more years! there’s an election in November. And I Four more years! Four more years! guarantee you this: We will win it. I want The President. Let me just say, you and to be your President for another 4 years. I believe in America, and we are optimistic Thank you very much. Thank you very, about its future. And we believe in our very much. Now let’s go out and beat the party. And I am tremendously fortunate to Democrats in the fall. And may God bless serve as your President at this most exciting the United States of America. Thank you. time in our Nation’s history. Barbara and I count our blessings every day for the good fortune that we have to live in that majestic Note: The President spoke at 4:40 p.m. at White House and to do our level-best to the Omni Hotel. In his remarks, he referred serve the people of this great country. to Richard N. Brown, chairman, and Jeanie These next primaries are critical. I need Austin, cochairman, Republican National your help. I need your help to keep our Committee; Martha Edens, chairman, party strong and united so that we can win Southern Republican Leadership Con- this fall. And yes, we have much to do. But ference; and Ernie Angelo, Republican na- I guarantee you, we will get the job done. tional committeeman from Tennessee.

Radio Address to the Nation on the Economy February 22, 1992

Today I want to talk to you about getting quarter a day, but only for 2 years. This our economy moving. I know there’s a lot turns out to be a very costly quarter. After of debate about how to create jobs and the temporary cut expires, Americans would build economic strength, but in the end it shoulder the burden of a huge permanent all boils down to common sense. To tax increase. In other words, these congres- strengthen an economy, you encourage in- sional leaders want to give you 2 years of vestment. You support industries that pull pocket change in exchange for a lifetime nations out of recessions. You encourage of higher taxes. And that is a very bad deal success. for us and for our children who must pay In my State of the Union Address, I pro- the bill. posed a short-term economic plan that does And now my plan: My plan will create these things. I challenged Congress to set jobs. The real estate incentives alone will aside partisan politics for just a few weeks generate 415,000 new jobs this year. My and pass my plan by March 20. plan offers the hope of homeownership to Unfortunately, Democratic leaders re- fused to submit my plan for a quick, clean first-time homebuyers. Some people have vote. They chose politics over duty. They begun buying homes already, expecting huddled behind closed doors and played Congress to pass a plan that encourages real games with the Tax Code. They put out estate investment, my plan. Congress one plan one day, another plan the next. shouldn’t let those people down. Finally, they settled on a scheme that makes My plan will not increase the deficit. It no economic sense. makes some tough choices on Federal Their proposal won’t help homebuyers. spending because I refuse to mortgage our Their proposal will increase the deficit. It children’s future for short-term political borrows $30 billion to pay for a tiny tem- gain. My plan will not raise tax rates. I want porary tax cut. For each person in the aver- to raise the child deduction on Federal in- age family of four, it hands out about a come taxes by $500, and I want Congress

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