Boston car finance used

Thank you all very much for coining. Thank you. Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in Boston. Thank you. [Laughter] I spent some quality time here in the seventies--[laughter]--mostly in the library at Harvard, of course. [Laughter] Well, I spent some quality time here.

I really appreciate the traditions here in Massachusetts. Last weekend I had the honor of participating in one of the city's finest traditions. It was the annual Saint Patrick's Day breakfast in South Boston. I called in. The good Senator took my call. Actually, he took Andy Card's call, a great Massachusetts citizen. And Andy handed me the phone. When I called in, I had the feeling they were going to ask me about a Massachusetts politician who had his eye on the White House, so I addressed the issue as directly as possible. I told Mitt the job was filled until 2008.

I'm proud of the job this good man is doing as Governor of this great State. Mitt Romney is a great Governor. And like me, he married very well. [Laughter] I'm proud Ann is here with us tonight. Ann, thank you for coming.

And I'm sorry Laura is not here. She is a fabulous First Lady. She is a great wife. She's visiting her mom in Midland, Texas. Like me, we put our faith in families first, above all. And she is--[applause].

I appreciate my friend Ambassador Dick Egan, for helping make this an incredibly successful fundraiser. The country called, and he responded as the Ambassador to Ireland. He did a fine job on behalf of the citizens of this country. Dick, thank you for your service.

And my old buddy, the former Governor of Massachusetts, Bill Weld is here tonight. I appreciate you coming, Governor. I want to thank all the State officials who are here and local officials who are here. I see the high sheriff and others here today. I want to thank my friend Joe O'Donnell for renting a tie for tonight. [Laughter] I appreciate so very much Mercer Reynolds, who is the national finance chairman for my campaign, for taking time out to make sure that we're able to get our message out all across our country.

I want to thank all the people who have worked so hard to really do a fantastic job, when you think about it. We've come to Boston, Massachusetts--some people would think that we wouldn't have much support here. But they're wrong. We've got a lot of support in this city.

I want to thank Darrell Crate, who is the chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, for being here. And I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. Nobody should take any State for granted in 2004.

The Vice President and I are counting on you. We want your help. We want you out there turning those voters out. Speaking about the Vice President, I made a really good pick when I asked Dick Cheney to be the Vice President of the United States. One time, giving a speech in front of Mother and Dad, I said, "Dick Cheney is the finest Vice President our country has ever had." Mother said, "Wait a minute." [Laughter] But he's doing a great job. [Laughter]

I've had the opportunity to observe the two United States Senators from this State. Your senior Senator, Ted Kennedy, is a very effective legislator. In Washington, he's known as the conservative Senator from Massachusetts. [Laughter] Your other Senator, my opponent, is an experienced Senator. He's built up quite a record. My opponent has been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue. [Laughter] He voted for the PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for the No Child Left Behind Act, and for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation of Iraq. My opponent clearly feels very strongly about each of these issues. [Laughter]

In order to lead this country, you have to be consistent and clear. Someone asked Senator Kerry why he voted against the $87-billion funding bill to help our troops in Iraq. Here's what he said: "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it" --[laughter]--end of quote. [Laughter] That sure clears things up, doesn't it? [Laughter]

His answers aren't always so clear, but the voters will have a clear choice in this campaign. It's a choice between keeping the tax relief that is moving this economy forward or putting the burden of higher taxes back on the American people. It is a choice between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence or an America that is uncertain in the lace of danger.

I'm looking forward to this campaign. I'm looking forward to traveling this great country to talk about what I want to do for our country'. I'm looking forward to reminding people that in 3 years, we've achieved great things. The most important thing is that we have a positive vision, an optimistic vision, a hopeful vision for the years ahead. We have a positive vision for winning the war against terror and extending peace and freedom throughout the world, a positive vision for promoting opportunity and compassion here at home. I'm going to leave no doubt where we stand, and we're going to win on the 2d of November.

The last 3 years have brought serious challenges, and we have given serious answers. We came to office with a stock market in decline, an economy heading into recession. We delivered historic tax relief, and now our economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation in the world. We had to confront corporate crime that cost people their jobs and their savings. We passed strong corporate reform and made it clear we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America.

We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning, so we pursued the terrorist enemy across the world. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them will learn there is no cave or hole deep enough to hide from American justice. We confronted the dangers of state-sponsored terror and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, so we ended two of the most violent and dangerous regimes on Earth. We freed over 50 million people, and once again, America is proud to lead the armies of liberation.

When Dick Cheney and I came to office, we found a military that was underfunded and underappreciated, so we gave our military the resources and respect they deserve. And today, no one can question the skill, the strength, or the spirit of the United States military.

It is the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. A President needs to step up to make the hard decisions and to keep his commitments, and that is how I will continue to lead our Nation.

Great events will turn on this election. The man who sits in the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. The security and prosperity of America are at stake. The other side hasn't offered much in the ways of strategy to win the war or policies to expand our economy. So far, all we hear from that side is a lot of old bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda for the future of this country. I will take on the big issues with optimism and resolve and determination. I will make it clear to the American people, I stand ready to lead this Nation for 4 more years.

The big issue for every American family is the Federal tax burden. With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was President, we've left more money in the hands that earned it. By spending and investing and helping to create new jobs, the American people have used their money far better than the Federal Government could have.

I'm optimistic about the future of this country because I've seen Americans overcome economic challenge after economic challenge. I'm optimistic because of the good policies we've put in place but optimistic because of the hard work and productivity of the American people.

Economic growth in the second half of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Business investment is rising. Disposable income is rising. Inflation is low. Homeownership is at the highest rate ever. The minority homeownership rate is at the--nearly tit the highest level ever. Job creation is gaining strength. We've added over 350,000 new jobs over the last 6 months. The tax relief we passed is working.

My opponent has a different view of tax relief. When we passed an increase in the child credit to help families, he voted against it. When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted against it. When we created a lower 10-percent rate for working families, he voted against it. When we reduced the tax rate on dividends that many seniors depend upon, he voted against it. When we gave small businesses tax incentives to expand and hire, he voted against it. When we passed a phase-out of the death tax, he voted against it. We're beginning to see a pattern. [Laughter]