Bush, Saying ‘Stand with Me,’ Vows to Extend Freedom
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With a speech marked by both idealism and humility, President Bush yesterday accepted his party’s nomination and promised not to let up in the war against terrorism.
He offered an ambitious second term domestic agenda including an overhaul of the tax code, and he dwelled on what he said was America’s “calling” of spreading freedom abroad.
“I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes,” Mr. Bush declared, prompting delegates to break out in a refrain of “USA! USA!”
“Freedom is on the march,” the president said. “Tonight, my fellow Americans, I ask you to stand with me.”
While Mr. Bush suggested in a recent interview that the war might not be winnable, last night he said flatly, “We will prevail.”
As Mr. Bush defended his decision to go to war in Iraq, he repeatedly invoked the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. “We know that September 11th requires our country to think differently: We must, and we will, confront threats to America before it is too late,” Mr. Bush said. The president said that as he considered the Iraqi menace he thought, “Do I forget the lessons of September 11th and take the word of a madman, or do I take action to defend our country? Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time.”
Mr. Bush argued that his administration’s policies have prompted a dramatic reversal of fortune for terrorists around the globe and for others who pose a threat to America.
“Four years ago, Afghanistan was the home base of Al Qaeda, Pakistan was a transit point for terrorist groups, Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for terrorist fund-raising, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, Iraq was a gathering threat, and Al Qaeda was largely unchallenged as it planned attacks,” Mr. Bush said. “Today, the government of a free Afghanistan is fighting terror, Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders, Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests, Libya is dismantling its weapons programs, the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom, and more than three-quarters of Al Qaeda’s key members and associates have been detained or killed. We have led, many have joined, and America and the world are safer,” he said.
Mr. Bush also said the changes in Afghanistan and Iraq would help bring peace to the entire Middle East. “Their example will send a message of hope throughout a vital region. Palestinians will hear the message that democracy and reform are within their reach, and so is peace with our good friend Israel,” the president said. “I believe that billions in the Middle East plead in silence for their liberty,” he added.
Mr. Bush was forced to suspend his remarks twice as law enforcement personnel marched protesters out of the convention hall. In each instance, the crowd shouted, “Four more years!” as the demonstrators were removed.
Mr. Bush took a few jabs at his Democratic opponent, Senator Kerry of Massachusetts. However, when compared with the most strident attacks visited on Mr. Kerry earlier this week by Mayor Giuliani and Senator Miller of Georgia, Mr. Bush’s salvos seemed mild.
Like other speakers, Mr. Bush faulted Mr. Kerry for his vote against funding for military operations in Iraq.
“When asked to explain his vote, the senator said, ‘I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.’ Then he said – then he said he was proud of that vote. Then, when pressed, he said it was a complicated matter,” the president said. “There is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.”
Mr. Bush also argued that Mr. Kerry insulted America’s allies when he mocked the coalition that the administration assembled to support the invasion of Iraq.
“In the midst of war, he has called America’s allies ‘a coalition of the coerced and the bribed.’ That would be nations like Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, El Salvador, Australia, and others – allies that deserve the respect of all Americans, not the scorn of a politician,” the president said.
Mr. Bush poked fun at Mr. Kerry’s alliance with liberals in the entertainment industry and his assertion that he is the truly conservative candidate in the race. “If you say the heart and soul of America is found in Hollywood, I’m afraid you are not the candidate of conservative values,” he said.
Mr. Bush devoted about half of his speech, which stretched to more than an hour, to domestic issues. He announced a series of new domestic initiatives, including an overhaul of the nation’s tax system. The president called the tax code “a complicated mess filled with special interest loopholes, saddling our people with more than six billion hours of paperwork and headache every year.”
“The American people deserve and our economic future demands a simpler, fairer, pro-growth system,” Mr. Bush said.
Mr. Bush also promised to expand health and employment programs that are considered to be at the core of the Democratic agenda. The president said he would double the number of Americans served by government-funded job training programs. He also vowed to ensure that “every poor county in America has a community or rural health center.”
As for the humility part, Mr. Bush conceded last night, “I have a few flaws, too. People sometimes have to correct my English – I knew I had a problem when Arnold Schwarzenegger started doing it. Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called walking.'”
The Bush campaign appeared intent yesterday on countering the sea of military uniforms that appeared at the Democratic Convention in Boston as Mr. Kerry accepted that party’s nomination in July. Early in last night’s proceedings, 18 retired generals and admirals took the stage to voice their support for Mr. Bush’s re-election.
The platoon of flag officers introduced the big military name of the night, General Tommy Franks. The crowd let out a deafening roar as the general, who led the American military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, strode to the podium.
“I choose George W. Bush because his vision to take the fight to the terrorists is the best way to protect our country,” General Franks declared. “We are going to fight the terrorists. The question is do we fight them over there or do we fight them here. I choose to fight them over there.”
General Franks said that as American forces prepared for battle, Mr. Bush repeatedly asked commanders if they had everything they needed to reduce the dangers to the troops.
“Citizens and friends, I’ve been with this president in tough and uncertain times. And George W. Bush is the real thing. He is the real thing,” General Franks said.
General Franks, who said he does not belong to a political party, refrained from mentioning the Democratic nominee by name. However, the general did make comments that appeared to be an indirect critique of Mr. Kerry
“Some argue that we should treat this war as a law-enforcement issue. Some say we should fight a less aggressive war, that we should retreat into a defensive posture and hope that the terrorists don’t attack us again,” General Franks said. “Well, my wife Cathy and I are simply not willing to bet our grandchildren’s future on the good will of murderers. I learned long ago that hope, while so terribly important, is not a strategy.”
As on previous nights, there were a series of video presentations, some live and some recorded. One video played just before Mr. Bush spoke painted the president as heroic for throwing out the first pitch at a World Series game played in Yankee Stadium soon after the terrorist attacks on New York.
In another video, Mr. Bush made a personal appeal for the votes of Hispanics. He listed Hispanic members of his administration and touted the heroism of Hispanic members of the armed forces. A large proportion of the live video reports featured African Americans, either as hosts or interview subjects.
Mr. Bush spoke from a “theater in the round” stage constructed in Madison Square Garden solely for his speech. Strobe lights installed around the arena flashed repeatedly during the president’s remarks, simulating camera flashes and adding to the frenzied atmosphere.
In and around the arena, security was heavy if somewhat arbitrary. Senator Bond of Missouri, a Republican, was prevented from reaching the floor for several minutes even after he presented a Senate identification card.
A number of prominent Democrats moved freely around the hall, including Rep. Charles Rangel, who did a series of press interviews. A bombastic spokesman for the California Democratic Party, Robert Mulholland, also moved unobtrusively through the arena with a “special guest” credential.