Thursday, June 16, 2005

This is my President

President Attends 2005 President's Dinner

"I'm proud to be the head of a party that has a positive and hopeful and optimistic vision for every single person who lives in this country. (Applause.) And I'm proud to be a head of a party that is driving the debate on all the key domestic and foreign policy issues. (Applause.) Because of our achievements, the American people see us as the party of reform and optimism and results -- the party that is moving this nation forward. (Applause.)

All of us in Washington have a duty to the people who sent us here. Political parties can take one of two approaches. One approach is to lead, to focus on the people's business, to take on the tough problems. And that is exactly what our party is doing. (Applause.)

The other approach is to simply do nothing -- to delay solutions, obstruct progress, refuse to take responsibility. Members of the other party have worked with us to achieve important reforms on some issues. Yet, too often, their leadership prefers to block the ideas of others. We hear 'no' to making tax relief permanent. We hear 'no' to Social Security reform. We hear 'no' to confirming federal judges. We hear 'no' to a highly qualified U.N. ambassador. We hear 'no' to medical liability reform. On issue after issue, they stand for nothing except obstruction, and this is not leadership. (Applause.) It is the philosophy of the stop sign, the agenda of the roadblock, and our country and our children deserve better. (Applause.)"
Word to the wise, obstruction doesn't win elections. Just ask Tom Daschle.