President's Remarks in Jacksonville, Florida
Remarks by the President at Victory 2004 Rally
Alltel Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida

Release Date: 10/23/2004

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you so much for coming today. Brother Jeb said, why don't we go to Jacksonville, maybe a couple of folks will show up to say hello. (Applause.) Laura and I thank you so very much for coming out on a Saturday afternoon. I'm here to ask for your vote, and I'm here to ask for your help. (Applause.) People are voting here in Florida. You need to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls, and by the way, when you're getting people to go to the polls, don't overlook discerning Democrats, people like Senator Zell Miller from Georgia. (Applause.) With your help, we'll carry Florida again and win a great victory in November. (Applause.)...............

And we'll continue to improve our life for our families by making health care more affordable and accessible. We'll expand health savings accounts so more small businesses can cover their workers and more families are able to get health care accounts they manage and they call their own. We'll create association health plans so small businesses can join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. (Applause.) We will help our families in need by expanding community health centers. We'll make sure every eligible child is enrolled in our government's low-income health insurance program.

And we'll help patients and doctors all across this nation by doing something about the frivolous and junk lawsuits that are running up your costs and running good doctors out of practice. (Applause.) I have met too many good docs being run out of practice because of these junk lawsuits. I met too many OB/GYNs who are not able to practice their skill. I met too many pregnant women who are having to drive miles, which isn't right. Our expectant moms need good, quality health care, and these lawsuits are making it tough for them to find good, quality health care. You cannot pro-doctor, pro-patient, and pro-personal injury lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) You have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: I have made my choice. I'm standing with the docs and the patients. I am for medical liability reform now. (Applause.)

Senator Kerry has a different point of view on our schools and health care. Listen, he voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, but now he wants to weaken the accountability standards. He's proposed including measures like teacher attendance to judge whether students can read and write and add and subtract. He voted against health savings accounts. He opposed association health plans. He has voted ten times against medical liability reform. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. (Applause.)