Release Date: 10/20/2004

President's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in New York City
Sheraton Hotel of New York
New York, New York

6:02 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Viva Bush! Viva Bush! Viva Bush!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thank you all for coming. So I said to Pataki, try introducing me at the convention; if it works out well, you can introduce me here tonight. (Laughter.) He gave a great introduction at the convention, for which I am grateful. (Applause.) And I appreciate his leadership and I appreciate his friendship.........

The health care system is an issue. We've got an issue in health care in this country. And there's a great philosophical divide. The guy I'm running against, Senator Kerry, wants to nationalize health care. He wants the bureaucrats to make the decisions for the doctors and patients.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: Exactly what he's for. For example, he wants to crowd out small businesses -- health insurance for small businesses by raising Medicare, putting more people on Medicaid. That's just bad policy, in my judgment. The best way to deal with health care is to make sure the poor have got health care at places like community health centers; to expand the children's health insurance programs to take care of low-income families that need help; is to expand health savings accounts; is to promote association health care plans so small businesses can pool risk, get insurance at the same rate that big businesses get.

I'll tell you what else needs to happen -- (applause) -- I'll tell you what else needs to happen, we've got to stop these frivolous lawsuits that are running good docs out of business. (Applause.) It's an issue in this campaign. Everywhere I go, people understand the high cost of medicine occurs because of these frivolous lawsuits. They also understand they're having trouble finding good docs. You talk to what it's like -- to people what it's like to be an OB/GYN here in America these days. Many young pregnant moms are having troubling finding an OB/GYN. They travel miles to get the help they need. I don't think you can be pro-doctor and pro-patient and pro-trial lawyer at the same time. (Applause.) I think you have to make a choice. I think you've got to make a choice. I made my choice. I'm standing with the docs, and I'm standing with the patients. I am for medical liability reform now. (Applause.)