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A Times Editorial
VERBATIM: George W. Bush
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 13, 1999
The following is an excerpt from a recent speech by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, to the annual meeting of the Christian Coalition in Washington:
I'm sure by now you've heard talk about "compassionate conservatism." Some people are always asking me what it means. Well, you can tell them this.
It's conservative to cut taxes. It's compassionate to give people their own money back so they can save and dream and build.
It's conservative to reform welfare by insisting upon work, that's conservative. It's compassionate to take the side of churches and synagogues and charities that confront the suffering which remains.
It's conservative to confront illegitimacy. It's compassionate to offer practical help to women and children in crisis.
It's conservative to trust local people to make the right decisions for schools. It's conservative to insist upon high standards. It's compassionate never to quit on any single child who lives in America.
I welcome the label, I welcome the label. And it's on this ground that I will take my stand.