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2008 Republican Party
Platform
September 1, 2008
This platform is respectfully
dedicated to our
"
heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life."
_______
America the Beautiful
Katharine Lee Bates
Chairmen's Preamble
This is a platform of enduring
principle, not passing convenience the product of the most
open and transparent process in American political history.
We offer it to our fellow Americans in the assurance that our
Republican ideals are those that unify our country: Courage
in the face of foreign foes. An optimistic patriotism, driven
by a passion for freedom. Devotion to the inherent dignity and
rights of every person. Faith in the virtues of self-reliance,
civic commitment, and concern for one another. Distrust of government's
interference in people's lives. Dedication to a rule of law
that both protects and preserves liberty.
We present this platform
at an uncertain point in time. Our country remains at war and
committed to victory, but reckless political forces would imperil
that goal and endanger our nation. In the economy and in society
at large, it is a time of transformation. But the American people
will meet these challenges. Even with its uncertainties, they
embrace the future, but they are also too wise to rush headlong
into it. We are an adventurous, risk-taking people, but we are
not gamblers. A sound democracy trusts new leadership but insists
that it demonstrate the old virtues: the character and the command
that, in times of conflict and crisis, have led the Republic
through its trials.
This platform likewise rests
on proven truths and tested wisdom as it looks ahead, both to
deal with present challenges and to explore possibilities that
may sometimes seem beyond our grasp. It shows what the American
people can accomplish when government respects their rights,
conserves their resources, and calls upon their love of country.
It is not a tribute to bigger government.
Our platform is presented
with enthusiasm and confidence in a vision for the future, but
also with genuine humility humility before God and before
a nation of free and independent thinkers. As the party of ideas,
rather than a mere coalition of interests, we consider vigorous
debate a strength, not a weakness. Indeed, we are a party
as we are a nation of mavericks.
Yet we stand united today
because we are the one party that speaks to all Americans
conservatives, moderates, libertarians, independents, and even
liberals. We welcome all to our deliberations in the firm belief
that the principles embodied in this platform will prove to
be as compelling and persuasive as they are vital and enduring.
We do not fear disagreement, and we do not demand conformity,
but we do fight for our principles with confidence that the
best ideas will prevail in the end.
Our party embodies a uniquely
American spirit. It is the spirit of independent minds, the
conviction that open and honest debate is essential to the freedom
we enjoy as Americans. This platform is a testament to that
freedom and stands as our promise to future generations that
we will do whatever it takes to preserve it. It is grounded
on our heartfelt belief that our principles, our policies, and
our vision will lead our American family, not just through present
dangers, but to a horizon of prosperity and liberty mankind
has only begun to explore.
With gratitude for eight
years of honorable service from President George W. Bush and
Dick Cheney, the Republican Party now stands united behind new
leadership, an American patriot, John McCain. In support of
his candidacy and those of our fellow Republicans across the
nation and ever grateful to Almighty God for the political,
religious, and civil liberties we enjoy we, the representatives
of the Republican Party in the states and territories of the
United States, offer this platform to the American people.
Defending Our Nation, Supporting Our Heroes, Securing the Peace
Three decades ago, in a
world as dangerous as today's, Americans of all stripes came
together to advance the cause of freedom. They had witnessed
the wreckage of inexperienced good intentions at the highest
levels of government, the folly of an amateur foreign policy.
And so, in defiance of a world-wide Marxist advance, they announced
a goal as enduring as the vision of Isaiah, to "proclaim
liberty to the captives," and summed up America's strategy
for achieving that end in a timeless slogan: Peace through strength
an enduring peace, based on freedom and the will to defend
it.
That goal still requires
the unity of Americans beyond differences of party and conflicts
of personality. The rancor of past years must now give way to
a common goal of security for our country and safety for our
people. For seven years, the horror of September 11, 2001 has
not been repeated on our soil. For that, we are prayerfully
grateful and salute all who have played a role in defending
our homeland. We pledge to continue their vigilance and to assure
they have the authority and resources they need to protect the
nation.
Defending Our Nation
The Current Conflict Abroad
All Americans should affirm
that our first obligation is the security of our country. To
all those who defend it, we owe our full support and gratitude.
The waging of war and
the achieving of peace should never be micromanaged in a party
platform, or on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives
for that matter. In dealing with present conflicts and future
crises, our next president must preserve all options. It would
be presumptuous to specify them in advance and foolhardy to
rule out any action deemed necessary for our security.
Homeland Security
We acknowledge and appreciate
the significant contributions of all of America's First Responders,
who keep us safe and secure and who are ever ready to come to
our aid. The security of our country is now everyone's responsibility,
from the Department of Homeland Security to state and local
first responders, private businesses, and individual families.
The fact that eighty percent of our critical infrastructure
is in private hands highlights the need for public-private partnerships
to safeguard it, especially in the energy industry.
Along with unrelenting vigilance
to prevent bioterrorism and other WMD-related attacks, we must
regularly exercise our ability to quickly respond if one were
to occur. We must continue to remove barriers to cooperation
and information sharing. Modernized 9-1-1 services must be made
universally available and be adequately funded. We must be able
to thwart cyber attacks that could cripple our economy, monitor
terrorist activities while respecting Americans' civil liberties,
and protect against military and industrial espionage and sabotage.
All this requires experienced leadership.
Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation
The attacks of September
11, 2001 were a pivot point in our national experience. They
highlighted the failure of national policy to recognize and
respond to the growth of a global terror network. They should
have put an end to the Democrats' naive thinking that international
terrorists could be dealt with within the normal criminal justice
system, but that misconception persists.
The gravest threat we face
nuclear terrorism demands a comprehensive strategy for reducing
the world's nuclear stockpiles and preventing proliferation.
The U.S. should lead that effort by reducing the size of our
nuclear arsenal to the lowest number consistent with our security
requirements and working with other nuclear powers to do the
same. In cooperation with other nations, we should end the production
of weapons-grade fissile material, improve our collective ability
to interdict the spread of weapons of mass destruction and related
materials, and ensure the highest possible security standards
for existing nuclear materials wherever they may be located.
But that is not enough.
We must develop and deploy both national and theater missile
defenses to protect the American homeland, our people, our Armed
Forces abroad, and our allies. Effective, layered missile defenses
are critical to guard against the unpredictable actions of rogue
regimes and outlaw states, reduce the possibility of strategic
blackmail, and avoid the disastrous consequences of an accidental
or unauthorized launch by a foreign power.
Better Intelligence the
Key to Prevention
Intelligence is America's
first line of defense. We must increase the ranks and resources
of our human intelligence capabilities, integrate technical
and human sources, and get that information more quickly to
the warfighter and the policy maker. The multi-jurisdictional
arrangements that now prevail on Capitol Hill should be replaced
by a single Joint Committee on Intelligence.
Intelligence is Key to Fighting
Bioterrorism and Cyberterrorism
Bioterrorism and cyberterrorism,
once the stuff of science fiction films, are immediate threats
to our nation's health and safety. Our food and water distribution
systems require special vigilance. By the same token, a well-placed
cyber-attack could cripple our economy, shut down our energy
and transportation systems, wreck our health care delivery systems,
and put millions of lives at risk. Although our country has
thwarted new terrorist attacks since 2001, those threats do
persist. That is why our reform of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act was so vital, and why the Democrats' opposition
to it was so wrong.
Immigration, National Security,
and the Rule of Law
Immigration policy is a
national security issue, for which we have one test: Does it
serve the national interest? By that standard, Republicans know
America can have a strong immigration system without sacrificing
the rule of law.
Enforcing the Rule of Law
at the Border and Throughout the Nation
Border security is essential
to national security. In an age of terrorism, drug cartels,
and criminal gangs, allowing millions of unidentified persons
to enter and remain in this country poses grave risks to the
sovereignty of the United States and the security of its people.
We simply must be able to track who is entering and leaving
our country.
Our determination to uphold
the rule of law begins with more effective enforcement, giving
our agents the tools and resources they need to protect our
sovereignty, completing the border fence quickly and securing
the borders, and employing complementary strategies to secure
our ports of entry. Experience shows that enforcement of existing
laws is effective in reducing and reversing illegal immigration.
Our commitment to the rule
of law means smarter enforcement at the workplace, against illegal
workers and lawbreaking employers alike, along with those who
practice identity theft and traffic in fraudulent documents.
As long as jobs are available in the United States, economic
incentives to enter illegally will persist. But we must empower
employers so they can know with confidence that those they hire
are permitted to work. That means that the EVerify systemwhich
is an internet-based system that verifies the employment authorization
and identity of employeesmust be reauthorized. Aphasedin requirement
that employers use the E-Verify system must be enacted.
The rule of law means guaranteeing
to law enforcement the tools and coordination to deport criminal
aliens without delay and correcting court decisions that have
made deportation so difficult. It means enforcing the law against
those who overstay their visas, rather than letting millions
flout the generosity that gave them temporary entry. It means
imposing maximum penalties on those who smuggle illegal aliens
into the U.S., both for their lawbreaking and for their cruel
exploitation. It means requiring cooperation among federal,
state and local law enforcement and real consequences, including
the denial of federal funds, for selfdescribed sanctuary cities,
which stand in open defiance of the federal and state statutes
that expressly prohibit such sanctuary policies, and which endanger
the lives of U.S. citizens. It does not mean driver's licenses
for illegal aliens, nor does it mean that states should be allowed
to flout the federal law barring them from giving in-state tuition
rates to illegal aliens, nor does it mean that illegal aliens
should receive social security benefits, or other public benefits,
except as provided by federal law.
We oppose amnesty. The rule
of law suffers if government policies encourage or reward illegal
activity. The American people's rejection of en masse legalizations
is especially appropriate given the federal government's past
failures to enforce the law.
Embracing Immigrant Communities
Today's immigrants are walking
in the steps of most other Americans' ancestors, seeking the
American dream and contributing culturally and economically
to our nation. We celebrate the industry and love of liberty
of these fellow Americans.
Both government and the
private sector must do more to foster legally present immigrants'
integration into American life to advance respect for the rule
of law and a common American identity. It is a national disgrace
that the first experience most new Americans have is with a
dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy defined by delay and confusion;
we will no longer tolerate those failures.
In our multiethnic nation,
everyone immigrants and native-born alike must embrace our
core values of liberty, equality, meritocracy, and respect for
human dignity and the rights of women.
One sign of our unity is
our English language. For newcomers, it has always been the
fastest route to prosperity in America. English empowers. We
support English as the official language in our nation, while
welcoming the ethnic diversity in the United States and the
territories, including language. Immigrants should be encouraged
to learn English. English is the accepted language of business,
commerce, and legal proceedings, and it is essential as a unifying
cultural force. It is also important, as part of cultural integration,
that our schools provide better education in U.S. history and
civics for all children, thereby fostering a commitment to our
national motto, E Pluribus Unum.
We are grateful to the thousands
of new immigrants, many of them not yet citizens, who are serving
in the Armed Forces. Their patriotism is inspiring; it should
remind the institutions of civil society of the need to embrace
newcomers, assist their journey to full citizenship, and help
their communities avoid patterns of isolation.
Welcoming Refugees
Our country continues to
accept refugees from troubled lands all over the world. In some
cases, these are people who stood with America in dangerous
times, and they have first call on our hospitality. We oppose,
however, the granting of refugee status on the basis of lifestyle
or other non-political factors
Supporting Our Heroes
Republican leadership, from
the presidency to the Congress, has given America the best-manned,
best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led military in the world.
That is a radical change from the late 1990's, when national
defense was neglected and under-funded by the Clinton Administration.
Our Armed Forces today are modern, agile, and adaptable to the
unpredictable range of challenges in the years ahead. We pledge
to keep them that way.
Providing for the Armed
Forces
The men and women who wear
our country's uniform whether on active duty or in the Reserves
or National Guard are the most important assets in our military
arsenal. They and their families must have the pay, health care,
housing, education, and overall support they need. We must significantly
increase the size of our Armed Forces; crucial to that goal
will be retention of combat veterans.
Injured military personnel
deserve the best medical care our country has to offer. The
special circumstances of the conflict in Iraq have resulted
in an unprecedented incidence of traumatic brain injury, which
calls for a new commitment of resources and personnel for its
care and treatment. We must make military medicine the gold
standard for advances in prosthetics and the treatment of trauma
and eye injuries.
We must always remember
those who have given the ultimate sacrifice; their families
must be assured meaningful financial assistance. It is the solemn
duty we owe and honor we give to those who bravely don the uniform
of freedom.
National Guard and Reserves
We pledge to maintain the
strength of the National Guard and Reserves and to ensure they
receive pay, benefits, and resources befitting their service.
Their historic role as citizen-soldiers is a proud tradition
linking every community with the cause of national security.
We affirm service members' legal right to return to their civilian
jobs, whether in government or in the private sector, when their
active duty is completed, and we call for greater transition
assistance from employers across the nation to smooth their
return to the work force.
Personnel policies
The all-volunteer force
has been a success. We oppose reinstituting the draft, whether
directly or through compulsory national service. We support
the advancement of women in the military and their exemption
from ground combat units. Military priorities and mission must
determine personnel policies. Esprit and cohesion are necessary
for military effectiveness and success on the battlefield. To
protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America's Armed
Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness
of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture,
and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service.
Fulfilling our Commitment
to our Veterans
To military personnel who
have served honorably and then retire or leave active duty,
we owe a smooth transition to civilian life. Funding for the
programs that assist them should be sufficient, timely, and
predictable and never be subject to political gamesmanship.
Economic Opportunity for
Veterans
Returning veterans must
have access to education benefits, job training, and a wide
variety of employment options. We want to build on the bipartisan
expansion of the GI Bill by encouraging private colleges to
bridge the gap between GI Bill education benefits and tuition
costs. We will strongly enforce the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act so that returning veterans can promptly
return to their former jobs. Our existing "veteran preference"
regulations must lead to real action, not hollow promises. We
encourage private businesses to expand their outreach to the
veterans community, especially disabled veterans.
Veterans' Health Care and
Disability System
We will hold the VA accountable
for tangible results and steady improvement of its services.
The VA must become more responsive and more efficient by eliminating
its disability backlog and reducing waiting times for treatment.
To ensure that the VA provides veterans with world class medical
care, both at its own facilities and through partnerships with
community providers, we must recruit the next generation of
highly qualified medical professionals. Where distance or crowding
is an obstacle to traditional VA facility-based care, our veterans
should be provided access to qualified out-of-network providers.
We call for greater attention by the VA to the special health
care needs of women veterans, who will comprise an even larger
percentage of VA patients in the future.
The VA's current disability
compensation formulas need to be restructured and modernized.
Those who have borne the burden of war must have access to training,
rehabilitation, and education. Their families and caregivers
deserve our concern and support.
We pledge special attention
to combat stress injuries. There must be adequate counseling
when veterans return home for them and their families. They
should have ongoing professional care, whether in a VAfacility
or closer to home, so that the natural and usually temporary
responses to the horrors of war do not become permanent conditions.
We recognize the need for more mental health professionals who
can give the highest quality treatment to our veterans.
We applaud the non-profit
organizations which assist veterans and their families materially
and in other ways. They represent the best of the American spirit
and merit our support.
Procurement Reform
The military's partners
are the men and women who work in the defense industry and civilian
sector, supplying the Armed Forces with weapons and equipment
vital to the success of their mission. To ensure that our troops
receive the best material at the best value, we must reform
the defense budgeting and acquisition process to control costs
and ensure vigorous and fair competition. We will not allow
congressional pork to take the place of sound, sustained investment
in the nation's security.
Securing the Peace
The Republican vision of
peace through strength requires a sustained international effort,
which complements our military activities, to develop and maintain
alliances and relationships that will lead to greater peace
and stability.
Promoting Human Rights and
American Values
The international promotion
of human rights reflects our heritage, our values, and our national
interest. Societies that enjoy political and economic freedom
and the rule of law are not given to aggression or fanaticism.
They become our natural allies.
Republican leadership has
made religious liberty a central element of U.S. foreign policy.
Asserting religious freedom should be a priority in all America's
international dealings. We salute the work of the U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom and urge special training
in religious liberty issues for all U.S. diplomatic personnel.
To be successful international
leaders, we must uphold international law, including the laws
of war, and update them when necessary. Our moral standing requires
that we respect what are essentially American principles of
justice. In any war of ideas, our values will triumph.
State Department Reform
Advancing America's values
should be the core mission of every part of the federal government,
including the Department of State. America's diplomatic establishment
must energetically represent our country's agenda to the world.
We propose a thorough reform of its structure to ensure that
promotions and appointments are based on performance in supporting
the nation's agenda. Our diplomats must be the best our country
has to offer, and America's diplomatic abilities must be an
integral part of America's national security system.
Public Diplomacy
Throughout the Cold War,
our international broadcasting of free and impartial information
promoted American values to combat tyranny. It still does, through
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio/TV Marti, and it remains
an important instrument in promoting a modernizing alternative
to the culture of radical terror. Getting America's message
out to the world is a critical element in the struggle against
extremism, and our government must wage a much more effective
battle in the war of ideas.
Human Trafficking
Generations after the end
of slavery in America, new forms of bondage have emerged to
exploit men, women and children. We salute those across the
political spectrum who have come together to end the commerce
in our fellow human beings. We advocate the establishment of
an Inter- Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, reporting
directly to the President, and call for increased diplomatic
efforts with foreign governments that have been negligent toward
this evil. The principle underlying our Megan's Law publicizing
the identities of known offenders should be extended to international
travel in order to protect innocent children everywhere.
Sovereign American Leadership
in International Organizations
The United States participates
in various international organizations which can, at times,
serve the cause of peace and prosperity, but those organizations
must never serve as a substitute for principled American leadership.
Nor should our participation in them prevent our joining with
other democracies to protect our vital national interests.
At the United Nations, our
country will pay a fair, but not disproportionate, share of
dues, but we will never support a UN-imposed tax. The UN must
reform its scandal-ridden and corrupt management and become
more accountable and transparent in its operations and expenses.
As a matter of U.S. sovereignty, American forces must remain
under American command.
Discrimination against Israel
at the UN is unacceptable. We welcome Israel's membership in
the Western European and Others Group at the UN headquarters
and demand its full acceptance and participation at all UN venues.
We likewise oppose the ideological campaign against Vatican
participation in UN conferences and other activities.
Because the UN has no mandate
to promote radical social engineering, any effort to address
global social problems must respect the fundamental institutions
of marriage and family. We assert the rights of families in
all international programs and will not fund organizations involved
in abortion. We strongly support the long-held policy of the
Republican Party known as the "Mexico City policy,"
which prohibits federal monies from being given to non-governmental
organizations that provide abortions or actively promote abortion
as a method of family planning in other countries. We reject
any treaty or agreement that would violate those values. That
includes the UN convention on women's rights, signed in the
last months of the Carter Administration, and the UN convention
on the rights of the child. For several reasons, particularly
our concern for US sovereignty and America's long-term energy
needs, we have deep reservations about the regulatory, legal,
and tax regimes inherent in the Law of the Sea Treaty.
To shield the members of
our Armed Forces and others in service to America from ideological
prosecutions, the Republican Party does not accept the jurisdiction
of the International Criminal Court over Americans. We support
the American Servicemembers Protection Act, to shield U.S. personnel
and officials as they act abroad to meet global security requirements.
Helping Others Abroad
Americans are the most generous
people in the world. No nation spends more in combined public
and private efforts to combat disease and poverty around the
world, and no nation works harder to ensure the continued vitality
of the global economy. Our reasons for doing so are both moral
and practical, for a world where half of the human race lives
on a few dollars a day is neither just nor stable.
Including the world's poor
in an expanding circle of development is part and parcel of
the Republican approach to world trade through open markets
and fair competition. It must also be a top priority of our
foreign policy. Decades of massive aid have failed to spur economic
growth in the poorest countries, where it has often propped
up failed policies and corrupt rulers. We will target foreign
assistance to high-impact goals: fostering the rule of law through
democratic government; emphasizing literacy and learning; and,
concentrating on the foundations for economic development
clean water, agricultural improvement, and microcredit funding
for small enterprises. Maternal and child health, especially
safer childbirthing and nutrition, must be priorities, especially
in countries affected by epidemics of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and
tuberculosis.
Further, we call for the
development of a strategy for foreign assistance that serves
our national interest. Specifically we call for a review and
improvement of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 oriented toward:
alignment of foreign assistance policies, operations, budgets
and statutory authorities; development of a consensus on what
needs to be done to strengthen the non-military tools to further
our national security goals; greater attention to core development
programs education, child survival, and agricultural development;
and greater accountability by recipient countries so as to ensure
against malfeasance, self-dealing, and corruption, and to ensure
continued assistance is conditioned on performance.
Strengthening Ties in the
Americas
Faith and family, culture
and commerce, are enduring bonds among all the peoples of the
Americas. Republicans envision a western hemisphere of sovereign
nations with secure borders, working together to advance liberty
and mutuallybeneficial trade based on sound and proven free
enterprise principles. Our relations with our immediate neighbors,
Canada and Mexico, are grounded on our shared values and common
purpose, as well as our steadily increasing trade. We pledge
to continue this close association and to advance mutually beneficial
trade agreements throughout Latin America, promoting economic
development and social stability there while opening markets
to our goods and services. Our strong ties with Canada and Mexico
should not lead to a North American union or a unified currency.
Two factors distort this
hemispheric progress. One is narco-terrorism, with its ability
to destabilize societies and corrupt the political process.
In an era of porous borders, the war on drugs and the war on
terror have become a single enterprise. We salute our allies
in the fight against this evil, especially the people of Mexico
and Colombia, who have set an example for their neighbors. We
support approval of the free trade agreement with Colombia,
currently blocked by Capitol Hill Democrats and their union
boss supporters, as an overdue gesture of solidarity for this
courageous ally of the United States.
The other malignant element
in hemispheric affairs is the anachronistic regime in Havana,
a mummified relic from the age of totalitarianism, and its buffoonish
imitators. We call on the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean
to join us in laying the groundwork for a democratic Cuba. Looking
to the inevitable day of liberation, we support restrictions
on trade with, and travel to, Cuba as a measure of solidarity
with the political prisoners and all the oppressed Cuban people.
We call for a dedicated platform for transmission of Radio and
Television Marti into Cuba and, to prepare for the day when
Cuba is free, we support the work of the Commission for Assistance
to a Free Cuba. We affirm the principles of the Cuban Adjustment
Act of 1966, recognizing the rights of Cubans fleeing Communist
tyranny, and support efforts to admit more of them through a
safe, legal, orderly process.
Advancing Hope and Prosperity
in Africa
The great promise of Africa
has been dimmed by disease, hunger, and violence. Republicans
have faced up to each of those challenges because, in addition
to humanitarian concerns, the U.S. has important security interests
in the stability and progress of African nations. The devastating
toll of HIV/AIDS threatens to destabilize entire societies through
large numbers of orphaned youths. In response, the U.S. has
become the unrivaled leader in fighting the diseases that are
the scourge of much of the continent. Republican-sponsored legislation
has brought jobs and investment to sub-Saharan Africa. To continue
that progress, we advocate continued expansion of trade with
African nations.
Genocide must end. The horrendous
suffering of the people in the Darfur region of Sudan, as well
as less publicized human tragedies elsewhere, calls for a far
more energetic and determined response from Africa's elected
leaders. The United States stands ready to assist them with
materiel, transportation, and humanitarian supplies. We will
continue America's diplomatic efforts to secure a comprehensive
and humane settlement for the people of the southern and western
Sudan.
The promise of democracy
and freedom in Africa is diminished by the government of Zimbabwe,
which has seized lands without compensation, debased the currency,
murdered and tortured its people, and so intimidated voters
that free and fair elections are impossible. We support sanctions
against this government, free elections, and the restoration
of civil government in Zimbabwe.
Partnerships across the
Asia-Pacific Region
The U.S. is a Pacific nation,
and our historic ties to Asia will grow stronger in the years
ahead. Australia has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in every
major conflict. The ties between our peoples, our economies,
and our governments are extraordinary. We cherish our bonds
with our Freely Associated States in the Pacific Islands. Our
longstanding alliance with Japan has been the foundation for
peace and prosperity in Asia, and we look for Japan to forge
a leadership role in regional and global affairs. Another valued
ally, the Republic of Korea remains vigilant with us against
the tyranny and international ambitions of the maniacal state
on its border. The U.S. will not waver in its demand for the
complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North
Korea's nuclear weapons programs, with a full accounting of
its proliferation activities. We look toward the restoration
of human rights to the suffering people of North Korea and the
fulfillment of the wish of the Korean people to be one in peace
and freedom.
India
We welcome America's new
relationship with India, including the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear
Accord. Our common security concerns and shared commitment to
political freedom and representative government can be the foundation
for an enduring partnership.
Pakistan
We must expand our ties
with the government and the people of Pakistan. We support their
efforts to improve democratic governance and strengthen civil
society, and we appreciate the difficult but essential role
Pakistan plays in the fight against terror.
Taiwan
Our policy toward Taiwan,
a sound democracy and economic model for mainland China, must
continue to be based upon the provisions of the Taiwan Relations
Act. We oppose any unilateral steps by either side to alter
the status quo in the Taiwan straits on the principle that all
issues regarding the island's future must be resolved peacefully,
through dialogue, and be agreeable to the people of Taiwan.
If China were to violate these principles, the U.S., in accord
with the Taiwan Relations Act, will help Taiwan defend itself.
As a loyal friend of America, the democracy of Taiwan has merited
our strong support, including the timely sale of defensive arms
and full participation in the World Health Organization and
other multilateral institutions.
China
We will welcome the emergence
of a peaceful and prosperous China, and we will welcome even
more the development of a democratic China. Its rulers have
already discovered that economic freedom leads to national wealth;
the next lesson is that political and religious freedom leads
to national greatness. That is not likely to be learned while
the government in Beijing pursues advanced military capabilities
without any apparent need, imposes a "one-child" policy
on its people, suppresses basic human rights in Tibet and elsewhere,
and erodes democracy in Hong Kong. China must honor its obligations
regarding free speech and a free press as announced prior to
the Olympics.
Our bilateral trade with
China has created export opportunities for American farmers
and workers, while both the requirements of the World Trade
Organization and the realities of the marketplace have increased
openness and the rule of law in China. We must yet ensure that
China fulfills its WTO obligations, especially those related
to protecting intellectual property rights, elimination of subsidies,
and repeal of import restrictions. China's full integration
into the global economy requires that it adopt a flexible monetary
exchange rate and allow free movement of capital. China's economic
growth brings with it the responsibility for environmental improvement,
both for its own people and for the world community.
Vietnam
Our relations with Vietnam
have improved, but two grave matters remain. The first is the
need for unceasing efforts to obtain an accounting for, and
repatriation of the remains of, Americans who gave their lives
in the cause of freedom. The second is continued repression
of human rights and religious freedom, and the retribution by
the government of Vietnam against its ethnic minorities and
others who assisted U.S. forces there. We owe them a debt of
honor and will do all we can to relieve their suffering.
Burma
We urge all the nations
of East Asia to join the worldwide effort to restore the suffering
people of Burma to the democratic family of nations. The military
dictatorship in Burma is among the worst on the planet. Its
savagery demands a strong response from the world community,
including economic and financial sanctions and isolation of
the illegitimate regime.
Strengthening Our Relations
with Europe
Our country's ties to the
peoples of Europe are based on shared culture and values, common
interests and goals. We particularly appreciate our close friendship
with the United Kingdom, a relationship that has led the forces
of freedom for generations. The enduring truth that America's
security is inseparable from Europe's was reaffirmed by our
European allies after September 11, 2001. NATO, the most successful
military alliance in history, has been greatly strengthened
by the addition of new members in Central and Eastern Europe.
We believe the door to NATO membership should remain open to
all democratic nations who share our values and meet the requirements
for NATO membership. We strongly support NATO-endorsed efforts
to deploy missile defenses to protect our European allies from
the threat of Iranian missiles, and we appreciate the willingness
of the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic to host
these needed defensive systems. We condemn the Russian Federation's
attempts to intimidate states, formerly under Soviet domination,
in order to prevent their deploying missile defenses. The decision
on this question is for each sovereign nation to decide.
We support the ongoing reconciliation
efforts in Cyprus and Northern Ireland, including the appointment
of a U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. We condemn the
escalation of anti-Semitic violence, arson, and desecration
in Europe and other areas of the world.
Russia
Americans and the Russian
people have common imperatives: ending terrorism, combating
nuclear proliferation, promoting bilateral trade, and more.
But matters of serious concern remain, particularly the Russian
government's treatment of the press, opposition parties, and
institutions of civil society. It continues its aggressive confrontations
with its neighbors, from economic intimidation to outright warfare,
and has aligned with dangerous anti-democratic forces in the
Middle East. As a condition for its continued acceptance in
world organizations, Russia must respect the independence and
territorial integrity of all the nations of the former Soviet
Union, beginning with the republic of Georgia, and move toward
a free and democratic society.
The Middle East
The momentum of change in
the Middle East has been in the right direction. From Morocco
to the Gulf States, the overall trend has been toward cooperation
and social and economic development, especially with regard
to the rights of women. We acknowledge the substantial assistance
the U.S. has received from most governments in the region in
the war on terror. Those countries that have made peace with
Israel, whether officially or in fact, deserve our appreciation
and assistance.
We urge the continued isolation
of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah because they do not meet
the standards of the international community. We call for the
restoration of Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and the
full implementation of all UN resolutions concerning that country.
The struggle in which we
are engaged is ideological, not ethnic or religious. The extremists
we face are abusers of faith, not its champions. We appreciate
the loyalty of all Americans whose family roots lie in the Middle
East, and we gratefully acknowledge the contributions of American
Arabs and Muslims, especially those in the Armed Forces and
the intelligence community.
Israel
Israel is a vigorous democracy,
unique in the Middle East. We reaffirm America's commitment
to Israel's security and will ensure that Israel maintains a
qualitative edge in military technology over any potential adversaries.
Israel must have secure, defensible borders and we support its
right to exist as a Jewish state able to defend itself against
homicide bombings, rocket and mortar fire, and other attacks
against its people. We support the vision of two democratic
states living in peace and security: Israel, with Jerusalem
as its capital, and Palestine. For that to become a reality,
the Palestinian people must support leaders who reject terror,
embrace the institutions and ethos of democracy, and respect
the rule of law. We call on Arab governments throughout the
region to help advance that goal. We support Jerusalem as the
undivided capital of Israel and moving the American embassy
to that undivided capital of Israel.
The U.S. seeks a comprehensive
and lasting peace in the Middle East, negotiated between the
parties themselves, without the imposition of an artificial
timetable, and without the demand that Israel deal with entities
which continue to pledge her destruction. At the heart of any
peace process must be a mutual commitment to resolve all issues
through negotiation. Part of that process must be a just, fair,
and realistic framework for dealing with the Palestinian refugee
issue. Like all other elements in a meaningful agreement, this
matter can be settled only on the basis of mutually agreed changes
that reflect today's realities as well as tomorrow's hopes.
Iraq
A stable, unified, and democratic
Iraqi nation is within reach. Our success in Iraq will deny
al Qaeda a safe haven, limit Iranian influence in the Middle
East, strengthen moderate forces there, and give us a strategic
ally in the struggle against extremism. To those who have sacrificed
so much, we owe the commitment that American forces will leave
that country in victory and with honor. That outcome is too
critical to our own national security to be jeopardized by artificial
or politically inspired timetables that neither reflect conditions
on the ground nor respect the essential advice of our military
commanders. As the people of Iraq assume their rightful place
in the ranks of free and open societies, we offer them a continuing
partnership.
Afghanistan
In the seven years since
U.S. troops helped topple the Taliban, there has been great
progress but much remains to be done. We must prevail in Afghanistan
to prevent the reemergence of the Taliban or an al Qaeda sanctuary
in that country. A nationwide counterinsurgency strategy led
by a unified commander is an essential prerequisite to success.
Additional forces are also necessary, both from NATO countries
and through a doubling in size of the Afghan army. The international
community must work with the Afghan government to better address
the problems of illegal drugs, governance, and corruption. We
flatly reject the Democratic Party's idea that America can succeed
in Afghanistan only by failure in Iraq.
Iran
We express our respect for
the people of Iran who seek peace and aspire to freedom. Their
current regime, aggressive and repressive, is unworthy of them.
The Iranian people, many of whom risk persecution to speak out
for democracy, have a right to choose their own government.
As a rogue state, Iran's
leadership supports terror, threatens its neighbors, and provides
weapons that are killing our troops in Iraq. We affirm, in the
plainest words we can use, that the U.S. government, in solidarity
with the international community, will not allow the current
regime in Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
We call for a significant
increase in political, economic, and diplomatic pressure to
persuade Iran's rulers to halt their drive for a nuclear weapons
capability, and we support tighter sanctions against Iran and
the companies with business operations in or with Iran. We oppose
entering into a presidential- level, unconditional dialogue
with the regime in Iran until it takes steps to improve its
behavior, particularly with respect to support of terrorism
and suspension of its efforts to enrich uranium. At the same
time, the U.S. must retain all options in dealing with a situation
that gravely threatens our security, our interests, and the
safety of our friends.
Reforming Government to Serve the People
The American people believe
Washington is broken
and for good reason. Short-term politics
overshadow the long-term interests of the nation. Our national
legislature uses a budget process devised long before the Internet
and seems unable to deal in realistic ways with the most pressing
problems of families, businesses, and communities. Members of
Congress have been indicted for violating the public trust.
Public disgust with Washington is entirely warranted.
Republicans will uphold
and defend our party's core principles: Constrain the federal
government to its legitimate constitutional functions. Let it
empower people, while limiting its reach into their lives. Spend
only what is necessary, and tax only to raise revenue for essential
government functions. Unleash the power of enterprise, innovation,
civic energy, and the American spirit and never pretend that
government is a substitute for family or community.
The other party wants more
government control over people's lives and earnings; Republicans
do not. The other party wants to continue pork barrel politics;
we are disgusted by it, no matter who practices it. The other
party wants to ignore fiscal problems while squandering billions
on ineffective programs; we are determined to end that waste.
The entrenched culture of official Washington an intrusive
tax-and-spend liberalism remains a formidable foe, but we
will confront and ultimately defeat it.
Washington's Failure: the
Scope of the Problem
The federal government collects
$2.7 trillion a year from American families and businesses.
That's $7.4 billion a day. Even worse, it spends over $3 trillion
a year: $8.2 billion a day. Why? Largely because those who created
this bloated government will not admit a single mistake or abolish
a single program. Here are some staggering examples of the overall
problem:
Recent audits show that
22% of all federal programs are ineffective or incapable of
demonstrating results.
69 separate programs,
administered by 10 different agencies, provide education or
care to children under the age of 5.
Nine separate agencies
administer 44 different programs for job training.
23 separate programs,
each with its own overhead, provide housing assistance to the
elderly.
With so many redundant,
inefficient, and ineffective federal programs, it is no wonder
that the American people have so little confidence in Washington
to act effectively when federal action is really needed.
The Budget Process A Fraud
that Guarantees Runaway Spending
For more than three decades
since enactment of the Budget Act of 1974 by a Democrat-controlled
Congress the federal government has operated within a rigged
system notable for its lack of transparency. The earlier approach
annual passage of the appropriation bills, amended and voted
up or down, with the numbers there for all to see had its
flaws and generated much red ink. But its replacement, the current
budget process, only worsened the money flow and came to rely
on monstrous omnibus spending bills. The results are adverse
to all seeking to limit government's growth. For example:
The budget process assumes
every spending project will be on the books forever, even if
the law says the spending will expire but it assumes tax relief
will be temporary.
It treats well-deserved
tax cuts as a kind of spending, so that letting Americans keep
more of their earnings is considered the same as more spending
on pork projects.
It fails to recognize
the positive impact that lowering tax rates has on economic
growth.
In its deceptive and irresponsible
accounting, an increase in a program's funding is actually a
decrease if it is less than the rate of inflation.
Once a budget is produced
under that system, the budget law itself limits the time Congress
can consider it before voting.
Moreover, the budget's review
process is a sham. Of the $3 trillion spent annually, only onethird
is reviewed each year during the budget and appropriations process.
The remaining $2 trillion automatically goes to interest on
the national debt or entitlements. And because the budget process
assumes an automatic increase in spending, the debate on the
remaining one-third is only over how much more spending to approve.
Finally, while government
requires corporations to budget for future pension and health
care costs, our government ignores those requirements. No family
or private sector business could keep its books the way Washington
keeps ours.
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