MichaelMoore.com

Wet protesters rain on Bush's parade

By Aaron Keith Harris / Green County Dailies

RIVERSIDE, OH — About three dozen Democrats stood in a cold drizzle for a couple of hours Thursday morning, hoping to have President Bush catch a glimpse of their protest.

But Bush’s motorcade entered Wright-Patterson Air Force Base about a quarter of a mile away from the crowd, which had gathered along Springfield Street near the Bong Street entrance to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Still, the protesters, hoisting signs with messages in opposition to Bush, McCain and the Republican Party, seemed happy to get their message out and to let off a little steam.

“I’m angry and I want a chance to express that,” said Judy Williams, of Xenia, who said most of her anger with Bush was focused on “the horrible loss of money and lives in Iraq.”

Williams also decried what she called the Republican party’s “meanspiritedness” toward gays and immigrants.

“I’m gratified that in the rain, so many turned out and about half of them are from Greene County,” said Greene County Democratic Party Chairman Don Hollister.

Eileen Martin, office manager for the Greene County Democrats, said Republican John McCain is too much like Bush, especially on Iraq. “Ohio can’t afford a third Bush term,” said Martin, echoing the message on her sign.

At least a couple of people in the crowd were not there to protest. Instead, Kerry Harner, of Dayton, and his son Kenny, an eighth-grader at Patterson/Kennedy Elementary School, wanted to catch a glimpse of a president they support.

“I don’t agree with [the protesters], that’s why I’m standing over here,” said Harner. “But that’s why we’re fighting the War on Terror, so they have the right to say what they want to say.”

In addition to the roadside protest, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and some Miami Valley Democratic officials and candidates spoke to the media at a nearby hotel.

“The president’s message is going to be convoluted and it will mislead the people of this county and of the country,” Redfern said.

He echoed the protesters’ main theme, saying, “The president’s failed policy in Iraq is going to be with us as Americans for decades.”

Roger Tackett, Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 10th District Senate seat, linked Iraq War spending to the slowing domestic economy.

“The economy has been more difficult lately than in many, many years,” Tackett said. He said that the Iraq war is costing U.S. taxpayers $12 billion per month, money that Tackett said could be better spent on Medicare, Social Security, economic development and infrastructure maintenance and repair.

State Rep. Chris Widener, Republican candidate for Ohio’s 10th District Senate seat, joined Bush later in the day at a fundraiser for the Ohio Republican Party at the Sugarcreek Township home of Marty and Lisa Grunder.

Widener contributed $1,000 to the ORP to be at the event, during which Bush addressed the about 100-person crowd for almost an hour before taking about 10 questions, Widener said.

“I think he’s a very confident and decisive leader and a lot of people don’t like leaders like that,” Widener said.

In addition to the Iraq War, Bush commented on other national defense issues, the environment and the economy, Widener said.

“I’m not sure about the stimulus package,” said Widener of the recent measure signed by Bush to try to jumpstart the economy. “But I can tell you that the tax cuts have to become permanent, because there’s no way anyone — employee or employer — can take a tax increase right now.”