2008 Woodie Awards
Bush visit met with protest
Danny Mathis
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: News
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Bush was welcomed with chants ranging from the simple, "No Talent, No Bush," to the more complex, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Bush and Talent have got to go," as he and his entourage rolled past the activists to the house of Scott Ward, co-president of Russell Stover Candies Inc.
"George, come talk to me. Come and tell me for what noble cause my son was killed for," one protestor called through a megaphone.
"I'm pleased that President Bush is campaigning with me," Talent said in an issued statement, "which will help bring attention to my work in the Senate for Missouri's common sense, conservative values."
The protest was organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Missouri Pro-Vote.
Nathan Riding of the Missouri Pro-Vote said they began work on the protest two weeks ago when they heard of Bush's Kansas City visit.
"This is an amazing protest because groups from around Kansas City have come together," UMKC student Julie Coon, junior, said.
An extreme minority of Bush and Talent supporters were in attendance.
"Obviously we [Republicans] are outnumbered here," said Cameron Cupp, a senior at William Jewell College. "Our candidates have a good message."
According to John Fryer, a junior attending Rockhurst High School, he "definitely felt animosity."
"I get the 'you're just a rich kid,'" he said. "Just because I support Jim Talent doesn't mean I'm a rich kid whose parents pay for everything."
Young Republican Ben Mccausland, 10, repeated "Go Bush, go Talent," in response to a less complimentary chant by a larger group.
"We're here so the children can see the protest," his mother said.
With midterm elections nine weeks away, the fundraising event was planned to raise money for Talent in his race against Democratic candidate Claire McCaskill.
The price tag for the meal was $1,000 per person, and 450 individuals were in attendance.
dmathis@unews.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Pamela Smith
posted 9/11/06 @ 10:20 PM CST
It is worthy to note that while there were over 500 anti-Bush policy protesters, there were only 12-15 Talent supporters, most of which did not even bother to make their own signs, simply carrying no-'Talent' pre-printed placards (supplied by the "good" senator). (Continued…)
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