Posted on 10/07/2002 8:54:24 AM PDT by BallandPowder
A pre-emptive strike drove the crowd inside, but it didn’t seem to dampen the mood as Oklahoma Congressman - and former University of Oklahoma football star - J.C. Watts visited Columbia yesterday to boost the Senate campaign of Jim Talent.
Only hours before the football Tigers kicked off against OU, Watts gave an impassioned speech on behalf of Talent, a former House member from St. Louis County who is locked in a tight battle with incumbent Democrat Jean Carnahan. Saying the Missouri race is probably the most important Senate battle in the country, Watts cited bills that have passed in the Republican House but failed in the Democrat-controlled Senate, including a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare and a bill creating a department of homeland security.
Watts also touted Talent’s work on welfare reform while a member of the House and said he believed in Talent even when the two voted differently, because "I trust his heart." "JimTalent is right for my kids," said Watts. "I would trust him with my family."
Despite the beautiful weather, the Republican rally was held inside the Roger B. Wilson Boone County Government Center, apparently because of a simultaneous peace rally that was in progress at the courthouse plaza. Talent, Watts and Columbia congressman Kenny Hulshof entered the government center through the back door, avoiding both the pro-Talent crowd and the anti-war crowd gathered between the building and the courthouse, and Talent later said that "we kind of got pre-empted."
But he used the peace demonstration as a jumping-off point to emphasize his support for the policies of President George W. Bush, saying that "We’re going to do what we need to do in the Middle East, and we’re going to support our president."
The candidate said that "folks who are demonstrating against United States’ attempts to make certain that there is peace and freedom in the Middle East need to think of what’s going to happen" if America waits until Iraqi President Saddam Hussein obtains a nuclear weapon. "Sometimes you have to be strong in order to keep the peace," he added, to applause from the crowd.
But the ominous talk of war was punctuated by banter about a less serious topic - the football game scheduled for later that afternoon. Hulshof said he had bad memories of then-quarterback Watts "running amok" at Faurot Field more than 20 years ago, while Watts, who wore an OU belt buckle, joked that his children were smart for standing in the back of the room with their Oklahoma shirts. Talent Campaign Manager Lloyd Smith said Watts planned to stay for tonight’s game, but Talent would only be able to catch part of it before heading to a campaign event in another part of the state.
For GOP partisans, the rally was a chance to see one of the most recognizable Republicans in Congress up close and possibly for the last time since Watts is not seeking re-election. Renee Miedema of Columbia said she appreciated Watts’ honesty, and said Talent’s character will make the difference in the Senate race.
Steve Sluis, a Talent supporter from Union who was in Columbia to see family, said he was impressed with Talent’s work on welfare reform and was disappointed in Carnahan’s vote against the confirmation of Attorney General John Ashcroft. Ashcroft was defeated in 2000 when Carnahan’s late husband, Mel, was elected posthumously. Carnahan was appointed to fill her husband’s seat.
"John Ashcroft was as gentlemanly and as kind to Mrs. Carnahan as he could possibly be … I feel like he got a raw deal when she voted against him," Sluis said
To bad the St. Louis and Kansas City democratic toiletpapers won"t print an article like this!
Help Jim Talent take back the Senate!
POLL from 9/3-5 by Research 2000: Talent 45% Carnahan 46% Margin of Error: 4% To make a contribution to Jim Talent, former Congressman from St. Louis, running against current Senator Jean Carnahan (who was appointed when her dead husband narrowly "won" in 2000 election over John Ashcroft), click on the Link below or mail a check to the address below.
Jim Talent for Senate
9433 Olive Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
Help Jim Talent take back the Senate!
POLL from 9/3-5 by Research 2000: Talent 45% Carnahan 46% Margin of Error: 4% To make a contribution to Jim Talent, former Congressman from St. Louis, running against current Senator Jean Carnahan (who was appointed when her dead husband narrowly "won" in 2000 election over John Ashcroft), click on the Link below or mail a check to the address below.
Jim Talent for Senate
9433 Olive Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
Help Jim Talent take back the Senate!
POLL from 9/3-5 by Research 2000: Talent 45% Carnahan 46% Margin of Error: 4% To make a contribution to Jim Talent, former Congressman from St. Louis, running against current Senator Jean Carnahan (who was appointed when her dead husband narrowly "won" in 2000 election over John Ashcroft), click on the Link below or mail a check to the address below.
Jim Talent for Senate
9433 Olive Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
Help Jim Talent take the Senate away from the Senator Da$$hole!
In the past two weeks, Republican senate candidate Jim Talent eliminated the lead held by Democratic incumbent Jean Carnahan. The survey taken this past weekend shows Carnahan and Talent are tied at 48-percent. That's a gain of five percent for Talent and a drop of three percent for Carnahan from the Survey USA poll conducted two weeks ago. Support Jim Talent!
Jim Talent for Senate
9433 Olive Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
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