Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:37 PM PDT by mountaineer
Wheeling's afternoon paper reported:
Nearly 1,000 people from across the Ohio Valley turned out this morning at Wheeling Park's White Palace to listen to Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry as he kicked off his "Jobs First Bus Tour" of four key election states.
"It's an honor to start my "Jobs First Bus Tour," said Kerry in a text of his speech provided by his staff. Kerry explained that he is going on the bus tour to talk to the residents of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
"Earlier today, I stood with some of the tri-state area's best in the mine," Kerry noted. "And I want to thank the mine workers for their endorsement this morning. I am lucky to have their support, and I look forward to finding a long-term financial solution to the coal miners' retiree health care program. I am looking forward to coming back to West Virginia, visiting the coalfields and talking about my plan to invest in clean coal technology." ....
Kerry said he wants to make America the best nation in the world again and make America's workers the best in the world as well.
"Here in Wheeling, the step that launched a new era of trade was the building of a single bridge the Suspension Bridge in 1849," Kerry said in the statement. "It crossed the Ohio River so that the things you made could cross America. Sometimes all it takes is one action or one idea that kicks open the door to economic opportunity and prosperity.
"But most of all, it can strengthen places like Wheeling. So that once again, the economy can work to strengthen the hopes and dreams of working people here in America and all over the world," Kerry said in closing.
(Excerpt) Read more at news-register.net ...
Shortly after I set up, fellow freeper sonsofliberty2000 showed up with a fine sign with a drawing of flipflops and a related message. We stood in the cool, damp weather for a while before deciding to to closer to the building. We received a few rude remarks and middle digits (Democrat IQ readings).
After a little while, a woman approached and asked whether we'd seen the kids from the local Catholic high school, as they were going to bring pro-life signs. We said we hadn't, but it wasn't long before about two dozen fine young people arrived. Also joining us were some Bush campaign people, including one young man dressed as the dolphin Flipper (get it? Flip flop? Flipper?) Some moms with small children also joined us a little later, and they made pro-life signs.
One of the guys had a bullhorn, and we regaled the assembled Dems (mostly union) with various chants. Kerry was at least 45 minutes late (emulating Bill Clinton), and we couldn't see him sneak in the back way. At our peak, we had about 40 on our side.
The event was supposed to last from 10:30 a.m. - noon, but it was well after noon before the attendees started leaving. Kerry was taking his time, even though he already was late for his next appearance in Washington, Pa. Our GOP operatives told us that he's really getting upset at the protesters greeting him wherever he goes, so keep up the good work, freepers and others!
Finally, we saw that one of the three or four full-sized buses (gobs of diesel fuel burning!) was about to get going, so we resumed chanting with vigor. Finally, he snuck out again - I think I may have caught a glimpse before he boarded one of the buses - and drove right by us at about 1:45 p.m. as we yelled and showed our signs, and we know he saw us.
More to follow ...
MOUNDSVILLE - Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry began his campaign stop in the Wheeling area early this morning by going 900 feet below ground in the McElroy Mine No. 10 of Consolidation Coal in Moundsville.
Kerry met with officials of the United Mine Workers of America and spoke with miners during a 30-minute trip down into the mine to get a view of what miners on the job encounter. The mine visit was an opportunity for Kerry to showcase his proposals to utilize technology to burn coal in a cleaner way that is safe on the environment while helping to promote the use of coal as a source of energy.
"We've got to get scrubbers on some of those companies (that burn coal) to help them burn clean," Kerry said to a coal miner.
The coal policy of Kerry involves investing in technology to make coal burn cleaner as one way to help keep coal mining jobs in America.
Before going down into the mine, Cecil Roberts, international president of the UMW, met with Kerry to officially present him with his union's endorsement. Roberts said that last week the various UMW Coal Miner Political Action Committees from around the country as well as the UMW executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Kerry.
A prepared statement by Roberts said one of the primary reasons for the UMW endorsement of Kerry's campaign is because, "they want someone in office who can end what they say has been a recent systematic rollback of health and safety protection for working coal miners by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration."
Roberts also gave Kerry a gift of a replica of a miner's lamp used in earlier times. When Roberts told Kerry that today was the beginning of turkey season Kerry said, "If you would have told me today was turkey season I'd be out (hunting) with you." rest of story
John Kerry was in Wheeling today, promising to bring new jobs to West Virginia. But that's the problem with Kerry, the Democratic Party's candidate for president. Like so many liberals, promises come easy to him. Keeping them, particularly to residents of the Ohio Valley, is a different story.
Northern Panhandle and East Ohio residents remember all too well the promises made by Kerry's ideological soulmates, ex-President Bill Clinton and ex-Vice President Al Gore. They, too, assured area voters - most particularly, steelworkers - that they could feel our pain and would do something about it.
What they did was to watch even more pain inflicted on the steel industry, in the form of laid-off workers by the thousands during the eight years of Clinton-Gore.
President Bush, while running for election four years ago, pledged that he would help steelworkers. Many of them voted for him.
But Bush kept his promise. He imposed stiff tariffs on certain imported steel products to give American workers breathing room. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel recovered from bankruptcy on Bush's watch.
It's true that, a few months ago, Bush was forced to rescind the tariffs. Kerry has criticized him for that and promised that, if elected, he'll help.
How? Kerry has admitted that, if elected, he would not reimpose tariffs. He has put forth no realistic plan to aid the domestic steel industry. He has merely promised that he will do so.
Promises, promises. We've heard them before. Kerry can't expect to win votes in this area with more of them. link
What a wimp he is. Can't take the heat!! AWWWW Poor baby!! Bush has liberal protestors following him where ever he goes and he just admires our freedom of speech he doesn't get upset. Great Job!
Supporters and protesters braved heavy rain and wind while they lined Market Street in Wheeling Sunday night waiting for Sen. John F. Kerry, who brought his campaign to the Ohio Valley.
Kerry was scheduled to speak to an audience of about 800 people today at Wheeling Park's White Palace, as well as to tour the McElroy Mine in Marshall County. The Wheeling stop is part of a three-day trip by Kerry to discuss with voters and local community leaders his plan to create new and better jobs in America. On the tour, Kerry will unveil new proposals designed to create and keep jobs in America and make the country more competitive in the world.
Kerry also plans to stop in southwestern Pennsylvania as part of the day's schedule, and he will spend Tuesday traveling in Ohio, visiting both Youngstown and Cleveland. Wednesday will take Kerry from Toledo to Michigan. All four states - West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan - are viewed by most political analysts as key states in deciding the outcome of the November presidential election.
In Wheeling, while pro-Kerry demonstrators holding signs printed with "Jobs First" and "Steelworkers for Kerry" heavily outnumbered protesters, a group of about 25 supporters of President George W. Bush made their voices heard, chanting "four more years" and holding their own signs while they waited.
One Bush supporter dressed in a dolphin costume and held a homemade sign printed with, "John Kerry, I'm a flipper too," a reference to an accusation made by opponents of Kerry who have said he "flip-flops" on issues. While the two groups waited for Kerry to arrive, they exchanged taunts from opposite sides of the street.
Even as rain began to fall, soaking many of those who attended the outdoor event, both sides managed to keep their spirits, and political convictions up, by taunting each other.
For the Kerry supporters, a "jobs first" chant and "out source Bush" were favorite chants, while the Bush supports yelled "flip-flop," as well as "four more years." rest of story
"Kerry was at least 45 minutes late"
Contrast that to the three visits we have had in our area (Hershey/Harrisburg) from President Bush. He was spot on time each time.
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