Posted on 07/16/2004 3:01:21 PM PDT by Preacher777
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - President Bush met privately with a group of Old Order Amish during his visit to Lancaster County last Friday. He discussed their farms and their hats and his religion. He asked them to vote for him in November.
The Amish told the president that not all members of the church vote but they would pray for him.
Bush had tears in his eyes when he replied. He said the president needs their prayers. He also said that having a strong belief in God is the only way he can do his job.
This story has not been reported before. You might think an observant press follows the president everywhere, especially during a re-election campaign, but no reporter attended this meeting.
Sam Stoltzfus, an Old Order historian and writer who lives in Gordonville, spoke with a number of people present at the session with the president.
He related what happened to the Scribbler, saying the Amish “caught Bush’s heart.’’
The 20-minute meeting with Bush occurred immediately after the president addressed a select audience at Lapp Electric Service in Smoketown Friday afternoon.
An Amish woman who lives on a farm across Witmer Road from Lapp Electric that morning had presented a quilt to the president with a card thanking him for his leadership of the country.
Bush said he would like to talk to the quilter and her family.
So the Secret Service invited the family to meet the president. Friends wanted to come along, and the entire assembly eventually numbered about 60. They were evenly divided between adults and children of all ages.
The group walked together across the road to Lapp Electric.
Stoltzfus reports: “It took a while to get them through the metal detectors as these were farmers and shop men, with vice grips, pocket knives, and nuts and bolts in their pockets. Some ladies had baby gear. All pockets had to be emptied.’’
When the Amish were “found not to be a serious threat to national security,’’ they were allowed inside the office area of Lapp Electric and waited about 30 minutes for the president to appear.
“Babies got restless. Children squirmed,’’ Stoltzfus reports. “Suddenly the president and five Secret Service men stepped into the room. One housewife said, ‘Are you George Bush?’’’
The president replied in the affirmative and shook hands all around, asking the names of all. He especially thanked the “quilt frau,’’ who operates her own business selling quilts and crafts.
“He seemed relaxed and just like an old neighbor,’’ says Stoltzfus.
Bush said he had never met any Amish before and was curious about why the men were wearing straw hats rather than black wool hats. The Amish explained that they wear cooler straw in summer. Bush tried on a hat.
The president commented on the appearance of Amish farms, and an Amish man spoke apologetically about how he and his friends were not expecting to see the president and were wearing soiled work clothes. Bush said he did not mind that.
Another man remarked that he has twin daughters, as does Bush. The man said one of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the president and now she actually had done that.
“One of the young girls wanted to give Bush a whoopie pie cookie,’’ Stoltzfus says. “Bush declined it. The Secret Service man took it, as presidents aren’t supposed to eat untested food.’’
At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.’’
As the president left the room, one Amish man wished him good luck in November.
“The Amish group headed back to their farms and shops,’’ reports Stoltzfus. “Mothers took their children home for a nap and went back to their sewing and gardens.’’
Bush moved along to an appearance in York County, leaving behind a group of Old Order admirers who have tales to tell for the rest of their lives.
The Scribbler column runs Tuesdays and Fridays in the New Era.
Great read!! Neat to see the appreciation the Amish have for Bush!
Thanks for posting this. Surely we won't see it in the main stream media
Oh, man. The irony!
IF he doesn't, will he then be considered an "anti-Dentite"?
Giddy-up...
"Oh, man. The irony!"
I was thinking the same thing. Actually i was wondering how John Kerry would attempt to pander to that crowd.
and now perhaps since they have seen, met and spoken with him perhaps all of the Amish will go out and vote now. What a simple people with simple lives. ya gotta love it.
"At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.’’
When the mainstream press gets a hold of that quote they might have a field day.
"The man said one of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the president and now she actually had done that."
WOW
ping... FYI.
Great post!
This was a really nice story. Thanks for the post. I'm a bit impressed with the Amish backing Bush since they are anti war. But, they are probably pro soverignity and democracy, which Bush is maintaing for this country.
Sorry about my spelling... was interrupted and forgot spell check.
JERRY: I am not an anti-dentite!
KRAMER: You're a rabid anti-dentite! Oh, it starts with a few jokes and some slurs. "Hey, denty!" Next thing you know you're saying they should have their own schools.
JERRY: They do have their own schools!
KRAMER: Yeah!....
I love this President!
This visit could just easily have been a non election year meet and greet.
The untold talking point of the DNC is that we should be scared of Bush because he is a gentile religious man.
I would rather have this religious man than the other team of two lawyers of the "no controling legal authority" party. (remember its Kerry/Backwards)
I love this wonderful man. May some Amish who would otherwise not vote, reconsider.
I am a quilter and also a quilt collector. On many trips to lancaster County I have purchased quilts from Hanna Stoltzfus. I wonder if it was she who presented the quilt to President Bush. I would not be surprised!
I can tell you that the Amish people we met on out trips there are truely remarkable people...... and it was a joy to talk to them. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to have dinner with one family, visit with one family for the morning and exchange stories in the kitchen while tasting their shoo fly pie, sit in on a family quilting bee, and of course the many visits to Hanna's quilt shop above her kitchen. I know the President will cherish their sincere prayers.
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