Posted on 08/06/2004 4:16:46 AM PDT by ResistorSister
CANTON — The Timken Co. didn’t load the dice with the group of workers selected to ride on President Bush’s campaign bus.
At least two of the Steelworkers chosen have little or no inclination to vote for Bush in November.
When Bush came to Ohio on Saturday, his motorcade started in Cleveland and picked up 10 Timken employees in Akron. They talked with the president during the ride to Canton.
Timken spokesman Jason Saragian said the company’s only role was selecting the employees for the event. Half were salaried and half were union workers.
“We looked for associates to represent the broadest cross section of the business here,” Saragian said.
Two of the Steelworkers on the bus know the president by another title: Commander in chief.
Bob Welling just returned from more than a year’s tour in Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He is a staff sergeant with the 1485th Transportation Co., and came home in May.
He drove truckloads of supplies daily from the former Saddam Hussein Airport to Camp Anaconda, north of Baghdad.
John Grogg is awaiting deployment to Iraq with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. An electric arc furnace operator at the Faircrest Steel Plant with 26 years of service at Timken, Grogg served in Vietnam with the Marines, and in Operation Enduring Freedom in 1987 with the Air National Guard.
Welling, a mechanical maintainer at the Gambrinus Steel Plant, has been with the company for 26 years. He isn’t sure why he was picked, but his service in Iraq is the best bet.
“I assume that’s the reason,” he said.
It’s not his politics. “I didn’t vote for the president last time, and I don’t know if I’ll vote for him this time.”
He’s still undecided about his vote in November, but “I’m a Democrat. I have been for years,” he said.
He believes most local union members will vote for Kerry. “The union always has been Democratic,” he said. “I think the majority of union votes will be Democratic. They’re endorsing Kerry.
“I’m not a politician. I don’t think Kerry has the answer. I don’t think Bush has the answer,” he said. “And even if they do, and Congress doesn’t go along with it ... .”
He believes the bus ride was at the least part damage control for the Bush campaign, which has taken heat in response to Timken Co.’s announcement of plans to close bearing operations in Canton.
During the bus trip, the president asked him about his tour in Iraq, and discussed the situation at Timken, jobs, the economy and sports.
Even though it wasn’t persuasive, Welling was taken with Bush’s manner. “I was impressed. He seemed really casual, really laid back.”
Tom Miller, a tube attendant at the Gambrinus Steel Plant, is a Bush supporter.
The president “wanted to know how we felt,” said Miller, a Steelworker who’s been at Timken for nearly 27 years. “It wasn’t just him sitting there and giving his political points.”
Health insurance and job security were discussed.
“People here, their main concern is outsourcing,” Miller told Bush. “They don’t care much about insurance if they don’t have a job.”
He said Bush is a class act.
“We started to (travel on the bus) and he saw a woman was standing,” Miller said, “and he said, ‘Here, sit down,’ and she said, ‘Mr. President, I’m not taking your seat,’ and he said, ‘I said sit.’
“And she said, ‘I’m not going to argue.’ He stood the whole 45 minutes. He’s not the ruling elite.”
Miller started “Steelworkers for Bush” at Timken. At the plant, Miller has worn a T-shirt in support of the president.
“I resent my union dues going for Kerry,” he said, “because historically 40 percent of union workers are Republican.”
After Miller got off the bus, “the president put his arm around me and thanked me for wearing the T-shirt.”
Betsy Burns, a product inspector at Timken for six years, has no idea why she was picked for the trip. “They said he wanted to talk to some Steelworkers,” she said.
Burns knows her voting record wasn’t why she was chosen. “I am a Kerry supporter. Maybe he wanted a little bit from both sides.”
She also was impressed by the president’s manner. The conversation with the president “was awesome,” Burns said. She figured she might get to ask one question, but the president covered a lot of topics, including health care, jobs, pensions and others, she said.
She felt Bush’s answers were honest, and she believes he is truly committed to the country. But his approach isn’t the one she believes is right for the country.
“The man gave some pretty good answers,” she said. But, “It hasn’t swayed my mind.”
Staff writer Ed Balint contributed to this report.
You can reach Repository Business Editor G. Patrick Kelley at (330) 580-8323 or e-mail:
WELLING
BURNS
Other Timken Co. employees who talked with President Bush aboard his campaign bus Saturday, according to Bush-Cheney campaign officials:
• Vince Martino, 35-year employee, bearing plant operations manager.
• Sharon Jordan, 7-year employee, quality analyst in human resources.
• Frank Bowersox, 25-year employee, bearing cup grinder, Steelworker.
• Jeff Clark, 22-year employee (20 with Torrington), director of advanced product technology.
• Sue Palomba, 29-year employee, manager of health and welfare benefits.
• Chancelor Wyatt, 9-year employee, oil market manager.
So have I, Mr. Welling. But I'm voting for 43. Again :)
“And she said, ‘I’m not going to argue.’ He stood the whole 45 minutes. He’s not the ruling elite.”
What a good, decent man.
In contrast: Kerry would most likely have stared at her coldly and demanded: "... do you know who I am...?" :)
Ha! He's getting to them.
President Bush is unpretentious - he wouldn't dream of taking an average Joe's bus seat. That may not win him votes but it wins him a lot of respect. There are things you can't buy and one of them is character. That's the difference between him and his opponent. Kerry would do it for votes, Bush treats people beneath him with consideration cause he is that kinda guy.
Now put the same group on a bus with Kerry and see what their answers will be.
Kerry and Teresa would probably have told her to move to the back of the bus!
When it comes time to cast their votes, I believe hundreds of thousands of Democrats will vote for President Bush.
OR...he might have stared at her coldly and stated - "I served in Viet-Nam."
“The man gave some pretty good answers,” she said. But, “It hasn’t swayed my mind.”
Sure wouldn't want facts to get in the way..
You're right!
Nope. They wouldn't have been invited on the bus. I don't think the sKerry's would be willing to share their shrimp vindaloo.
I believe hundreds of thousands of Democrats will vote for President Bush.Some more than once. Perhaps even some dead ones. I mean, they are Democrats after all.
I have come to the conclusion that most dims are really brain-dead. They dont pay attention or do any research on the candidates. The Dim party could nominate a syphilitic monkey for president and they would still vote for him. Nothing but a bunch of useful idiots.
*smile*
Behavior of some critics was appalling
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
I had the privilege to take my 13-year-old daughter and her friend to see Bush while he was in Canton. Though we did not hear him speak, I felt I needed to impress on her the importance of voting and all that went with it.
I was appalled at the behavior demonstrated by the Democrats. We witnessed foul language; a man grabbed his crotch while arguing with a Bush supporter; a girl called my daughter “evil” when she saw my daughter was wearing a Bush pin; people leaving the Memorial Civic Center were taunted and made fun of, not only because they were there to hear Bush but also their physical appearance was made fun of.
The Democrats there were a complete disgrace to America. Their behavior alone was enough to make a person want to vote against everything they stand for. I can only hope that the youth of America will not adopt this type of behavior.
AMY ADKINS
MAGNOLIA
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