Posted on 10/04/2004 8:19:42 PM PDT by freespirited
Bearing signs in support of President George W. Bush's re-election, a diverse group of Republicans and Democrats from Bayonne, Jersey City and Hoboken gathered under the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Jersey City's Lincoln Park on Wednesday, hoping to dispel the perception that all Hudson Democrats favor Democratic challenger John Kerry.
With a fall chill in the air and the shadow of the Lincoln statue falling over them, the group held up Bush re-election signs that generated the support of passing drivers who beeped their horns or waved raised fists out the windows.
Most prominent among the two dozen participants was Bayonne's Melba Walsh, a former candidate for Hudson County Executive and Bayonne City Council, as well as former Hudson County Sheriff Dominick Pugliese.
Others included John Guarini, son of former Democratic Rep. Frank Guarini, and Joseph Gallo, nephew of former Freeholder John Caulfield, one-time candidate for Hudson County Surrogate, and others connected to local unions and businesses.
Not everyone who showed up for the event was a Democrat, despite the claims of Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango, who oversaw the gathering. Jerry Forman of Hoboken has been a mainstay of Hudson Republicans for decades.
Arango said he had made no attempt to recruit Democrats, but had heard their comments during individual conversations. He said the rally was an attempt to provide an alternative view of the presidential election.
"I'm not asking anyone to change their political party," said Arango. "And while we may differ in philosophy on a lot of things, we agree on our support of President Bush."
Arango said the show of support comes a day after Democratic Vice President candidate John Edwards appeared in New Jersey.
"This shows that not all Democrats are in favor of Kerry," he said.
Bayonne's Richard Field and Jersey City's George Matera said they were motivated by the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and believed Bush represented the best choice in providing national security.
Melba Walsh said she had wrestled with the issue for a while before deciding that the country needs to keep Bush in order to provide some continuity.
"I think we need to give him an opportunity to finish what he started," she said. "I don't agree with many of the president's policies, but on this issue I think he is the best choice."
Pugliese, the former sheriff, was much more staunch in his support of Bush and critical of Kerry - expressing dissatisfaction with some of Kerry's actions in the past, especially in regard to his opposition to Vietnam War.
Although Kerry served in Vietnam, the Democratic candidate was among a significant number of veterans who later opposed America's continued involvement in Southeast Asia.
Pugliese believed that Kerry's current criticism of the war in Iraq served to demoralize the troops currently fighting there. In support of Bush, Pugliese said he agreed with Bush's position on taxes, and believed that Bush would avoid putting "liberal judges" in federal courts.
"We need judges that will enforce the laws, not write them," Pugliese said.
Gallo said security was his predominant reason for supporting Bush. "This president has taken the battle to the terrorists," Gallo said. "We're fighting them overseas, and not here in our own streets."
Skerry/Edwards/Clinton/Carville/Lockhard/NBC/CBS/ABC/CNN/MSNBC/NPR told me so...../sarcasm.
It was refreshing to hear the positive views in this article. Thanks for posting it. :o)
Good on them.
Ah, my mom's home county (Jersey City then North Bergen for High School). My grandfather used to regale me with stories of the Hague machine at its height.
This is why frenchie will be in New Jersey on Oct 13, with springsteen. Oh BTW, it will be a pay to get in concert.
This is so that frenchie will know for sure that he has a crowd. If not enough people bite, he'll have a "scheduling problem". Either way, we have already won by forcing him to campaign in the Garden State just two weeks out! Hee hee hee hee!!!!!
Maybe lil jimmie will show up as a special surprise guest!
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