Posted on 05/07/2003 9:57:28 PM PDT by Angelwood
On Tuesday morning, I was privileged to be able to attend the Americans for Jobs & Growth Tax Rally (Tax Relief Coalition) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. President Bush looked great and was well received by a very enthusiastic and supportive crowd. To see photos taken at the event, please check out the thread, "A day in the life of President Bush," posted on 5/6/2003 -- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/906843/posts.
This was an event with an audience that had been pre-screened by the Secret Service. Attendees submitted their name, birthday, social security number, city, state, phone number and email address for a security check. Those who passed this process received an email with instructions of what to wear, directions to and timeframes for the events and a list of what not to bring -- cell phones and cameras were on the list to leave behind, although many people brought them anyway.
I arrived at 16th and H Streets, N.W. at 8:20 a.m. Already, there was a fairly long line of people waiting to enter the building. For about 20 minutes, the line barely moved while it kept growing longer and longer as more people were dropped off. I finally was ushered through the door only to see a number of lines of people waiting in front of tables to check in. Fortunately, there was no line at the table for names beginning with U-Z. I was able to produce my I.D. and zip around the other lines to the metal detector. A very nice security guard waved me through the metal arch as he checked out my purse and I was done.
The next stop was a room set up with chairs and a screen which showed the podium and backdrop of a different room where the President would speak. Everyone was told to take a seat and rest while we could because we would all be standing for approximately 1-1/2 hours for the rally. The actual rally would take place in the room next door and everyone would have to stand in close quarters. It was 9:15 a.m. and the tax rally was not supposed to start until 10 a.m. or so.
When I entered the waiting room, I met a lurker from North Carolina who recognized me as a member of the D.C. Chapter. He had traveled with his wife and others by bus leaving at 5 a.m. In fact, there were three busloads of participants from North Carolina and I enjoyed meeting many of them while waiting for the arrival of President Bush. In all, there were hundreds of people bussed in from Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina (I think I remembered all the states).
At 9:45 a.m. we were told we would be entering the room for the speech. The room was divided by two rope lines. The Tax Relief Coalition group was allowed to go into the front area. Children, handicapped people and young people were the ones mostly on the rope line stretched across the room. Behind the second rope were guests invited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. There were lots of people in "suits" there, but also plenty of people in casual dress with t-shirts. There were flags, a few signs and lots of patriotic colors throughout the audience. I'd say the second part of the room had several hundred more attendees.
The Chamber of Commerce Hall of Flags was packed and got a bit hot while everyone waited for the program to begin. The Hall of Flags was impressive. The back wall had a huge American flag hanging in the center and there was a stage with red and blue curtains on the opposite wall. The podium with presidential seal was centered in front of a large sign with a flag background which said, AMERICANS FOR JOBS & GROWTH. The hall had a very high ceiling which was made up of wood and wooden beams. These beams and the rest of the wood ceiling were decorated with etched figures and shapes, names of states and other names. There were beautiful chandeliers also. It helped to pass the time looking for the locations of the various states.
There were four TV setups at the back of the room and several cameramen walking around at the front area between the rope line and the podium -- Fox and C-Span were there, but I didn't see what the other networks were. (C-Span finally broadcast the President's speech, but I'm not sure if they showed it live. There is a video of the entire speech at www.c-span.org.)
Finally, the moment we had all awaited was upon us. Treasury Secretary John Snow and President George W. Bush were introduced. The crowd roared and welcomed President Bush with boisterous cheers, wild clapping, whistles, whoohoos and a spontaneous chant of "4 More Years." It was a fantastic moment. It really was a thrill to be so close and cheer for President Bush.
I was standing five rows back from the front rope line and slightly to the right of the podium. I had a wonderful view of President Bush when he arrived and as he spoke to the crowd.
Secretary Snow took to the podium first and recognized the people who traveled to attend the rally. He said he understood that some had gotten onto their bus at 1 a.m. and that some of those people had driven from as far away as Tennessee before getting to the bus in order to board it at 1 a.m. He said that this sort of dedication would not go unnoticed on Capitol Hill. The attendees were going to another rally on the Hill after the President’s speech and then planned to visit the offices of their individual Representatives and Senators.
Secretary Snow went on to introduce President George W. Bush. President Bush walked to the podium to another round of cheers and applause. He looked great, was funny and upbeat and also worked the crowd very well. There was plenty of FReeper material in that audience, too!
President Bush said it was good to see everyone and he thanked us all for coming and for being concerned about our country. He thanked all the entrepreneurs in the audience – the risk takers, really truly the engine of growth for the American economy. He mentioned several local small businessmen at the rally. Then he thanked the entrepreneurs here and across America “for working hard to realize your dreams. America is a strong and confident nation and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times.”
“Nearly 20 months we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. For 20 months we have done what the American people expect and that is to hunt down the killers one at a time so that America is more secure. We are winning the war on terror. [Applause] And as a part of the war against terror, we removed Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. [Applause] Thanks to the skill and courage of our military and other coalition forces, America is more secure, the world is more peaceful and the Iraqi people are now free.” [Applause]
“We will continue to meet our responsibilities to secure America. We will continue to dismantle the Al-Qaeda network. We will continue to promote the peace. We will continue to promote freedom because we know a free society is one that is more likely to be a peaceful society. We assume those responsibilities. We will follow through on our responsibilities.”
“And here at home we have responsibilities. As we press forward on national security, we must promote job security here in America. [Applause] Our goal is a vibrant and growing economy. That’s our goal – in which the entrepreneur can find new opportunities, in which every person who wants to work can find a job.” That’s the stated goal of this Administration and a goal, I know, that you share as well.
"The American economy has faced one challenge after another over the last several years. The stock markets peaked in early 2000. The economy began to slow in the summer of that year. In early 2001. our economy was in recession and then we got attacked by the terrorists and that affected our capability to grow. And we have endured the uncertainty of war. We have seen failures in corporate responsibility across America. Unfortunately, some of our citizens forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen of our country – they didn’t tell the truth." They didn’t tell the truth to their employees and shareholders . . . in every case we have taken action to confront these challenges.
Our economy is growing. We have many strengths in our economy. First, the economy is growing because interest rates are low. "I want you to know that in spite of all the hurdles and the challenges we face, we are still growing faster than all the industrialized countries." [Applause]
Interest rates are down, inflation is low, energy prices are now falling. That’s like tax relief on a daily basis when you go to the pumps. [Applause] We have two great strengths: the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and, secondly, we have the best workers in the world in America.
The President asked his audience to remind those in Congress that is it not the Government’s money. It’s the people’s money. [Applause] Both houses of Congress agree that tax relief is needed. The debate now is how much tax relief.
“The definition of the right amount is not some theory, is based upon theory, it's based upon the practical application of tax cuts, and it ought to be based in human terms. The right answer for how big the tax cut ought to be is a million new jobs. That's the right answer. And that's the package I submitted to the United States Congress.”
The speech lasted over 30 minutes and was repeatedly interrupted by applause and positive comments from the crowd. When he had ended his remarks, President Bush and Treasury Secretary Snow left the stage to greet everyone fortunate enough to be on the rope line. The crowd continued to applaud and some people began to leave the Hall of Flags. I was lucky enough to move to the third row behind the rope and get a closer view of President Bush as he greeted and shook hands with as many people as he could. The Secret Service were around him and ever alert. As he reached the end of the line and turned to leave, the crowd once again began cheering and chanting, “4 More Years.”
During the speech I was surrounded by a group of delightful ladies from North Carolina. One of them was so enthusiastic that she tried to get everyone to chant “We want tax cuts” while we were waiting for the President to arrive. Some of us did chant with her. Throughout, she was wonderfully enthusiastic and spoke up to agree with something the President had said or make her own comment. When President Bush began talking about corporate responsibility failures, I heard her say, “What about Terry McAuliffe and Global Crossing?” She’d make a great FReeper, so afterwards I told her about the North Carolina Chapter.
The Hall of Flags emptied quickly after the President left. Most of the people attending had to return to their bus, grab a taxi or go by metro train to their next rally at the Dirksen Building near the Capitol. I returned to work.
I recommend the video of President Bush's speech. The url is: http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/ldrive/wh050603_bush.rm.
FReep On, Everyone!
Thanks for yet another G R E A T report!
So GLAD you got to see President Bush up close - especially after ALL you and the DC chapter have done. (Thanks to Nick Danger - Blessings to you!)
We need more even than this but at least this is a start - and sounds like a great coalition. That coalition should include every single small business owner in America - just for starters!
Well done, as usual, and thanks for the effort to give the details so that I felt as if I were right there with you.
(Ping to Howlin and other NC Freepers)
As for feedback ....... FRantastic reporting!!!!! As usual!
Mr. President, if you're reading this... FReepmail me and I give you Angelwood's phone number.
:-)
President Clinton, please ignore this.
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