Even land of the GOP joins the cry against Iraq war

Kansas City (Missouri) Star ^ | Mon, Feb. 24, 2003 | MIKE HENDRICKS

[rface]

Despite its growing size, the weekly anti-war protest near the Country Club Plaza is dismissed as a gathering of graying hippies, pinko leftists and goofball radicals.

Of course, it's not true.

The graying hippies, pinko leftists and goofball radicals in the crowd are far outnumbered on Sunday afternoons by regular folks who think President Bush's pre-emptive war strategy is completely whacked.

The anti-war movement is not fringy; it's mainstream.

But it's hard convincing administration supporters of that when they see peace signs sharing air space with placards questioning the legitimacy of the Bush presidency or claiming "it's all about oil."

So a group of Johnson County peace activists decided the Kansas City area needed another regular demonstration on Sunday afternoons -- not in place of the Plaza protests, but in addition to them.

Instead of having a demonstration in the heart of the city, they'd go to the suburbs. Instead of it being in Democratic Kansas City, it would be in Republican Johnson County.

"We wanted a creative counterpoint to the Plaza," said airline pilot Vince Boudreaux of Leawood.

And so the first protest began at 1 on Sunday afternoon, across from fashionable Town Center Plaza at the corner of 119th Street and Roe Avenue. That's out in the land of big bank accounts and SUVs. Out where Bush-Cheney trounced Gore-Lieberman 2-to-1 in the 2000 election.

About 100 persons turned out on a miserable afternoon to declare their opposition to war in Iraq. Among them were teachers, students, office workers and laborers, most from Johnson County.

Some were church folks. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Leawood's United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, announced from the pulpit Sunday that he would be there. He was.

For several who carried signs, like Tom Davis of Leawood, it was their first anti-war demonstration.

Others, like organizer Nancy Thrutchley, have become involved only in the last couple of months. Few you'd call hard-core activists.

Which ought to be sobering to the saber-rattlers in the White House. These are the folks whose votes they'll need in 2004.

It took dedication to be out there Sunday. It was snowy, and cold enough that the ink in my pen froze. I had to buy a No. 2 pencil to take notes.

It was peaceful. Orderly. And positive. Thrutchley's homemade sign said simply, "I Love My Country." Passers-by honked in support. One anti-protester protester, as she called herself, showed up and was treated politely.

Anyone who says opposition to this war in Iraq is a partisan issue is plainly full of beans.

Like that Republican Party chairman in Missouri's Boone County who was nearly fired last week for going against the administration with regards to Iraq, most protest organizers were members of the president's party.

Not Republicans in name only, which is what you have a lot of in Johnson County. But party loyalists and conservatives.

This should give Bushies pause: The person whose idea it was to have Johnson County protests in the first place, Barb LeClerq? A Republican committeewoman and a member of the conservative Sunflower Republican Women's Club.

Yet she and the others in the crowd Sunday are against this war. Not because they're rabid leftists. Not because they support another political party.

But because it's wrong. Simple as that.

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To reach Mike Hendricks, call (816) 234-7708 or send e-mail to
mhendricks@kcstar.com.

[rface]

too much waiting and not enough doing at the White House. Let's get going on this.

Ashland, Missouri

[clintonh8r]

Agreed. More diplomatic dithering will lead to weakening support from conservative Republicans. This is getting ridiculous. Meanwhile, our troops are becoming fatigued and leaning back, while Colin fancies himself the next Kissinger.

[anniegetyourgun]

Republican Women's Club members are some of the worst RINO's I know! This author is having orgasm over a handful of CountryClub R's and wants all his liberal friends to mentally masturbate right along with him.

[Conspiracy Guy]

This story proves that we need to get on with it. No rational human being wants a war regardless of politics, religion, or other affiliation. I don't want a war, GWB doesn't want a war. We have to go to war we have no choice.

[Bulldogs22]

Just relax. The bombs will be falling soon.

[Wphile]

Well, I'm not sure I buy this article. I was at a GOP function the other night and no one was complaining about the war. However, people were complaining about the endless diplomatic track we appear to be on. If we are going to do this, which I believe to be the case, then let's do it. All this dithering at the UN is providing a vacuum for the anti-war protestors and their minion. They are grapping the media attention and the longer we delay the more vocal they get.

Not to mention how this appears to make the US look like it really doesn't know what it wants to do. Having to be practically blackmailed by Turkey doesn't help matters either.

Nevertheless, if there are GOPers grumbling out there I am confident that once the showdown starts, they will be fully supportive. Same with the bulk of the American people.

Enough is enough...let's roll!

[Bulldogs22]

Perfectly stated. This guy who wrote this is full of it.

[11B3]

"Among them were teachers, students, office workers and laborers, most from Johnson County."

I'd say that these were already DemonRats who happen to live in the Red Zone. The article is BS.

[auboy]

My dog is a conservative Republican, and is anti-war. Well, maybe that's overstating her stance. But, she doesn't like fireworks or thunderstorms.

So far, I've been successful in screening her from "journalists" with an agenda, but it's getter more difficult with each passing day.

[Corin Stormhands]

Among them were teachers, students, office workers and laborers...a United Methodist Pastor and the Republican Women's Club...

Yeah, that's "conservative Republicanism" at it's best... /sarcasm

[Mr. Bird]

But because it's wrong. Simple as that

Opposition is duly noted. I have said this before, and I'll continue to say it: Everyone vehemently opposing war with Iraq must be held accountable when it's all over. I will not allow these appeasers to rewrite their personal histories when the acid vats, the torture chambers, and the corpses of children are revealed to the world.

I ask each and every Freeper to take note of these imbeciles, and rake them over the coals when the truth is brought to light. The apologists for Communism have succeeded in deflecting responsibility for their compliance with tyranny. Don't let this new wave of shameless, spineless fools get away with the same.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

One of the great unintended carom shots of the Bush's first term is, we've flushed out who are friends are and aren't.

[Just mythoughts]

KCStar has no credibility, this leftist paper came out for "Widow" for senate. Check out who represents Johnson County, Kansas in congress, so don't think that this paper is being honest in portraying this event.

Anybody remember the big telephone company head that supported Bill Clinton, well that big telephone company is located in Johnson County and there are many rich liberals who live there as well. Got to have the whole picture when stories like this are written.

[Laura Earl]

My dog is a conservative Republican as well. When she was a puppy, the TV stayed tuned to FNC 24/7 so she could get a fair and balanced impression of world around her. Also, when riding in the car, she prefers listening to Toby Keith.

[Prysson]

I couldnt agree more.

The delay is proving dangerous. Not only does it embolden the peacniks to crow even louder and louder. But every moment we delay grants the enemies of this nation more attempts to undermine our policy and position.

Consider this latest issue regarding the missiles.

This could seriously damage our war position. If Iraq agrees to destroy those missles (which is a definate possibilty) Then how can we sit there and say they arent disarming.

Clearly that wouldnt be the case. A few missles are not of course the issue. The issue is WMD but the move would give Iraq TREMENDOUS political leverage and could seriously undermine our efforts to lead a coalition against him.

This has gotten rediculous. It is now time to crap or get off the pot. I fear Bush is digging his own grave here and that terrifies me more than anything else. I shudder to think what will happen to this country of we lose Bush in 2 years.

I mean if we think Bush is dithering about...just imagine how hopeless it would be with a dem in office.

[clintonh8r]

James Schlesinger has a good op-ed piece in today's WSJ on this very subject. All this dithering is wrong and it is jeopardizing the mission, and our credibility. Our enemy understands one thing: brute force. Until we start using it we have accomplished nothing. Every day of delay is putting our troops in unnecessary jeopardy. Following Powell's strategy will turn out to be a big mistake.

[KC_Conspirator]

Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Leawood's United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, announced from the pulpit Sunday that he would be there.

This same story appeared almost verbatim on one of the local TV channels last night. It had me yelling at the TV screen because these people are not mainstream nor are they Republican. Its doubtful that any of them went to the recent Lincolns Days in Topeka or Kansas City (I don't remember seeing them there) and I would bet that most of them vote democrat and give money to Dennis Moore.

One of you folks said the author was full of it and annie pointed out how un-Republican that woman's group is. You are both right. I also believe this pastor is the guy who said that pro-lifers were more dangerous than "Hitler". I am not exaggerating; that is exactly what he said. Regardless about how you feel about abortion, how can such a radical make such an unintelligent public comment and still be called "mainstream" and not "kooky"?

Finally, the news media tried to cover up the fact that many of these signs at this 20 person protest were out and out anti-Bush.

[P.O.E.]

Just like you don't pay a blackmailer (he will come back to haunt you again and again until he's turned in), all this delay merely emboldens the next rogue to try his hand.

[geedee]

Can you post Schlesinger's op-ed? I tried finding it on the WSJ website, but I'm not a subscriber and for $79 a year I won't become one either. That buys a lotta dog food.

[clintonh8r]

I wish I knew how. Perhaps a more computer-savvy FReeper can do it.