Friday,
August 06, 2004
JOE
SNAPPER
THE
SAGINAW NEWS
Protesters
thrusting placards outside the Saginaw County Event Center weren't splitting
hairs during George W. Bush's visit Thursday.
"He
should be in prison, not in the Event Center," said Marc Beaudin, 36, a
writer from Saginaw. "I'm here to let Bush know he's a war criminal, and
he's not welcome in our town."
Several
hundred people armed with signs and fliers spewed an anti-Bush message across
Johnson from Wendler Arena as the president stumped to his faithful.
"One
of the great things about this nation is that everybody has the right to show
their point of view," said Bush campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise,
adding of protesters: "Those folks are in the minority."
Saginaw
police said nobody was arrested during Bush's visit, although officers chided
Beaudin as he rode a bicycle for two -- the "egalitandem" -- between
patrol cars parked in the street in front of Wendler.
"They
told us they'd take us to jail for riding in the street," he said.
On
the sidewalk nearby, Jennifer Romanelli's sign said "What Economy?"
and her button explained, "Compassionate Conservative is an oxymoron.
Bush is just a moron."
"I
don't agree with any of Bush's politics or policies," said the
21-year-old Saginaw Valley State University student.
Meanwhile,
campaign roadies had a rough day. Sales of dozens of versions of pro-Bush
campaign buttons were slow, said vendor Chad Towe.
Towe,
35, and his fiancee, Deborah Green, 44, both of Sacramento, Calif., are
following the Bush campaign on its cross-country tour.
"Jerry
Garcia died, so we had to find something else to do," Towe said.
Elsewhere,
on the northwest sidewalk corner of East Genesee and Washington, four Freeland
friends waved fluorescent yellow anti-Bush signs.
Paul
Hildebrant's read, "Honk for Kerry."
Horns
obliged all afternoon. Many motorists yelled support from open windows.
Others
yelled something else.
Hildebrant,
20, joined by Evan Wernecke, 19, Brandon Keel, 19, and Johanna Osier, 17, at
times got interactive.
At
one motorist's foul response, Hildebrant extended his left hand and raised a
digit.
