http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/articles/2004/10/15/news/news1.txt
Thousands cheer for President Bush
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Updated: Friday, October 15,
2004 12:23 PM PDT
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Rally theme: 'Winning the
West' and achieving 'Victory in Oregon 2004'
MEDFORD, Ore. - An
enthusiastic welcome was given to President George
W. Bush by his supporters yesterday as the
president brought his reelection campaign to
Southern Oregon in an attempt to win the state of
Oregon.
An estimated crowd of over 15,000 people,
including more than a hundred from Siskiyou
County, pressed into an outdoor area at the
Jackson County Expo that looked like it could
comfortably accommodate about 5,000. Standing for
hours in the late afternoon sun for a chance to
see the president in person, his supporters
listened to a live band and preliminary speeches
that intensified the emotional anticipation of the
president's visit.
If the rhetoric and response of the loyal crowd is
any indication, Pres. Bush has a very good chance
of "Winning the West" and achieving "Victory in
Oregon 2004" in the Nov. 2 election as the theme
of the Bush rally stated with large banners around
the rally.
Pres. Bush arrived at a
little after 6 p.m. with First Lady Laura Bush in
the company of National and Oregon leaders Senator
Gordon Smith, R-Ore., Congressman Greg Weldon
R-Ore., and U.S. Senator John McCain R-Ariz., all
of whom gave testimonials about Bush's
qualifications for leadership as introduction to
his speech. The crowd waved flags, banners, and
glow sticks in an uncontrolled emotional response
at the arrival.
"Four more years," was the unison chant of the
crowd, a chant they had been practicing for hours
as the preliminary speakers kept the emotional
intensity high. The people started arriving at 2
p.m. and trickled through tight security until
5:30 p.m.
Much of the policy contrast between Pres. Bush and
his opponent Democrat John Kerry was articulated
by Sen. Gordon Smith who said that Pres. Bush had
lowered taxes and "showed up to help people get
employed again."
Smith accused Kerry of being the most liberal
Senator in Washington making Ted Kennedy look like
a moderate. In reference to the "global test"
statement attributed to Kerry, Smith said, "we
want a president who will protect us, not make us
popular in Berlin." Continued from page 1
The reference to Berlin caught the attention of a
Chicago Tribune reporter at the rally who is from
Berlin, Germany, following the presidential
election also as a correspondent for a German
newspaper. He said that most of the European
community is liberal and has trouble understanding
the conservative perspective of Pres. Bush.
John McCain described Pres. Bush as an honest
decent man who loves his family and country.
McCain said following the 9/11 attack on America
Pres. Bush led the country with strength and
resolve.
Pres. Bush said he is making America safer and
stronger and asked for the vote of the people to
continue to do so for four more years. He thanked
the elected officials who have partnered with him
for this purpose and thanked the people for the
grass roots support.
Making reference to the presidential debate with
his opponent the day before, Bush said, "the
debate clarifies our plans for the future. I am
proud of my record and my opponent avoids talking
about his."
"I believe in more freedom and choices for the
people," Bush said. "I want health care more
affordable with less regulations."
Bush said he would never turn America's security
over to other nations. "I tell you what I am going
to do and keep my word," he said. "I will never
relent in defending the security of the country."
Giving a list of his accomplishments, Pres. Bush
said when he took office four years ago the
country was going into a recession and
unemployment was rising. He said as a result of
honoring his pledge to lower taxes, that recession
was very shallow, the gross national product is up
and unemployment down because new jobs have been
created.
"Over 40,000 jobs have been created in Oregon
since 2002," Bush said. "I am pro-farmer and
pro-small business with less regulation on those
businesses."
Bush said that some of the issues still needing to
be addressed include the reduction of frivolous
law suits and reduction in wildfire risks, being
addressed through the Healthy Forest Restoration
Act.
"We must become less dependent on foreign sources
of energy," Bush said. "We need to encourage new
clean technology."
Bush renewed his resolve not to raise taxes. "I
believe families and the economy is better off
with lower taxes," he said.
Addressing education, Bush said before he took
office many schools had low expectations and
performance. He said expectations have been raised
and the No Child Left Behind program is working.
"We must have a skilled workforce," Bush said.
"Most of those employed have at least two years of
college but only one in four students get to go to
college.
Health care issues are a top priority for Bush. He
said that he pledged to strengthen and modernize
health care and has kept his word with the
initiation of the county health center program.
"We must do something about junk lawsuits that is
running up the costs," he said. "These lawsuits
have cost America over $28 billion. I'm for
reformation now. Health care decisions should be
between patients and doctors, not Washington,
D.C."
Bush said he believes in private home ownership,
encouraging entrepreneurialship, and Social
Security reform. "I believe in culture and life,
marriage and family, and federal judges that
interpret the constitution not rewrite it."
"The duty of the President of the United States is
to protect the people," Bush said. "If the
president is weak and uncertain the nation will
drift to tragedy. This will not happen on my
watch."
Bush said he is fighting terrorism overseas so the
nation will not have to fight it at home. He said
progress made in the last three years has resulted
in freedom for over 50 million people.
"When we get them on democracy then our troops
will come home with the honor they deserve," Bush
said. "I believe in the transformational power of
liberty."
As an example, Bush said that Pres. Harry Truman
worked with Japan to convert an enemy into a
democracy.
"Now I sit with the Prime Minister of Japan and
talk about peace," Bush said. "Someday an American
will do the same with the Prime Minister of Iraq.
Freedom is God's gift to the world, not America's
gift.
By JOHN DIEHM
