Bush Stops In W.Va.

CHARLESTON- At only 12 years old, Laura Hunt thinks she has politics in this country all figured out.

"It's like this," the Charleston resident said. "Democrats are donkeys and donkeys are no good. If I was old enough, I would vote for Bush."

Bush came to West Virginia on the nation's 228th birthday to honor the country's veterans and garner support for invading Iraq. Last week, the United States turned over political control to an interim Iraqi government.

"Because we acted, (Saddam Hussein) the dictator, the brutal tyrant, is sitting in a prison cell," Bush said to a sea of supporters wearing red, white and blue. "He will receive the justice he denied so many."

Monty Warner, the Republican nominee for governor and a retired Army colonel, said many West Virginians relate to Bush, who was only the fourth Republican presidential candidate since 1932 to win the state.

Although Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in the state, Warner said voters connect with the president. Polls show the president and Democrat challenger John Kerry running a close race for the state's five electoral votes.

"President Bush said all the right things," Warner said. "He worked the crowd great. He's authentic, real and down to earth and everybody can feel that. That's why he won the election in 2000 and why he will win 2004."

West Virginians have a long tradition of military service with some 200,000 veterans making up 15 percent of the state's population. Local historians say that's because of the state's hunting and gun cultures, deep patriotism, family traditions and economics.

"Many people don't have the guts to say publicly what they believe in," said Clifford Messer, a registered Independent from Poca. "If they are going to vote anything but Democratic in this state, they don't tell nobody.

"I vote for the man, I don't vote for the office. I respect the office by voting for the appropriate man and very few people have the guts to do that."

Karen Johnson of Pence Springs is the Bush-Cheney campaign chairwoman in Summers County, where she said Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-1. Still, she projects the county will again vote for Bush in November as it did in 2000.

"They're afraid of Mr. Kerry," Johnson said. "They like that Mr. Bush is Christian and not afraid to say it either, even though it's not popular."

Bush was scheduled to attend church services Sunday morning at The Bible Center in Charleston before speaking at the Capitol but plane trouble delayed his arrival in West Virginia so that part of the visit was scrapped.

Larry Bonham, a member of the church, brought his family to the Capitol after missing Bush at church.

"I wanted my children to see this country has a future." Bonham said. "I can put them to bed tonight and know they're safe because Bush is our president."

Bush told the crowd that the nation's military was one of America's greatest assets and they should be proud of the troops and veterans.

"America's always been able to count on the might of our military and on the character and the courage of those who served," Bush said. "We still believe on America's 228th birthday that freedom has the power to change the world."

As Bush spoke of universal freedoms, those who had opinions that differed from the Republican line were removed. Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were taken out in restraints by police. They were issued citations for trespassing and released, said Jay Smithers, acting director of the Capitol police force.

"We were told we couldn't be here because we were wearing these shirts that said we were against Bush," Nicole Rank shouted as police rushed her out.

Smithers said the pair had tickets to the event and wore clothing over their anti-Bush T-shirts. Once through the security checkpoint, they removed their outer layers and mingled in the crowd.

"We asked them to go out to the designated protest area but they refused," Smithers said. "They told our people they would not leave and sat down on their hands. We didn't have any choice."

Other protesters held up signs outside the restricted courtyard in the designated protest area, while about 400 Kerry supporters attended a picnic across the street at the state Democratic Party's headquarters.

"It's a great day to say thanks to our veterans," said Amy Shuler Goodwin, spokeswoman for Kerry's campaign in West Virginia. "John Kerry recognizes we need to appreciate their time and service, not through our words, but through our deeds. This president has not shown his thanks to our veterans by his deeds. He's delivered only broken promises."