Soldier among those barred entrance to hear Bush in PA

[friesianrider]

Soldier, Democratic supporter among those barred entrance to hear president
speak
Source: Citizens' Voice Staff

WILKES-BARRE, PA -- Depending on what side of the fence people are on, crowd
control was at an all-time high or low at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre
Township during President Bush's visit Friday.

A 27-year-old registered Republican and member of the U.S. Army, along with
three other people around him, was forced to leave the arena before getting
inside.

The Wyoming Valley man who did not want to be identified by name because of
his loyalty to his service members is being deployed to Iraq in two weeks.
His Army service and status were verified.

He explained that he was attending the event in hopes of finding the right
candidate to vote for on Nov. 2.

"I thought seeing Bush would be enough to sway my opinion one way or the
other. After today, it definitely has swayed," he said.

While waiting in line, he noticed a stranger standing alone and invited the
person to stand with him.

"I didn't think that would be a problem," he said.

It turned out to be.

Individuals from the Bush campaign spotted the individual with the soldier
and identified the person as a Democratic supporter.

The spotters, and eventually police, asked the Democratic supporter to
remove a jacket, a sweater and some other articles of clothing in what was
described as basically a police search.

The soldier said the Democratic supporter did what was asked without any
complaint. The person also provided a ticket to the event.

The soldier said that when he asked why the person was being hassled, the
spotters said the Democrat's name wasn't on their "master list."

"So I asked if we could see the master list? They said they didn't have it,"
he said.

The soldier said he stood up for the supporter, but was in no way hostile,
because he was there to see the president and hoped to justify voting for
him.

Not long after showing his own ticket and being told he wasn't part of the
"master list" either, the police asked the soldier to leave. He was told the
event was for Bush supporters or undecided voters only.

Until Friday when he left the arena, the soldier was an undecided voter. Now
he's voting for Sen. Kerry and volunteering for the Kerry-Edwards campaign.

"I thought the whole Bush message was compassionate conservatism. I didn't
see anything compassionate from the Bush people," he said.

Carrie Hyun, spokeswoman for Kerry-Edwards Northeast Pennsylvania, after
hearing about the incident said she's heard of people being barred from
events before, but never a registered Republican about to represent his
country during war.

"This only underscores how the Kerry style campaign is different," Hyun
said. "Last time I checked, this was a democracy."

<snip>

There is no "democracy" in GWB's America...what a crying shame.

[aquart]

1. And they're afraid of the military.

[TheDebbieDee]

3. After having many recently retired Generals and Admirals.......

come out to endorse Kerry/Edwards in the last 6 months, believe you me, the bushies should be scared of the military.

[friesianrider]

4. Isn't it sad...

That they can't take any form of criticism whatsoever? Not evenm criticism, but they can't even take a question that isn't some Christian zealot slobbering all over themselves to ask * how his faith has shaped the "leader" he has become. It's absolutely disgusting and low. You practically need the password to get into Fort Knox to get into these "Ask President Bush" rallies or so-called "town hall meetings". They need to have a fawning, blind crowd at their rallies to make it appear as if there's no anti-Bush sentiment out there at all.

This is proof that they are scared shitless of the general public. They know they are unpopular and they know they are in deep shit in terms of *'s re-election. Bush ain't gonna win folks, and this is proof why. We know it and they know it, too.

[yardwork]

2. I hope that soldier will be ok

My heart cries that he is being sent to Iraq - what a waste.

[AmyStrange]

5. Here's the link...

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13207582&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6