Jersey Dems,9/11 widows criticize * ahead of his Jersey speech

[Richardson08]

About 125 Democrats, including two widows of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, rallied here Sunday to say President Bush mistakenly led America into war in Iraq, failed to capture Osama bin Laden, and still has not repaired an inept intelligence gathering network.

Bush is scheduled to visit the Blue Barn recreational facility in Marlton this afternoon to address his record on terrorism. About 670 New Jersey residents died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

"It is with sadness that I say this president does not deserve our vote," said widow Lorie van Auken, 49, of East Brunswick. "We are fighting a war on the wrong front . . . . Osama bin Laden attacked us on Sept. 11 and killed our husbands - not Saddam Hussein."

U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, D-Hoboken, said that as the president visits South Jersey today, he wants residents to evaluate Bush's record on the environment, gun control and a rising national debt. He introduced Van Auken and widow Mindy Kleinberg, also of East Brunswick.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m101804b.htm