80,000 bikers , 7,000 for smirk

[donsu]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9708154%5E2703,00.html

The straitlaced US capital was shaken on Sunday by the furious roar of 80,000 leather-clad bikers riding Harley-Davidsons for the annual Memorial Day rally organised by Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle group whose leader met President George W. Bush.

Tattooed and bearded bikers with large US flags flapping on the back of their hogs rolled from the Pentagon to the National Mall near the White House for their annual gathering as the nation commemorates its fallen soldiers.

Rolling Thunder, which has more than 7000 members, endorsed Mr Bush's re-election campaign last week, favouring the Republican President over Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry.

"Most bikers will vote Bush," said John Fruehling, a Vietnam War veteran in his 60s admiring a row of shiny chrome choppers parked along the Washington Mall.
-snip-
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will most bikers vote for smirk?

[Ripley]

1. I find that hard to believe.

Most bikers I know are pretty damn liberal, even if they are macho gung-ho shoot-em up types.

Ashcroft's world view of our country is pretty much 180 from bikers Live Free or Die motto.

[Az_lefty]

2. Since when did Bikers become Republicans?

Fruehling would like to think he speaks for most bikers, but he doesn't.

[libcurious]

3. In the Heartland

I would have to say the article is right. Most bikers here are saying they will be voting for Bush.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

21. Agree. The bilkers I know are staunch GOP

Admittedly I only know four, but they are hard core Republicans.

Now, these are not Hells Angels "outlaw" bikers, just Harley enthusiasts who belong to a club and go on "rides" and to places like Sturgis and all that.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. so that's 73,000 for Kerry

I reckon.

[Javamancer]

5. not this biker

I'll be voting for Kerry.

My riding partners are about evenly split, but this is Texas and I expect they break towards Dubya more here than elsewhere.

[dengraywolf]

6. "80,000 bikers , 7,000 for smirk"

if most bikers vote for bush it will be a sad day for bikers. just look at the prices for gas for their hog, and the fact that when gas prices go up so do all prices. as someone who bikes i WILL NOT be voting for bush. the standards he set as the gov. of tx are alive and present in the white house. most did not like what was done in tx most dont like whats being done now. most of the bikers i know are vets. show me a vet who likes the idea of a pres that would put his people in the way of a deadly situation just to feel justified in what he is doing as policy?

[argyl]

7. Welcome to DU.

xx

[newyawker99]

8. Hi dengraywolf!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[playahata1]

9. Again, I paraphrase from Hunter S. Thompson's "Hell's Angels":

"They will be the first to be thrown in jail or shot if the people they agree with ever come to power."

According to Thompson, the Angels -- at least at the leadership level -- were big supporters of the Vietnam War. I have never understood why (many) bikers, a group that prides itself of being anti-establishment and "freedom loving," would support Republicans and other so-called "establishment" types.

[enki23]

13. because most of them are intensely stupid

yeah, i know. it's an easy answer for any "why do they do this?" question. it also happens to be true, more often than not.

[dArKeR]

10. Here is a pic of aWol meeting a biker

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[Hunter_1253]

11. I find it difficult to believe...

that most bikers would vote for the religious right wingnuts.

[libcurious]

12. Same here

But most bikers are real patriotic and they think they are being patriotic by supporting the current administration. Wrong or right, that is how they think.

[billybob537]

14. Well I'll be going to Laconia

N.H. later this month For the annual rally with my Veterans for Kerry hat and stickers. And I'll fear no evil Becouse More than anything else Bikers respect your right to be your own man/woman.:headbang:

[Bandit]

15. Most bikers don't vote period

A lot are felons and the rest are just anti-social misfits who couldn't be bothered to vote. Granted that is painting with a mighty wide brush but I think it is fair. At least for the "outlaw bikers"

[BiggJawn]

19. Your attitude is about 25 years outdated.

there was a time when that was a pretty accurate portrayal of Bikers in general.

Then the price of Harley-Davidsons sky-rocketted, Jay Leno started buying them, and your average "Biker" became a poseur who swaps the Brooks Brothers for leathers come Saturday afternoon and lives his little fantasy world until Monday morning...

[indigo32]

20. I've known a few bikers as described by bandit

it's true... they can't afford the Harleys... so they steal them.
But beyond that it is becoming far more main stream.

I commute to work on mine as often as possible (not a Harley), go on rides, and adore it, and I'm not any of the stereotypes people have about bikers.

[BiggJawn]

23. I used to know those types, too.

Fact, I know they're out there. I doubt it was one of the Leno-wannabees who boosted my sled off the front porch those many years ago...

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Maybe the other 73,000 bikers

will beat the shit out of the Rolling Thunder bikers. I call for a bar brawl! Do you think Rolling Thunder bikers would show up for it?

[jpgray]

17. I don't think an H2 would be much damaged by a chopper's impact

Veterans and motorcyclists for Bush is mind-boggling to me.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. Let's see...80,000 bikers versus 1 million marching for women's rights

Who'd you rather have on your team?

[number6]

22. I don't beleive that even a majority of Rolling Thunder Bikers..

will vote for Bush, thier leadership supports Bush, thats it...