Thanks for the report. It is quite interesting to compare your observations with The [Westchester County NY] Journal News story, which didn't mention anything about the middle eastern men, for one, and added a bunch of snide swipes at President Bush.
Bush attends campaign fund-raiser in Old Greenwich
By GLENN BLAIN
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: January 30, 2004)OLD GREENWICH, Conn. — President Bush may call himself a Texan, but last night he tapped into his Connecticut heritage during a visit to the region that netted more than $1 million for his already-well-stocked campaign treasury.
Bush, a native of New Haven and a 1968 graduate of Yale, jetted into the Westchester County Airport late yesterday afternoon, then proceeded to a $2,000-per-ticket fund-raiser at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Mixed among the 750 people attending were several Bush relatives and Yale classmates.
"They were the ones who invented 'shock and awe' — when they heard I was president," Bush joked, referring to his classmates. "As they themselves were C students."
The fund-raiser was expected to generate about $1.1 million for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, furthering what is already a huge financial advantage for the incumbent. As of Dec. 31, Bush's campaign had raised about $130 million and seemed well on its way to meeting its goal of $170 million by the Republican National Convention in late August.
Bush took the stage in Connecticut at almost the same time as the seven Democrats who want his job took part in a nationally televised debate in South Carolina and roundly criticized his administration's policies on Iraq, the economy and other issues. It was the final debate before Tuesday's critical set of contests in seven states, including Missouri, Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Dakota and New Mexico.
During his remarks, Bush did not directly address Democratic criticisms but described his administration as one that was "meeting the tests of our time" on issues ranging from terrorism to the spread of AIDS. He boasted of the fall of Saddam Hussein and expressed optimism that the economy was improving thanks to his tax cuts.
"I came to this office to solve problems, not pass them on to future presidents and future generations," Bush said.
Perhaps his loudest applause came when he called for reform of medical liability laws to reduce frivolous lawsuits. He urged the crowd to lobby Connecticut's senators — one of whom, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, is running for president — to support such legislation. "Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution," Bush said.
The fund-raiser was hosted by Bush's cousin, Debbie Stapleton, a leader of his Connecticut campaign organization. Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland, who is engulfed in a corruption scandal, did not attend.
Bush's visit to the region began about 4:30 p.m. when Air Force One arrived at the Westchester County Airport and then traveled by motorcade to the hotel. The event caused headaches for rush-hour travelers as police temporarily shut down traffic on some local roads.
etc.