John Kerry was in Wheeling today, promising to bring new jobs to West Virginia. But that's the problem with Kerry, the Democratic Party's candidate for president. Like so many liberals, promises come easy to him. Keeping them, particularly to residents of the Ohio Valley, is a different story.
Northern Panhandle and East Ohio residents remember all too well the promises made by Kerry's ideological soulmates, ex-President Bill Clinton and ex-Vice President Al Gore. They, too, assured area voters - most particularly, steelworkers - that they could feel our pain and would do something about it.
What they did was to watch even more pain inflicted on the steel industry, in the form of laid-off workers by the thousands during the eight years of Clinton-Gore.
President Bush, while running for election four years ago, pledged that he would help steelworkers. Many of them voted for him.
But Bush kept his promise. He imposed stiff tariffs on certain imported steel products to give American workers breathing room. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel recovered from bankruptcy on Bush's watch.
It's true that, a few months ago, Bush was forced to rescind the tariffs. Kerry has criticized him for that and promised that, if elected, he'll help.
How? Kerry has admitted that, if elected, he would not reimpose tariffs. He has put forth no realistic plan to aid the domestic steel industry. He has merely promised that he will do so.
Promises, promises. We've heard them before. Kerry can't expect to win votes in this area with more of them. link
Supporters and protesters braved heavy rain and wind while they lined Market Street in Wheeling Sunday night waiting for Sen. John F. Kerry, who brought his campaign to the Ohio Valley.
Kerry was scheduled to speak to an audience of about 800 people today at Wheeling Park's White Palace, as well as to tour the McElroy Mine in Marshall County. The Wheeling stop is part of a three-day trip by Kerry to discuss with voters and local community leaders his plan to create new and better jobs in America. On the tour, Kerry will unveil new proposals designed to create and keep jobs in America and make the country more competitive in the world.
Kerry also plans to stop in southwestern Pennsylvania as part of the day's schedule, and he will spend Tuesday traveling in Ohio, visiting both Youngstown and Cleveland. Wednesday will take Kerry from Toledo to Michigan. All four states - West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan - are viewed by most political analysts as key states in deciding the outcome of the November presidential election.
In Wheeling, while pro-Kerry demonstrators holding signs printed with "Jobs First" and "Steelworkers for Kerry" heavily outnumbered protesters, a group of about 25 supporters of President George W. Bush made their voices heard, chanting "four more years" and holding their own signs while they waited.
One Bush supporter dressed in a dolphin costume and held a homemade sign printed with, "John Kerry, I'm a flipper too," a reference to an accusation made by opponents of Kerry who have said he "flip-flops" on issues. While the two groups waited for Kerry to arrive, they exchanged taunts from opposite sides of the street.
Even as rain began to fall, soaking many of those who attended the outdoor event, both sides managed to keep their spirits, and political convictions up, by taunting each other.
For the Kerry supporters, a "jobs first" chant and "out source Bush" were favorite chants, while the Bush supports yelled "flip-flop," as well as "four more years." rest of story
Curious, did the bus driver have to take the route that went right past your crowd? :-)
And I want to thank the mine workers for their endorsement this morning. I am lucky to have their support...
After the miners sat behind Kerry while that embarrassment of an interview took place this morning he'll be lucky to keep their support.