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98 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, August 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2004 Local rally for Bush is small, but enthusiastic Republicans say their get-together, miles away from Kerry’s Expo venue, wasn’t a protest By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Thirteen-year-old Kristin Bashe held a "Bush-Cheney ‘04" sign and screamed at the top of her lungs at vehicles passing a Republican-led rally Thursday afternoon at Veterans Park in Medford. "Honk your horn for Bush!" she shouted. "No flip-flops in the White House!" Still more than four years from voting age, Kristin said she is doing all she can to rock the vote in this year’s presidential election. "I want people to understand that Bush is the only one telling the truth," she said. "I wish I could vote. If I could, I’d vote for Bush." About 100 people stood on the corner of Riverside and Stewart avenues for two hours Thursday during a rally organized by the Jackson County Republican Party. Advertisement The event was held far from the Jackson County Expo, where Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry spoke before a packed house at the Isola Arena. Bryan Platt, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee, said he was pleased with the turnout at Veterans Park. He said the group chose the south Medford location over the Expo for a couple of reasons. "I think we’ll get a lot more traffic over here," Platt said. "We tangled with having it (at the Expo), but I feel that if we crowded their event, it would have been construed as a protest. We didn’t want that. I think we can whip John Kerry on the issues." Hundreds of passing motorists honked their horns and flashed thumbs-up signals at the sign-waving group. Homemade signs included those reading "Bush Is Just ‘Right’ For Oregon," "No Flip Flops Here" and "Bush — Fit For Command." John Howard, who retired from the U.S. Navy and currently serves as co-chairman of the Jackson County Veterans for Bush-Cheney, said Kerry’s wartime experience in Vietnam doesn’t impress him. "I don’t think somebody’s military service 30 or 35 years ago makes them equipped to fight the war on terror," Howard said. "That’s the bottom line. I think (Bush) is the right guy to carry us through the next four years." While most of the rally’s attendees were of voting age, plenty of young children and teens joined them on the sidewalk in support of President Bush. "I support Bush because he is somebody I see as being a strong person," said Jory Nelaimischkies, 16, of Gold Hill. "He serves as a good role model for me. I’m here because I want to get involved in politics, and I want people to vote for Bush." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities