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Republican running-mate makes a local impression photo by Bob Pennell By Dani Dodge In a whirlwind Southern Oregon campaign swing, Vice Presidential candidate Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne charmed teenage future farmers at a Crater High School forum, as well as die-hard Rogue Valley Republicans and small children at an airport rally. "They are just average people, who are just there for us," said 17-year-old Emily Folin, one of Crater High�s 116-strong FFA club. "When I listened to him, it was like, I agree with that, and I definitely agree with that. "Everything I agreed with. It was awesome." Cheney is the first vice-presidential candidate to visit Medford since 1996, when lobbed a football here in 1996. Cheney�s 3� hour campaign swing through the Rogue Valley included a morning fund-raiser for about 30 people at the airport, a midday forum with area students and school administrators then an early afternoon send-off from the Medford airport that attracted about 125 supporters and a handful of protesters. But while he was in Medford and Central Point, Cheney got much more support than jeering. The thrust of Cheney�s visit was to spotlight the Bush-Cheney policies on education and agriculture and his visit here was intended to appeal to the rural vote. If applause at his Crater High School forum was any indication, he hit that mark. He said he and Bush want to support the dwindling number of farmers by abolishing the "death tax", knocking down trade barriers, and putting in place price supports when there are wild swings in the market. "I think we need to do everything we can to protect the family farm," Cheney said. At the forum, he also stressed the need to build character in school. He noted that FFA is one organization that helps build strong character through its programs, and that example should be replicated in other school programs. "There�s nothing more essential in education than teaching character," Cheney said. " We want our children to read and write, but we also want them to know right from wrong. "North Medford High School senior Rob Little, the only non-FFA student allowed to ask questions at the forum, skipped a question he�d been asked to read about estate taxes, and instead asked Cheney about what he likes to do in his spare time and what his interests are outside of politics. "... Who are you?" asked Little, who is the state president of DECA, an association of marketing students. Cheney laughed, and said it was the first time anyone had asked him that during this campaign, and he went onto talk about his love of fly-fishing and bird-hunting. He also said he hadn�t planned to get back into politics until Bush asked him a second time to consider the vice presidential spot. He said he gave up his private pleasures so his grandchildren could look forward to a better future. "If good people aren�t willing to get in the arena," he said. "We get the kind of government we deserve. "Little said the answer touched him. "He�s not just a strong political leader," Little said. "but he�s just like us and likes to do some of the things we like to do. "Later, at the airport, Cheney was met by supporters and two small groups of protesters. The protesters who created the biggest stir were the "Billionaires for Bush," five sarcastic 20-somethings dressed up in evening wear and feather boas, who hooted, hollered and mocked the Republicans going to the rally. They urged all to vote for the Bush-Cheney ticket "because inequality isn�t growing fast enough." "We figure as Southern Oregon billionaires we want people to know we support Dick," said Huey Payough, AKA Patrick Coleman of Ashland. "... He�s not going to lower taxes on stock income and will keep the taxes on working class high. "The Billionaires were kept outside the rally, as were a group of a dozen or so quieter Democrats, who had built a cardboard ship they christened the "SS Bush Cheney Oil Tanker." They said they are concerned about oil prices rising under a Bush-Cheney administration. Both men have worked in the oil industry. The Democrats also said they are concerned about social programs. "There are people in the other party that pretend I don�t exist because I�m old and blind," said Democrat Bonnie Pyle, 79, of Medford. At the airport, Cheney and his wife took the time to shake hands and chat with people in the crowd. Many people took their children to the event, and both of the Cheneys bent down to chat with the youngsters. "He said, �You�re a good young man,� 9-year-old Jeffrey Adams said after Cheney had shaken his hand. "Then he asked if (my little sister) is a brat or not and I said �sometimes.� "Thirteen-year-old Whitney Mohar carried a homemade sign of support to the rally that read "No More Gore." It was the first time she�s met a vice-presidential candidate. She was impressed. "I think it�s amazing he came out to Medford," she said. "I think he thinks small towns are important and when he�s vice president he�ll be paying attention to the little towns instead of just big towns." Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. 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