The Tribune’s coverage of the recent campaign visits by George Bush and John Kerry failed to note a critical difference between the two events. As usual, Kerry’s rally was open to everyone, protesters included.
But like all of his rallies, Bush’s was open only to those who have pledged to vote for him. Also as usual, dissenters were confined to a small barbed-wire enclosure (perversely known as a “free speech zone”), far out of Bush’s sight. At other rallies, including places like Pittsburgh, Texas, and South Carolina, peaceful protesters who turned up at Bush’s private rallies have even been arrested and jailed - for the crime of waving the wrong sign in a sea of signs.
If Bush treats the American people with such contempt when he is up for re-election, how will he treat us when he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore?
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