Several news crews were in attendance. Fox showed
footage of our banners. There was an independant photo journalist
taking interviews. There was also Channel 4, and a Pioneer Press
reporter who remained with us the whole time. Bush's limo passed
by us on the way in and out of the event. He got an eye full.
STAR TRIBUNE
In 4 hours, Bush packs a
punch
Eric Black, Patricia Lopez and Glenn Howatt
In a four-hour, two-event stop in Minnesota on
Tuesday, President Bush raised more than $500,000 for the congressional
campaign of Michele Bachmann and promoted the major health care
ideas of his administration at a forum in Minnetonka.
At the forum, attended by 300 people, Bush signed an executive
order to advance efforts aimed at giving patients more information
about health care costs and quality so they can make better decisions.
The Bachmann fundraiser, at the Lake Minnetonka home of Jim and
Joann Jundt of Wayzata, was closed to media and the public. Those
attending paid at least $1,000 to the Bachmann campaign.
Bush arrived in the Twin Cities on Air Force One shortly before
2 p.m. Near the forum, anti-Bush protesters on the sidewalk waved
signs, calling for single-payer health insurance and for Bush's
impeachment.
Later, another group of protesters on four boats floated in Brown's
Bay, offshore from the fundraiser, holding peace signs and "dump
Bachmann" signs. Supporters floated nearby.[...]"
Star Tribune
Small groups of protesters await Bush
Bob von Sternberg, Star Tribune staff writer
About two dozen protesters waited along the road
leading to the Marriott Hotel in Minnetonka early this afternoon
awaiting the arrival of President Bush. One group of protesters
carried signs calling for single-payer health care reform. The
second group was calling for Bush's impeachment. Three of the
pro-impeachment protesters wore orange jumpsuits and black hoods,
mimicking the infamous abuse scandal pictures from Abu Ghraib
prison in Iraq.
According to organizer Mikael Rudolph of south
Minneapolis, "This prince [Bush], who considers himself above
the law, is not worthy of public office and completely unworthy
of our White House. He's a tyrant. He needs to go."
The single-payer protesters were led by Joel Albers,
a pharmacist from Minneapolis, who said, "A majority of people
in the country are in favor of single-payers. If this is not being
talked about in Washington, they have to start listening to what
the people want."
He said a nurses association favors it. His own organization did
a survey of 1,000 physicians in Minnesota and two-thirds of them
favor it, he said.
Lisa Grant, teacher from Minneapolis, carried sign demanding that
Bush step down. "Of course, he won't. I just want him to
know we don't approve of the things he's doing. He's the most
destructive president of my lifetime." Several motorists
honked their horns as they passed the protesters.
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about
war, we're really talking about peace."
Bush, June 18, 2002