VIDEO Minnesota Puclic Radio: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2006/02/02_mccalluml_protest/ Opponents mark Bush visit with small protests by Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio February 2, 2006 A few protesters gathered beyond shouting distance of the 3M campus in Maplewood. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum) As the president spoke in Maplewood, about 100 people protested his policies nearby. The crowd included anti-war activists and supporters of same sex marriage. St. Paul, Minn. ? As President Bush was talking about tax relief and science education, a crowd outside 3M chanted an anti-Bush message. "Son of a Bush, we know you, your daddy was a killer too," they chanted. Jen Winston of St. Paul carried a sign that read "Gay rights are not special rights." Winston objects to President Bush's call for a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. "I think instead of writing hate into our Constitution, we should write acceptance. I think instead of writing that two people can't show their love for each other is not right. I think that anybody who loves each other should have the right to marry," she said. Winston says she's also opposed to the war in Iraq, but believes she can have a greater impact on domestic issues. For many other protesters, the war is their top concern. Dave Bicking of Minneapolis says the U.S. needs to pull its troops out of Iraq immediately. He believes most Americans are now opposed to the war. He says protesters need to show Bush that opponents are mobilized. Dale Howey "A long, long time ago during the Vietnam war, Nixon said one of the things that motivated him to get out of that war is that he could hardly go anyplace in the whole country without practically starting a riot. And you know, that did have an effect. That did have an effect at that time. And we need to make it clear that he is not popular and his policies are not popular," Bicking said. The president didn't drive past the protesters, and probably never saw them. But the protesters say they're not discouraged, because many people drove past and saw their message. Dale Howey of Roseville says he tries to mark every Bush visit to Minnesota by protesting outside. Howey, a member of the DFL Veterans Caucus, says he disagrees with Bush's policies on education, the environment and the budget. "Every speech he's given, he's reneged on everything he's said. The only people he's keeping promises to are his corporate buddies and the Christian right, and the gun lobby. Those are the three main tiers of their support," according to Howey. Pioneer Press: Posted on Fri, Feb. 03, 2006 ... Outside 3M headquarters, about 100 anti-Bush demonstrators, carrying drums, stilts and protest signs, gathered to voice their objections to the president and his policies. They listed a litany of reasons for their opposition as evidenced in their signs, which included: "Gay marriage or Bust," "The deficit president," "Bring the troops home" and "Don't sacrifice America's priorities to corporate lobbyists.'' Dale Howey, 42, of Roseville, who was out protesting with his dog Zack, said his complaints about the Bush administration were vast. A six-year veteran of the Air Force, Howey said he objects to the way the war in Iraq has been presented to the American people and the way it has been fought. He also listed the rising deficit, the lobbying scandal and Bush's environmental policies. Although Howey said he doesn't believe his protest will damage the administration's power, he felt he had to take time off work to stand with the other demonstrators at the corner of McKnight and Hudson roads. "It shows opposition," Howey said. ... Staff writers Nhia Tongchai Lee, Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Lee Egerstrom contributed to this story. Bill Salisbury can be reached at 651-228-5538 or [email protected]. Star Tribune: Bush emphasizes innovation Promoting innovation and mostly avoiding politics, Bush lauded competitiveness at 3M as detractors blasted his policies at home and abroad. Eric Black and Kevin Giles, Star Tribune Last update: February 03, 2006 ? 1:32 AM ... About 125 people demonstrated peacefully at the McKnight Road exit off Interstate Hwy. 94, just outside the sprawling 3M campus. Among them were war protesters, gay activists, mothers with children and "Mr. Fun," a man on stilts who carried green flags. They staked out the corner in hopes of catching the presidential motorcade as it passed, but it didn't. That didn't dissuade the protesters, who chanted to the beat of drums and took their messages to passing motorists. Many protesters carried signs, including: "Greedy People are Using Our Soldiers"; "Torture is not a Family Value"; "Gay Marriage or Bust"; "Orwell Said There'd Be Leaders Like This," and "Don't Sacrifice America's Priorities to Pay Off Corrupt Lobbyists." Some passing drivers honked their horns and gestured thumbs up, others flashed other fingers to show their disgust. Protester Kathleen Kortz of Minneapolis said Bush policies are making Americans anxious. "He's probably the worst president we've ever had," she said. "He has done damage that will take decades to fix." Across McKnight Road, a handful of Bush supporters counter-demonstrated. One man waved an American flag and a few others held Bush-Cheney campaign placards. Terry Rubbert of Maplewood, who described his political affiliation as "patriot," said he has mixed emotions about some Bush policies, but said the president deserves the country's support to finish the war. "We can't take any crap from these fanatics," he said of the insurgents in Iraq. "If we're not over there they're going to bring it to us and a lot of people would die." ... Staff writers Dee DePass and Donna Halvorsen contributed to this report. [email protected] 612-673-7294 [email protected] 612-673-7707

"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
Bush, June 18, 2002

"War is Peace"

George Orwell in "1984"