Go Back to the B3 Home Page
Complaints, compliments, arguments? Email me.
[<< "Rall on Stern"] [Archive Index] [>>"Stern's Jihad"]
03/12/2004 Archived Entry: "Bush on Long Island"
Bush on Long Island
Now, we all know that Bush won't appear anywhere where's the possibility that his policies will be questioned, protestors are kept far away, and the crowds cheer wildly at all the applause lines.
But yesterday's appearance in Bay Shore (just a couple of miles from my home, BTW) may have raised the bar on audience control. Not only did Bush appear before an audience who wouldn't question him - they may not have even understood what he was saying.
Security people kept reporters from interviewing the workers at U.S.A. until the president was gone.But when workers were finally interviewed - these people who made up the bulk of the president's cheering audience in New York - Bush's performance turned out to be even more impressive.
"No speak English," said the first worker, smiling apologetically.
"No speak English," said the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth workers waylaid in the crowd.
It is possible that President Bush could have drawn a crowd of several hundred at lunchtime on the streets of Bay Shore to cheer his economic policies, which can be summed up in two words: tax cuts.
But if that crowd is ready-made - the workforce of a small auto parts factory whose owner has received tax breaks from the Republican-run state and town governments, and who employs large numbers of non-English speaking immigrants happy to work for $6 to $9 an hour with few benefits - why bother?
"I understand him a little bit English," said Nubia Guzman, a packer who said she earns $7.50 an hour after four years on a job that Bush had described in his speech as evidence of the success of his tax cutting economic policies. She has no health coverage.
What did you like about him? she was asked.
"He nice," she said."
Replies: somebody speaks up.
Bush we need better health care in this country and jobs and start worry about usa instead of all the other countries.
Posted by annamarie rizzi @ 03/15/2004 07:36 PM NY
