In Small Town Scarred by 9/11, Voters Debate Bush's Iraq Strategy

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:

When news broadcasts showed a ragged Saddam Hussein being dragged out of a hole in Iraq, there was elation in this small mining town, where one of four airliners hijacked on Sept. 11 crashed. For obvious reasons, battling terrorism is the election issue here.

"On 9/11 people realized how vulnerable we are as a nation and want someone in office who'll fight against terrorists," said Rick King, the town's assistant fire chief, owner of the general store Ida's and the first person at the crash site.

But even in this overwhelmingly Republican hamlet, residents are divided about the effectiveness of President Bush's strategy of aggressive intervention, particularly in Iraq.

"The feeling of safety is always important and 9/11 really brought that to the surface," said Beth Ware, an independent who voted for George Bush in 2000 but who said she was uncomfortable with the war in Iraq and was not sure how she would cast her ballot next year.


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/20/national/20VOTE.html?pagewanted=all&position=

[candy331]

1. A poor town (Majority/AllWhites I believe)voted for Bush

Fooled by the regular guy crap. Many working 3 jobs the article said to make the average salary there of $14,500. I hope they wake up and realize they have been had.


(from article)
In the 2000 election, residents estimate, 70 percent of Shanksville voted for Mr. Bush, although foreign policy was not a big factor. Many say he just seemed like a regular guy. Since then, President Bush's go-get-'em response to the Sept. 11 attacks has struck a chord here.