MSU President M. Peter McPherson was present to show his support for Bush and Cheney
Cheney, McCain stump for Bush in capital city
Vice president, senator champion Republican effort to win Mich. vote in presidential election
By EVAN RONDEAU
The State News
MEGAN GILSHIRE · The State News
Protesters crowd the sidewalk in front of Mill Supplies Corporation on Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing during Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to the Lansing Center on Friday.
Lansing - Chants of "Four more years" repeatedly rang out as about 1,000 Republican supporters welcomed Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John McCain at the Lansing Center on Friday, many carrying signs reading "Veterans for Bush" and "W Stands for Women."
"Bush won the last election by a hair's breadth, and he's out to get the Republican votes he missed the first time," said Dennis, also a member of the Greater Lansing Network Against War and Injustice. "He's taken very strong steps against the environment. He's far too much to the right for me."
Meanwhile, supporters inside bathed in the pro-Bush atmosphere.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson was present to show his support for Bush and Cheney. McPherson and McCain addressed the crowd, focusing on the areas the Bush administration deemed their biggest successes in the war on terror, such as removing the Taliban from power and ousting Saddam Hussein.
"Whether Saddam then possessed the terrible weapons that every intelligence service on earth believed he possessed, he had used them before, and I have no doubt, was firmly determ ined to acquire them again for what terrible purpose we can only anticipate with dread," McCain said. "That was a risk George Bush and Dick Cheney knew we just couldn't afford in this new, violent age of terrorism."
Cheney echoed their sentiments, saying the man who once controlled the lives of 25 million Iraqis now sits in jail.
"With the President's leadership, we are fighting the war on terror - and we will win the war on terror," said Cheney, drawing cheers from the audience.
Cheney also sharply criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, condemning the way he says the senator changes his mind on key issues.
"Senator Kerry's position on big issues often depends on when you ask him," Cheney said. "These are not times for leaders who shift with the political winds, saying one thing one day and another the next."
Jeff Wadell, 32, of St. Johns, traveled with his dad, Charles Wadell, 64, of Elsie, to show support for the president and Cheney. Bush stands firm on issues, while John Kerry shows no backbone, Jeff Wadell said.
"I don't like the way (Kerry) flip-flops on issues," he said. "I'd respect him a lot more if he would do what he said he was going to do."
