By Tom Murse
Updated Feb 19, 2007 15:58
And now that the party’s national convention is over, they hope to translate their enthusiasm into votes on Nov. 2.
“This was a great speech delivered by a great president,” said Greg Sahd, a delegate from Manheim Township. “The other speakers were good. This guy was great.
“Our mission now, as delegates and alternate delegates, is to take back to our home counties that spark, that energy,” Sahd said.
They may not have to.
Republicans who gathered at a half-dozen parties across Lancaster County Thursday night were equally enthusiastic about Bush’s acceptance speech.
“Four more years, four more years,” an estimated 400 Republicans chanted at the largest party, held at Sam Stoltzfus’ house on Eshelman Mill Road in West Lampeter Township.
“There’s a lot of unity here,” said Quarryville resident Dale Jennings, 39, who was among the invited guests gathered under a large white tent.
Four big-screen TVs tuned to FOX News carried the convention live, and every time the delegates in Madison Square Garden gave Bush a standing ovation, so did the Republicans gathered under the tent.
“It was very emotional. It was like you were there,” said Jennings’ twin brother, Dan.
Republicans dined on a 250-pound roast pig, barbecued chicken, potato salad, fruit and homemade ice cream.
The gathering was disturbed briefly by a few Bush opponents who managed to sneak on to the property. After they were asked to leave, Stoltzfus said, the opponents ripped a few Bush campaign signs out of the lawn and threw them onto Eshelman Mill Road.
Stoltzfus, who owns an East Lampeter Township firm that makes wood cabinets, said Bush’s speech was one of his best.
“He didn’t stumble around like he does sometimes. When he talks from his heart, it comes right out,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, a delegate, called Bush’s acceptance speech “extremely visionary.”
“We’re pumped,” said Pitts, who represents Lancaster County. “I think the enthusiasm will be carried back to our home areas and transmitted to the workers, the volunteers.”
Bush, said Pitts, “outlined a very bold domestic agenda” and a “new century of liberty” abroad.
“I think he laid out a compelling rationale as to why the world would be safer,” Pitts said.
Kim Rankin, an alternate delegate from Providence Township, said that while the campaign to register new voters and encourage them to vote Republican did not stop during the convention, it would grow stronger as a result.
“It energized me,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement in the air. The message up here was very positive.”
While Republicans partied, a group of about 30 protesters marched from Buchanan Park in Lancaster City down North West End Avenue to the county GOP headquarters on Columbia Avenue Thursday evening.
They carried anti-Bush signs and chanted anti-Bush slogans. The anti-Bush rally was organized by Lancaster Coalition for Peace and Justice.
“The coalition is opposed to a lot of the policies that exist under the current administration,” said coalition member Katherine Shea. “There are a lot of policies that affect our civil liberties, our environment and our rights.
“The coalition won’t say specifically that they’re against Bush, but I, personally, believe he shouldn’t be president.”
Charles Lane, also of Lancaster, participated in the rally as a Kerry supporter.
Lane said he believes Bush is building his campaign around his positions against abortion and gay marriage, when he should be more concerned about the economy, the environment and getting U.S. soldiers out of Iraq.
“He is using non-issues to divide this country,” Lane said.
The protesters paraded in front of GOP headquarters. Motorists on Columbia and North West End avenues indicated approval or disapproval by honks and hand gestures.
