At $6 an hour, who needs a tax cut? [Bu$h's captive audience on LI re 9-11

by Paul Vitello

It was upbeat, precise, as organized as a meeting of the board of directors, framed at beginning and end with rousing music -- a near-perfect campaign stop. George W. Bush arrived on schedule. He gave his speech. (SNIP) And then he left -- to a standing ovation -- shaking hands all the way to the exit door of U.S.A. Industries in Bay Shore Long Island (SNIP)

Security people kept reporters from interviewing the workers at U.S.A. until the president was on the way to his next stop. 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, if anything, even more impressive.

"No speak English," said the first worker, smiling apologetically.
"No speak English," said the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth workers way-laid in the crowd. But you think the tax cuts should be made permanent, as he says? "Sorry, no English," said another.

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 work force 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.


More at http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-livit0312,0,5859209.column?coll=ny-news-columnists

"Well good grief, they have a job, don't they? What the hell more do you want?

What's that you say? Who cares what you think?"

For Kerry to revisit the SAME faux stops and really talk to the people and expose the phoniness you relate here. Otherwise, us complaining about a photo op, even news critiques will not challenge the first impression.

Genuine people crowds is a HUGE Bush vulnerability. Pop a few bubbles.