Protesters prepare for president’s visit

AUGUSTA – Preparations continued Tuesday for the president’s planned visit to Bangor, but not all of the events propose to offer a warm welcome.

The Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine plans to bring its own greeters to Bangor International Airport where President Bush plans to stage a quick campaign stop at 4:15 p.m. Thursday. In its notice, the center advised “peace and justice folks” to gather along Godfrey Boulevard leading to the airport starting at Union Street at 3 p.m.

“In the spirit of previous ‘Code Pink’ anti-war demonstrations, a large pink banner, ‘Pink Slip War Without End’ will be displayed,” the center said in a prepared release. “Protesters will also hold banners calling to ‘Turn the Ship of State Around’ and ‘Working for Real Security in Eastern Maine.'”

Volunteers at the center expected that many protesters would bring their own signs to the demonstration outlining unique criticisms of Bush policies at home and abroad. Organizers said the protest “will be peaceful and no civil disobedience is planned.”

In a swipe at Bush-Cheney campaign organizers, the center’s announcement said members of the public are invited to join the protest “since no ticket, loyalty oath or Social Security number will be required.”

On Monday, Randy Bumps, a former state representative and executive director for Maine’s Bush-Cheney campaign, said it is standard policy for those who want to obtain tickets to see the president to provide Social Security numbers to obtain clearances from the U.S. Secret Service. Bumps also said that while prospective ticket holders were being asked whether they supported the president, support was not a prerequisite for admission.

Jesse Derris, a spokesman for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, said he had heard from at least four people who were declined tickets on the basis that they did not support the president. Refusal on that basis, he said, contradicted assurances from Bumps that the event was open to all.

Jim Tobin, New England regional campaign chairman for the president, said all sides could voice their opinions at the event and “those opinions will be respected.” Bumps and Tobin said they were unaware of the specific instances cited by Derris in which people were denied tickets.

In other campaign-related developments Tuesday, former Gov. Angus King endorsed Kerry’s presidential bid during a Portland press conference. In a prepared release, King cited Kerry’s history of working in a bipartisan fashion to further his political goals. He chastised George Bush, whom he voted for in 2000, for catering to special interest groups.

“Rather than uniting the country, George Bush has pursued a narrowly partisan and ideological agenda that has divided our nation as never before,” King said. “As an independent, I have been reluctant to endorse partisan candidates at any level. But my deep concerns over the direction of the nation under George Bush have led me to believe that we need new leadership to take America in a new direction.”

Although Jesse Connolly, Kerry’s state campaign director, predicted King’s endorsement would be “respected throughout Maine,” Bumps said it was more likely that undecided voters would be influenced by sources closer to home.

“We have a very deliberate grass-roots campaign that relies on neighbors talking to neighbors, colleagues talking to colleagues and parishioners talking to fellow members of their congregations,” he said. “We’re relying on the word of average Maine voters.”

Ticket information

To secure tickets, interested attendees in the Bangor area must call a telephone number or fill out a form on the campaign Web site at www.MaineGOP.com. After that, they can pick up their tickets at the intersection of Godfrey Boulevard and Maine Avenue near Bangor International Airport.

Statewide, tickets are available at campaign offices in Presque Isle, South Portland, Augusta and Lewiston.