Chanting, Drumming Protesters Greet Bush

11/30/2005

DENVER (AP) - About 300 people blew whistles, pounded on pots and pans and chanted “Impeach Bush” in a noisy but largely peaceful protest before President Bush arrived Tuesday for a fund-raiser.

Air Force One landed at Denver International Airport a few minutes after noon, and Bush left by motorcade for an appearance at the Brown Palace Hotel for Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

Protesters briefly blocked the path of two press buses that were trailing the motorcade, and some shouted and made obscene gestures before police cleared them out of the way. The motorcade was not blocked.

Musgrave, a second-term congresswoman, is considered by some GOP analysts to be among the party’s most vulnerable lawmakers in next year’s elections. She became a lightning rod for criticism by promoting a constitutional ban on gay marriage, a campaign she said she has put on hold while she runs for re-election.

Jeb Bennett, 51, carried a sign saying “Musgrave is Bush-league.” He said gay marriage and other issues are being used to distract voters from more important matters.

Eve Ventrella, 31, said Bush’s backing for Musgrave and her support for a gay marriage ban were the big reasons she attended the protest.

“Among other things, that’s the biggest, to constitutionally amend something to take away people’s civil rights,” Ventrella said.

Carla Lanza, 59, said the Bush administration has never proved its contention, voiced before the U.S. invaded Iraq, that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaida and the Sept. 11 attacks.

“It’s a culture of deceit, corruption and cronyism, all under the guise of patriotism and Christianity,” she said between blasts on a whistle. “Where is the morality in permitting all these deaths of young people?”

Streets around the Brown Palace were blocked off with Regional Transportation District buses and concrete barriers.