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COLUMBUS - More than 275 concerned Ohioans attended a rally at the Ohio
Statehouse Thursday then marched along High Street to greet President George
W. Bush as he made his way to a $2,000 per person fund-raiser for his own
re-election.
State Rep. Dan Stewart (D-Columbus) led a group of elected Democrats and
labor leaders as they pressed Ohioans to speak out about the failed economic
policies of the Bush administration and work to bring new leadership to the
nation that will focus on the needs of middle class families and Ohio
workers.
"Today we are playing 'Truth and Dare,' not 'Truth or Dare'," Stewart said.
"We are here today to tell the truth and dare to do what is right."
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato (D-New Philadelphia), Ohio House
Assistant Minority Leader Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus), U.S. Senate candidate
and state Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D-Shaker Heights), David Caldwell, president
of the Columbus-Franklin County AFL-CIO, and Dave Reagan, president of
Service Employees International Union 1199 led the enthusiastic crowd.
Folk singer Connie Harris entertained the onlookers before they marched to
the Hyatt Regency Hotel where Bush hosted a contingent of wealthy Ohioans
who contributed $2,000 each to be in his presence.
Senator DiDonato said hundreds of jobs are leaving eastern Ohio and little
is being done by the president to stop the pain. The Bush economic plan has
shattered the state's economy.
Bush Record in Ohio and the United States
Jobs Lost - Ohio - 220,700 jobs since Bush took office.
3rd in the Nation behind California -298,200 and New York, 302,600
Manufacturing Jobs Lost - Ohio - 151,800
3rd in the Nation behind California - 297,700 and Texas 156,200
Unemployed Ohioans September 2003 - 337,100- 7th Highest in the Nation
United States - 3.2 million jobs lost under Bush.
2.5 million manufacturing jobs lost under Bush.
37 straight months of manufacturing job loss - Ohio lost 5,800 more
manufacturing jobs in September.
