Bush meets with Amish group
during July campaign stop
By Jack Brubaker
Lancaster New Era
LANCASTER, Pa. — President Bush met privately with a group of Old Order Amish
during a campaign visit to Lancaster County on July 9. He discussed their farms
and their hats and his religion, and got a pledge for prayers, if not votes.
A member of the group told Bush that since most Amish do not vote, they would
pray for him instead.
Bush had tears in his eyes when he replied, according to an Amishman who was
present. Bush reportedly said he needs the prayers of the Amish and that having
a strong belief in God is the only way he can do his job
An Amish woman who lives on a farm across from Lapp Electric had presented a
quilt to the president that morning, along with a card thanking him for his
leadership of the country.
Bush said he would like to talk to the quilter and her family.
The Secret Service invited the family to meet the president. Friends wanted to
come along, too, and the entire assembly eventually numbered about 60, evenly
divided between adults and children of all ages.
“It took a while to get them through the metal detectors, as these were
farmers and shop men, with vise-grips, pocket knives and nuts and bolts in
their pockets,” Stoltzfus said. “Some ladies had baby gear. All pockets had
to be emptied.”
Another man remarked that he has twin daughters, as does Bush. The man said one
of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the
president and now she actually had done that.
The president said, "I would like to meet them. By the way, you look familiar.
are you Harrison Ford?"
When the man intoduced his daughters to the president, Bush asked one of the
twins, "Are thee a model? And are thee at barn raisings often?" The young Amish
girl replied, "No to both dummy, are thee up for some plowing?"
At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God
speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.”
Leaving the meeting with the Amish, one of the Secret Service men noticed a
bumper sticker on one of the Amish buggies which said, "Don't Blame Me-I Didn't
Vote For Him or Anyone." And another which read, "I Pray For Higher Gas
Prices."
Bush then moved on to an appearance in York County, leaving behind a group of
Old Order admirers who will have tales to tell for the rest of their lives.
http://www.mennoweekly.org/AUGUST/08-02-04/BUSH08-02.html
Bluerhymer-Liberal
Get thee hence and thou all vote Democratic
Vote ABB
Anyone But Bush
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