Jeers during speech shock some area residents

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Social Security certainly was the hot topic in President Bush’s State of the Union address Wednesday night.

Members of The Herald’s Reader Network who watched the speech on TV couldn’t believe the response by Congress when Bush brought up the subject.

Mark Mahnkey of Everett’s Seattle Hill area thought the speech was strong, except for when Bush mentioned that Social Security would go bankrupt.

“And the body shouted “No!” at him. I thought I was in Britain or Canada watching Parliament for a second there.”

Evan Smith of Shoreline thought the same thing.

“I had never heard a negative reaction in a State of the Union speech like the jeers of opponents when Bush spoke of dates when Social Security would pay out more than it takes in. It sounded like opposition in the British House of Commons.”

Paul Elvig of Everett felt the boos were unnecessary.

“Social Security reform needs to be taken seriously … as a 62-year-old, I can say to anyone interested, don’t screw my 20-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter. Let them choose as Bush suggests.”

MaryKaye Bredeson of Everett agreed with Elvig.

“I favor the president’s desire to overhaul Social Security. It is archaic, and we need to safeguard it for our future generations.”

Reaction on the rest of the speech was mixed among Reader Network responses.

Cal Phillips of Marysville said Bush’s speech clearly laid out his objectives for the next four years. “The strongest part of his speech was undoubtedly that concerning the war on terror,” Phillips said.

Steve Brown of Marysville also was impressed.

“Excellent and clearly more visionary than any president since Reagan, even if you don’t share the vision. Showing he is not going to just move the hard decisions down the road, but like it or not deal with them to the best he and the Congress can.”

Ruth Nelson of Everett said she was impressed by the speech, but doesn’t trust Bush.

“It was a smooth politician’s speech,” she said.

“Would I vote for him based on this? Sure. Did I vote for him? No. His talk is still cheap. Can, will he produce? I don’t know.”

Lauren Merryfield of Everett also didn’t think much of the speech.

“Well, it’s Groundhog Day today, and what I heard reminded me of the movie by the same name. It was more of the same; the same thing over and over again.”

Evan Smith of Shoreline and Elwin Anderson of Everett put some historical perspective on the event.

Smith said the speech strayed from its constitutional purpose to report to Congress on the state of the union.

“Bush, like his modern predecessors, used the occasion to one, brag, and two, push pet programs. I had this same criticism of the seven previous presidents.”

Anderson said it’s time to put partisan politics behind us.

“In 1928, during the election campaign between Herbert Hoover and Al Smith, my third-grade teacher … explained to us that our parents probably supported different candidates, but when the election was over we had one president.

“That is what made America great. I am a registered Democrat, and I live by that rule.”

Bredeson said the best part of the speech didn’t involve Bush.

“The most memorable moment had to be when Mr. and Mrs. Norwood stood in memory of their son, Sgt. Norwood, who lost his life while fighting in Iraq.

“I was overcome with emotion as the Iraqi woman whose own father had been assassinated by (Saddam) Hussein hugged the mother of the American soldier who gave his life so that she was able to vote on Monday.

“That is a moment I shall reflect on when I pray for all the young men and women who have lost their lives for the freedom we take for granted every day,” Bredeson said.

Assistant city editor Steve Powell: 425-339-3427 or powell@heraldnet.com.