Monday, October 11, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Military moms, wives campaign against Bush

Women come to Las Vegas to share personal stories of loved ones who are serving country overseas

Military moms Nita Martin, left, Maura Satchell, Lisa Hunt and Lisa Lietz speak at a news conference Wednesday criticizing the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. Photo by Clint Karlsen. Rachel Bilson, a cast member from the TV series "The O.C.," talks Saturday at a "Get out the Vote" rally at Krave nightclub in Las Vegas. Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL Adam Brody, also from "The O.C.," speaks at the event. Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL Alex Kerry, daughter of candidate John Kerry, talks to the crowd. Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL

The war in Iraq continues to dominate news on the campaign trail, even in Nevada, where it has eclipsed Yucca Mountain as of late.

Three women with sons or husbands serving in the military campaigned for John Kerry in Las Vegas last week, meeting with a local mother whose son is serving in Afghanistan.

They said they gave up jobs and left Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Florida to tell other mothers that the commander-in-chief isn't serving their sons.

"We wanted to tell personal stories," Nita Martin of suburban Philadelphia said.

Martin's two sons are Marines, and she said one serving in Iraq bought a helmet online before he was deployed.

"They had helmets, but not proper equipment," Martin said.

Martin and the other mothers spent most of their time not sharing personal stories, but retreading statements and news articles that criticize everything from the justification for the war in Iraq to troop levels and morale.

Asked what her son has told her about the upcoming election, Maura Satchell of Smyrna, Tenn., started talking about an article written for the New Yorker by Seymour Hersh.

Asked whether their campaigning for Kerry could have ramifications for their sons, Satchell said: "The failure to speak out is worse. Making sure we have a change in commander in chief is far more important."

The voluntary campaign by the women wasn't greeted well by a local Republican whose son, a Marine, just returned from Iraq on Oct. 2.

Denise Needham said that although she has grave concerns about the war, she would never campaign for George Bush on the issue.

"It wasn't until Sunday (the day after he returned) that I didn't have to pick up the paper because I knew my son wasn't going to be killed that day," said Needham, a nurse. "Do I think it's worth losing one American to be over in Iraq? If it's my son, I'd say `hell no.' But standing back and looking at it and being the leader of the United States, I don't know."

Needham said she wouldn't vote for Kerry because she is "pro-life and pro-family."

Youth vote

John Cusack didn't make it to Las Vegas on Saturday to stump for John Kerry, but Democrats still did their part to bring out the youth vote by offering Hollywood types and those connected to the Massachusetts senator.

Kerry's daughter Alex Kerry worked throughout the weekend in Las Vegas, including talking to young volunteers for her father's campaign Sunday afternoon at the Democratic headquarters.

She was joined by two cast members of "The O.C." (Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson) and an actor from "Everwood" (Gregory Smith) -- not exactly Cusack -- but hip enough for the younger demographic Dems.

The efforts were part of a weekend push nationally to reach out to 1 million voters. In Nevada, Democrats said they either had knocked on doors or phoned 50,000 voters on Kerry's behalf.

Media time

With the election approaching so quickly, candidates at each level, political parties and interest groups are all competing for media time by hosting news conferences.

On Thursday, there were five political news conferences, not to mention three debates, two big fund-raisers and two candidate forums. On Wednesday, even the Democrats realized the multiple events were getting hard to manage.

Sen. John Kerry's Nevada spokesman wrapped up one news conference asking if two reporters heading to a state Democratic Party news conference downtown had any room in their vehicles to haul the lectern. That event went off without a podium.

Reid ringside

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., did not pay for a ringside seat, estimated to be worth about $1,700, for the Sept. 18 middleweight championship bout between Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"My ticket was given to the state athletic commission, which is totally in keeping with all the ethics rules," said Reid, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Ethics Committee.

According to the Standing Rules of the Senate, members may accept "an offer of free attendance at a widely attended convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing, reception, or similar event, provided by the sponsor of the event."

Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, confirmed Reid was credentialed as a guest of the commission.

"He's been affiliated with the commission for the last 25 or 30 years. He used to be a judge for us, and he once was a boxer himself," Ratner said.

Reid was sitting with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a foe turned ally on legislation calling for the federal regulation of boxing. McCain said he paid for his ticket.

Stephens Washington Bureau writers Tony Batt and Steve Tetreault contributed to this report. Contact political reporter Erin Neff

at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.