Just as President Bush was taking the stage at the Springfield Exposition Center, Shelly Peavler was addressing College Democrats in the basment of the library on the campus at Missouri Southern State University.
Several dozen in the group, dressed in black and wearing anti-Bush buttons and shirts, gathered for her instructions. Bush is expected to arrive on the campus about noon today. She outlined protocols for today’s visit, saying their actions will reflect on the school, the Democratic Party and on Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill.
“We don’t want anybody getting arrested,” she told the group. “We don’t want to bring any shame on our school. Do not throw anything or act like you are going to throw anything. That could be construed as assault.
“We cannot use any type of voice amplifier,” she said.
“We are all pretty ticked. Let’s try to keep it somewhat under wraps. We’ve got to take back the Congress, acting like a bunch of nutjobs is not going to do it.”
In an interview earlier, Peavler said she did not expect to see the president, noting that they were being stationed at the bottom of the hill and away from the main activity. “We are not going to be where we can really see the prsident. We are not going to make a pretty picture for the motorcade dressed in black,” she said.
The black cloth is meant to represent mourning for the loss of 2,826 American lives in Iraq, the loss of civil rigvhts and the loss of world respect. Peavler says she got a ticket to the event, but is not going to use it.
“We’ve heard it all before, and he (Bush) doesn’t have a new schtick today,” she said.
Public safety officials on campus say no problems have been reported and everything was on schedule.
Bush supporter Bonnie Jane Clayton of Joplin arrived before 9 a.m. She was dressed in red, white and blue, including red shoes and socks. “I’m expecting him to tell us what a wonderful job the Republicans are doing,” she said.
From Andy Ostmeyer, Globe assistant metro editor, on the MSSU campus.
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