Pro-CCW, Anti-Taft Protestors send a strong message in Columbus

According to the Toledo Blade, about 25 people took time off work on Thursday to join up in downtown Columbus to send President Bush and the Ohio Republican Party a message:

Taxman Taft is a liability for Bush.
No CCW in Ohio in 2003, no vote for Bush in 2004?
Hey Bob, Bush signed CCW in Texas, why won't you?

Sandwiched between groups carrying messages solely supportive or opposing President Bush, these grassroots activists delivered a much more pertinent message of support and concern to the Bush campaign. Organizer Gerard Valentino told reporters from several Columbus television stations, as well as the Toledo Blade, that Bob Taft's actions on issues like concealed carry reform and taxes, which are in direct conflict with President Bush's own record, are completely disillusioning the base of voters President Bush must count on to carry him through next year.

"Bush only carried Ohio by around 200,000 votes in 2000," said Valentino. "Pro-Second Amendment groups like OFCC and the NRA have more total members than that in Ohio. And they're not at all happy with the actions of Bob Taft, or certain Republicans in the Senate, who have expressed unwillingness to override a veto from a governor of their own party."

Valentino said he spent some time during the Taft protest explaining this problem to the leaders in the Franklin County Republican Party. He and these grassroots activists weren't the only ones sending the message. Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was also in attendance at the fundraiser, spreading the word about Bob Taft's liberal policies.

"It is incumbent upon President Bush to make our state's Republicans act like Republicans," Valentino told reporters.