As if Bush rallies couldn't get any more absurd, they just did. It's insane policies for admitting people turned an undecided voter who happens to be a soldier leaving shortly for Iraq into a Kerry voter who - get this - is now VOLUNTEERING for Kerry!
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A 27-year-old registered Republican and member of the U.S. Army, along with three other people around him, was forced to leave the arena before getting inside.
The Wyoming Valley man who did not want to be identified by name because of his loyalty to his service members is being deployed to Iraq in two weeks. His Army service and status were verified.
He explained that he was attending the event in hopes of finding the right candidate to vote for on Nov. 2.
"I thought seeing Bush would be enough to sway my opinion one way or the other. After today, it definitely has swayed," he said.
While waiting in line, he noticed a stranger standing alone and invited the person to stand with him.
"I didn't think that would be a problem," he said.
It turned out to be.
Individuals from the Bush campaign spotted the individual with the soldier and identified the person as a Democratic supporter.
The spotters, and eventually police, asked the Democratic supporter to remove a jacket, a sweater and some other articles of clothing in what was described as basically a police search.
The soldier said the Democratic supporter did what was asked without any complaint. The person also provided a ticket to the event.
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The soldier said he stood up for the supporter, but was in no way hostile, because he was there to see the president and hoped to justify voting for him.
Not long after showing his own ticket and being told he wasn't part of the "master list" either, the police asked the soldier to leave. He was told the event was for Bush supporters or undecided voters only.
Until Friday when he left the arena, the soldier was an undecided voter. Now he's voting for Sen. Kerry and volunteering for the Kerry-Edwards campaign.
"I thought the whole Bush message was compassionate conservatism. I didn't see anything compassionate from the Bush people," he said.
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As for the soldier's complaint, his views on his upcoming duty in Iraq haven't changed.
"I'm given my job and I do that job to the best of my ability. If my job is being over there (Iraq), that's all right," he said.