Sunday, September 19, 2004
The percentage of older Americans who usually vote is high.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jack Hall, a 67-year-old Canfield man, said he won't make the same mistake twice.
Hall, a semiretired refrigerator serviceman and a political independent, said his vote in 2000 for President Bush was "the biggest mistake I ever made in my life."
Asked if he were joking or exaggerating, Hall said he was serious.
"He's the biggest liability this country has faced since I was a kid," he said. "His decisions are so bad. I don't think he's bright enough to be president."
As part of its ongoing "Chief Considerations" series, The Vindicator asked local residents age 60 and older about the presidential election and whom they support.
Seniors traditionally vote in high percentages. In 2000, 72 percent of people between 65 and 75 voted nationally, polls show. Seniors don't have an allegiance to either party but voted for the winner in every presidential race between 1980 and 1996, polls show.
Seniors supported Democrat Al Gore 51 percent to 47 percent in the 2000 election over Bush, who won the close race.
Hall isn't thrilled with U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, but will vote for him in November. Hall's biggest problems with Bush are his handling of the war in Iraq and his economic policies.
"It's the saddest time I've ever felt in my life," he said.
Gary Pollock, 69, of Canfield, a sales representative for a property title company, voted for Bush in 2000. The registered Republican said he will do the same in November.
"I'm happy with my vote in 2000 most of the time," he said. "I don't fully agree with some of his philosophies on Afghanistan and Iraq. But I think he's honest and says what he means."
Pollock also said he's tired of hearing about the military careers of Bush and particularly of Kerry.
"Military service has nothing to do with this election," Pollock said. "It should be about outsourcing and jobs and the economy."
Several of the seniors interviewed said they are tired of talk about the Vietnam War and the military records of Bush and Kerry.
"Who cares what you did 35 years ago?" said William Gothard, 68, of North Jackson, a retired General Motors supervisor.
"Most Americans are fed up with it. I don't like how either side handles it. Kerry has made a campaign out of his war record."
Gothard is a registered Republican who voted for Bush in 2000 and plans to do so again.
"When you are at war, you vote for the demon you know rather than the demon you don't know," he said. "Bush is an honest man, and he's doing a good job. I'm not in complete agreement with everything Bush does. On domestic issues, Bush is a pretty big spender for me. He spends like a liberal Democrat."
John Riley of Petersburg, who owns an insurance agency and picture framing store in Poland, said he can't stand Bush.
"I will vote for anybody but Bush," said Riley, 63, a registered Democrat. "I supported him 100 percent on going into Afghanistan. With Iraq, there's no question Saddam Hussein is the most evil person on Earth, but the reason we went in there was untrue.
"Bush is totally out of touch with the middle class and the poor. I honestly don't know if Kerry is the person, but he's a better choice than Bush."
Paul Manchester, 74, of Canfield, a retired mail carrier and a registered Democrat, said he's afraid of what Bush has done and will do with Medicare. Manchester is also concerned with how the president is handling the conflict in Iraq. Still, he's not excited to vote for Kerry even though that's what he says he'll do.
Kelly Gialousis, 64, of Campbell, a retired schoolteacher and registered Democrat, said she dislikes how Bush is running the country, and his international diplomacy. Kerry's campaign isn't well-organized, Gialousis said, but she'll vote for him.
Ann Rupe, 64, of Boardman, a registered Republican who used to work in the medical field, said she isn't happy with Bush but will vote to re-elect him.
"I'll vote for him not because I like all his policies, but it's a vote against Kerry," she said. "I'm not really happy with Bush, but it scares me to death to think what Kerry would do if he was elected. He's a loose cannon."