Protesters Bash Gore Over Florida Recount National Effort Asked Bush Supporters To Stage Rallies Across Country

Angela Merchant became teary-eyed when she spoke of Florida’s presidential recount process.

“We love this country,” she said, standing on the corner of Monroe and Broadway with a sign that said, “Stop Gore’s Election Theft.”

“I want my kids to know that cheating is wrong. The president should set a good example.”

Merchant and her family drove all the way from Tekoa, Wash., to join more than 40 people in Spokane who protested the ballot recount in Florida counties Saturday afternoon.

She and her husband, Paul, along with their four children - ages 1 to 8 - braved the cold weather to wave at passing cars and display their signs. Her 7-year-old daughter, Mariah, held up a piece of cardboard that said, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Gorinch Almost Stole Florida.”

Most of those who gathered outside the Spokane County Courthouse and at the nearby corner didn’t know each other. Many had never protested before but felt strongly about this issue, they said.

Some were disappointed with the prolonged deadline in Florida. Others were outraged.

“I’m here because I believe Bush won,” said Rose Hansen of Spokane, who came with her husband and two children. “It was legitimate. This should be over.”

Many protesters came in response to a national effort launched by Republican-friendly Web sites such as www.newsmax.com, which rallied to get Bush supporters to protest at designated sites all over the country Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Web site publicized the event, along with a list of places to protest. Boise was the only city in Idaho hosting one. In Washington, people were scheduled to gather in Bellevue, Richland, Seattle, Olympia and Spokane.

Those who came traveled from as far as Coeur d’Alene and Chattaroy. Nearly everyone had a sign, downloaded from the Internet or made at home with markers.

The computer-generated signs used Al Gore and Joe Lieberman’s campaign logo, but instead of the candidates’ names, the sign said, “Sore Loserman.”

Some of the homemade signs had even stronger messages: “Gore commander in thief,” “Gore is a poor loser” and “Gore distorts the truth.”

As they waved their signs in the air, even 8-yearolds holding their parents’ hands were chanting, “No more Gore.”

Supporters driving along Monroe Street waved back or honked their horns. Some drivers - possibly those who didn’t vote for Bush - shook their heads in disbelief.

“I don’t think these protests are called for at all,” Spokane County Democratic Party Chairman Ken Pelo said Saturday. “This is the United States of America. The recount should go on so we can determine who the real winner is.”

Protests against the recount, especially those outside Florida, are just “attempts to create notice and get media attention,” he said.

After all, Gore has the popular vote nationwide, Pelo said.

But that’s not the case in Florida, Republicans say. Bush supporters argue that the Gore campaign sought hand recounts only in heavily Democratic Florida counties, and have lodged complaints about the fairness and impartiality of vote counters.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court will now consider whether the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to require that hand recounts be included in vote totals violated the Electoral Count Act of 1887.

Waldabelle Cameron of Otis Orchards came to the Spokane protest to express her disgust with the recount. A lifelong Democrat until 1996, when President Clinton ran for re-election, Cameron thinks every recount becomes another opportunity for Gore supporters to cheat.

“I would bet my bottom dollar there’s fraud,” she said.

Amid all the outspoken people who kept referring to Gore as a “sore loser,” one silent protester stood apart from them.

The woman, who covered her face with a black shroud, refused to speak. She simply pointed to her sign: “Save our Constitution. It is dying.”