Bush drops in to raise funds

MEDINA, Wash. – President George Bush swooped into Seattle’s “Gold Coast” Friday, headlining a $1,000-a-person Republican fundraiser at an Internet millionaire’s mansion in this tiny King County city.

“I’m excited and honored. He has had a really wonderful week,” said state GOP chairwoman Diane Tebelius, ticking off recent news, including the death of Iraq’s top terrorist and Bush’s surprise visit to Baghdad.

Hundreds of donors, some paying $10,000 to have their photos taken with the president, were expected at the event, which was closed to journalists. The money will be split between the state GOP and freshman Congressman Dave Reichert, who’s running for re-election against Democratic political newcomer Darcy Burner.

“Although the president and I don’t agree on everything, I have great respect for the tremendous responsibility the leader of the free world must bear every day,” Reichert said in a written statement. “I welcome President Bush and I welcome his support for my re-election campaign.”

Less welcoming were the demonstrators at a downtown mall and at intersections along the motorcade route between Boeing Field and the $10 million estate of businessman Peter Neupert. Bush swept by, accompanied by two armored limousines, a long string of SUVs and communication vehicles, and scores of state and local motorcycle police.

“From this end, he got a lot of fingers,” said Carnation’s Gary Davis, with Veterans for Peace. “We didn’t have a flag to put on our fingers.”

“He’s not my president,” said Bellevue architectural designer Sharon Kasahara, holding a “No Big Brother” sign.

Across the intersection, demonstrators dressed as Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib prisoners in orange jumpsuits knelt at a nearby intersection. “Lament Guantanamo suicides,” read one woman’s sign.

Hours before Friday’s event, police on bikes closed streets around Neupert’s home. Local residents jogged and walked their dogs past knots of police at intersections, as a King County sheriff’s helicopter circled low overhead.

Medina grandmother Patricia Mendieta brought her two grandsons in hopes of glimpsing Bush’s motorcade.

“He’s an important man,” said 9-year-old Jovani Mendieta. “He’s done a lot of good things for us.”

Tiny Medina, Washington’s second-richest community behind nearby Hunts Point, is no stranger to VIPs. Bill Gates and several other Microsoft magnates are among the 3,000 residents of the suburb on Lake Washington. Bush has visited before, as did Bill Clinton and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Medina’s seven-officer police force has been working with the Secret Service, Seattle police and White House planners for a month, City Manager Doug Schulze said. Among those plans: working with demonstrators on the rules for protests, which the city terms “special expressive events.”

Conspicuously absent during Bush’s visit was GOP U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick, who’s trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell. McGavick was in Pennsylvania for his eldest son’s high school graduation on Thursday.

Democrats suspect that McGavick, running in a Democrat-leaning state, also doesn’t want to be paired with the unpopular Republican president.

“This (Bush) is a guy that can fly in and out of Baghdad without anybody knowing it,” said Pelz. “He could change his schedule.”

Tebelius said Democrats are reaching. “Nobody should be so crass as to say you should choose a fundraiser over your family,” she said.

Democrats also say that Bush’s visit will likely hurt Reichert more than help him. After all, the 8th congressional district voted for Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.

“Reichert must really need the cash,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz. “Bush’s visit just reminds everyone that Reichert is essentially just a rubber stamp for the Bush administration on issues like Social Security, Medicare and the war.”

Tebelius scoffed at that, saying that Bush’s visit is a “compliment” to Reichert. She also said that he’s voted against Bush on several major issues, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. “The reality is that Dave Reichert is doing very well in this race and cannot be beaten,” said Tebelius.

The White House’s take: “Obviously the president comes at the invitation of the candidates,” said White House spokesman Peter Watkins. “There’s not a shortage of requests.”

Reichert campaign spokeswoman Carol Beaudu would say virtually nothing Thursday about the event, how many people were expected, or what would take place. Even the food she would describe only as “typical midmorning fare.”

Asked to respond to the Democrats’ contention that Bush is more of an anchor than an aid, Beaudu said “We are not really listening to outside opinions. The campaign is 100 percent focused on Congressman Reichert’s re-election.”