What’s it like when the leader of the free world comes to your meeting?
United States president George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush
visited the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in Denver
on their way to open the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The cattle producers were honoured. It was the first time in the
organization’s 104-year history that a standing president has attended.
For a Canadian journalist, the Bush visit was a surreal experience. The
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U.S. is a country at war, so the visit meant serious security with
guard dogs, metal detectors and thick-necked men with wires coming out
of their ears.
The president was scheduled to speak about 10 a.m. but crowds gathered
before 6 a.m. I was there to cover the Cattlefax markets report, which
had been bumped to 6:30 a.m. I hadn’t planned to attend Bush’s speech
until I learned I would be stuck alone in a lockup otherwise.
With other media, I circled the locked Denver convention centre,
searching for the press entrance. When the correct door was located, we
were spirited over to a metal detector that would give us quick access
to the press section of the ballroom.
Stern-faced security emptied my purse, opened lipstick, flicked pens,
flipped through my notebook, checked my wallet and made me play my tape
recorder.
The six metal detectors could handle 500 people per hour but security
probably never expected delays when men with saucer-sized silver belt
buckles and metal-trimmed hat bands set off alarms.
Nobody cared. They came to see the man they consider one of their own.
Bush owns a ranch in Texas and supports agriculture. In his speech he
equated a nation’s ability to feed itself with national security.
Physically, he is ordinary. He looks like a suburban dad. But since
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, this straight-talking Texan has ascended
from the realm of ordinariness and taken charge. For a people seeking
leadership, he has answered the call.
Americans revere their politicians. Chatting with other Canadians after
the speech, we laughed at the unabashed patriotism, the dozen standing
ovations and the cowboy hats raised in respect. None of us, we agreed,
would get out of bed before 6 a.m. to honour our prime minister.
That is a difference between Canadians and Americans. It may not be the
nicest difference.
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