Jeb
came to Pittsburgh yesterday to attend a fundraiser for Little Ricky Santorum, the Pennsylvania Republican Senator from Virginia.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in town for a fund-raiser for Sen. Rick Santorum, had a close encounter with a large group of anti-Republican protesters as he was making his way to the Duquesne Club, Downtown.
It was about 4:15 yesterday when Mr. Bush met up with the protesters near the corner of Liberty and Sixth avenues. The protesters were marching to join other pickets already gathered in front of the exclusive club, a little more than a block away at 325 Sixth Ave.
Protesters said Gov. Bush blew them a kiss, acknowledging the crowd of about 30 chanting pickets that was made up of United Steelworkers and members of Uprise Counter Recruitment, a tour traveling through 22 cities to support anti-war efforts.
More below.
My guess is that Bush was heading to the Duquesne Club soon after this
radio interview, where he sings the praise of Santorum and bemoans how ugly DC politics are. He tells us were different when his dad was a congressman (70's), and things were better in the 80's too. He names bloggers among the culprits for why this has come to pass, but makes no mention of his own party, which unlike in the 70's or 80's, controls congress today.
But I digress:
Once in the subway station, Mr. Bush scurried to the escalators and descended to the mezzanine level, Mr. Vandenburgh said.
By now, Mr. Bush was cornered. He was surrounded by signs that said "Pittsburgh is a Santorum Free Zone," "Honk if you're sick of Rick," and a crowd growing increasingly louder, according to Mr. Vandenburgh.
"We don't want you here," protesters chanted.
Port Authority spokesman Bob Grove said six or seven officers responded to the scene to control the crowds.
He said Mr. Bush had been walking in the area near the T-station and the incident happened spontaneously when about 50 pickets "tailed him and stayed with him and went into the Wood Street station."
About 75 protesters remained on the street, said Mr. Grove.
It's a
short article, and if I quote much more of it, I'll likely excede fair use. So, into the closet we go.
"It was a very tense situation. They were very close to the governor and shouting on top of him."
As a precaution, the governor was ushered into a T-station supply closet and stayed there until the crowd left.
No arrests were made and no citations were issued, Mr. Grove said. Mr. Bush was not injured.
In all, the incident is reported to have lasted 5 minutes. I haven't seen how much money was raised for Senator Man-on-Dog, but I hope the Governor's reception indicates that it wasn't very much.