>From www.nhprimarysource.com Portsmouth/Feb. 22, 1999 -- Military booster and presidential candidate, Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH), ejected two Gulf War veterans from his announcement speech. Smith refused to discuss the Vets' concerns about Gulf War Syndrome and had police remove them from the under-attended event for carrying signs questioning Smith's commitment to the issue. A Kingswood High School student was also ousted for carrying a protest sign. Outside, one of the protesters, 20-year Air Force veteran Jeff Swan of Tamworth, politely asked Smith if he could speak to him. Smith ignored the request and was reportedly overheard telling an aide, "I don�t want to get into it with him." There's a losing attitude. A year to go until the primary and already Smith is sick of talking to people -- even on one of the few issues he knows anything about. Smith left immediately for Iowa, where he has spent the past 12 months courting the religious right there. And unlike NH, Iowa has a powerful religious right wing. Smith actually polls better in the Iowa caucuses than he does in NH primary. They like him. And the Christian Coalition doesn't ask difficult questions. They care about abortion, gay rights and school vouchers. Not much else. Smith knows those answers.
