Even though Barack Obama was the main attraction in West Chester University’s Hollinger Gym Wednesday afternoon there were a few other supporters outside the gym entrance representing several opposing political candidates including abortion protestors, Hillary Clinton supporters, John McCain supporters and even some Ron Paul supporters.”Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” was a constant chant heard outside of the gym as Clinton had the most opposing supporters on the scene.
“We want to be seen. There are a lot of Hillary supporters out there that aren’t seen,” she said.
Fulschiero stated that she has been working on the local telephone campaign for Clinton, making dozens of calls daily. She said that almost all the people on her list have strongly supported Clinton over the phone. She also mentioned that a recent poll released Wednesday had stated Clinton was ahead in the Pennsylvania polls.
Fulschiero said that healthcare is very big issue for her personally and she feels that Obama does not have enough experience in politics to be an effective president.
The abortion protestors were a very strong voice, holding up signs and brutal pictures of aborted fetuses.
Kaitlin Clare of the Christian Defense Coalition from Washington, D.C., was very willing to give her opinion and stated, “Barack Obama needs to change his opinion on abortion policies in the United States.”
Clare brought up the specific quote related to abortion that Obama had made on March 29 during his town meeting in Johnstown, PA. She said that this statement could quite possibly eliminate Obama’s chances of getting a large percentage of the Christian vote.
“Look, I got two daughters – 9 years old and six years old,” Obama said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them to be punished with a baby. I don’t want them to be punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”
The Republican supporters were very quiet, seeming to only want to show their presence. One particular Ron Paul supporter stated, “I just want everybody to know what Ron Paul is all about,” as he handed out pamphlets. He continued to tell me how Ron Paul is fighting for many of the same things as the Democrats. “Ron Paul is against the war in Iraq and he is a true patriot,” he said.
Barack Obama was not the only one “under fire” outside the gym. A couple Obama supporters started a very heated argument with some of the Clinton supporters. “She used the race card,” one girl shouted at the Clinton supporters.
Another shouted claims that nothing would change under President Clinton. Before the shouting could erupt into anything a police officer came to the scene to calm down the political supporters.
Shortly after the verbal scuffle, news came to the group outside the gym entrance that Obama was entering the gym through the rear. Immediately, as a whole, the group of supporters moved with their signs and their chants to the back of the gym to greet Obama. It was a wild spectacle as Obama quickly went in the back door with a quick wave to the crowd. Thus ended the excitement outside Hollinger Gym as the group slowly disbanded over the next 15 minutes.
Jay Dechant is a fourth-year student majoring in history with a minor in Journalism. He can be reached at jd575287@wcupa.edu.