Supporters, protesters face off across street

COLUMBIA -- President Bush's perception of his welcome here Monday might depend on which side of the limousine he occupied.

Only the width of Gervais Street separated Bush supporters and critics. So as the president's motorcade barreled through no man's land about noon, he likely heard cheers from the right and boos from the left.

A handful of Converse College students -- members of the college's Republican student group -- made sure they had a curbside seat for the shimmering black line of limousines and SUVs.

Margaret Shirk, a 19-year-old freshman at Converse, and her fellow students wanted to give Bush a welcome to match the 80-plus degree weather.

Though still in their teens, the young women said they back Bush's plans for Social Security.

"We're here to support the president's plan of partial privatization so that our generation will have access to the dollars we put in," Shirk said.

But detractors of Bush's Social Security plan said they don't like the idea of messing with something that has supported Americans for decades.

Columbia resident Thom Bristow said he started receiving his Social Security benefits in February, but he worries about his children and grandchildren.

Bristow, a former state employee, marched with more than 100 other people who toted signs decrying Bush's policies on Iraq, Social Security and funding for Head Start.

"I've got mine," said Bristow, 65, "and I feel almost guilty getting mine because they're talking about getting rid of it."

Though a majority of Bush's 40 or so supporters were young people, the president did have several youthful protestors.

Charleston resident Devin Meyers, 20, said he believed Bush's case for war in Iraq but felt misled when those reasons were later shown to be unfounded.

"I see a pattern with when he talks about Social Security that he's trying to scare the nation into believing something has to be done immediately," Meyers said.

Carnival

Though the topics of discussion were serious, the periphery of Bush's visit took on an almost carnival-like atmosphere.

Groups of protestors and supporters traded cheers from crowded street corners -- including the "we've got spirit" chant.

One protestor dressed like an old-fashioned prisoner -- black-and-white stripes and all -- to show his disdain for Bush's plan for Social Security.

A supporter -- a student at the University of South Carolina -- donned an elephant costume to demonstrate his allegiance to the Republican president.

And some young people, while fervent in their beliefs, couldn't help swooning a little while catching a glimpse of W.

"I think I saw him," said Spartanburg native Stephanie Freudenthal, 20. "I'm telling people I saw him."

Freudenthal, a USC sophomore, is a Bush supporter.

"It was way exciting," she said, sunglasses atop her curly brown hair. "I feel like I've been very productive this Monday morning."

Luke Connell can be reached at 562-7219 or luke.connell@shj.com.

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MARY ANN CHASTAIN
Outside the Statehouse, the street is lined with demonstrators. Protesters, shown, and supporters stood on opposite sides of the road to show their allegiance.

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