Letter: Bush avoided meeting residents

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

Sen. John Kerry met with Las Vegans at the Thomas & Mack, which has a capacity approaching 18,000, while President Bush held his visit in a local carpenter's hall with smaller, very limited seating. Tickets to Kerry's open meeting were readily available, while tickets to the Bush meeting were limited and not openly distributed to the public at large.

President Bush's apparent limited access to Las Vegans to discuss current issues, including Yucca Mountain, is not something that could be placed in his resume as an example of a profile in courage. I say shame on the president for cowering away from citizens in Las Vegas. The president can meet citizens in large venues in other cities and states but not in Las Vegas. Why?

It seems to me that if the Thomas & Mack is accessible for Sen. Kerry's supporters, it should be easily accessible to the president of the United States.

VIRGIL A. SESTINI

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