Cheney appeals to mining, health care industries

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 8:46 a.m.

RENO -- Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday he was stunned when he heard Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry had asserted support for the troops in Iraq.

Cheney was referring to Kerry's speech to the National Guard Association in Las Vegas.

Cheney reminded his own boisterous rally of about 1,500 people that Kerry voted to send troops into Iraq but then voted against providing support.

Cheney also said Kerry has changed his position eight times on the war and has also flip-flopped on the No Child Left Behind act and on foreign trade.

The crowd interrupted Cheney numerous times with cheers and applause and booed when he criticized something that Kerry had done. Those attending waved posters and shouted "Four More Years."

A group of protestors, probably about 30-40, were outside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center carrying signs, protesting the actions of the Bush administration on a variety of issues, including the war and employment.

Turning to some local issues, Cheney said 100,000 jobs have been created in Nevada since 2002 and added that Bush was a friend of the mining industry.

He said the Bush administration has "put the government on the side of the miner in Nevada." The most recent employment statistics indicate that out of a state work force of 1.1 million about 6,000 people are employed in metal mining in Nevada.

Cheney said the agenda for a second term for Bush includes making the tax cuts permanent, continuing to improve the job situation, "end lawsuit abuse" and support medical liability reform.

He said there is a crisis not only in Nevada but also nationally for doctors being sued. He said the administration wants to see doctors treating patients and not fighting lawsuits.

On the election ballot in Nevada are three issues dealing with medical malpractice. Physicians have an initiative petition to tighten up the law on suits against doctors.

Trial lawyers have two initiatives that could undo the laws already passed on medical malpractice and to prohibit the Legislature from putting any limit on jury judgments in tort suits.

There is presently a $350,000 limit on pain and suffering in a medical malpractice suit.

Gov. Kenny Guinn spoke before the rally and said President Bush has visited Nevada three times and "he (Bush) told me he's coming back. Four times will equal four more years."

Attorney General Brian Sandoval, co-chairman of the Nevada campaign to re-elect Bush, said a new poll shows the president 2 to 5 percentage points ahead of Kerry in Nevada.

But Democrats in Nevada captured the lead in voter registration and Sandoval was asked whether the opposition now has the momentum. He said both parties are working hard to register voters and he predicted a record turnout in the November election.

He said the race will depend on which party gets out the vote and the GOP has thousands of volunteers to get Republicans to go to the polls.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., told the crowd that Northern Nevada is "Bush-Cheney country."

He urged the crowd to stick with a "team that is decisive" rather than change to a candidate who flips on his position.

"Northern Nevada does not tolerate double-talking politicians," Ensign said, adding that they should not be sent to the White House.

"I trust the Bush-Cheney team to protect my family from the threat of terrorism," Ensign said.

Other statewide GOP elected officers attending the rally were Secretary of State Dean Heller and state Controller Kathy Augustine. Treasurer Brian Krolicki was returning from a national convention in Wyoming and could not attend.

Cheney spent Thursday night in Reno and is scheduled to leave today for Portland, Ore.