Bush hits state to push loan bill, help out GOP
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
In a roughly three-hour visit that snarled rush-hour traffic and drew hundreds of onlookers, excited and otherwise, President Bush swung through central Arkansas on Tuesday to promote responsible home ownership and raise money for fellow Republicans. He also crashed a birthday party.
Hoping to highlight homeowner counseling programs and urge passage of a federal foreclosure-rescue bill, Bush met with two homeowners with their own stories of struggle.
“Obviously, we have a housing issue in our economy,” he said as he began a small roundtable discussion at the Family Service Agency in North Little Rock. “Whatever the problem is, the question is, can we put effective organizations in place to help people refinance and stay in their homes ? We want people, creditworthy people, to stay in their homes.”
Congress is poised to pass a $ 300 billion plan to offer qualified homeowners new, fixedrate loans backed by the federal government. Senate debate over an unrelated provision stalled the bill last week.
During his roughly 40-minute session, Bush heard how agency counselor Sue Pearson helped Patty Couch of Conway avoid foreclosure on her home.
“Sweet Sue to the rescue !” said the president. He later heard Jacksonville resident Carolyn Pierson tell how the agency’s home-buying seminar helped her make smart decisions when she bought a “cosmetically challenged” home, her first homebuying attempt in 30 years.
“It was great,” Pierson said of the pre-purchase counseling. “Because you knew what to do and what to expect.”
Pierson had explained that the counseling helped overcome a tight budget. She said she’d worked two jobs, including one at a Jacksonville medical clinic. But taxes, she told Bush, are too high.
“That’s another subject,” he said with a grin. “We cut them. Pretty significantly.”
Bush later told reporters that the country will survive the housing crunch, particularly if the foreclosure bill moves quickly — and his way.
“Congress can help, when they come back, to pass a good piece of housing legislation,” he said before taking off for the fundraiser at beer distributor George O’Connor’s Cammack Village home.
Otherwise, he encouraged homeowners to be informed and seek help.
“One of the problems we have when it comes to buying a home is that there’s a lot of fine print. And people get worried about it,” he said.
Despite his sagging poll numbers nationally — figures mirrored in state surveys — Bush still brings in loads of cash for his party. The Republican National Committee, now gearing up to promote John McCain as his successor, has said Bush has raised about $ 67 million through 29 fundraisers as of Monday. He held another event in Jackson, Miss., before his Arkansas tour.
Karen Ray, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said it’s too early to tell how much cash his Tuesday visit generated. She said about 475 people attended the $ 150-a-ticket event. Dozens of them paid $ 5, 000 for a photo with the president.
“It was a great event,” Ray said.
It ended, at least for the president and his long, flashing-light motorcade, right at evening rush hour. Hundreds of cars idled along neighborhood streets and busy interstates as the president rushed back to the airport.
Throughout the trip, dozens of onlookers stood by, waving cell phones and hands. Other than a couple of scattered sign-wavers, no protesters were in sight.
In North Little Rock, Greg Epperson, 44, of Morrilton stepped out to take a snapshot. He works at American General, next to the Family Service Agency that hosted Bush.
“I called my mother, and she told me to say ‘hi’ to him,” Epperson said. “I told her I probably wouldn’t be getting that close.”
Few people would, other than the approximately 50 people who greeted Air Force One at Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field and the Republican Party donors.
As Bush barreled down University Avenue to head to Air Force One, it seemed there would be little public mingling.
But someone was having a birthday.
And to the clear discomfort of a suddenly swamped Secret Service detail, the motorcade stopped at University and South Country Club Boulevard.
A crowd swarmed and stretched out its hands. Reporters and photographers scrambled. And Mabry Meadors and her friends shrieked. They’d been celebrating her birthday with a water slide a few houses away.
Bush joined them, but just for a picture.
Meadors’ father, Mark, said in a telephone interview that the revelers had waved to the motorcade on its way in. The stop on the way out was a nice surprise.
“It was a pretty neat deal that a 7-year-old, on her birthday, gets to meet a sitting president,” the 40-year-old insurance agent said. “She was somewhat speechless.”
Said Mabry, “He said hello.” Information for this article was contributed by Andy Boyle and Sean Sposito of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
