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California Delegate: Nick Romero
"He often gets demonized by the left as some kind of like, great Satan, you know, and he’s certainly not that."
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By Nick Romero
21 year-old Nick Romero is an alternate delegate at the Republican Convention. The Californian has spent his week attending speeches and hobnobbing with party heavyweights. Youth Radio has been following along and collecting Nick’s impressions.
NICK
I saw the Vice President and the Vice President’s wife, Dick and Lynne Cheney. They were seated maybe ten feet away from me in a special box that they have arranged right above the floor. And originally I thought my seats weren’t gonna be of great vantage, but it ended up being front row seats to the major VIP’s of the party, I suppose.
I met George P. Bush today. George Prescott Bush, today at one of the Hispanic events that we went to. I shook President George Herbert Walker Bush’s hand today at one of the Hispanic events that we went to.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER'S SPEECH (on tape)
The President did not go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn’t about polls. It’s about making.
NICK
I think it was awesome. I think he did a great job. He pumped everybody up. Pump you up! He also drew out the girly-men comment, and I love that.
BARBARA BUSH (on tape)
I know it’s hard to believe, but our parents’ favorite term of endearment for each other is actually “Bushie.”
NICK
They’re very cute. I think they’re- they put a young face to the Bushes, and they put a humanizing face on President Bush. He, you know, he often gets demonized by the left as some kind of like, great Satan, you know, and he’s certainly not that. You know, the guy has wonderful kids and they talked about how he jokes around with them, jokes around with their boyfriends. Look at that, they got laser lights spraying a “W” on top of the building across the street from Madison Square Garden. Drawn in laser lights, it must infuriate those folks who are protesting.
I see them everywhere we go. The protesters, they know where we’re staying because around each hotel the delegates are staying, we have enormous amount of police presence. You know, we have police with M-16’s slung from their shoulders. But you know what? That’s not a bad thing. The police are remaining very respectful, free speech.
YOUNG MAN (on tape)
Do you notice the police out here now?
NICK
Yeah, I notice the police.
YOUNG MAN (on tape)
Do you think that’s okay?
NICK
Well. I think it’s—I see you have an anarchy symbol right there on your sign. I think civilization’s a good thing.
YOUNG MAN (on tape)
So...
NICK
I think police play an important part of maintaining justice in society. And protect us all.
YOUNG MAN (on tape)
You are definitely a politician.
NICK
Well, I’ve seen guys in just their underwear, or stark naked, protesting in Times Square, and just some really weird stuff. People dressed up as the Statue of Liberty in all pink, people chanting that Dick Cheney somehow made money off the war in Iraq which just totally baffles me. And you see them all the time and they say “Go home,” and I try my best to just look them back in the face and smile and say “Thank you. I am home. I’m in America.” I’ll try and hail a cab going this way.
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