Page 16
The Pendulum
Thursday, October 4, 1984
Emohasis
Ferraro brings campaign to Greensboro
By Loukia Louka
Editor
Geraldine Ferraro looked
tired.
The Democratic vice-
presidential nominee who has
been on the campaign trail
almost constantly since her
nomination in July, made her
only appearance in North
Carolina last Monday.
Under overcast skies, a
crowd of several thousand
cheered enthusiastically along
with a Dixieland band that was
playing “Happy Days are Here
Again,” as Ferraro’s motor
cade approached the Gov-
ermental Plaza.
A rush of excitement spread
through the crowd as one spec
tator caught a distant glimpse
of Ferraro. “She’s here!” cried
the crowd, as they waved flags
and posters to welcome the
Queens congresswoman.
Spectators had to lean for
ward and concentrate hard to
penetrate the wall of Secret
Service agents. A large group
of men in three-piece suits
formed a safe circle around
Ferraro. Though wide-eyed
and flashing her tireless smile
to the cheering crowd, her face
showed some strain; a sort of
travel-weary fatigue.
As Ferraro made her way to
the speaker’s platform, the au
dience was rewarded with a
better view and began to grow
restless for her address. “Ger
ry, tell it like it is,” shouted one
spectator. That sent the crowd
into shouts and emotional out
bursts as the moment they had
waited for arrived.
Wearing a turtleneck dress
and a brown blazer, she made
her way across the stage to
shake hands with local organiz
ers of the rally, which was held
in the Govermental Plaza of
downtown Greensboro.
This appearance in Greens
boro was accompanied by an
afternoon jaunt to Raleigh,
where Ferraro made several
appearances. Though the visit
to Greensboro was brief, it was
well executed. Stragetically
positioned to watch the crowd
were Greensboro police with
binoculars on top of various
buildings surrounding the pla
za. Members of the Secret Ser
vice surrounded the speaker’s
platform.
Did local Democratic offi
cials fear special interest heck-
lers that have previously
harassed Ferraro on the cam
paign trail? Maybe. Anti
abortion apponents carried
large signs in protest to Ferrar
o’s pro-abortion stance, though
as a Catholic, she says she
would personally oppose an
abortion.
Acting as counterattackers to
the Right of Life organization
were groups that supported
Ferraro: the Alamance
Women’s Political Caucus,
Catholics, and the National
Organization for Women
(NOW), the moving force be
hind today’s women’s libera
tion, were on hand to give Fer
raro their support.
Despite all the special in
terest groups, there was no
heckling. Behind the stage was
draped a giant American flag,
blowing gently in the cool Octo
ber breeze.
The press turned out in mas
sive proportions as television
camera crews, photographers
and reporters crowded the
makeshift podium built to
accomodate their expected
appearance at the rally. Net
work cameras scanned the
crowd and microphones ho
vered everywhere to listen to
the candidate for the vice
presidency.
All of the state Democratic
candidates for re-election
were present: Gov. Jim Hunt,
\
r 5' i
gubernatorial candidate Rufus
Edmisten, and U.S. Rep. Robin
Britt, among others, made
opening comments.
Gov. Hunt’s remarks empha
sized the purpose of the Demo
cratic party as not being a party
to fight for those who've
“already got it made,” but a
party that is “fighting for peo
ple who are trying to make it.
There’s room in the Democra
tic party for everybody. There’s
room for farmers and tax
payers, not just the wealthy
and special interest groups.”
Ferraro took the podium
without hesitation. She looked
composed, but her quick deliv
ery proclaimed her a serious
team player. She began by dis
regarding pollsters who say the
Dmocrats are floundering.
She predicted that this Janu
ary, voters would send Presi
dent Ronald Reagan back to
the ranch and that Sen. Jesse
Helms would be unemployed.
“I’ve been to every part of the
country,” she said, “and I sense
excitement in the air. It’s time
to make changes.” Her New
York accent coupled with ani
mated expressions and ges
tures and straightforward
approach stirred the crowd.
Ferraro went on to cite the
state senatorial race as one
where “the entire country is
watching.”
With Hunt on stage with her,
she fiercely attacked Helms by
accusing him of trying to
“smear the good name” of civil
rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr., whose national holi
day Helms has long opposed
While she endorsed the elet
tion of J im Hunt as a “moderal
leader who is in touch with tb
people of North Carolina,” shi
proclaimed Helms as a "righ
wing ideologist” who wa
“totally out of touch line an
eventually out of a job."
On the national level. Fa
raro addressed the issues j
deficit spending by the Reaga
administration and what shi
called his “anti-educatioi
anti-environment and anti
elderly” policies. “Wheni
comes to cutting the budget
the poor and the elderly an
first. Social Security is a cod
tract and the elderly have
right to live in dignity.”
Her voice ringing clea
through the plaza, Ferrari
went to relate an anecdote afe
out Vice-President Georg
Bush, who recently asked ai
audience what wins electioni
He in turn pulled out his wat
let, and said it was "who pij
into it and who takes out of it
Ferraro grinned, “Of coursi
we care about money, but tti!
is an election, not an auction
and the U.S. goverment is n«
up for sale to the highei
bidder.
“There’s nothing in the wal
let that says to search for peaci
or stop the arms race. Lead
ership is not just telling peopl'
what they want to hear, bn
what they need to know.”
After thanking the crowii
she faded in the swarm®
security as the shook hani!
along a path of listeners
- Eagerly, the most faithful oft®
lot pushed forward, hoping ft
a closer look, or maybe contacl
Smiling and thanking W'
crowd, she walked alongalj®
of people who endlessly calW
to her. Her face seemed wan
and happy with the expressW
she came in on—smiling, 0
to be there, but tired.