August 5, 2004

Street Talk by Justin Petersen

Did presidential nominee John Kerry’s speech at the Democratic National Convention affect your decision on who you will vote for in November?
(Asked at Costco on Almaden Expressway)


“No. I thought he did a pretty good job, but I’m going to vote for Bush. I like his style, his world and economic policies.”

Brenda Allen, 40
Santa Teresa
Nurse

“Not at all. I’m going vote for him [Kerry]. I trust him more than I trust Bush.

Al Carlson, approaching 56
Almaden Valley
Security manager

“I’m still one of those undecideds. I’ll be following it for the next couple of months. The economy and the war in Iraq are things that if Kerry or the Democrats have a plan that’s better than the one we have right now, [I’ll vote for him].”

Henley Hom, 30
Willow Glen
CFO

“I thought his speech was wonderful and I was already committed to him. But I think it will probably sway a few opinions. When he told the union people he was going to work for a better minimum wage and his call for unity and to not be ugly to one another; yeah, I was impressed with him. I have listened to some of his speeches and think he’s a smart man and I think President Bush has made some mistakes.”

Gin Burns, 71
Blossom Valley
Grandmother

“Our [referring to wife Gin Burns] answers pretty much go hand in hand. We both follow the same ideology.”

Bob Burns, 71
Blossom Valley
Retired engineer

“Not at all. I plan to vote for John Kerry [anyway]. Bush is not my type. He has invaded sovereign nations under the pretext that the Nazis used. There are no weapons of mass destruction. Bush lied. People died. Bush should be targeted for committing fraud against the American people. I think Bush is a terrible human being. I mean two days before Bush told the United State that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and the ability to reach the East Coast of the United States, and George Tenet, the head of the CIA, told him, “take that part out of the speech because that’s not true at all.” At least that’s what George Tenet testified to Congress. Nobody showed any concern about that.”

Steve Valentine, 49
Blossom Valley
Aircraft mechanic