Teresa Heinz Kerry

Some CSU students and community members didn’t mind spending

part of their Friday evening in a steamy, crowded ballroom in the

Lory Student Center.

Amid a sea of cheers and swaying political signs, Teresa Heinz

Kerry, the wife of presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry was

welcomed to the staged.

According to Steve Farro, an associate with the Kerry campaign,

1,700 people attended the event.

Heinz Kerry came just one day after her son, Andre, spoke to

students Thursday afternoon on the LSC Plaza.

She launched her speech with a cry to Ram Pride, wishing the

football team luck in its Ag Day game against Montana.

Political discussions began with the conflict in Iraq and the

War on Terrorism.

Heinz Kerry denounced the Bush Administration’s actions in Iraq

by comparing the United States’ interests in Iraq to those

Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan and Iraq are not just geographical locations,”

Heinz Kerry said. “They are different countries with different

problems…Terrorism is not Saddam, it is Osama.”

In wrapping up the discussion surrounding Iraq, a potentially

misplaced cheer was shouted from a group of students in the rear,

after Heinz Kerry said, “Opium production levels (in Afghanistan)

are sky high.”

Other subject areas in the speech were higher education, health

care, minimum wage and rising economic problems from what she

believes were unnecessary tax cuts.

“Tax cuts that the president gave people like myself who didn’t

want it, didn’t ask for it and I’m ashamed of it,” she said.

Heinz Kerry was brought to the stage with an entourage of

introductions from local Democratic Party politicians and

supporters. One of Heinz Kerry’s first introductions came from

Larimer County Sen. Peggy Reeves. Reeves praised Democrats and the

state of Colorado in her address, but hinted at her displeasure

with some current environmental policies.

“If we get Kerry in (office) we’re not going to have any blue

sky proposals that do the opposite of what they say,” Reeves

said.

Other introductions came from Stan Matsunaka, Democratic

candidate for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, Bob Bacon,

Democratic candidate for state Senate and Angie Paccione, incumbent

congressional candidate for House district 53.

Paccione incited the crowd with a call and response of “When I

say John, you say Kerry,” while D-Rep. John Kefalas, House District

52, proceeded to “raise the roof.”

Ashley McBeth, president of the CSU Young Democrats, gave the

final introduction of Heinz Kerry to the crowd.

Closing remarks included a plea to women voters to participate

in this year’s election, as well as a closing statement endorsing

her husband with not-so-subtle undertones not in favor of President

Bush, which prompted a jovial crowd response.

“It will take someone who is not fearful of complexities,” Heinz

Kerry said. “(A candidate) who likes diplomacy, who deeply believes

and respects science.”

Though the crowd appeared eager to exit the stifling ballroom,

they gave a lengthy applause to Heinz Kerry and her message.

“I felt Teresa Heinz-Kerry expressed the idea that the

Kerry/Edwards platform is going to allow a progressive worldview in

historic American values,” said Kyle Fulmer, a junior English

major.