President visits Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS -- About 500 supporters of Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-9th District, came to a fundraiser at the Murat Centre's Egyptian Room Friday to hear President George W. Bush speak. The president's speech yielded constant cheering and applause from the crowd -- despite protesters marching outside -- and about $500,000 for the Republican congressman's re-election campaign, said Cam Savage, Sodrel's chief of staff.\nThis November Sodrel is expected to have a tight race against former Democratic Rep. Baron Hill. In 2002, Hill beat Sodrel in the 9th District race, but in 2004, Sodrel beat Hill by a nose and became the only Republican to oust a Democratic incumbent that year and served as the first Republican representative from that district since the Civil War. Sodrel said his 2004 campaign cost about $1.4 million, so the $500,000 the fundraiser brought in Friday was a great help to his re-election effort.\nAfter the crowd finished giving the president a deafening standing ovation, he took his place at the podium in front of a line of 10 American flags.\n"I'm here because I strongly believe it's in Indiana's best interest to send Mike Sodrel back to Congress," he said. "Some of you are from his district, and some of you are not, but you're all smart enough to recognize a good candidate when you see one."\nBush spent the majority of his 40-minute speech addressing the war. Since Sept. 11, 2001, he said he has learned the importance of defeating an enemy overseas, so the nation won't have to defeat the enemy at home. He also said the nation has to take threats seriously, which is why he intends to keep troops in Iraq until the country has a "unity government" and has properly trained forces, which he said have already started to bring stability to Iraq. Though Bush said he knows the "turbulence on TV" affects Americans' opinions of the war, he asked people to remind their friends of both world wars and the consequences the world might be facing today had troops not stayed until the enemy was completely defeated.\n"It's important to have people in Congress who understand this is a nation at war," he said. "The reality is we have an enemy who hates those who love freedom and would like to strike again ... We need members of Congress who will not weaken and make sure the troops have the necessary support to accomplish their mission."\nWith regard to the economy, Bush emphasized that the Republican Party wants tax cuts while the Democratic Party wants tax increases, and that he believes the economy will flourish if Americans keep more of their own money. \n"The difference is clear," he said. "If you want the government in your pocket, vote Democratic. If you want to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket, vote Republican."\nBush also addressed the need to "reform and modernize" Social Security so generations after the Baby Boomers can still reap the program's benefits.\nIn addition, Bush shared ideas for economic growth, saying the country needs to "shape the future and be confident" and that the nation needs representatives who will adopt this philosophy. He said getting rid of frivolous lawsuits, mostly tort or "civil wrong" suits, would drastically cut the nation's expenses. He also discussed the importance of using alternative fuels such as ethanol and corn extracts and looking into the possibility of creating cars that partially run on electricity since "countries who don't like us" have oil.\nHe praised Sodrel for his entrepreneurship and encouraged Indiana's farmers to vote for a man like Sodrel who would ensure they had markets in which to sell their products. Bush also stated his dedication to getting rid of the Death Tax, which he hopes will help Indiana farmers. \n"Mike Sodrel doesn't fear the future because he plans to work with George W. Bush to shape the future," Bush said.\nBefore the president arrived, guests enjoyed a $1,000-per-plate luncheon, which consisted of an extensive buffet including dishes such as Beef Wellington, chicken empanadas and deep-fried ravioli. Attendees could also have their picture taken with Bush for $10,000. Savage said 50 to 75 people had requested a picture by the morning of the event and more were being added to the list.\nAfter an invocation asking God to bless America's troops and their families, city, state and national officials and Bush, Rep. Steve Buyer, R-4th District, and Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th District, spoke in support of their fellow congressman. Buyer spoke of Sodrel's intelligence, "craftiness" and love of free enterprise, which stemmed from his southern Indiana trucking business, he said. \nBuyer also talked about serving in Congress for six years with Hill, who is expected to be Sodrel's competition in the election this fall. Buyer told the audience Hill thought burning a flag shouldn't be a crime, which Buyer said was "a kick in the stomach." He also criticized Hill for wanting to take the word "God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as for supporting various pieces of legislation such as drug re-importation.\n"Good people go to Congress," Buyer said. "This Democratic party is not that of my grandparents. To move up in the Democratic Party, you have to align yourself with the liberal Democrats."\nBuyer also commented that Sodrel's supporters were inside the Murat Centre and that Hill's were outside, referring to a group across the street protesting the war and a piece of legislation Sodrel voted for that makes aiding illegal immigrants a criminal offense. The protesters marched up and down the street in rows carrying signs with anti-war messages and sayings like "We are all immigrants."\nPence spoke in support of Sodrel, as well as Bush. He encouraged guests to let meeting Bush "enliven (their) passion" for the administration and the Republican Party. \n"We are winning the war in Iraq," Pence shouted from the podium. \nHe praised Bush for speaking "courage through a bullhorn" after Sept. 11, 2001, and for appointing two "strong constructionist" judges -- Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito -- to the Supreme Court. Pence encouraged guests to continue to vote for Republican representatives to prevent the Bush administration from becoming an "ongoing acrimony."\nAfter an introduction by Republican State Chairman Murray Clark and a few words from Gov. Mitch Daniels, who praised Bush for his "iron conviction" and described Sodrel as "a Hoosier to his toes," Sodrel and Bush took the podium together. \nBush also talked about the importance of educating children and testing them to see where they need improvement. He praised Daniels for his attention to ISTEP testing issues and for not letting polls affect the way he governed, a comment that was most likely a reference to Daniels' recent passage of "Major Moves" despite many Hoosiers' disapproval of leasing a major toll road to a foreign consortium.\nIn his closing remarks, Bush again praised Sodrel for being an "honest and patriotic" man. Bush briefly went into the crowd to shake hands and then disappeared behind one of the dark blue drapes lining the side of the room.\nDee Dee Benkie, 9th District vice chairwoman, has seen the president speak multiple times and said she was glad to see him come to support Sodrel.\n"(Bush) is always the same, very good, honest person like Sodrel," she said. "They're two of a kind."\nSodrel expressed his gratitude as well. \n"It's quite a thrill," he said. "It's a real honor to have the president come and put in a good word for you"