Congressman makes a stop in Winslow
Anna Kelmen
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News
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Up to a 100,000 anti-war demonstrators marched in Washington to protest the Iraq war on Saturday Sept. 15 (Matthew Barakat, Associated Press, Sunday September 16). Over 190 members of the group were arrested as they marched from the White House to the Capitol.
The war in Iraq evoked a more sedate New England dissent, when firefighters from across the state gathered at Sukee Arena for the 44th Annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention this past Friday, Sept. 14. Congressman Tom Allen (D) joined the firefighters and their families, chatting, listening and speaking to their concerns. Allen seemed willing and able to immerse himself in the quiet lives and opinions of his constituency. He greeted firefighters and their families, speaking about a variety of subjects-notably, their growing concerns about our troops in Iraq, but also issues about health care, the weather, and a visit with the Budweiser Clydesdales. Not a man to rely on his pretensions, Allen listened politely to a sales pitch for a fire alarm product.
While the United States House is in session, Congressman Allen spends four to five days a week in Washington voting on proposals. The rest of his time is spent here in Maine, and recently has included campaigning as he faces a close Senate race upcoming in 2008.
As Allen walked among the firemen, time and again he was addressed with questions and comments concerning the war in Iraq. Judy Broomhall a firefighter from Mexico, Maine spoke of the war as a "Catch 22." She said that she wanted to see the troops come, yet she didn't want to leave the Iraqi people high and dry. Echoing the concerns of many across the nation, she asked Allen to "see what [he could] do about getting our boys home." She spoke of her concern for her son who she mentioned had just graduated from the Air Force and who she did not want to see deployed for active duty, although she admitted that he felt he was ready. Although not as intense as the protesters who marched on Washington this weekend, Broomhall also knew how to bring home her point. When asked if she would mind being quoted in the Echo, she cautiously amended her comment stating that it was her Granddaughter's boyfriend, not her son graduating from the Air Force.
The war in Iraq evoked a more sedate New England dissent, when firefighters from across the state gathered at Sukee Arena for the 44th Annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention this past Friday, Sept. 14. Congressman Tom Allen (D) joined the firefighters and their families, chatting, listening and speaking to their concerns. Allen seemed willing and able to immerse himself in the quiet lives and opinions of his constituency. He greeted firefighters and their families, speaking about a variety of subjects-notably, their growing concerns about our troops in Iraq, but also issues about health care, the weather, and a visit with the Budweiser Clydesdales. Not a man to rely on his pretensions, Allen listened politely to a sales pitch for a fire alarm product.
While the United States House is in session, Congressman Allen spends four to five days a week in Washington voting on proposals. The rest of his time is spent here in Maine, and recently has included campaigning as he faces a close Senate race upcoming in 2008.
As Allen walked among the firemen, time and again he was addressed with questions and comments concerning the war in Iraq. Judy Broomhall a firefighter from Mexico, Maine spoke of the war as a "Catch 22." She said that she wanted to see the troops come, yet she didn't want to leave the Iraqi people high and dry. Echoing the concerns of many across the nation, she asked Allen to "see what [he could] do about getting our boys home." She spoke of her concern for her son who she mentioned had just graduated from the Air Force and who she did not want to see deployed for active duty, although she admitted that he felt he was ready. Although not as intense as the protesters who marched on Washington this weekend, Broomhall also knew how to bring home her point. When asked if she would mind being quoted in the Echo, she cautiously amended her comment stating that it was her Granddaughter's boyfriend, not her son graduating from the Air Force.
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