Press Mention The Daily Times April 20, 2005
SACE Quoted
White House confirms Bush visit to Cades Cove
In this mention
President Bush's visit to Cades Cove on Earth Day 2005 was confirmed by the White House, with plans for a maintenance project and address on volunteerism and air quality. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy President Stephen Smith announced plans to protest, criticizing Bush's environmental record on the Clean Air Act and broader environmental protection.
Our message is going to be that the president's position on the Clean Air Act specifically, and environmental issues generally, has not been one that protects human health and the environment
Stephen A. Smith
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Full transcript
White House confirms Bush visit
to Cades Cove
2005-04-21
by Thomas Fraser
of The Daily Times Staff
President Bush's visit to Cades Cove was definitively confirmed by the White House Wednesday, but loyalists among the Blount County public may be disappointed to learn they might not catch a glimpse of the chief executive.
The president plans to participate in an unspecified maintenance project in Cades Cove before addressing media and guests at Cable Mill.
Loop Road will be closed to the public beginning at sundown today and will not reopen until late Friday afternoon after the president's departure. The rest of the Park's roads and facilities will not be affected by the visit, which is expected to last over three hours.
Bush will travel to Cades Cove after arriving at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base around midday Friday. Specifics about that leg of his trip have not been announced.
The weather forecast calls for a chance of rain and thunderstorms.
A select group of public officials and dignitaries will meet briefly with the president at the air base before he departs for the Cove, where the service project is the first order of business.
The president will then deliver an Earth Day address focusing on volunteerism and air quality before returning to the air base for a Friday afternoon departure.
Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. are expected to accompany Bush on the trip, which will be preceded this evening at Sugarlands Visitor Center with the recognition of Park volunteers by National Park Service Director Fran Mainella.
This will be Bush's second Blount County-specific trip since he was first elected in 2000, and he will be in friendly territory in this predominately
Republican county. However, demonstrators are expected to voice their disapproval with Bush's environmental policies.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy President Stephen Smith said Wednesday his group and supporters had been given permission to protest in Cades Cove.
"Our message is going to be that the president's position on the Clean Air Act specifically, and environmental issues generally, has not been one that protects human health and the environment," said Smith, who planned a conference call with national media today to counter Bush's Earth Day visit.
Bush's environmental agenda, Smith said, "is not consistent with the Republican Party, it's not consistent with the Democratic Party. He's taken a very hostile position."
He said "there should be a fair amount of people coming," but noted plans could change.