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"A Smashing Success"

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By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Jul 25, 2008 at 12:08 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 25, 2008 at 3:08 PM CST

President Bush left Peoria on Air Force One about 2:00 p.m. Friday after speaking at a fundraiser for 18th District Republican Congressional candidate Aaron Schock.
According to a source at the private luncheon held at Weaver Farms in Peoria, the president spoke for about 35 minutes. Another source close to the Schock campaign said 1,400 people paid $500 to attend the event. Photos with President Bush, which went for a $5,000 contribution, were at "capacity" according to the source.

President Bush had no public events scheduled during his second visit to the Peoria area as president. He did meet with a group of about one hundred spectators at the airport before leaving Friday afternoon.

Air Force One landed at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport at 11:25 a.m

Security was extremely tight at the Air National Guard Base. State, county and local police officers have lined Airport road which leads up to Air National Guard base next to the Greater Peoria Regional Airport.

Because of the President's visit commercial air travel was restricted in this area.

Schock along with Darin LaHood, GOP candidate for Peoria County State's Attorney, East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus, Eureka Mayor Scott Punke, and Aurthur Perkins, retired Principal of Harrison Primary School.

The Air Guard base is home of the 182nd Airlift Wing, a group that returned a few months ago from deployment to Iraq. At President Bush's last visit some members of the Airlift wing and their families were here to greet him before he departed Peoria.

One of the first people, the President greeted is 85–year–old Roy Storey of Peoria. Mr. Bush presented Storey the President's Volunteer Service Award.

View Oldest Comments First

Friday, Jul 25 at 10:52 PM Ron wrote ...

Congratulations Aaron on a very successful fundraising event. The Peoria area and the State of Illinois are so fortunate to have such an outstanding young politician with such high morale standards and concern for the people that you represent. Good luck in your Congressional race and thank you for bringing President Bush to Cental Illinois.

Friday, Jul 25 at 6:02 PM averagejoe wrote ...

No election is going to fix America's problem. Salaries are the problem! CEO's are making 20 times higher than the people who actually make the people work. Most people haven't even met the CEO of their company because they can't go visit them on the golf course while they are assembling the product! How much does YOUR CEO make? And what exactly is it that he does? Bush didn't decide yours and your CEO's salary! No one but CEO's can afford to buy - therefor the economy!

Friday, Jul 25 at 4:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Thank you service member. I support you guys AND the war. President Bush is doing a good job keeping the terrorists out of America.

Friday, Jul 25 at 4:27 PM Cory wrote ...

YOU DOOM AND GLOOM PEOPLAE WHO THINK THAT PRESIDENT BUSH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!! BUSH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS PRESIDENT. HE HAS MADE SOME MISTAKES, BUT NOT NEAR AS MANY AS CLINTON OR CARTER. THEY SENT THIS COUNTRY INTO A WIRLWIND THAT REGAN AND BUSH HAD TO FIX!!! AND OBAMA? IF HE GEETS IN THERE WE WILL SEE 4 YEARS OF INCOMPETENCY!! I AM GLAD THAT HE CAME, I AM JUST SAD THAT I DIDNT GO TO WEAVERS AND SEE HIM. AMERICA IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!!!

Friday, Jul 25 at 4:06 PM Dan wrote ...

Obama is having a fund raiser in St Louis for $2,500 a plate. Just in case the democrats felt this was too expensive to attend.

Friday, Jul 25 at 4:04 PM Mike wrote ...

So will the party still be happy when Aaron announced that his gay lifestyle will help his family values initiative?

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:53 PM Matt wrote ...

What was the price of gas when the Nancy Pelosi and the gang took over Congress ? $2.... what is it now ? They could care less about working people. They would rather buy foreign oil from terrorist countries than create hard working union energy jobs in the US.

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:28 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I will really miss him in January. He is better than what we had - Clinton - and better than what we will potentially have. The presidency is not a job for the weak of heart or for those who want to have a celebrit status. It is not about being liked, it is about forseeing danger and the willingness to make the hard calls and decisions when no one else wants to.

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:25 PM skm wrote ...

Would the admirers of George Bush please expain to me what they mean by a good job & job well done?! our economey is in shambles, living cost up-incomes down & one necessary & one un-necessary war!! What is so good about him???? Please tell me???

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:17 PM Rich wrote ...

"For me to Know", you are wrong, and spouting emotion and not fact, the taxpayers did not pay for the President to come here, that money came out of Schock's mcampaign.

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:44 PM Sarah wrote ...

I completely agree with you, Steve. This country needs some serious changes.

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:42 PM KJ wrote ...

I believe all the of the expenses for today's event are paid for out of the money raised (including the President's transportation). Whether you are a Bush or Schock fan we should be proud to have the Preident of the United States visiting our city. No mater who holds the office of President...they are still the President. Show some respect!

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:37 PM darin wrote ...

hey lynn - it's Exxon - i must be insane, too - i think he did as good as he could but it's too bad people like you didn't even give him a chance to do better.

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:37 PM john wrote ...

get in and get out before you mess up central il too GW. dont let the door hit you in backside on the way out.

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:36 PM Poor after 8 years wrote ...

Good job for who sure not the poor or the middle class If there is a middle class anymor I think after 8 years we are in the poor bracket If you think he did a good job is any of your family members in Iraq or disabled or dead

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:24 PM Ryan wrote ...

I agree with Steve. At least the Colleen Callahan is having a fundraiser that most of the people in this district can afford to go to. Did this fundraiser fill up Air Force One or did the taxpayers?

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:23 PM Brenda wrote ...

It's always easy for someone on the sidelines to criticize those in authority, but until you've walked in those shoes, we can't be sure we'd have done things any differently (or better). In fact, we may have handled things quite a bit worse! I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of politics, but I am sure it's a TOUGH job to be president and I'm sure President Bush has done the best he can in any given situation.

Friday, Jul 25 at 1:52 PM Service member wrote ...

Couldn't be prouder to serve with him as Commander in Chief. I too will miss him come January. Thank you Mr. President

Friday, Jul 25 at 1:48 PM lynn wrote ...

hey Bill, do you by chance own stock in Exon? if not, your insane!

Friday, Jul 25 at 1:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I agree Bill. He's doing a very good job.I wish i could have seen him today.

Friday, Jul 25 at 1:30 PM Jody wrote ...

I agree Bill! Two years ago the Country voted for "Change" - now look at where we are! That kind of "Change" was bad for the economy.

Friday, Jul 25 at 12:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

We think he has done a great job as well. My 11 year old daughter and I were at the Grand Prairie mall when he passed by and she thought it was cool that the President of the United States was in Peoria. How cool is it for a young man like Aaron Shock to have the President campaign for you. Good Luck to Aaron! You have our vote!

Friday, Jul 25 at 12:35 PM FOR ME TO KNOW wrote ...

FIRST THE TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THE PRESIDENTS GAS DOWN HERE..WHICH WAS A WASTE OF TIME. HE ARRIVED @ 11:25AM & IT'S 1:34PM & HE IS LEAVING. HE CAME TO SO PEOPLE CAN SPEND $500 FOR A PLATE & $5,000 FOR A PICTURE WITH HIM. THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN DONATED TO A MUCH BETTER CAUSE THAN THAT.

Friday, Jul 25 at 12:16 PM mike wrote ...

W'08...He will go down as one of the best in history...wish he could stay another 4 yrs. since we really don't have a good replacement right now.

Friday, Jul 25 at 10:54 AM Bill wrote ...

To the contrary, I think he has done a very good job. I will miss him come January.

Friday, Jul 25 at 10:35 AM Steve wrote ...

Good, hurry up and get your 'business' done here and get out of town. Cant wait till this guy is out of office, he's ruining this country.

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