On Saturday afternoon, about two dozen protestors stood outside democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s Iowa campaign office to criticize Kerry for saying it was time for a “regime change” in the U.S. Retired Marine Richard Helm of Van Meter says he can’t say exactly what he thought of Kerry’s remark. Helm says his thoughts are “not for a family (radio) station,” Ron Hardersen of Des Moines, a Vietnam Vet, was on the corner with a poster that called Kerry’s comments “unpatriotic.” At the same time Saturday, about 200 peace protestors gathered in downtown Des Moines to speak out against the war. Seventy-two-year-old Mary Hansen of Iowa City was there. Hansen says she wants peace, and that’s why she drove two hours to stand outside in the cold at the rally. Hansen says she doesn’t think “our government listens to us…but I can’t just sit back and by being quiet give my assent to what’s happening now.” Kerry’s campaign spokesman says the Massachusetts Senator is a Vietnam veteran who earned the respect of his colleagues and the right to speak his mind.
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