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The group endorsed Bush in 2000 over Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites), a Vietnam veteran. This year, they chose Bush, who served stateside in the Texas Air National Guard during Vietnam, over John Kerry (news - web sites), a decorated veteran of the same war who is also a motorcycle enthusiast.
For the past 15 years, the group has announced its arrival with the roar of motorcycles — not unlike the sound of the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam that was called Operation Rolling Thunder.
Rolling Thunder is an organization that seeks to create awareness of POW/MIA issues and promotes increased veterans' benefits. It has 70 chapters and over 7,000 members throughout the United States and abroad.
"In the Oval Office, I looked you in the eye as you told me of your relentless pursuit of finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I appreciated so much your concern, your care and your persistence," Bush told the rally. "I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites)."
The Kerry campaign said Bush's proposed budget cuts would affect veterans.
"It's pretty audacious of the president to brag about looking the leaders of Rolling Thunder in the eye considering that his most recent veterans initiative is a secret plan to cut almost $1 billion from the Veterans Affairs," Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said.
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