HILADELPHIA - In a rare departure from the convention's carefully planned unity theme, a number of Texas delegates last night protested the speaking role given to the openly gay congressman Jim Kolbe of Arizona. While Kolbe spoke about free trade, without mentioning gay rights, a number of the cowbow hat-wearing Texas delegates bowed their heads and one held up a sign that said, ''There is a Way Out.''
Larry Stevens, one of the praying delegates, said he protested Kolbe's appearance because the congressman ''doesn't represent the values that are in our platform.''
Ad criticizing McCain finally purged from site
Just hours before Senator John McCain was to laud his former rival on prime-time television, any voter could click on Governor George W. Bush's Web site to watch McCain's credibility ripped to shreds on his signature campaign issue, campaign finance reform.
The primaries are over, but the Bush Web site kept an ad that had run in South Carolina. Noticed by Al Gore's campaign, the ad was pulled a few hours before McCain's speech last night.
''News investigations reveal McCain solicits money from lobbyists with interests before his committee and pressures agencies on behalf of contributors,'' the ad said.
Candidate polishes up his convention speech
Governor George W. Bush practiced his convention speech one last time yesterday using a teleprompter in the dining room of the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. Ken Hughes, his communications director, said, ''I had tears in my eyes.''
Then Bush and his wife, Laura, drove to Gettysburg to the former Eisenhower office on the campus of Gettysburg College, where the Texas governor introduced Condoleezza Rice, his chief foreign policy adviser. Before making his remarks, Bush said, ''The good news is that we're going to Philadelphia tomorrow.'' His wife added, ''The bad news is, the election isn't tomorrow.''
Conservatives to toe line, but will raise voices in fall
PHILADELPHIA - The people George W. Bush won't let speak at the GOP convention on subjects he doesn't want raised filled a Philadelphia ballroom yesterday and pledged that they won't be silenced this fall, even as they push onward, as Christian soldiers, to elect Bush president.
The Rev. Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and the keynoter at its ''Faith and Family'' rally yesterday afternoon, said social conservatives will speak out on abortion and abolishing the Department of Education, even though neither issue will be mentioned at the four-night convention that ''is all sweetness and light - nobody wants to rock the boat.''
