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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 29, 2003
CLEARWATER -- Want to support the troops overseas? Or let others know your opinion on the fighting in Iraq?
WFLA-AM 970 Radio is bringing nationally syndicated talk show host Glenn Beck's "Rally for America" to Clearwater's Coachman Park on April 5.
"It's not prowar," said Jeff "Jeffy" Fisher, a member of Beck's production team. "It's pro-America-support-the-troops."
The free event, one of several Beck has orchestrated across the country, is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to noon.
WFLA's special projects manager Debbie McCarthy said she expects at least 7,500 people to come to the rally.
"At other rallies, people have showed up with opposing viewpoints. Glenn is de-emphasizing the political side of this and focusing on America's strengths and core values. He hopes people with opposing views can find a spirit of union," she said.
Gov. Jeb Bush and Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst have both been invited to attend.
"It's not pro or antiwar. It's protroops and to thank them for their dedication," Aungst said.
The governor's office in Tallahassee would not confirm if he will be among the guests.
But Fisher said the Bush team told him he'll be there.
Beck, 38, who broadcasts his show from Philadelphia, could not be reached for comment.
Beck's rallies have been popular across the United States since he started them after Operation Iraqi Freedom began. An estimated crowd of 20,000 attended one on March 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind., and 10,000 showed up to wave flags and cheer on March 23 in Richmond, Va.
Beck, known to listeners as a passionate conservative whose viewpoints on politics, war, religion and topical issues are infused with acerbic humor, can be heard on WFLA-AM 970, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. weekdays.
He got his start at the Tampa station in 2000 where his show aired in the afternoons until it was picked up for national distribution.
According to Beck's Web site, the show can now be heard on more than 100 stations across the United States.
The lineup for the rally so far includes singer Belinda Womack, a local gospel choir, and retired Air Force Col. John T. Carney Jr., president/chief executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that provides college educations to children who have lost a parent while they served in the Special Operations Command during an operational or training mission. Families of soldiers who are serving in Iraq are also expected to attend.