Bush, candidates wax patriotic on US Independence Day

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush and White House hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain marked the US Independence Day holiday Friday with parades, picnics and odes to patriotism.

Bush spoke at a ceremony at the home of the third US president, Thomas Jefferson, in Monticello, Virginia, where 72 people became naturalized US citizens and swore an oath to their new home nation.

At the start of his speech, Bush was interrupted by hecklers in the audience who screamed: "Impeach Bush!"

Bush paused and chuckled, saying: "To my fellow citizens-to-be, we believe in free speech in the United States of America."

Turning to the event at hand, Bush highlighted the story of one newly minted US citizen, Mya Soe from Myanmar, who Bush said was harassed...