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More than a thousand supporters showed their Republican pride Thursday as Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin addressed the crowd in a town-hall style meeting.
McCain and Palin focused on “straight talking” to the people about their plans to repair the economy and “victoriously” bring soldiers home from Iraq.
“Our opponent continually wants to look backward because that is where you find blame for some of the challenges that America is facing today,” Palin said. “But we’re going to join you in looking forward because that’s where America is going to find its solutions.”
The candidates challenged Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s reform policies and said Obama is opposed to helping the homeowners of America. McCain also accused Obama of taking a large sum of money from mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Tommy Vietor, spokesperson for the Obama campaign, refuted McCain’s allegations and accused McCain of launching personal remarks rather than concentrating on the issues at hand.
“It’s now clear that John McCain would rather launch angry, personal attacks than … defend his risky bailout plan that hands over billions in taxpayer dollars to the same irresponsible Wall Street banks and lenders that got us into this mess,” Vietor said.
McCain vowed to return the money lost in the economy back to the people of America through his mortgage plan.
“Let’s go out and find people who cannot stay in their homes, buy their mortgages and give them mortgages that they can afford so they can stay in their homes and make the payments,” McCain said.
McCain said he wants to give Americans a $5,000 refundable tax credit so they can obtain a health insurance policy of their choice.
Alec Loftus, communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said that would cost taxpayers more money in the end.
“McCain’s new plan would reward irresponsible mortgage lenders at taxpayers’ expense, and it would possibly be the largest taxpayer fund to hand out to irresponsible lenders in U.S. history,” Loftus said.
The topic of abortion, which has not been addressed in previous presidential debates, was also discussed. McCain noted his anti-abortion record in contrast to Obama’s stance on the issue.
“I don’t know if you heard, but when Rick Warren asked Sen. Obama about the issue he said, ‘It’s above my pay-grade,’” McCain said.
Palin also claimed Obama refused to provide health support for children who were born as the result of an unsuccessful abortion.
On the topic of offshore drilling, Palin denied allegations that 75 percent of the drilling in Alaska is being exported to China. She also emphasized the need to drill more offshore, denying Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden’s accusation that offshore drilling is “raping the outer continental shell.”
In light of recent incidents of voter fraud in Wisconsin, McCain said the issues should be investigated but that “no one should block the most precious right we have, and that is the right to vote.”
Palin expressed frustration with Obama’s vote against funding the troops that are already in the war zone. She called on Obama’s “incapability” of reciting the word “victory” in regard to the Iraq war, when McCain’s primary goal as president would be to bring troops home with “victory.”
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In the face of these attacks, Barack�s response is evoking memories of Nelson Mandela and the quiet, steady, unwavering dignity that enabled him to rise above the evil that was continuously nipping at his heels.
That is leadership. You Americans should try it sometime.
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This childish smear campaign is insulting to the American people. Stop trying to distract us from the real issues. Obama doesn’t have all the answers, but at least he’s talking about the economy, ending the war in Iraq, health care and education. All I hear from republicans is negativity, playing on peoples’ fears? Is Obama a terrorist? Is he a muslim? McCain releases a new negative attack on Obama every day online, but doesn’t have the guts to confront him with allegations to his face at the debates. Are you gonna deal with North Korea, Iran, and Russia by bashing them on YouTube if you become president, Senator McCain? So much for straight talk, huh?
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Visiting the 60’s is not going to work. Mccain’s time is gone. The election is over. The US is going to change. Instead of fighting change accept it, embrace it, and prosper. We needed real change not republican talking points and as reck neck woman from Alaska.
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From Wikipedia: The founding Board of Directors (Democrats & republicans) of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge as announced in 1995 were:[39]
Patricia Albjerg Graham Barack Obama, civil rights attorney at Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland; lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School; member of the board of directors of the Joyce Foundation and the Woods Fund of Chicago; winner, Crain�s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 award, 1993; former president of the Harvard Law Review (1990�1991); former executive director of the Developing Communities Project (June 1985�May 1988)[25][40][41][42] Stanley O. Ikenberry, president of the University of Illinois (1979�1995); member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago (1983�1995); former professor of education (1965�1971) and senior vice president (1971�1979) of Pennsylvania State University Arnold R. Weber, president of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago (1995�1999); member of the board of directors of the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial and the Tribune Company; former president of Northwestern University (1985�1994) and the University of Colorado (1980�1985); professor of labor economics and friend and colleague of George P. Shultz at MIT, the University of Chicago, and in the Nixon administration[43] Ray Romero, vice president and general counsel of Ameritech; Chicago School Finance Authority board member (appointed in 1992 by Governor Jim Edgar); candidate in the 1996 Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District of Illinois; winner, Crain�s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 award, 1991; former Illinois Commerce Commission commissioner (appointed in 1985 by Governor Jim Thompson); former civil rights attorney as Midwest regional director of MALDEF where he was lead counsel for Hispanic plaintiffs in the 1985 Chicago ward remap[42][44] Wanda White, executive director of the Community Workshop on Economic Development; former policy director of the Women�s Self-Employment Project; former deputy commissioner of economic development under Chicago Mayors Washington, Sawyer and Daley Susan Crown, president of the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial; vice president of Henry Crown & Company; daughter of Lester Crown[45] Handy Lindsey, Jr., executive director (1988�1997) then president (1997�2003) of the Field Foundation of Illinois; former associate director of the Chicago Community Trust (1986�1988)
I imagine these people were interested to know that they had been palling around with terrorists, because they all probably thought they were trying to improve the public schools. This is just a slime attack, and anyone peddling it is also slime.
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Speaking of relationships with so-called terrorists � it seems the United States (under W�s leadership) has restored diplomatic relations and trade with Libya. Libya is a dictatorship under control of Muammar Khaddafi (sorry if I spelled the name wrong.) Libya was the sponsor of the bombing of a Pan-Am flight. If Libya can redeem itself in the eyes of Republican America, why can�t Prof. Ayers redeem himself in the eyes of Republican America? And how quickly have we forgotten that Pres. Reagan sold arms to Iran (W�s Axis of Evil and the preferred site for McCain�s next bombing run) to fund terrorists to overthrow the democratically elected government of Nicaragua. Oh, if we could all be as virtuous as Sen McCain and Gov Palin and their Republican predecessors.
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Pot calling to kettle: What about Keating? About the Alaskan Independence Party? VP candidate was sleeping with a secessionist!
If that be treason make the most of it.
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Isn’t it ironic that the candidate who touts reaching across the aisle to solve our nations problems is now burning bridges with the very people he will have to work with if elected president? He’s also fostering a nation of hate rather than hope.
At the beginning of the campaign, I was seriously considering voting for McCain as I respected and trusted him. The way he has managed his campaign has convinced me that he has sold his honor and character in his single-minded quest to become president.
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“That is leadership. You Americans should try it sometime.”
Isn’t South Africa where the flame-thrower anti-car-jacking device was invented?
Yeah, Mandela did a great job. Everything is going just peachy in SA.
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We are screwed if this great country elects Obama. He has no expericene, was a senator for only 150 days, was late when he did show up and voted present on tough issues.
God help us and say goodbye to Israel. Start “spreading the wealth”.
Go McCain!!!!!