John McCain, Sarah Palin Touch Down at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Rally
Three Groups of Protesters Mar Rally of 1,500 in Airport Hangar
McCain: "Senator Obama isn't change; he's part of the problem in Washington. You don't get to vote 'present' as President of the United States." (It's a good thing! George W. Bush took more vacation days than any President in history, so he wouldn't have been able to vote "present" that often, by comparison with previous Presidents.)McCain: "Biden, today, said raising taxes is patriotic. It's not patriotic. It's not a badge of honor. It's just plain dumb." (Right. Let's just fire up the printing presses and print some more money. or, failing that, get another huge loan from China or another country. And let's check the web site that fact checks these statements, while we're at it.
McCain: "I'm not going to let that happen. I'll lead through this crisis by fighting for you. You inspire me, my friends."
11:40 a.m.: Another group of protesters, having apparently heard more than they can take in silence, begins shouting. There is a girl sitting on a young man's shoulders and two young men with her, disagreeing with McCain's remarks. A police officer is called. Fortunately, he is not of the Gestapo variety that Bush used, violence-prone thugs like many who were out in force in the Twin Cities. He is gentle with the pretty girl protester and her two companions in leading them away from the fray.
After commenting that Obama won't meet him for Town Hall meetings (*Funny: I'm going to one of those Town Hall meetings that involves McCain and Obama on October 7th in Nashville, Tennessee), McCain, in response to the female protester, says, "The one thing that Americans want us to do is to stop yelling at one another."
Correction, Senator McCain. The one thing Americans would like both sides to do is tell the truth. Karl Rove said that, if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and he proved it that axiom over the last 2 election cycles. However, back in February, McCain promised we, the voters, a higher level of discourse in this election.
Mud slinging does not become either side, and it certainly does not add to the level of discussion. And as for taking part in Town Hall meetings (which is happening), were I John McCain, I would pray that Barack Obama not agree to take him on in a contest involving rhetoric, records and speeches. Speaking is definitely not McCain's strong point, as witnessed by the ascension to the lectern of the loquacious Ms. Palin.
- Sarah Palin and John McCain made a campaign appearance at the Eastern Iowa Airport near Cedar Rapids
Comments
Very good aticle, Connie. I do take exception with your reference to France. France is a great country and the French value their freedom very highly and think that everyone has the right to speak his/her mind and should, in fact, express an opinion. I like honest debate and I'm sorry that the McCain camp has veered from their vow to take the high ground in this election. Frankly, I'm surprised.and disappointed. I'm an Obama supporter but I have always admired McCain's courage and sense of honor. I hope he doesn't continue on this path; I think that if he is elected, he will regret the lies he told to get to the oval office. This from your old friend, Pam.
(continued) The statement was made that some (FORMER) advisor to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae was an Obama organizer. This was not true. The man, himself, has contradicted that statement. And he was a FORMER employee of those institutions, in the first place. You can find the documents to refute almost all the outright lies told that day at the rally listed at www.democrats.org/countthelies.
Thanks, Samaira, Norm and Richard. I just report(ed) the presence of the protesters. I wasn't one of them and don't necessarily condone protesting, if the government is (otherwise) responsive to the needs of the people. I could go off on a tangent here about the role that protesters have played in, for example, getting women the vote or stopping the Vietnam War. It isn't easy being a protester, either, you know; they face almost certain harassment (which was the case this day) and, often, incarceration. Some of the world's most respected individuals have been protesters (Gandhi, Martin Luther King, et. al.). The protesters were not violent, did not break anything, and left without much of a "fight," which I commented on in the article. The fact that they feel it necessary to protest, at all, may be that the lies were flying thick and fast. The most egregrious of those lies was trying to insinuate and outright STATE that Obama was (somehow) responsible for our finacial problems. The tru
great..
I think it is disgusting that a supposedly sane small group of idiots didn't allow a candidate for the office of President to speak. Those are the same hecklers that brought to power dictaors and outher obnoxious charaters. They just came in a clacker group just to heckle and not to hear opposing views. Now I am for McCain and Pailin
I can honestly say, I hate the way that some Americans feel that they must protest everything. Republicans are pro-life, no matter how much protesting is done you aren't going to change that, especially at a Republican rally. Just let them have their rally, stop being a jack bag and move on. If these are the same people that are complaining about not having quality jobs or healthcare or whatever, maybe if they spent less time complaining and more time working then they wouldn't have as much to worry about.
As for the candidates, lets just stop for a moment and really look at the candidates for a change, I hate the brands, Republican and Democrat, because they automatically bring with them a group of supporters regardless of what that person truly stands for. I was heavily in the pocket of Obama from the beginning, I actually assisted in getting out the vote in several cities, and I really thought a great deal about him. However, I did get the chance to meet him and actually ta
Excellent, astute, and darkly funny analysis of the rally. It's a bit disturbing the way some people respond; but then again, some will eat up practically anything they're fed.
I feel it incumbent upon me as the author of this piece to clarify the name of the candidate whom I referenced as "Marianne." Her name is actually (I am not kidding) MARIANNETE Miller-Meeks. She's an optometrist (or was) and a bunch of other things and said she was one of 8 children and the first one to go to college and is running against the man (David Loebsack) who beat James Leach in a hotly-contested election in the Iowa City area. I believe the aptly-named Mariannette is from Ottumwa. They've redistricted this area, so I am actually not sure if it is Congressional District #1 or #2 and, really, that was not the point of this correction: Marrianette Miller-Meeks, Folks. Apologies and condolences all around.
Scott
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/18/2008
Sounds like a lame campaign stop!
"John McCain steps up to the lectern to say, "I look forward to having another pork chop on a stick and a French Fried Twinkie at the Iowa State Fair." The combination sounds deadly for a 72-year-old. I hope somebody at the Fair talks him out of it. The cholesterol hike, alone, has to be lethal." and this cracked me up.
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