Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Campaign heats up: Minnesotans urge McCain to attack
Bemidji Pioneer ^

Posted on 10/11/2008 1:18:52 AM PDT by Chet 99

Campaign heats up: Minnesotans urge McCain to attack

Don Davis

Bemidji Pioneer - 10/11/2008

LAKEVILLE, Minn. — John McCain’s Minnesota supporters gave him a loud and clear message Friday — take a harder line against presidential opponent Barack Obama.

In a turnabout from the candidate setting the agenda, several of the 21 people who asked McCain questions during a town hall meeting told him to battle his Democratic presidential candidate.

“There is a time for fighting,” one man told the Republican candidate during a 70-minute meeting.

“We want you to fight,” a Navy and Army veteran told McCain.

“I got the message,” the Republican presidential candidate responded, but still called on supporters to respect Obama.

The men’s comments, saying McCain was letting Obama off too easily, drew some of the loudest response from the partisan audience. Occasional “hit him harder” chants could be heard.

Reporters who travel with McCain said they never before heard such a strong public demand for McCain to go on the offensive.

McCain said Republicans must be respectful in the campaign, but he said he would explain the differences between himself and Obama.

“He is a decent person and he is someone you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States,” McCain said to a chorus of boos.

“We will be respectful,” he preached. “I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments.”

More boos followed those comments.

Gayle Quinnell of Shakopee, Minn., told McCain: “I don’t trust Barack Obama because he’s an Arab.”

McCain snatched the microphone out of the 75-year-old woman’s hand and said: “He’s a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.”

But McCain also took on Obama: “There is a record of him never having reached across the aisle to work with the other party on important legislation.”

Friday’s questions were much more partisan than McCain fielded during earlier town hall meetings in St. Paul and nearby Hudson, Wis.

He opened the meeting talking about the hot news of the week, the economy.

The only way to solve the current American economic crisis is for the government to buy bad mortgages, McCain said.

“As long as home values continue to decline, we are not going to turn this economy around,” he said in Lakeville, a southern Twin Cities suburb.

In a Tuesday night debate with Obama, McCain said he wanted to spend $300 billion to buy mortgages that now are in risk of failing. In a Thursday ABC interview, McCain said he hoped the $300 billion could come out of the recently passed $700 billion rescue plan, but it could be new money if needed.

A top Obama adviser also was in the Twin Cities Friday, claiming McCain’s mortgage-repair plan is nothing but a reward for lenders.

“It is a reward for bad conduct,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said.

Durbin, visiting with Minnesota labor officials and talking to reporters, said McCain’s proposal puts money in the hands of lenders who sold risky mortgages.

“Mortgage foreclosures are the rot on the base of our economy,” Durbin said.

Obama’s mortgage plan is to change the law so courts can require lenders and home buyers to renegotiate terms of mortgages. Durbin said that would put on pressure to negotiate with borrowers even before going to court.

The McCain campaign said 2,000 people attended the event at Lakeville South High School.

At one point, a Farmington Christian school teacher rose to tell McCain her students had a comment: “Drill, baby, drill,” a row of girls cheered.

“If you are not busy, we would like to take you with me,” replied McCain, who has promoted more off-shore oil drilling.

Duluth talk radio host Carinda Horton, speaking before McCain arrived, said callers to her morning show say he has the wisdom, experience and trust to be president.

“He has spent his entire life serving us,” added Horton, a military veteran.

She wore a button proclaiming: “Hire a veteran, vote McCain.”

Gov. Tim Pawlenty introduced McCain, their first joint appearance since the presidential candidate decided not to pick Pawlenty as his running mate.

McCain was to spend the night in the Twin Cities before leaving for Davenport, Iowa, this morning. While in the Twin Cities, the candidate conducted satellite and local television interviews.

Pawlenty used the theme of the day – experience – in his short remarks. In picking a president, he said, “one measure we look at is: ‘Who has the record?’”

McCain’s Lakeville appearance was his third town hall meeting in the Twin Cities area and came three weeks after he and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin rallied more than 10,000 people in a northern Twin Cities suburb.

Obama has criticized McCain’s economic plans at every turn, and Friday his spokesman said the Republican’s latest proposal was risky and illegal.

“John McCain’s response to the economic crisis has grown so erratic that in the span of 12 hours, he completely reversed his position on whether or not his risky and illegal bailout scheme would be financed with additional taxpayer dollars,” spokesman Hari Sevugan said. “Whatever position Sen. McCain finally settles on, experts from across the political spectrum have made it clear that his bailout scheme is a guaranteed loser for taxpayers and would hand our money to the very Wall Street banks and lenders who got us into this mess.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: mccain; mn2008; obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 last
To: JustaCowgirl
“But McCain also took on Obama: “There is a record of him never having reached across the aisle to work with the other party on important legislation”.

Yep, that's really taking him on for sure. If John gets really angry, we can expect a strongly worded letter or two.

I am beyond disgusted. We need leadership, and not form elected politicians.

41 posted on 10/11/2008 8:16:18 AM PDT by alarm rider (Peace! through superior fire power....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: mplsconservative

Well, when you have kooks yelling “He’s an Arab!” “Kill him!”, etc., McCain has to act.

If you honestly think that kind of rhetoric sways undecided voters, I don’t know what to tell you. It is really unfortunate, and I wish people at these rallies would THINK before opening their trap and shouting things that will go on the nightly news. I almost have to believe it is Obama plants saying these things.


42 posted on 10/11/2008 11:09:00 AM PDT by Chet 99 (Vote McCain/Palin, or this will be our future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTb5EFZmgbs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

Chet, I realize you’ve only been on FR a couple of months. The “kill him” stuff was totally debunked, even by the Secret Service.

I was at the rally in MN yesterday. The woman who called Obama an Arab, barged her way through the audience and grabbed the mike. I’ll probably be that way in 20 years. LOL! Speak truth to power and all that.


43 posted on 10/11/2008 11:26:17 AM PDT by mplsconservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Bobalu

ROFLMAO! OMG, that is PERFECT!


44 posted on 10/11/2008 12:44:03 PM PDT by tanuki (Summum ius summa injuria. (The more law, the less justice))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: fluffdaddy

For the real insider party hacks, it’s a matter of whose turn it is. It was McCain’s turn to run for President. His total unseriousness was revealed when he said: “You don’t need to be afraid of having him in the White House.” Translation: “I’m a fighter! I’ll fight for you to my last breath and last drop of blood!!! Or—vote for Obama—it doesn’t make much difference.”


45 posted on 10/11/2008 1:52:23 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

Just found your post. Wow, thank you for that! Words of wisdom from a true leader.


46 posted on 10/14/2008 4:38:22 PM PDT by tanuki (Summum ius summa injuria. (The more law, the less justice))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson