John McCain
In Johnson's Footsteps, McCain Finds Republicans
By Juliet Eilperin
INEZ, Ky. -- Greeted with whoops and cheers by a crowd in a packed courthouse here this morning, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) pledged to help small rural communities that have been largely overlooked by national politicians.
While McCain paid tribute to the fact that President Lyndon B. Johnson had journeyed to this tiny town 44 years earlier, to announce the War on Poverty, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee rejected the traditional government programs that Johnson and many Democrats have advocated for years.
"Government has a role to play in helping people who through no fault of their own are having a hard time. But government can't create good and lasting jobs outside of government," he told the crowd. "It can't pay lost wages. It can't dig coal from the earth. It can't buy you a house or send all your kids to college. It can't do your work for you. And you've never asked it to."
Instead, McCain touted his plan to cut taxes for corporations, arguing that approach will do more to spur job creation across the country, along with federal incentives for companies to provide high-speed Internet access to remote areas. "Government should accurately identify areas where the market truly is not working and provide companies that are willing to build the information infrastructure to serve these areas incentives like tax reductions and more generous depreciation," he said, prompting applause.
And unlike the other national politicians who have come to Appalachia once, never to return, McCain insisted he would come back to town if he becomes president. "I will not make this my last visit to Inez," he said, sparking another round of applause. "If I'm elected, I will come back here in the course of my administration, hold another town hall meeting, and invite you to hold me accountable for the decisions I have made and the promises I have sworn to keep."
Inez, which is home to the Republican National Committee chairman Mike Duncan, is overwhelmingly Republican. But voters from throughout eastern Kentucky came to hear McCain speak, and several of them said they had yet to decide who they would vote for as president. Many said they wanted to learn more about where McCain stood on issues such as coal and the economy.
Ernay Goble, who attends Marshall University an hour away in Huntington, W.Va., but still comes home every weekend, said she wants to support a candidate who backs the use of coal more than Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). "We know Barack Obama is against coal," said Goble, a Republican. "If they don't have coal, there's no jobs around here."
McCain said he would back federal money for research and development into sequestering the greenhouse gas emissions generated by coal production, saying that he knew Appalachia sat on a tremendous coal reserve, "But we have to make sure we can make clean coal technology affordable and available. We need to have a careful balance between protection of our environment and exploitation of our natural resources."
Few voters here said they were eyeing Obama. The audience's hostility toward him was evident when it gave a standing ovation to a state senator who asked McCain what he thought of the Democrat's comment about voters who cling to religion or guns, adding that when it came to statements like that, "I think it reflects the comments of someone who doesn't understand this neck of the woods."
McCain made a point of saying that many of the people Obama was referring to chose to defend the U.S. after suffering through the Great Depression. "Yes, I think those are elitist remarks, to say the least," he said.
For the most part, voters said they were deciding between McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). Lisa Waller, who grew up in Inez and now lives in Winchester, Ky., said she was looking for a way to return to her hometown.
"I can't come back because there's no jobs here," Waller said. "You can leave the hills, but the hills never leave you. My family's here, my heart's here."
Waller, a Democrat who opposes the war in Iraq, said Clinton's recent comments have appealed to her but she still had not made up her mind. "She has shown more of a connection to regular people," she said, adding that while she liked McCain's comments on education and health care, she remains concerned about his support for the war. "He had me up until he talked about the troops. That's a huge thing for me."
Asked about the economy, McCain said he believed the country was in a recession. "The reality is, and I don't have to tell you here, American families are hurting," he said. Taking direct aim at Clinton, he questioned her health care proposal and said, "I don't think anyone who wants bigger government regulation and higher taxes has any real understanding of economics and the economy."
Noting that Americans pay 18 cents per gallon in federal taxes on every gallon of regular gas, McCain told the audience he wants to provide a holiday for those taxes between Memorial Day and Labor Day, prompting another round of applause from the audience. He mocked those who have criticized his gas tax proposal, saying, they would prefer to spend the money on pork-barrel projects such as Alaska's Bridge to Nowhere, "And some of those people who are complaining are driving around in chauffeured limousines anyway."
When a questioner asked McCain how his "personal faith" would be part of his presidential decision making, the senator recalled how he relied on his faith in God as a prisoner of war during Vietnam.
"My faith has been a vital part of my life in many ways," he told the questioner. "We can't always do it ourselves."
That emphasis on faith pleased several Republicans in the audience, who said they backed McCain because of his support for traditional values.
Tony Skeans, Inez's first assistant prosecuting attorney, said McCain's "hands off" rhetoric resonated with local residents. "Mountain people are proud people, and we like to take care of our business," Skeans said. "We want the federal government to help us the best it can, but we don't want it to tell us what to do with our guns or our religion."
"That's the truth," chimed in Boone Mahon, the Martin County jailer, who was sitting beside Skeans.
Posted at 12:47 PM ET on Apr 23, 2008
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Posted by: RAT-The | April 24, 2008 9:52 PM
Its interesting to here the guy who is against immigration write in spanish. Its tough to tell if someone is being sarcastic or is trying to be misleading on purpose.
McCain is salt of the earth, thats why the commentors have to reuse tired lines about republicans and the stuff they dont like about President Bush(the president that one two terms by election of clear majority).
I'm a student but you can tell most of these guys are paid bloggers who work political orgs with clear agendas to steer the conversation.
lets not forget what the article was about, John McCain went to visit Kentucky and talk to people who understand him. NOT arrogant blue bloods, but down to earth people.
Posted by: steve | April 24, 2008 3:42 PM
Folks dont yawn yet. The S**t is about to hit the fan. Obama, Rezko, Farakhan, and now GWB, not to forget the darling of them all, Oprah and her million (or trillions) will be front page news. How Obama became so filthy rich? Guess. Another little mistake Barak made he claimed was to get involved with Rezko and the entire real estate deal including the ring around the rosey with Rezko's wife and her dealings in the extra privacy land Obama either purchase or was given by Rezko! Oh baby,
Obama is sure to be made the center of these dirty dealings and will probably end up the FALL GUY for his stupidity!
Posted by: LYNN PARKER | April 23, 2008 5:12 PM
Hola Senator!
Beinevidos, Y Welcome to NUEVO ORLEANS!
Mas Trabajo AQUI! MAS!
Y Conjectura(Guess),
WHO TOOK IT ALL?! :-(
Posted by: La Invasora! ;-) | April 23, 2008 4:09 PM
Someone PLEASE tell ME which is it?
We need Illegals and Visa out the Wazzu, becuase we can't fill all the Jobs,
OR, we have Americans Dying on the Vine because they have no Work?
Or, Maybe;
WE, have WRONG-HEADED Elected MORONS who ALLOW a MULTI-MILLION Strong UNFAIR Illegal Employment SCAM, that has destroyed Wage levels, thrown away HUNDREDS of BILLIONS in Taxes NOT Collected, and Usurped the American Worker?!
"Bitter"? Oh, people Like our Elected Reps., can only just WISH, I was only BITTER!:-(
I am P.O'ed!
Posted by: RAT-The | April 23, 2008 3:57 PM
Folks in Inez have been and still are being demogoged by the republicans.
No one is threatening either guns or religion, and these cheap, wrong and very stale themes need to be staked and buried.
In fact, prosperity is needed, and republicans have clearly shown they cannot manage either national security or an economy. They can use class warfare though, and fear-mongering, and it's worked pretty well at national politics. It's been bad for the country of course, but they've won some elections that way.
The irony is of course that republicans actually slop at the federal trough more than anyone, and have directed more and more federal dollars to republican players through federal contracts and grants at unprecedented levels.
They have supported a concept of executive authority that is radical and totally against our traditions of government and the concepts that started this county on its course of freedom.
But there's something comforting in banding together in outrage, and republicans have been skillful in manipulating this outrage with faux issues that actually should rebound more on them.
The fact that Bush, an elite born of a rich, blue blood family with a legacy educaiton at Andover, Yale and Harvard, raised in CT, and a draft-dodging chickenhawk, was able to portray himself as a Texan cowboy is nearly comical, were the results not so disastorous. And there's a grand tradition of republican hypocrites like this.
Posted by: Egilsson | April 23, 2008 3:25 PM
DISGUSTING! :-(
Absolutely DISGUSTING!
Juan McAmnesty, needs to pull his Head Out!
Apparently the Noxious Vapors have adversely affected his ability to see what is as plain as the Ring Around his Collar!(Neck) ;~)
Maybe, as he arrives in Nuevo Orleans, he MIGHT get a Clue!
BUT, since his Cranium is Currently up his Rectum, somebody please put this clue through to him by Ultrasound or something.
AMERICANS ARE NOT WORKING, BECAUSE ILLEGALS ARE DOING ALL THOSE UNDER-PAYING SKILLED JOBS WE SOMEHOW DO NOT WANT TO DO! BUT, once upon a Time DID-Before we were under-Bid, by people who cost employers no Payroll expenses and pay no Taxes off of what they get!
Christian Nation or not, we turned our Cheeks-THEN they Bent us over!
Our Elected Reps., are now HOLDING US DOWN!
As MITT ROMNEY-MY CHOICE, says; ENFORCE OUR EXISTING LABOR AND IMMIGRATION LAWS!
YESTERDAY ALREADY DAMN-IT! :-(
McCain-YOU ARE STRIKING OUT BEFORE EVEN GETTING TO BAT!
Posted by: RAT-The | April 23, 2008 3:25 PM
Last Week's Results Have Just Been Posted For The
2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll
http://www.votenic.com
Vote to See Results.
Posted by: votenic | April 23, 2008 1:54 PM
Current commodity prices spell good news for rural agricultural areas, no matter changes in government policy. The areas in deep trouble are the suburbs, the new ones and the very old ones. The new suburbs are being hit particularly hard by the wave of foreclosures and fuel costs, since the commutes from them are longer. The old suburbs are feeling the effects of urban decay and migration of the urban poor now that gentrification has hit the urban core, a phenomenon that is likely to accelerate with higher fuel prices.
Fuel prices is one area that McCain could help. Drill now in domestic areas where petroleum is likely. Never has the green zone of the Democratic party been more vulnerable on an issue.
Posted by: Ed | April 23, 2008 1:06 PM
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Steve, I can most assuredly assure you, I do not get paid a red cent! ;~)
My "Biting" Commentary follows a Direct message I sent to the McCain Web-site.
I am living in Texas, and my mother's Family was from Donna Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley(Nice place!)
I am also a Catholic.
However, I have had MY Life DESTROYED, by the Invasion of underbidding interlopers who this Country has Laws that Prevents Employers from Hiring, who have been allowed to be hired, in what can only be called a very unfair Competition with Americans!.
Millions and Millions of them, in Skilled, previously GOOD Paying Jobs.
Sorry if I confused you or anyone else with my SATIRE, but sometimes it takes a Satirical Attack, to make someone like President McCain(Like Obasama has a chance!), look outside the Box he is in, and REALIZE it is NOT an Immigration Issue.
IT IS AN EMPLOYMENT ISSUE! A FEDERAL Employment Issue, that the FEDERAL Government needs to get off its stupid Arse and ENFORCE!
Because just like I mentioned/Asked:
Which is it Senator? Americans need work, and better wages, or we need Imported competition for Jobs and our Wages? ;~)
Comprende?
Oh, and BTW-I also proposed Ideas to both McCain and Romney about how we can Help/Support the Hispanics! I really do not Blame them for OUR Country's Leaders duplicitous Treason against it's own People!