11/15/2009 6:00:00 AM
Unhappy campers greet McCain
Senator gets an earful on economy, healthcare
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KINGMAN - U.S. Sen. John McCain was treated to a packed house of feisty Mohave County residents Friday afternoon at the County Administration Building. Most of the comments centered on the economy and healthcare, but McCain also spoke of the troops, the Fort Hood shooting and Social Security.
"We Republicans have to reestablish our conservative principals to the American people," McCain said. "I see a degree of activism, a degree of involvement and a degree of anger out there that I've never seen before in the years that I've served. When you have this kind of anger, this kind of frustration and this kind of activism, it will bring about change inside the Beltway whether we want it or not."
Howard Melendez challenged McCain's statements on the downfall of the housing market and the economy.
Melendez was passing out information on Jim Deakin, who plans to run against McCain, after the meeting.
Government loan policy resulted in people moving into homes they couldn't afford, leading to the housing market collapse, Melendez said. He also said McCain signed the letter authorizing the stimulus bill.
McCain told Melendez that he fought against using the stimulus bill to bail out the big banks, he fought to reform the housing loan system and he would be happy to provide Melendez a copy of his voting record.
"The reason why I have these meetings is so that I can hear from the rest of the constituents, and I think that's the most important thing I can do," McCain said. "I appreciate your viewpoint and I appreciate your candor and your passion."
Another resident asked if McCain was prepared to pull out all the stops and fight the proposed healthcare bill that had passed the U.S. House of Representatives and was now being considered by the Senate.
"I will fight with every fiber of my body," McCain said, adding that his greatest fear is that today's children and grandchilder won't be able to afford healthcare.
The 2,000-page bill would mean more regulation and mandates, he said. People wouldn't be able to keep the coverage they had. It would also increase taxes and the cost of Medicare, he said.
The bill claims to save $500 billion in waste from Medicare, he said.
"I don't think so," McCain said. "I think it's going to cut it."
He encouraged audience members to cut up their AARP cards and send them back. The organization endorsed the measure approved by the House.
The government needs to focus on medical malpractice tort reform, allow insurance to cross state lines, create risk pools for people with existing conditions, allow small businesses to create pools to purchase healthcare and allow people to create health savings accounts.
"We have the best health care in the world, but the cost is unsustainable," he said.
Third year medical student Chad Freedal asked if the government should really be supporting big or small businesses. Shouldn't the government just stay out of the market, he asked.
McCain countered by telling of meeting a man in Flagstaff who had lost his appliance shop because the bank had yanked his loan. Should the government really cut off support to someone who is trying to start or keep a small business, he asked.
McCain asked Freedal what he thought of the American Medical Association backing the healthcare bill.
"No one appears to be looking at it from the doctors' point of view," Freedal said, adding there was too much red tape in the bill. "I would like to treat patients as I see fit instead of practicing defensive medicine."
Another resident asked if McCain would try to get a cost of living increase for seniors on Social Security.
Congress agreed to tie Social Security cost of living raises to inflation, McCain said. There was no increase in inflation this year; therefore there would be no increase in Social Security checks. McCain said he would stick to that rule.
His No.1 priority was to get the economy back on track, he said. Arizona was the second hardest-hit state in the downturn. McCain also noted that approximately 43 cents of every dollar spent by the government was borrowed from another country.
"No government can continue to spend like this," he said.
He also spoke out against the recent decision by the U.S. Attorney General to try several 9/11 conspirators in civilian instead of military courts.
"I strongly disagree with this. They are not common criminals. They're war criminals," he said. "Can you imagine us trying the Nazi war criminals in civil court? Of course not."
He also called the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, an act of terrorism.
"Our service men and women should not be subject to attack on our own bases," he said. The government must not allow political correctness to interfere with the safety of the troops.
After the meeting, McCain told the press that he always enjoyed holding town hall meetings.
"It's what more of us need to hear," he said.
When asked about former vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin's new book, McCain said the losing campaign always seems to make mistakes, while the campaign that wins always seems perfect.
"I'm proud of our campaign and Sarah Palin," he said. He even received a signed copy of the book, but hadn't read it yet.
"I've moved forward," he said. "My priority is to help the people of Arizona."
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Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
An excerpt from my blog:
"I watched as a very patient Zanna held his hand in the air for approximately an hour and was obviously being ignored and overlooked. I am sure McCain had been informed ahead of time of the group’s verbal activism at civic meetings. McCain was obviously trying to avoid any kind of confrontation. Finally, the meeting came to an end and McCain began to walk off, but this time, Luca insisted he be given a chance to speak. McCain begrudgingly allowed him his minute or two, all the while acting as though this was some kind of joke (or maybe he was embarrassed?)
I applaud Luca for bringing up only McCain’s voting record and for allowing the other side to be heard. McCain might be campaigning for the 2012 elections but Mr. Zanna did not allow him to simply give the people what he wanted them to hear or what they wanted to hear. Although critics might call it grandstanding, how many will put a politician in his place? As usual, this outspoken activist cut right through the heart of the propaganda and exposed the true nature of the beast. He left the crowd with the truth ringing in their ears. Since statistics show that the last statements are the first remembered, I think McCain might have made a mistake by ignoring Mr. Zanna."
I wonder why the Daily Miner didn't tell the entire story? It would have been interesting reading.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
McCain out!
Jim Deakin in!
Jeff
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Don't Cry of McCain
Credit, it's his job in that we compensate him well for.
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Reggie in Valle Vista
It amazing to hear all these comments. McCain is either too conservative to some or a closet liberal to others. What is equally amazing is the number of persons who believe they define what a "republican" is or isn't and how hypocritical they are as keepers of the orthodoxy. It is also amazing how many in here are residents of "fantasy island." That somehow if this country were just, XYZ, my view of reality, it would all be good. If everyone were rich, if everyone were white, if everyone was my version of Christianity, if teenagers never got pregnant, everything would be perfect. If there were no taxes on anything and I got everything for free, health care, water, social security, pensions, and no taxes to support schools, because I don't have kids in school. And that is the problem with the tea baggers, the retirees, the religious fanatics, reality hits them in the face and they cannot accept it.
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Credit for Showing up
@ Ron Bahre
Hundreds of people were at the townhall, only 2 voiced dissatisfaction with McCain. McCain stated he did not vote for a pay increase and he is donating the one he receives. I do not agree with his voting record but as Luca stated at the meeting, I also respect him as a person. Not many politicians today would willingly stand before a crowd in this economic woe and discuss such controversial matter. How many local officials would do that?
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Vote out the Bums
Those in power have destroyed what is America. Throw out the bums - McCain and Franks. And Kyl will be 70 when he's up for re-election in 2012. My opinion is get the old [deleted] outa there. Time for a real house cleaning.
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
One has to love the eternal battle of the "Republicans & Democrats", my late father was a die hard republican, my late mother was a democrat, so both rarely if ever spoke on politics, but i vividly remember a argument between my dad when I was about 15, non-political at that age, had not opinion one way or the other, as most youths at that age, but this old man who was 85, and now long dead, laughed at my fathers anger, told my dad one had two choices and that was to choose the lessor of "two evils", and he gave a example of two fat men eating a feast, at a table, one a democrat, one a republican, and both eating with greed, avarice, selfishness, and the common folks "us" were all sitting on the floor, not invited to this feast, the republican let not one crumb hit the floor, the democrat pushed a few crumbs off the table to those on the floor, ate just as greedily as his colleague, but it all boiled down to do you want a crumb or none? I laughed at how flustered my father got and his inability to argue the fact both parties have evil, and one does tend to give a crumb to the less fortunate, and the other looks out for no one but the rich and priveledged! Thats a fact, and thats why the dreamers in the die hard dead enders club who do not sit at the table with that 2% who have been having a feast for the last 8 years under GW Bush Jr, that 18% who dream of getting a seat at that table they will never have, since they are paper rich, two paychecks away and a eviction notice from being homeless, merely will never be allowed in that 2% club who have been laughing all the way to the bank as they got them to vote for their party! GOP really has a 2% elite, and about a 18% serf/peasant class, who much like the delusional lottery ticket folks think they will some day hit it and be rich! Reality is ones chances are about as good as hitting the lottery getting into that GOP 2% elite class! Thats why the GOP is dividing into a angry mob of tea party fringe and the elitists and its blinded both to how they are not winning anymore, and majority did vote them out in Nov. 2008, guess that memo missed the tea party looney tunes in Mohave county!
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
Luca Zanna
Here is the video of McCain town hall meeting in Kingman
go to the bottom of the page
http://mohaveminutemen.com/mccain.htm
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
MR. Johnson
what we need is term limits on all public office's. These fat cats get in office and look out for #1 themselves! we need new blood, and term limits will keep the fraud and corruption too a minimum.
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
Bill
Hmm, it wasn't much more than a year ago that McCain was himself advocating for cutting Medicare: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I have three things to say #1 remember an overwhelming number of Americans voted for our current President. #2 an overwhelming number of Americans still support his efforts to clean up the devasting conditions he inherited. #3 Mohave County is not in the majority thank God. I could go on and on, but I will leave that to the minority here in Mohave County.
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
hornett
Vote for anybody except McCain next year.
Its time we clean house.
Vote against ALL INCUMBENTS.
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
fed up citizen
It is time to vote out all the old cronies in the goverment. They have been there to long and are not there for the people but for themselves. We need to vote them all out and start over with people who work for us. The politicians forget WE ARE THIER BOSS!! If the boss is not happy with how the worker does their job they get fiered.People it's time to wake up and take back control of OUR goverment!
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
Dave in Golden Valley
McCain is running for reelection, so he is trying to be all things to as many voters as possible. There are plenty of illegal immigration laws, just enforce them, and not with the local sheriff. Good thing the government did not bail out the Phoenix beer distributor. For all those tea baggers, keep faithful to your conservative principles, give up your social security and Medicare, they are bankrupting the nation.
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Interesting video of the tea party event in Phoenix, Neo-Nazi's showed up, unfurling a Nazi bit of memorabilia, and a confederate flag, and some intersting interaction in between the dozen or so tea party looney tunes, I did not see no 200, but hey inflate them numbers for propaganda!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/video-scuffle-ensues-when_b_358152.html
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