by Jill Zuckman
Albuquerque, N.M. - At a sparsely attended campaign rally today, Sen. John McCain appealed to his western neighbors for support and warned of the dangers of total Democratic control if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.
"I am proud to be a senator from the West," said McCain, who promised full funding and support for the national labs at Sandia and Los Alamos.
"I understand, land and water and Native American issues and border issues and I understand the challenges that a great, great western states face with our growth and with our needs and our challenges," McCain said, standing in a grove of trees at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
"My friends, Senator Obama has never been south of our border, you know that," he said. "And he doesn't know these issues. I know them. I know what the southwest is. I know the strength and the culture and our Hispanic culture and the strength of our great states."
McCain continued to criticize Obama for planning to raise taxes, which he asserted would put more people out of work. "It doesn't work," McCain said. "The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that's what's going to happen when Democrats have total control of Washington."
He painted a picture of higher taxes and cuts in defense spending that would result from Democrats holding the White House, the House and the Senate.
"Are you ready for Obama, Pelosi and Reid?" McCain asked, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "No, I don't think so. We've already seen a preview of their plans, it's pretty simple and it's pretty familiar."
Citing Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, McCain said the congressman previewed the Democratic agenda to raise taxes and cut troop spending by 25 percent
"He said there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax," McCain said. "Look out my friends, it's safe to assume that's talking about you."
Both McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) seized on remarks by Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, for guaranteeing an international crisis if Obama is elected president as the world tries to test him, just as they tested John F. Kennedy with the Cuban Missile crisis.
"My friends, I have been tested, they may want to test Senator Obama, I've been tested," McCain said. "I'm going to test them, they're not going to test me. The next president won't have time to get used to the office."
Comments
Tested? If you count help create the S&L scandal, crashing four airplanes and being a POW tested. than maybe yes. McSame was wrong in Iraq, wrong on the bailout and wrong in selecting Palin. On these "tests," McBush fails. Oh yeah, the Dems are expecting 30,000 at UNM stadium tonight for Obama's speech. McSame couldn't even fill the 3000 seats set up for him at the Expo Center...pretty pathetic.
Posted by: neal | October 25, 2008 2:43 PM
The national debt under President Bush in the past 8 years has risen from $5 trillion dollars to $10 trillion dollars; how do you plan on paying for it, Sen. McCain?
Posted by: BC | October 25, 2008 3:45 PM
He is my senator, and an embarrassment to everyone I know here.
Posted by: Stu | October 25, 2008 3:58 PM
Several of the five aircraft that spiraled out of Mr. McCain's control in the past were characterized as "flame outs". His current campaign seems to be following suit. As his numbers nose dive toward a crash and burn scenario he seems determined to plumb the depths of deceit and dishonor with an utter disregard for his legacy and place in history. Our certified war hero, happy warrior, "Mr. reach-across-the-aisle" darling of Democrat and Republican alike has vanished from view, and sadly will soon be lost to our memories as well. The tragedy unfolding before us is ugly and dismaying in the extreme. To wit: an irascible, mean-spirited, stumbling old goat wallowing in a cesspool of calumny, dishonor and shameless lies. When my trusted and beloved old hound stumbled onto a skunk when out on the trail, repeated bathing in tomato juice diminished the ordure and allowed him to be welcomed back into hearth and home. Sadly, it seems that so much stink will cling to the empty shell of a once great American when this is all over that no such happy rehabilitation will await him. While I cringe in the face of his desperate and despicable tactics my heart and prayers go out to whatever remnant of the real John McCain remains intact.
Posted by: Kevin | October 25, 2008 7:42 PM
Senator McCain is familiar with the hispanic culture? Really? Perhaps he had a hispanic nana. You betcha.
Arturo
Posted by: Arturo Grijalba | October 26, 2008 12:20 AM
Attendance update: McSame could barely get 1000 people in Albuquerque this morning. This evening at the University of New Mexico, Obama had 35,000 in attendance.
Posted by: Neal | October 26, 2008 12:21 AM
"I understand, land and water and Native American issues and border issues and I understand the challenges that a (sic) great, great western states face with our growth and with our needs and our challenges. My friends, Senator Obama has never been south of our border, you know that. And he doesn't know these issues."
Let me get this straight.
You have to go to Mexico to learn about the issues of that the great, great, great, great Western states face?
Nevermind, Sarah. Someone throw McCain a life-line.
Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | October 26, 2008 8:33 AM