McCain promises tax cut for families at Denver campaign stop
'I have a plan to grow this economy,' presumptive GOP nominee says
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 7, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.
Photo by Ken Papaleo © The Rocky
John McCain talks while Dr. Curt Schmidt, of Littleton, listens Monday at the Denver Center of Performing Arts. McCain held a town hall meeting where he answered many questions from friends and foes alike.
The scene-stealer award goes to Georgette M. Haddad, who immigrated to America 55 years ago from Lebanon.
She told John McCain she never wanted to hear him say he was forced to raise taxes. She bemoaned that Americans are taxed at birth, taxed at death and taxed all times in between. Haddad's voice got louder and louder as she talked about government and taxation until she finally roared, "GET OFF OF MY BACK."
The crowd erupted.
"If you're not busy, I'd like to take you with me wherever I go," McCain said.
Tim Schettler, of Castle Rock, has been bringing his daughter, Taylor, to Republican rallies since she was an infant.
She saw George Bush in 1992, the year she was born. Then it was George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. On Monday her dad brought his 15-year-old daughter to see McCain.
"She's my little Republican," Tim Schettler, at right with Taylor, said, with a laugh.
What's the real estate mantra? Location, location, location.
Well, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer had the primo location Monday. The Fort Collins Republican was seated next to former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, admired for his years of public service.
And Schaffer's chair was right behind McCain's podium so that Schaffer's smiling mug would be in plenty of pictures. Not bad considering that Schaffer indirectly dissed McCain in 2007, calling his views "destructive."
The McCain campaign invited three local economists to hear his talk on the economy, including Barry Poulson and Jane Lillydahl, professors at the University of Colorado.
"You've stumbled on the only two conservative economists at CU," Poulson chuckled.
Not long ago, Silver Salazar, of Pueblo, resigned his precinct committee chairmanship in the Democratic Party. That's because the 59-year-old disabled veteran planned to publicly endorse McCain for president. Salazar invited McCain to visit and predicted McCain could woo Hispanics and disabled veterans.
Remember Monica Lewinsky? A member of the audience did. He asked McCain how he could have supported impeaching President Clinton for a "mindless and pathetic sexual act" but then refuse to support any proposal to impeach President Bush.
Photo by Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy, are greeted by Larry Abrams as they walk into worship service at the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix on Sunday. McCain will hold a town meeting in Denver at noon today.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, The Rocky
Curt Schmidt
Photo by Lynn Bartels, The Rocky
Taylor Schettler, left, with dad Tim Schettler.
Photo by Matt McClain © The Rocky
169 Members of Progress Now Action, James Duncan, second from left, Blake Couch, center, and executive director, Michael Huttner, second from right, are asked to leave by Denver Police officer, Matt Canino, right, after being informed that the secret service thought the protesters were too close to a John McCain.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, The Rocky
Barry Poulson
Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky
Cindy McCain wipes lipstick off the cheek of her husband Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain after a kiss before he spoke during a town hall meeting at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in Denver July 7, 2008.
Presidential contender John McCain focused on the economy at a rowdy town hall meeting Monday in Denver where he pledged to make government "a catalyst for growth and good jobs."
"I have a plan to grow this economy, create more and better jobs and get America moving again," the Republican candidate said.
"I have a plan to reform government, achieve energy security, and ensure that health care and a quality education are affordable and available for all."
McCain also pledged to give bigger tax breaks for families with children.
"At a time of increasing gas and food prices, American families need tax relief, and I, not my opponent, will deliver it," McCain said in a 30-minute speech before about 325 people at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
The Arizona senator took several jabs at Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee.
"If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you. Sen. Obama is your man," McCain said. "The choice in this election is stark and simple. Sen. Obama will raise your taxes. I won't."
Several people outside the complex held signs that said "McCain = Bush," and at least one person was asked by security to leave.
The McCain campaign said it does not screen town hall participants. And during the question-and-answer period, the candidate found himself defending his record on various issues, from veterans to immigration. His backers said McCain did great.
"I'd like to see Barack Obama come here and take 20 unscripted questions and see how he does," said former GOP Gov. Bill Owens, who attended the event with son Brett and daughter Monica.
But Colorado Democrats ripped McCain after the meeting.
"It's part of his 'I'm exactly like George Bush - or worse - economic tour,' " said Pat Waak, chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party.
"It's the same old stuff he's been talking about. He says he's going to balance the budget but stay in Iraq. How is he going to do that?"
The town hall event began at noon as scheduled with music from the soundtrack of the movie Rudy playing as McCain and his wife, Cindy, entered the room.
Beth Isern, of Bethany Manufacturing in Nederland, introduced Cindy McCain, who got a laugh when she talked about Denver's weather.
"In the McCain family, rain is good luck," Cindy McCain said.
John McCain referred to Isern in his opening remarks.
"Beth tells me it gets harder every year, not because of the market and competition, but because of government regulations, taxes and the cost of health care," he said. "Beth, I promise you, if I'm elected president, we're going to remove these obstacles to your continued success, and make government a catalyst for growth and good jobs."
McCain also mentioned another Colorado company, Crocs, maker of the funky footwear, in talking about free trade.
"This former small business now employs 600 people in Colorado alone, and sells over 50 percent of its products in 90 countries around the world," McCain said.
"Building barriers to Crocs or any American company's access to foreign markets will have a devastating effect on our economy and jobs, and the prosperity of American families.
"I understand free trade is not a positive for everyone. If a worker loses a job we must retrain them and prepare them for 21st century jobs."
McCain's only reference to the president was unflattering.
"Government has grown by 60 percent in the last eight years. That is simply inexcusable," McCain said. "We aren't going to continue mortgaging this country's future for things Americans don't want or need."
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July 7, 2008
6:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
gary writes:
NO lapel pin...oopps he changed his mind!!
NO pledge to our flag...no change yet!
NO guns...
But he does promise change...
CHANGE....all you will have left in your pocket after Obama
NObama...'08'
Nuff Said!
July 7, 2008
7:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
portal_pyramids writes:
Gary,
You would have a lot more credibility if you had something good to say about your candidate. Also, there is no merit to what you are accusing Obama of. Perhaps your reference his realistic and honest approach opposed to Bush/McCain who say one thing and do the opposite.
July 7, 2008
7:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
republinaziorcommucratNOT writes:
Oh Look, McCain met with the Kolorado Klan today.
Vote White Power in 08. Keep the White House "White".
July 7, 2008
8:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
"Oh Look, McCain met with the Kolorado Klan today."
"Vote White Power in 08. Keep the White House "White".
Nice to see bigotry so openly displayed by one of the self-righteous Obama supporters. Yes, it does go both ways.
Your candidate happens to be black (or half-black). Big frickin' deal; that's not enough reason to vote for him. In fact, it's not any reason at all.
July 7, 2008
8:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
Why can't we just elect Bush for another term? Term limits are gay; just like Democrats.
July 7, 2008
8:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
Yeah but why can't we just elect Bush again then, foolsauce?
July 7, 2008
9:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
Your new name is Foolsauce69. Want to know why? Because you are foolish. You are the sauce of fools. It's like barbeque for morons. So there. This is davies' daughter, by the way.
PEACE
July 7, 2008
9:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
glowrock writes:
Dear lord, please tell me this blog is going to be disbanded shortly. The idiocy here is sickening.
July 7, 2008
9:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
KING writes:
We should call him John Doe McCain, as he is a bland, boring, and wishy-washy politician. You have no idea where he stands and what damage he may cause if elected. Poor lockstep Republicans, you're almost as sad as Obama and the dumacrats.
If you pathetic bloggers want real change you actually have to vote for it. Try becoming a Libertarian. Do you think that they could be any worse or sell out the country any faster than a Dumacrat or Republican?
July 7, 2008
11:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
WestminsterJ writes:
Davies: Why can't we just elect Bush for another term? Term limits are gay; just like Democrats.
Right, Larry Craig is Democrat- well, no
Mark Foley was Democrat- oops, wrong again
Come to think of it, have you or your daughter said anything here that is factually accurate?
July 8, 2008
4:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Great sound bite Mr. McCain, but what good is a tax cut if they are losing thier jobs pal? Mr. Obama's "change" is another great sound bite, especially when the bankers are losing thier tail and won't be financing any change. See Mr. Obama, banker get real conservative when they're bleeding losses. New ideas don't sit well with them. So your "change" is going to either raise taxes in order to finance your ideas, or you start inflation buy printing more paper. Either way America is headed for rough times, regardless of the political sound bites of both parties. Restore America's toolbox. Put the EPA in check, so factories don't move to other nations without thier strict enviromental regulations. Does the enviromentalist win, when an American idustrialist opens a "dirty factory" in another country, with no or little enviromental protection laws? No, but the American factory worker pays, by losing his job to another country with cheap labor, and no EPA regulations. Rebuild our manufaturing base or ship everything in from other countries; they're happy you gave them our money and business. Everyday is another drain on the middle class when another factory opens up in another country. Readdress NAFTA, correct the inequities that exist in the accord. Work to improve relations with Latin America. Sound bite are great for politicians seeking office, but what good are tax cuts if you lose your job? What good is change if it creates inflation and the banker shy away from new liabilities? Either party, until they address the issues of manufacturing in America is not going to help. We are in for a very rough road with either canidate! Politicians from both parties sell nothing but bowls of ice cream and people eat it up. I'm tired of Rocky Road.
July 8, 2008
7:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Did I hear "retrain"?
Why does this word always come up in campaign talk?
After the election they raise tuition at colleges and universities so high that, for working class people, you might as well tell them you're going to give them a fancy chalet at Beaver Creek.
July 8, 2008
7:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Government has grown 60% in the past eight years.
And we still don't have a national health care plan. Our highways and infrastructure are crumbling.
So where is all this "growth"?
We do have a national database to keep track of all the emails and phone calls that US citizens make to each other. And let us not forget Halliburton and other corporate pigs feeding at the trough. How much value are they providing us?
Don't you feel so much better knowing that over 36,000 of your fellow citizens die every year from untreated influenza?
At least the government need not wait for the buzzards to circle their houses and apartments. Statistical analysis of phone call and email production can guide the g-men to the corpse before the neighbors vomit from the overpowering odor of rotting human flesh.
In my county, our coroner is a one of the largest departments because of the prevalence of such unattended deaths. We spend more cleaning up the dead than providing medical care for the living.
Only nutjobs waste their time worrying about terrorism here. Death wears a coat and tie, not a turban.
July 8, 2008
9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Those killed and maimed were sent on a fool's errand at the pleasure of YOUR president. He lied to sell us the war. He lies to keep our people there. His wanna-be successor, who will carry on those failed policies, is lying to us now.
Terrorists will never kill even 1/1000th the number of Americans that conservative Americans have already. Conservatives are all cowards and traitors to the principles of liberty that made this nation a good one. You serve yourselves and care nothing for the blood and ruination you wreak on the working people of America.
Go sell your cowardly propaganda about the Arab bogeyman to someone else. Too many Americans are dying for that nonsense. Blame yourself for their deaths.
July 8, 2008
9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
Simple question on economics:
How do income tax cuts help those who've had their incomes taken away from them?
July 8, 2008
9:19 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
In the G8 world there are two ways to pay for health care:
1. National health care plan
2. Heath "insurance" sold by large profiteering corporations
Number 2 is what we got. It's most expensive of all of them, provides the worst service, and doesn't serve everyone.
How is McCain proposing to fix this?
I hear crickets...