Subject: [big campaign] Tracking Update: McCain Town Hall Meeting New York, NY 06/12/08
From: "Cammie Croft" <[email-masked]>
To: "big campaign" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:04:51 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

Hello Big Campaign,

Unfortunately, our tracker was unable to get into tonight's event.  In fact,
many members of the press were not able to gain access.  Below are the notes
from the event taken from the Fox News' live coverage and our tracker's
perceptions from outside the event.

*BIG HIGHLIGHTS*:

   - McCain audience pre-selected
   - A dozen members of the press denied access to the event
   - McCain hits Obama on taxes, Iraq, wanting to meet with Ahmadinejad
   - McCain comments on how he'll reach out to young people, will continue
   to go on SNL, Comedy Central, MTV

*New York, NY - McCain Town Hall Meeting 06/12/08*
*
Background Details:
*- Fox first reported the audience was a mix of people, Democrats,
Republicans and Independents -- they corrected that report and said the
McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters and Republican groups
- Audience members all well dressed.  Audience about 2/3rds male.
- Tracker did not get in -- he was denied access along with a dozen members
of the press.
*
Speech Highlights:*
- Town Hall meetings are important to the American people
- I'm running on a platform of reform, prosperity and peach
- We need to stop the gridlock in Washington
- We need to stop the out of control, pork-barrel spending.  I'm proud to
never have received an earmark.
- I led the investigations of Abramoff.
- "I know how to reform."
- I will veto every single earmark bill that comes across my desk and you
will no their names.
- Americans are hurting.  These are tough times.  The question is how
quickly are we going to get out of these tough times?
- We have to decrease our dependence on foreign oil.
- Nuclear energy needs to be part of that solution.
- I proposed a little holiday for those being hit hard by the high gas
prices.  My gas tax holiday will help low-income people.
- Peace is something we owe future generations of Americans.  The great
honor that I have at the town hall meetings is when the veterans come.
- We are in two wars.  The central battlefield is Iraq -- we are succeeding
there.  It's going to be long hard and tough in Afghanistan.
- Obama wants to raise taxes, I want to lower taxes.  He wants to make the
choices on health care for families, I want to give them choices.
- I would much rather lose a political campaign than lose a war.  I meant it
then and I mean it today.  We chose the right strategy and we are winning.
- Obama is in his 885th day since being in Iraq.  And Obama has never once
asked to sit down with Petraeus about the situation on the ground.
- Our troops will not come home with defeat -- like Obama wants -- they will
come home with honor.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

*Question and Answer:

*Q) N/A due to commercial
MCCAIN: There is nothing more nobling that to serve a cause greater than
one's self.  The American people want us to get beyond the name calling.

Q) Why is partisanship/divide getting worse every year?  How will you
overcome that?
MCCAIN: The time is right.  The time is right because we crave approval --
and we read the poll numbers and they are horrible now.  I believe if I
reach across the aisle - the way we have in the past, because I've tried to
get things done -- we gotta push our country first and not our party first.
This is not a cheap shot -- but Obama has the most extreme record of any
Senator.  He doesn't have my record.

If you share the credit, people will work with you because of the reward.

Yes, there is going to be a change in Washington.  There's going to be a
right kind of change and a wrong kind of change.  Obama wants to raise your
taxes.  I don't think you should raise anyone's taxes.  He wants to sit down
with the leader of Iran -- who is a very bad man.  He wants to sit down with
him without any preconditions.  You shouldn't do this.  You do what Nixon
did with China, what Reagan did.  Look, I'll sit down with anybody -- but
not if it's going to increase their prestige.
Americans want us to work together.  If we show them we can, we all will
reap the rewards.  I'm confidant I can do it.  Americans will get it when
I'm president.

Q) Small businessman asks - oil is sky-rocketing.  No one is looking into
how that is happening.  It's very hard with average people today.  Please do
something for this.
MCCAIN: I believe there needs to be a thorough investigation into
speculators.  The whole international financial system needs a lot more
transparency and oversight.  I'm very angry with the oil companies not just
because of their prices but also for not investing in alternative energy
sources. Finally, we can't achieve oil independence overnight.  But I'm
convinced if we come together we can do it faster than most think.  JFK got
us to the moon.  The people who are hurting most now are on a fixed income
and small business like you.  We owe you relief.

FOLLOW-UP: Stock market shouldn't control the commodities people use
everyday.  That's my question.
MCCAIN: I understand.  And I think if there is any corruption it needs to be
stopped.  But my point is energy independence.  You also mention the price
of commodities.  One of the reasons that's the case is because we subsidized
ethanol -- that caused prices to sky-rocket.  Sometimes you just have to say
no.  I was against the farm bill.  You can't distort the market. Our farmers
are the best in the world.  I want to open up the world market for our
citizens.  Obama wants to renegotiate NAFTA.
My friend I am for free trade.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Q) How will you feel about English as the official language?
MCCAIN: I'm ok with that.

Q) How do we make sure these people are taken care of by the tax relief
package??? (question cut off by Fox)
MCCAIN: Some of the states in America have very high tax rates -- the
businesses leave.  This is true for the world.  The corporate tax rate in
America is 35% -- in Ireland it's 11%.  Ireland is looking good.  We need to
cut the corporate tax rate.  The only country in the world with a higher tax
rate is Japan.  At the county level, we need to relieve them of their burden
as well.  We need better communication across federal, state and county
governments.

Q) How will your campaign reach out to young voters?  Obama is taking up a
lot of these voters because of the variety of mediums they use to reach out
to us.  Also, young people are turned off by Bush policies.
MCCAIN: I respect Barack Obama.  I want to reach out to young people --
that's why I go on SNL, Comedy Central, MTV.  When I do communicate with
young people and of course the Internet is the way to do that, I need to
show them that I'll give them a safe and secure future.  I intend to compete
in the battle of ideas.

Q) The only thing I disagree with you on tonight -- is that I do believe you
are a hero.  Father of two kids in public school.  Hispanic American.  I am
conservative economically and socially.  What are you looking for in
appointments to the Supreme Court?
MCCAIN: We are going to have to compete heavily for the Hispanic community.
I did well with that vote in Arizona.  Can you tell me a little more about
your background?

FOLLOW UP: I became an attorney and a father -- I came to know that my
beliefs were more in line with Republicans, especially you.  I like your
character -- so what character would you appoint?
MCCAIN: I think Justice Alito and Roberts are great examples.  These guys
are kind we want on the court.  I will make sure that any nominee that I
recommend has a strict interpretation of the Constitution and does not
legislate from the bench.  Incredibly to me is that Obama voted against
Alito and Roberts.  It is the President to make these nominations.  It is
the job of the Congress to judge whether they are qualified not if you like
them.  Elections have consequences.

*Closing Remarks*
I thank you for being here tonight.  My life, my experience, my judgment --
I understand the challenges we face.  I will always put my country first and
I will not let you down.

-- 
Cammie L. Croft
Tracking/Media Monitoring Director
Progressive Media USA
[email-masked]
202-609-7679 (office)
206-999-3064 (cell)

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