McCain: Pennsylvanian small town voters patriotic, not bitter
posted at 2:00 pm on June 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain has started to let the competitive juices flow in Pennsylvania. In a town hall this morning, McCain used Barack Obama’s “Bittergate” comments to underscore his opponent’s lack of connection with heartland voters. Click here for the video:
“We’re going to go to the small towns in Pennsylvania and I’m gonna to tell them I don’t agree with Senator Obama that they cling to their religion and the Constitution because they’re bitter.”
Sounds like McCain won’t be playing the rising-above-it card this cycle. He needs to stay on this theme; Obama wants to run as a populist, but in fact he’s much more of an autocrat, believing that he knows better than the voters what they need and want from government and life.
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Did Obama say that small town folks cling to the Constitution? ‘Cause that’s a good thing.
gmoonster on June 11, 2008 at 2:04 PM
McCain has more than a touch of the autocrat himself.
thatcher on June 11, 2008 at 2:05 PM
I believe it’s an allusion to the Second Amendment. Obama said they cling to guns and religion.
amerpundit on June 11, 2008 at 2:07 PM
I am going to a McCain town hall in a neighboring town on June 30. Y’all let me know what question you want me to ask if I can get noticed.
rockmom on June 11, 2008 at 2:12 PM
McCain on more than one occasion parroted the Democrats talking point that oil profits, now at record levels, are excessive.
Ask him if he understands the difference between profit and profit margin because the profit margin among the big oil companies is only around 10%, within line with many other sectors. Does he consider a 10% profit on your revenues excessive?
SPCOlympics on June 11, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Like McCain with his McCain/Kennedy, McCain/Feingold, Keating Five, super rich wife, Juan Hernandez/La Rasa, decades within the beltway, etc. is real connected with heartland voters?
Neither McCain nor Obama are. Like the pot calling the kettle black. No “pun” intended, that’s just the saying.
MB4 on June 11, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Thanks, thatcher, for getting that on the table pronto.
I hate to say it, but McCain sounds like an over-rehearsed fake. You can tell when he’s faking because his pitch goes up. Listen to his prepared speeches versus his townhalls.
BigD on June 11, 2008 at 2:18 PM
So are they:
ClintonsForMcCain
;-)
Texas Gal on June 11, 2008 at 2:18 PM
That’s a good question to ask him in PA. Sunoco’s corporate HQ is in Philadelphia and it has a refinery and a huge chemical plant here. A lot of jobs there. A windfall profits tax could actually hurt Pennsylvania.
rockmom on June 11, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Would you consider being Barr’s VP?
LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 2:20 PM
How about asking him if he believes the government should regulate the incomes of CEOs because they are too large. Or, if he is in favor of reducing the regulatory roadblocks for use of clean coal, building new refineries, and tapping into our own fossil fuel sources. In other words, does he favor idealistic enviormental restrictions which increase energy costs.
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 2:21 PM
A lot of PA Republicans are bitter…that McCain is the nominee.
LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 2:22 PM
More.Like.This…….PLEASE!!!!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 11, 2008 at 2:22 PM
No offense, Ed, but those sentiments work better in a video featuring a very attractive Republican woman: http://www.townhall.com/video/HamNation/1450_06052008
That tune is running through my head as I write:
Obama–on your shoulder
I show up when you start doing wrong;
You’ll thank me, when you’re older
You’ll see the light and start to sing along.
radjah shelduck on June 11, 2008 at 2:22 PM
I’m in a small town in Pennsylvania…and I hope he does come here. I’ll definitely go see him.
The word I’m getting from my neighbors is..no way will they vote for Obama. My community is more Republican than Democrat. No one here is bitter and no one here is stupid enough to fall for Obama’s rhetoric.
becki51758 on June 11, 2008 at 2:23 PM
I feel their pain.
MB4 on June 11, 2008 at 2:28 PM
You with your hesitating
And you always contemplating
What to do
When heaven has found you
Can’t you see
That it’s all wrapped up in the Messiah that’s me
So follow me
Come on, voters
Follow me
I’m Obama the Piper
Follow me
I’m Obama the Piper
And I’ll show you where Hope and Change is at
Come on, voters
Can’t you see
I’m Obama the Piper
Trust in me
I’m Obama the Piper
And I’ll show you where Hope and Change is at
Voters
Don’t be scared to into the White House to help me move
Hey, voters
What do you think I’m tryin’ to prove
It ain’t true
That My Michelle would like to punch and kick you
It’s just in your mind
And that’s all that’s trickin’ you
So step in line
Come on, voters
Follow me
Come on, voters
Trust in me
Come on, voters
Can’t you see
Come on, voters
Follow me
I’m Obama the Piper
MB4 on June 11, 2008 at 2:31 PM
A lot of Georgians are Bitter, as are others around the nation, with the Pennsylvanians. Of course, we have to get over Reagan, and just accept the new definition of Conservative to mean big Government
Snake307 on June 11, 2008 at 2:34 PM
MB4 on June 11, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Haven’t you moved out of the US yet? Life’s too short to go around bitter and hopeless.
Hit the music, it’s over.
THE CHOSEN ONE on June 11, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Haven’t you been called back to heaven yet?
MB4 on June 11, 2008 at 2:41 PM
To Rockmom: Ask Senator McCain if he will open Federal land in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming for shale oil development. Guaranteed to lower oil prices, and probably get McCain elected, if he’ll do it.
There’s also lots of coal in PA–ask him if he’ll support clean-coal technology, and forget about global warming.
Steve Z on June 11, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Ask him if he knows how many gallons of gasoline, diesel, and other products the oil industry brought to the market to earn that record profit.
rockhauler on June 11, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Ask him if he supports his Republican colleague Senator Orrin Hatch in his efforts to end the democrat moratorium on development of the oil shale reserves in CO, UT, and WY.
funky chicken on June 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Hatch is leading the way, big time, on this issue. He deserves recognition, and thanks!
http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=ee6b47f8-1b78-be3e-e028-f16f10d0e3a5&IsTextOnly=1
And the way I formulated it above, it puts McCain on a bit of a hotseat….is he going to support his long time friend and colleague, or the democrats who are stonewalling economic development in the west?
funky chicken on June 11, 2008 at 3:01 PM
HATCH ASKS ENERGY COMMITTEE TO LIFT MORATORIUM ON OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT
Washington – Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today called on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to lift a moratorium that essentially bars the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from leasing land for commercial oil shale development.
During his testimony, Hatch also presented a letter from Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., who asked committee members in the letter to lift the oil shale-lease moratorium, calling it a “matter of great importance for Utah and the nation.”
Hatch also submitted a written statement to the committee in which he stated his stand on oil shale and asked committee members about their stand.
“The question . . . for the members of this committee, and I should add, for the Democratic leadership of Congress, is whether you will adopt the anti-oil agenda of the environmental movement as an element of your own energy policy.” Hatch said in the statement. “So far, I have heard of proposals to tax successful energy production, to investigate the oil futures markets, to ban Canadian oil imports in favor of oil from Venezuela, Russia, and the Middle East, and to call for delay after delay in the commercial production of oil shale. … These policies would not produce one drop of oil.”
The moratorium was imposed as part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2008 and it inconsistent with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), which directed the BLM to lease several tracts of federal oil-shale land for research and to issue commercial-leasing regulations.
Hatch said oil shale and tar sand development are more economical, environmentally responsible and require less water than ethanol production. What’s more, he told committee members, Utah and Colorado have between 800 billion and two trillion barrels of recoverable oil.
Because the U.S. is so dependent on foreign oil, the senator added, the nation is sending “$600 billion overseas, often to countries that are our enemies. We need to use that money for development” of domestic oil to meet our energy needs.
“We need to wake up and stop sending money to our enemies throughout the world,” Hatch said.
funky chicken on June 11, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Ask him what he thinks about Newt’s “Drill Here, Drill NOW, Pay Less!” meme.
Fishoutofwater on June 11, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Ask him what qualifications and knowledge he has to make recommendations on a national policy on exploration, production and distribution of any energy resource, be it oil, gas, coal, solar, fuel cells or otherwise.
Also, ask him what he has done in the past 25 years in Congress to ensure a stable supply of energy for the U.S. and to lessen the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources.
BigD on June 11, 2008 at 3:04 PM
ask him to flip flop on drilling and adopt Newts winning campaign of “Drill here, drill now”….and nominate Sarah Palin as VP.
jp on June 11, 2008 at 3:07 PM
if 60% of the public wants to “drill here, drill now”, that means there are very few of the 40% that are enviro’s that would also vote for McCain, they are lost causes.
Pander mccain, one flip flop won’t hurt you.
jp on June 11, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Just give me my gun and my Bible please. I find comfort in both these days.
Scorched_Earth on June 11, 2008 at 3:11 PM
I’ll click on the McCain Video when I have 20 spare minutes to go on a “Snooze Cruise”
Bicyea on June 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Same here Becki. Do you know if he has a schedule set up? I have a question or two for him about the global warming flim flam and drilling for oil, but I gotta support him because the alternative is getting more horrifying every day.
forest on June 11, 2008 at 3:19 PM
I’d like to see him go to Hazleton and see how bitter they are about his immigration policies.
LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM
This question could also help the GOP win the US Senate seats in CO and NM.
funky chicken on June 11, 2008 at 3:22 PM
One step further, and ask about increasing this country’s refining capacity, even over NIMBY and environmentalist blocks. (For that matter, ask him how he’ll balance NIMBY and environmentalism over all energy programs, including nuclear, solar, and wind.)
NeighborhoodCatLady on June 11, 2008 at 3:23 PM
So, you’re defending bHo’s abomination ???? What?
Hey, I’m no fan of McCain, you know that.
To compare the two statements is …
Come on… that’s over the top…
jerrytbg on June 11, 2008 at 3:37 PM
McCain has told us over and over that the tens of millions of illegal aliens living in our country are “God’s children,” so we have an obligation to let them stay here. I would like you to ask McCain which humans on this planet are not “God’s children,” because if we all are (as I was taught), then by McCain’s reasoning, the U.S. has an obligation to provide a home within our borders to every foreigner in the world who wants to come here.
AZCoyote on June 11, 2008 at 3:52 PM
As I’ve stated time and time again. I am NO FAN of McCain. He is out of step with the immigration issue. On such a level….it defies description. Having said that, the greater and more clear and present danger is allowing bHo to be elected….period.
jerrytbg on June 11, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Scorched_Earth on June 11, 2008 at 3:11 PM:
“Just give me my gun and my Bible please. I find comfort in both these days.”
Any bitter person seeking comfort knows that three stacked Bibles make an excellent gun rest. Does away with the clinging that destroys accuracy,and makes a personal statement. One such as “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”.
Yoop on June 11, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Go to McCain’s website and find his schedule. That’s how I found out about the townhall meeting on June 30 and registered for it. I give him credit for putting his schedule up there and letting anyone sign up. He knows he is going to get some tough questions from conservatives as well as the moonbats.
rockmom on June 11, 2008 at 5:08 PM
McCain is a loser but he is our loser. He is 500% better than BHO. It is time to “suck it up” and ignore all the things wrong with McCain. He needs a new science adviser on climate change (ie global warming) and he needs a new brain on illegal’s but otherwise he is not too bad. If he will just pick a decent VP he will probably win. However, with his track record he may blow the VP pick.
duff65 on June 11, 2008 at 5:33 PM
The main thing about this line of attack is that it merely responds to Sen. Obama’s own words and the words are used in context. This is a legitimate issue that addresses Sen. Obama’s viewpoints about the citizens he wants to lead. It’s a far cry from the way Sen. Obama and his team have deliberately distorted the “100 years” and “that’s not important” snippets from Sen. McCain’s responses to questions on Iraq.
I don’t dislike Sen. Obama. He seems like a pleasant man who means well. However, he’s a complete rookie with some dangerously left-wing and ill-informed thinking. He is not an acceptable candidate for the Presidency.
Jill1066 on June 11, 2008 at 5:45 PM
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