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August 06, 2008
Bikers Roar For McCain At Rally
Bikers roar for McCain at Rally: GOP candidate stops at Sturgis
STURGIS
Politicians are used to hearing the roar of the crowd, but Sen. John McCain heard an entirely different roar Monday night at The Buffalo Chip.
Motorcycles pounded out a welcome to the Republican presidential candidate at the campground in Sturgis, as he made a campaign appearance.
“This is my first time here but I enjoyed the sound,” McCain said. “It's the sound of freedom.”
He noted that his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, had received a loud ovation in Berlin during a European tour last week. “I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day,” McCain said.
Thousands of bikers, most clad in black T-shirts and leather, cheered for McCain. He appeared with his wife, Cindy McCain, Sen. John Thune and Gov. Mike Rounds during a salute to veterans and people currently serving in the military. The tribute was followed by a concert featuring Kellie Pickler and Kid Rock.
McCain brought a group of national reporters with him to The Buffalo Chip and they were agape as they snapped photos of girls dancing on stripper poles, muscular bikers strolling around and the general air of freewheeling frivolity at the campground.
McCain took the opportunity to blast Congress for taking an August recess in a time of economic peril. “Tell 'em to come back and get back to work,” McCain said.
He said the country needs to “drill offshore and drill now” to alleviate high gas prices.
He also said he would ensure a “respectable closure” to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
McCain discussed several national issues during a half-hour interview on the Straight Talk Express, his famed campaign bus.
He said Thune, whose name has been mentioned as a possible running mate, was a highly accomplished senator but he declined to say if he was under serious consideration for the Vice President slot.
“He (Thune) has made a name for himself in the Senate,” McCain said. “He has led on a variety of issues.”
But he said his campaign team had to “get through the process” before he could discuss potential running mates.
Thune said he doubted he would be chosen, said he feels a governor or senator from a bigger state would be best choice.
McCain also had kind words for Obama, at least as a person.
“I admire him, I respect him, he's one of the most eloquent speakers to come along in a long time,” McCain said. “(But) we've got sharp differences.”
Among them are the war in Iraq, where McCain has long called for an increase in troops and a change in strategy. Obama had called for a quick pullout of troops but has since tempered his stance.
McCain said his consistent approach is one reason his message is getting out and he is gaining support. A national poll released Monday showed him with a narrow lead.
“An overwhelming, whopping one-point lead,” McCain said with a smile.
“We'll take it,” Cindy McCain interjected.
On the stage, Sen. McCain joked that he noticed there was a beauty contest at the campground and he asked his wife if she would enter. She would have the rare opportunity to serve both as first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip.
The crowd cheered and both McCains smiled.
“We've got to have a little humor in the campaign,” Sen. McCain had said earlier during the bus ride. He said the controversial TV commercial that compared Obama to Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears was simply that.
But he had serious comments on health care, saying dramatic changes are needed to prevent the poorest people from getting the least care. That's also the issue with fuel prices, McCain said, since the poorest people with the oldest cars have the hardest time paying for $4 a gallon fuel.
That's why he supports expanded drilling for oil.
McCain said he was also concerned about health care for veterans and service members. Some veterans and the South Dakota Democratic Party staged a rally in Sturgis Monday to criticize McCain for supposedly “rationing” health care for veterans and service members, but McCain said they were distorting his words. He said he wanted to send uniformed personnel to regular health care facilities with “a plastic card” to cover the costs while Veterans Administration facilities focus on veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and wounds from improvised explosive devices.
“I'd love to have that debate with Democrats and that group,” he said.
McCain, who was a prisoner of war from 1967-73, said he didn't suffer from PTSD. “I never had a problem, believe it or not,” he said, attributing much of that to his age, since he was nearly 30 while many current service members are a decade younger. “It took me 15 minutes to readjust.”
He said the current wars are extremely violent and bloody. “That's tough,” McCain said.
He didn't have much knowledge on the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (DUSEL) at the former Homestake Gold Mine in Lead. “I'm sure it's a worthwhile project,” McCain said.
But he said he didn't support congressional earmarks, which helped to fund the proposed national science lab.
“It breeds corruption,” McCain said, pointing to former congressman Duke Cunningham, who was sent to prison after taking bribes, and Sen. Ted Stevens, the long-serving Republican from Alaska who is under fire for accepting gifts.
“Just let it compete with everything else,” McCain said of items set aside the earmarks. “I just want them to compete fairly.”
Most of the people in the crowd seemed in support of the Arizona senator.
Steve Mitchell of Great Bend, Kan., and Kim Briggs of Oklahoma City said they are McCain backers.
“We just like what he stands for,” Mitchell said.
“I like what he stands for,” Briggs echoed. “I don't want my hard-earned money to be given away. People here are hard workers, conservative.”
Mitchell and Briggs said they were proud of McCain coming to the Rally, which they have attended five or six times.
“I thought it was great,” Mitchell said.
McCain said he feels the campaign is turning his way and he is finally getting a chance to speak to the American people.
“I think we're starting to get the penetration on the issues that are important,” he said.
Wild Thing's comment.........
I can't help it, LMAO I just keep thinking of Obama being at something like this. Not that everyone would want to go or should go, but that Obama would be much more comfortable at a Black Panther rally or slapping the knee of Louis Farrakhan at "let's hate whitie" luncheon.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 6, 2008 02:40 AM
Comments
And I bet he and Cindy had fun while they were in Sturgis! I've never been there myself, but it does sound like and interesting little trip. Obama would get drowned out by the roar of the motorcycles. They don't like wishy washy people who live in the clouds. They like down to earth, simple folks.
Posted by: Lynn at August 6, 2008 04:47 AM
I can see Obama there telling them to check the air in their tires and change their spark plugs.
Posted by: BobF at August 6, 2008 09:21 AM
I hope most of these biker enthusiasts vote for McCain. Many of them are vets and McCain does have a mixed voting record on veterans'issues, but I would also guess this is a crowd that has little use for Obama and his associates.
Posted by: TomR at August 6, 2008 10:37 AM
Yeah, McCain actually sound 'jazzed up' for the event. This is good a little sign of life is always good to let the voter know he is still alive.
He better pick a fantastic running mate.
Posted by: Mark at August 6, 2008 12:58 PM
Lynn, yes they would see right through Obama or anyone like him.
Obama would probably have to take his security blanket with him to feel safe once he heard the roar of the bikes. heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 6, 2008 06:08 PM
BobF, Hahahahha that would be funny and then the look on their faces.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 6, 2008 06:10 PM
Tom, that is what I was thinking too. This crowd is not one I would think would want an Obama person at any level in our government.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 6, 2008 06:13 PM
Mark, that is going to be such a huge thing, who McCain picks. There are a lot of people waiting to find out and then they might vote or not vote at all this time. That is what I saw them talking about on Fox News the other day.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 6, 2008 06:16 PM
