With No Rival At Town Hall, McCain Attacks Oil Companies

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

NEW YORK – After John McCain pushed for over a week for an un-moderated, town hall debate between himself and Barack Obama, tonight's event notably lacked a key participant. "I think this town hall meeting probably would have been a little more interesting if Sen. Obama had accepted my request to be here," McCain said. "I'll block out a day every week from now until the conventions," he added, hoping to encourage participation from his Democratic rival.

Earlier at a town hall meeting in Nashua, New Hampshire, McCain told the audience that Obama would not be joining him. "I understand that, that he couldn't do it," McCain said.

The assembled crowd here bore little resemblance to the group at his earlier town hall in Nashua. The roughly 200 people at Federal Hall in Manhattan were well-dressed, with the majority in suits, except for one woman who wore a t-shirt that read "Obama bin Lyin'." Most of the audience members had been invited by the McCain campaign, according to a staffer.

While the group didn't hear from Obama, they did hear McCain make some of his strongest comments yet about oil companies lack of progress in developing alternative fuel sources. "I'm very angry at the oil companies, not only because of the obscene profits they make, but for the failure to invest in alternative forms of energy," McCain said. "It's an abrogation of their responsibility as citizens."

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by moronpolitics June 15, 2008 11:55 PM EDT: Exxon Mobil has a profit margin of 10.85 percent and an operating margin of 16.45 percent. Meanwhile Budweiser has a profit of 12.46 Percent and an operating margin of 17.21 percent. Why isn''t McStupid calling for windfall profit taxes on Breweries? Because his wife supports him in high style as a BREWERY HEIRESS. Get it now?; Reply to this comment


by rgrxx175 June 13, 2008 4:59 PM EDT: mccain is such a flip flopper, he could debate himself in a little town hall and still lose... i feel sorry for the little old man...; Reply to this comment


by nanc12 June 13, 2008 4:45 PM EDT: ID LOVE TO HEAR OBAMA DEFEND THIS CHOICE IN A TOWN HALL. LOL
Posted by jack3213

Actually, I''d love to hear McCain defend his stance. How is it that America, a bastion of liberty, can defend imprisoning people indefinitely, with no charges filed against them. We''re supposed to be better than that.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 June 13, 2008 3:00 PM EDT: WASHINGTON (Map, News) - John McCain criticized a Supreme Court decision Thursday granting constitutional rights to foreign terrorism suspects, a ruling that was applauded by rival Barack Obama.
ID LOVE TO HEAR OBAMA DEFEND THIS CHOICE IN A TOWN HALL. LOL
Posted by jack3213 at 11:36 AM : Jun 13, 2008

Why are prisoners being held indefinitely?
Shouldn%u2019t there be evidence, a trial, and then a formal sentencing?

Why is the Republican Right Wing so adamant on bypassing human rights? (like China, and the former Soviet Union)

The Supreme Court has upheld our Constitutional Right under the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Why has the Bush Administration strayed away from the law? (again).; Reply to this comment


by jack3213 June 13, 2008 2:36 PM EDT: WASHINGTON (Map, News) - John McCain criticized a Supreme Court decision Thursday granting constitutional rights to foreign terrorism suspects, a ruling that was applauded by rival Barack Obama.

ID LOVE TO HEAR OBAMA DEFEND THIS CHOICE IN A TOWN HALL. LOL; Reply to this comment


by nanc12 June 13, 2008 1:10 PM EDT: Obama had his own town hall meeting in Kaukauna, WI.

Speaking at a town hall meeting at Kaukauna High School, Obama had the crowd cheering his answers and even making suggestions for an Obama administration.

From one man: make President Bush an ambassador . . . to Iraq. Obama offered a sly grin before a joking reply.

%u201CHonestly,%u201D he said. %u201CWe need somebody really good in that job.%u201D; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 June 13, 2008 12:38 PM EDT: Most of the audience members had been invited by the McCain campaign, according to a staffer.

+

Carefully set dressed, planned, screened audience, a total staged presentation?
Who would%u2019ve thought???; Reply to this comment


by DCropp June 13, 2008 12:33 PM EDT: Leave it to McCain to think of town hall means Manhattan, NY with wealthy people.

In 2005, Bush and McCain turned their back on residents of Stoughton, WI after a tornado ripped through the town. They offered no relief.

McCain continues the Republican policies of only listening to the wealthy.

It''s a disgrace the way the Republicans have refused to help out states in the midwest.

After yesterdays major rainfall, we''re desparate. Tens of thousands of families have been forced from their homes. Roads all over the place are closed. These aren''t just rural roads, but the major Interstates in Wisconsin.

Think how you would feel about the Republican party if they repeatedly turned their back on your state and allowed Interstates in your state to close.; Reply to this comment


by hardball222 June 13, 2008 12:30 PM EDT: LOL, REPUBLICANS JUST VOTED 100% FOR OIL COMPANY PROFITS AS 100% REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR EVERY GW BUSH COMMUNIST RIP OFF PROPOSALS!

MCCAIN IS TWO STEPS FROM THE GRAVE ANYWAY! VEGAS ODDS ARE 50/50 HE WILL DROP DEAD BEFORE ELECTION ANYWAY! LOL!!; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso12 June 13, 2008 12:28 PM EDT: Senator Obama is embarrassing to the American people.

He gives speeches, that''''s it.

He has no experience so what does he really have to talk about.
We can''''t talk about his wife
We can''''t talk about his muslim father
We can''''t talk about his pastor
We can''''t talk about his friend Rezko
We can''''t talk about his friend William Ayers
We can''''t talk about his church supporting Farrakhan

Posted by alicerea1 at 07:46 AM : Jun 13, 2008

HRC lost--get over it. You could try learning about his policies and talking about those or dissect his speeches, talking about people he knows is petty and we need more than that. If we are not going to dissect Cindy McCain''s drug addictions or the fact McCain called her a trollop and **** in public--then we don''t need to discuss Michelle Obama--maybe you do--it is a well known fact that the penchant for gossip and engaging in pettiness then later being vindictive is one of the main reasons women are not taken seriously and are eschewed in any position of power. (who wants that nightmare?)

Superior minds talk about idea.

Average minds talk about events.

Small minds talk about other people.

It must suck to be you. LOL; Reply to this comment