McCain Unexpectedly Takes Questions, Then Grilled by Voters

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(AURORA, COLO.) – John McCain wasn't supposed to hold a town hall meeting here today, but he surprised his staff by telling the employees of the Wagner Equipment Company that he would be taking a few of their questions.

He might have wished he hadn't.

One employee, who identified herself as a registered Democrat but said she was not voting that way, told McCain that she couldn't afford both high food and high gas prices, and asked him how he was going to help. McCain launched into a discussion on his energy plan, explaining that he believed offshore drilling, nuclear power, and green technologies could help bring down prices.

"We have to understand that it took us about 30 years to get in this position we're in now, and we're not going to get out of it tomorrow," McCain said.

"So in the meantime, what are we supposed to do?" the employee pressed.

He brought up his idea of a gas tax holiday and investing in clean coal technology, but admitted that none of these technologies were right around the corner.

"Can I tell you that I can give you some relief tomorrow? I have to give you some straight talk, it's going to be very, very hard and it's going to be tough on America," he said.

"If we send the signal that we are committed, I believe it's going to have a beneficial effect on everything we do, including our economy."

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by ericv2644 July 31, 2008 4:49 PM EDT: Obama is a christian, he has never been a muslin, so why is it so hard for White America to accept that fact. I never seen a presidential candidate so mislabeled. Is racism that pervasive in America, that we refuse to acknowledge the truth about a Obama''s religion.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 July 31, 2008 12:51 PM EDT: Exxon Oil and Republican Corruption has seen our dollars and cents all burned away at the gas pump. Oil was below $50.00 per barrel before George Bush%u2019s unjustifiable invasion of Saddam Hussein%u2019s Iraq. In direct accordance to the imperialistic war mongering postured by Bush and the Corruption of the Oil Futures Market fostered by John McCain%u2019s own Economical Adviser Phil Gram. We%u2019ve seen the price of Oil skyrocket to over $140.00 per barrel.

Exxon Oil an independent Private Multinational Corporation has reaped vast profits from the policies of the Republican Whitehouse and, you and I are paying for it.

Let%u2019s vote for higher gas prices?
and more governmental corruption??; Reply to this comment


by dnsallday July 31, 2008 12:41 PM EDT: Johnny M. isn''t worried about the economy. If he can give us some psychological relief and make us believe he is doing something, it will make us feel better.

In the meantime he still seems to have an obsession with young rich blonde girls and with his tax cut plan for the wealthy, he will make sure that Britney and Paris Hilton pay as little in taxes as possible.; Reply to this comment


by johnbush2-2009 July 31, 2008 6:58 AM EDT: I have been supporting the Dems all my live but I feel very uneasy about putting a black muslim in the White House.; Reply to this comment


by whitemale08 July 31, 2008 2:59 AM EDT: You Republicans want to blame Obama for this BIG OIL crisis but you can''t because you can''t convince the public that the future is now when he''s President.

You Republicans have to take the blame for this horrible horrible economy that''s the worse since the Great Depression because you promised the American people that "deficits didn''t matter" and "tax cuts for the rich" would mean higher paying jobs with investment.

Instead all we got out of you guys have been WAR, HYPER-INFLATION (10 times worse then the 70''s) WALMART JOBS, 401K scams instead of Real Pensions, LOOTING.

You guys have destroyed America since Republican President Richard Nixon took us off the GOLD STANDARD.

And we are never ever going to let you forget it!!!; Reply to this comment


by whitemale08 July 31, 2008 2:51 AM EDT: He should not be trusted. If he is elected President it will be the begining of the end of America & the rest of the world.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by G-MAN-0-1 at 11:20 PM : Jul 30, 2008--

The end of America started when George Bush Jr. was selected as President.

People like you are really stupid because they believe that you can miss an 30 year opportunity to get us off foreign oil and expect a quick fix.

For once John McCain told the truth, the damage is done you can''t wave a magic wand at 8 years of Republican stupidity.

So why would you trust another Republican to give you 4 more years of Republican stupidity.

The fact that John McCain flip-flopped on off shore drilling shows that he''s not serious and can''t be trusted only Barrack Obama has not wavered in his quest to free us from the serfdom of BIG OIL.; Reply to this comment


by trbundro1277 July 31, 2008 2:51 AM EDT: One employee, who identified herself as a registered Democrat but said she was not voting that way, ... What an idiot! Why be registered Democrat if you would be thinking about voting for someone as evil as mccain???? Mccain is type of Republican that makes me proud to be a democrat. Mccain would hurt the economy by letting over 12 million illegal immigrants get amnesty. Think gas and food is high now, just wait until mccain would be president. I sure hope Obama wins, or i''m moving ou to the country!; Reply to this comment


by trbundro1277 July 31, 2008 2:49 AM EDT: Yeah, it was a GREAT free rock concert he held there in Germany wasn''''t it?

And of course his meeting with Malaki was so productive...yes, yes, Obscamma''''s 16 month plan sounds good....oh wait...funny I NEVER said that!
Posted by WellHell3 at 07:29 PM : Jul 30, 2008
Whats wrong with having a president that foreign leaders would agree with???; Reply to this comment


by g-man-0-1 July 31, 2008 2:20 AM EDT: Senator McCain was not grilled as reported by CBS at the "Town Hall Meeting" today in Aurora. I know, I was there. He gave one of the best speechs I have ever heard. It was total real & down to earth. He did not try to smooth things over & make them sound pretty. He told the truth & was absolutley honest about his policies & what he thinks will help Amereica get out of this mess, like Democrats & Republicans sitting down
"together" & coming up with with ideas on how to best get out of this situation. As reported by CBS, the young lady who asked "What Senator McCain would do for her right now" also started off by saying that she is a "registered Democrat, But is not going to vote that way". The Democrats don''t even want to vote on the off shore drilling. Instead they want to take a recess for the whole month of August, as they have worked so hard the last three weeks since there last recess. Yes
I know, Senator Obama looks Real good & talks real smooth, but the fact of the matter is that he has no idea of how to get us out of this mess. He preaches change, but that is it, no substance about what he would change. He is just a story teller that has captured the American public in his fanciful fairy tale. For all intense & purpose he is "The Pied Piper" & is leading more & more of you astray. He should not be trusted. If he is elected President it will be the begining of the end of America & the rest of the world.; Reply to this comment


by hitler_obama July 31, 2008 1:04 AM EDT: I preached in my day that NOW is the time for CHANGE. NOW is the time to BELIEVE in our cause. Yes WE can through my election! Now Barack Obama is preaching the same message 70 years later! I am proud to have the audacity to have hope without truth in voting for him!
.............Your loving and kind friend A. Hitler!

Its the Wright way to have Damnation by abomination. Sorry Obamanation!

Do you have the audacity to have hope without truth? Vote Barack Obama on Election Day!
=_ _=
(O O)?
._^_,
..o.. Are initials together spell HO? The HO boys!; Reply to this comment

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