McCain Begins Tour Of Poor Communities

In Selma, Presumptive GOP Nominee Praises Civil Rights Marchers Like John Lewis

(AP)  Republican John McCain on Monday recalled the bloody beatings of civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge as he began a weeklong tour of communities he said suffer from poverty and inattention from presidential candidates.

McCain described in vivid detail the clubbing that fractured the skull of John Lewis, now a Democratic congressman from Georgia. McCain, who speaks often of courage shown by military veterans, said he never saw greater courage than Lewis and the marchers showed that day, March 7, 1965.

"There must be no forgotten places in America, whether they have been ignored for long years by the sins of indifference and injustice, or have been left behind as the world grew smaller and more economically interdependent," McCain said outside the St. James Hotel, several hundred yards away from the historic bridge.

"In America, we have always believed that if the day was a disappointment, we would win tomorrow. That's what John Lewis believed when he marched across this bridge," McCain said.

The crowd of about 100 people was mostly white although, as the campaign noted, Selma's population is 70 percent black.

Asked about the makeup of the crowd, McCain said: "I am aware the African American vote has been very small in favor of the Republican Party. I am aware of the challenges, and I am aware of the fact that there will be many people who will not vote for me, but I'm going to be the president of all the people."

Part of Alabama's Black Belt - named for its soil, although the region itself also is two-thirds black - Selma hardly has been forgotten by the Democrats in the 2008 presidential campaign. Last year, Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Clinton visited Selma to mark the anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" march.

But the area remains desperately poor, which is why McCain chose it for his "It's Time for Action" tour.

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting is still trying to fend off criticism that he has been indifferent to the housing crisis and the market upheaval it spawned. Last month, McCain said he opposed aggressive government intervention. Since then, however, he has proposed aid for struggling homeowners, a summer holiday from federal gas taxes and other measures.

"I'm not going to tell anybody about how government can make their choices for them, but how we can help grow our economy so that people have better choices to make for themselves," McCain said.

The Arizona senator arrived Sunday in Selma, and shared a fried chicken dinner with GOP Gov. Bob Riley at the Downtowner Restaurant with members of the Tuesday Club, a racially mixed, low-profile group of Selma professionals who meet monthly for drinks and dinner, according to the campaign.

On Monday, McCain planned to follow his Selma speech with a ferry ride from the remote Alabama town of Gee's Bend. The ferry had been closed for 44 years, until 2006, by county leaders to keep black residents from crossing the river to the county seat to push for civil rights. The trip is 80 miles without the ferry.

His tour then goes to Youngstown, Ohio, eastern Kentucky and New Orleans' Ninth Ward, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

McCain is competing for attention with Clinton and Obama, who were battling for votes in Tuesday's hotly contested primary in Pennsylvania.

Then his tour goes to Youngstown, Ohio, eastern Kentucky and New Orleans' Ninth Ward, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

McCain is competing for attention with Clinton and Obama, who were battling for votes in Tuesday's hotly contested primary in Pennsylvania.

[k_c_waters]

Now that''s pandering, this geezer voted against the Martin Luther King holiday in AZ now wants our votes?! ***. I seriously doubt he can remember anything without someone whisper the correct answers in his ear.

Obama 08''

[perceptions5]

John McCain should also visit Little Rock HIgh School.

This is a High School where the Democrat politicial leaders wouldn''t allow white and blacks kids to go to school together.

So, Republican, President Eisenhower, sent "Federal" troops into the Democrat South to enforce the Supreme court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education.

There are many many examples of how the Democrat Party violated the "civil rights" of Americans throughout our history. Many many examples.

Unfortunately the "perception" of the Democrat Party doesn''t meet the "reality" of the history and the absolutely horrible things that this Party did to Black Americans....................

And it continues today in America''s deep blue one-party cities. Cities that have been deep blue for DECADES AND GENERATIONS.

Liberal Democrats, when is these Social Injustices going to stop?

What excuse can you make for one more day of this neglect in our deep blue cities?

[blackspirit3]

TONY PERKINS A MCCAIN SUPPORTER - Tony Perkins is President of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council Perkins addressed the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), America''''s premier white supremacist organization, the successor to the White Citizens Councils, which battled integration in the South. In 1996 Perkins paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,500 for his mailing list. SHOULD MCCAIN DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM MR PERKINS?

[blackspirit3]

WHO WILL BE THE SECRETARY OF DIAPERS IF MC-STAINS IS PRESIDENT - I BET IT WILL BE HANNEDY, IT WOULD LOVE TO WIPE MC-STAINS BUTT

[loveamerica3]

McCain - The only choice. Good job McCain. Thank you for your authenticity, thank you for your unbeatable history, your unmatched ability, and your uncompromising integrity.

[perceptions5]

In Detroit the Social Injustice from the Democrat Party is up-front and center.

This deep blue one-party city, for decades and generations, is a place where only 24% of the innocent children ever graduate from High School. Detroit also has the highest crime rate in America, so there is a connection between the social injustice of only 24% of the innocent children getting a HS education and crime.

This deep blue city is also headquarters for the mob-run UAW (so much for worker rights) This deep blue one-party city is also home to a large NAACP branch office.

The Democrat Mayor of Detroit is also under indictment, but he will not resign.

So the question is: Where is the Social Justice and when will the Democrats who have have 100% control and responsibility for these "Social Injustcies" finally do something to help the poor people, under their direct control?

[incog-nito]

Why aren''t conservatives up in arms over this news? McCain touring poor communities? That''s what bleeding-heart liberals do, not a true conservative like McCain. Conservatives everywhere should send McCain a letter of protest.

[ramos937]

Asked about the makeup of the crowd, McCain said: "I am aware the African American vote has been very small in favor of the Republican Party. I am aware of the challenges, and I am aware of the fact that there will be many people who will not vote for me, but I''m going to be the president of all the people.
-----------------------------------------------------
McCain''s heart is in the right place but he is only one man and the GOP is about 99% white. There is no black person who is a GOP incumbent in Congress. The GOP represents the upper income white folks whereas the Democratic party represents all other classes.

[getcentered]

McCain is a Republican. Plain and simple.

"There must be no forgotten places in America, whether they have been ignored for long years..."

He is right Republicans have forgotten these places.....Republicans do ignore the poor.

I hope someone throws a pie in his face.

What a joke. Republicans pi-ss me off.

Republican = Psyops

[getcentered]

perceptions5 is stuck percieving the world through psyops.

What political party is better at defending the rights of people TODAY?

Democrats.

Republican = psyops

[getcentered]

ramos937

I think McCain''s heart is in the right place too. Better late than never for his Party I guess...

Really.....McCain in these places isn''t going to stir up vote for the GOP......it''s probably a waist of time as far getting more support, but maybe it will send a message to the GOP......maybe not.

[tonyd_31]

Mr. McCain should be commended for what he is doing in actually going to poor communities. However, he should also be remembered for voting against a holiday for Dr. MLK, a genuine American hero. But please people, lets VOTE the GOP (and their racist party) out!! Too little, too late, and look what they have gotten us into these last 8 sorry years.

[walt1944-2009]

John "McBush" McCain has said he intends to visit poor communities this week because they "suffer from poverty and inattention" from the presidential candidates. He could have added that they also suffer from inattention from the current Great Emperor Bush II as well, who treats these people as if they don''t exist, unless it is to use them as "cannon fodder" in Iraq!

It also could be argued that McCain and the other candidates might also drop in to talk to the recently unemployed at area unemployment offices as well, although there again, the unemployed suffer from inattention from ALL the candidates, McCain included, and are considered as "non-people" because they collect unemployment! McCain has even stated that things are BETTER now than they have ever been, which means the unemployed simply don''t exist!

And, of course, there are the homeless who are living in shelters or under bridges either because they lost their homes, or are Iraqi war veterans who have been cast aside after serving their country and are of no further use to the Great Emperor Bush II anymore. They suffer from inattention too!

AIN''T POLITICS WONDERFUL???!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) John "McBush" McCain!!!

[blackspirit3]

40 YEARS OF CLINTON RAPING WOMEN

A 1969 charge by a Eileen Wellstone, said Clinton assaulted her after she met him at a pub near the Oxford University campus where the future President was a student.
In 1972, a 22-year-old woman told campus police at Yale University that she was sexually assaulted by Clinton, who was a law student at the college.
In 1974, a female student at the University of Arkansas complained that then-law professor Bill Clinton groped her and forced his hand inside her blouse
Broaddrick, a volunteer in Clinton''s attorney general campaign, said he raped her in 1978;
From 1978-1980, Arkansas State troopers assigned to protect the governor reported seven complaints from women who said Clinton forced, or attempted to force, himself on them sexually.
Elizabeth Ward, the Miss Arkansas who won the Miss America crown in 1982, told friends she was forced by Clinton to have *** with him shortly after she won her state crown.
Paula Corbin, an Arkansas state worker, filed a sexual harassment case against Clinton the then-governor exposed himself and demanded oral ***.
Sandra Allen James, President Clinton invited her to his hotel room during a political trip to the nation''s capital in 1991, pinned her against the wall and stuck his hand up her dress.
Kathleen Willey, a White House volunteer, reported that Clinton grabbed her, fondled her breast and pressed her hand against his genitals during an Oval Office meeting in November, 1993.

[blackspirit3]

McCain stated %u201CWe can all be a little late sometimes in doing the right thing, and Dr. King understood this about his fellow Americans." NOT FOR OBAMA - LETS JUDGE HIM FOR WHAT SOMEONE DID WHEN HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD, LET''S JUDGE HIM ON WHY HE STAYED AT TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOR 20 YEARS. BUT LET''S FORGIVE MCCAIN FOR NOT VOTING FOR THE 1990 CIVIL RIGHST ACT AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY.

[excoachken]

Who in the Hell does he think he''s kidding. What transparent pandering!

[samthetvcat]

On the anniversary of MLK''s assassination, didn''t blacks in Arizona point out how McCain has a history of ignoring their interests as their senator?

Everybody knows McSame is using this down-time to prepare for the general . . . as if any of us are actually going to believe that he''s seeing votes in unlikely places because he''s a ''maverick''. Isn''t the goal to pay lip service to equal rights, poverty, and past government failures, so when he starts blasting away Barack and we Dems he''s insulated himself from the criticism that he''s playing the race card when seeking to portray Barack as a ''scary'' black and divisive, disloyal for criticizing fellow vet Rev. Wright''s patriotism, and apathetic because of his economic platforms?

This is the same tactic all the right-wing pundits use when they call fellow latinos Ramos and Campion ''heroes'' for picking off illegals with bullets. It''s classic Rovian triangulation. More politics as usual. We''re going to be able to play drinking games with the number of times McNasty brings up his ''Selma'' tour while playing the race card this fall.

PS Another GOP specialty is to use guys like Michael Steele to make the most racially sensitive arguments . . .

[samthetvcat]

"I am aware of the fact that there will be many people who will not vote for me, but I''m going to be the president of all the people."

That''s the tell - HOW''s he going to be president of all people? How the heck do you go on tour and look people in the eye and say you''re not going to overlook them and then not have one single policy to tout that backs up your words with action? He''s not even trying to reach out to these people in any way - isn''t he saying just the opposite? He''s saying he sees them and he''s not going to change his ways one iota.

Ridiculous . . . this is the biggest waste of time since his bio-tour . . .

[sleepyric]

I believe this is a brilliant fundraising tactic! What genius McCain is! Everyone knows that soup kitchens are where the real money is. What a senile idiot.

[perceptions5]

In Detroit the Social Injustice from the Democrat Party is up-front and center.

This deep blue one-party city, for decades and generations, is a place where only 24% of the innocent children ever graduate from High School. Detroit also has the highest crime rate in America, so there is a connection between the social injustice of only 24% of the innocent children getting a HS education and crime.

This deep blue city is also headquarters for the mob-run UAW (so much for worker rights) This deep blue one-party city is also home to a large NAACP branch office. The Democrat Mayor of Detroit is also under indictment, but he will not resign.

So the question is: Where is the Social Justice and when will the Democrats who have have 100% control and responsibility for these "Social Injustcies" finally do something to help the poor people, under their direct control?

I''m talking about TODAY...................RIGHT NOW.............

[ixoye_02]

Nice photo-op Senator McCain. It''s a shame that the only time the poor people see republicans is during an election. Otherwise, the republican contempt against the poor is just business as usual as the republicans favor the wealthy and corporate "citizens" by their own political policies and agenda. Why not save your breath, Senator McCain, because you''ll need it to explain to the American people why we need another liar/pretender as president. McCain = Bush We don''t need another 4 years of failed and stupid leadership.

[frankson2]

YEAH, MCCAIN CAN LEAVE A COUPLE CASES OF BEER FROM HIS WIFE''S DISTRIBUTORSHIP ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN. LET THEM DRINK BEER!

[watcher269-2009]

WOW - Vote for John McSame - ya know he actually met George Washington and helped him cut the apple tree down!

But - McShame - LIED ABOUT IT!


That''s the difference between Democrats and Republicans! LIES!

[singingrick]

Oh here we go again. McBush is playing the compassionate conservative.

[watcher269-2009]

WASHINGTON %u2014 The Bush administration said Monday that releasing the names of White House visitors would jeopardize the president''s ability to seek confidential advice.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is considering whether Secret Service logs of White House visits are public information. In arguments Monday, the court seemed concerned that the Bush administration wanted to cloak the White House in secrecy.

But the three-judge panel also scolded the group seeking the records for not acknowledging the constitutional issues in the case. The judges said the request raised significant questions about the separation of powers.

[loveamerica3]

Thanks McCain. You are obviously the only choice. Thanks for your competency. Thanks for your decency. Thanks for your intelligence, capability. Thanks for being the only one capable of filtering out the garbage, and the only one with a history that indicates eligibility to even be in this process. Thank you for living a life that clearly demonstrates your loyalty to our country. Most of all, more than any "candidate" can provide, thank you for your PROVEN RECORD. We certainly don''t have to "hope" with you. You are the only choice.

[samthetvcat]

-----"So the question is: Where is the Social Justice and when will the Democrats who have have 100% control and responsibility for these "Social Injustcies" finally do something to help the poor people, under their direct control? I''m talking about TODAY...RIGHT NOW..."-----
Posted by perceptions5

perception, this is from the Mississippi Business Journal, Monday, January 1 2007:

---"The Bush Administration has announced it is revoking tariffs on foreign-made steel 16 months ahead of schedule. But it was sobering news in the areas of the country where the most steel making is concentrated such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Large steel companies said there is still a massive oversupply on the world market caused by foreign subsidies. And the United Steelworkers Union called the action "a sorry betrayal of American steelworkers and steel communities." The government is evidently expecting a large number of layoffs of American workers as a result of the action."---

Maybe Barack could just pledge to reverse all the damage Shrub has done during his 8 years . . . that alone ought to do some good (?)

[samthetvcat]

PS Didn''t Pennsylvania alone lose something like 200,000 jobs?

[samthetvcat]

PPS Apparently the Chinese government subsidizes their steel industry with "financing, tax holidays and subsidies" . . .

[libh8er]

This reminds me of Kerry walking in to the store saying, "Hey, can I get me a huntin'' license here?" What a joke. McCain cares about the poor as much as Ted Kennedy cares about water safety for women.

[obama8years]

canadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462

If Barack Obama didn%u2019t know about Abunimah%u2019s writings (and Abunimah says he did), the same as his claims of being unaware of Reverend Wright%u2019s remarks after 20 years, then Obama is not competent to be our President. Abunimah likes to lie and claim Al Awda has nothing to do with the ISM or Electronic Intifada, though plenty of evidence exists on the website the homepage at www.StoptheISM.com showing the contrary.

But Obama%u2019s association with the ISM through his church and lobbying in Chicago goes even deeper than just his past links to Al Awda and Ali Abunimah. His pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, are both equally involved with the ISM.

[samthetvcat]

---"McCain, who speaks often of courage shown by military veterans, said he never saw greater courage than Lewis and the marchers showed that day, March 7, 1965"---

****, I just read on Huffington Post that McRovepuppet didn''t even invite Rep. Lewis to hear him speak, didn''t call him to let him know he was going to talk about him (and given that Rep. Lewis has endorsed Clinton/Obama, doesn''t RESPECT dictate that one ought to at least let the person know that you''re going to try and USE THEM for political advantage?) The two aren''t apparently even close in any way.

Just another triangulating Rove-puppet GOPig... apparently what he''s offering to ppl on this tour is ''listening''. Everybody knows that when you want to use ppl you keep your lips shut and let them talk, only opening your mouth to mirror back their sentiments but not any other concessions.

Let me guess that at the end of the tour, McCain will ''find'' that the stories of bravery and courage, celebration of America, etc etc that he bore witness to are the qualities and characteristics he believes makes America great and that all the great Americans he met he believes if they join with him can together make America great once again. Translation - eat cake! And don''t you dare question McSame''s claim of bringing a different kind of politics when he plays the black/''unpatriotic'' cards 24/7 through the fall! Blech!

[watcher269-2009]

This is in Beverly Hills, mind you.

Expensive Taste
$2,546.56
That%u2019s how much cashola John McCain%u2019s campaign spent March 2 at Barney%u2019s New York in Beverly Hills. (That%u2019s 90212, in case anyone was wondering.)
According to McCain%u2019s latest FEC report, the charges were %u201Ccredited back%u201D April 2.

Oh, my. What are they doing in such an elitist establishment? And who was doing the shopping? We need a name for this one people. Prada-gate%u2014Barney-Gate%u2014McCain-90212%u2026

[watcher269-2009]

Oh the McSHAME OF IT!

Our sons, daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, are being kept in Iraq by a cynical policy not only with no end in sight, but also one that our forces cannot ultimately resolve, and instead depends upon the actions of Iraqi factions and political leaders. Twelve (12) billion ($12B) of our tax dollars are being spent every MONTH, just waiting and waiting for others to act.

That''s a surrender of our national sovereignty.

And, here''s something the rest of us know, but may be a surprise for the McCainaanites: Iraqi political leaders do what they perceive to be in THEIR own interests, not because it may help the US. Our so-called political leaders live in a parallel universe, seeing events in Iraq from a US prism, and keep our brave troops in harms'' way to serve their own vanity, and for McCain, his Presidential ambitions.

[watcher269-2009]

Strained by the demands of a long war, the Army and the Marine Corps recruited significantly more felons into their ranks in 2007 than in 2006, including people convicted of armed robbery, arson and burglary, according to data ...


YES - THE BUSHIT/CHENEY/McCAIN Strategy for winning WARS!

Let the CROOKS DO IT!

Just like the Republican Party - Hire Felons!

Republicans are Felons for the most part anyway. So they are hiring themselves!

[homespunlady]

Nice "COVER" for when those PAPERLESS ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES in the "POOR AREAS OF THE COUNTRY" all in unison have "glitches" and MYSTERIOUSLY come up with WINNING NUMBERS for McCain.

I can hear it now - "AW ,SHUCKS FOLKS I DIDN''T KNOW THAT MY VISIT TO YOUR COMMUNITY MEANT SOOO MUCH TO YOU..."

Yeah, Right.

The residents (not the IMPORTS) of those communities have to Watch their votes AS WELL AS THEIR DWINDLING ASSETS as "WEALTH GAP McSame" (or is that WEALTH GAP/GOP McBush?) does the "PUPPET''S PROMISE" that "good ol'' George" perfected so well.

PROMISE them anything but GRAB THE WEALTH FOR THE CRONYS and KEEP THE PEASANTS STUPID!!!!

[homespunlady]

George''s (N)o poor(C)hild a(L)lowed (B)rilliance program sure has raised the bar on PROPAGANDA REGURGITATION EDUCATION!!!!

HA - they DID SO WELL that the HOME-SCHOOLERS ARE the "PREFERRED CHOICE" for those TOP "CREATIVITY" RECRUITERS!!!

Around here the ONLY thing I''m seeing graduating from the Public High Schools are PREGNANT WALMART WORKERS and boys that have been taught that getting as many girls as they can that way WITHOUT taking RESPONSIBILITY is the American WAY! GOTTA LOVE THAT BIASED PROPAGANDA!

THE WEALTHY have "private" schools or SURPRISE - THEY HOMESCHOOL and tell the poor NOT TO!

BEING PART OF AN ELITE HOMESCHOOL GROUP has become the NEW "country club" secret status symbol.


Pretty BAD when ALL the AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS come with DAYCARE CENTERS for the STUDENT''S BABIES!!!

Why AREN''T the "outraged SOCIAL WORKERS" RAIDING the Public Schools where UNDER-AGED GIRLS are dropping babies EVERY DAY??

[likeitis5050]

Unlike McCain''s suggestion and move to have taxes on gas dropped until Labor Day, Obama''s brain freeze is on getting a new National Anthem, one he can get behind and actually sing...a pop diddy with a catchy little beat and no references to patriotism or even America. You go Obama!!! (swooning at the thought)

[likeitis5050]

Republicans are Felons for the most part anyway. So they are hiring themselves!


Posted by watcher269

Not an exclusive club for Republicans...sorry. Democrats can match them, felon for felon. It''s not the party...dearie...it''s the profession....want integrity and ethics in politics? Get rid of the politicians.

[homespunlady]

Posted by likeitis5050 at 10:36 AM : Apr 22, 2008

Typical ELITIST attitude - MAKE DISPARAGING REMARKS about the POOR people that are DIFFERENT and might vote for a candidate that ISN''T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUPPET-MASTERS and the TOP ONE PERCENT of the WEALTH GAP.

NOT EVERYBODY has participated in "LEGAL POLYGAMY" and ACQUIRED A SECOND WIFE WORTH 100 MILLION PLUS - NICE DOWRY THERE.

[david1737]

Ask the average American the simple question first posed by Reagan. Are you better off today than you were before the Republicans took office?


Then consider that the vast majority of Americans believe that the country is moving in the wrong direction!

Figure it out!

Democrats will mop the floor with republicans come November!!!

[david1737]

McCain is there in "poor" communities to determine how best to further exploit them with his blood sucking conservative agenda.

The thing that the repubs. don''t get is that people are hungry and a hungry man is a dangerous man.

[david1737]

Hey tuffy,

You say that:

"...GOP stands for the Grand Ole Party."

Correction, the GOP stand for GRAND OLE PEDOPHILES.

Foley''s little Folly put a stamp on the forehead of you Party.

[david1737]

1. $117 a barrel for oil, up from $38 dollars per barrel (under the previous Democratic Admin.)

2. Approaching $10 trillion dollars in debt. By the way before the republicans took power we were looking at a budget surplus of $5.5 trillion dollars.

3. Tax cuts which favor the top 10%, 1% and especially the top 1/100th%.

4. An "endless" war in Iraq which has already cost us an enormous price in both blood and treasure.

5. Sub prime debacle.

Enough is enough!

[david1737]

tuffone3

What have the repubs been doing lately?

Let''s take a look:

1. $117 a barrel for oil, up from $38 dollars per barrel (under the previous Democratic Admin.)

2. Approaching $10 trillion dollars in debt. By the way before the republicans took power we were looking at a budget surplus of $5.5 trillion dollars.

3. Tax cuts which favor the top 10%, 1% and especially the top 1/100th%.

4. An "endless" war in Iraq which has already cost us an enormous price in both blood and treasure.

5. Sub prime debacle.

And that''s just the economy

In real term the repubs are toast on Katrina alone.

Oh, then there''s the 935 lies which they told leading up to the Iraq war.

Don''t forget the outing of a CIA operative. That''s Treason.

Umm, I don''t have to think very hard to remember Alberto Gonzales.

Ohh gee, I''m running out of time so I''ll just leave it at this:

No WMD

No opperative conection

No Yellow Cake

Secret prisons/Gitmo/Torture

Bush lying during the State of the Union Address (about Yellow Cake)

Wire taping

Data mining

Foley

Hagarty

Abromoff

Walter Reed

The National Debt

Haliburton

Wow that is a mouth full!