McCain Sticks Up For Obama At Rally

Is Booed For Calling Democratic Rival A "Decent Person" As Campaign Crowds Get Increasingly Angry

(AP)  The anger is getting raw at Republican rallies and John McCain is finally acting to tamp it down.

McCain was booed by his own supporters Friday when, in an abrupt switch from raising questions about rival Barack Obama's character, he described the Democrat as a "decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States."

A sense of grievance spilling into rage has gripped some Republican events this week as McCain supporters see his presidential campaign lag against Obama. Some in the audience are making it personal, against the Democrat. Shouts of "traitor," "terrorist," "treason," "liar," and even "off with his head" have rung from the crowd at McCain and Sarah Palin rallies, and gone unchallenged by them.

McCain changed his tone Friday when supporters at a town hall pressed him to be rougher on Obama. A voter said, "The people here in Minnesota want to see a real fight." Another said Obama would lead the U.S. into socialism. Another said he did not want his unborn child raised in a country led by Obama.

"If you want a fight, we will fight," McCain said. "But we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments." When people booed, he cut them off.

"I don't mean that has to reduce your ferocity," he said. "I just mean to say you have to be respectful."

Presidential candidates are accustomed to raucous rallies this close to Election Day and welcome the enthusiasm. But they are also traditionally monitors of sorts from the stage. Part of their job is to leaven proceedings if tempers run ragged and to rein in an out-of-bounds comment from the crowd.

Not so much this week, at Republican rallies in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida and other states.

When a visibly angry McCain supporter in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Thursday told the candidate "I'm really mad" because of "socialists taking over the country," McCain stoked the sentiment. "I think I got the message," he said. "The gentleman is right." He went on to talk about Democrats in control of Congress.

On Friday, McCain rejected the bait.

"I don't trust Obama," a woman said. "I have read about him. He's an Arab."

McCain shook his head in disagreement, and said:

"No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about."

The anti-Obama taunts and jeers are noticeably louder when McCain appears with Palin, a big draw for social conservatives. She accused Obama this week of "palling around with terrorists" because of his past, loose association with a 1960s radical. If less directly, McCain, too, has sought to exploit Obama's Chicago neighborhood ties to William Ayers, while trying simultaneously to steer voters' attention to his plans for the financial crisis.

The Alaska governor did not campaign with McCain on Friday, and his rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, earlier Friday was much more subdued than those when the two campaigned together. Still, one woman shouted "traitor" when McCain told voters Obama would raise their taxes.

Volunteers worked up chants from the crowd of "U.S.A." and "John McCain, John McCain," in an apparent attempt to drown out boos and other displays of negative energy.

The Secret Service confirmed Friday that it had investigated an episode reported in The Washington Post in which someone in Palin's crowd in Clearwater, Florida, shouted "kill him," on Monday, meaning Obama. There was "no indication that there was anything directed at Obama," Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren told AP. "We looked into it because we always operate in an atmosphere of an abundance of caution."

Palin, at a fundraiser in Ohio on Friday, told supporters "it's not negative and it's not mean-spirited" to scrutinize Obama's iffy associations.

But Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania an author of 15 books on politics, says the vitriol has been encouraged by inflammatory words from the stage.

"Red-meat rhetoric elicits emotional responses in those already disposed by ads using words such as 'dangerous' 'dishonorable' and 'risky' to believe that the country would be endangered by election of the opposing candidate," she said.

[dagrandma]

I am HAPPY this happened. Finally the "Obama is an Arab..." (muslim, blah, blah, blah) came up within earshot of John McCain with a microphone and he was forced to tell the truth.

[dimhumb]

Moreover, these Gop-nominee"s supporters much resemble the mob of the lawbreakers and criminals who had supported Bolshevics in 1917 in Russia. It''s all about FREEDOM not pureness of capitalism. So socialistic slant is less dangerous now than some time before. Social ajustments are good if they have not communist background about them. That''s all. What is dangerous is radicalism of anything which may lead to opression of FREEDOM.

[dimhumb]

A lot of GOP supporters are plain loony. They are as fundamentalist as terrorists in a way. But they dont see that because they are not SELF-AWARE.
This is a high level of immaturity.
And I wouldnt trust the country with those people.

Posted by anya136 at 09:45 PM : Oct 10, 2008

Yes. I said it already that McCain (and his supporters obviously) is like some overgrown pimply delinquent quick to spew swearings and ready to one-eyedly giggle.

[dimhumb]

iamdemocrat, you said any posts that spell Odinga properly are filtered. You liar.''

[dimhumb]

Odinga

[dimhumb]

It''''s so transparent that McBushie is once again doing what he''''s told to do by Rove, who seeing the public was not responding well to McBushie''''s KKKesque, sleezy tactics, directed McBushie to feign integrity today in ''''standing up'''' for Obama against the violent, racist, border-line retarded audience he actively sought out....the racist xenophobic monster he created. Obama has more patriotism in his little toe than senile McCain, goofy Palin and their entire retarded audience have together.
What BS. McCain is totally devoid of integrity. Wake up.

Posted by mominmaine at 09:29 PM : Oct 10, 2008

Pretty convincing!

[iamdemocrat]

Whiner, sorry to tell you this, bro, but you''re missing a few folks on that list:

MACHETE-MASTER KENYAN MATERNAL COUSIN
PRIME MINISTER 0D1NGA

and let''s not forget Ahmedinijad

Kahlid Al Mansour, Frank Marshall Davis, Rev. Wright, Larry Sinclair, and OPRAH

They love that INDONESIAN TAQIYYA FOREIGN PRINCE---OBAMA!

Real Royal blood. Obama''s moma related to BUSH & CHENEY. Obama''s uncle MARXIST VP of KENYA 1966! Obama''s cousin--ETHNIC CLEANSER SHIITE MUSLIM 0D1NGA!

Lineage like that is TOO Hollywood. Apocalyptic stuff, man!

0d1nga lost the Presidential race 2007 even with the HELP of Obama.

So he sanctioned the ethnic cleansing/killing of 1000 kikuyus early 2008.

50 CHRISTIAN women and children were burned in a CHURCH! Those trying to escaped were MACHETED!

Can''''t wait for Obama to lose this one.

This 0d1nga Bomb has TRACTION. Any posts that spell 0D1nga properly are ''''FILTERED!''''

I like the sound of President 0D1NGA. Don''''t you? Like a machete that get''''s stuck on bone.

Fellow Americans, I love this country for all it stands for. We will NOT have a FOREIGN PRINCE as its President.

[iamdemocrat]

0D1NGA is Luo. Obama is Luo. They%u2019re VERY close cousins!

TECHNICALLY, OBAMA IS INDONESIAN. Surprise!!

YOUTUBE: OCTOBER SURPRISE BALLOT FRAUD

YOUTUBE: OCTOBER SURPRISE BALLOT FRAUD

YOUTUBE: OCTOBER SURPRISE BALLOT FRAUD

0D1NGA is a MILITANT SHIITE MUSLIM.

0D1NGAs mama was OBAMAs aunt. OBAMAs dad was great friends with MARXIST VP of Kenya 0D1NGAs dad!!!
I do love a close family!

0D1NGA lost the Presidential race 2007 even with the DOCUMENTED HELP of OBAMA.

So he sanctioned the ethnic cleansing/killing of 1000 kikuyus early 2008.

50 CHRISTIAN women and children were burned in a CHURCH! Those trying to escape were MACHETED!

Cant wait for Obama to lose this one.

This 0D1NGA B0MB has TRACTION. Any posts that spell 0D1NGA properly are ''''DELETED!'''' Try it for yourself.

I like the sound of President 0D1NGA. Don''t you? Like a machete that gets stuck on bone. He''s rewriting the Kenyan Constitution!

Maybe the INDONESIAN OBAMA can rewrite ours!

FEINSTEIN you and your accomplices who dont listen to your constituents, said YES on the BAILOUT, HELPED this FOREIGNER in the SENATE---NOW POTUS!

HAHAHA. Obama%u2019s mama is related to BUSH and CHENEY! What a royal PEDIGREE.

Dont TRUST me. VERIFY it for yourself.

Google it. Yahoo it . Youtube it.
Fellow Americans, I love this country for all it stands for. We will NOT have a FOREIGN PRINCE as her President.

[mairin27]

whatithink1- Yes please tell me why McCains name is songbird. Then tell me you would not of said some things you wish you hadn''''''''t if you were beaten daily. If you knew anyone that was a POW in Vietnam you would not even bring this up. I knew a couple and they would never say a thing about this.


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Posted by robert2237 at 10:44 PM : Oct 11, 2008

Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who died as prisoner 16670 in Auschwitz, on August 14, 1941. When a prisoner escaped from the camp, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape.

One of the 10 selected to die, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry: "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this Father Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place - his request was granted.

As the ten condemned men were led off to the death Block of Building 13, Father Kolbe supported a fellow prisoner who could hardly walk. No one would emerge alive - Father Kolbe was the last to die ..


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

What did Mr. McWar Hero do when captured by the VC?

[redfromla]

whiner245a

Did you check McCain''''s list or are you another one of his blind followers?

[willythekorn]

DemWatcher says:

"Yes, let us make a list and compare them."

Do you really want to play that game?

OK.

Charles Keating
John Singluab
G. Gordon Liddy
Council of World Freedom

and of course, we mustn''t forget Sarah Palin and

The Alaskan Independence Party

DemWatcher, people who live in glass houses shouldn''t throw stones. You''ll notice that the only one Obama''s chosen to talk about is Keating, who is highly relevant to what''s going on today in our economy. That shows class. McCain, and particularly Palin, have shown no class at all. It''s more like..... desperation.

[redfromla]

This is why Republicans think Obama is risky for America

http://tinyurl.com/4c4f5t

[rose2161]

I very prove of McCain, he put this country first when he stop the hate and fear
It is unfortunate that some of McCain supporter brings their personal hate to his town meeting
Move away from the hate and stop using races, religion. remember the world is watching

[mairin27]

whatithink1- Yes please tell me why McCains name is songbird. Then tell me you would not of said some things you wish you hadn''''t if you were beaten daily. If you knew anyone that was a POW in Vietnam you would not even bring this up. I knew a couple and they would never say a thing about this.


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

Posted by robert2237 at 10:44 PM : Oct 11, 2008

Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who died as prisoner 16670 in Auschwitz, on August 14, 1941. When a prisoner escaped from the camp, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape.

One of the 10 selected to die, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry: "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this Father Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place - his request was granted.

As the ten condemned men were led off to the death Block of Building 13, Father Kolbe supported a fellow prisoner who could hardly walk. No one would emerge alive - Father Kolbe was the last to die ..

[robert2237]

cozzicon - I don''t know where you get your information about the Reps leaving the country. We plan on staying and fighting every thing he does that goes against America. So don''t think you can get us out of here that easy, it is only 4 years and we can make sure he does as little damage as possible. My money may be put someplace to keep it away from being taken and given to the bums that don''t want to work but my country I will be here fighting for her. So dream if you like. But first Obama has to win and that is not a given yet. He still got a lot in his background to answer. Besides I am a Blue Dog dem. voting Rep. this time, also vote Rep. last two times because of the people that the Dems keep putting up as a canidate. We can do better, than Kerry, Gore, Obama. Where are the good Dems. I even liked Bill and voted for him but these passed 3 are hopeless.

[robert2237]

whatithink1- Yes please tell me why McCains name is songbird. Then tell me you would not of said some things you wish you hadn''t if you were beaten daily. If you knew anyone that was a POW in Vietnam you would not even bring this up. I knew a couple and they would never say a thing about this.

[robert2237]

jaxsterling6- Glad to see you did the same thing as I did and looked at the issues instead of trusting the media. I found some of the same things and a few you didn''t. But I to will support McCain and I think you will be seeing this a lot more as people start to really look into him and his background and buddies.
I suggest to everyone to look into both of their backgrounds don''t trust the media don''t really care which media all of them lean one way or the other. Look at some floor debates, who helped them in their money raising, how the voted, and yes a present is a vote it is just a vote that saying they don''t want to take a position. Then look into really what caused this finanical mess then vote you heart. Either way it is up to you but don''t vote with out looking into the ones you are going to vote for. A nice speach is not a reason to vote for them, a 5 1/2 years as a POW is not a reason to vote for them, it is a reason to thank them and respect them, after you have really done this I know who you will vote for.

[robert2237]

whatithink1- There is crazy people supporting both McCain and Obama problem is the McCain supporters admit it and try to deal with it. Obama''s bunch think anyone supporting him must be a top notch Ameican citizen, when a lot may not even be American citizens, and then there are some real crazy ones like some I see writing on these blogs.

[mairin27]

McCain should not have taken up Obama. Obama is an opposite to what many of us think an American is. We are not ready for a black president. We are not ready for a Muslim raised and influenced person Obama is. He may think he ignored his teaches all his life, but he is wrong and he will realize that before he is much older. Twenty years with a preacher ranting and raving like the Rev Wright had to influence Obama and especially his little girls. McCain should speak to issues and let the Obama myth speak on its own. Looks like McCain is covering all bases if he loses because he will have to work with Obama as a Senator if he is not elected and Obama is. Sticking up for Obama makes this man seem weak. We do not need a weak president.
-------------------------------------------------

Posted by Dorisj4 at 06:49 PM : Oct 11, 2008

Dorisj4- You can''t have it both ways you say he is Muslim, but then also critize him for Rev. Wright. Mr. McCain has stated Mr. Obama is a decent man. You need to educate yourself. The color of ones skin or religion should not be a reason to vote or not vote for a candidate. You need to educate yourself on the ISSUES!!! Healthcare, what are the candiates positions on healthcare, do you know? Taxes, do you know? You have fallen victim to the lowest form of bigotry and racism that the McCain/Palin campaign has fomented. EDUCATE YOURSELF...

[demwatcher]

"There are some crazy people supporting McCain. Crazy.

Posted by whatithink1 at 08:59 PM : Oct 11, 2008"

And Obama has, Rev Wright, Hamas, the ex president of Kenya, Bill Ayers, Farrakhan, Fannie Mae and Lehman Brothers executives, etc . . .

Yes, let us make a list and compare them.