McCain Defends Palin From "Feminist Left"

McCain Campaigns In Missouri As Supporter Says Nominee Has Been Attacked By "Liberal Elite Media"

(AP)  Republican John McCain and his supporters on Monday branded Democrat Barack Obama a liberal and criticized feminists and the media as they rallied their conservative base in Missouri, a hotly contested bellwether state, two weeks before the election.

In a stump speech sharpened for the second week in a row, the GOP presidential candidate defended his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, against attacks from the "feminist left." And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced McCain by declaring him under siege by the "liberal elite media."

"John's been there and he's met a little tougher people in his life than the liberal media," Graham said in an allusion to McCain's years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Taking aim at Obama, Graham implored the crowd: "Show us that you understand and see a liberal when he's standing out there in front of you. Make sure you show America that it does matter that you keep your word if you're president of the United States."

The sharper remarks and tone came as McCain appeared before a weekday crowd of 2,000 in this suburb north of St. Louis, where Obama drew 100,000 on Saturday. Aside from several new key phrases and adjectives, McCain kept to his recent economic focus and the crowd failed to pick up on some of his standard applause lines.

The Arizona senator did rouse the crowd when he reprised a line from the final presidential debate, during which he broke with his fellow Republican, President Bush.

"We can't spend the next four years as we have spent much of the last eight: waiting for our luck to change," McCain said in an amphitheater at New Town, a planned community freshly built in a former farm field.

"We have to act immediately. And as I said it at the last debate: I'm not George Bush; if Sen. Obama wanted to run against George Bush, he should have run for president four years ago. We need a new direction now. And we have to fight for it," said McCain.

St. Charles County is fertile electoral ground for the McCain's campaign. In 2004, Bush beat Democrat John Kerry by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent.

As the nation moved right, Bush captured Missouri in 2000 and 2004, winning 53 percent statewide against Kerry, but this year the polls show a very close race in Missouri, which has voted for the presidential winner every year since 1900 but one, Adlai Stevenson in 1956.

McCain was roughly trailing the same path Obama took through the state over the weekend. At midday, McCain stopped at a barbeque house in Columbia for lunch with small business owners. He labeled them "Joe the Plumbers, writ large," referring to the Ohio plumber McCain has made a focal point for his criticism of Obama's tax proposals. He appeared Monday evening at Belton, south of Kansas City, where Obama drew 75,000 on Saturday.

Among those accompanying McCain was former Sen. John Danforth, an ordained Episcopal priest who remains widely popular in the state.

McCain opened his remarks in St. Charles by defending Palin against unspecified attacks.

"My friends, it's remarkable the comments of the feminist left about Sarah Palin," he said to a chorus of boos. "I want to tell you, I am so proud of the way she has energized America. She is a reformer, she is a great leader, she is the most popular governor in America, and I can hardly wait to introduce her to Washington, D.C."

McCain's selection of Palin was most recently, and prominently, criticized by his fellow Republican, former Secretary of State Colin Powell. On Sunday, he said McCain's choice of Palin, whom he deemed unready to be president, factored into his decision to cross party lines and endorse Obama for president.

Turning to Bush, McCain complained about "the explosion of government spending over the last eight years" that he said had "put us deeper in debt to foreign countries that don't have our best interests at heart. It weakened the dollar. It made everything you buy more expensive."

In newly sharpened language, McCain also referred to actions he said Obama "will" take. Previously, he'd characterized these as actions he believes Obama "proposes."

"If I'm elected president, I won't spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money (on new programs). Sen. Obama will. And he can't do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I'm going to make government live on a budget, just like you do."

And offering his view of the campaign with 15 days remaining, McCain no longer describes himself as 6 percentage points behind Obama; instead he said he was just a "few" back.

Later, speaking at a high school football field in Belton, McCain latched onto a remark last weekend by Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden who said, "Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy," his running mate Obama.

McCain, who has argued Obama lacks experience, said, "We don't want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars."

Biden had drawn a different conclusion about Obama: "They're going to find out this guys got steel in his spine."

[kansas1946]

In a stump speech sharpened for the second week in a row, the GOP presidential candidate defended his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, against attacks from the "feminist left." And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced McCain by declaring him under siege by the "liberal elite media."

********************************

The usual from the McCain campaign. Whining and crying about how abused they are, sob sob, how mean the media is, sob sob, how the "leftist" feminists have a problem with a candidate that wants to send woman back to back alley butchers, even in the case of rape and incest. PLEASE. If you can''t stand the heat, get out of the frickin'' kitchen.

[juliemd]

I agree with kansas1946 below...McCain is pulling the old cliches out of the past to paint a liberal, leftist, elite portrait that was proven complete baloney by the Bushie''s use of it 4 and 8 years ago...same mantra, different guy...McCain is McSame. Pity the poor souls in the Midwest (missouri) who believe it...

[south301]

McCain defends Palin, why not she''s channeling "W" need I say more?

[bailmeout1]

Ok, you win - abortion is ok only for incest and rape - oh yeah, migraine headaches when 8 1/2 months pregnant also. Oh yeah, I forgot about when you don''t like your boyfriend anymore. Also too if you decide when the baby is half way out that you then dont want it. We also need a time limit, lets say 48 hours after the baby is born, just to make sure you still want it.

[bailmeout1]

Cmon Missouri, you are supposed to be the "Show Me" state, what has Obama shown you?

[aj4321-2009]

What has McCain shown us?

[lambofgoth]

Yawn. That old dog should roll over and play dead.

[bailmeout1]

What has McCain shown us?
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Posted by aj4321 at 07:05 PM : Oct 20, 2008
that he is in the center and can work with both sides. You want Obama, Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, Kennedy, Reid, Dodd (if he is not in jail), Biden, and everybodys statesman of the year Barney Frank? You nutz can not be serious.

[geek143]

Having to defend your VP says it all. You hope that a VP might do you some good, but you don''t count on that. You never select a VP who can do you harm. If George H had not selected Quayle he would have won a second term.

Sarah Palin has hurt Senator Mc Cain and those Republicans running in the House and Senate. Denial of facts does not change them.

[bailmeout1]

Having to defend your VP says it all. You hope that a VP might do you some good, but you don''''t count on that. You never select a VP who can do you harm. If George H had not selected Quayle he would have won a second term.

Sarah Palin has hurt Senator Mc Cain and those Republicans running in the House and Senate. Denial of facts does not change them.
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Posted by geek111 at 07:12 PM : Oct 20, 2008

Clinton won against Bush because Perot took the vote away from Bush. The country lost - most of the country did not want Clinton. Lets try to keep it within this solar system, ok. I realize that staying on this planet is out of the realm of possibility.

As for Palin, everything that woman touches turns into the highest ratings ever. 70,000,000 million viwers for the VP debates. SNL highest rated show in 14 years. Most popular Gov. etc etc etc etc So she had a thing for the b_astard cop - big deal. I''ve got city officials here that pull that chit all the time.

You will see, McCain - easy winner.

[anotherview2-2009]

Obama, "a steel spine". If Obama had been subjected to what Palin has and was still smiling, then yes. But he can''t even have fun when he is alledgely ahead. Obama has not taken a stand, even for his friends. And some want him to watch their back. Good luck!

If there is such a question about Palin being ready, let her debate Obama and we will find out who is ready. She matched Biden. Palin would clean Obama''s clock, just like Putin will.

[bailmeout1]

Palin would clean Obama''''s clock, just like Putin will.
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Posted by anotherview2 at 07:22 PM : Oct 20, 2008

Thats right! Just as soon as the telepromters were down - he comes out with "spread the wealth around". palin would get the truth out of him. If you guys want a guy that feels he needs makeup to lighten his skin, and grey hair coloring to make him look wise, and telepromters, then fine. But it is not the "automatic" you think it is.

[dburfears]

More "DIVIDE THE COUNTRY TO WIN" Politics.

McCain has no HONOR left.

McCain has lost his DIGNITY.

McCain has lost contact with the TRUTH.

[ramos937]

Acording to Fox and right wing commentators, there are a huge number of folks considered to be Liberals. McCain regularly ridicudes Liberals.

What McCain fails to do is to recognize that a President is President of of all Americans - Liberals included. Since he is not prepared to be their President also, why is he running?

[bailmeout1]

------------------------------------------------------Posted by melnycgirl3 at 07:27 PM : Oct 20, 2008

If any of that mattered Obama/Biden would be all over it. Unless it wasnt true, or McCain has something better on them. Wonder what that could be?

[joker1944-2009]

Palin would clean Obama''s clock, just like Putin will.

Posted by anotherview2 at 07:22 PM : Oct 20, 2008

That''s some big talk, knowing that it would never happen.

Grow up already. She''s an idiot and could not possibly be less qualified to be VP. Even many prominent conservatives have said as much.

[cessna172_]

This comment that I have for Gov Palin isn''t concerning this story................................Sarah the curve ball you threw to SNL Sat evening was a very wise decision and this shows your decisive readiness for this nation .

[dburfears]

Joe Biden who said, "Watch, we''re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. They''re going to find out this guys got steel in his spine."

Then McCain tries to say Biden was critical of Obama.

McCain simply takes the words he wants to hear and then MAKES UP LIES.


McCain has LOST ALL HONOR.

McCain has LOST ALL HONESTY.

McCain has LOST ALL DIGNITY.

[dburfears]

McCAIN- NOT READY TO LEAD- LITERALLY!!!!

As the 2008 campaign nears its conclusion, the presidential transition efforts of the two major candidates have become a study in contrasts: Sen. Barack Obama has organized an elaborate well-staffed network to prepare for his possible ascension to the White House, while Sen. John McCain has all but put off such work until after the election.

The Democratic nominee has enlisted the assistance of dozens of individuals -- divided into working groups for particular federal agencies -- to produce policy agendas and lists of recommended appointees. As evidence of their advanced preparations, officials provided a copy of the strict ethics guidelines that individuals working on the transition effort are required to sign.

John McCain, by contrast, has done little. Campaign spokespersons did not respond to requests for elaboration. But one official with direct knowledge, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed concern with McCain''s approach. The Arizona Senator has instructed his team to not spend time on the transition effort, according to the source.

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

McCain DID, however, appoint William Timmons to HEAD HIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM.

Timmons aided a lobbying effort on BEHALF of IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN to arrange a deal to sell Iraqi oil. Timmons would have shared at least $45 MILLION if the deal went through. At the time Washington declared Iraq a ROGUE ENEMY STATE and a sponsor of TERRORISM.

[dburfears]

HEAD OF McCAIN''S PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM LOBBIED FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who JOHN McCAIN has named to HEAD HIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM, aided an influence effort on BEHALF of IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN to ease international sanctions against his regime.

Timmons'' activities occurred in the years following the first Gulf War, when Washington considered Iraq to be a ROGUE ENEMY STATE and a sponsor of TERRORISM.

In 1992, and for FIVE YEARS after, Timmons worked closely with two lobbyists, Samir Vincent and Tongsun Park, LOBBYING FOR a prospective deal with SADDAM HUSSEIN to purchase and resell Iraqi oil. Timmons, Vincent, and Park stood to share at least $45 MILLION if their deal went through.

Virtually everything Timmons did during his lobbying campaign was WITHIN DAYS conveyed to SADDAM HUSSEIN''S top aides, Tariq Aziz and Nizar Hamdoon. IRAQI replies were sent back to Timmons. Proposals that TIMMONS HIMSELF CIRCULATED to U.S. OFFICIALS as part of the effort were WRITTEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF IRAQI OFFICIALS, and Timmons sent these proposals to IRAQI OFFICIALS for advance approval.

An investigator on the U.N. investigation said of Timmons: "He would have to be the most naive person in the world to believe that (he was not lobbying for Saddam). I guess William Timmons is just a natural born oilman. He is either deceiving himself to rationalize what he has done or taking the rest of us for fools."

[dburfears]

This is how the REPUBLICAN OPERATE NOW.

When confronted with the FACTS OR THE TRUTH they simply deny them and twist them.

The sun could be shining in the sky. If that fact does not suit their needs, they will say, "I don''t see any sun here", or "That does not look like the sun to me", or "The media is responsible for saying that is the sun, I have not seen any proof".

All of this while they are getting a sunburn.

Are Americans STILL FALLING FOR THEIR LIES?

[freckster]

What McCain fails to do is to recognize that a President is President of of all Americans - Liberals included. Since he is not prepared to be their President also, why is he running?

Posted by ramos937

LMAOROTFL Oh man! That''s the best one I''ve heard in a long time. True.

[bailmeout1]

Grow up already. She''''s an idiot and could not possibly be less qualified to be VP. Even many prominent conservatives have said as much.
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Posted by joker1944 at 07:32 PM : Oct 20, 2008

HaHa Obama has been running for two years, he has out spent McCain 20-1 he has the expert liberal media in his favor and even they can only muster up a small lead for Obama. they had Clinton up by 20 something and he squeaked by. Many others also. mcCain at this moment is in the lead (probably big time) - you will find out this country is not New York, or Hollywood, or Barney Frank land Mass.

[bailmeout1]

Posted by melnycgirl3 at 07:37 PM : Oct 20, 2008

It was comedy, satire, you know - like Saturday night Live.

[bailmeout1]

You will never understand that p#ss down economics never works in the long run but I guess the last eight years means nothing to you!!!!
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Posted by melnycgirl3 at 07:34 PM : Oct 20, 2008

I made a chitload of money the first six years. the pst two? Not so hot.

First, John latched onto Joe the Plumber, invoking his image over 20 times in the national debate, then added Ruth the Teacher, Phil the Bricklayer and Wendy the Waitress to his version of the Village People, with lead vocalist Sarah the Reformer and John "The Magician Who Reinvents Himself Every Month" McCain on drums. Now he''s on a tear to sign up Feminist Freda
to hit the hustings as advance liason, stapling those posters to the telephone poles with just the right "straight lines" for this Harold Hill production. God I love this country! Where else could you possibly find the populace so eager to hoorah the very person painting them as comic strip caricatures? Where else could you find a people whose wallets have been "lifted," so eager to endorse the very people who picked their pockets? Where else could you find a man who voted to support his President''s policies for eight years, over 90% of the time, defending the vetoes against children''s insurance twice, and then, with a straight face, claim to be at once the "true agent for change" and "the experienced one?" C''mon, Hank, you just gotta put that to music!

[joker1944-2009]

you will find out this country is not New York, or Hollywood, or Barney Frank land Mass.

Posted by bailmeout1 at 07:39 PM : Oct 20, 2008

Of the two of us I would bet that YOU will be the one waking up on Nov 5th to a much different US. You will learn this nation is not a nation of cowering Republicans fools who are the ones who have driven the nation into the ground.

[bailmeout1]

You people are the sheep of the century. This congress has done nothing in the past two years except rename Post Offices. not only that, but they have intentionally done nothing to help in areas they should have. (Barney Frank sending his unqualified lover to head up Fannie Mae - it was the word Fannie that was irresistable to them). So they intentionally make Bush look bad - and you guys all line up in arow and jump. hehehe

[albertw40]

McCain-Palin always have to demonize someone. Now it is the feminist left. Truthfully, a lot of very ordinary working women were turned off by all the winking and "you betcha" stuff. A very conservative (almost surely Republican-leaning) female business columnist in our newspaper skewered Palin for her behavior in the VP debate. You can''t be both the *** little girl who appeals to "Joe Six-Pack" (a condescending term in itself), and still appeal to ordinary non-feminist women for whom that approach is offensive.

[bailmeout1]

No - your post to Ramos was disgusting and you know it and everyone has read it.... Bye... I won''''t write back to a ugly person such as yourself!!!!
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Posted by melnycgirl3 at 07:47 PM : Oct 20, 2008
Thats all it takes to disgust you? So you are anti-abortion, right.

[albertw40]

The word in my post below was not an ugly or offensive word. But for some reason the computer censor felt the need to put stars in it its place.

[bailmeout1]

Aha! A war profiteer! How were those Halliburton and Blackwater payoffs?

Too bad the Dems cut into you sucking the public dry on no-bid contracts from your Repug masters.
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Posted by johnbrown888 at 07:51 PM : Oct 20, 2008

yeah, I''m a war profiteer, a carpetbagger haha (eye roll) dude I have a regular job just like everyone else. a lot of what Obama promises (if I was a sheep) I could actually use. There is just this America thing, you know - I cant get past it.

[joker1944-2009]

David Brooks: Palin is a "a fatal cancer to the Republican Party."

Is McCain also defending Palin against ultra-conservative pundits like Brooks?

[spadeisspade]

Amen, Albert; you also can''t use your sexuality to skate through this campaign and then criticize people for being sexist toward you! I am a woman, hardly a feminist, and find how she acted during the debates downright repugnant. It made my mind up that instant. It''s not a freaking talent show or a beauty pageant. It''s our COUNTRY!

[bailmeout1]

Ok lets see now. Government paid for health care - includes pre-existing conditions. doing nothin with border control.... hmmmmm maybe a year (6 months probably) standing room only in every hospital and emergency room in this country. this may "disgust" some, but the line will move quicker if we can all speak Spanish.

[bailmeout1]

Ever notice Republican women are hot! Oh sorry Democratic women, that one was too close to the truth. Bill Clinton is like "D_amn man, I am in the center"

[cattlekate]

"My friends, it''s remarkable the comments of the feminist left about Sarah Palin," he said to a chorus of boos."

Could a reporter please ask McCain what he meant by this, and how he describes "feminist left" women?

Just curious.

[wogerwabbit]

There is just this America thing, you know - I cant get past it.

Posted by bailmeout1 at 07:56 PM : Oct 20, 2008

Let''s not forget about your racist thing, either

[eroosevelt08]

It took so long for women to have rights in this country but now McCain wants us left, I guess.

[ixoye_02]

As more republicans abandon McCain/Palin, the sounds of desperation continue to grow louder from the GOP, at least, what''s left of the GOP. Powell voiced what many of us ex-republicans have thought and felt about the GOP and McCain. How can the GOP love America when they scoff at other Americans who think differently? United we stand, divided we fall, right?There are alot of folks who I know including myself who have left the GOP AND who are voting for Obama. At least we will have good company among ourselves including General Powell and Christopher Buckley to name a few conservatives who feel the same way. R.I.P. to the GOP

[veteranx-2009]

bailmeout1: "...You will see, McCain - easy winner ..." And what planet are you from? Clearly your grasp of reality has slipped as much as McCain''s - he''s now defending his VP against "unspecified" attacks from the "feminist left". How weak is that?

[d-g-c-sd]

All we really need now is for McCain to display his true feelings for those insignificant middle-class Americans. If Obama weren''t pointing out the need to help the middle-class, McCain would not know we exist.

[wogerwabbit]

Posted by ixoye_02 at 08:16 PM : Oct 20, 2008

I agree 100%. I too am an ex-republican... actually quit because of the swiftboating of McCain in 2000 and I will be voting for Obama (and Mark Warner for senator here in Virginia) in the hope of destroying the republican party so we can rebuild in it''s ashes. The republicans have been hijacked by right wing wackos and they''ve driven off all the moderates... their real base, in favor of one issue fringe group hysteria and other preditors in our society. We have them in here, with their spittle dripping shrieks of Muslim! Socialist! ACORN! Ayers! ... all nonsense, but it''s all they have... it''s not like they can run on their record. Slay the beast and use it as fertilizer.

[veteranx-2009]

bailmeout1: Gee, no lines for emergency care in Canada, Britain, France, Germany, or any other OECD member with government guaranteed health care. Yeh, and their governments are all DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS. About time we took the profit OUT of the health system and put the CARE back in. Or maybe you just like "spreading the wealth" to corporate insurance profiteers to the tune of 25-30% of every dollar spent on health care in this country. It''s an outrage.

[twentysixpt2]

It does not surprise me, but it saddens me, to hear McCain attacking American women this way. First he mocked the health of mothers on the national televised debate. So what did I expect? Nothing better from this racist, sexist, bigotted ticket. :(

Go Obama. Tolerance and inclusion.

[veteranx-2009]

The Rabid Right: Single-issue men who think their right to control a woman''s body should take precedence over any and everything, including the economy, foreign policy, defeating terrorism, saving the environment, global warming, education, the price of gas, and a thousand other more important issues. AKA = the most ignorant men in America.

[sallievoter]

impressive.....mcbush and praline sure know how to win votes, don''t they?

This whole "victim" thing....it just is not flying. We don''t want a pres/Vp who are so EASILY VICTIMS---VICTIMS OF THE MEDIA, THE FEMINISTS, THE ETHICS PANEL IN ALASKA...wow, are all of those people so much more powerful that the mcbush/praline VICTIM TEAM? Really....don''t cha think they''re kinda WEAK???

Oh, and the hallucination paranoia thing---everybody is out to get them? GET SOME REAL HELP, JOHN AND SARAH, and maybe some meds.....that paranoia thing is really SCARY, BUT TREATABLE.

[ioweign]

Come on John, open that mouth some more...


The official list of Republicans jumping ship, pointing fingers, or otherwise abandoning John McCain

55 entries and growing,
most recently including:

Ken Adelman (10/20)

Florida GOP (10/19)

Colin Powell (10/19)

Frank Luntz (10/18)

Susan Collins (10/17)

[ioweign]

McCain Employing GOP Operative Accused Of Voter Registration Fraud

John McCain''s campaign has directed $175,000 to the firm of a Republican operative accused of massive voter registration fraud in several states.

According to campaign finance records, a joint committee of the McCain-Palin campaign, the RNC and the the California Republican Party, made a $175,000 payment to the group Lincoln Strategy in June for purposes of "registering voters." The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots to hinder the Democratic ticket.

[standlee5]

McCain Defends Palin From "Feminist Left"

Good. They''re nasty vicious b*tches and they''ve torn her apart from the begininng. Campbell Brown''s Witch Hunt at 5:00pm is nothing but a sour old puss being a vicious b*tch and tearing Sarah apart every night. But they never touch Obama with a feather. Not ever not even once. Now he''s grandma''s sick so we''ll have to continue to handle him with kidd gloves. The guy is a primadonna.