[big campaign] Tracking Update: McCain Tele-Town Hall for PA Voters 08/05/08

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- mQQBBGBjDtIBH6DJa80zDBgR+VqlYGaXu5bEJg9HEgAtJeCLuThdhXfl5Zs32RyB I1QjIlttvngepHQozmglBDmi2FZ4S+wWhZv10bZCoyXPIPwwq6TylwPv8+buxuff B6tYil3VAB9XKGPyPjKrlXn1fz76VMpuTOs7OGYR8xDidw9EHfBvmb+sQyrU1FOW aPHxba5lK6hAo/KYFpTnimsmsz0Cvo1sZAV/EFIkfagiGTL2J/NhINfGPScpj8LB bYelVN/NU4c6Ws1ivWbfcGvqU4lymoJgJo/l9HiV6X2bdVyuB24O3xeyhTnD7laf epykwxODVfAt4qLC3J478MSSmTXS8zMumaQMNR1tUUYtHCJC0xAKbsFukzbfoRDv m2zFCCVxeYHvByxstuzg0SurlPyuiFiy2cENek5+W8Sjt95nEiQ4suBldswpz1Kv n71t7vd7zst49xxExB+tD+vmY7GXIds43Rb05dqksQuo2yCeuCbY5RBiMHX3d4nU 041jHBsv5wY24j0N6bpAsm/s0T0Mt7IO6UaN33I712oPlclTweYTAesW3jDpeQ7A ioi0CMjWZnRpUxorcFmzL/Cc/fPqgAtnAL5GIUuEOqUf8AlKmzsKcnKZ7L2d8mxG QqN16nlAiUuUpchQNMr+tAa1L5S1uK/fu6thVlSSk7KMQyJfVpwLy6068a1WmNj4 yxo9HaSeQNXh3cui+61qb9wlrkwlaiouw9+bpCmR0V8+XpWma/D/TEz9tg5vkfNo eG4t+FUQ7QgrrvIkDNFcRyTUO9cJHB+kcp2NgCcpCwan3wnuzKka9AWFAitpoAwx L6BX0L8kg/LzRPhkQnMOrj/tuu9hZrui4woqURhWLiYi2aZe7WCkuoqR/qMGP6qP EQRcvndTWkQo6K9BdCH4ZjRqcGbY1wFt/qgAxhi+uSo2IWiM1fRI4eRCGifpBtYK Dw44W9uPAu4cgVnAUzESEeW0bft5XXxAqpvyMBIdv3YqfVfOElZdKbteEu4YuOao FLpbk4ajCxO4Fzc9AugJ8iQOAoaekJWA7TjWJ6CbJe8w3thpznP0w6jNG8ZleZ6a jHckyGlx5wzQTRLVT5+wK6edFlxKmSd93jkLWWCbrc0Dsa39OkSTDmZPoZgKGRhp Yc0C4jePYreTGI6p7/H3AFv84o0fjHt5fn4GpT1Xgfg+1X/wmIv7iNQtljCjAqhD 6XN+QiOAYAloAym8lOm9zOoCDv1TSDpmeyeP0rNV95OozsmFAUaKSUcUFBUfq9FL uyr+rJZQw2DPfq2wE75PtOyJiZH7zljCh12fp5yrNx6L7HSqwwuG7vGO4f0ltYOZ dPKzaEhCOO7o108RexdNABEBAAG0Rldpa2lMZWFrcyBFZGl0b3JpYWwgT2ZmaWNl IEhpZ2ggU2VjdXJpdHkgQ29tbXVuaWNhdGlvbiBLZXkgKDIwMjEtMjAyNCmJBDEE EwEKACcFAmBjDtICGwMFCQWjmoAFCwkIBwMFFQoJCAsFFgIDAQACHgECF4AACgkQ nG3NFyg+RUzRbh+eMSKgMYOdoz70u4RKTvev4KyqCAlwji+1RomnW7qsAK+l1s6b ugOhOs8zYv2ZSy6lv5JgWITRZogvB69JP94+Juphol6LIImC9X3P/bcBLw7VCdNA mP0XQ4OlleLZWXUEW9EqR4QyM0RkPMoxXObfRgtGHKIkjZYXyGhUOd7MxRM8DBzN yieFf3CjZNADQnNBk/ZWRdJrpq8J1W0dNKI7IUW2yCyfdgnPAkX/lyIqw4ht5UxF VGrva3PoepPir0TeKP3M0BMxpsxYSVOdwcsnkMzMlQ7TOJlsEdtKQwxjV6a1vH+t k4TpR4aG8fS7ZtGzxcxPylhndiiRVwdYitr5nKeBP69aWH9uLcpIzplXm4DcusUc Bo8KHz+qlIjs03k8hRfqYhUGB96nK6TJ0xS7tN83WUFQXk29fWkXjQSp1Z5dNCcT sWQBTxWxwYyEI8iGErH2xnok3HTyMItdCGEVBBhGOs1uCHX3W3yW2CooWLC/8Pia qgss3V7m4SHSfl4pDeZJcAPiH3Fm00wlGUslVSziatXW3499f2QdSyNDw6Qc+chK hUFflmAaavtpTqXPk+Lzvtw5SSW+iRGmEQICKzD2chpy05mW5v6QUy+G29nchGDD rrfpId2Gy1VoyBx8FAto4+6BOWVijrOj9Boz7098huotDQgNoEnidvVdsqP+P1RR QJekr97idAV28i7iEOLd99d6qI5xRqc3/QsV+y2ZnnyKB10uQNVPLgUkQljqN0wP XmdVer+0X+aeTHUd1d64fcc6M0cpYefNNRCsTsgbnWD+x0rjS9RMo+Uosy41+IxJ 6qIBhNrMK6fEmQoZG3qTRPYYrDoaJdDJERN2E5yLxP2SPI0rWNjMSoPEA/gk5L91 m6bToM/0VkEJNJkpxU5fq5834s3PleW39ZdpI0HpBDGeEypo/t9oGDY3Pd7JrMOF zOTohxTyu4w2Ql7jgs+7KbO9PH0Fx5dTDmDq66jKIkkC7DI0QtMQclnmWWtn14BS KTSZoZekWESVYhORwmPEf32EPiC9t8zDRglXzPGmJAPISSQz+Cc9o1ipoSIkoCCh 2MWoSbn3KFA53vgsYd0vS/+Nw5aUksSleorFns2yFgp/w5Ygv0D007k6u3DqyRLB W5y6tJLvbC1ME7jCBoLW6nFEVxgDo727pqOpMVjGGx5zcEokPIRDMkW/lXjw+fTy c6misESDCAWbgzniG/iyt77Kz711unpOhw5aemI9LpOq17AiIbjzSZYt6b1Aq7Wr aB+C1yws2ivIl9ZYK911A1m69yuUg0DPK+uyL7Z86XC7hI8B0IY1MM/MbmFiDo6H dkfwUckE74sxxeJrFZKkBbkEAQRgYw7SAR+gvktRnaUrj/84Pu0oYVe49nPEcy/7 5Fs6LvAwAj+JcAQPW3uy7D7fuGFEQguasfRrhWY5R87+g5ria6qQT2/Sf19Tpngs d0Dd9DJ1MMTaA1pc5F7PQgoOVKo68fDXfjr76n1NchfCzQbozS1HoM8ys3WnKAw+ Neae9oymp2t9FB3B+To4nsvsOM9KM06ZfBILO9NtzbWhzaAyWwSrMOFFJfpyxZAQ 8VbucNDHkPJjhxuafreC9q2f316RlwdS+XjDggRY6xD77fHtzYea04UWuZidc5zL VpsuZR1nObXOgE+4s8LU5p6fo7jL0CRxvfFnDhSQg2Z617flsdjYAJ2JR4apg3Es G46xWl8xf7t227/0nXaCIMJI7g09FeOOsfCmBaf/ebfiXXnQbK2zCbbDYXbrYgw6 ESkSTt940lHtynnVmQBvZqSXY93MeKjSaQk1VKyobngqaDAIIzHxNCR941McGD7F qHHM2YMTgi6XXaDThNC6u5msI1l/24PPvrxkJxjPSGsNlCbXL2wqaDgrP6LvCP9O uooR9dVRxaZXcKQjeVGxrcRtoTSSyZimfjEercwi9RKHt42O5akPsXaOzeVjmvD9 EB5jrKBe/aAOHgHJEIgJhUNARJ9+dXm7GofpvtN/5RE6qlx11QGvoENHIgawGjGX Jy5oyRBS+e+KHcgVqbmV9bvIXdwiC4BDGxkXtjc75hTaGhnDpu69+Cq016cfsh+0 XaRnHRdh0SZfcYdEqqjn9CTILfNuiEpZm6hYOlrfgYQe1I13rgrnSV+EfVCOLF4L P9ejcf3eCvNhIhEjsBNEUDOFAA6J5+YqZvFYtjk3efpM2jCg6XTLZWaI8kCuADMu yrQxGrM8yIGvBndrlmmljUqlc8/Nq9rcLVFDsVqb9wOZjrCIJ7GEUD6bRuolmRPE SLrpP5mDS+wetdhLn5ME1e9JeVkiSVSFIGsumZTNUaT0a90L4yNj5gBE40dvFplW 7TLeNE/ewDQk5LiIrfWuTUn3CqpjIOXxsZFLjieNgofX1nSeLjy3tnJwuTYQlVJO 3CbqH1k6cOIvE9XShnnuxmiSoav4uZIXnLZFQRT9v8UPIuedp7TO8Vjl0xRTajCL PdTk21e7fYriax62IssYcsbbo5G5auEdPO04H/+v/hxmRsGIr3XYvSi4ZWXKASxy a/jHFu9zEqmy0EBzFzpmSx+FrzpMKPkoU7RbxzMgZwIYEBk66Hh6gxllL0JmWjV0 iqmJMtOERE4NgYgumQT3dTxKuFtywmFxBTe80BhGlfUbjBtiSrULq59np4ztwlRT wDEAVDoZbN57aEXhQ8jjF2RlHtqGXhFMrg9fALHaRQARAQABiQQZBBgBCgAPBQJg Yw7SAhsMBQkFo5qAAAoJEJxtzRcoPkVMdigfoK4oBYoxVoWUBCUekCg/alVGyEHa ekvFmd3LYSKX/WklAY7cAgL/1UlLIFXbq9jpGXJUmLZBkzXkOylF9FIXNNTFAmBM 3TRjfPv91D8EhrHJW0SlECN+riBLtfIQV9Y1BUlQthxFPtB1G1fGrv4XR9Y4TsRj VSo78cNMQY6/89Kc00ip7tdLeFUHtKcJs+5EfDQgagf8pSfF/TWnYZOMN2mAPRRf fh3SkFXeuM7PU/X0B6FJNXefGJbmfJBOXFbaSRnkacTOE9caftRKN1LHBAr8/RPk pc9p6y9RBc/+6rLuLRZpn2W3m3kwzb4scDtHHFXXQBNC1ytrqdwxU7kcaJEPOFfC XIdKfXw9AQll620qPFmVIPH5qfoZzjk4iTH06Yiq7PI4OgDis6bZKHKyyzFisOkh DXiTuuDnzgcu0U4gzL+bkxJ2QRdiyZdKJJMswbm5JDpX6PLsrzPmN314lKIHQx3t NNXkbfHL/PxuoUtWLKg7/I3PNnOgNnDqCgqpHJuhU1AZeIkvewHsYu+urT67tnpJ AK1Z4CgRxpgbYA4YEV1rWVAPHX1u1okcg85rc5FHK8zh46zQY1wzUTWubAcxqp9K 1IqjXDDkMgIX2Z2fOA1plJSwugUCbFjn4sbT0t0YuiEFMPMB42ZCjcCyA1yysfAd DYAmSer1bq47tyTFQwP+2ZnvW/9p3yJ4oYWzwMzadR3T0K4sgXRC2Us9nPL9k2K5 TRwZ07wE2CyMpUv+hZ4ja13A/1ynJZDZGKys+pmBNrO6abxTGohM8LIWjS+YBPIq trxh8jxzgLazKvMGmaA6KaOGwS8vhfPfxZsu2TJaRPrZMa/HpZ2aEHwxXRy4nm9G Kx1eFNJO6Ues5T7KlRtl8gflI5wZCCD/4T5rto3SfG0s0jr3iAVb3NCn9Q73kiph PSwHuRxcm+hWNszjJg3/W+Fr8fdXAh5i0JzMNscuFAQNHgfhLigenq+BpCnZzXya 01kqX24AdoSIbH++vvgE0Bjj6mzuRrH5VJ1Qg9nQ+yMjBWZADljtp3CARUbNkiIg tUJ8IJHCGVwXZBqY4qeJc3h/RiwWM2UIFfBZ+E06QPznmVLSkwvvop3zkr4eYNez cIKUju8vRdW6sxaaxC/GECDlP0Wo6lH0uChpE3NJ1daoXIeymajmYxNt+drz7+pd jMqjDtNA2rgUrjptUgJK8ZLdOQ4WCrPY5pP9ZXAO7+mK7S3u9CTywSJmQpypd8hv 8Bu8jKZdoxOJXxj8CphK951eNOLYxTOxBUNB8J2lgKbmLIyPvBvbS1l1lCM5oHlw WXGlp70pspj3kaX4mOiFaWMKHhOLb+er8yh8jspM184= =5a6T -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Hello All, I just got off of listening to McCain's tele-town hall, which McCain conducted from WV for PA voters. Below are my notes from that call. *BIG HIGHLIGHTS: * * - Says he agrees with Obama's / Auto Association's suggestion to inflate our tires but "that doesn't serve as a plan" - Jokes that voter should vote for him rather than Obama "because I'm a great American"; lavishes praise on Hillary - Changes language but repeats claim that "independent petroleum producers" (previously known as "oil drillers") assure that we can get oil w/in months; enviro groups are wrong - Explains he was based on USS Enterprise so he's "familiar" with nuclear power - it's clean - Says he'd love to tell you that there's a parade down Broadway, but "that's not what success is": it's effective government, economic stability; Says we're better off now that Saddam & sons are out - Repeats promise that next toy from overseas (esp China) that hurts Americans will be last - Promises that when he's President, Congress won't be taking these "disgraceful" "vacations" - Other main topics: school choice, replacing govt workers w/ computers, Obama's "most liberal" voting record * *Tele-Town Hall for Pennsylvania voters: 08/05/08 (Disclaimer: The following are notes, not direct quotes. If you'd like a quotable transcript or video of any part below, please email us.) Background Details - Live town hall, conducted via phone - 2 short surveys conducted in course of call: (1) on your most important issue and (2) how likely you were to vote in Nov [Results not given] - Lindsey Graham gives introductory remarks: friends for a long time; we need someone who can win wars, reach across the aisle (esp on energy) Speech Highlights - we're in WV - just came in from Fermi nuclear power plant - I believe in nuclear power - price of oil gone down in past few days - we're happy - it affects the lowest-income Americans - Lexington Project - nuclear power is one way to help - we can store and reprocess nuclear power - the French do it - I am very familiar w/ nuclear power - my squadron was based on USS Enterprise - we've never had a nuclear accident on Navy ships - it's clean - we send $700B a year - offshore drilling - we need to do it and do it now - i met w/ a group of "independent petroleum producers" the other day and they said we can do it in a couple of months - i agree w/ Auto Assoc - we should all inflate our tires - but that doesn't serve as a plan - on Iraq- we are proud and pleased at lowest # of casualties since war started happened in July - it's been a long hard struggle - we will be able to withdraw, as you do whenever a counterinsurgency strategy succeeds - i'd love to tell you there's a parade down Broadway, but that's not what success is - it's a govt that can govern effectively and econ stability is back - a friend of mine commented, what do you think would happen if Saddam were still in charge and oil were $120/ barrel - i think we're a lot better off now that saddam and his sadistic sons are out - i don't see how you can go and meet these last 5 brigades that are coming home and tell them, great job but the surge didnt succeed - it's gonna be a tight race - i realize i'm the underdog, though the polls are getting better - i was in sturgis last night w/ 50k harleys, adn i'd rather have 50k harleys than all those Berliners, like my opponent had - all those harleys made me all the more proud to carry the banner of the GOP, which needs a lot of reforming leading up to the eleciton - 1Q) How can we become more dependent on domestic oil? How can we get around enviro oppo? - MCCAIN: States ought to give their approval. Crist said he wanted it off the coast of FL and that's probably what the majority of FL voters think. And CA says they don't want it. It can be done more quickly than enviro groups are saying. And that's not just my opinion - as I said, I met with a group of "indep. petroleum producers" and they said it could be done. And I'll remind you LA and TX both have offshore oil rigs and they've both withstood significant hurricanes. So we have to drill here and drill now. - FOLLOWUP: I hope so. The American people deserve it. - 2Q) We've had problems with products from China and from Mexico. will you erase some of those free trade incentives and bring jobs back to America? - MCCAIN: Americans are hurting badly in PA, OH, MI. And were hurting before this last downturn. We have to strengthen these agreements we've made. The next problem toy that comes from China will be the last toy - we need to strengthen the regulations. Our exports are probably the bright spot in our economic picture. And we need to do more w/ education and training programs to give workers another chance for jobs, esp if it's an older worker, in which case they should receive compensation. - MCCAIN: I understand you're hurting badly, and we have to keep your taxes low - Obama wants to raise your taxes- i think we need more $ in your hands. And health care should be in your hands rather than in govt's. - FOLLOWUP: In other countries, they don't have the FDA and other rules and regs in terms of what goes into products and that's concerning. - MCCAIN: The next time that products come into the US and endanger the health and wellbeing of citizens, that'll be the last. If that means them having us over there to oversee the manufacturing process then so be it. The prob is we haven't enforced the agreements taht we've made - I will enforce them. - Quick survey: What issue is most imp to you: (1) energy [?] (2) natl security (3) immig (4) pocketbook, e.g. housing mkt, (5) health care - 3Q) Any role in the govt aiding us to conserve, e.g. incentives for solar panels, etc? - MCCAIN: I do, I do. Can I mention that Obama said we ought to inflate our tires and I don't disagree with that. But I also don't think that's a way to become energy independent. We ought to give tax and other incentives to homeowners and builders to make them more energy efficient. As you know, Detroit is starting to move forward with hybrid cars and flex-fuels, and if you bought one of those cars the govt should give you up to $5k. So anything we can do to make US conserve more energy, we should do so and do it actively as a govt. I believe we can see a rebirth of the Big 3 in Detroit thru this innovative technology. - MCCAIN: I'd also like to see Cong, who decided to take a 5wk vacation while youre paying $4 for gas, and they've done nothing - they should provide ways to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. When I'm POTUS, they're not taking vacations like this. It's disgraceful. I wish the POTUS would call them back and make sure they do something about this. - 4Q) Education - What's your stance on NCLB and what would you do to improve quality of education? - MCCAIN: TY for being a part of 1 of the most honorable vocations one could have. NCLB should be fixed - we shouldn't scrap it completely. It was the first attempt to engage students acrpss USA and see what programs are succeeding. And it was a bipartisan effort. It needs to be fixed after a period of time, and I think there's been enough time to go back to it. We need choice and competition in our schools. I addressed Urban League, NAACP and La Raza and said now we have equal opportunity and access to schools but how does that help if they don't have choice of school. Schools are better in high-income vs. low-income. Charter schools are a viable alternative - they're not the answer but they're viable. Home schooling is another option. We ought to reward good teachers and find failing teachers/principals/schools other lines of work. NYC has reformed its schools. NOLA school system now has 32 charter schools and education is improving. Charter schoools aren't answer but they're a choice. I want my kids to have the same chioce--pardon, I want all kids to have the choicethat Obamas and we had when we chose to send our kids to other schools. should be a bipartisan effort. - FOLLOWUP: With NCLB, we need to involved schools in decision-making process - they have great input. What woudl you do to involve the school district? - MCCAIN: I think it's our job as legislators and then as POTUS to go out and get input. It'd be terrible not to hear from the ppl we are impacting. I will urge Congress to talk to ppl out in the field and sit down together and fix it. I have a record of doin that. And I think it's the civil rts issue of this generation that every child should grow up and have a quality education. BTW, I have a duaghter named Meghan. - OPERATOR- Quick survey w/ touchstone phone: how likely are you to cast a ballot in Nov? Scale 1-5 - 5Q) Neither GOP or Dem have reduced size of fed govt. We're all facing layoffs, but not in fed govt. Can you reduce budgeting or change rqmts to justify their continued existence? - MCCAIN: I agree. Mostly under GOPs we've presided over largest growth in govt since Great Society. And it's a great burden on the next gen. (1) We should make every bureaucracy and make them justify their existence. It won't be easy. (2) a lot of fed govt is nearing retirement - and I'm sure they don't deserve it- but instead of replacing them, we should use technology and replace them w/ computers. (3) we have to stop the spending - it's disgraceful. It's bred corruption and increased the size of bureauracracy. We've gotten into this 'gateway drug' that are earmarks. I've never asked for or received them; Obama has requested approx $1M / day in office. I will veto all and make them famous, which is obviously different from Obama's approach. - FOLLOWUP: TY for your refreshing ideas. - MCCAIN: TY, and if you have some, send them. [laughs] - 6Q) In the beginning I was more for Obama, now more towards you. Why should you get my vote over Obama? - MCCAIN: B/c i'm a great American [laughs]. We've got 93 days and I hope independents will look at our positions. I respect and admire Obama. He won the nomination over a very talented competitor, I respect HRC.Different views of govt- lower vs. higher taxes, govt- vs indiv-handled health care. And then there's Iraq. And I asked Obama to join me in town halls and I would've loved to, but he's not gonna do that. And there's one other area: judges- there will be 2-3 vacancies. I believe in qualified but strict-constructionist judges. They've I'm proud of Alito and Roberts but Obama voted ag/ both of them. - FOLLOWUP: I think you're great but I think you got my vote. - Operator- last question. - MCCAIN: Can we do 2 more? - 7Q) I'm concerned over partisanship in DC, concerned w/ security and that we're not guarded ag/ this. What's your plan to bring country together? - MCCAIN: Cong approval at 9% and they decided to take vacation when ppl are paying at the pump - it's reprehensible. I have a history of working with Dems--Lieberman, Kennedy, Feingold. Americans want us to work together to fix these problems. And it's really sad- I never thought we'd be down like this at 9%. 80% of ppl think we're on the wrong track. Obama has the most liberal voting record in Senate and that's just his record. I assure you I'll reach acorss the aisle. And if they want the credit, they can have the credit. - 8Q) As POTUS, you can use the bully pulpit to get info to public in a way that Cong has not been doing lately. 1 issue is the $53T deficit in Social Security and teh $2-3T interest accruing. Would you be open to bring in someone like David Walker? - MCCAIN: Funny you mention him b/c he's the most articulate person on this issue. It's a stark picture but I believe a true one. I wouldn't only bring him in but would commit to tell the American people the truth. I believe I'm the nominee of my party b/c I told ppl the truth. That's the beauty of town hall mtgs. I'm not a friend of his or anything, but I saw his work when he was head of GAO. We also need other people who are highly repsected adn regarded, GOP or Dem, e.g. Fiorina, Whitman, that need to go out and tell Americans the truth that we need to stop handing off these burdens to the next generation. It's not America. If they knew what we are doing, they wouldn't let us pass this on. The Concord Coalition has been very helpful to a lot of us b/c they're a veritable treasure trove of info. And we're going to have to pay the fiddler. And I'll sit down w/ Dems and tell them I'm against tax increases. In a bipartisan fashion, they will come around to my position and we will solve Social Security and solve Medicare. - TY for taking your time. This is going to be an interesting election. On election night, we're going to be up late and we're going to be looking at PA. Every vote counts. I'm glad I got one tonight. - OPERATOR: Please visit our website, johnmccain.com for more info. - Recorded msg from McCain: if you have any questions, please leave your name and # after the tone. Or you can call our campaign HQ at [gives #] or visit our website. - Recorded msg (woman): paid for by John McCain. * -- Sara DuBois Tracking / Communications Manager ProgressiveAccountability.org [email protected] 202-609-7681 (office) 410-967-7306 (cell) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group. To post to this group, send to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] E-mail [email protected] with questions or concerns This is a list of individuals. It is not affiliated with any group or organization. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---