McCain-Palin Visit: Scenes From the Campaign Trail
By Patti Zarling and Malavika Jagannathon ¦ Green Bay Press-Gazette ¦ 19 September 2008 Democrats Have Their Say, Too As supporters of John McCain and Sarah Palin turned out for Thursday’s visit to the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, their opponents worked to bring the spotlight back to their issues. Before the McCain-Palin rally began, members of NARAL Pro-choice Wisconsin talked about McCain’s “abysmal record” in voting against women’s reproductive rights issues, and said Palin should be pressed about her position on those issues.
The group said McCain has voted against birth control measures 22 times in his 26 years in the U.S. Senate.
“We just feel there are so many issues that are unaddressed in this campaign that are going to affect the lives of Americans, and certainly reproductive health and care for victims of sexual assault … are on the line that Gov. Palin hasn’t addressed at all,” said Nancy Nusbaum, a NARAL board member.
Nusbaum, a former Brown County executive and former mayor of De Pere, said her group held a teleconference for reporters to draw attention to what she says is the Republican ticket’s lack of comment on the issue.
Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, talked about McCain’s economic agenda at Obama’s Campaign for Change office in Green Bay.
Also Thursday, the Democratic Party of Brown County held its previously scheduled annual steak fry at Pamperin Park in Howard, including scheduled speeches from Hansen, Rep. Jim Soletski, D-Green Bay, and Joe Wineke, chairman of the state Democratic Party. Protesters rally outside the arenaA handful of people protesting Thursday’s McCain-Palin rally carried signs outside the Resch Center before the event, including one that said “Hockey moms need health care,” a play on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s references to being a ‘hockey mom.’
Scot Ross, executive director of a group called One Wisconsin Now, said his organization wanted to emphasize how “McCain’s stubborn insistence that ‘the fundamentals of our economy are strong’ shows just how out of touch he is on the damage the Bush-McCain agenda has inflicted on Wisconsin.”
One Wisconsin Now brought a 5-foot tall rubber stamp that read “McSame” to indicate their thoughts about the Republican presidential nominee.
“The people of Wisconsin are smart people who work hard,” he said. “They don’t want to see their money go to big oil or companies that send jobs overseas … we can’t continue the disastrous policies George W. Bush.”
Howard Cole of the Boilermakers union in Marinette, said he came to protest jobs going overseas.
“McCain is a joke,” Cole said. “He voted 90 percent of the time the way Bush wanted him to vote. Now he’s a Republican running against the Republican party. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Lack of healthcare insurance is another big issue, Cole said. He is also concerned about the Wall Street crisis.
“I wonder how many of these people have watched the 401(k) plans take a hit these past three or four days,” he said. “I know mine did. It’s terrible, and we don’t want four more years of Mr. McSame.”
The protesters remained fairly low key, and Ross said he didn’t intend to enter the Resch Center for the rally. Officials asked them to move back from the Bart Starr Plaza area in front of the Resch to the public sidewalk area, he said.
A few apparent Barack Obama supporters called out during Palin’s and McCain’s speeches during the rally, but it wasn’t enough to interrupt the event. GOP faithful line up long before rallyLines began forming hours before the rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his vice presidential pick Sarah Palin at the Resch Center on Thursday.
Many traveled from across Wisconsin to attend the event. It was a mix of the old and young, men and women.
Security was tight within the Resch, with people carefully searched before the entered. Inside, concession stands were open for hungry and thirsty supporters.
Martin Rogan of Sun Prairie said he’s been to three McCain events to far, but he was excited to see Sarah Palin this time around.
“It seems like there’s a bigger crowd today then when it was just McCain,” he said. “I think McCain is ready to be president. I think he chose a good running mate, who is definitely a family person who can relate to a lot of typical family issues.”
Luann Skarlupka of De Pere brought her two school-aged children, Grace and Leo, to the rally.
“We came out to support McCain and because I wanted the kids to see possibly the next president,” she said.
“John is a very wise man,” Leo Skarlupka said. “I think he’s ready to lead the U.S.”
After the rally, Nancy Livingston of Green Bay said she was “very impressed.”
“I feel very confident with McCain,” she said. Impressed, even during chance meetingPaul and Abbie Honzik of Green Bay were among a crowd of 20 who got a up-close look at Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin outside Champions Sports Bar & Grill, 1007 Tony Canadeo Run.
The two were among a handful of bystanders outside the sports bar, which is near where the candidates were staying, who met the Arizona senator and Alaska governor as they stepped off their bus for the night.
Palin assured several members of the crowd that they were disappointed not to be staying for Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.
“We wish we could be here,” Palin said.
Both Honziks said they were especially glad to meet Palin and husband Todd, although they had planned to vote for McCain prior to his vice presidential pick.
“I think she represents what America wants,” Paul Honzik said. “We’re tired of the same old thing.”
John Thompson, 14, and Hayley Morrow, 15, both of Abrams, also got to meet the senator and governor. Although the two youngsters can’t vote, they said it was inspirational to hear the speeches and exciting to meet the candidates in person. Ashwaubenon woman sings the anthemDebbie Drumm, 35, who lives in Ashwaubenon, sang the national anthem for Thursday evening’s McCain-Palin rally.
Drumm, a graduate of Sheboygan South High School and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, is an old pro at the old song. She had sung it before at the Resch Center — the site of the rally — and at Sheboygan A’s baseball games.
Even so, Thursday’s opportunity was something to cherish. A friend from her church recommended her to the rally’s organizers earlier in the week.
“This is pretty exciting, even more so if (McCain) is president some day,” said Drumm, who was nursing a bit of a cold but went on with the show. “I could say that I sang for the president.
“I like to focus on the flag and think about the words, especially at an event like this, and that’s what I want others to do. We are so blessed to be in the country we’re in.” McCain plans Friday morning appearance, tooJohn McCain is making the most of his trip to Green Bay.
He’s scheduled to headline a breakfast hosted by the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce this morning. He appeared at a rally on Thursday night at the Resch Center with running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
The Arizona senator is scheduled to present a policy on the state of the economy from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday in the media room at the Resch Center.
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