Kingman auditorium fills to capacity for Sen. McCain’s Town Hall

November 14, 4:09 AMArizona Rural Headlines ExaminerTrudy Schuett

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U.S. Senator John McCain leads a lively Town Hall Friday, Nov. 13, at the Mohave County Administration Building in Kingman.

KINGMAN – Residents packed the Mohave County Administration Building in Kingman Friday, Nov. 13, to attend a Town Hall meeting with U.S. Senator John McCain.

McCain spoke about his opposition to the House Health Care Reform bill and any reiteration of it in the Senate. He discussed the need for troops in Afghanistan. The senator answered questions and listened to statements of many people regarding Social Security, Veterans’ benefits, “Cap and Trade,” or as he put it, “Cap and Tax,” and other issues.

“The reason I am here is to hear from you,” McCain said to a packed auditorium.

Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson facilitated the event. Kingman Mayor John Salem introduced the senator.

McCain said the federal government had failed the people as he listed the trillions of dollars that are being spent for “earmarks.”

“Out of every dollar we are spending in Washington (D.C.), we borrow 43 cents,” he said. “A lot of that comes from the Chinese.”

McCain said his number one focus is to get the economy back on track and help businesses create jobs.

“No business, no family, no government can continue to spend like this and not expect to pay a heavy price,” he said. “It is generational theft. We have laid a debt of incalculable numbers on our future generations of Americans and it is unacceptable.”

The senator expressed his displeasure with the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler and, especially, the House Health Care Reform bill which will “drive current insurance options out of business.

“I’m glad the President doesn’t know what comes after a trillion,” he said.

Concerning the American Association of Retired People (AARP), McCain said he was disappointed in the group’s endorsement of the House bill. He suggested AARP members “cut up their cards and send them back.”

McCain said he believes that medical malpractice reform is what is needed, and is what was ignored in the incredibly large House bill. He also believes that small businesses should be able to pool resources and negotiate insurance deals “like the big companies.” Insurance coverage should also be able to cross state lines. “The more Americans learn about this (House bill)…. they will reject it.

“If you like the way they (federal government) run the Post Office and Amtrak, then you will love the way they run health care,” he said.

“Afghanistan is a tough fight,” McCain said. “But we have the finest military in the history of this country.”

McCain criticized the President for delaying the decision to send more troops. “We cannot allow Afghanistan to return to being a base for attacks on the United States like it was on 9-11,” he said. “And half measures won’t get it. Those young Americans are too precious to us.”

McCain said that when the economy “turns around worldwide, the price of gas will go up.” He advocated building more nuclear energy facilities and drilling offshore to cut down on the need for foreign oil.

McCain also expressed his displeasure in the trying of terrorists in New York.“Can you imagine us trying the Nazi war criminals in civil court?” he said. “This is a serious mistake on the part of the administration.” McCain also said he attended the recent memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas, and was angry about political correctness in the description of that horrendous event. “It was an act of terrorism,” he said. “To describe it as anything else does a great disservice.”

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