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McCain Encounters Four Protests In 10 Minutes

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May 27, 2008 2:00 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: It was, for the majority of the speech, a complex description of his plan for curbing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But Sen. John McCain was interrupted four times by anti-Iraq war protestors in the first ten minutes of his remarks.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

"This may turn into a longer speech than you had anticipated", McCain said after the third batch of protestors stood up, holding up a white sheet, and shouted about ending the war.

McCain also tried to appeal to a sense of courtesy.

"One thing we don't do is interfere with other people's right to free speech," he at one point admonished. "But that doesn't seem to be the case with these people."

McCain has encountered protestors unhappy with his war stance in the past. Last week, he faced two interruptions during a speech he gave in Chicago. But today's protests were the most disruptive and the most concentrated since he became the presumptive Republican nominee.

During the third interruption of today's remarks in Denver, with protestors chanting about ending the war, McCain felt the need to fire back.

"By the way I will never surrender in Iraq," McCain said. "Our American troops will come home with victory and honor."

The remarks were scheduled to be about McCain's plans for slowing the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

"We do, quite literally, possess the means to destroy all of mankind," McCain said. "We must seek to do all we can to ensure that nuclear weapons will never again be used."

He centered his policy down the middle of the road when it comes to dealing with so-called rogue states like North Korea and Iran, making reference to his likely Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Il, on the one hand, and conservative hawks on the other side, who argue for military intervention.

"Many believe all we need to do to end the nuclear programs of hostile governments is have our president talk with leaders in Pyongyang and Tehran, as if we haven't tried talking to these governments repeatedly over the past two decades," McCain said, an obvious reference to Obama. "Others think military action alone can achieve our goals, as if military actions were not fraught with their own terrible risks."

"While the use of force may be necessary, it can only be as a last resort not a first step," McCain said, drawing the fourth interruption from a protestor, a single man who stood and shouted his belief that military action was not the last resort in Iraq.

"What about Iraq? That's a falsehood, sir," the man shouted.

May 27, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (33)

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Bho will say the notion that he has protested against war is not the same as the notion that he will start a war, nor the notion that he does not understand terrorist threat by measure of size.

Well, I am as confused about the notion that he speaks as the notion that he did not say anything in any notion of his speeches.

Posted by: a new name | May 27, 2008 4:27:59 PM

Good--about time someone reminded McCain of Bush's horrible mistake in Iraq and his promise to continue it. Memorial Day made me furious and sad because of all of these lives Bush has squandered. Shame on the GOP!

Posted by: bluedem | May 27, 2008 4:53:36 PM

david - While McCain is bomb, bomb, bomb Iran, Obama has made threatening overtures towards Pakistan. I guess that is why Ron Paul's non-interventionism sounds the best for me. Iraq has 25 million or so people, Iran has close to 3 times that, and Pakistan has 150 million people or so. Good luck McCain and Obama in your future endeavors, and of course Clinton is right there with them. God help us.

Posted by: Huh | May 27, 2008 5:03:13 PM

The war is about rousing interest on the part of the fearful and testosterone charged boys driving cars that get 14 MPG and have 300 HP.

9-11 was done by trainees of the CIA.
The 9-11 is now the pretext for taking your Constitutional rights, to be charged with a crime, and see evidence. McCain is against the Constitution. That is not a hero's position.

Posted by: bruce becker | May 27, 2008 5:33:17 PM

Javalation You got it right. Since Bush said we won in Iraq, on the deck of the carrier, we dont have to surrender, since we already won. Time to go home.

Drop this nonsense with no opponent.

The real purpose of our stay there is Karl Rove's book.
He wanted to take over the entire middle east and he thought he could take Iraq. That is why Bush said we had won. Bush and Rove actually believed their point of view. Now we know. They are both dumber than dirt, but they talk a good game.
Get out now and leave it to the parties who live there to make their peace. We can bring in the Saudi's and Syrians and UN and Iran and let them all squabble over it. The only reason Bush cares is the oil. Someone will control it and the price will be set in EURO's by OPEC. Not to worry.

Posted by: bruce becker | May 27, 2008 5:38:25 PM

Welcome to our world this is how the Obama supporters act. They are the most disrespectful group of people, I have often wondered were their parents were
while they were growing up because they have no manners.

Posted by: Melissa | May 27, 2008 7:31:38 PM

Now that the "Clintons" are finished, it will be easy for Obama beat McCain in the Fall.

In fact it just became a whole lot easier, since Bob Barr joined the race this weekend as the Libertarian candidate. He is a STRONG Conservative candidate, and he should easily suck away at least 5-10% of the right wing Republicans from McCain in the General...

Hey McCain, can you say Nader?? Ha, ha!!

So all you die hard Clinton fans that want to vote for McCain, go ahead, because I don't think that really matters anymore....

President Obama in 2008!!!

Posted by: Davis | May 27, 2008 9:30:51 PM

reading all these comments were great! i have great hope in the american people! and that is soooooo true.... ahmidenijad's statement of isreal was not about its people but its government... its so hard to get people to understand that... just goes to show you the direction the media in this country is taking... "make your own conclusions!"

Posted by: inty2525 | May 27, 2008 10:12:54 PM

Why wouldn't he surrender in Iraq? He already surrendered to the Republican party.

Posted by: Moe | May 27, 2008 10:28:00 PM

My question is what is a victory in Iraq? Are our armed forces police officers or fighting men. The people of Iraq need to step up and take control of their coutry. This has moved from a war to something else a long time ago. With people like McBomb in charge our national security is more in jepordy than it ever was. If Bush doesn't start an all out war with Iran by the end of his term, best beleive McPlunder will. Then what?

Posted by: Higher Prophet | May 27, 2008 10:33:51 PM

One hundred more years in Iraq? AND how many more thousands of our beloved sons and daughters killed and damaged? And our treasure lost for Iraqis, rich on oil profits?
McCain is 8 years older than me, but his speeches show substantial dysfunction that augers ills for any leader of a nation as complicated as the US.

Posted by: shirl | May 28, 2008 12:03:19 AM

As a 20 yr.+ vet of the Marines and two sons in active (one leaving for Iraq the second time) I too want this war to end. I experienced war and know how terrible it is; but I don't want to surrender like Obama. All you obama people complain about the war:
WWI - WILSON - DEMOCRATE
WWII - ROOSEVELT -DECORATE
KOREA - TRUMAN - DEMOCRATE
DEAD - OVER 55000
VIETNAM - JOHNSON - DEMOCRATE
DEAD - OVER 57000
IRAQ - BUSH - REPUBLICAN
DEAD - OVER 4000
Roosevelt lied about getting us into the war, and admittedly lied about the destroyer Greer. Why did we go into Korea? What about Vietnam. Johnson lied about the Gulf of Tonkin and his mouthpiece was Bill Moyers on PBS. How long have out troops been in Europe, Asia and other places around the world. PBS is running a series about the presidents. The one about FDR stated where he lied, but also where he tried to use his good office to get Hitler to make peace, not war. Hitler mocked him.

Posted by: Russ | May 28, 2008 12:23:09 PM

david I'm with you and believe McCain does know the horrors of war, and will swing vote as republican. If America remembers, U.S. troops were victorious in 2003 when they ended Hussein's regime.

Posted by: ramona | May 28, 2008 4:25:28 PM

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