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Hecklers Butt In as McCain Addresses Latino Group
June 28, 2008 12:30 PM
ABC News' Bret Hovell and Jennifer Duck report: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was interrupted repeatedly by hecklers as he and his likely Democratic presidential opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., separately addressed the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Saturday, at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.
McCain was interrupted four times by protestors, three of whom were identifiable as CodePink members. Four separate interruptions (as opposed to the number of people protesting, which can vary) may tie a record for recent McCain events. In Denver in late May, McCain was interrupted four times during a foreign policy speech.
One of the protestors spoke in Spanish, then translated as she was getting hauled out of the room: "Your silence is consent to war crimes," she shouted at the crowd, which booed her.
Three of the protestors were women, one was a man.
Of the first protestor, a woman from Code Pink who frequents most of McCain’s stops in Washington, McCain quipped, "That’s a very familiar voice to me."
The woman was protesting the Iraq war, saying that she wanted a "peace candidate."
McCain also used the line he regularly does when interrupted by a protestor.
"The one thing Americans want us to stop doing is yelling at each other," McCain said.
Late in his remarks, a man stood up from what looked to be a part of the press section and shouted at McCain about the war. McCain barely broke stride, continuing to talk as the man was escorted out.
Generally, the crowd was very receptive to McCain’s remarks, which touched on many of the aspects of his stump speech and included a heavy dose of his opinions on illegal immigration.
"We must prove to them that we can and will secure our borders first," McCain said, speaking about those who opposed his comprehensive immigration plan, "while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States."
The crowd was particularly supportive whenever McCain was interrupted, several times cheering after a protestor was pulled from the room.
Before Obama took stage later in the morning, a NALEO official apologized for the protesters, noting they were not a part of NALEO and didn't represent NALEO.
Protestors at a McCain events are not uncommon; many people are opposed to McCain’s position on the war in Iraq. Especially in Washington, the likelihood of someone interrupting McCain is about as good as the likelihood of McCain addressing his audience with his signature appellation, "my friends."
June 28, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (195)
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Mccain has to work on his delivery. Look at Obama saying the same thing as Mccain. What is the diference? Delivery.
He delivered the same message but with a better delivery. No wonder Mccain prefers town halls
Posted by: vuzous | Jun 28, 2008 12:41:32 PM
Get your protests in now, because if McCain becomes president , he will carry on in the Republican tradition of not allowing any dissent within his hearing. Anyone who disagrees with him will be corralled in a "free speech" area, far from his presence. That is Anti-American and that is the Republican way.
Posted by: Henry | Jun 28, 2008 12:48:08 PM
I love these protesters. Keep up the good work. Bomb, bomb Iran McCain is getting some "blowback" for his reckless belligerent arrogance.
Posted by: Sally | Jun 28, 2008 12:50:59 PM
I hate a war so America must keep a war out of American soil.
Sen McCain-08
Posted by: chris | Jun 28, 2008 12:54:48 PM
Code Pink are Obama fundraisers. They have been overheard saying they will send protestors to interrupt every McCain speech until election day.
Posted by: David | Jun 28, 2008 12:57:04 PM
"Anyone who disagrees with him will be corralled in a "free speech" area, far from his presence. That is Anti-American and that is the Republican way" Wow, what a bunch of liars and liberal extremists who want to slander and silence opposing candidates. Hypocrites! Those very oppressive tactics by liberal extremists are as heinous as the oppressives tactics they accuse of others.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 28, 2008 12:58:01 PM
McCain deserves it. But since when have politicians respected any free speech except those of their corporate multinational masters.
Posted by: pity | Jun 28, 2008 1:10:08 PM
A true mark of FASCISMS is to try to drown out the voice of your opponent! That is NOT being American.
Posted by: MDBIndiana | Jun 28, 2008 1:10:16 PM
The right to free speach is part of America, protestors are not intended to interrupt but protest an event outside. If these protestors are for Obama, then why doesn't he ask them to have dignity. McCain has the right to speak his beliefs, as does the competition. I agree w/a citizen we need Civilty to remain and exist.
Posted by: noregionfive | Jun 28, 2008 1:10:41 PM
McFlip-Flop is genuinely confused and he a very long way to go with voters, because America is tired of fearmongers and warmongers like McSame. America needs peace and prosperity, the world is ready for America's leadership under Obama's visionary guidance. God save America from McFlip-Flop. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Jun 28, 2008 1:10:51 PM
Wow, what a bunch of liars and liberal extremists who want to slander and silence opposing candidates. Hypocrites!
*******************************************************
Jeff,
Where have you been for the past 7 yrs? Bush was the
#1 guy who isolated himself from reason
Posted by: spacerook1 | Jun 28, 2008 1:24:46 PM
What a bafoon. Typical politician: the people speak and he just ignores them. The people are removed so they can't disrupt the status quo. The status quo that McCain hopes will get him in the white house. We can't have the people of this country voicing thier opinion and interrupting so he can't deliver his prewritten speech that someone else wrote for him to try and appease the sheeple.
Posted by: Don | Jun 28, 2008 1:27:50 PM
chris - The only war that has ever been on American soil was our own: the civil war. We as a country are probably the best protected country in the world: we have an ocean on each side and allies to the north and south. The only time we've ever even been attacked was WWII and the best they could do was one base in Hawaii. 9/11 I suppose counts as an attack but again it was done from the inside. Every war we've ever fought except WWII was a war we chose to join, not because we were defending our country. Simply because the politician's decided for political purposes to make an offensive military move not a defensive one. They use peopole like you to defend their military-industrial complex and it works.
a citizen - make an informed decision? Doesn't that assume that you can trust what the speaker is saying? That he won't say one thing today and another tomorrow? I think that time has passed for McCain AND Obama.
Posted by: Don | Jun 28, 2008 1:34:08 PM
Last february, I was at a large gathering for John McCain. A supporter yelled a good thing, and I repeated it. I was crushed by the size of the group and could not show my support independently. I was drawn into what happened. I also was a little embarresed because I did not sound to could. Next time, I woun't give a scratcy yell, but I will at least wear a John McCain hat and shirt. I'll wave the hat. During the event, if anyone talks to me I will share what I know about John. Did you know that John decided not to take an admiralship. John wanted to become more involved with the US government.
Posted by: I support John McCain | Jun 28, 2008 1:35:32 PM
i love it when all of these hecklers come out at mccain always every speech i kinda feel sorry for him ay not thats why mccain only wants to do town hall debates hes afraid to do public debates or speeches now i can see why so funny i love it!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 28, 2008 1:35:58 PM
Wake up America.....McCain is the only one who really care for this Country and the people in it..Obama only cares about his political career and he doesn't care who he has to walk on or lie to or cheat in order to get to the top..Wake up America.
Posted by: glenda | Jun 28, 2008 1:39:20 PM
McCain is just all over the place. He opposes illigal immigration when addressing red necks. He supports Illigal Immigration when he addresses Latinos. Voters look for firm stand on issues.
Posted by: tom | Jun 28, 2008 1:39:35 PM
Protesters have the right to be heard. Let them say what they got to say and move on. McCain can then respond to their statements. That would be the civil thing to do. Unfortunately McCain is used to having handpicked audience asking questions that bolster his position. He is ill equipped to answer difficult questions particularly those about the war.
Posted by: worldsam | Jun 28, 2008 1:40:40 PM
ANGIE, McCain challenged Obama to a series of debates and Obama has ignored them. Obama WILL NEVER debate unless he knows the questions in advance and someone can write up answers for him. I swear, there's a quota of "Change" in every answer. The guy is sooooo fake.
McCain '08
Posted by: Ryan | Jun 28, 2008 1:40:52 PM
Yeah Worldsam, I'm sure Obama will stop every time someone heckles him and answer their questions. Get real.
Posted by: Ryan | Jun 28, 2008 1:43:15 PM
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