McCain and Palin Gain Support in Fairfax

Story by Broadside Staff Writer David Pierce. Photo by Assistant Photography Editor Teddy Meyer.

Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R.-Ariz.) and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin (R.-Alaska), set up a campaign rally at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax, Va. Wednesday Sept. 10, 2008. Party officials claimed to have had over 23,000 attendees. The venue was moved from its original location of Fairfax High School to Van Dyck Park due to an overwhelming response from Virginian voters, according to a press release sent out by the McCain campaign. Fairfax Mayor Robert Lederer welcomed a host of guest speakers prior to the main event, including Virginia’s 10th District Congressman Frank Wolf, 11th District Congressman Tom Davis, Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, a former prisoner of war and personal friend of McCain, and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, all of whom have shown their support for the McCain-Palin ticket.

Audience members screamed and applauded as the candidates and their families approached the podium. After a brief introduction by McCain’s wife Cindy McCain, Palin greeted the residents of Fairfax County and thanked them for their hospitality and invitation. She proceeded to introduce her husband, adding that he was a great father to their children.

Flip-flopping and judgment was a central theme of Palin’s attacks on Senator Barack Obama (D.-Ill.). Palin claimed that Obama changed his position on issues such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and gun control. She also claimed that Obama used change to shape his career, while McCain used his career to bring change for Americans by serving in the U.S. Senate.

The Alaskan governor then shifted her focus to McCain, claiming that he never gave up on the armed force members serving in Iraq. “He refused to break faith with the troops who now bring victory in sight.” Palin said, adding that as a mother of a son who is being deployed in Iraq, McCain is who she wants as commander in chief.

“I took on politics as usual in Juneau,” Palin said of her executive experience. “I try to lead by example,” she continued to outline her experience, citing that she took a pay cut, which her husband was not too happy about. As governor, Palin claimed that she suspended Alaska’s state fuel tax, uploaded the state’s checkbook online and vetoed nearly $500 million in reckless spending.

Energy independence was also a large issue in Palin’s speech. “Thanks, but no thanks for that bridge to nowhere,” she recalled telling congress, regarding the pork barrel project, adding “in Alaska, if we wanted that bridge, we’d build it ourselves.”

Palin also promised to expand alternative forms of energy, stating that she and McCain would make the country energy independent, and ensured that they would gain sources of energy from sources within America.

The audience cheered as McCain took center stage. After thanking his family and Palin, McCain greeted the crowd by confirming that Virginia was a battleground state, and that his campaign is about change and reform. Again, McCain promised to expose lawmakers who add earmarks and pork barrel projects to bills.

In regards to energy independence, McCain said that millions of new jobs would be created by converting the country to alternative sources of energy. He also said that Obama was against offshore drilling and nuclear power as a form of alternative energy. McCain also added that Obama has never questioned or swayed from his own party on the issues, and explained that he and Palin have done so.
The economy was also a significant issue for McCain. He cited the recent governmental takeover of home loan companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, but felt that the CEOs, who were walking away with money due to the housing crisis, should not keep it. “[The CEOs] should pay it back.” McCain argued. “They deserve nothing.” With that, the crowd went wild.

McCain defended his stance on voting for the war in Iraq and questioned Obama, citing that he was wrong in believing the troop surge wouldn’t succeed and that he won’t admit it. “[Obama] is wrong on national security, and he has a record,” McCain said. “[Palin] is right on national security,