Ohio, W.Va. Residents React To Candidates
By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH City EditorWASHINGTON, Pa. - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain brought his vice presidential pick to western Pennsylvania on Saturday, attracting many local residents to the Keystone State to hear the candidates speak.
Wheeling attorney Elgine McArdle was among those seated in the stands at Consol Energy Park. The seats hold 3,000 spectators during Washington Wild Things games, but many more people gathered on the infield to show support for McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona.
"It's hot, but it's great." McArdle said of the McCain campaign rally, held under the blazing August sun.
McArdle, who is a delegate to the Republican National Convention and is leaving for Minneapolis-St. Paul on Monday, was excited about McCain's choice of a running mate - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
"She's everything that I want to be," McArdle said of Palin. "She's a hockey mom, a working mom. She's not scared to fight corruption. She's full of energy. There's nothing like a woman to multitask. She's the epitome of a super mom."
McArdle and her daughter Danielle, 16, were joined at the rally by Kathy Dague of St. Clairsville and her 16-year-old son, Tyler.
"We're McCain supporters because he's conservative. I believe he stands for more of the values that we do. He's pro-life ... ," Dague said. "He's probably more of our country's patriot than Obama.
"We don't believe in socialism," she added, referring to Democratic nominee Barack Obama's plan for national health care.
Tyler echoed his mother's comments.
"We're McCain supporters - big time," he said, also citing health care and McCain's experience in government and the military as reasons why.
Ted Erickson of Wheeling and his wife, Margaret, also braved the heat to hear McCain and Palin speak.
"My brother works in the Alaskan oil fields, and I understand (Palin) has about a 90 percent approval rating there," Ted Erickson said.
"I'm really interested in hearing Palin speak," Margaret Erickson noted. "(McCain) could have gone soft on pro-life, but he didn't - and he's a fiscal conservative.
"I'm tired of government controlling every aspect of my life," she added, citing the proliferation of smoking bans and the prohibition on selling trans fats in New York City as examples of governmental controls she believes would be lifted under a McCain administration.
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robojock
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09-01-08 11:06 PM
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Amen Ellis, this state makes it impossible for businesses to flourish.
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EllisWyatt
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09-01-08 8:38 PM
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Thoughtful lives up to his or her name. The real issue is JOBS. The valley has an excellent geographic location and relatively safe neighborhoods. What scares off potential employers-THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE-is the closed shop. This is closely followed by lack of tort reform, B&O taxes, government interference, lack of an educated workforce, poor infastructure and lousy government. No employer in their right mind is going to move to a state with a closed shop unless they are getting huge handouts and/or are not the kind of employer who has to worry about a union. No person can work for two employers. Your loyalty should be to the person who signs your paycheck, not the hack who takes orders from some guy whose last name ends in a vowel. If you want to create wealth, you have to create jobs. You need employers to create jobs. And the valley has a poor track record of attracting good paying jobs.
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IMaVOTER
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08-31-08 11:47 PM
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Where are the CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS? Democrats are not Elitists! John McCain Doesn't even know how many houses he owns...Oh that's right...He doesn't own them...THEY BELONG TO CINDY...It's in the pre-nup! And that's the pre-nup on the SECOND MARRIAGE...GIVE ME A BREAK! The Conservatives are AWOL on EVERY SUBJECT that matters to the real WORKING CLASS PERSON!
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robojock
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08-31-08 11:38 PM
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To all that think that Obama has seen true hardships as a community organizer. Those hardships would not exist if capitalism wasn't abandoned in Chicago and if people did not depend on a nanny state to provide for their families. Look at family structures, or lack there of in such large cities. Generally, you have poor , uneducated, people with no father in the house. Such families are also usually African American, which I find shocking, because financial aid is readily available for those families. Simply, poverty should be temporary, because a way out always exist, if people take responsibility.
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Thoughtful
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08-31-08 11:07 PM
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I challenge everyone from the Ohio Valley to read and listen to Harry REid, Senate Majority Leader and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House as to their feeling toward the most abundant energy sources in the United States, Coal. That oppose any new coal fired plants, want no part of coal liqudified plants, and say so every day. Stop look and listen. Be honest, keep an open mind and vote what is best for Wheeling, Martins Ferry, Benwood, Lafferty, and all the valley.
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Thoughtful
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08-31-08 11:04 PM
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If you want to energize the Ohio Valley economy, wwe must attract industry and good jobs. That is through tax incentives and encouraging companyies to locate here. REduct taxes on companies, Welcome them to the Valley and make it easy for them to come , employ, and make a profit. All the talk about windfall txes on companies only drives business elsewhere and discourages job creation. Europe has found that lower corprate tax rates create jobs. A win, win, win.
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Thoughtful
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08-31-08 10:59 PM
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The Democrat party of today is one million miles away from its past. It is a party of elitists, Hollywood types, Trial Lawyer focused, Super rich controlled, and focused entirely towards special interest groups. I will take Truman and Henry Jackson but not the current Democrat Party. It is a skelton of its past and one that true blue Democrats may want to question and challenge.
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IMaVOTER
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08-31-08 9:48 PM
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atoddh: I totally agree with you! Very well said...Somebody better WAKE UP T'ain't gonna happen with McCain!
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atoddh
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08-31-08 9:23 PM
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former: As an "organizer" Obama would have seen-first hand- the real hardships the working class endure with plant closures-not unlike what is going on now in Weirton and has occured in the Wheeling area EG Blaw-Knox.Accordinly he ran for State office,followed by the US Senate and now President to try to do something. The erosion of our American industrial base is really very alarming.This must be reversed.Obama intends to make an effort.
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IMaVOTER
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08-31-08 8:36 PM
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"She's everything that I want to be," McArdle said of Palin. "She's a hockey mom, a working mom. She's not scared to fight corruption. She's full of energy. There's nothing like a woman to multitask. She's the epitome of a super mom." If Palin's lucky enough (which I doubt she will be once her ABUSE OF POWER case really revs up in Alaska) to make it to the Vice Presidents Residence in Washington DC - Do you think maybe she could organize a NATIONAL BAKESALE to PAY OFF ALL THAT DEBT from this present Republican administration?
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formerohvalleyresident
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08-31-08 8:34 PM
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So what was Obama bin Biden’s track record as a "community organizer", atoddh? He and Bill "the bomber" Ayres, a convicted terrorist, squandered $100 MILLION dollars from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge on political activists instead of poor school children. I quote: Obama was chairman of the CAC board, responsible for the distribution of over $100 million dollars to activist organization, and Bill Ayres was a co-chair of the Chicago School Reform Collaborative, the CACs arm, responsible for advising the board, particularly on how to award its grants. No measured improvement of student performance attributable to the spending of those millions, and how much of the money was actually spent on political activism is now in question. It is known that substantial amounts went to an organization controlled by another member of the notorious Weather Underground. Change we can believe in? Same old crooked Chicago Politics to me!
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IMaVOTER
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08-31-08 8:05 PM
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At the recent rally in Washington Pa, I found it interesting how the crowd booooooooooed when Palin tried to compare herself with Hillary Clintons's famous and historic vie for the presidency. She is NO Hillary Clinton! Hillary's voters will never cross over to McCain and Palin!!! Who's kidding who? Their r agemdas couldn't be ****her apart.
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EllisWyatt
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08-31-08 6:45 PM
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If religion has no place in politics, then neither does Atheism. There is nothing in the Constitution that says religious people should be barred from the political process. There is no religious test for public life. If you don't like the fact that Dr. Dobson has influence over millions of Americans, go cry into your latte. It is apparent to clear thinking people that most Americans are religious in some way, shape or form. I keep hearing about "qualifications", etc. Well, Obama has been saying for over a year that qualifications don't matter. He says that "judgement" matters. Fine. If Obama's lack of experience is off the table then so is Palin's. I don't recall seeing any job description for the VP slot other than you have to be able to assume the Presidency. Beyond that, there are no degree or work history requirements, and no recommendations needed. All that is required is that you put yourself out there and your ticket wins the electoral vote.
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Katabatic
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08-31-08 5:19 PM
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Destroy, you aren't one of those people who think that just because some people believe in God, they should automatically be prohibited from participating in the political process, (like it's some exclusive secular club for the godless), are you ?
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atoddh
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08-31-08 5:15 PM
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littel bevis:Being a Community Organizer is relevant:especially to the depressed Ohio Valley which is former steel area much like South Chicago.Obama understands how things are after the butchering of Weirton Steel-for example.And the situation in Wheeling where 50% of the population is gone. Obama would be the best choice for WV - the poorest state in the US in need of the most help.
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Destroyallmonsters
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08-31-08 4:22 PM
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"Half of his followers are under age 18 and cannot vote for him." Proof please. "An estimated 10-15% of Hillary voters will vote for McCain" Proof please. "Dr. James Dobson, one of the most influential religious leaders in the nation" Dobson should keep his nose out of politics. Or are you of the persuasion that believes religion and politics should go hand in hand?
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Littlebeavis
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08-31-08 4:06 PM
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and mr.atoddh should understand that being a "community organizer" is not a credential for US president. And hasn't the main line media been gushing over the attractiveness of Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle? You libs are pathetic.
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EllisWyatt
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08-31-08 1:19 PM
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Actually, they are estimating the crowd at more than 9,000. But, does it really matter? Obama is a "rock star". Half of his followers are under age 18 and cannot vote for him. Despite a huge money advantage, blatantly favorable coverage from the main stream media, liberals gushing over his skin color and an unpopular Republican party, the polls are a dead heat. And we still have the Republican convention coming up! It boils down to this: the Republicans have now been assured of a huge turnout in their base. Dr. James Dobson, one of the most influential religious leaders in the nation, has publicly said that he loves the Palin pick and will vote for the ticket. Dr. Dobson influences millions of evangelicals. The Democrats cannot count on the same unity in their base. Hillary had 18 million votes, many of whom were Republicans who changed affiliation to vote against Obama. An estimated 10-15% of Hillary voters will vote for McCain. If Sarah Palin can pull another 5-10%, game
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beanranch
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08-31-08 11:11 AM
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More people showed up for the Grand Opening of the new "Outlet" center.
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WVSonDC
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08-31-08 9:50 AM
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What was the estimated turn out? 3,000?, 5,000? Just curious. Does not seem like many people turned out to meet McCain and the new V.P. nominee. Their campaign seems to be lacking an 'enthusiasm' factor. Not sure if that translates in the voting booth. Additionally, and unfortunately, a lot of the thunder has been stolen in the national media by the hurricane.
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tmoore
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08-31-08 7:54 AM
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What is scary is thinking what is two heartbeats from the presidency? Pelosi!!!!!!!!!!
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roxtar
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08-31-08 6:21 AM
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Nice representative sample...the Ohio County Republican Chairperson and friends. It's like going to Heinz Field on any given Sunday and asking whether folks like the Stillers.
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atoddh
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08-31-08 1:20 AM
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Ms. Erickson should understand that the pro-life movement is Government control vs pro-choice which empowers the indivual woman. Ms. McArdle should understand that Obama is suggesting health insurance for all-not a national single payer plan.The burden of care for the uninsured is now shifted to the premiums of those with insurance. Being a "hockey mom" is not a credential for US Vice President - rather Vice President of a local PTA. It is true the Oil Field guys think the former runnerup "Miss Alaska" Governor is a "fox." But is that a US VP credential?
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