McCain Encounters Four Protests In 10 Minutes
EmailABC 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.
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This is the type of civil disobedience that needs to occur in more frequency to change the direction of our foreign policy. Obviously many republicans are dissastified with McCain and voting for Ron Paul, Obama, Clinton, and others not named McCain.
Posted by: Huh | May 27, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
That’s democracy! Take it or leave!
Posted by: Tre | May 27, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
The sad fact that an elderly, clueless, out of touch millionaire like McCain is a candidate for president is an embarrassment to the country. Once again the 2 party system has FAILED us.
Free yourself from being a party sheep, vote Independent.
Posted by: MDK | May 27, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Bravo Col K.!!! Well put sir! As vet from the original Desert squirmish, with a son in the Marines…I believe with my red,white and blue heart and soul that it is NOT unpatriotic to believe that it is time to put a lid on this mess. This Mama is for Obama!!
Posted by: Fourmommy | May 27, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
this man has no shame right along with bush well all i can say is vote for this man and you will have to live with the fact that you helped him kill more and more innoncent people not me im voting dem whoever it may be!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | May 27, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
McCain again used deception in his speech today. He claims North Korea aided Syria in it’s nuclear program, which is a completely unsubstantiated claim. He then made the false claim that Iran wants to wipe Israel off the ‘face of the earth’. No Iranian leader has said anything close to that. What Ahmidenijad said, if translated correctly, was that it was his (personal) desire to see the Zionist Regime of Israel disappear from the pages of time. THAT is the correct translation, and it is a far cry from the entire country of Iran wanting Israel ‘wiped off the earth’. The Arab world and the state of Israel have a long-standing land dispute over Palestine, and that is what the remarks grow from. McCain and the rest of the neo-conservative fools don’t have the common sense to see that is the one and only source to this problem.
It is exaggerations and lies like the above two that allowed the neo-conservative war mongers to initiate their conquest of Iraq. We, as American citizens, CANNOT allow something like that to happen again.
Posted by: Eric | May 27, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
DONT FALL FOR THEIR LIES THREE TIMES AROUND IF YOU DO YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!
Posted by: angie | May 27, 2008, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Is that all?
Posted by: zorar | May 27, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Way to go McCain! You won’t see many comments supporting American and patriotic views because the ones who hate American policies are those who feel the most strongly to comment.
Posted by: Drew | May 27, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
McCain will not be able to stand up to this type of defiance–he will break under the pressure.
Posted by: Sims | May 27, 2008, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
I feel like just about any of us could do a better job talking to these people, but it’s difficult to take the higher ground when we act like arrogant imbeciles and lie that we aren’t in Iraq for oil and to convert the Muslims to Christianity…
Posted by: Charley | May 27, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
THIS QUOTE from McCain shows the absolute cowboy attitude of the continuing of Bush policies – we are the global police and can destroy anyone we want. I am proud to be an american, except when these cowboys make moronic statements like these…to what purpose does it serve for Mccain say things like these????:
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.”
Posted by: CW from atlanta | May 27, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
McCain says he won’t surrender in Iraq, but he doesn’t mention who he thinks he would not be surrendering to. Al Qaeda has been pretty much marginalized, and they never were a political threat anyway, so is he thinking that he is fighting the new Iraqi govt? As is, his comment just sounds like empty rhetoric.
Posted by: Javalation | May 27, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
This comment alone is scary:
“By the way I will never surrender in Iraq,” McCain said. Our American troops will come home with victory and honor. We do, quite literally, possess the means to destroy all of mankind,” McCain said.
Posted by: washington | May 27, 2008, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
washington – That is pretty scary. It just shows McCain’s militarism which needs to be stopped. Bush has done enough already.
Posted by: Huh | May 27, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
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,”
—————–
The difference, contrast
with the last 7 years,
is that with Obama, we
will listen.
Posted by: Beto | May 27, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
McCain hates war. He has seen the horrors of war.
McCain voted against keeping our troops in Iraq.
It seems the left thinks if you are a veteran you are a warmonger.
Barry Obama says lets invade Pakistan and has never been to war in his life and the left wants to follow him.
McCain will bring our troops home.
McCain has said he will turn the areas over to the iraqis to deal with the insurgency and he will bring our troops home.
Posted by: david | May 27, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Obama bomb bomb bomb pakistan but the left thinks McCain is the warmonger.
McCain hates war. His foreign policy is like Bush Sr.
McCain voted against keeping our troops in Lebanon.
McCain has one son who just came back from Iraq and another on the way.
Posted by: david | May 27, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Beto, is your position that war with these hostile govts inevitable? Correct me if I’m wrong but, didn’t we just go through negotiations with Pyongyang, and didn’t we keep negotiating with the Soviets for decades? You probably have no inside knowledge on how Obama will differ in his style of “talking” with them, and to suggest that you do is really just displaying your prejudice against him. After all, he has suggested that he would be firm in his dealings with them as well.
Posted by: Javalation | May 27, 2008, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
John Mccain is frothing at the mouth for his opportunity to become “war criminal in cheif”, can we please stop doing things against our own best interests and cause an entire religion to rightfully hate us. If we make it a case of “US or THEM”, destruction is assured on both sides. In that xase there are NO “winners”, only just a side who lost less… Haven’t the last five years in Iraq and Afghanistan taught us at least that? And for all pro-war factions out there I implore you to sigh up for the cause because “chickenhawks” like Cheney will NEVER fight their own battles. They will only send your kids, so if you fell so strongly please sign up to give your life for the cause, because our soldiers and their families would happily allow somebody who truly believes these lies to sacrifice in their place. PLEASE PUT ACTION BEHIND YOUR EMPTY WORDS. “Conviction is a luxury for thiose on the sidelines.” Stand up or Sit down and can it!!!
Posted by: ugh | May 27, 2008, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
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 pm 4:27 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 pm 4:53 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 pm 5:03 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 pm 5:33 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 pm 5:38 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 pm 7:31 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 pm 9:30 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 pm 10:12 pm
Why wouldn’t he surrender in Iraq? He already surrendered to the Republican party.
Posted by: Moe | May 27, 2008, 10:28 pm 10:28 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 pm 10:33 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 am 12:03 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 pm 12:23 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 pm 4:25 pm