Culver aides: McCain ignored request to cancel Iowa visit

DES MOINES, Iowa — An aide to Gov. Chet Culver said Thursday that Republican presidential candidate John McCain ignored the governor's request to cancel a campaign visit amid a massive flood recovery effort in the state.

McCain toured flood-damaged sites in Iowa on Thursday, including the town of Columbus Junction in the southeast.

Patrick Dillon, Culver's chief of staff, said the governor was concerned that McCain's trip would divert local law enforcement from the flood recovery effort to provide security for McCain.

David Roederer, who chairs McCain's campaign in Iowa, said McCain's trip didn't hamper Iowa's recovery operation. He said McCain proceeded with the visit because the campaign was providing much of its own security.

"There was really no state resources diverted," Roederer said.

The mayor of Columbus Junction, Dan Wilson, agreed.

"Certainly, Mr. McCain's visit today in no way hindered any relief efforts or any of our efforts on recovery or security or whatever we were working on," Wilson said. He said McCain's staff called him Wednesday night and Thursday to be sure the visit would not cause a problem.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama canceled a scheduled visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials.

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"As a courtesy _ and as we did for Senator Obama _ we privately made an effort to make sure that Senator McCain knew that state and local resources were still being deployed to support the flood fight and that now may not be the best time for a campaign trip," Dillon said in a statement.

Dillon's comments came as President Bush toured the state, and hundreds of law enforcement officers were diverted from flood recovery to provide security for him.

Culver, who endorsed Obama well before the primary campaign with rival Hillary Rodham Clinton was settled, is expected to be one of Obama's biggest supporters in Iowa during the general election.

Dillon said the issue was not about the election but about recovering from flooding.

"At the end of the day, it's not about politics but about what's best for Iowa," he said. "We hope any attention brought to the state _ from Senator McCain or any other leader _ will help bring assistance and enduring commitments to support Iowa's recovery."

Iowa Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley also have teamed for a tour of their own to see the flood damage.

While these high-profile politicians bring attention to the disaster, they cause headaches for hard-pressed law enforcement. Bush and McCain are protected by the Secret Service, and call in scores of local law enforcement to provide security during local appearances.

Comments

[Johnjlws]

Let me see, who else do I know doesn't listen to anyone else and does whatever he wants in spite of the outcome? Who? Hmm? That's a tough, tough question.

The more McCain tries to separate himself from the little idiot in the White House, the more his behavior makes him appear to be the same. Need to walk-the-walk, Senator McCain. If it acts like Bush, embraces policies and war like Bush, is ignorant of economics like Bush, walks like Bush, and talks like Bush then it must be a Bush.

Obama '08

[debwarot]

So, I guess it was really important for McCain to make the gesture, get the photo op, put himself out there. Too bad he lacked the intellect, common sense, and respect to realize that the area's limited resources would best be deployed actually saving residents and salvaging their property. Someone should have told him this. Oh.....wait, someone DID tell him, but he incorrectly decided that he knew best and his needs were more important. Is this type of self serving idiocy really what we want in the White House?

[MACS]

.
If McSame will not listen to the governor, why should we expect him to listen to the American citizens???
.

[RaraAvis17]

This was his photo op and he didn't want to mess it up. Who cares what the people of the state wanted it was all about Mr. Maverick showing how much he really cares. Ha! Like he gives a rip.

[blueshield]

Cindy bought me these neat new boots. Couldn't let them go to waste. Hey, what's all this water doing in the street? This doesn't look right. If I'm elected, I'll get a committee to look into this right away. Good luck New Orleans! Iowa? Iowa! Shiite. Gotta go.

[KarlaElisa]

blueshield, I think you are on to something there.

[WFV]

Anything for that photo op! As someone who supposedly is all about security, he and his team should have had more regard for the wishes of the people actually dealing with the disaster. Very selfish.

[sandiegoconservative]

I flicked on CNN while getting ready for work on Wednesday. Obama had a news conference where he was sandbagging, I think it was early in the week. That diverted resources. I am sure you will respond to my comment and immediately condemn hom for that.

[NorVaGal]

Nope, sandie. Obama was in ILLINOIS, not IOWA. He followed the request of the Iowa governor to NOT visit the flood zone at that time. McCain disrespected the governor's request and went anyway. Sen. McCain achieved his photo-op, but I doubt that he endeared himself at all to the suffering citizens of Iowa who are concerned about their families and property, not a selfish, self-serving politician.

[knowhelpnow]

It's no wonder they call him McSame. These political trips to get in the free press by being in a disaster area is pretty sick. They have no common sense that just being there causes so much more problems for the community and the state who are trying to save what they can.
SICK, SICK, SICK.
JUST STAY OUT OF THE WAY SO THESE PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR JOBS WITH OUT HAVING TO WATCH OUT FOR YOU. Can you not understand that???

[TNT2008]

Another "know-it-all", we'll do it my way or the highway, hard headed, cowboy, Republican who wants to be president! Enough already!

[uvymopkq]

I suppose that if McCain becomes president that Gov. Culver will give all the Fed. money back?

[NorVaGal]

uvymopkq: Since the Fed. money doesn't belong to the president, but to the citizens, I see no reason for a governor to "give [any] money back". Emergency relief is what the money is appropriated for to begin with.

[Jason357]

If I had just lost everything, I'd be trying to strangle some jackass politician suing it as a photo op.

[WhatWouldJesusSay]

Grandpa doesn't hear so good anymore

[nonofyabusiness]

or think very straight for that matter

[Mattjoe]

All the frenzy surrounding the "Straight Talk Express" would be to FEMA what a squeaky toy or big ball of yarn is to a cat.

[GerryS]

Ahhhh yes, another presidential candidate that doesn't know the meaning of NO.
NO WAY John

go Obama

[Underthematrix]

McCain is politically tone deaf. His presence takes services away from the flood victims. The man's just plain dense. LOL!

[JiminNC]

The house will be voting at noon to allow immunity for the telecoms: There is time to call and register your disgust. Mike McIntyre of North Carolina has at least one solid piece of mind this morning. They will answer and listen. Please call:
---------------
Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your House Representative (not Senators) by name, or find your House Representative's name and direct dial by entering your address on the right side at the following link:
http://usalone.com

[WhatWouldJesusSay]

Done!

[newpantaloons]

I did it and EVERYONE NEEDS to do it, also. This is a giveaway to Bush and the Republicans from the House Democrats. Please, please everyone, call and register your outright indignation. They are all on C-Span now, talking about how this is constitutionally correct and what a great bill. It is not! It is a total capitulation! It has been reported that the telecoms spent MILLIONS of dollars to lobby congress for this bill. Call, please!

[kwon35]

Done, but why doesn't any of the news media talk about this?
Keith O was the only thus far talking about this important matter and everyone doesn't care.
People need realize our Consti. is being re-written in our very eyes.
I email everyone I to express their opinion about this.

[kay]

The Iowa governor backs Obama and that's unfair to John McCain.

It should be even. 25 for McCain, 25 for Obama.

This is....CHICAGO POLITICS!!!!!

Obama promised this wouldn't happen.