McCain: "I Am Aware Of The Fact That There Will Be Many People Who Will Not Vote For Me"...

Republican John McCain on Monday recalled the bloody beatings of civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge as he began a weeklong tour of communities he said suffer from poverty and inattention from presidential candidates....

...Asked about the makeup of the crowd, McCain said: "I am aware the African American vote has been very small in favor of the Republican Party. I am aware of the challenges, and I am aware of the fact that there will be many people who will not vote for me, but I'm going to be the president of all the people."

Part of Alabama's Black Belt -- named for its soil, although the region itself also is two-thirds black -- Selma hardly has been forgotten by the Democrats in the 2008 presidential campaign. Last year, Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Clinton visited Selma to mark the anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" march.

But the area remains desperately poor, which is why McCain chose it for his "It's Time for Action" tour.

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting is still trying to fend off criticism that he has been indifferent to the housing crisis and the market upheaval it spawned. Last month, McCain said he opposed aggressive government intervention. Since then, however, he has proposed aid for struggling homeowners, a summer holiday from federal gas taxes and other measures.

Comments

[sleeperd]

There'll be a hell of a lot more who won't vote for the wicked witch from the Left and her faithful sidekick Hussein.

[wsblake]

Yeah,as many as those who didn't vote for Bush. But that's alright, your party will manage to steal another one.

[LivingStardust]

Those people are called patriots - Those who care about the Constitution, John, as opposed to your supporters who care only about making the boards of Exxon and Halliburton richer and richer at the expense of the American tax payer and the lives of the innocent while our infrastructure and economy waste away from fraud and neglect. Some of us won't only not vote for a fascist like you, We will stand squarely against the Imperial America you envision.

[ghostwriter5]

Isn't this sort of what Obama said in SF?

[Weathermaker]

"So?"

[Forest]

No s--t!

[StillAmused]

McCain's entire "campaign" is actually the conclusion of the longest-running "welcome home" celebration in U.S. history.

Someone break out the grainy Hanoi Hilton footage. The Republicans can all hold hands and weep.

[LonesomeThunderbolt]

If McCain were sincerely interested in civil rights and the concerns of racial minorities, he should have attended last October's debate on minority issues narrated by Tavis Smiley at historically black Morgan State University in Baltimore. McCain, along with his fellow Republican front-runners, showed no hesitation in skipping the event, figuring it would gain them nothing with conservative Republican primary voters. To go now to Selma and praise John Lewis as a way of appealing to general election swing voters is an empty gesture and cynical ploy that should fool no one.

[Rog49Thomas]

For once I am an enthusiastic and unreserved supporter of something that McCrazy has said.

Indded, let's hope that the number of people unwilling to vote for him is many.

And may the Good Lord increase that number - loaves and fishes time.

[zorrobozo]

Duh. . .

McCain is one dumb monkey. . .

[bluewolf]

the more he talks, the more it bewilders me that he's one of the final 3. he seems confused half the time & contradicts himself practically in the same breath. it's a plus that he has a history of teaming up with Democrats to accomplish legislation, but the middle class (and certainly the poor) can't afford another Republican president. my favorite thing about Republicans is when they tout their STRONG belief in no tax increase, but they sure as hell don't mind running the deficit up to unknown heights!!!!!! WTF? they should be called out on this EVERY TIME. who do they think is gonna pay for that?!?

[LiberTLover]

At least he got one thing right in the campaign so far!

[PDXTransplant]

We've had eight long horrifying years of the Republican party we sure the hell do not need another 4, because I'm afraid this old country could not withstand it. We are maxed out militarily, economically, environmentally, and most of us are mentally drained from worry with concerns for our future and our familiy's future. The middle class cannot take another 4 more years of lying, making the rich richer, or another war. I as an American can't not understand why anyone in their right mind would want more of what we have had for the past 8 years and then argue about who they are voting for, because by god if it's this person then I will note for McCain and only for McCain because they would rather sit back and watch this country die a slow death than to think about what is best for them and their country.

[bushmocker]

Can you imagine this guy with the football?Are we supposed to guess where these new wars he's promising will be?Who's going to fight them?Enough of listening to another Republican idiot talking thru his a##.It's time to put McLame on the backburner until we pick which one of our candidates will steamroll this old coot. America is never going to be ready for an angry old man.The stories about his mean streak and vindictiveness,told no less by people from his own party are only the tip of the iceberg.

[oregonrain]

I'm certainly one of those people who will NOT be voting for MCANGRY. This is the best the republican party could come up with ? Glad I'm an Independent !

[awcbuddy8]

Well, George Allen was going to be our candidate until the supposed "right-wing" media played the "mukaka" sound-byte every five minutes.

[wmbear]

AND HOPEFULLY MANY MORE PEOPLE...

Than will not vote for Obama....

[helonias]

http://capwiz.com/lcv_stage/dbq/vote_info/?command=results&sort=Last&state=AZ&submit.x=12&submit.y=13&submit=go

[DesertLight]

This guy is even starting to make W look smart.

[wmbear]

QUITE A FEAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT...

On the other hand, his poll numbers are making a lot of Americans look even stupider than when they voted for Bush....

[DesertLight]

Monumental feat! It sure looks like it though With some of the idiotic statements he's made like, "I don't know much about the economy" and "we might be there for 100 years" and "Bomb Iran" are just a few. Believe me I have been in AZ for 20 yrs with two years in between in So Cal., there is no way I would vote for this guy.

[helonias]

Any one who cares about the environment wont vote for him

[madmaggie57]

You're correct John. There will be many who will not vote for you. In addition to the economically strapped in this country, people who have any pride in this country will not choose to cast their ballots for you. Veterans who served in Viet Nam, especially at the same time as you, also will not vote for you. I refer all to the website (conservative) "Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain". You did not care about the mortgage crisis or tax breaks for the middle & lower classes until your cronies told you to get on board with the Dems. Citizens who are against this illegal occupation of a sovereign country and against the continuation of depleteing our military won't vote for you. And people who want our troops home will not vote for you. Let's see that leaves about 25% who would cast their ballots for you...about the same as Bush's approval ratings. Oh, and I forgot...any psychiatrist or therapist because they realize that you are in definite need of "anger management therapy". That drops the numbers a few more points...

[misspeach2008]

John, If Obama gets the Democratic nomination, you have a large number of Hillary supporters coming your way. If Hillary gets the nomination, Obama's supporters are taking their ball and going home. You should be sending Obama cash. Just go to his website and click "Donate". Unless of course, you've already maxed out.

[cindyw]

That's too broad a generalization. I'm an Obama supporter, but I'll gladly vote for Clinton in the unlikely event that she gets the nomination, as will many others who realize that a McCain presidency would mean a continuation of the disastrous policies of the last eight years. I admire Senator Clinton, and I could understand the disappointment of her supporters if she doesn't get the nomination, but to vote for McCain in a fit of pique might be something they'd live to regret.

[slamkitty2]

Well said. I too will vote for the Democratic nominee. To do otherwise would be far too self-destructive.

[oscarp]

cindy, congrats, you seem nice and dedicated to the Party, I wish all Obama supporters were like you, I can feel respect in your words, not very common here. Unfortunately, I am one of those who will vote for him if Obama gets the nomination, sorry for saying this, but I do not trust him, and I really respect your choice.

[cindyw]

Thanks for the kind words, but I have to ask you, why is it that you don't trust Obama, and doesn't the prospect of a McCain presidency worry you a little?

[disgustedbyitall]

Wow. I suppose now you'll use this as proof you're an honest candidate.

[Wilbur]

And I'm one of them who won't vote for this senile, alcoholic, tempermental war monger.

Wilbur

[Rockwell]

Add my name to that petition.

[coolrepublica]

McCain if Hillary is not the nominee, I'll vote for ya! I think CA is going to be up for grab in November and I will do my best to make sure it goes your way, if Hillary is not the DNC nominee.

[mitch4822]

So you would vote for McSame if Hillary is not the nominee? How can anyone vote or someone who is a old, senile, doddering individual who doesn't even know whom we are fighting in Iraq.
So you would put up with another 8 years of the Republicans? Shame on you. I thought you would be for "change" trying something new. YOu lout!, Ignoramous, lout?

[txblue]

You would honestly stab the entire country in the back and vote for four more years of Chimpy, just to throw a petulant fit if your pet candidate is not the Democratic nominee? You would really do that? That level of personal immaturity astounds me.

The same goes for Obama supporters out there who say they will either not vote or will swing toward McSame, Nader or whomever. This petty, childish take-my-ball-and-go-home I expect from the GOP, not from supposedly mature progressives.

Honestly--for shame.

[oscarp]

when are you going to respect people? names calling generates hates, and we are responsible for all that his happening, it's impossible people have forgotten what the Clinton administration did for them, or..they are ungrateful

[tbrnotb]

Once we get this Democratic Primary crap out of the way and people get a good look at this scary old man, you bet there won't be a lot of people voting for him. I'm thinking at least 51% in the right states!