First published at WashingtonTimes.com
ROANOKE, Va. — Sen. Jim Webb introduced Democratic nominee Barack Obama this afternoon with praise for his pal and ridicule for Republican nominee John McCain.
Webb asked the crowd, "When's the last time you saw John McCain in this part of Virginia?" a question that drew loud boos.
"This really isn't about whether John McCain is a good person or not, but whether John McCain is the right person to lead the country," Webb said, before turning to criticism of Sarah Palin.
"If I were standing here at a McCain rally, it would say 'Country First,'" he said, referring to the Republican's slogan. "Do you really think Sarah Palin is the most qualified person?"
Webb said when watching the debate, he heard Palin ask "Can I call you Joe?" and he was thinking Biden should have said: "You can call me whatever you want. In two months you are going to be calling me Mr. Vice President."
The crowd here laughed loudly.
He added that the Palin choice reminded him of an old country tune: "I know what I was doing, but what was I thinking?"
"John McCain is probably thinking of that song right now," he said.
Some reporters here searched around, and we think he meant this song, which includes the lyrics, "I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinking."
The song is about Becky, "a beauty from South Alabama" who was nothin' but trouble.
Here's the chorus:
Cuz' I was thinking 'bout a little white tank top sitting right there in the middle by me
I was thinking about a long kiss, man just gotta get goin' where the night might lead
Well I know what I was feeling But What was I thinking?
But What was I thinking?
Obama got big cheers when taking the stage. Here's some video:
Rally attendees arriving at the city's coliseum were greeted by five young men wearing overalls and shirts reading "Joe the Plumber," a reference to the Ohio voter who Mr. McCain repeatedly talked about during this week's debate.
One man held a sign reading, "It doesn't take a plumber to know Obama's taxes stink."
They held plastic plungers that one man said they bought for $6 at Wal-Mart, telling me, "Lucky the taxes are still low, we can afford 'em."
They got glares from the Obama supporters walking by, and one Democrat mocked the group, asking: "You mean, the Joe that didn't pay his taxes?"
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter,
The Washington Times
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