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After two days of calling McCain headquarters asking for credentials (they don’t do credentials) to today’s town hall at Union Station in Kansas City I was told to show up with my identification. They put me on their media notification e-mail list and I received the press logistics notice. So I hauled myself out of bed at 5:00 a.m. and got to Union Station at about 7:30 a.m. Then we waited around for a while. Then we went through security.
The early line up in the lobby at Union Station.
They didn’t know what to do with all the “freelancers” who showed up to cover this event. After a bit of head scratching from the people on the ground they decided to let us “media orphans” in.
Then we were informed we might be asked to leave. Then we were informed we’d be allowed to stay. Right now I’m here, waiting for the event to begin and watching the crowd and the media. At least there’s WiFi.
Two other “media orphans”.
The audience gets seated.
I probably won’t live blog, considering how well that went last time, but I may post a comment or two. Probably not, but it could happen.
Yeah, this became a process story, instead of an event story.
…we’re in the grand hall at Union Station and it echoes in here like a fifty gallon oil drum. When anyone speaks over the sound system you can only understand every fifth word. So much for getting a decent transcript.
…there’s no way I was going to go up in the scaffolding to get a photo. The sign limits it to two people (press). Right now there are four photographers on it.
…when calling for opening up offshore oil drilling.
“Senator Obama wants to raise your taxes.”
…for:
“I’d much rather lose a political campaign than lose a war…”
“…the strategy has succeeded.”
“I am confident that we will win this war.”
On Iraq:
“The facts on the ground in Iraq are very clear.”
The American people…”know that we are succeeding in Iraq.”
Opponents of war “…were wrong then, they are wrong now.”
“Those of us who are strongly pro-life are pro-adoption.”
I believe the questioner was the same individual who spoke to Michelle Obama about her child custody trials. Senator McCain said that he would gladly listen further about her particular situation, but he couldn’t address it in detail now (since he didn’t have all the information).
…”will be the future of our country…”
…”of working in a bi-partisan manner.”
“Senator Obama has the the most extreme record of any member of the United States Senate..”
“I believe that ‘No Child left Behind’ is a good beginning, but it needs to be fixed…”
“…We need to expand our VA system…”
“Why not give the veteran a plastic card, and…let them go to a doctor of their choice..” [applause]
“…the Federal government has not taken care of its responsibilities…we have to secure the borders first…”
“…I’ll be back several times, this is a battleground state..”
“…I’m the underdog…”