McCain promises prosperity
By Mark Hornbeck and Charlie Cain , Detroit News (Lansing Bureau) September 18, 2008 Article Excerpt: GRAND RAPIDS -- John McCain and Sarah Palin pumped up the faithful in Republican country Wednesday night, promising the GOP ticket won't raise taxes, will keep America safe and will restore Detroit to a preeminent place as the hub of the global auto industry. The two candidates offered little in the way of specifics during a town hall meeting at Ford Fieldhouse at Grand Rapids Community College, but sent out rallying cries to the several thousand West Michiganians packed into the overheated gym. "Reform, prosperity and peace is what Sarah Palin and I will bring to Washington," the Arizona senator said. "Right now, these tough times require a tough team. We'll take 'em on, we'll beat 'em, we won't let you down and we'll put our country first." Wednesday's trip was the second by McCain and Palin to Michigan since the Republican National Convention. The GOP candidates held a rally in Sterling Heights Sept. 5. Earlier in the day, McCain made an unannounced visit to a General Motors Corp. assembly plant in Orion Township, where the Chevy Malibu is made, and issued his strongest statements to date in favor of a $25 billion federal loan package for the auto industry, which he earlier opposed. "We're not going to leave the workers here in Michigan hung out to dry while we give billions of taxpayer dollars to Wall Street," he said. McCain noted that the state's unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent in August, up four-tenths of a percent from a month earlier. The state has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation since 2006 and has lost 40,000 manufacturing jobs in the last year -- half of those just last month. Michigan leaders responded to the economic downturn by raising taxes $1.4 billion last year, he said. "Gov. Palin and I will not raise anyone's taxes. It's the worst thing you can do," McCain said. Palin spoke about the need to advance alternative energy to power Michigan-made vehicles. "I know a little bit about energy and that's going to be my baby when I get to Washington D.C.," she said. McCain said his energy policy includes drilling off America's coastlines, building 45 nuclear plants to generate electricity by 2030, and promoting electricity-driven cars. Asked during a question-and-answer session about her foreign policy experience, with fewer than two years as Alaska's governor, Palin said she'll be ready to lead. "Ask about any country. You can even play stump the candidate if you want to," she said.
Chimed in McCain: "She understands our national security challenge ... she's absolutely qualified to address every challenge." McCain, who campaigned often in Michigan prior to the Jan. 15 primary, which he lost to former Michiganian and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, seemed energized by Palin's presence. The crowd chanted "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah" in anticipation of her appearance on stage. The Alaska governor and mother of five was his warm-up act and biggest booster. She boasted about her experience as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and said: "There's nothing wrong with small towns. In fact, all the best people in the world I know come from small towns." Asked about critics who say she can't raise a family and serve as vice president, Palin said: "Well, let's prove them wrong." Anna Childress, a 40-year-old divorced mother of two who owns a cleaning service in Grand Rapids, said McCain impressed her with his running mate selection. Please click here to read the entire article.