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Published: Monday, June 12, 2006

McCain speaks in Iron Mountain


By PETE FRECCHIO, Iron Mountain Daily News


IRON MOUNTAIN — Several hundred supporters turned out at the Chippewa Club in Iron Mountain Saturday to greet U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Prior to his arrival in Iron Mountain, McCain attended a fund-raiser in Charlevoix.

Supporters paid anywhere from $100 to $500 to hear the Arizona Republican speak. Those who paid $500 had a private reception with the senator. All funds raised will be used to promote the campaigns of First Congressional candidates.

McCain spoke to the crowd on a variety of subjects, including immigration, the war in Iraq and national spending.

Many in the crowd held up “McCain in 2008” signs, but he sidestepped the issue of running for president in two years.

McCain started his speech by telling a few jokes and thanking all veterans who have served or who are serving in the U.S. military.

He then talked about national spending being way out of control.

One example he gave was President Bush signing a highway funding bill that contained 6,140 spending projects.

“This type of spending has got to stop,” McCain said. “We have to be able to protect Social Security and Medicare for our children and our children’s children.”

Immigration was the next issued McCain tackled.

McCain agrees with President Bush that the U.S. needs to secure its borders and come up with a guest worker program.

McCain’s home state of Arizona is one of the hardest hit by the influx of illegal aliens.

McCain said the huge amount of illegal aliens is causing his state to go bankrupt. McCain noted that the U.S. needs to watch its northern border as well as the southern border

McCain recommended the following steps to fix the border situation: Enforce border regulation, implement a guest worker program that works and set strict guidelines for illegal aliens already in the country who want to become American citizens.

McCain also addressed Congress’ low approval rating.

“We have a 22 percent approval rating in Congress,” McCain said. “There’s a good reason for that. People are sick and tired of politicians from both sides constantly arguing over issues and not getting anything done for their constituents.”

McCain concluded his talk with comments on Iraq.

“We have all been affected in some way by this war,” McCain said. “Many people are frustrated by the lack of progress in Iraq. We have made many mistakes in this war. A great event happened in Iraq the other day. Allied forces eliminated Abu Nusrab Al-Zarqawi. Thank God he is gone.

“We have a long way to go, but in the end I believe we will prevail ... Working together, we can accomplish the job.”