10:09 PM: McCain talks terror, Iraq, pork-barrel spending
MILWAUKEE -- John McCain stressed the need to win the war on terror, succeed in Iraq and eliminate pork-barrel spending during a Republican Party fundraiser Friday night on Milwaukee's south side.
McCain described the battle against radical Islamic extremism as the "transcendent challenge of the 21st century" in which a "warped and evil" enemy intends to "destroy everything we believe in."
To standing applause, McCain pledged to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
"If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice," McCain said.
McCain knocked Democrats in Congress for not having a vote to approve broadened federal wiretap authority.
"We are trying to give the president the ability to beat back this force of evil, and the United States House of Representatives under Democrat leadership decided not to agree, shut down and leave town and go on vacation," McCain said.
McCain said America is succeeding in Iraq and noted that the Iraqis have made political progress, recently voting on a bill on reconciliation and passed a budget.
"The Democrats were wrong when they said the surge wouldn't succeed," McCain said.
McCain railed against earmarks, saying that the $35 billion in earmarks approved in the last two spending bills signed by President George W. Bush is enough to give a $1,000 tax credit for each child in America.
McCain said that Republicans have let spending get out of control, but remarked that he's never asked for, nor received, an earmarked project for Arizona. He vowed to veto any bill that crossed his desk that contained one.
McCain chastised Hillary Clinton for including $392 billion in earmarks for New York, but joked that Barack Obama "is working his way up" with the $92 million in earmarks approved for Illinois.
McCain also discussed his plan to address illegal immigration through secure borders and a secure ID for guest workers, a bit about his experience in a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam and the importance of supporting veterans.
He pledged to compete in all 50 states this fall and predicted he would win Wisconsin.
McCain was introduced by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who called McCain a "great American" and a "patriot."
Thompson said it bothers him when people say McCain isn't conservative enough and touted his anti-abortion credentials, his promise to veto earmarks and his plan to stay in Iraq until the war is won.
About 400 people attended the Reagan Day Dinner at Serb Hall, which featured a family-style fish fry and a cash bar. Among those in attendance were many area elected officials and party activists.
Much has been made nationally of strains between McCain and the GOP's conservative base, but his speech Friday night was well received with the crowd often interrupting with loud applause.
Mike Deeken, 55, said McCain is the "real deal" to him and said the war in Iraq is the most important issue.
"I think he's been right all along, and I think he'll help us find a way out of it," he said.
Steve Kraeger, 50, said he was not originally a big McCain fan, but it's now important to support him.
Kraeger said he's impressed with McCain's stance on Iraq and earmarked spending and the sincerity in which he speaks of his support for veterans and his experiences as a prisoner of war.
"I believe he's more conservative that my first impressions were of him," Kraeger said.
State Rep. Jeff Stone, who represents Milwaukee's south side, said McCain's appearance shows he means to compete in Wisconsin and that he will do well here in the general election. He said the speech showed new energy in the race.
"I thought it was an excellent speech," Stone said. "I think what you're beginning to see is some new energy that's really showing that the campaign is beginning to solidify around John McCain."
-- By David Wise
Labels: 2008 spring primary