Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Gerald Herbert / AP Photo Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and his wife Cindy participate in a rally Monday in the SUB.

Close to 1,000 people came to see Republican presidential candidate John McCain on campus Monday.

Meanwhile, outside the SUB, about 250 students and community members rallied in protest of McCain, chanting, carrying signs and marching on campus.

McCain discussed the economic crisis and criticized his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama.

"There are essential things we don't know about Sen. Obama or the record that he brings," McCain said. "All people want to know is what this man has actually accomplished and done."

McCain said Obama does not have the experience to run a country and that he is unsure of the fate of America in Obama's hands. He said the only way to know which way Obama will take the country is to look at the direction he's taken in the past.

But Obama has called McCain a liar every time he questions his policies or his record, McCain said.

"I don't need lessons about telling the truth, and were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn't seek advice from a Chicago politician," McCain said.

The audience was vocal in their support of McCain.

"Who is the real Obama?" McCain said.

"A terrorist! A liar!" some audience members shouted.

McCain said that if he becomes president, he will freeze spending on everything that is not a valuable function of the government.

"I'll balance the federal budget by the end of my term in office," he said.

McCain said the state of the economy will have an effect on students and that he will help students struggling to pay for college.

McCain said Obama is personally acquainted with the people who created the economic crisis we are facing today. Obama has received more money from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae than any other senator in history, McCain said.

McCain said Obama is not being direct with how he will spend federal money and that Americans should pay careful attention to that.

"According to third-party estimates, he will increase government spending by over $860 billion, but he denied it," McCain said. "He has refused to tell you how much he does plan to spend."

While McCain directed attacks at his opponent, protesters assembled outside the rally to show their support for Obama.

Sophomore Zoe Kolon said McCain's criticism of Obama wasn't strong enough to overcome the flaws in the Republican platform.

"I would say Obama offers a lot for the economy. With the state the economy is in right now, I think Obama is more likely to pull it out than McCain would," Kolon said. "I am against McCain's stance on the war and his tax break, giving money to the upper class."


Protesters outside the SUB ballroom where McCain was speaking were loud enough to be heard inside.

Emily Zamballo, who attended the rally outside the SUB, said it was inspiring to see so many young people caring about politics.

"It's just a nice thing to see traditions carried on when people like me are getting very depressed about what has been happening and we are very sorry about the state of our country," she said. "We feel responsible for it a lot."

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