Citizen McCain

March 3, 2000

John McCain’s Straight Talk Express bus came rolling through the canyons of big business today, parking just outside Federal Hall on Wall Street. On the steps where George Washington was sworn in as the country’s first President, a throng of McCain supporters stood waiting in anticipation of their candidate’s appearance. Peter King, whom McCain would describe as the "calm quiet, non-controversial congressman," was there. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, in his signature red beret and red jacket, stood among old men in American Legion caps carrying American and POW/MIA flags. Others held homemade signs reading, McCain’s a Bushwhacker!, Kids for McCain, Fordham for McCain, Yuppies for McCain, and even Chicks Dig McCain! These signs shook in time to the swing band whose front man belted out:

John McCain

He’s about something new, yeah!

The rally was scheduled to kick off at 12:00. By 12:30, the lunch-time crowd of men and women from all ethnic backgrounds were getting anxious. One had the feeling that the event coordinator was treating this like a rock concert. Make people wait long enough and they’ll explode when the headliner finally comes out.

And that’s exactly what happened. As the white-haired Arizona senator ascended to the microphone stand, the Wall Streeters cheered and applauded wildly.

Staten Island Republican stalwart, Guy Molinari, introduced the candidate as a man "many of us are passionate about." Molinari then went right at the New York state Republican political machine, which sought to keep Senator McCain’s name off of the primary ballot. "We’re going to kick them in the teeth!"

Molinari then introduced the the ex-POW, whose shoulder-level thumbs up made the suffering he experienced at the hands of his North Vietnamese captors some 30 years ago very present-tense. (McCain’s shoulders were so badly damaged by torture that he cannot raise his arms above them. Cindy McCain, the senator’s wife, helped her husband take off his long winter coat as he was being introduced.)

"Thank you, thank you" McCain began. "I see many of you have copies of my book. Please put them down. I’m not here to promote my book. My book which costs $24.95 and is published by Random House."

A collective chuckle filled the air.

McCain then acknowledged Molinari’s point about ballot fairness. He challenged the crowd to tear down the New York Republican machine, which McCain called "the last vestige of communism," he knew of. McCain then referred to the state Republican party chairman and the Governor as "Comrade Powers and Comrade Pataki," respectively.

After that, McCain got to his message of reform and stayed there for the entire speech.

"Change is coming my friends," he promised. "It’s time to give the government back to the people!"

"This is no longer a campaign, it is a crusade," McCain exhorted. He spoke often of inclusion. "We welcome all of you…Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Vegetarians. I especially like the Vegetarians."

More laughter from the crowd.

"We are the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan not Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson and Bob Jones."

Cheers and thunderous applause.

McCain talked about campaign finance reform. On what he says to special interest soft-money peddlers: "Go from whence-ever rock you came under."

The senator then spoke to the gathering of stock brokers and financial analysts and venture capitalists about how "service to country is the most noble calling."

The crowd was less enthusiastic on this point. (Too bad the Federal Government can’t have an IPO…that might get these bullish folks interested.)

McCain concluded with a story of a woman he met up in New Hampshire who told him that it was important to her that the next President always tell the truth. "As your President," McCain vowed, "I will always tell you the truth…no matter what."

With that, he thanked the crowd, the swing music kicked back in, and red, white, and blue confetti and streamers saturated the air.

McCain got back in his bus, and the crowd, full of glee from having just seen someone so famous and so close to tremendous power, dispersed to grab some lunch.

Broadway Jim Sosnicky

		Citizen McCain
		March 3, 2000 John McCain’s Straight Talk Express bus came rolling through the canyons of big business today, parking just outside Federal Hall on Wall Street. On the steps where George Washington was sworn in as the country’s first President, a throng of McCain supporters stood waiting in anticipation of their candidate’s appearance. Peter King, whom McCain would describe as the "calm quiet, non-controversial congressman," was there. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, in his signature red beret and red jacket, stood among old men in American Legion caps carrying American and POW/MIA flags. Others held homemade signs reading, McCain’s a Bushwhacker!, Kids for McCain, Fordham for McCain, Yuppies for McCain, and even Chicks Dig McCain! These signs shook in time to the swing band whose front man belted out: John McCain John McCain John McCain He’s about something new, yeah! The rally was scheduled to kick off at 12:00. By 12:30, the lunch-time crowd of men and women from all ethnic backgrounds were getting anxious. One had the feeling that the event coordinator was treating this like a rock concert. Make people wait long enough and they’ll explode when the headliner finally comes out. And that’s exactly what happened. As the white-haired Arizona senator ascended to the microphone stand, the Wall Streeters cheered and applauded wildly. Staten Island Republican stalwart, Guy Molinari, introduced the candidate as a man "many of us are passionate about." Molinari then went right at the New York state Republican political machine, which sought to keep Senator McCain’s name off of the primary ballot. "We’re going to kick them in the teeth!" Molinari then introduced the the ex-POW, whose shoulder-level thumbs up made the suffering he experienced at the hands of his North Vietnamese captors some 30 years ago very present-tense. (McCain’s shoulders were so badly damaged by torture that he cannot raise his arms above them. Cindy McCain, the senator’s wife, helped her husband take off his long winter coat as he was being introduced.) "Thank you, thank you" McCain began. "I see many of you have copies of my book. Please put them down. I’m not here to promote my book. My book which costs $24.95 and is published by Random House." A collective chuckle filled the air. McCain then acknowledged Molinari’s point about ballot fairness. He challenged the crowd to tear down the New York Republican machine, which McCain called "the last vestige of communism," he knew of. McCain then referred to the state Republican party chairman and the Governor as "Comrade Powers and Comrade Pataki," respectively. After that, McCain got to his message of reform and stayed there for the entire speech. "Change is coming my friends," he promised. "It’s time to give the government back to the people!" "This is no longer a campaign, it is a crusade," McCain exhorted. He spoke often of inclusion. "We welcome all of you…Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Vegetarians. I especially like the Vegetarians." More laughter from the crowd. "We are the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan not Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson and Bob Jones." Cheers and thunderous applause. McCain talked about campaign finance reform. On what he says to special interest soft-money peddlers: "Go from whence-ever rock you came under." The senator then spoke to the gathering of stock brokers and financial analysts and venture capitalists about how "service to country is the most noble calling." The crowd was less enthusiastic on this point. (Too bad the Federal Government can’t have an IPO…that might get these bullish folks interested.) McCain concluded with a story of a woman he met up in New Hampshire who told him that it was important to her that the next President always tell the truth. "As your President," McCain vowed, "I will always tell you the truth…no matter what." With that, he thanked the crowd, the swing music kicked back in, and red, white, and blue confetti and streamers saturated the air. McCain got back in his bus, and the crowd, full of glee from having just seen someone so famous and so close to tremendous power, dispersed to grab some lunch. Broadway Jim Sosnicky