The Cedar Rapids Gazette - McCain, Palin Rev Up Supporters, Tour Flood Damage

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John McCain lashed out at his opponent for failing to protect American workers from the financial dominoes falling on Wall Street and at the Democratic Congress for failing to deliver timely flood recovery assistance to Iowans.

"When I pushed legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Sen. Obama was silent. He didn't lift a hand to avert this crisis," McCain said during a Thursday morning rally at PS Air at The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.

Later, after a 20-minute walking tour of the Time Check neighborhood in northwest Cedar Rapids, the Republican presidential nominee and his running mate, Sarah Palin, called for quick congressional action to help Iowa families and businesses get back on their feet.

Noting that it's been three months since historic floods devastated 100 blocks of Cedar Rapids, McCain called for quick action on a recovery assistance package "that will provide not only home-owners, but businesses, a chance to be restored, to create jobs and give people an opportunity to rebuild their lives."

Local leaders had grumbled Wednesday that McCain's itinerary didn't include a tour of damage from the June flood. A campaign leader said McCain made the call to get a firsthand look at the damage.Video by Michael Barnes

John McCain and Sarah Palin rally in Cedar Rapids from Gazette sports1 on Vimeo.He and Palin walked up Fourth Street NW discussing the community's needs with Mayor Pro Tempore Brian Fagan, Iowa Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, and John Smith, owner of CRST and a member of a public-private flood recovery organization. It was reminiscent, McCain said, of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

"The role of government in America is, I say as a fiscal conservative, is to help Americans in times of disaster," he said while standing in front of a home stripped to its studs at the corner of O Avenue and First Street NW. "They have experienced a disaster and their assistance is overdue."

Palin called for a more "coordinated and expedited effort on government's part" to meet flood victims' needs.

"It's pretty simple how it's supposed to work at times like this," she said. "And three months later? Three months is too long for the people to have their lives put on hold not knowing what will happen next."

Government should be on the side of people in times of flood disasters as well as financial disaster, the Republicans said. Instead, "regulators were asleep at the switch," McCain said, charging that the Securities and Exchange commissioner "betrayed the public's trust."

"If I were president today, I would fire him," McCain said about SEC Commissioner Christopher Cox, a former Republican congressman.

Obama "talks a tough game on the financial markets," McCain said, "but the facts tell a different story. He took more money from Fannie and Freddie than any senator but the Democratic chairman of the committee that regulates them. Whose side do you think he is on?"

McCain and Palin were interrupted three times by activists from the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the University of Iowa Anti-war Committee. During Palin's remarks, they held a banner proclaiming "War is menstruation envy" and called for free abortions on demand.

When the activists interrupted McCain, shouting "John McCain, you never learn. We lost in 'Nam. We lost in Iraq. You can never win in war," McCain responded, "The one thing Americans want us to do is stop yelling at each other."

He then told protesters to encourage Obama to come to town hall meetings to discuss issues. "Let them come and yell at him," he said.

The crowd was less congenial. Demonstrators' chants were quickly drowned out by chants of "USA, USA" and "We want Sarah."

In fact, many in the crowd said they were there to see Palin, the little-known governor of Alaska until McCain picked her as his running mate.

Anne Tallett's "Read my lipstick" button spoke for many of the women: "I'm just giving a little attitude back" to Obama for his remarks about putting "lipstick on a pig" — a remark many Palin supporters found offensive.

Palin may help some voters who are on the fence, said University of Iowa senior Meredith Johnson of Oskaloosa. With her on the ticket, "McCain and Palin supporters are more excited about them than people backing Obama are excited about him," Johnson said.

Stacey Rogers from Colorado wasn't all that crazy about Palin. "But she's less socialistic than McCain and they're both less socialistic than Obama," said the UI law student, who was wearing NRA and Ron Paul buttons.

Palin got off to a rocky start when she said she was glad to be in "Grand Rapids." She recovered, talking about the two seasons in Alaska — winter and construction — and how nice it was to be in the "City of Five Seasons."

None of it bothered Wes Mogenhan of Montrose.

"It was an all-American experience," he said. "I got to hear a political speech, yell for my candidates, see some demonstrators and see my daughter up on the stage."

Mogenhan's daughter, Mary Beth, is one of seven Republican electors who will vote in the Electoral College if McCain wins the popular election.

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