John McCain’s Straight Talk Express Rolls Into Perrysburg

BY NANCY GAGNET
AND KAREN BERGER
MIRROR REPORTERS
John McCain’s Straight Talk Express rolled through this area last week with a stop at Charlie’s Restaurant in Perrysburg.
The presidential hopeful and Republican senator from Arizona arrived at the restaurant for a “meet and greet” visit amidst a crowd of supporters, members of the media and regular restaurant patrons.
“I think it’s great that Sen. McCain is in Northwest Ohio,” said Republican state Rep. Mark Wagoner, who was part of the crowd of spectators on hand to greet McCain. “This gives him an opportunity to hear issues relating to this area so he can help bring changes to help us out.”
As many waited for McCain to arrive, restaurant employees continued to keep aisles clear so servers could conduct their business of delivering breakfast food to customers in the packed house. Approximately 50 people who couldn’t get in waited outside.
“I think that he is an honest person who will do what’s best for America,” said Mark Buhrow, of Maumee, who sat at a small table near the front of the restaurant.
Unconcerned that some criticize McCain as “too liberal,” Buhrow likes the fact that he is not strictly “pigeonholed” to one point of view.
“He’ll do what’s best for the country. It’s so important for anyone to be able to adjust and reach out to others,” he said.
Cherry Miller, of Point Place, arrived at 7:30 a.m. because she supports McCain and wanted to get a glimpse of him in person.
“He’s got strong conviction and that says a lot for a president,” she said.
When asked her views on reports of improper conduct between McCain and a woman lobbyist, Miller just shrugged.
“I don’t think there is any validity in that at all. He wouldn’t have denied it if it were true,” she said.
A large table of regular customers who enjoy daily breakfast at Charlie’s also support the senator, but had a long list of “must-dos.”
“As long as he cuts taxes, secures the borders, fixes the economy and fights terrorism, he’ll be OK,” said Maria Ermie, of Perrysburg. “I think he can do it; I hope he does. He could definitely do it more so than the Democrats.”
McCain arrived around 9:45 a.m. to a cheering crowd.
Flanked by his wife Cindy and former Sen. Mike DeWine, McCain shook several hands while he made his way to the back of the restaurant to give a brief speech.
“I need to win in Ohio and in the general election, and I know I can count on you,” McCain said. “Every president elected in the past 64 years has won Ohio. I don’t want to break that precedent.”
Promising jobs, McCain said he would turn to community college training for displaced workers.
“We’ve got to address the economic challenge. We’ve got to keep jobs here,” he said.
He blasted pork spending, citing a $233 million bridge in Alaska to serve 55 people on an island, a cost that could be distributed in $1,000 increments to every child in America.
Although he acknowledged Ohioans are at odds over the issue of war, he said it must continue.
“I know Ohio is divided by this war,” he said. “But we’re not divided in our support of our men and women in uniform.
“It would be a 100-year war if we declare defeat. We’re winning the war. Al-Qaeda is on the run.
“I’ll bring the troops home, but I want to bring them home with honor.”
Although most in the crowd were middle age or older, there were some young faces, including 9-year-old John Sullivan, who came in a suit jacket and tie.
The Whitehouse Primary School fourth-grader said he hasn’t made up his mind completely on any particular candidate, but he likes the looks of John McCain on the Republican side and Barack Obama on the Democratic side.
“I haven’t watched many debates, but it seems like he’s worked hard,” the youngster said of McCain.
He believes Obama would “bring change.”
“I also like a couple of his economic policies,” he said.
He has all of the candidates in his Wii game system and has methodically deleted them as they have dropped out of the race.
After leaving Charlie’s Restaurant, McCain made a stop at Le Scola Italian Grill in Toledo for a private gathering, then headed to Michigan to campaign.