Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., spoke in support of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to hundreds of residents who gathered at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills Aug. 13.

By Eric Czarnik and Kirsten Buys
C & G Staff Writers

BIRMINGHAM — The United States must stand by the nation of Georgia and be firm with Russia, presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain said at an Aug. 13 press conference at The Townsend Hotel.

“In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations,” McCain said. “You cannot justify the extent and the degree of the Russian intervention in Georgia.”

McCain, R-Ariz., called for a withdrawal of Russia’s military forces from Georgia to safeguard the latter nation’s “territorial integrity.” Georgia is a U.S. ally and a former Soviet republic.

McCain said his attitudes are similar to those of former President Ronald Reagan, who “spoke very strongly about America’s advocacy for democracy.” However, the U.S. must work out its issues with Russia and not cut off relations, he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to reignite the Cold War here,” he said.

The press conference was part of McCain’s latest campaign tour through metro Detroit. During the event, he was flanked by his wife, Cindy, and his allies Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.; and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Both McCain and his Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama have visited Michigan often in a quest to claim the state’s 17 electoral votes. An Aug. 7 Rasmussen poll of likely Michigan voters showed Obama ahead 47-40 percent, or 49-45 percent with leaning voters considered.

McCain responded to an Obama camp statement that accused him of being too aggressive on the Russia issue. “This isn’t the time for partisanship and sniping between campaigns,” McCain said.

In light of foreign affairs, he also was asked whether he considers himself a “citizen of the world.” Obama gave himself that title while speaking in Berlin.

Although McCain didn’t directly answer, he said he had the honor of serving his country, which he called “a beacon of hope” and “the world’s leader in many respects.”

“I have always put my country first,” he said. “I have also advocated close cooperation with our friends and allies around the world.”

On Michigan issues, McCain referenced his past meetings with the Big 3 automakers. While he said he wants to give tax credits to buyers of certain eco-friendly cars, he said he doesn’t plan to guarantee loans to the auto companies.

“At the moment, for us to somehow predict the doom of the auto industry is frankly not timely,” he said.

McCain also listed off an economic agenda for Michigan, which included low taxes, fixing the housing situation and investing in nuclear power plants as a way to create jobs.

“These are very tough times in Michigan,” he said. “These are very tough times in the heartland of America.”

Liz Kerr, communications director of the Michigan Democratic Party, said that McCain’s message reiterated his lack of support for the Big 3. She also called him “completely out of touch” on pocketbook issues.

“From energy policy written by ‘big oil’ to unfair trade and tax policies, John McCain offers no new solutions and continues to support the same failed policies of the Bush administration,” she said.

During the press conference, McCain played down a question about Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s legal woes and how they could affect the presidential election.

“I don’t have any opinion on it or have enough information to have a judgment on it,” he said.

Lieberman visits Holocaust Memorial Center

Hundreds of local residents packed into a room at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills to hear Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., speak on behalf of McCain Aug. 13. Lieberman, who ran as the Democratic vice presidential candidate with Al Gore in 2000, said some are confused by him backing the Republican.

“Being a Democrat, being a Republican, those things are both important, but they’re not more important than being an American,” he said, drawing applause from the crowd. “And I’m supporting John because he’s the best for the United States of America.”

He said he agrees with McCain’s policies when it comes to education, the war in Iraq and his stance on America’s dependency on foreign oil. Most importantly, he questions whether presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., whom he called gifted, intelligent and eloquent, is ready to be president.

“I believe that he, in the years ahead, can give great leadership to our country,” he said. “But in the choice between John McCain and Barack Obama, for me, there’s only one of them who is really ready to be president five months from now.”

Lieberman called Washington “broken” and said Congress shouldn’t have recessed for the summer while energy costs are soaring and the economy continues to suffer. He also criticized Obama’s belief that it’s possible to sit down with enemies and talk rationally.

“(McCain) has a veteran’s disdain and hatred for war. Trust me — he doesn’t want to rush America to war,” Lieberman said. “He will always look for an opportunity to solve the problem peacefully. A lot of times you can only solve a problem peacefully with those who disrespect, disdain or hate or want to destroy America if they fear it — if they know you have power and are willing to use it …

“He will be a president who our allies will respect and trust and our enemies will respect and fear, and that’s the kind of president we need at a dangerous time in our history.”

He discussed McCain’s ideas to move healthcare away from an employer-based system to one that involves a tax credit to cover healthcare costs. He also spoke of making it easier for those in the workforce to leave their careers to become teachers without having to go through the traditional schooling process, as well as higher salaries for quality teachers.

The chair of the Homeland Security Committee, Lieberman addressed McCain’s immediate support for the nation of Georgia, which recently was invaded by Russia. He also said he wanted to make it clear that McCain’s record is very different from President George W. Bush’s and, if McCain is elected, that will mean a very different man in the Oval Office.

“(McCain) knows what people are going through in America — he’s not an elitist, he’s not isolated. And I promise you … he’s restless, he’s impatient, he doesn’t stand for the nonsense. He wants to get things done, and I think that’s going to be good for Michigan, for the Michigan economy, and good for all of America.”

Louis Meizlish of Beverly Hills said he agrees with everything Leiberman had to say about McCain, and “didn’t need to be sold.”

“The person we elect as president needs to be ready on day one to do the job,” Meizlish said. “To borrow a line from Hillary Clinton, ‘Who do you want in the White House when that phone rings at 3 a.m.?’ I think John McCain is somebody who can be trusted to serve as our commander in chief and will be ready on day one.”