U.S. Senator John McCain made a big impression Wednesday, at a packed “town hall meeting” at the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, say several Wayne County people who attended. Local residents also had honored parts in the program.
Fifteen year old James Hutchinson, of Bethany, came away beaming with a personal autograph of the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee. Hutchinson, who said he has been interested in politics and government since 9-11 (when he was in the 3rd or 4th grade), went with his mother Lisa to the rally. They had the honor of sitting right behind the stage. As soon as McCain started to leave, the teen asked for the autograph, and questioned McCain for his opinion on how mainline media appears biased toward Democratic contender Barack Obama. “It is what it is,” said McCain.
Hutchinson also went to see Hillary Clinton when she was still a candidate, stumping in Scranton. He  got her autograph as well and asked her if she’d consider Obama for her running mate. She said she’d take a hard look at her choices. “Of course things changed since then,” said Hutchinson. He said he was very impressed with McCain and found him “down to earth who told you what you needed to hear, not what you wanted to hear.”
McCain’s main topics were energy independence, supporting off shore drilling and expanded nuclear, and the War on Terrorism. He spoke of the need to pull out from Iraq only when we have victory and ground conditions are stable. He reportedly said “Barack would rather lose a war than lose a campaign.” Questions from the audience focused on the Iraq war, with some on the regional economy.
Jonathan Tallman, who just graduated from Honesdale High School and has his own eventual Presidential ambitions, has a special honor to meet McCain. After the speech he moved up to the rope line and asked the candidate to autograph a photograph of McCain’s grandfather who was captain of the ship Tallman’s grandfather, Tom Ofmunson, served on during World War II. Tallman said the candidate was impressed and asked for a copy of the photo, and Tallman immediately gave him one. The autographed one will go to his grandfather who lives in Honesdale.
Tallman stated he was very impressed and happy McCain pledges to preserve Social Security for the upcoming generation.
Singing “God Bless America” was Jackie Rose of Honesdale, who will be a junior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She “brought the house down,” said General Daniel O’Neill, who lives near Honesdale. O’Neill, a retired General with the Pa. National Guard, had the honor to lead the color guard and lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Among other Wayne County citizens in attendance were Commissioners Brian Smith and Tony Herzog, Register & Recorder Ginger Golden, former County Treasurer Bruce Mackle, Ray Cap, former Commissioner Don Chapman, Paul Meagher Sr., Paul Meagher Jr. and Tim Meagher.