McCain supporter takes aim at media

BILL O ’ BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

SCRANTON – The media and its coverage of the presidential race came under fire Monday.

After Republican Sen. John McCain ended his 45-minute speech at the Scranton Cultural Center, he asked for questions from the audience.

And one woman used the opportunity to grill the national media that are traveling with McCain.

“I want to ask the media – when are your 30 investigators going to Chicago to start digging?” Laureen Cummings of Old Forge asked. “You should start doing your job instead of picking on little children and pregnant teenagers. Shame on you.”

The comments elicited a loud cheer from the 1,800 people in attendance.

When Cummings was finished, McCain said, “Boy, that is a great question. One thing I want to assure you of is that Gov. Palin — she can take it.”

The crowd cheered.

Cummings was hinting at the news reporters who began looking into Palin’s past – and into her family life – after McCain surprised supporters and opponents with his vice presidential selection.

Cummings, speaking after the event, expressed dismay that the news media will not put Obama under the same microscope as Palin. There are many issues being ignored by the national media, she said, rattling off the names of William Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Ayers, known for his work in the 1960s and ’70s with the violent radical left Weatherman Underground Organization, is now a university professor. Obama and Ayers were members of Woods Fund of Chicago and Ayers contributed $200 to Obama’s state legislative campaign. Wright, Obama’s former pastor, is openly critical of America and once said the United States brought on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 with its own “terrorism.”

“The coverage hasn’t been fair,” Cummings said.

Karen Palumbo of Moosic said she thought McCain’s speech was on point.

“I thought he was wonderful,” Palumbo said. “He excited the crowd and talked about key issues.”

A man who asked McCain about health care, said he supports four children and fears he could soon lose his job. McCain sympathized with the man, wished him well and said it is his plan to make health care affordable for all Americans.

Rose Merritt of Lake Ariel described McCain as “great and enthusiastic” and said his speech energized the crowd, though she said she couldn’t be any more energized in her support for him.

Erin Mrad, Merritt’s Democratic friend, said she was impressed with McCain’s speech.

“It was a very good speech; very well presented, very eloquent,” Mrad said. “After the speech, I’m kind of on the line. He spoke a lot about the issues I’m concerned about.”

Merritt said she intends to bring Mrad – whom she called her favorite Democrat – to see Palin when she comes to the area.

“That will put her right over the edge,” she said.