Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally

Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally

By Michael D. Shear
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- An antiwar protestor interrupted Sen. John McCain's rally Saturday morning, prompting a lecture from the Republican presidential nominee about the need for both parties to work together to solve America's problem.

As McCain began his speech to about 1,000 people, a young woman was hoisted onto the shoulders of some friends right in front of the main bank of television cameras.

She held up a poster that said "War is over" but her sign was quickly ripped down by people in the audience. She then held up her hands in the "V" symbol for peace and yelled, "We want peace!"

McCain stopped speaking and at one point tried to speak to her, saying, "Hi." The audience quickly started chanting "We want John!" and continued until the woman was pulled down from her friends' shoulders and escorted out.

McCain then offered a lecture about bipartisanship.

"There's a perfect example of some people that just don't get it," he said, prompting huge applause from the crowd.

"People are trying to stay in their homes, keep their jobs," McCain said. "Is what they want for us to yell at each other? No. They want us to sit down, Republican and Democrat, and work together."

He noted that he has had "hundreds" of town hall meetings, and he urged anyone else in the crowd who had something to say to come to the next one.

"I always give people a chance to talk," he said. "I don't always enjoy it. But I always give them a chance to talk."

[link to voices.washingtonpost.com]