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US candidates take a break, of sorts, to mark seventh anniversary of 9/11
John McCain and Barack Obama suspend political combat and make joint visits to Ground Zero.
- New York Times
- Published: 22:59 September 12, 2008
New York: After days of sharp attacks against each other, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama suspended political combat on Thursday, including television commercials, and instead made joint visits to Ground Zero and a forum on public service in New York to mark the seventh anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
At one point, McCain, who spoke first at the night-time forum at Columbia University, defended his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, for recently making fun of Obama's work years ago as a community organiser.
He said that Palin had made her comment in reaction to Democratic attacks on her relative inexperience as a first-term governor and a former mayor of a small Alaskan town, Wasilla.
"Of course I respect community organisers, of course I respect people who serve their community, and Senator Obama's record there is outstanding," said McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, before adding: "I think a small-town mayor has very great responsibilities."
Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, said in his appearance that while he deeply respected mayors, "I was surprised by several remarks around community organising, and belittling it."
"It taught me," he said, "that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, when they're given a chance and brought together. I want every young person to recognise that they will not fulfil their potential until they hitch their wagon to something bigger."
Point of agreement
Both candidates did agree on a politically divisive issue: They urged universities to reverse Vietnam-era bans on Reserved Officers Training Corps activities.
Some schools continue the bans in reaction to the military's policy on gays and lesbians - which Obama would lift and McCain continue.
"Shouldn't the students here be exposed to the attractiveness of serving in the military, particularly as officers?" said McCain.
And - asked if Columbia, his alma mater, should reinstate ROTC - Obama said: "I think we've made a mistake on that. I recognise that there are students here who have differences in terms of military policy, but the notion that young people here at Columbia aren't offered a choice or an option in participating in military service is a mistake."
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