‘Cost of War’ press event highlights strong arguments for the Iron Range; too bad McGimmick gummed up the TV

Though the Wednesday night news cycle ended up being dominated by John McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign to “focus on the economic crisis” (adding an element of desperation to the chum-filled news waters), the Barack Obama campaign held an Iron Range press conference with mayors and elected officials Wednesday to talk about the cost of the Iraq war on small towns.

State Auditor Rebecca Otto led the press conference. Other officials speaking included Chisholm Mayor Mike Jugovich, Mt. Iron Mayor Gary Skalko, Virginia School Board member Paul Cerkvenik, Virginia City Councilor Nevada Littlewolf, city/school advocate and former State Sen. Ron Dicklich and State Sen. David Tomassoni. All of them highlighted different aspects of the same message, that had the United States focused better after 9/11, captured Bin Laden and defeated the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the money that we’re spending in Iraq could be used in a thousand better ways at the local level. Schools, special education, community infrastructure and restraining rising property taxes were all high on the list of speakers today.

It was a great message for the lead-up to the big Friday debate, which is why the shenanigans of the McCain camp are probably no small coincidence. Rather than regurgitate the ideas shared today, check out what Hibbing taxpayers have given up to pay for the war, if you’re interested. The same would be true of many Range towns.

On a side note, kudos to McCain for adding a new context for the words “suspend my campaign” beyond the previous list of conceding defeat, acknowledging the death of someone important or solemn national holidays. I’m going to go “suspend my campaign” for more beer, by liberating one from the refrigerator for completely non political reasons.

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