McCain Rally to Move From Fairfax School After Outcry

[catgirl]

Source: Washington Post

Fairfax County school officials said that a rally scheduled tomorrow for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will be moved from Fairfax High School, following protests from some School Board members and parents that the event would violate school system policy.

The decision to move the event was made by the McCain campaign, Fairfax schools spokesman Paul Regnier said.

Late in the afternoon, the McCain campaign announced that the rally will be held at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax County and that people will begin assembling at 8 a.m. An e-mail from the campaign said that the Fairfax High field house, which can hold as many as 6,500 people, was not big enough.

A statement from the McCain campaign did not address the controversy.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090901663.html

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The school board fielded "dozens" of complaints.

[liberal N proud]

1. Maybe they could still give Palin a civics lesson or two

[Crunchy Frog]

2. But they're Republicans. The rules aren't supposed to apply to them.

[bulloney]

3. The McCain/Palin campaign has had a hard time finding artists who'll let them play their music

and residents wanting them to speak at their public facilities.

Think we'll hear much about this from the media gerbils?

It would probably be the lead story if it happened to Obama/Biden.

[wvbygod]

4. Why not just use a church?

I have seen candidates giving speeches at churches many times.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. I played a gig for a catholic church in Fairfax a couple of years ago...

in which the priest proselytized about the evils of liberalism and homosexuality. It's a big ugly church, in an exceptionally wealthy part of Fairfax, with obnoxious bells that local residents have complained about.

McPain could have his rally there. And ring the damn bells, too.

[CatholicEdHead]

9. Oh, that type of church

I expect you also hear bells during each mass besides the ones outside.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. All through the service...

the horn player and I exchanged grimaces.

After the gig, I put it on my list of venues never to play in again.

[roody]

20. No can do. Catholics are not born-again.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. Oh that's right...Palin's already insulted them...

[louis-t]

8. They're afraid their tongues will catch fire.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. There are a lot of thugs in Fairfax...

It's good to know that the complaints were not simply ignored.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Fairfax High field house which holds up to 6,500 isn't big enough?

Someone needs to be at the event and estimate the crowd that shows up at their much bigger venue.

[ObaMania]

13. Hmmmm...

The curious thing is, I don't know where they'd set up on such short notice unless they just stand in the middle of the field. Van Dyck isn't a big park by any stretch and parking will be at a premium.

Another curious thing is, how'd they get another venue less than a mile away from the school on such short notice? The City of Fairfax is very strict on permits and such for events of this nature.



I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow or I'd go down and give you the scoop on what NBC4, ABC7, or WUSA9 won't tell you.

Surely there must be some DU'ers in the neighborhood who could check it out and get some pics?

[LiberalFighter]

15. Assembling at 8 am? That will limit the number of folks that will show up I would think.

If they only do a tight shot of the crowd then that should strongly suggest they had a smaller crowd then planned.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. It's going to rain tonight

I'm in Alexandria. We're getting more rain tonight.

On top of the deluge of Hanna's vestiges, the ground should be nice and soggy.

All hail the pretender, and now, let us sink up to our knees.........................

[LiberalFighter]

17. Good place for a big pack of dogs to leave presents.

[catgirl]

23. Calling all people with dogs!

You have an important mission at hand!!!

[MountainLaurel]

24. Used to live in Fairfax

Wish I could help out, but I'm now several hundred miles away.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Not big enough ?

A tent on the school's sports field would've been ok for their 6 or 7 supporters.

[downindixie]

11. I sure hope it rains that day!

I won't and can't pray,but I can hope.

[catgirl]

12. How about a rain dance? :)

[ObaMania]

14. Your wishes may come true.

Rain is in the forecast ;)

[and-justice-for-all]

19. It is a traveling pentecostal caravan....

not a presidential campaign.

[cvoogt]

21. different on radio

I live in the Fairfax area and on the radio here (on NPR) the official story given by the school is that the school's not big enough to hold the event and they are looking for another place. Hmm .. seems like a weak excuse. They would've known what to expect beforehand, I would think, so why change their minds now?