JOHN McCAIN'S CONFERENCE CALL WITH BLOGGERS TODAY!

10:14AM Phoenix Time

Senator McCain: " I congratulate Senator Clinton on her hard fought campaign. Senator Obama is the Democratic nominee and I congratulate him on his victory.

I sent an invitation to Sen. Obama's campaign this morning for 10 Town Hall Joint Meetings between now and the Democrat Convention.

Town Hall meetings with between 200 to 400 randomly selected people with a Moderator to field questions from the audience.

I suggested the 1st Town Hall meeting take place on June 12th @ the Federal Hall in New York City.

President John F. Kennedy & Sen. Barry Goldwater had planned on these type of events back in the 1964 Presidential campaign.

It's been 788 days since Sen. Obama has been to Iraq. He continues to say that the surge is not working. Obama has not even asked General Petraeus for a briefing on Iraq!

Now I will be happy to take your questions....


What happens if Sen. Obama refuses to accept your proposal on these Townhall meetings?

John McCain: The reason I got the Republican nomination is the 101 Town Hall meetings I held in New Hampshire. They(TH meetings) are the best format to talk to people, not long speeches. Americans want to participate in the debate. I plan to take these debates across the country.

Dan Nowicki - The Arizona Republic: Do you worry about outside groups making race an issue in this campaign?

John McCain: I can't control the 527's. MoveOn.org has set the agenda for the Democrat Party. I will do EVERYTHING I can to make this campaign respectful. Ask Obama to condemn the MoveOn.org ad on Gen. Petraeus.

James Kirchik - New Republic: Are you glad the people of California will be voting on the gay marriage amendment?

John McCain: I’ve always supported the unique status of marriage of man and woman. I supported a ballot initiative in Arizona, and voted for Defense of Marriage Act. But people of the states should make that decision. We do not have to recognize the decisions of other states.

I agree with it – haven't read it, but I agree with it – but that’s a decision that the people of California will make.

Jim Geraghty - National Review: Senator, last night, the big finish to Obama’s speech was,
"We will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth."

Is it accurate that June 3, 2008, was the moment that America began providing care for the sick? And on a slightly more serious note, when your opponent goes on these rhetorical flights of fancy, how do you bring him back down to earth? How do you persuade people that this isn't so world-changing, and that Americans did in fact care for the sick before yesterday?

John McCain: Jim, that’s one of the reasons it’s important to have these town hall meetings. Then both of us have to respond directly to the questions. When you're in these town hall meetings, they say, ‘what’s your plan?’ I just concluded one in Baton Rouge with Governor Bobby Jindal , and they asked, ‘what’s your plan for dealing with teen obesity and young people’s fitness problems?’ People want specifics. That’s why town hall meetings are better rather than long speeches.

And I’m not sure how illuminating it is frankly with these kind of catch all phrases – I admire [Obama’s] skills and ability but I think Americans are going to want the details. When 80 percent of Americans think country is on the wrong track, they’re going to want to know how you’re really going to solve the problems. And they’re going to want to know how he’s going to do it as one of the most liberal and most partisan Democrats in the United States Senate. It’s easy to say, but when it comes to record of accomplishment, his resume is thin.

Jennifer Rubin - Commentary Magazine: Barack Obama spoke to AIPAC this morning, what about Obama’s change of position on classification of the Iranian National Guard as a terrorist organization?

John McCain: He has changed his views on various issues. He voted NO on the Amendment by Sen. Jon Kyl. Obama seems to be softening his opposition to the surge in Iraq. This shows that Obama doesn't have the experience or knowledge to lead the country.