Politics

DENVER (CBS4/AP) ― Republican presidential candidate John McCain held a rousing and sometimes raucous town hall meeting on Monday, fending off calls to impeach President Bush and getting passionate praise for opposing tax increases.

Georgette Haddad drew laughs when she applauded McCain for his tax stand and criticized Congress, shouting "Get off our backs."

McCain jokingly offered to take her on the campaign trail.

Joby Weeks, an alternate delegate to the Republican convention, told McCain he was disappointed that he refused to support impeachment for Bush. McCain said it isn't warranted.

Weeks, a Ron Paul supporter, said McCain ignored a petition listing 10 potential articles of impeachment for Bush.

"It's not about being a good Democrat or a good Republican, it's about being a good American, and sticking with the principles that made America great," Weeks said as McCain shook hands with audience members after the meeting.

In a speech to more than 300 people who attended the open public meeting, McCain acknowledged the steep drop in U.S. jobs and said he would help the economy by cutting taxes, encouraging free trade, building nuclear power plants and launching other initiatives.

"I have a plan to grow this economy, create more and better jobs, and get America moving again. I have a plan to reform government, achieve energy security and ensure that health care and a quality education are affordable and available for all. I believe the role of government is to unleash the creativity, ingenuity and hard work of the American people and make it easier to create jobs," McCain said.

Predicting what he called tough times for Americans, McCain said it will get tougher if he doesn't win.

"The choice in this election is stark and simple," he said. "Senator (Barack) Obama will raise your taxes, I won't. I will cut them where I can."

He also returned to defend his gas tax holiday that Obama had suggested was political pandering.

"Some economists don't think much of my gas tax holiday, but the American people like it, and so do small business owners," he said.

He tried to distance himself from Congress and his own party's leadership.

"This Congress and this administration have failed to meet their responsibilities to manage the government," he said. "Government has grown by 60 percent in the last 8 years. This is simply inexcusable."

But mostly his target was Obama, on several fronts, including the Illinois senator's opposition to McCain's energy independence plan announced 2 weeks ago.

"My opponent's answer to the Lexington Project is no, no to more drilling, no to more nuclear power, no to more research prizes that help solve the problem of affordable electric cars," he said. "For a guy whose official seal carried the motto, 'Yes We Can,' Senator Obama's agenda sure has a whole lot of 'No, We Can't.'"

Outside, one protester wore a pea pod costume and handed out fliers claiming McCain and Bush were like two peas in a pod on major issues.

Colorado is considered a possible swing state in this year's presidential election and has been previously visited by both McCain and Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

Mark Brennan of Centennial said McCain would be the first president in his lifetime to have the power and principle to get the job done.

"Jimmy Carter was principled, but not very effective as president," Brennan said.

CBS4 staff added to this story.

CBS4 Archive Video

Sen. John McCain delivered a foreign policy speech in Denver May 27. See images from the event and of supporters as they arrived.

 VIDEO: Hank Brown On McCain
 VIDEO: McCain Supporters On Why They Back Him
 VIDEO: McCain's Complete Speech

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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