2 years ago
Senator John McCain is expected to pull in more than one million dollars when he comes to Buffalo for a fundraiser. Protests are planned, as well.
Organizers say the events, a dinner at the home of Anthony Gioia, and a fundraiser at the Albright Knox Art Gallery, are expected to pull in more money than any candidate has ever raised in Western New York. "This will exceed the amount of money, the most money ever raised in a political event in the history of Erie County, by a lot," said local McCain spokesman Russ Gugino.
Gugino says his coming here shows McCain cares about the area. But a protest is also planned for just outside the Albright Knox Art Gallery at 5:30 Monday. "We're organizing to demand an end to the war in Iraq now, to demand no war in Afghanistan and no war against Iran," said Kathleen Chandler, a protest organizer and editor of a local paper for the U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization. "Our main message is no McSame. McCain is going to be here in town and we want everyone to know that Buffalo is against aggressive war and for peace and that we don't want the Bush agenda continued at all."
"We're not doing it just so John McCain will hear us. We're doing it because it's the right and just stand," added Audrey Kubiak, another protest organizer.
The two women said they oppose both presidential candidates and both major parties. "We believe that both the democratic and republican parties are ignoring what the will of the people is, and our voice needs to be heard in our political system and they haven't been. That isn't the case now," said Kubiak. Asked if they truly believe they can accomplish anything, they responded, saying it's an opportunity for people to come together and take their principled stand, together. Chandler also took issue with the idea that by McCain coming here, it shows he cares about the area. "It's very clear this is an event for people with a lot of money."
As for criticism that this event highlights the fact that republicans are the draw of well-to-do, white collar workers, Gugino responded by saying that Barack Obama is the candidate who has raised more than 300-million dollars, and "no one is talking about him being a fat cat. He's raised an awful lot of it by people of means." "I think people are going to see John McCain not as the candidate who has the most money. He has the most ability."
John McCain will first attend the private dinner at the home of the Gioias, then head to the Art Gallery for an event for those who purchased tickets. It is unclear if the media will be given any access to the presidential hopeful before he leaves town.
WGRZ-TV
