Residents frustrated by visit
By BRAD BAUER, Special to The NewsMARIETTA - Like many area residents, Larry Uhrig hoped to meet - or at least catch a glimpse of - vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
But with no advance notice of where or when Palin would show, Uhrig and others said they were more frustrated than excited by the visit by Republican John McCain's running mate.
"I understand they have busy schedules and they would rather have an audience of 20,000 people than what you might get at something like this, so why even announce it?" Uhrig said.
Uhrig, 45, of Marietta rode his bicycle to L.E. Huck and Sons Farm Market after he learned Palin's motorcade had stopped there.
He was one of several individuals who arrived just minutes after she left.
"I rode my bike because I heard there were so many cars I wouldn't be able to park," he said. "I would have liked a chance to meet her or hear what she had to say."
Palin's campaign notified local media and Republican party officials Friday that there would be a stop in Marietta, but offered no details of the visit.
Even on Sunday, Palin's campaign didn't seem to know where or when they would be.
The newspaper was notified to be in Porterfield at 2 p.m.; to be at the Washington County Courthouse at 3 p.m.; to be at the Starfire gasoline station on Muskingum Drive at 3:40 p.m.; and finally at 3:45 p.m., just minutes before Palin's arrival, to go to Huck's farm market.
Steve Hobkins, 44, of Marietta wasn't planning to meet her, but ended up spending a few minutes making small talk with Palin, the governor of Alaska. Hobkins, a Democrat, was working the cash register at Huck's when Palin stopped to buy a few gallons of apple cider.
Palin asked Hobkins if he was the owner of the farm market as she checked out.
"No, I've only been here a few months. I was laid off from RJF (International Corp.)," Uhrig said.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Palin said. "John McCain and I will be working on that for you."
Hobkins said had he not been so surprised by the visit, he may have asked Palin questions about how she intended to help.
"I'd like to know what her plans are for the economy, gas prices and health insurance," Uhrig said, noting he lost his benefits when he lost his factory job.
During the Marietta visit, Palin only made small talk with the public and reporters were not permitted to ask questions.
Elsewhere, dozens of people had gathered Sunday at Sweetapple Farm near Vincent after hearing from Palin's camp that she would stop there. More than 100 people gathered at a welcome center on Interstate 77 just north of Marietta where Palin also was expected to stop.
The motorcade did go by the rest stop, but did not stop.
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thatsjustme
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10-16-08 9:49 PM
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Wow, I step away for a day or two and look what happens. Sunny's true nature comes out - snarky and all full of herself. Gee, Sunny, I thought we were best buds. Dilligas let's his imagination run away with him and thinks Bill Clinton is responsible for everything bad that happened under Doofus's administration without saying anything Doofus did right. Of course, we know why, don't we? BTW, Sunny, what did Sarah Failin say that was so inspiring? Speak quick, she's down to her last 12 minutes now. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Obama/Biden 08
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ren26101
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10-15-08 4:12 PM
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DILLIGAS...It would be so exhausting to even go there with u man! U wouldn't GET IT if I wasted my time. :) so...um... WHATEVER! lol
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Sunnydays4me
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10-14-08 3:36 PM
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Hey, I got to see Sarah's speech today at the rally in PA....she was great! Go Sarah! McCain/Palin 08
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DILLIGAS
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10-14-08 7:30 AM
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Oh what a great leader was he. He is directly responsible for the price of gas. He is directly responsible for the fannie-freddie mess. He should have acted and taken Bin Laden when he had the chance. If his own wife cant trust him, how could the american public?
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ren26101
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10-13-08 8:41 PM
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What a joke! No1 knew what was going to happen on 911 when Clinton was in office! If it had been known...it would NEVER have happened! Bill Clinton was a great leader and would have been a better one if he had not been caught with his pants off in the wrong place! lol They ALL make mistakes! Look @ Mr.George W. WHAT A MESS!?!?
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toolmom
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10-13-08 3:47 PM
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Why are you all so negative about anyone who doesn't fit your mold? Why are you critical of democrats or republicans? I stopped believing in either "party" years ago when they both wanted me to be a drone and "just vote the straight party ticket". Who could be so mindless as to believe that the ENTIRE party is best for this country? What seriously is wrong with Governor Palin? The fact that she has actually done things while in office, unlike Senator O'Bama. Who for TWO of his FOUR years in office has been campaigning for President? What exactly has he done good for the state of Illinois, except be a very good suave speaker? I used to live in IL, so I know what has happened there. I only vote for the person, never the party. I guess that makes me an American, not a democrat or republican... This is a duplicate posting to another article as it fit both of the.
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DILLIGAS
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10-13-08 3:33 PM
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Sudan offered Bin Laden's head on a platter 3 seperate times, and yet Bill Clinton elected to do nothing. Put the blame for 911 where it belongs, and that is squarely on Bill Clintons shoulders.
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telefonica
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10-13-08 3:02 PM
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Uhrig, 45, of Marietta rode his bicycle to L.E. Huck and Sons Farm Market after he learned Palin's motorcade had stopped there. He was one of several individuals who arrived just minutes after she left. Steve Hobkins, 44, of Marietta wasn't planning to meet her, but ended up spending a few minutes making small talk with Palin Palin asked Hobkins if he was the owner of the farm market as she checked out. "No, I've only been here a few months. I was laid off from RJF (International Corp.)," Uhrig said. "I'm sorry to hear that," Palin said. "John McCain and I will be working on that for you." DOES ANYONE EDIT THESE ARTICLES ANYMORE? Why would a candidate stop in this area. So called "journalists" can't even get this story right. Someone needs to buy out the racist WTAP television station along with the Times & A.M. It would do Southeast Ohio good.
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Sunnydays4me
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10-13-08 1:29 PM
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BfromWV...you are blaming the wrong person for not finding Bin Laden...in his own words Bill Clinton admitted he had the opportunity to take Osama out and did not carry through with it..so that is what led a path all the way to 9/11..Bush had only been in office 8 mos when that event occurred, so Bush never had a chance to get him before that happened. I think you are forgetting how many on the REWARD list that Bush has actually caught...a lot of them...so why don't you be a little sweetie and go find him for us all, since you think it is so easy. Here are Clintons words: "I got closer to killing him than anybody has gotten since. And if I were still president, we'd have more than 20,000 troops there trying to kill him," Clinton said, referring to Afghanistan.
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BfromWV
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10-13-08 11:15 AM
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When you were born did you get to pick the name your parents gave you? If Obama had changed his name what would people say about that. Blame W for not finding Osama Bin Laden. You can't find anything when you take the biggest part of the focus to another country.
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MatthewBB
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10-13-08 11:06 AM
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wow wildbill...that was cleaver! Did you think of that one all by yourself??? Give yourself a pat on the back!
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wildbill
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10-13-08 10:52 AM
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I am soooooooo sick of hearing about that*****aluminum plant and all the tear jerking stories of people who got laid off from there. Did those clowns ever think for one minute that perhaps if their labor union had not made such ridiculous demands that maybe they would still be working? You people think it's bad now? just wait and see how fast we continue to*****in that handbasket if osama....oooopps......I mean Obama gets elected. God help us then.
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BfromWV
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10-13-08 10:29 AM
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No, I've only been here a few months. I was laid off from RJF (International Corp.)," Uhrig said. "I'm sorry to hear that," Palin said. "John McCain and I will be working on that for you." That was all she could come up with on her own. I think my response to Governor Palin would have been "I'll bet you and John McCain will get right on that" (full of sarcasm).
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MissOlen
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10-13-08 10:07 AM
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I would give anything if Palin would mention how stupid it was stopping in marietta with all the werid people acting like stalkers, on her next speech.....lol
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leviathan
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10-13-08 9:53 AM
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This somewhere, someplace visit is a method that the McCain campaign uses to prevent Palin from answering spontaneous questions from the media, even our local media.
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MatthewBB
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10-13-08 9:05 AM
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She cant have security in both places??? On Friday Obama was in Chillicothe and an hour and a half later here in Columbus. The Secret Service had no problem with that. Weak argument Sunny.
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Sunnydays4me
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10-13-08 9:02 AM
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No Dilligas...they aren't jealous, just condescending...that is the way thatsjustme answeres everything in every blog. very vindictive at the mere meantion of any republican. Does it occur the any of the disappointed folks that he rally is in St. Clairsville not Marietta, I think it was nice of her to make the stop. Do you they realize that St. Clairsville is where her security will be set up, not in Marietta, The reason for not announcing exactly where she would be were merely securtiy issues. And in todays uncertain world that is a smart move. So get over it! And Kayland, what do you mean that is the way she would run the country...what do you use to base that simple move on? How ignorant.
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DILLIGAS
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10-13-08 7:39 AM
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You ladies are just jealous.
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thatsjustme
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10-13-08 6:58 AM
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She wouldn't run the country. Her handlers would. Thankfully, her 15 minutes are nearly up. Obama/Biden 08
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kayland
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10-13-08 6:30 AM
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Thats the way she would run the country.
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