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Two former New Englanders react to McCain at rally

1:35 PM Wed, Sep 10, 2008 | Permalink
By Mike McKinney

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By John Mulligan
Journal Washington bureau

FAIRFAX, Va. -- When John McCain told one of his biggest crowds of this election year that some of his decisions as president would displease some people, a pair of displaced New Englanders was among those cheering.

"That's one of the most refreshing things about McCain," said Jayne Fuller, a proud native of what she called "the Socialist Republic of Vermont."

"He isn't always going to be popular," Fuller said of the Republican presidential nominee at a rally this morning. "But he's going to try to do what's right."

Her friend Tami Barney chimed in: "You know that he'll do it because he's got a record of going against his party."

Barney, a Massachusetts native who grew up in New Hampshire, agreed with another neighbor at the packed outdoor rally that McCain has shown his independence, for one example, by teaming up with U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., on efforts to overhaul the immigration system.

Fuller and Barney are neighbors in the northern Virginia town of Springfield who have New England roots and military families in common.

Fuller's husband is a senior officer in the Army; Barney's is a senior naval officer. Fuller has a son, 19, and a daughter, 17; Barney has sons, ages 21 and 16.

Both women said they are drawn to McCain's strong military background as a credential for a wartime commander in chief.

Both are encouraged by the energy they say Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate, has added to the ticket.

Like many in the crowd who cheered Palin's remarks this morning, Barney and Fuller said they are irritated by what they view as the Democratic opposition's sneering attitude toward Palin's background.

"I like to think that the conventional wisdom, i.e.. the commentary from the Washington press corps, is wrong," said Fuller. "I like to think that women can be independent thinkers who don't always have to go with the Democratic party line."

Fuller added that she appreciates McCain's positions on environmental issues. "You can't grow up in Vermont and not believe in the environment," she said.