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Big time GOP honchos fly out of Jackson Many Jackson residents may not have known it but U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the certain Republican nominee and possibly the next president of the United States, came through town late Monday afternoon on his way to the local airport to catch a flight to Birmingham for fund-raising events that evening. Sen. McCain had started the day in Selma, toured povertystricken Gee's Bend where he bought three of the bend's famous quilts for $14,000 and then rode the ferry across the Alabama River, even trying his hand at piloting the craft. Continuing south on the bus "Straight Talk Express" he stopped at Carolyn's Restaurant in Pine Hill for ice cream (he supposedly got a chocolate and vanilla swirl, talk about being politically correct!) and then drove on to Thomasville where he stopped and shook hands with 700 Thomasville Elementary School youngsters because they had lined the drive to see him go by. He spoke at Thomasville High School and then at Alabama Southern Community College. From there he drove down Highway 43 to the William E. Stewart Memorial Airport where a private jet awaited him. Jackson's airport is one of the best in the region and can accommodate small jets. It is an asset that we too often overlook. All of this reminded us of the time back in the late 1990s when Dick Cheney also punched a ticket through the local airport. Cheney wasn't vice president then but chairman and CEO of Haliburton Company. The mega contractor was doing work at the Boise paper mill and Cheney dropped by to see how it was going. He was as secretive and withdrawn from the press then as he is now and wouldn't allow The South Alabamian to take his picture or interview him. John McCain was a bit more accommodating. He is, after all, running for office. This is two big time Republicans who have now used our airport. Who might be next? How about a big name Democrat?
Jim Cox
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