I usually prefer to read speeches rather than watch them. And there's a certain eloquence that is often found only in defeat. I may still be saddled with two John Murthas and that crazy lunatic Michele Bachmann, but as least John McCain reminded me of why it was that I believed in him in the first place.
Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that...
...I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
4 comments:
Yes, a gracious concession speech. So which inner splinter of John McCain was responsible for the crazy ungracious, uncivil, illogical statements from only a few hours or days before? That was John McCain, too. Could any of McCain's various personalities made a 30 minute commercial without once mentioning his opponent?
Even listening to the concession and acceptance speeches, there was a dramatic difference in the reaction of the crowd to the mention of the opponent's name: From the Republicans, boos and jeering at McCain's positive, gracious moments about Obama. And in Grant Park, in Obama's kind words about McCain, I heard only polite applause from an order of magnitude larger.
Imagine having a President who will at least promise that he'll strive to be so civil and gracious and considerate - before election day, in the night when victory is clear, and in the days ahead.
Now that Rhoades won't be JFC chair anymore, it might be easier to beat her in 2010, depending of course on what happens between now and then.
So you still might get your wish eventually.
And it will be interesting to see what happens to Ripp, Davis, Murtha, and Nerison in the coming years, but for now they live to fight another day.
I was also impressed with the graciousness of McCain's concession speech -- he was far more generous in his praise and calls for unity than he needed to be, and he sounded completely sincere. I disagree with John Foust about the difference in the crowds' reactions. During Obama's speech, I believe I heard laughter and catcalls when he mentioned McCain. Both crowds were partisan, with their rowdy, disrespectful elements. I think McCain's concession began with his SNL appearance over the weekend -- he seemed completely comfortable with the self-deprecating humor, and I believe he was positioning himself to once again be a respected member of the Senate who can reach across the aisle (the only way for member of the minority party to accomplish anything).
John McCain was surprisingly gracious in defeat, and perhaps if he had more moments like last night throughout his presidential campaign, he wouldn't have been the one giving the concession speech.
Post a Comment