That is the one word that describes Senator John McCain’s speech last night. Also, warm, humble and endearing.
My friends, I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years, but I’ve been her servant first, last and always. And I’ve never — (cheers, applause) — I’ve never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn’t thank God for the privilege. (Cheers, applause.)
…and after we’ve won, we’re going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace.
Despite a few gaffes and interruptions from protestors, it was, as it needed to be, his best ever.
By no means is John McCain a legendary orator but that made it real.
The McCain introductory video chronicled the generations of service the McCain family has given to America and featured the Senator’s 96-year old mother “a navy family is wonderful.” It served to illustrate the campaign’s “Country First” mantra while at the same time possibly standing in contrast to Obama’s lack of family history and murky genealogy.
Instead of bowing to critics and leaving out his well-worn tale of his time in the Hanoy Hilton, he delved deeper and the story was renewed, serving to fortify the case for his character and to also underpin “Country First.”
No one would have begrudged McCain taking more than a few shots at Obama and Biden, he took a couple, by name; but mostly McCain cleared a path to the highground, congratulating Obama and emphasizing what they shared in common.
And finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We’ll go at it — we’ll go at it over the next two months. You know that’s the nature of this business, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and my admiration. Despite our differences — (applause) — much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, and that’s an association that means more to me than any other.
We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our creator with inalienable rights. No country — no country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn’t be an American worthy of the name if I didn’t honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement.
Instead of — (chants of “Zero! Zero!”) — instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn’t think of them first, let’s use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let’s try sharing it. This amazing country — (cheers, applause) — this amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I’ll ask Democrats and independents to serve with me, and my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability. We’re — (cheers, applause) — we’re going to finally starting get — getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won’t care who gets the credit.
It was a brilliant move; and clearly sincere.
When he did go into after Obama, it was rarely by name, and it was brief.
I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. (Boos.)
I will open — I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them. (Boos.)
I will cut government spending. He will increase it. (Boos.)
My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. (Boos.)
Now, my opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We’re going to help workers who’ve lost a job that won’t come back find a new one that won’t go away.
Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucrats. I want schools to answer to parents and students.
If there truly was an indictment, it was delivered to both parties equally, to all of Washington; it was a complicit admission of guilt and failure. It was another brilliant move, emphasizing McCain’s reform manifesto and his reputation as an outspoken “maverick”.
You well know I’ve been called a maverick, someone who — (cheers, applause) — someone who marches to the beat of his own drum.
Sometimes it’s meant as a compliment and sometimes it’s not. (Laughter.) What it really means is I understand who I work for. I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for a special interest. I don’t work for myself. I work for you. Thank you.
I’ve fought corruption, and it didn’t matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust and they had to be held accountable. (Applause.) I’ve fought big spenders — I’ve fought the big spenders in both parties who waste your money on things you neither need nor want. And the first big-spending, pork- barrel earmark bill that comes across my desk, I will veto it. I will make them famous and you will know their names. (Cheers, applause.) You will know their names.
We need to change the way government does almost everything, from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children. All these functions of government were designed before the rise of the global economy, the information technology revolution and the end of the Cold War. We have to catch up to history, and we have to change the way we do business in Washington.
I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party. We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. (Applause.) We lost — we lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger.
We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust when we valued our power over our principles.
He failed to mention George Bush by name; honored “The President” for leading our nation through the dark times of 9/11 and in more than a symbolic gesture, his speech ran from the Bush administration, putting as much distance there as possible.
I’m grateful to the president of the United States for leading us in these dark days following the worst attack on American history — (extended cheers and applause) — the worst attack on American soil in our history and keeping us safe from another tack — attack that many — many thought was inevitable;
His case for national security hung on his experience and his family history.
I know how the military works, what it can do, what it can do better, and what it shouldn’t do. I know how the world works. I know the good and evil in it. I know how to work with leaders who share our dreams of a freer, safer and more prosperous world, and how to stand up to those who don’t. I know how to secure the peace.
My friends, when I was 5 years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years.
In the end, he unified all that watched in a JFK-like call to action.
My friends, I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years, but I’ve been her servant first, last and always. And I’ve never — (cheers, applause) — I’ve never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn’t thank God for the privilege.
I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your president. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God as I thank him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on Earth, and with hard work — with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach.
Fight with me. Fight with me. Fight for what’s right for our country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children’s future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here
We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
