McCain Accepts Nomination, Touts POW Experience

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(ST. PAUL) Ceding the role of attack dog to his running mate, John McCain accepted the nomination of the Republican Party tonight by talking extensively about his military experience and criticizing Barack Obama's policy positions. "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them," McCain said. "I will cut government spending. He will increase it."

But in an attempt to bolster his maverick image, he criticized Republicans as well. "We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption," he said. "We're going to change that. We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire."

McCain spoke of his years as a POW in Vietnam and the appreciation it instilled in him for the United States. His record of service, he argued, uniquely qualifies him for his presidency. "I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as President," he said. "I have that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not."

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by jefflz-2009 September 5, 2008 3:54 PM EDT: McCain will keep the nightmare of the last 8 years alive all Bush all the time. He lives off of a myth about his indepencce but McCain is no maverick, no straight talker - he is just a pol who has brought in the junk yard dogs. McCain has sold out to the Bushites. He is willing to do what ever it takes to get elected. Fair enough, but lets call it like it is. McCain fans need to end their hypocrisy and seem him for the down and dirty campaigner that he is. He cynically chose "Country first": as his slogan. Country First? Is that some kind of joke? What McCain means is military contractors first (War in Iraq - prime example). More war, more outrageous weapons programs which do nothing for US security but fill the coffers of the military-industrial contractors,- the Lockeed Martins, Blackwaters and Halliburtons of the world. Maybe McCain means the Wealthiest 0.5% of the Country First. More tax cuts for the rich while draining the the US Treasury and continuing to run up massive deficits like all of his Republican predecessors. Country First? Such hypocrisy is enough to turn the stomach of any voter who knows anything about what makes the real McCain run. He may slide into office on his Karl Rove Fear and Smear campaign but Country First is only a cruel joke being played on a poorly informed American electorate - and even worse their sons and daughters.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller September 5, 2008 1:18 PM EDT: McCain''s convention has been about as tightly run as FEMA during Katrina. The story so far:

1) Selects a secessionist VP at the last minute because Rove nixed Lieberman. Turns out, there was no vetting process.

2) The convention is cancelled to exploit a hurricane that fizzles. Cancels his planned acceptance speech on the ruins to restart the convention.

3) Bush is speaking. No he''s not. Yes he is, but by video.

4) Guiliani''s speech goes long and they have to scrub Palin''s bio video.

5) Campaign lies about botched teleprompter, the only thing that worked this convention.

5) The lime-green jell-o background returns during Cottage Cheese''s speech.

6) The green is actually the lawn of what appears to be one of McCain''s mansions. Turns out to be Walter Reed high school instead of Walter Reed Medical Center.

Do we really need four more years of incompetence?; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 September 5, 2008 12:53 PM EDT: I think John McCain is still fighting a war somewhere. Do we really want a traumatic stress syndrome patient holding the button of mass destruction?
(or, a pit bull with lipstick?); Reply to this comment


by sims30 September 5, 2008 10:29 AM EDT: I didn''t even make it though all of his speech last night. You know as a person, he is one hell of a guy. Very impressive background. His running mate is very poised and focus. Do I think they stand a chance against Obama. Not likely!

Ok...on a different note. I love the Early Show. Julie is probably my favorite.
Maggie is wonderful if she only would ease up a bit on interviews. I don''t mind a journalist digging in to get answers, but she is just a little to much. She puts too much of her own sauce (opinions) into the mix. I think a journalist needs to focus on facts first. Her interviews are really unpleasant (especially when she doesn''t agree with someone to watch), but that''s just my opinion.; Reply to this comment


by sims30 September 5, 2008 10:28 AM EDT: I didn''t even make it though all of his speech last night. You know as a person, he is one hell of a guy. Very impressive background. His running mate is very poised and focus. Do I think they stand a chance against Obama. Not likely!

Ok...on a different note. I love the Early Show. Julie is probably my favorite.
Maggie is wonderful if she only would ease up a bit on interviews. I don''t mind a journalist digging in to get answers, but she is just a little to much. She puts too much of her own sauce (opinions) into the mix. I think a journalist needs to focus on facts first. Her interviews are really unpleasant (especially when she doesn''t agree with someone to watch), but that''s just my opinion.; Reply to this comment


by america1st September 5, 2008 9:31 AM EDT: This is a job interview for the biggest job in the world! You have to tout your accomplishments and adversities. That''s what you do!

Go to your next job interview and talk about what you had for breakfast and why that makes you qualified and see how far that gets you.; Reply to this comment


by jone775 September 5, 2008 2:53 AM EDT: I would like McCain to base his campaign on something other than his POW years...that would be something.; Reply to this comment


by memekiller September 5, 2008 2:51 AM EDT: McCain was a POW?????? If McCain haadn''t been so loathe to talk about it all these years, I''m sure I would have heard about this.

Imagine, a campaign that the McCain folks say is not going to be about issues, but biography, and they never mention the most impressive piece of McCain''s bio?; Reply to this comment