ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 5, 2008
McCain's Tough Sell: Change
CBSNews.com Analysis: Successful Convention Sets GOP Nominee Up As Reformer, But Will It Work?
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Play CBS Video Video McCain: Change Is Coming In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, John McCain praised President Bush's tenure in office. McCain also said that "change is coming" to Washington.
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Video RNC Webcast, 09.04.08 John McCain delivers his acceptance speech at the RNC. And a political team analyzes why the term "community organizer" was used derisively by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin.
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Video Protesters Halt McCain Speech "CBS News RAW:" John McCain was interrupted by a group of anti-war protestors during his highly anticipated acceptance speech during the final night of the Republican National Convention.
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Republican presidential candidate John McCain makes his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. (AP)
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Photo Essay John McCain Some call him a hero, some a maverick. Will Americans call him Mr. President?
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Photo Essay Endorser-In-Chief President Bush backs Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain.
John McCain reclaimed top billing at his nominating convention Thursday night, no easy task following the debut of his running mate, Sarah Palin, on the national stage. But even if McCain had been overshadowed until tonight by the Alaska Governor, his message still had dominated the week. McCain brought the convention to an end by accepting the nomination of his party then promptly distancing himself from its eight years of executive rule with one word: Change.
Appropriating Barack Obama’s own message may seem like a brazen political ploy, but for McCain, it’s less of a stretch than it would be for most other Republicans. As he and the rest of the speakers here in St. Paul emphasized over and over, McCain sees himself as a “maverick” politician whose past political fights have been waged as much within his own party as without. And it’s that reputation - one which has enraged Republicans at times - which now become’s the GOP battle cry.
Knowing he couldn’t really compete with the scene at Mile High Stadium one week ago, where 84,000 people gathered to hear Obama’s acceptance speech, McCain did some remodeling of his stage inside the Xcel center here Thursday, crafting a more intimate setting that brought him closer to the thousands of delegates who came to cheer him on. Taking the stage under a single bright spotlight soon replaced with a gigantic screen filled with a fluttering American flag, McCain may not have resembled a rock star, but he was at least in his element.
The man of the hour won the nomination without the support of those he must now rally to his cause. This is the presidential candidate who, in 2000, called Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell “agents of intolerance,” who stuck it to those agents with a campaign finance reform bill that many believe has crippled their traditional financial advantage, and who bucked conservatives on immigration reform.
How would he get them back? With Sarah Palin. Picking this upstart conservative hero from the hinterlands of Alaska helped solve at least two very large problems for McCain in one fell swoop: It ignited the simmering passions of the GOP base while at the same time reinforcing the now-central message of his candidacy. “If character is the measure in this election,” Palin said in her speech Wednesday night, “and hope the theme, and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause.”
Change, that word which has become the clarion call of this presidential election, is not an easy word to apply to a party which has held the White House for the last eight years and controlled Congress for six years in the same time period. But with his vice presidential selection, the overriding message of the convention and his speech tonight, McCain made clear he is going to try.
“Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd,” McCain said, “change is coming.” The message was just change but reform, a near-crusade against the traditional power structure. “I've fought corruption,” the candidate sought to remind voters, “and it didn't matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust, and had to be held accountable. I've fought big spenders in both parties, who waste your money on things you neither need nor want, while you struggle to buy groceries, fill your gas tank and make your mortgage payment.”
Reform wasn’t the only message reinforced in St. Paul during a shortened convention. McCain’s biography, his years spent in a POW camp and his family’s history of military service were around every corner and in every speech. His speech included many other elements as well, a litany of mostly conservative policy positions and a reminder of his experience when it was convenient, such as on foreign policy. He didn’t ignore the war in Iraq, instead touting it as a positive as he has throughout the campaign.
Unlike Obama, McCain did not delve deeply into policy specifics, preferring instead to rely on broad principles. “We believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets,” he said. “We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor. We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and judges who dispense justice impartially and don't legislate from the bench. We believe in the values of families, neighborhoods and communities. We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn't make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.”
And while he sought to draw some contrasts with Obama, he also made a clear attempt to reach out to swayable voters with a nod toward the Democrat and reminders of his occasional habit of reaching across the aisle.
“Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us,” McCain said. “We are fellow Americans, 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 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.”
And he included the call to service he’s made so many times. “If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them,” he urged. “Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier -- because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.”
Most of all, though, McCain’s speech wrapped what has become his theme - change. “Country First” was how this convention was billed and in his speech, McCain sought to illustrate just what that means. He delivered a solid speech, not a flashy one, as befitting his style. His convention managed to rally his party and produce some unexpected excitement in the form of his surprise vice presidential selection.
The question remains whether he can convince enough voters that it all represents a fundamental “change” in Washington. If he can, this election may prove to be closer than anyone would have predicted even one week ago.
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See all 174 CommentsBut as scary as Obama''s background is, check out what he has actually changed. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Zero. This man has changed nothing of consequence in all his years in politics. So why worry?
I%u2019m a devout Christian but these people scare me. Maverick McCain has sold his soul to the Anti-Christ (Christian Right of the Repub. Party) in order to get elected & they will dictate every aspect of his Presidency. They''ve already succeeded at installing, Sarah Palin, the siren who will seduce %u201Cworking-class dudes and gals%u201D into giving up their current freedoms. She%u2019s Obama%u2019s swiftboat in high-heels & lipstick! Once McCain croaks, Miss %u2018Christian Right%u2019 Alaska will impose her values & principles from the White House. All illegal immigrants will be deported so that working-class peasants can finally find jobs; quality education will only be available in suburban evangelical schools; abortion will be outlawed so that conservatives will have more babies to adopt & indoctrinate; the Patriot Act will be extended to identify & prosecute any Terror-sympathizer; the draft will be reinstated and turn young adults into Christian soldiers who will fight their 21st cent. Crusades against Evil (defined ONLY as radical Islam). Google the lyrics to %u201COnward Christian Soldiers%u201D (a popular song at most Christian churches); & the %u2018Christian Right%u2019, you%u2019ll see McCain%u2019s performance at the Saddleback Forum and the Republican Convention in a brand new, terrifying light.
Those who believe this DO NOT remember the bitter Primary struggle between Bush and McCain in 2000. The more centrist Mc Cain was ambushed by the RIGHT WINGERS.
These two men are very different. They are friendly today only because of McCain''s being the bigger man and forgiving the Bush Campaign for its political tactics which were used in South Carolina during the 2000 Primary Season.
Mc Cain was not only correct about THE SAURGE, he was correct about Donald Rumsfeld''s total INCOMPETENCY at managing this war!
Mc Cain is very unlike Bush. He can and does admit up to it when he is wrong. McCain also has a very different view of America''s role in the world than does George Bush.
YES! It''s true McCain will not cut and run and turn away from the support for the brave sacrifices being made by our military but that does not make him George Bush.
YES! Mc Cain is fiercely loyal to our men & women in uniform because he was one of them. He WILL say YES to FINISHING this War HOWEVER his management of the war will be light years ahead of the BUSH/Cheney/Rumsfeld paradigm.
John McCain might be a MAVERICK but you can TRUST him to be true to his word. Even his political enemies will admit that. This will NOT be another 4 years of the SAME.
PROOF: Sarah Palin represents real change under a McCain Administration.
"Sarah Palin''s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert *** into hetrosexuals throught the power of prayer."
"You''ll be encouraged by the power of God''s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality"
This is all according to the insert in teh bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for six years.
I believe further scrutiny should be applied to Palin and her church - you know, just as it was for Obama. After all, it''s her church so she agree''s with everything that''s said, right Obama/Wright bashers? All''s fair.
Posted by mydiatribe at 08:44 AM
I think we should all be grateful and appreciative that the citizens of this country have finally learned to separate the uniformed military and their service from the political context in which the decisions of the civilian commanders of the military are viewed. It is unfortunate that the general public was not as wise at the time of the Vietnam War.
Returning Iraqi War veterans fall into two categories.
a)Those who are professionals and have come to terms with the reality that they are likely to be returning to the war zone within the next 18 months or less.
OR
b) Those who are out of the military and dealing with the re-socialization among their same age peers who are likely anti-war protestors.
If McCain had surrounded himself with short haircuts in suits you can imagine what the liberal media would do with that? And using Miltary Personnel in their uniforms for political endorsements is strictly FORBIDDEN!
Posted by mydiatribe at 08:44 AM
In uniform I agree with your analysis. However out of uniform or recently retired military personnel are permitted and should have been heard, if they were available. Numerous out of uniform military personnel were willing to express opinions and the DNCC. Numerous military and recently ex-military personnel appear on news programs every week some almost nightly -- certainly the Republicans could have found some willing to support Senator McCain and present them.
Returning Iraqi War veterans fall into two categories.
a)Those who are professionals and have come to terms with the reality that they are likely to be returning to the war zone within the next 18 months or less.
OR
b) Those who are out of the military and dealing with the re-socialization among their same age peers who are likely anti-war protestors.
If McCain had surrounded himself with short haircuts in suits you can imagine what the liberal media would do with that? And using Miltary Personnel in their uniforms for political endorsements is strictly FORBIDDEN!
An individual''s TENACITY,
an individual''s HUMILITY,
an individual''s COUARGE,
an individual''s PERSONAL RESOLVE, these are the tools the individual relies upon while facing the foes and entrenched obstacles in large bureaucracic government.
Now when you think of words like: TENACITY,COUARGE, HUMILITY, & PERSONAL RESOLVE who comes to mind?
That''s right!
VOTE: McCain - Palin
Posted by NotFooledTX
Papa Smurf and Marge Simpson in glasses, who can take them seriously?
Oh wait she calles her self a "pitbull dog wearing lipstick"....take off the lipstick the dog is still a dog that won''t hunt!
Obama is the enemy of all true Americans. He bad mouths America to the rest of the world. He blames America for the world''s problems. Obama is our enemy!
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