McCain: Obama Never Took On Own Party

GOP Nominee Tells Face The Nation That His Ticket Offers Reform, Calls Criticism Of Palin's Experience "Denigrating"

(CBS)  Dismissing his rival's claims of being able to bring change to the ways of Washington, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said that Illinois Senator Barack Obama has not worked as a reformer because he has not challenged Democrats.

"I do know that he never took on his party on any major issue," McCain said, appearing on CBS News' Face The Nation. "From the time he came up in the Chicago political arena to the time, the short time he was in the Senate, he never took on his party on a single major issue."

In contrast, the Republican Senator said he'd taken on his own party a lot.

In his acceptance speech at last week's Republican National Convention, McCain appeared to admit to his own party's failings, that even as Republicans were elected to the White House and Congress on a promise of changing government, "We let Washington change us."

"You even said, at one point, your party had lost its way," Bob Schieffer asked. "You said that Washington has to change and you're the one that can change it. But that's going to be a tall order, isn't it? Normally, it's the group that's out that says, 'Throw the bums out.' You're saying it was your party that was part of the problem and that you can be the agent of change.

"How do you convince people of that?"

"Well, Bob, I think we have to show them my record," McCain said. "I reached across the aisle to Democrats. And obviously I was very unpopular in some parts of my own party, whether it be on the issue of climate change or against Rumsfeld's strategy and the president's strategy in Iraq, or whether it be on campaign finance reform or a number of other issues that I fought against the, quote, 'special interests.'

"And the point is real - we now have former members of Congress residing in federal prison. So it was corruption. And I guess I'll say again what I said: We came to power to change Washington, and Washington changed us.

"But I have to make a strong case that we're going to bring about that change, and it's the right kind of change."

McCain was circumspect about some comments made by other speakers at the Convention (including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former New York Governor George Pataki, and the vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin) who mocked Obama's post-collegiate work as a community organizer in Chicago, implying that it was a job without responsibility or value.

While saying he admired and respected all public service, McCain said the attacks were a response to criticisms by the Obama campaign that Palin's experience as a two-term mayor of a town of fewer than 6,000 people was insufficient for a VP nominee.

McCain called the questions about her experience "denigrating."

"I know that she shares my respect for all people, and appreciation for all people who serve their community and their nation," he said.

As for Obama's work aiding the disadvantaged, McCain said, "I do not think it's a negative. I think it's very honorable."

McCain also defended his pick of Governor Palin, whose speech at the convention appealed to the party's evangelical base but whose resume has been of concern even to some conservatives, with Charles Krauthammer of The Washington Post saying flatly "Palin is not ready" to become president and commander-in-chief at a moment's notice.

McCain pointed to Palin's popularity - "the most popular governor in America" - and said, without specifics, that she has a record of reform.

"She's not only talked about it, but she's done it, and she took on the people in her own party," he said. "She took on a sitting governor of her own party, and she reformed. And they passed ethics and lobbying reform. And she gave money back to the taxpayers and they cut spending.

"So in all due respect to any of the critics, what we want is the change in Washington. Who better in the political landscape could do that than Governor Sarah Palin, whose whole life has been engaged in that, taking them on and winning? I've taken them on and won less than she has.

"We've been campaigning together. The electricity has been incredible. And I would like to say it's all because of a charisma injection on the part of Mr. John McCain, but it's not - they're excited about this reformer, this lifetime member of the NRA, the person who was a point guard.

"I think that her experience and her background not only qualifies her, but brings to Washington a kind of an energy and a fresh wind that maybe is necessary in our nation's capital.

"I'm sure that Governor Palin has failings. And I'm sure she's made mistakes, because she's had a long career, from city council to mayor to governor. But the fact is, she's kind of what Americans have been looking for.

"And again, [with] all due respect to any critic, I think being mayor is a very important job nowadays, especially the way America is hurting."

On the economy, McCain said that help for small business (including tax relief) was important to "get this economy back on its feet.

"Americans are hurting in a way that they have not hurt for a long time," he told Schieffer, and said that on the 65 appearances the Senator had made on Face The Nation, "you and I have never had a conversation when our economy was in greater difficulty than it is today."

"You think it is?" Schieffer asked, "because you have said you think it's fundamentally sound"?

"Well, I have, because I have great confidence and faith in America, in our innovation and our capabilities," McCain said, "but these are tough times now."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan.

[scorpio59er]

"We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption... We lost their trust when we valued our power over our principles."

-McCain acceptance speech

Pubs: "Yeah, we messed everything up -- but give us another chance, will ya?"

[scorpio59er]

re: "Obama Never Took On Own Party" -- Undoubtedly because the Democrats are right on the issues.

Even McCain knows the Republicans are wrong, thus his need to separate from them.

[barkersboobs]

I wonder when this country is going to grow up when it comes to elected officials of government. We tend to time warp back to high school class president,treasure.Popularity is not always important!
Proud Independent

[buddtee]

InkeTolstoy # Don''t bringing up issues here no one wants tohear about the Stinky issues anymore,The Issues are no longer important. .That just boring . being a cool mom.That what importantt and .What color lip stick was Sara have on today did any one see .OH and did you know she a mom just like my mom .I know she can relate to me because she a mom and she has kids.
Obama might have kids but he is not a MOM.
Did you know Sara Palin is a MOM. I Love Moms don''t you love moms. MOM are so cool.I bet Obama wish he was a MOM .To bad .We have a MOM an you don''t, We gong to win because MOM said we gong to.

[libsluv2spit]

90% voting record agreeing with bush, mccain has never taken on his own party, stop the lies john.

Posted by armydog2 at 07:10 AM : Sep 09, 2008
+ report abuse

**********

the DNC brought in a good fight to ''bring the troops home" it lasted about a month and nancy pelosi abandonded the idea..I AM SURE OBAMA HAD SOME HARSH WORDS FOR HIS FELLOW DEMORATS ON THAT...

yeah that is what you call fighting a party not fighting a single politician within yuor party..

[libsluv2spit]

The past 8 years have been a huge failure, McCain wants to continue them............

Posted by raflin01 at 11:29 PM : Sep 08, 2008
+ report abuse

*******

for 8 years we seen DNC incompetence, weakness, traitorious support for terrorists and obama wants to continue it on a higher level..

how are we on that impeachment?? yikes!!! if that is not the BIGGEST LIE yet i dont knwo what is..i wont hold my breath for oliver stone to make a movie on how the DNC bullsh9tted thier way to power with false promises..

[mabourn]

A lot has been made of the fact that McCain voted "With Bush" 90+ percent of the time. My question would be so what? Per FactCheck.org, Obama voted with Bush 40 percent of the time. As far as who would be more likely to "change" Washington, you should probably know that Obama voted with his Dem friends in the Senate 97% of the time. (Also FactCheck.org) Sounds like your typical party line Democrat to me. I am not sure I see the "change".

[hateneocons1]

IS PALIN STILL CHEATING ON HER HUSBAND?

[hateneocons1]

HOW MANY MORE BOOKS IS PALIN GOING TO BAN?

HOW MANY HOUSES DOES MCCAIN OWN?

[mydiatribe]

For the THINKING VOTER, McCain''s choice of
Governor Sarah Palin SCREAMS his true intentions are to bring REAL CHANGE to Washington!

When the McCain/Palin ticket wins, CORRUPT politicians of BOTH parties will be served notice CLEAN UP or GET OUT OF TOWN!

[armydog2]

90% voting record agreeing with bush, mccain has never taken on his own party, stop the lies john.

[dnsallday]

Where the hell was McCain''s flag pin?
Republicans only support the troops as long as they are willing to go and fight their wars for them.

Once they come home they can sleep on the streets and their families go hungry as they are forced into bankruptcies.
McCain consistantly votes against anything that would help the veterans!

[stevekelson-2009]

What do they pay the young GOP''ers, typing away nonsense like this while hiding in the
basement of the Karl Rove building?

Do they give you guys toy machine guns to play with, too?

[stevekelson-2009]

Schieffer tossed McCain underhanded softballs.
I''m sure it''s in the GOP contract of ''rules of engagement''
Bob, return to being a hard nosed journalist

It''s not a small issue; Our country is at stake

[clovisbuford]

Obama admits McCain "has not talked about my Muslim faith"
Posted by bhappy2-2 at 09:00 PM : Sep 08, 2008 errr blowing smoke arent ya trol , go to the obama interview with stepannopalous "the week in review or what ever the show is at www.abc.com and see the remark in context , this is a red herring and typical of smear tactics , when you have nothing to argue on the issues ,question their patriotism ..and another thiing obama is a christian , but yanno its ok if we have a candidate thats a muslim at some point too. are you advocating we round up muslims now as enemies of the state? where you going with this one little anonymous internet worm?

[clovisbuford]

At the republican party convention , that big tent party , the party of abraham linoln, there were a litle over 2300 delgates? . 36 were black , there is change you can believe in . a little over 1% , change you can believe in . Mccain promises to carry out the same bush plans on tax cuts , the economy , the supreme court , teh war in Iraq ,. change you can believe in . with all that and voting with Buish 90% of the time , thats no maverick , thats a side kick , and I am sorry Plain is a nut case ,wanting to fire your towns librarian because whe wont ban books like Huck finn isnt family values unless you were born in nazi germany or the fictional workld of Farenheit 451. Hunting wolves out of a helicopter , is not sport , any more than canned hunts are, Having on your campaign a lobbyist for the Georgian governmnet , then saying "we are all Georgians " is not a we are all berliners Kennedyesque moment , its a georgia is writng the check moment.

[bhappy2-2]

Obama admits McCain "has not talked about my Muslim faith".

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId
=74635

[jonswift2]

In 2004, McCain said George W Bush was wrong to allow the Republican platform to state unconditionally that abortion should never be legal, specifically opposing abortion in pregnancies that result from incest or rape. So what does maverick McCain, who favors the legality of abortions under these circumstances, do in? Keep his mouth shut on the platform and nominate a running mate who has said she would want her 16-year old daughter to carry a rapist''s child to term. Oh what a maverick- putting his election ahead of his principles.

John McCain was a brave soldier 40 years ago. No one should deny that. Nor should anyone deny that over 4000 brave soldiers have died and many more have been wounded in a war that John McCain felt was not correctly carried out. Did he speak out? Did he tell George W Bush that his Mission Accomplished photo op was not proper? Did he have the judgment or courage to say anything over the next three years before finally arguing that the situation had gotten so bad that the only way to rescue it was to expend more blood and treasure, "the Surge"? No, the maverick only speaks out to further his political career.

Just saying you are a maverick doesn''t give you integrity or mean you have any judgment. Just remember the kid in the back of the room when you were in high school, the one who wanted to stand out from the and who kept speaking out just to get attention- Bet he thought he was a maverick, too.

[John Stillman]

I was very disappointed in yesterday''s show. I expected Bob Schieffer to do a much better job. It was as if Larry King was asking the questions. The news media cannot back off just because the McCain people are attacking the messenger. We need you to do the right thing for the country and not what gets you the next interview.

[noloyalisti]

McCain is a maverick? He chose a trashy bimbo for vice-pResident to cow tow to the radical right wing of the Great Oily Party. He voted in lockstep with McBush and is now picking an extremist Christian fascist to be pResident when he croaks. Boy do I feel confident in our future.