McCain: "The American People Have Spoken"

Republican Concedes, Says Obama Achieved "Great Thing For Himself And For His Country"

(AP)  Republican John McCain conceded the presidential race to Barack Obama, saying the Democrat has achieved a "great thing for himself and for his country."

Flanked by wife Cindy and running-mate Sarah Palin, McCain spoke to supporters outside the Arizona Biltmore Hotel shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, saying the "American people have spoken and they have spoken clearly."

He conceded the contest as polls closed on the West Coast, adding a string of states to Obama's electoral vote tally and sealing the Illinois senator's victory.

McCain stressed the historic nature of the election, noting that an invitation to Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House by Theodore Roosevelt had been viewed as an insult in some quarters.

"Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country," McCain said.

Although McCain had criticized Obama during the hard-fought campaign as too inexperienced to be president, the Arizona senator said that "in a contest as long and as difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance.

"But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving."

McCain told his supporters that it was natural "to feel some disappointment. Though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours."

McCain had been all but counted out of the contest for the GOP nomination in the summer of 2007, when his campaign was all but broke, and his comeback was a remarkable political feat.

"I don't know what more we could have done to win this election," McCain said. "I'll leave that to others to determine. ... I won't spend a moment in the future regretting what might have been."

McCain also praised Palin, his surprise choice for vice president. The Alaska governor excited the GOP base, especially evangelical voters, but critics dismissed her political resume as brief and light on substance.

Palin is "one of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength," McCain said, adding that she and her family showed "courage and grace" in the "rough and tumble of a presidential campaign."

[merlgrey]

nice crowd there mccain. whittled down to nothing but about 500 scottsdale multimillionaire white lillies at the ritzy biltmore. rich white wine sipping jaguar bmw benz driving scottsdalians that had the nerve to boo when you mentioned obamas name. an energetic intelligent engaging african american man. a majority of american voters entrusting him with the responsibility of the highest office in the land- and they cant handle it. ive been in the company of some of these rich white phoenix aholes- pathetic and venomous people. and this is coming from a white guy that didnt vote for either you or obama.

please also be honest about palin- you know you took a huge gamble, and that gamble busted miserably. she ended up capsizing an already sinking ticket. she is an embarrasment to humanity, a political viper that has no problem playing on peoples fears ignorance and hate for the feeling of a little power. if she is the future of the republican party... repubs will be losing for a long time to come, seems most of this country has wised up to and is tired of the fanatical right wing, fear mongering, hate spreading, hypocritical realigious zealots, neo cons, etc...

now the dems will 4-8 years to have thier chance to fail and disapoint us.

regardless- congratulations obama- hopefully the presidential charisma has some depth, and hopefully youve got the b@lls to back it up.

I thought McCain''s concession speech was great, he was gracious in defeat. Too bad his supporters were not as gracious. They boo-ed when Obama''s name was mentioned as opposed to the clapping McCain got when Obama mentioned his name at his victory speech.

[McHineguy]

merlgrey,

Nice post there. Praising McCain for being gracious in defeat and showing the true true leadership of a hero. And then showing by example how it could have been small minded, stingy, and cheap. I only HOPE that Obama and his supporters are better than your example and we truly can heal this hurt nation that once was so great. I will help. Perhaps you can too someday.

[jsilver2th]

Now at least Sarah Palin knows what a community organizer does...

HA HA HA LOOOOSERS

[pony1225]

UNFORTUNATELY, IMBECILES, IGNORAMOUSES, AND FOOLS CAN VOTE A PERSON INTO AN OFFICE. BELIEVE ME I VOTED A LIBERAL DEM INTO OFFICE WHEN I WAS 18, THANKFULLY I CAN SAY I NEVER MADE THAT SAME MISTAKE AGAIN! SOON BUT NOT SOON ENOUGH ALOT OF PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS ERROR OF THIS CHOICE FOR PRES. GOD HELP US!!!

[abbe91]

"I don''t know what more we could have done to win this election," McCain said.

Indeed.

[longtree-2009]

mccain shot himself in the foot by selecting the ditsy twit palin. neither of them addressed the economy but wasted their campaign on slander, name calling of their opponents. both wasted valuable time pandering to the republican base of religous right wingers, pro-gun types, the elderly, the high school graduate level, the wealthy voters and ignored the rest of the republicans in the middle class. palin was the number one reason so many of us republicans went over to obama. next was the constant negative campaigning by palin and mccain. palin & mccain can thank each other for the loss and their staff for only concentrating on the republican base as identified by the red states that voted for them. mccain should now retire and palin can go back to alaska and hopefully never be heard from again in national politics. mccain and palin turned so many of us republicans to the obama camp. both mccain and palin humiliated the republicans and themselves.

[drinuk]

America finally took a decision on Crooked Corporate America, on Big Pharma, Big Chem, the Lobby and on the Elite who thought they were bullet proof. Can or will Obama banish them ? He has the mandate of the people so there must be no excuse for failure. There can be no running with the fox and the hounds, he must get it done.

Any Democrats in bed with the lobby had better get out now, do not offend or abuse the support you have been given, you do so at your peril.

[skeezix06]

McCain showed class last night. If he hadn''t caved in so thoroughly to the religious right and picked Palin, I might have voted for him in spite of his stance on the war. After all, Obama''s stance isn''t much better.

[stevemccoy7]

Mr. Obama how many babies will it take to be left to die on hospital tables before you realize it''s wrong.


Mr. Obama you will never be my President. You bought and lied your way to the Presidency.

[n8yvn29]

EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT Christian Taliban (and your imams including Dr. James Dobson), Muslim Taliban (and your imams), homophobes, racists, and elitist republicans in general. Even manipulating the vote-counting machines was not enough to deny real Americans their voice. YOUR OX HAS DONE BEEN GORED!!

[norepubs]

I suppose that you never noticed,or gave a moment''s thought but George W. Bu$h acended to the Presidency by LIES,DECEPTION,and a $300/$600 middle class voter bribe while the NEOCON nutcases ran off with the rest of the U.S. Treasury......
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Mr. Obama you will never be my President. You bought and lied your way to the Presidency.

Posted by stevemccoy7

[norepubs]

God help you for being so simple minded,and brainwashed by the very people who screwed America sideways.....
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ALOT OF PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS ERROR OF THIS CHOICE FOR PRES. GOD HELP US!!!

[gregorio57]

It is so sad that over half of the people in this country think it is alright to kill unborn babies, redistribute the wealth, ban guns and turn America into a socialist country. I truly fear for this nation!

I watched the faces of the Democrats at Obama''s victory speech and they were so enthralled and chanting "Yes we can!" like a bunch of teenage girls for a rock star. They either agree with Obama''s voting record or they don''t care. Very sad!

Prepare to be tested people!

[albo58]

McCain showed a lot of class!

[armydog2]

Senator McCain was very gracious in defeat, and I applaud him for that. I do not however applaud his supporters who booed when President elect Obama''s name was mentioned. When President elect Obama spoke of Senator McCain his supporters applauded McCain and there lies the difference and that is the reason Senator McCain lost this election.The negativity and hatred that surrounded his campaign was the reason for his loss.

[herb222]

OLD ANGRY JOHN WAS MUCH HUMBLED LAST NIGHT AND IF HE HAD USED THAT SAME ATTITUDE DURING THE ELECTION RACE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH CLOSER ....NOW THAT *** "SCARY PALIN" HOPE SHE CRAWLS BACK INTO THE BOWELS OF HELL THAT SHE CAME FROM THE METH DEN HIDDEN IN THE BACKWOODS OF ALASKA NEVER TOO BE HEARD OF AGAIN ....................

[kight67i]

BACKED BY MONEY, MEDIA AND THE YOUNG, OBAMA HAS WON. I WISH THIS COUNTRY WELL. I ONLY HOPE JOE BIDEN IS WRONG, AND WE ARE NOT TESTED. AT THE BEGINNING OF BUSH''S TERM , WE WERE TESTED. SOMEHOW I THINK THAT MANY FORGOT WHAT THAT DID TO OUR COUNTRY, ECONOMY, HEARTS. THE 18 YEAR OLDS WERE ONLY 11 THEN, THEY DO NOT REMEMBER THE TEARS, PAIN AND SUFFERING. I HOPE THEY NEVER KNOW. JOE SAID "MARK MY WORDS, HE WILL BE TESTED" WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT HE PASSES. WITH OUR ECONOMY SO DISTRAUGHT, TAXES INEVIDENTLY GOING TO RISE, "THEY" KNOW THEY COULD HIT US VERY HARD NOW. BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES AND PRAY

[zorar-2009]

Congratulations Obama...
Bush & Cheney your canned...there the door see ya!

McCain you gave a great speech in defeat last night..

Thank god you didn''t let the alaskan bimbo speak...

[thisandthat1]

I wish I could say that McCain was gracious in defeat, but all he really did was read a speech that was written for him. I doubt that he believed one word of what he was reading. As of 7 o''clock last night here where I live, he was still running vicious negative ads on TV filled with lies about Obama. So, I''m sorry, but I don''t think he was truly gracious and I don''t feel the least bit sorry for him .... and I certainly am not going to miss him or his style of politics.

[truthspeake2]

Obama/Biden 2008...GAME OVER!

[ejcspau]

McCain was pathetic last night. He actually said Obama won because of his race! I''m glad he didnt'' win. As it is we are in for a long road. McCain is as disgusting as Bush.

[phloide]

Each person should do as they believe best, and we should respect each person as though they are doing their best. I think belligerent gloating and %u201CArmageddon rising%u201D by either side is annoying, childish (below potty humor level), and simply worn out. Grow up. Congrats to Obama and Biden, and Godspeed to you, McCain and Palin.

[Meg003]

Hillary Clinton did not express as much support for Barack Obama as John McCain did last night. I hope all of us can begin to put aside attacks and snide remarks like those I see posted here, and put our efforts into supporting the future President Barack Obama.

[babooph]

The bad news is ,with Obama in,I will not get 4 years of the Beverly Hillbillies in the White House-it would have had some great laughs.

[hroams]

I understand that when "W" called Obama to congratulate him he said that John had promised to pardon him if he was convicted after leaving office on 1/20/09 and he wanted to know if he and Darth could assume that Obama would honor that promise also. I think Obama said " The white side says yes, the black side says no, so I''ll just split it down the middle and you and Darth will only have to serve 50% of your sentences"!!!!!!!!!!

[antoniof123]

I am going to say this I did like John McCain even though I voted for Obama we needed change.

What I am really mad about is that the Republicans through McCain to the wolves. They knew that they had no chance and yet they had the never to throw a good man to the sharks try to turn him into them.

To you Mr. President Elect good luck and may you have all the help you need to bring this country to the middle ground.

[hroams]

DUBYA AND DARTH AND JOHN AND CARIBOU BARBIE--DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE *A*S*S* ON THE WAY OUT.

[nothappyatall]

Caribou Barbie and McShame are GONE WHEEEEE!

[hroams]

Of course the GOP threw McCain to the wolves, they knew they were not going to win this time so they let the sucker step up and make a fool of himself and lose. Just like Bob Dole in 1996 did. Both too old, too dumb and unprepared. The GOP will field the first team in 2012, they are grooming the contenders now--Mutt Roomy, the Italian Stallion(a failed gigolo), Old Huck, and possibly a Senator or two.

When McCain picked Palin for a running mate it was just to have a piece of arm candy for 3 months. My question is did he get to see her in a thong.

Oh well, on to the Viagra ads!!

[ladyraestewa]

Senator McCain ran a campaign of lies and mudslinging that was horrific and unnecessary. But credit is due in his concession speech. He did show class and grace under pressure. I am grateful he took the high road at a time it was crucial he do so. President Elect Obama has a difficult task before him as do we all. I never doubted he was up for the that task though and hope Senator McCain and the rest of his party now put America first!

[hroams]

Hilary has sour grapes. Plus she wont get a Supreme court nomination either.

I think Obama should nominate Bill Clinton for the Supreme court should a vacancy come up. He has a lot of experience behind closed doors!!!! Its not unknown as Republican Robert Taft served on the court after being president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hroams]

Shucks I was looking forward to the Alaskan version of the Beverly Hillbillies in the White House.

Maybe TV could make a series set in Alaska, they''d call it "Moose Mama and the Bridge to Eternity"".

[hroams]

You will notice that they did not let Caribou Barbie say anything at all. I guess she''ll give up the $250,000 in clothes and the $10,000 purse and go back to wearing mukluks and a maternity dress.

[wallyj16]

Its too bad the old John McCain I admired, came out in his concession speech. It was honorable and dignified, he offers some chance to start healing the nation. This country has been crashing into the ground over the last eight years. I feel Barack Obama is the legitimate choice, to transform this country into the great nation we can become again. This is going to be a long and painful recovery, if we have decided "enough" to the old politics as usual. We can get better ONE DAY AT A TIME.

[hroams]

I understand that Dubya and Darth are seeking political asylum in China after 1-20-09 and also larger numbers of people in the DOJ including AG Mulkasy.

[hroams]

I think that the GOP should freeze Palin and stick her away in Alaska somewhere and have comedian Tina Fey stand in-----at least it would be a more intelligent discourse!

[hroams]

The fun part is going to be when all of W''s associates start talking to the new DOJ & AG trying to make deals so as not be be investigated and indicted in return for spilling the beans on W, Darth, Ashcraft, Gonzales, Mulkasey, Rummy, Feist, Renzi, Lott, Stevens, Cornyn, Hutchison, Rice, Gates, Pretraeus, etc.

[hroams]

Palin----"I can be the GOP candidate in 2012, I have foreign policy experience, I have seen Russia across the Bering Sea, I have spoken to the president of France(really a con man who is a DJ on a Canadian talk show), I have real foreign policy credentials!!!!!!!!!!

[car313-2009]

Senator McCain,
Great speech last night I hope your supporters listened to it. You found your Honor again. You are a hero. History and America will remember you. I am thankful you are here to help America get back on track.

[colt8881]

Senator McCain,

Great speech last night I hope your supporters listened to it. You found your Honor again.

Senator McCain you showed class last night after the long battle & I hope that America can come together as AMERICANS and work on Solar, Wind and move away from Big Oil.

[drinuk]

Dr Ron Paul actually offered more & better change than did Obama but whilst the president elect was able to proceed at a pace, the stupid GOP shot themselves in the foot by dumping Paul, out of a fear that his policies would hurt their pockets and upset the staus quo. Now they got their just desserts and are now in the wilderness for a long long time, unless of course they suddenly see sense and give Paul and McCain control NOW. Failing that, we have no credible opposition for the forseeable future. Without that there can be no credible change.

Obama is already asking for time, one hour after winning he was pulling back on expectations promised during the last year.

For the sake of all, Obama must break the incestuous relationship between the whole of Corporate America and ALL politicians, the lobby which is hurting all of us must be curtailed. If he is to succeed in change that is one policy he must adopt and quickly, otherwise they will undo his efforts for a fair and equitable America.

[credibility2]

Senator McCain can feel confident knowing that he was the more qualified and experienced candidate. I do congratulate our new bi-racial president; however, the healing needs to occur first in the Obama side, including its handlers and supporters, after their unrelenting hideous, vicious and vitriolic rhetoric they lobbed against McCain, Palin, and anyone and everyone who chose to have independent and free thought by not following Obama, such as Independents, Repubs and some Dems, whites, blacks, etc.

[lilsarg01]

As usual .. John McCain put his country first. As usual .. John McCain showed the true cut of an American. It is time to turn away from divisive and derogatory stupidity being spewed here and toward the healing and rebuilding of our nation!

[nirak2-2009]

colt8881:
One good and I admit terrific speech by McCain does not restore his honor. If he would have behaved like a decent human being when campaigning he might have won.
I congradulate President elect Obama from Canada
A job well done!!!

[nvorr]

Now at least Sarah Palin knows what a community organizer does...

HA HA HA LOOOOSERS

Posted by jsilver2th at 03:37 AM : Nov 05, 2008
----------------------
Outstanding!

[nvorr]

Mr. Obama you will never be my President. You bought and lied your way to the Presidency.

Posted by stevemccoy7

---------------

When are you leaving America?

[nirak2-2009]

Yes nvorr isn''t amazing what a commumity organizer can accomplish?
I hope Palin disappears from the scene, but I blame McCain for selecting her.

[G H M]

The silent majority is no longer silent.

America spoke LOUD AND CLEAR!

[steamed2]

CBSisPravda says: "No more whining, Democrats - now you get to be the punching bag." Gosh, and what is it you''re doing? As with all really bad losers you can''t be gracious in defeat, or even just shut up.