Scott Harris: McCain’s Speech
Here's what the presidential nominee should say at next week's Republican convention.
The following is the speech that Republican Sen. John McCain should give at next week’s Republican convention:
I stand here before you, honored to be the Republican nominee for president of the United States. As you know, I have spent a lifetime serving this country, in the military and in Washington, D.C. I am prepared to lead this country and look forward to a spirited campaign and election. If I am elected — and I have every intention of winning — I will do everything humanly possible to make this great country even better. If the American people choose not to put me in office, I will work closely with the new president and continue proudly as a senator as long as the good people of Arizona will have me.
Like Obama, I recognize that the world is changing rapidly, that we face challenges unlike any we’ve seen before. Terrorism, Darfur, Iran, Iraq the Russia /Georgia conflict — all present unique challenges to our way of life and our core values. We need to evaluate, re-evaluate and explore every option to find the best possible resolution to these problems. And again, like Obama, I want to improve our economy, to ensure that we remain the world’s strongest economy and a place where every American has an opportunity achieve their goals and follow their dreams. I believe in freedom, family and strong sense of morality. Most of all, I believe in the American people and in God.
As I stand here on this podium, I am humbled by your support and the challenges we face. I am looking out at a sea of Republican faces. Conservative Republicans, moderate Republicans, even liberal Republicans. Republicans from both coasts, the Midwest, north and south, young and old, of all religions and races. And yes, Republicans with different points of views, different agendas and many, many different ideas on how we can solve our problems, face our challenges and move our country forward.
In January, when I am sworn in as the next president of the United States, I will be representing not only the Republican party, but also every independent, every person who did or did not vote, every child not yet old enough to vote and, yes, every Democrat. I am not going to be elected president of the Republican Party, but president of the United States.
Now back to Obama. While we share similar goals for this country, we have dramatically different ideas on how to achieve those goals. It is those differences that will determine who wins this election. While I do not question Obama’s character, his values or his patriotism, I certainly plan to point out the dramatic differences in our visions for America.
With regard to the economy, the most dramatic differences are these. Obama believes that raising taxes and growing government is the answer to improving the economy. I believe the opposite. Reduce taxes and government and trust in the strength, character and ability of the American people. Energy is critical, and I know that U.S. ingenuity will find a cost-effective, cost- efficient alternative to oil. Until we do, we need to be realistic about the dangers of relying on the Middle East for so much of our oil. This means we need to look seriously into domestic drilling.
With regard to family values, I believe in the sanctity of human life. Unlike Obama, I am pro-life and against abortion. I also differ from the senator in regards to marriage. I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
On the international front, the senator and I could not be further apart. Let me be clear: I abhor war. I fought in the Vietnam War, I spent almost six years in a prison camp and my son Jimmy is a Marine, serving in Iraq. However, I also recognize that there is evil in this world. Evil that history has shown cannot be appeased, reasoned with or sanctioned away. Sometimes we have to use our military strength to guard our interests and those of our friends.
We did not ask for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. We are not responsible for Sept. 11, but we were required through self-preservation to respond. While I disagree with many of the decisions that President Bush has made, before and during the wars, we did the right thing in going into both Afghanistan and Iraq.
My heart aches for the people of Georgia. They are a democratic nation, and they deserve our support. The world wrings its hands, but again, does nothing, standing by while a nation is destroyed, forgetting the lessons of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Republican Party and of the nation, I promise you this. If I am elected, we will once again stand tall as the greatest country in the history of the world. Our values will ring throughout this country and around the globe, our economy will once again boom, our people will be given every opportunity to succeed, our children will be given the best possible education and the world will know that we stand with our friends and against our enemies — and we will clearly define both.
I ask for your support, I ask for your vote and I ask God to bless the United States of America.
Scott Harris is a political commentator. Read his columns and contact him through his Web site, www.scottharris.biz, or e-mail him at .
» wrote on 08/27/08 @ 06:35 AM
You lost me @ Barack will raise taxes & grow government . Study his tax platform to be better informed. Tax breaks while running record deficits are simply tax deferrments and not a responsible or sensible way to govern . If you study growth of government , you will see that McCain & Co. have presided over the periods of greatest govt. growth .
» wrote on 08/27/08 @ 08:15 AM
Scott, please have your facts correct:
Obama’s will not raise taxes. It is neutral. He removes the Bush tax CUTS for the top 2% and provides a tax cut for those making less than $250,000.
Obama is not for socialized medicine. Just to educate you that is where you are told which doctor you can use. He is for anyone can have any doctor. He only is for moving the administrative costs away from the greedy insurance companies that scoop up 30% of the cost for their multi-million dollar salaries. This would reduce the cost for all.
The truth is McCain is just like Bush. He voted with him over 90% of the time. He voted against alternative energy policies over 20 times and against Veterans benefits and healthcare 23 times. He is a neocon and will lead us into more unnecessary wars that will break the bank and not allow this country to spend money at home on necessary things such as infrastructure, education and healthcare. We cannot stand for 4 more years of this FAILED POLICY. The middle class will not survive.
» wrote on 08/27/08 @ 12:15 PM
When in doubt, play the Hitler and Stalin card.
This is a nice pretend speech and it will be very appealing to 45% of the total national electorate.
» wrote on 08/27/08 @ 06:43 PM
Since he is such a straight taker maybe McCain should talk about the Keating Five? Or the fact that he graduated 5th to LAST at the Naval Academy or that he needed his daddy to call Yale to graduate? Or that he was sleeping around on his first wife before their divorce and while she was laying around in the hospital from a very serious car accident?
Or maybe he should start out by talking about how his senior campaign advisors are lobbyists for the telecom companies,the country of Georgia and the oil companies?
These are all good but maybe he should just say that I am too old to run and that is why I have flip-flopped on 62 different issues over the past two years and do not know the difference between Shites and Sunnis.
» wrote on 08/28/08 @ 06:45 PM
Wow, the libs are out from under the rock on this one. Let’s see, Obama will not raise taxes, yes let’s start there. The lunacy of the left is that they actually believe that the wealthy will pay the taxes levied against them by liberals. Uh, excuse me, but they didn’t get rich (unless they’re in the entertainment industry) by being stupid. They will either pass those taxes on to the consumers or invest their wealth somewhere out of reach. Either way higher taxes on the wealthy means lower revenue to the government and higher expenses to the rest of us. This is not economic conjecture but historical fact. It sounds good to have someone saying rob the rich to feed the poor, but when’s the last time you ever got a job working for a poor guy?
His voting record reflects voting against more government spending and pork barrel projects, so quit reading George Soros talking points, you dim wit and look at why he voted the way he did. Further, as a neocon I am insulted that you would include McCain in with us, except you don’t know what a neocon is or believes in, so it stands to reason you’d make a dumb mistake like that.
As for his past history, wow how colorful! Too bad you can’t find one politician in any party any better and Obamanation is far worse. So be careful how far you want to go down this road, especially when the source of your misinformation is MoveOn.org
» wrote on 08/29/08 @ 09:16 AM
Anso, you have been watching too much Fox News to get your so called facts. Yes McCain is a NeoCon. He does believe in the preemptive strke doctrine and his top military advisors do believe in it as well.
As for your theory on trickle down economics it has been proven and shown time and time again that it does not work. It results in inflated deficits as well as the slow destruction of the middle class.
McCain is no maverick. He is just like W and voted with him on almost every piece of legislation.
The best part about our discussion is to know that your vote for McCain will not count since you live in California and Obama will win here easily. I guess there are just lots of very smart people in this great Progressive state. Maybe you should move to Kentucky where you will feel right at home?
» wrote on 08/29/08 @ 06:36 PM
Truth or Lies?
There is more to neocon than not appeasing terrorists and bad guys. The so called progressives in this state have brought us to near economic ruin you idiot! We once had the best schools, highways and economy and you bird brains loaded us up with taxes, welfare, lower standards, traffic jams and brought new meaning to the word obstructionism. The only thing you progress is mediocrity and worthlessness while inflating your own sense of entitlement. When you get off your intellectual narcissism high, try getting out of the way of people trying to get things done. Oh and you can quit with the “he voted 90% with Bush” crap because so did Obama, or didn’t George Soros tell you that? The “hate Bush” thing is getting tired and does not make you lefties look smart or cool, just deranged. If you want to impress someone with your political savvy, try reading a book or two instead of MoveOn talking points.
» wrote on 08/29/08 @ 11:39 PM
Anso,
You are so full of hatred and so wrong. I do read lots and lots of non-fiction books. You should try it. I do not know where you get all of your anger from. Having been born in California and lived here most of my live your perspective amazes me. I have both an MBA and a MS. For the life of me I do not understand how you can twist everything and blame it on progessives or liberals. The overall tax rate in Califoria is not that high. Our state tax is above average but our property tax is very low. If you feel overtaxed then move to Texas and take a deep breath of their dirty air, camp out next to an oilwell and mix it up with your own type of conservative backward thinking floks that got us into trouble in the first place.
California is a great place to live thanks to the forward thinking of people here that has enabled us to have so many parks, reserves, innovations as well as some of the best and least expensive universities in the U.S.
What is trying to destroy this country is the criminals and cronism of the Republican party along with their distain for our Constitution. If you want to find additional funds do not blame the progessives blame your neoconservative friends for spending $10 billion per month in the big mistake called Iraq.
Oh and most important try to just be a little more positive and open-minded to the facts. I am a retired well off individual that is looking out for folks alot less fortunate than me. Eventhough I do pay a substantial amount of tax I know it is the right thing to do to help the middle class survive.
» wrote on 08/30/08 @ 03:46 PM
Truth, what part of intellectual narcissism didn’t you get? What did you get your education in? What kind of sheltered life have you lived here, that allows you to make such ridiculous statements? You say I’m full of hatred, why? You want to impress me with your magnificent intelligence, then actually say something intelligent. If you believe me to be an uneducated, redneck moron, then why use derision and insult and not fact based arguments? Are you afraid the stupid redneck might come back with a counter argument that makes you look dumb? I already know I’m not that smart or that educated and so unlike you I don’t make derisive comments based on political ideology, just state what I observe. You, with your education ought to do much better but don’t, why?
Now then, is the state of California better off now than 40 years ago? No. Then what has changed? We have become way more liberal in our politics and more anti-business and anti-free market, while embracing a more entitlement minded, government support minded socialist environment. You, with an MBA, ought to know better, that the free market is the most powerful tool for change humankind has ever known. Yet you support the failed policy of top down, legislate behavior, legalism that history has proven a failure over and over, why? You show much distain for those not in your “class” as most libs do, so you truly believe that those beneath you don’t have what it takes to rise up. Welfare, quotas, affirmative action and all the other means you people come up with to tell poor and minorities that they are failures and not able to rise up, is nothing more than a cover for your own hatred, prejudice and elitism. Take a moment here to reflect on this. Put aside your belief that you’re better than everyone else for a moment and that this dumb ass redneck, neocon, moron is telling you these things and think. How would you raise your children, to be dependant on you the rest of your life, or to be self reliant and able to make it on their own?
» wrote on 08/31/08 @ 11:01 AM
Anso, it is clear that you are lost cause so I have decided to respond no further. Just turn off Fox News and Rush open your eyes and hopefully one day you will come around. You make assumptions about me that are completely false. Prejudice is an ugly attribute.
All I ask is that you take a few minutes and actually read the written plans and proposals on Obama.com so you will actually understand his positions on all issues versus what you hear second hand. I have gone to McCain.com and looked it over at length. It is important to be a well informed voter for our democracy to work.
At this point I am done.
» wrote on 08/31/08 @ 01:03 PM
Truth or Consequences, you cop out so easily. My prejudice against you is based on what you say, so obviously, if you say very little I have very little to change my impression with. You are in control of that, not me. From what you have written, it is obvious that you regard anyone not touting the liberal philosophy to be a stooge for the RNC, a Fox News junky and a Rush fan, all of these are right out of the MoveOn play book. So what else am I to think?
I have read Obama’s site. I disagree with his ideas. It is not, as you would think, a partisan rejection, since I disagree with most of McCain’s platform too. Obama is a liberal. I disagree with liberal philosophy and that is based on reason, logic, history and human behavior, not partisan politics. I learned a great deal studying philosophy, ethics and logic and the conclusion I came to is liberalism, though well intentioned most of the time, runs counter to human behavior and in fact, can be, if let loose, very destructive. It is a top down, command oriented legalistic system that strips the individual of personal responsibility and awards the state more control over your life. This might be good for the wealthy elite who don’t want the pesky hordes to be upwardly mobile in a world of shrinking resources (in case you ever wondered why most of the wealthiest people support liberal causes), but for those of us freedom loving spirits its just another form of oppression.
I also have a deep distrust of politicians, particularly those associated with the “Chicago Machine”. And you, as well as the rest of the Obama believers, ought to be very wary as well.
» wrote on 09/01/08 @ 03:47 AM
For those so enamored of Obama, this is hammers it good.
The Perfect Stranger
By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, August 29, 2008; A15
Barack Obama is an immensely talented man whose talents have been largely devoted to crafting, and chronicling, his own life. Not things. Not ideas. Not institutions. But himself.
Nothing wrong or even terribly odd about that, except that he is laying claim to the job of crafting the coming history of the United States. A leap of such audacity is odd. The air of unease at the Democratic convention this week was not just a result of the Clinton psychodrama. The deeper anxiety was that the party was nominating a man of many gifts but precious few accomplishments—bearing even fewer witnesses.
When John Kerry was introduced at his convention four years ago, an honor guard of a dozen mates from his Vietnam days surrounded him on the podium attesting to his character and readiness to lead. Such personal testimonials are the norm. The roster of fellow soldiers or fellow senators who could from personal experience vouch for John McCain is rather long. At a less partisan date in the calendar, that roster might even include Democrats Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy, with whom John McCain has worked to fashion important legislation.
Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama’s life standing up to say: I know Barack Obama. I’ve been with Barack Obama. We’ve toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do.
Hillary Clinton could have said something like that. She and Obama had, after all, engaged in a historic, utterly compelling contest for the nomination. During her convention speech, you kept waiting for her to offer just one line of testimony: I have come to know this man, to admire this man, to see his character, his courage, his wisdom, his judgment. Whatever. Anything.
Instead, nothing. She of course endorsed him. But the endorsement was entirely programmatic: We’re all Democrats. He’s a Democrat. He believes what you believe. So we must elect him—I am currently unavailable—to get Democratic things done. God bless America.
Clinton’s withholding the “I’ve come to know this man” was vindictive and supremely self-serving—but jarring, too, because you realize that if she didn’t do it, no one else would. Not because of any inherent deficiency in Obama’s character. But simply as a reflection of a young life with a biography remarkably thin by the standard of presidential candidates.
Who was there to speak about the real Barack Obama? His wife. She could tell you about Barack the father, the husband, the family man in a winning and perfectly sincere way. But that takes you only so far. It doesn’t take you to the public man, the national leader.
Who is to testify to that? Hillary’s husband on night three did aver that Obama is “ready to lead.” However, he offered not a shred of evidence, let alone personal experience with Obama. And although he pulled it off charmingly, everyone knew that, having been suggesting precisely the opposite for months, he meant not a word of it.
Obama’s vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, naturally advertised his patron’s virtues, such as the fact that he had “reached across party lines to . . . keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.” But securing loose nukes is as bipartisan as motherhood and as uncontroversial as apple pie. The measure was so minimal that it passed by voice vote and received near zero media coverage.
Thought experiment. Assume John McCain had retired from politics. Would he have testified to Obama’s political courage in reaching across the aisle to work with him on ethics reform, a collaboration Obama boasted about in the Saddleback debate? “In fact,” reports the Annenberg Political Fact Check, “the two worked together for barely a week, after which McCain accused Obama of ‘partisan posturing’ “—and launched a volcanic missive charging him with double-cross.
So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he’s out. Then there’s William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He’s out. Where are the others?
The oddity of this convention is that its central figure is the ultimate self-made man, a dazzling mysterious Gatsby. The palpable apprehension is that the anointed is a stranger—a deeply engaging, elegant, brilliant stranger with whom the Democrats had a torrid affair. Having slowly woken up, they see the ring and wonder who exactly they married last night.
Read more from Charles Krauthammer at washingtonpost.com’s new opinion blog, PostPartisan.
» wrote on 09/01/08 @ 10:37 AM
i cant believe this got published..."trust in the strength, character, and ability of the American people” thats an informed policy for the economy LOL! this is trash…
» wrote on 09/01/08 @ 09:27 PM
I cannot believe someone would quote a extreme right wingnut like Charles Kreuthammer from the far right publication of the Washington Post. This guy is only used on Fox Noise and is a political operative for the American Enterprize Institution. I guess people will quote just about anybody!!
Now McCain has shown his true judgement by pandering to the religious right and picking a totally unqualified and unvetted person for VP. He made this pick after a brief one time 15 minute discussion. If she was not a female she would not have been selected. Every woman in America should be insulted by this gimmick. He had plenty of well qualified woman in the GOP to select. He did not put America First, just politics. I predict that Sara Palin will withdraw her nomination soon due to troopergate and other information forthcoming. Apparently, the McCain camp is scrambling right now and sending more vetting professionals to Alaska after realizing they did not do their homework. She is for creation, does not believe in global warming, supported the bridge to nowhere before she changed her mind recently and is hyper-religious.
Poor judgement and leadership that is the true John McCain.
» wrote on 09/02/08 @ 05:12 AM
It’s nice to see Republicans squirming after the fawning coverage the press has given McCain and Palin. Just wait until Palen is forced to come clean that the Down Syndrome child she supposedly delivered is really her grandson.
Americans are tired of Republican hypocrisy, lies and their hate tactics. We are going to vote in Obama in a landslide so he can change our country for the better.
» wrote on 09/02/08 @ 11:42 AM
To the commenter who is so concerned with hate, maybe you should start by looking in the mirror. You should be ashamed.
» wrote on 09/02/08 @ 12:48 PM
Uh oh, someone kicked over a rock and all the lefty, loony, liberals crawled out. How funny you people get when threatened with yet another loss. Calling Republicans hypocrites and liars is one thing, but haters? No, you kooks got that all to yourselves. As far as hypocrisy and lies go, that’s the kettle calling the pot black, now go crawl back under your rock and let the grownups take care of things.
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 02:34 PM
No doubt McCain will tell a pack of lies similar to these.
“Unlike Obama, I am pro-life and against abortion.”
Right wingers are so despicable. Obama wishes to teach teens about both abstinence and contraception, because he wants fewer abortions, whereas right wingers like McCain, Palin, and Harris oppose policies that would actually reduce abortions, favoring instead making abortions dangerous and punishing women (but never men) for having sex.
“My heart aches for the people of Georgia. They are a democratic nation, and they deserve our support. The world wrings its hands, but again, does nothing, standing by while a nation is destroyed, forgetting the lessons of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. “
Bomb, bomb, bomb Russia!
Actually, it was Georgia, goaded and supported by the U.S., that wrongfully invaded South Ossetia.
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 02:39 PM
Wow, the libs are out from under the rock on this one. Let’s see, Obama will not raise taxes, yes let’s start there. The lunacy of the left
It’s nice to know that 50% of the voting public is now “the libs” and “the left”. Funny how folks like you talk about “lunacy” and then launch into full-blown crackpottery.
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 02:44 PM
For those so enamored of Obama, this is hammers it good.
Aside from being incapable of producing your own thoughts, you have broken the law by violating copyright (that was not fair use)—and the moderator here should know better.
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 03:41 PM
This is an awesome article and I believe correctly presents what McCain should say to speak to the heart of this country. The only comment I would make is to say “IF” he am elected. This is going to be a tough battle and if anything McCain can learn a little humility from Barak. McCain has the experience, the credentials, and the running mate to make him a major contender… a little humility combined with a clear statement of support for AMERICAN conservative values, I believe he could even win this election!
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 04:00 PM
We want change-- lets vote out all the tax and spend liberals, now thats a change we all need in america
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 05:29 PM
An50 is spot on here. Everybody break out your calculators; this is going to be a close one. There will be no landslide. I’m predicting a slim victory for McCain and Palin. Barack is a great speaker when he’s got a teleprompter but just wait until the debates happen. Now that’s going to be entertainment!
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 06:55 PM
I’m sure the hack who wrote this article meant serious business, but this is nothing but amusing.
Let’s see: we have a ticket of McCain-Palin - a cancer-stricken 72-yr old lunatic who will most likely not make it to the end (or beginning!) of his term, followed by a moose-shooting, creationism advocate, Big Oil family woman who obviously not only is busy overpopulating the planet with her own children, but now wants every woman to follow her footsteps and let their teenage daughters disrepsect their hypocritical views of human sexuality by dangeroulsy sleeping around without protecting other people from their venereal diseases, and then force them into unhappy marriages with trashy rednecks.
Yep. That sounds like a good country.
» wrote on 09/03/08 @ 07:32 PM
Truth and Consequences
Yes we are despicable. Imagine, saving a life in lieu of you being able to fornicate whenever you want (oops, yer pregnant, no worries, just abort). And no, men should not be let off the hook, but that is exactly what abortion does, punishes women, kills their baby and let’s guys off the hook. Obama wants to get the fornication vote so he’ll tell fornicators whatever their guilt ridden minds want to hear. When it comes to sex you have a choice, you want the choice to be about whether or not to murder.
And of course anything that happens in the world that is bad is America’s fault, what an idiot. You wish 50% of the voters were liberal, but whatever the number is they’re still stupid and suffer from a mental disorder.
Now then, you may have forgotten where we left off but I haven’t. Come on, you sound very passionate about your position and so am I. So we can bark at each other like junk yard dogs or go at this in a dispassionate intelligent discourse. I don’t hate liberals, but I do hate liberalism and believe it to be a mental disorder. I stated why earlier. It’s your call. You can be the angry left or you can choose to explain why you believe what you believe and be big enough to handle the criticism.
Well, Truthy, what say you, you game?