Gracious. Not so much his supporters, though, who are still booing as McCain says he called Obama to congratulate him.
The one thing that bothered me about Obama’s speech last night was that his supporters in Grant Park did not cheer louder for Obama’s words of praise for McCain. I did not like the campaign McCain ran, but the man needs to be shown some respect. Particularly after this speech.
15 comments
Tags: Election 2008
| hyleasfan 11/5/08 4:10 PM | A nice concession speech does not make up for the divisive, negative campaign he ran and the fear and hate he and Palin stirred up and/or tolerated at their rallies. Fail! |
| Milton 11/5/08 4:25 PM | QUOTE (hyleasfan @ Nov 5 2008, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> the divisive, negative campaign he ran and the fear and hate he and Palin stirred up and/or tolerated at their rallies. Fail! Is that anything like inciting class rivialry? |
| Wonder 11/5/08 4:31 PM | I believe that we should follow the gracious example of McCain and put animosity aside and support our government. There were nasty cracks on both sides of the major parties strategies. But we need to follow the candidates lead, now, and put it all aside. Grumbling and growling about who was worse is history. They were both terrible. Now the decision has been made and we start fresh. Gil, get over yourself. |
| Kate 11/5/08 6:16 PM | QUOTE The one thing that bothered me about Obama’s speech last night was that his supporters in Grant Park did not cheer louder for Obama’s words of praise for McCain. I did not like the campaign McCain ran, but the man needs to be shown some respect. Particularly after this speech. Thank you Gil.McCain did give a wonderful concession speech of which I have a copy that was emailed to me. I will try to post that for others to try to appreciate. |
| citydweller 11/5/08 6:45 PM | I was actually moved by the speech. If McCain had addressed the entire American nation with the same eloquence and candor during his campaign he probably would have had my vote. His handlers and advisers should be shipped off to some banana republic where their work would be better appreciated and more effective. What troubles me most, though, is the thought that the mindless rancor generated by this campaign amongst the "less thoughtful" of our countrymen will likely endure and remain as a rift in our society for some time to come. Ah, hindsight....... |
| Kate 11/5/08 8:29 PM | Senator John McCain's speech: November 5, 2008 Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening. My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love. In a contest as long and 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. This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound. A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth. Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer in my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day, though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise. Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again. We fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours. I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends. The road was a difficult one from the outset. But your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you. I am especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign. I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me. You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign. All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude, and the promise of more peaceful years ahead. I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, 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. Her husband Todd and their five beautiful children with their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country. |
| Freedom 11/5/08 8:29 PM | QUOTE (citydweller @ Nov 5 2008, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was actually moved by the speech. If McCain had addressed the entire American nation with the same eloquence and candor during his campaign he probably would have had my vote. His handlers and advisers should be shipped off to some banana republic where their work would be better appreciated and more effective. What troubles me most, though, is the thought that the mindless rancor generated by this campaign amongst the "less thoughtful" of our countrymen will likely endure and remain as a rift in our society for some time to come. Ah, hindsight....... I seem to remember 8 years of visceral hatred from the left for Pres. Bush, mindless namecalling (smirking chimp), treasonous degridation of our troops (Murtha, Durbin, Pelosi)...are those the "less thoughtful" you had in mind??? For 8 yrs liberal ripped this country apart with their hatred and puke..now we're supposed to just forget everything? Wow!!! Have a great day!!! |
| Kate 11/5/08 8:31 PM | To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly month after month in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship. I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been. This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life. And my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years. I would not be an American worthy of the name, should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century. Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone and I thank the people of Arizona for it. Tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama, I wish godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history, we make history. Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much. |
| eaglerick 11/5/08 8:48 PM | Thanks for posting this Kate - its all the more impressive the day after when the bitter pill of disappointment begins to fade... My kids began praying for our next president this morning, I'll wait until tomorrow  |
| citydweller 11/5/08 9:02 PM | QUOTE (Freedom @ Nov 5 2008, 09:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> For 8 yrs liberal ripped this country apart with their hatred and puke..now we're supposed to just forget everything? Wow!!! I've been waiting for someone else to say it already, but I guess I'll just have to pick up the slack; Dude, you are one very stupid freaking puke. WOW!!! |
| Kate 11/5/08 9:04 PM | QUOTE (Freedom @ Nov 5 2008, 08:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I seem to remember 8 years of visceral hatred from the left for Pres. Bush, mindless namecalling (smirking chimp), treasonous degridation of our troops (Murtha, Durbin, Pelosi)...are those the "less thoughtful" you had in mind??? Read McCain's concession speech - you could learn from his humbleness my friend. For 8 yrs liberal ripped this country apart with their hatred and puke..now we're supposed to just forget everything? Wow!!! Have a great day!!! |
| Milton 11/6/08 9:32 AM | QUOTE (citydweller @ Nov 5 2008, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What troubles me most, though, is the thought that the mindless rancor generated by this campaign amongst the "less thoughtful" of our countrymen will likely endure and remain as a rift in our society for some time to come. Ah, hindsight....... You know, this is very offensive. Are you implying that McCain supporters are "less thoughtful?" That's a bold statement. And certainly less than true. Moreover, Freedom has a good point, for eight years the left has criticized Bush, at times with some very hateful and degrading words, not the right is just supposed to bow down and support the new president as if they were wrong in not doing so? I'm confused...I guess I'm "less thoughtful." |
| grieker 11/6/08 9:43 AM | QUOTE (citydweller @ Nov 5 2008, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've been waiting for someone else to say it already, but I guess I'll just have to pick up the slack; Dude, you are one very stupid freaking puke. WOW!!! By golly I believe he is more annoying than I am. Like that flake of dust in your eye, just really annoying. |
| johnq 11/6/08 9:54 AM | QUOTE (Milton @ Nov 6 2008, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You know, this is very offensive. Are you implying that McCain supporters are "less thoughtful?" If you think that one must "bow down" to support the new president, then I guess you are less thoughtful. Why don't you rise up to support him? That's a bold statement. And certainly less than true. Moreover, Freedom has a good point, for eight years the left has criticized Bush, at times with some very hateful and degrading words, not the right is just supposed to bow down and support the new president as if they were wrong in not doing so? I'm confused...I guess I'm "less thoughtful." For as long as I have come here, I have read posts after post deriding Bush and the Republicans. Some of the rhetoric has been foul and uncalled for. In the face of criticism from the right, I have often seen the reply that, well, the right does it, so it's OK for the left to do it, too. If you feel it is appropriate to continue that sort of thing, then by all means, do so. But everytime you do, remember what you just posted. Remember what you thought of those who referred to Bush as Monkeyboy. Is that what you want for yourself? Or do you want to help put a stop to that sort of thing? It's trite, I know, but in 2008, two wrongs still do not make a right. Sometimes, someone just has to be the one to say, "enough is enough." |
| Pericles 11/6/08 9:57 AM | QUOTE (citydweller @ Nov 5 2008, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What troubles me most, though, is the thought that the mindless rancor generated by this campaign amongst the "less thoughtful" of our countrymen will likely endure and remain as a rift in our society for some time to come. Which includes the "less thoughtful" from both political parties? |
