“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.”
These are the words of Senator John McCain conceding the 2008 election to Barack Obama. They seem to come from another time. McCain was showing grace and eloquence on the most disappointing night of his political career. He realized the historic significance was more important than his own feelings.
“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…we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once strained our nation’s reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship…”
McCain even took the time to offer sympathy to Obama that his grandmother didn’t live to see the 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.”
A sincerely generous personal thought for the man who just defeated him. He knew that would mean much to Obama.
McCain and Obama disagreed on most things. But the voters had spoken.
”Senator Obama and I had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain…I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges.”
The obvious comparison is to that middle of night rant that Trump spewed to the country after his loss in 2020. But this refusal to put the country ahead of one’s political beliefs and the hunger to cling to power has dragged the country to the point where our government has grind to a halt. The current state of the House of Representatives being held hostage by a small group of Republican radicals who only care about wielding power and refusing to compromise on the many issues that are tearing the country apart. These petty ideologues like Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise have no interest in pulling the country together. They want to obstruct. Compromise is seen as a weakness and is what cost former Speaker Kevin McCarthy his job. The Republicans are floundering while serious issues like the Israel-Hamas war, the war in Ukraine, the threat of a government shutdown loom must have their attention.
In his concession, McCain urged the country into the future.
”It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.”
In 2017, eleven days after brain surgery McCain returned to the Senate with a warning that Congress was failing the country.
”Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio, and television and the internet. To hell with them. We’re getting nothing done.”
I never agreed politically with McCain. But he put his country first. His party and the country should take heed of the words of a warrior.
ah, comments from not too long ago, but clearly a bygone era. they seem so distant and so utterly impossible to hear today. there is no question that history will be most unkind to the current republican party…as it should be. the only question is how much damage will have to be undone.