by Jason George
PHOENIX - Sen. John McCain ended his campaign tonight, conceding to Sen. Barack Obama by telephone and delivering 12 minutes of reflective, conciliatory and humble remarks to his supporters gathered here.
"Senator Obama and I have and have argued our differences and he has prevailed," McCain said. "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him but offering our next president not just good will."
"Whatever our differences we are fellow American and please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that," he added.
"It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again."
To many in the crowd that "disappointment" was too much, and several could be heard breaking out into "Boos!" twice, belting shouts of "No way!" and several phrases unmentionable in a family blog.
McCain even once had to calm them.
"Please, please," he said.
To be fair, many in the half-capacity crowd on the lawn at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa broke into applause when McCain stated that electing an African American reflects favorably on our nation.
McCain said while there were surely mistakes in his campaign, they were all his. And "I won't spend a minute of my future" worrying about them.
McCain also thanked his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. She did not speak.
Comments
Yes, it was a nice speech John McCain. If you had spoken that way the last 6 months, you might be celebrating right now. But you took the low road based on bad advice. Hopefully American politicians and pundits can learn from this and start taking the high road from now on.
Posted by: tried and true American | November 5, 2008 12:51 AM
McCain was no less gracious and conciliatory than we have come to expect here Downunder. He was a desperately 'unfortunate' candidate, draeing the short straw just about everywhere - a gifted, charismatic and BLACK opponent contrasting massively with Bush, and the US and world economic meltdown left the 'old bloke' beached. The positive from way down here is that America has mended its rudder and we have seen strong twin screws driving the ship forward. Obama has the power to do it alone even if McCain has to be shut down now. An impressive election for a 'change', the voters themselves impressing us in [your] capacity to be inspired after helping in your own two-election deflation. I suspect God still blesses America.
Posted by: tony Mora | November 5, 2008 12:59 AM
Carabou Bye Bye.
Posted by: Vivian | November 5, 2008 1:01 AM
What a wonderful day. Not only a win, but a strong, undeniable victory.
Absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Joe | November 5, 2008 1:47 AM
Vivian:
That's the funniest damn comment of the night!
Posted by: Lazlo | November 5, 2008 1:49 AM
War monger Republicans never did good for the fellow americans , made Americans life miserable by killing billions of innocents across the globe with donating billions as a bail-out package to the capitalists... Whenever Republicans wrests the power economy doomed ....This is indeed a slap on the faces of war-mongers ...
Posted by: Jeanne Shaheen | November 5, 2008 5:35 AM
A note to Michelle Obama: You were proud of your country for the first time when your husband was nominated. Congratulations. I am saddened by my countrymen for the first time in my longer life, knowing that we have been taken in by a great con. God help our country weather the inexperience, indecisiveness, inappropriate mentors and inadequacy of the next four years.
Posted by: Joanne | November 5, 2008 6:52 AM
McCain's speech was strong, gracious and -- finally -- unifying. It was obviously a speech that was difficult for him to deliver, but I'm glad he did. As "tried and true" mentions, McCain would have been better served had he not spent so much of his campaign in mud-slinging. My hope for him at this point is that he can regain his war-hero legacy, that of a true servant of his country. It would be a shame if this is how America will remember a once-great man.
Posted by: Op109 | November 5, 2008 7:55 AM
I ask that the republican take a minute and reflect on "why" this came about. I believe our country was tired of the division, and wants desperately to be united again. A common people, a common cause. The people were not "con'd", they were inspired. For a party that claims to understand American values, when did inspiration and unity fall away? I urge all to come together. Conservatives, and Liberals are not our enemy...........division is.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | November 5, 2008 8:57 AM
I was very impressed by McCain's gracious concession speech. This was the old McCain, the one many of his opponents (in which number I include myself) respected and admired, even while disagreeing with him. Had he run a campaign on the same tenor, he might have won. Instead, he allowed himself, and his better nature, to be hijacked by the fundamentalists and McCarthyites of his party.
Posted by: jlp | November 5, 2008 8:57 AM
It is a great victory for the great Obama and the democrats.
McCain's concession speech was exceptional. He would seem to me to be truly a great American. What more should anyone expect of him to give for his country, and for the first and only time in this torturous campaign, I could even appreciate one of the great Obama's speeches.
I wish the great Obama success as this country's next president as I still do not get the Less Energy / No Coal / More Taxes policy positions that his agenda will surely pursue. As president, some cards are going to have to be laid face up on the table.
Republicans, Wingnuts, Texas, Django, ~ all Big Losers. democrats can shout and rejoice, harmonize a little Kum-bah-yah. The biggest loser of all though, I think, will be the Nation of Israel. Don't know what that would be, but I hope that they have some Aces stashed away somewhere. I wish them much luck.
Posted by: Django S. - N Exile somewhere in/around the 39th Parallel | November 5, 2008 9:32 AM
John McCain is a GREAT MAN! A GENTLEMAN! HIS SPEECH URGES ALL AMERICANS TO GIVE CREDITS AND FULL SUPPORT TO OBAMA IN HIS NEW JOB. SMOUTH & PEACEFUL TRANSITION! WE SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING HERE ANYMORE. I DIDN'T SUPPORT OBAMA. I WAS TOUGH WITH HIM. NOW, THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER. GOOD SPORTMANSHIP! OBAMA IS THE WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK Mr PRESIDENT. THE COUNTRY COMES FIRST! AMERICA IS GIVING A REAL LESSON OF DEMOCRACY TO THE REST OFTHE WORLD. Max
Posted by: Max | November 5, 2008 1:10 PM
Max.....It will take all of us to heal and get this country on track. thank you for your help.
Posted by: bill r. | November 5, 2008 1:42 PM