Campaign 2008
Posted: 9/5/08
John McCain's Acceptance Speech
September 5, 2008
by Diane W. Collins
dcollins@marketingweb.com
Last night, at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota Sen. John McCain accepted his party's nomination for the President of the United States.
Prior to his acceptance speech, delegates, the press, and America's TV audience viewed a video presentation of the highlights of McCain's life. The focus was on his sacrifice for and his service to America... beyond duty. "I will fight for you," McCain stated. There is no doubt that he is the one who has. There is no doubt he understands war.
However, the evening demonstrated that Sen. McCain also understands peace. The example of this that struck me most was when McCain went back to Viet Nam, helping to open relations with a country that held him captive and treated him brutally as a prisoner-of-war. Why? Because McCain felt it would be good for America... Country first. It was time to open new markets. It was time to get on with it.
No, last night McCain did not detail his plan for taking America out of its current economic slump, but he did outline his areas of concentration. He did tell us how he would start and it made sense.
McCain said he would cut taxes, not raise them; create new markets, not close them; cut government spending, not increase it. And, Sen. McCain added "business tax cuts create jobs" by helping employers grow their businesses, keep their employees and employ more workers.
On the issue of lost jobs and the re-training of workers, McCain said he would end failed government programs and that government assistance would change on the "McCain watch." Workers would be trained to compete in today's world. For the unemployed, government would work with community colleges and industries together to make up the wage loss.
Regarding health care, McCain said it "needed to be easier to find and keep good health care" so Americans would not have to rely on a government based system led by bureaucrats, who make decisions about your care rather than doctors.
As direct relief to the American family, McCain stated he would double the child tax exemption increasing it to $7,000 per child. He cited education as "the new civil rights issue of this country" and vowed to put the education of our children back into the hands of parents and teachers, not entrenched bureaucrats and union bosses.
McCain's energy-at-home policy would include "all resources, all technologies." He mentioned drilling off-shore now, nuclear power, clean coal, wind, tide, solar, natural gas, flex-fuel, hybrid and electric autos. Ambitious, yes but McCain said, "it is time to shock the world again" and show them how Americans lead. According to McCain, his energy-at-home policy would create millions of new jobs.
Security is McCain's forte. He declared al-Qaeda and Iran to be the chief-state-sponsor of terror. Russia was defined as oil rich with a corrupted power base whose intention is to re-assemble the Russian Empire -- evidenced by its attack on Georgia. Regarding America's security, McCain said he would use diplomacy but "not turn a blind eye to aggression." As for threats, McCain said, "I'm not afraid, I'm prepared... I hate war... I will draw on all my experience -- diplomatic, economic, military, and the power of ideals to build the foundation for a stable peace."
McCain's conclusion encompassed his call to serve, "We need to catch up to history and change the way we do things in Washington... I have the record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not... Nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself. Stand up! It's not over. Stand up! We never hide from history. We make history!"
McCain isn't the greatest orator we've seen. He calls himself an "imperfect servant," but his service, dedication, experience, judgment, and risk-taking define him as a true leader.