: PHOENIX – With a gracious nod to Barack Obama, John McCain acknowledged defeat and urged his supporters to move beyond partisan differences to put country first — an echo of his campaign theme.
"I wish godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president," McCain said as he conceded the presidency he has sought for a decade.
The four-term Arizona senator added: "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."
Flanked by his wife Cindy and his running mate Sarah Palin, McCain stepped before supporters at the Biltmore Hotel on a balmy Tuesday evening shortly after telephoning Obama to offer his congratulations and concede the race. He implored his backers to fall in line behind Obama and put aside partisan bickering. And, he pushed back on a smattering of boos and shouts of "No-Bama! and "Reverend Wright," a reference to Obama's incendiary former pastor.
"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans," McCain said. "No association has ever meant more to me than that."
After an intensely negative campaign, McCain went to lengths to take the high road in his concession speech and acknowledged the historic nature of Obama's barrier-breaking accomplishment.
"His success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance," McCain said, adding that he "deeply admired" Obama for inspiring the hopes of people "who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence" in electing a president.
"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," McCain said, adding that the U.S. had moved "a world away" from its racist past by electing the nation's first black president.
He allowed that disappointment was natural but said that starting Wednesday "we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again."
"We fought as hard as we could. And though we feel short, the failure is mine, not yours," McCain said.
Also, he praised Palin as "one of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform."
By McCain's own admission, it was a disappointing end to a quest he began sketching 10 years ago before his first run for president in 2000. He was vanquished that time by George W. Bush in the Republican primaries, but won the affection and respect of many voters who admired his independent streak and dedication to honor and service as a former Naval officer and prisoner of war in Vietnam.
McCain entered this campaign as the perceived GOP front-runner but saw his effort nearly implode in July 2007 amid staff tension and vast overspending. He was able to rebuild his candidacy by grinding out key wins in the New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida primaries.
He faced long odds from the start of the general election, running as the GOP successor to President Bush who had become deeply unpopular amid a troubled economy and two wars. But then McCain put the little-known Alaska governor on the GOP ticket and polling shortly after the Republican convention found McCain pulling slightly ahead of Obama.
Then the global financial crisis hit, and McCain's hopes were dashed. Voters usually punish the party in power when the economy tanks, and this year was no different.
In the campaign's final days, the GOP nominee maintained a grueling campaign schedule while being well aware of the odds against him. He stumped across Colorado and New Mexico after a 24-hour cross country journey across battleground states that ended after midnight Tuesday.
But McCain also acknowledged he'd made mistakes in his campaign and that he had let his supporters down.
"I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine," he said.
I KNOW DINOSAUR/GI JOE ARMS WAS MAD!!!! HE LOST TO A BLACK MAN!!! SARAH PALIN CAN NOW GO BACK TO WASILLY WITH HER PREGNANT TEEN AND HER "SPECIAL NEEDS" BABY! NO ONE LIKE YOU SARAH PALIN, SO EAT A DICK! JOHN MCCAIN, I DONT KNOW WHY YOU EVEN TRIED, NO ONE WANTED TO SOO YO DUSTY ASS IN THE WHITE HOUSE! HA AND HA! WE DID IT! YES WE CAN AND YES WE DID! NA, IT'S OUR TURN TO GET OUR SHINE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D
@QueenLessKing..I wondered the same thing. I didn't feel that his speech was all that great. It was rehearsed and ingenuine because he had already predicted defeated. Nothing he said was sincere...this man had been bashing and viciously ridiculing Obama the whole campaign....So, no, I won't commend him a good that was supposedly 'well done.'..and as for Jesse Jackson, I could have kicked my TV screen in when I saw him up there putting on a show with that tears.
"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," McCain said, adding that the U.S. had moved "a world away" from its racist past by electing the nation's first black president.
THIS WAS NOT JUST SIGNIFICANT FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN, IT WAS ALL PEOPLE. HE COULD HAVE LEFT THAT SHYT OUT....AS MUCH AS WE VOTED THIS ELECTION MANY WHITES VOTED FOR HIM AS WE DID. CNN NEWS BROKE THE SHYT DOWN...HE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO BOW OUT GRACEFULLY.
SO HE GETS NO LOVE HERE FOR SOMETHING HIS PEOPLE TOLD HIM HE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO SAVE FACE. I STILL REMEMBER ALL THE SHYT HIM & PALIN SAID DURING THEIR RALLIES.
yea, he wasnt a hater but his fans were, booing like a bunch of ungrateful little kids when mccain spoke of obama, but u seen how obama fans didnt boo when he spoke of mccain (we're more mature than that.lol.)honestly i think sarah palin lost this election for him. didnt know body want a chick with absolutly no experience whatsoever in the whitehouse. but who cares b/c who i wanted to win won anyway :)
Yeah, he was humbled and SEEMED gracious to me as well, but I don't know, I just can't seem to trust his body language...I couldn't read him. So, as tjtrae said, ride off into the sunset w/malibu barbie, and have a bud and a smile. no bud, MGD (when I celebrate, that is), oh and where's moobmoob321!!!
He did takee the high road in his speech. His supporters, of course, made me shake my head. McCain didn't get Obama's name out completely before they began drowning him with BOOs. Notice the difference at Grant Park. Obama's supporters clapped for the race McCain ran. I'm glad the majority of Americans weren't represented in McCain's group.
His speach was as fake as his arms and Cindy's botox face. All he did was read a speach an advisor wrote for him one they realized they had lost the election. I am so glad that the people of the UNITED States of America have spoken and that all those negative ads did not work. Since day 1 they have done everything to knock him down from questioning his faith/religon,his pastor,Acorn and countless others. Perhaps if the McCain campaign had focused more on the real issues instead of trying to make people hate his opponent he might have been more successful. He has definately lost not only the election but the respect of many Americans.
According to CNN bloggers, 82% of people think that Sarah Palin caused McCain to lose the election. But I agree with the politcal analysts. If anything, she revived the Republicans. Once she was named his running mate, his numbers rose. McCain's connection to Bush (waiting until the end to show unity) is what did it. Bush's approval ratings decreased even more after the 'bailout' so naturally it would happen to McCain. Add to the fact, McCain was almost ignoring our economic crisis; he only stated he wouldn't raise taxes and ran the Joe the Plumber fiasco into the ground.
YEAH THAT WAS NICE WHAT McCAIN SAID ABOUT: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++#######+++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++############+++++++++++++++ ++++++++++###############+++++++++++++ +++++++++#####++++++++###++++++++++++ ++++++++###++++++++++++###+++++++++++ ++++++++##++++++++++++++###++++++++++ +++++++##+++++++++++++++####+++++++++ +++++++#+++++++++++++++++###+++++++++ ++++++##+++++++++++++++++####++++++++ ++++++#+++++++++++++++##++@##++++++++ +++++##++++++++++++############+++++++ +++++##++++++++#+++##+####+####+++++++ +++++##++++#####+++#++#####+####++++++ +++++##+++##+###+++#+++****++####+++++ +++++##+++++#++#+++#+++++++++##++++++ +++++##++++@++++++++#+++++++##+#+++++ +++++#+++++++++++++++#++++++##+#+++++ ++++++#+++++++++++++#++++++####++++++ ++++++##+++++++++++####++++####++++++ ++++++++++++++++@#+###++++++####+++++ +++++##+#+++++++++++++++++++##+#+++++ +++++#++++++++++++++##++++++####+++++ +++++#+@++++++++++######++++##+++++++ +++++#+#+#+++++++##+++#+++++##+++++++ ++++++#++#++++++##+++###++++##+++++++ +++++++#++++++++++++++++++#####++++++ +++++++++#+++++++++++#++++#####++++++ +++++++++++#+++++++++++++############+ ++++++++++++#+++++++++++#############+ +++++++++++++#++++++++###############+ ++++++++++++++##++++########+########+ +++++++++++++#++###########++########+ +++++++++++###+++#########++#########+ ++++++++#######++++######+++#########+ ++++++#########+++++++##++++#########+ +++++##########+++++###++++##########+ +++############+++++#++++++##########+ ++##############++++#++++++##########+ ++##############++++++++++###########+ +###############++++++++++###########+ +############### ++++ +++++###########+ +###############++++++#++############+ +################+++++#++############+
Perhaps that was the un-jaded John McCain of 2000 that gave that concession speech last night…one delivered within an hour of the polls closing on the west coast, which by the way amused the hell of me…but anyway….as a person that has been observing both the primaries, republican and democrat, in addition to the final general election, I still see McCain as a man that either “doesn’t get it” or isn’t capable of fully verbalizing his comprehension IF he does. I’m referring to his remarks about African-Americans and the “special pride” that must be theirs….then he added as if an afterthought that the U.S. has moved a world away from racism by electing the nation’s first black president…. He seems to understand the ethnic historical significant, but still doesn’t comprehend the absolute UNITY that led to this historic moment and didn’t really acknowledge the ability of those NOT IN HIS AUDIENCE to look beyond the rhetoric that is color and see “substance.”
I’m sure it’s difficult to use inclusive phrases such as “our nation” and “we” …when you are the loser, but implying that his election was more about people who thought they had little at stake or little influence in electing a president…and less about the issues, true character and the ability to actually lead…is a typical McCain sly insult and will make it difficult for his supporters via his “verbal cues” to move beyond their divisive beliefs.
None the less, he managed to not say anything particularly incendiary, and hopefully he lives up to his remark (I won’t say word because the man flip flops too much for my taste), falls in line like a good solider and does all that he can do as a senator to support THE PRESIDENT ELECT….I really enjoy typing that…Barak Obama.
The crowds each candidate drew was very telling as to what the content of their character was. There was hate on one side (McCain/Palin) and hope and a vision on the other side (Obama/Biden)because The Bible says "where there is no vision, the people perish". The maturity level was a stark contrast also because I noticed the republicans booing the President Elect of the United States of America and the Grant Park crowd stayed respectful -- makes you wonder which side was actually Christian -- hmmm. Is there no end to their stupidity. All I can say is the best man won for ALL of Americans and I thank God that a man with what it takes even wanted to run -- crazy as Americans can be! This shows proof that God is still on the throne! God bless America!
McCain's speech was gracious. The first time in a long time he exhibited some class. His supporters are racist, sourpuss faced, white people who are salty that the POTUS is a BLACK MAN. They just got a taste of what we feel when janky, dumb, coke snorting people (GWB) and his cronies steal elections and we are in an uproar but they have to suck it up and grin and bear it like we have had to almot every election prior to this one. Everyone is to be commended for whatever part they played in ensuring that this election was won by Barack Hussein Obama
I personally think he picked Palin because she was a woman, but he made a poor choice, he would have been better off with a cloned Republican Hillary Clinton. Nonetheless, I have a profound amount of respect for McCain after the speech he gave. He dissmissed booing from the crowd, wasn't gonna have that, and I feel like he truly wants to help Barack. I dunno about his fans, but truly McCain deserves some respect for his speech...
WOW MCCAIN TOOK A BEAT DOWN FROM OBAMA...IT WAS NOT PRETTY...BUT HIS SPEECH WAS GRACEFUL AND HE EVEN QUITED DOWN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BOOING WHEN HE MENTIONED OBAMA'S NAME. DEEP DOWN THEY KNEW THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST THE JUGGERNAUT KNOWN AS OBAMA!!!! HE MASTERED THE WAY A CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE RAN AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OTHER CANDIDATES FOR YEARS TO COME.
Whuts up Lexia and Eso
I'm proud of Obama and the race that he ran and I'm also glad to see the graciousness of McCain's concession speech. While his supporters showed no class whatsoever, I don't think some of Obama's supporters would have been any different had he lost. It's easy to sit back after victory and judge your opponents as sore losers, but looking at how some of ya'll are talking on this post I don't see that much graciousness in victory.
on a side note, I have to agree with Antlo25 about that middle finger
WELL WELL WELL.. THE BATTERIES ARE OUT OF THEN ROBOTIC ARMS.. LMAO.. ON THE REAL THAT WAS THE BEST SPEECH THAT HE UTTERED ON NO THAT SENT HIS OLD HEART INTO SHOCK.. SEE WHEN YOU PLAY DIRTY (HIS CAMPAGIN)! HE IS SOMEONE NOW SAYING GOD DAMN IT.. WHY! OH WHY! DID I CHOOSE SARAH! GOD DAMN YOU BUSH! LMAO.. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BUSH FOR BEING THE DUMB AZZ THAT YOU WERE! LMAO.. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.... OBAMA!
**WOW** DID I NOT PROOFREAD.. OK THIS IS WHAT I WAS ATTEMTPTING TO SAY...
WELL WELL WELL THE BATTERIES ARE OUT OF HIS ROBOTIC ARMS..LMAO.. ON THE REAL THAT WAS THE BEST SPEECH THAT HE HAS UTTERED. I KNOW THAT SENT HIS HEART INTO SHOCK THAT HE HAD TO DO IT. HE IS SOMEWHERE NOW REGRETTING HIS RUNNING MATE SARAH PALIN. I PERSONALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO GEORGE W. BUSH FOR BEING THE DUMB AZZ THAT YOU WERE.. WITHOUT YOU THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.. WE GOT THE WHITE REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR OBAMA.. THANKS ITS ABOUT TIME YOU DID SOME GOOD IN YOUR 8 YEAR STING!
His speech was very gracious he took the loss with such class and sophistication... not so much can be said about the people in the audience who voted for him. Their boo's for barack obama was degrading to their own characters and it said a lot about what type of people they were and their focus on the future was not on change but for the obvious to remain the same.
IT WAS HIS BEST SPEECH TO DATE N IT CAME 2 LATE OH WELL WOMP WOMP. N HE A F*CKIN RACIST CUZ HOW HE GONNA SAY THIS IS A HISTORIC AAND IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS NOT AMERICANS IN GENERAL BUT AFRICAN AMERICANS. MC CAIN SIT YA OLD ASS DOWN AND GO DIE CUZ WE DIDNT WANT YA OLD ASS AS OUR PRESIDENT AND THAT F*CKIN WHORE BAG IDIOT SARAH DICK SUCKIN PALIN 4 DA VP. U KNEW U WAS GONNA LOSE WHEN U PICKED HER DUMB ASS DO BOOHOO ALL THE WAY TO THE GRAVEYARD U RACIST PRICK.
co-sign chitownbaby i stated earlier i thought that was mc cain's best speech but his supporters were on some kkk shish booing every single solitary time mc cain said obama we all KNOW that they were not just booing because their man lost they were booing because they hate to see a BLACK man in the oval office
