John McCain conceded less than 30 minutes after polls closed on the West Coast tonight, saying he had already called Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on his historic win. In a speech made to his supporters in Arizona, McCain expressed his sympathies that Obama's grandmother did not live to see her grandson elected and offered goodwill to the president elect.
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 and 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.
McCain went on to tell supporters it is "natural to feel some disappointment. Though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours." Love him or hate him, what did you think of McCain's speech?
S'Oliver
Urban Outfitters
Morgan
I saw this on CNN, he was very gracious. It was a nice speech, way to go out with some dignity!
1I will always love and respect this man.
2Loved the speech... annoyed by the rude audience... and all the "boOoOos" Still a fantastic speech by McCain, nonetheless!
3I thought it started out shaky - I think in the beginning he made it sound like a victory just for black Americans, but as he continued, McCain did a fine, gracious job with the speech.
4McCain's speech was excellent. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried through the first part of it. Well, maybe a little ashamed...
I just loved the way he honored the historical significance. I thought he was very gracious.
5I liked his speech. Very humble.
6He did great.
7I really do like him for what he did and how nice he was. go mccain! for being a good loser.
Great speech by McCain, very, very humble and gracious...
...but
did anyone think Palin had the Pagent girl who just lost and is almost gonna cry look?
8No.
9come on, my dad who voted McCain pointed it out, he was like she looks like she is about to cry but holding a smile for the pictures - I supplied the pageant girl imagery though.
10Though I voted for Obama, I am an Arizonan and I have alot of respect for John McCain. I thought McCain's speech was dignified, gracious and classy. The audience, however, was not. I wish they would have represented our state better, but McCain certainly did.
11Much respect to McCain!
12McCain has sacrificed so much and is an amazing person and a hero to me. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Obama isn't half the man McCain is. My heart goes out to John McCain!
13He gave a very good speech. He really took the high road.
14I saw that Palin looked on the verge of tears but I didn't think there wasn't anything "pangenty" about it. She was just disappointed but holding it together.
15I've never seen anybody taking their loss so gracefully. Admirable. To term Obama as 'now my president' shows some true humility.
16I thought McCain handled it well. I have much respect for all he's done for our country.
17Palin, not impressed.
"Palin, not impressed."
18Pretty much.
I thought this was the most sincere speech to concede I'd ever seen. I'm glad obama won but I have respect for mccain!
19Great speech, great man! But bad choice of VP!
20Go Obama! I adore you!
I have always respected McCain and his dedication to the country through service. He's a good man. I appreciate his run to the White House, I'd hope he'd make it 8 years ago, but hey, it is what it is. I like his speech too.
As for Palin, I like what she's done for Alaska. I was never quite sure if she's the right choice for VP candidate, but she's ok in my book.
21McCain was so eloquent. His speech was very touching. I appreciate his good attitude.
22Has anyone heard anything about prop 8?
23Janneth, the most recent word looks like prop 8 is passing. Lets hope things turn around.
24http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-2008election-californi...
25Prop 8 is passing at 51%.
26Prop 2 is passing at 62%, which of course makes me want to piddle with joy.
I posted a tracker link, but naturally it got flagged.
Sorry, make that 53 for 8.
27John McCain is a hero and a gentleman. This was the most sincere and beautiful concession speech I have ever heard. God Bless America and all her people so that we can unite again.
28Zeze, I saw a woman who was disappointed but gracious. Are women in power supposed to give up emotions too?
29Sarah was crying.
McCain was gracious and humble. He gave us a good fight over the past 2 years. He must be respected for that. The road was tough, it was so grueling.
30Great speech.
31"Are women in power supposed to give up emotions too?"
No, I thought her reaction was very human. I don't think she can or should be faulted for it.
32I thought his concession speech was beautiful.
33I think he made a great speech but was a bit annoyed as well with the "booo's" in the crowd. I hope as time passes by people start realizing that although their ticket did not win, Obama wil be great for this country.
34I wish John McCain and Sarah Palin the best.
Thank you Kast.
35What is sad about McCain losing, and this isn't sour grapes or further Obama dissing.. McCain spent 5+ years in a prison camp in Vietnam. Obama represents the generation of people who protested against Vietnam. Obama's friends and allies are part of the anarchists who hated the Vietnam war and who set the tone of our non-victory there. McCain spilled blood there. I'm not saying that McCain deserved to win because of what he did in Vietnam. Candidates should be judged on their platform, ideas, etc. It's just sad to me that this as the final slap in the face to Vietnam vets. At another point in our time, I think we would have cared more about the two distinct sides at play here.
36I thought the speech was very nice and gracious. It was a grueling campaign and even though he didn't get the presidency, he seemed to be a very good sport about it.
37I was appalled at the ignorant "boos" coming from the audience!
38I didn't say she had to give up emotion - I was honestly asking if anyone else thought she looked like she was going to cry or if my dad was being dramatic....the pageant thing was more b/c of her Miss Wasilla days, it did really look like those smile while you are really sad moments...
not a biggie - just an observation
you are 100% right on the McCain speech though, I really believe if McCain had shown that side more and I won't lie, if he had picked a qualified VP, it might have been a much different race tonight. But at the end of the night I felt confident that him and Obama would work together and put the past in the past to take the country forward - not an easy task, and something a lesser man would not be able to do after such a long, hard fought race.
39There are boos at every concession speech. Had this gone the other way, there would have been some. That is just a fact.
40I was disgusted by the boo's! I couldnt tell the difference between those boo's and the boo's from the rallies!
41It says a lot...
Sooooo sad about Prop 8 and 2
42Um.. what's sad about them?
43I think those two distinct sides aren't that distinct, beavis. The right to protest, to free speech and freedom of assembly are just as American as McCain's respectable and honored military service. The lines are not that clear, and continuing to draw them does a disservice to the simple reality that a whole LOTTA people just put their vote behind Obama.
Not everyone who was against the Vietnam war was an "anarchist". That's a pretty divisive term to slap out there.
On a more positive note, I thought McCain's speech was excellent, and I really hope this will mark a return back to the "real" John McCain that thought about things on their own terms and ruffled feathers. Its why I liked him, right or left, I admired his ability to see "issue" instead of "right vs left", and I hope Obama and he can work together in a positive capacity. I think that would be especially helpful after his defeat.
I am not a fan of Palin, but I don't begrudge her any emotional displays or try to read into what she was thinking, so I offer no real opinion there.
I just thought McCain ended on a very generous and mature note, and I hope THAT will resonate out to his voters and take shape as support for the future of all Americans and not just bitter grapes and wishing for failure.
44And GS, sadly, is correct. There will always be "booers" but I hate that too. As I said above, divisive beliefs and negativity helps NOBODY, regardless of who wins, it just feeds the hate.
If I was there and heard someone boo McCain next to me, I think I would be furious, and embarrassed. I think I might have inserted my elbow in their ribcage too.
I just believe no matter what, that America has to stop being so damn full of hate and fear and spitefulness, this US VS YOU mentality is bad stuff - and inaccurate.
45(Clarification: I do not mean it is sad that GS is correct (lol)...I mean that sadly its true there will always be spiteful people on both sides and I wish it would STOP.
46
47lol, I didn't get that at all shadow. I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything.
48I agree with shadow and GS.
49it was very good; humble and profound. im surprised at the negative reactions to obama winning. (booing there and the comments at fox news' website.) people have this crazy idea that socialism is coming with obama's win, even though the taxes are going to be similar for the wealthy to what they were during the Regan years! and they think that abortions will increase despite his support for sex ed, help to single mothers, and access to birth control. but fear mongering prevails~~
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