McCain Makes History!!!

Just a week ago I was sitting in front of the TV watching an eloquent and charismatic Barack Obama speak in front of 85,000 people... A lot went through my mind during that speech... but what I thought of most was my wish that John McCain could deliver a speech as powerful and awe inspiring as Obama's... Not for one second did I MYSELF doubt McCain's sincerity in bringing change to Washington... but I know how difficult it can be to sell the idea that he and Obama share a vision for a better future in this country... Throughout the week I got a lot of jokes from people about the statements I made claiming McCain to also be a candidate for change... After last nights speech... for anyone who witnessed it... I hope I do not have to do any more convincing...

For a long time I have had strong and unique feelings about politics... a sometimes blind hope that things could change... When people asked me how they possibly could I always pointed to one solution... ... ... ATTITUDE ... ... ... Politicians are so often afraid to say things that are unpopular... so afraid to go against their party... so afraid to stand up for what they believe in ... because they know that on any given issue... if they become unpopular enough... they will lose the office that they have come to love...

Last night... as I listened to McCain's speech I could not help but be inspired by his words... Although Obama was inspiring, he attacked McCain every chance he could. He attacked his judgment... he said that he didn't get the issues... he compared him to George Bush... The Democrats like to say that McCain will be more of the same? ? ? ? ? I didn't know George Bush was a POW for over 5 years... I thought he was the guy that dodged his duty because his father was the head of the CIA... I didn't know George Bush was an independent man... working together with Democrats and Independents to get legislation passed... I thought he was the guy who only had his party's interests at heart... I didn't know George Bush was respectful to his opponents during elections... I thought he was the same guy who beat John McCain during the 2000 primary because he put out a campaign attack ad that suggested McCain had an illegitimate black daughter... George Bush and John McCain are not best friends... they do not share the same HISTORY... and they DO NOT share the same JUDGEMENT!!! George Bush has been given everything his whole life... John McCain has been the one doing the giving... the sacrificing... and he still is...

McCain's WORDS

"The American people put their trust in Republicans hands in 2000 and we failed them! We were supposed to change Washington and instead we let it change us!"

"I hate war! It's terrible beyond imagination! ... I will use all the tools at my disposal to help build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace!"

"EDUCATION IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE OF THIS CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!"

"Instead of fighting over who gets the credit... LETS SHARE IT! .. I will ask Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to serve with me in my administration!"

"My country saved me and I can't ever forget that! I will fight for her as long as I draw breath so help me God!"

What other candidate would admit that HE and his own party had failed? What other candidate has made a statement that profound about education? What other candidate has the history and experience to make the statement, "I HATE WAR", in a way that can make it credible? What other candidate has brought up this issue of taking credit... and the idea of SHARING IT? What other candidate has sacrificed this much for our country... and has the scars to prove it?!?!?!

However... to me the most important quote from John McCain's speech dealt with Barack Obama... He talked about how we will fight with each other for the next two months since that is the nature of things... but ... he made sure every Republican in the room acknowledged Obama's campaign and all of their accomplishments... Then he strongly stated, "THERE IS MORE THAT UNITES US THEN DIVIDES US" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!! THERE IS MORE THAT UNITES US THEN DIVIDES US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I stopped writing after I heard those words... I needed my hands... not to type... but to wipe the tears that were trickling down my cheek... If I have said anything in my life about politics... it has been that simple statement... McCain truly displayed... THE POLITICS OF HOPE last night. I remember commenting on Barack Obama's speech last week saying that for the briefest of moments... he spoke for me... ... ... well ... ... ... Last night John McCain spoke for me for the better part of an hour...

WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! ... I must not forget something very important... It would be wrong for me to go on and on about McCain's night without mentioning this... Last night something else happened... before McCain's big speech. At around 8:45 pm Barack Obama went on the O'Reilly factor. Bill O'Reilly questioned... or shall I say interrogated him on issues dealing with foreign policy, war, and terrorism... Some people reading this may not understand how brave this can be as a Democrat... but believe me it is the political equivalent to being a prisoner of war in Vietnam! Obama answered all of the questions well... he was strong... he did not falter... and although he was wrong on an issue and did not admit it... WHO WOULD... as a candidate running for president... But my opinion is not whats important... I always tend to find the positive in everything. It was when O'Reilly had a conservative pundit on afterward analyzing the interview with Obama... The pundit attacked Obama's stances viciously... ... when all of a sudden... ... Bill O'Reilly stopped him in mid-sentence and said, " OH NO NO NO! Stop it right there! Barack Obama is no wimp! He stared me straight in the eye and answered all of my questions with strength and conviction!" and O'Reilly said this... with his own conviction... After that interview I was the most impressed I had ever been with Obama...

... I must say ... I have never been more proud to be an American then right this second!



FAITH ALWAYS

- B Maher