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McCain: I'm Not Bush III
June 03, 2008 5:55 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis and James Gerber Report: When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks Tuesday evening from New Orleans, he is hoping to rebut the Democratic Party's oft-repeated charge that he represents a "third Bush term," according to speech excerpts. He is also hoping to use his longevity on the national stage to his advantage by arguing that unlike his Democratic opponent, the American people did not get to know him "yesterday."
"You will hear from my opponent’s campaign in every speech, every interview, every press release that I’m running for President Bush’s third term," McCain plans to say. "You will hear every policy of the President described as the Bush-McCain policy. Why does Senator Obama believe it’s so important to repeat that idea over and over again? Because he knows it’s very difficult to get Americans to believe something they know is false."
"So he tries to drum it into your minds by constantly repeating it rather than debate honestly the very different directions he and I would take the country," McCain plans to say. "But the American people didn’t get to know me yesterday, as they are just getting to know Senator Obama. They know I have a long record of bipartisan problem solving. They’ve seen me put our country before any President -- before any party -- before any special interest -- before my own interest. They might think me an imperfect servant of our country, which I surely am. But I am her servant first, last and always."
On Iraq, McCain plans to highlight disagreements he had with the Bush administration while alluding to his own military service in Vietnam where he was a prisoner of war for over five years.
"I disagreed strongly with the Bush administration’s mismanagement of the war in Iraq," McCain plans to say. "I called for the change in strategy that is now, at last, succeeding where the previous strategy had failed miserably. I was criticized for doing so by Republicans. I was criticized by Democrats. I was criticized by the press. But I don’t answer to them. I answer to you. And I would be ashamed to admit I knew what had to be done in Iraq to spare us from a defeat that would endanger us for years, but I kept quiet because it was too politically hard for me to do. No ambition is more important to me than the security of the country I have defended all my adult life."
McCain also plans to target Obama for reversing course on Iraq war funding.
Back in April of 2007, Obama told the Associated Press that if President Bush vetoed an Iraq spending bill with a withdrawal timeline, Congress would quickly provide the money without the timeline because, in Obama's words, no lawmaker "wants to play chicken with our troops."
McCain intends to cast himself as a doer against Obama's talker.
"For all his fine words and all his promise, he has never taken the hard but right course of risking his own interests for yours; of standing against the partisan rancor on his side to stand up for our country. He is an impressive man, who makes a great first impression. But he hasn’t been willing to make the tough calls; to challenge his party; to risk criticism from his supporters to bring real change to Washington. I have," McCain plans to say.
The McCain campaign released its speech excerpts to the DrudgeReport and later confirmed their accuracy to ABC News.
June 3, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (63)
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McCain is on the wrong side of history.
Posted by: Patrick | Jun 3, 2008 8:14:54 PM
Funny every time you see him going into BUSH's White House he has on his knee pads, so he can kneel at the alter of this monster BUSH..
Posted by: sondog | Jun 3, 2008 8:16:19 PM
I am a former Clinton voter and donor who now supports McCain. I have always liked McCain's personality and I trust him to do what is right for our country.
I was considering Obama and tried to keep an open mind, but I find it difficult to believe that he does not share at least some of Revered Wright and Father Pfleger's viewpoints - why else would he associated with them for over 20 years? Although it was politically expedient for Obama to throw Wright and Pfleger "under the bus", I am not buying it.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 3, 2008 8:16:43 PM
The comments posted after mine seem to be cases in point...
I think it will also be interesting to see McCain and Obama in the first debate...
Hopefully "old, weak, boring, forgetful, uninspiring" McCain will survive the brilliant sunshine coming over from stage left, which no man can withstand without breaking into tears of joy. or woman. Also, I heard McCain is really a republi-vampire, so that could be a problem for him...sheesh
This is really not aimed at you Javier, I wish your candidate the best..we hear a lot about McCain's age from all corners of the left (Nader would be 74, by the way)...
I think I could vote for Obama if he stopped having pictures taken that look like he is imitating Mao looking off at the horizon ("progress") and his supporters talked about him more in terms of his accomplishments and what he really would do. I just can't hack any "candidate mania" no matter who it is. That goes for knee-jerk Bush supporters too, by the way.
Posted by: Wade | Jun 3, 2008 8:23:54 PM
"McCain you've got my Hillary vote" what a spiteful American you are.
Maybe the Col shrink can give you a much needed examination...get yourself some help, because you sure don't want to help your country. Do us all a favor, stay home on voting day and keep your spite vote to yourself.
BTW,thank you for your opinion Col. What a nice way to say McCain has too many "issues" to be in charge. As a criminal justice professional, I concur...
Posted by: CaptainCrunch | Jun 3, 2008 8:29:34 PM
I just wonder how crazy hillary supporters would have gone against the republican if she had been up against mcsame. Do you have any idea how sexist that would have gotten!? If you think McCain cares at all about you you are very much mistaken.
Let change America for the better.
Obama 08!
Posted by: Thomas | Jun 3, 2008 8:31:02 PM
President McCain, I'm a Hillary supporter and I will be glad to vote for you in the fall.....anything to keep the idiot Obama out of the White House!
McCain 08!
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:33:51 PM
Obama will lose to McCain in the fall. He needs Hillary supporters and won't get them. Sorry Obama, I hear President McCain needs his shoes shined!
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:35:02 PM
Obama backers - how do you think the press would have treated either McCain or Hillary if they had lost primaries TWO to ONE (Puerto Rico, Kentucky, W. Virginia) during the last couple of weeks on their march to the nomination? They would both be looked at as incredibly weak candidates, but since the media is in Obama's back pocket this is barely mentioned. Think about it - he is a weak candidate regardless of the adulation from media and ultra liberals who have drunk the kool-aid.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 3, 2008 8:40:33 PM
All the "ex hillary supporters" who say they are now voting for McCain are all trolls.
There is noone, I repeat, NOONE on the left side of the political spectrum who would ever align themselves with that desperate and dangerous liar.
These concern trolls are just trying to push the meme that McSame will get rollover from HRC's defeat, and no matter how you slice it, that's just Grade-A BS.
Posted by: Ohmmade | Jun 3, 2008 8:40:49 PM
McCain is a proven leader who actually works with both parties. Barack Hussein Obama (yes, that is his real name) hasn't done ANYTHING except talk. Barack's actual voting record also does NOT reflect working with both parties.
Posted by: bryan | Jun 3, 2008 8:44:35 PM
Ohmmade....there are 17+million of us Hillary supporters that will cross the aisle and vote for President McCain. The problem you Obamabots have is that you thought all of us would just fall in line behind this racist idiot....now that would be Grade A BS! It's not going to happen, so get ready, this is war, and President McCain just got 17+ million new troops in his regiment. It's over for your "boy" Obama......shoe shine, 25 cents and I have "change"! LOL !
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:46:04 PM
Ohmmade
It was just on tv that there is some poll that they just said was 43% of Hillary's supporters can't stand Obama and will not vote for him!
Count me as one of them!
Posted by: Krissy K | Jun 3, 2008 8:47:21 PM
No, you're not George Bush III. You're a hell of alot worse and I'm not voting for you just because you say you're a republican! and I sure as hell am not votng for a democrat, either!!!
Posted by: staywild | Jun 3, 2008 8:47:59 PM
Thats right, Krissy......Obama is history......the Dems are divided and the division has hardened! Thanks to Obama, the DNC, Pelosi, Kennedy, Dean, Kerry, Donna Bazille (StupidDelegate), Roland Martin (Racist Commentator), and lets not forget big mouth Michelle! Obamabots, can you say, "President John McCain?" Get used to it....John McCain won the Presidency tonite....thank you Sodama, we appreciate it very much!
McCain 08!
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:49:58 PM
McCain is the old workhorse. Obama is the showhorse. Americans generally go for show.
As a HRC supporter, I am so sad to see her lose the nomination. She is without doubt the strongest of all 3 of them. She cleaned the clock of Obama at each debate with her mastery of the the issues. She is the centrist of the Democratic party and it is a shame what has happened.
I am looking at McCain closely. I have serious policy differences with him, but I do believe he is an honorable man. I am sickened to say that I don't believe Obama is. Like many other mainstream Democrats I am between the rock and the hard spot...but I know there are many, many other Democrats in here with me.
Posted by: Bea | Jun 3, 2008 8:51:04 PM
Until this election I actually respected John McCain. I am a moderate that typically votes Democratic because I'm not rich. I truly think John McCain is a good man, a hero, who nonetheless had to reinvent himself to appeal to the "dark side" of the Republican party so as to secure the nomination. You know, the religious hypocritical, trust-fund baby, neo-conservative side of the Republican party. However now he says he's not "Bush III" although he's been using that very platform to secure the nomination!! Come on McCain! Do you think we are all stupid! Maybe you just mean you'll act like Bush III until elected but then revert back to an intelligent human being? Sorry, McSame...I cannot take a chance on your 100 year war, your ultra elitist wife, and your seriously out-of-touch with most of America age. I'd have voted for either Hillary or Barack; they are essentially the same on the issues. So, OBAMA it is!
Posted by: tresbone | Jun 3, 2008 8:53:35 PM
It is the economy, stupid !! Not the war in Iraq, the war ont error will be with us forver. I do not think McCain will win, no matter how he paints himself. You can't be everything for everyone, he is too old and a reflection of the past, we need the future ! This 2008, not 1967 ??
Vote your job, your wallet and the economy, nothing else is an issue !!
Posted by: Rick | Jun 3, 2008 8:56:26 PM
I love Obama's ignorant statement that puts Iran in the size catagory of Cuba. Obama is a terrorist-hugger.
Posted by: Steve G. | Jun 3, 2008 9:00:01 PM
To all the "Hillary Republicans" -- I get it that you don't like Obama. Well, I sympathize. But this isn't about picking a friend, it's a job interview. So, tell me exactly which issue that you care about, that made you a Democrat in the first place, McCain is better on than Obama.
Can't be the war, can it? Clinton wanted out, Obama wants out, McCain wants to stay forever.
Can't be the economy -- Clinton and Obama both want to change Bush's tax policies, McCain wants to make them permanent.
Can't be women's rights, Krissy K, but enjoy your no-abortions, no Title VII Supreme Court under President McCain.
So, what is it?
Because all I'm hearing is, you don't like his preacher. C'mon! Who gives a #$@! whose sermons the guy naps through on Sundays? Or, you think he might turn out to be "weak" -- haven't we had enough of a President who thinks it's all about coming on strong?
Do any of you have any actual reasons, or are you just crying in your beer 'cause you lost?
Posted by: Manny J | Jun 3, 2008 9:00:11 PM
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