- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
McCain: Americans Don't Want Sore Loser
November 11, 2008 8:47 PM
ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Appearing for the 14th time on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and appearing in his first television interview since losing the presidential election, John McCain said Tuesday that with all of the crises facing the country, it is time to move past the partisanship of campaign.
"Now it’s time for America to join together and support the man who was just elected president," the Arizona Senator told Leno.
"It’s a great honor, it’s a great privilege, it’s an incredible thing that I was able to do," McCain said. "I salute, as you know, and admire and respect the winner: Senator -President-Elect Barack Obama."
McCain was greeted warmly by the Veteran’s Day crowd, who gave him what seemed to be an extended welcome.
Leno asked McCain what he has been up to in the last week, what external forces could have affected the way the election turned out, and, of course, about Sarah Palin.
McCain tried to dodge whether or not Palin had gotten off message, delivering his standard line: "Did you expect mavericks to stay on message?" he asked Leno with a nervous chuckle.
When Leno didn’t immediately jump in, McCain then fumbled around a little for what would be the next part of his answer
"Oh, I’m sure that from time to- well, but she was, look, I- we did a lot of things together a lot of these rallies, and the people were very excited and inspired by her, and that’s what really mattered, I think."
Leno asked about the infighting amongst his campaign advisors over the Palin pick in the days since the campaign ended.
McCain offered another of his standard defenses, taking a broad swipe at the very notion the anonymous sources who could have provided those types of quotes.
McCain joked that from the papers he has "at least a thousand quote top advisors."
"People I've never even heard of, much less a quote top advisor, or a high ranking Republican official," McCain said, trying to brush off responsibility onto lower level campaign aides.
The host also inquired whether McCain would have made a different pick if circumstances such as the economic breakdown had happened before he made his choice. McCain said he would not have.
"The world events didn't play a role. I just looked at people and I saw all of the things that she had to offer and they all, all of them that we had to actually quote choose from or ask to serve with us were all good people," McCain said. "I like them all very much, it wasn't an easy process."
McCain said that he didn't want Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, of Connecticut, to lose his committee chairmanship for having supported his candidacy, after Leno mentioned that that might happen.
"I hope not, I hope not. Because Joe's a wonderful person."
McCain told a few self deprecating jokes about having lost the election, which were stolen from his previous defeat in 2000.
When Leno asked him what he'd been up to, McCain said: "Well, I've been sleeping like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry, sleep two hours wake up and cry."
But the real point of his appearance on Leno -- what he seemed set upon proving by being on the show in the first place -- came about when Leno asked about the press coverage of the campaign, and whether it had favored Obama.
"We're big guys, we're supposed to be able to take this kind of stuff, you know?" McCain said shrugging off the idea.
'The one thing I think Americans don't want is a sore loser," McCain said.
November 11, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (292)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
He was a sore loser months ago. Too back he's just now realizing this. He's right though. And that's why he and Palin lost. Thank God.
Posted by: Rubyred Republican | Nov 11, 2008 8:53:30 PM
Yeah right, yes you would have chosen someone else other than Palin if you could redo this whole thing over again, anyone would. She was a disaster, still is, and it's unbelievable that she actually thinks she can pull off a win in 2012! If that ever happens, you know this country is in trouble. I bet someone is gonna spend the next four years learning geography and where Africa is...
Posted by: TheTruth | Nov 11, 2008 9:00:24 PM
God bless you, Senator McCain. You are still a winner - for being who you are.
Posted by: Arlene Ginn | Nov 11, 2008 9:01:26 PM
I voted for McCain because I felt he was the best choice to lead this country. McCain has the experience that Obama has no learned as yet and knows foreign policy well. When I was hearing Obama speaking on the platform I thought to myself that he has the sound of a dictator and I think I am right. Rep. Broun just said the identical statement and he feels that the same way I do. This young generation of college students are not aware of what is going to happen here because they are caught up in their own little world of drugs and booze as stated on the internet. But this country will get a good wake up call when it happens and it will happen. That is when they will be sorry they didn't vote for McCain. Right now it is too late but four years from now it won't be. I am patiently waiting for the downfall.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Nov 11, 2008 9:02:24 PM
Rubyred - that was just rude. John McCain is not a sore loser and has done NOTHING to deserve such a lousy comment - especially on Veteran's Day. Perhaps he should have said that Americans don't want a sore winner.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Nov 11, 2008 9:03:01 PM
John McCain I just want to thank you for all of what you have done for this country. Don't forget over 52 million Americans did vote for you and believe in you. I am a republican but you are right, history was made and lets give Obama a chance (never thought I would be saying that). There is only one John McCain in this country, a man who has been fighting for this country since he was 17 and now he is 72. For anyone reading this, can you say that? God Bless John McCain and America. Prayers are with Obama and I hope he does a good job.
Posted by: Matt | Nov 11, 2008 9:05:07 PM
a true american hero...thanx for your service !!!
(not at all like hussein obama...who is still looking for his birth cert)....what a clown....
Posted by: richard bonilla | Nov 11, 2008 9:10:33 PM
Ok - my post was deleted, so I will try again.....
Rubyred - that was just plain rude. John McCain has done NOTHING to indicate that he is a sore loser. It is ignorant to accuse him of such a thing - especially on Veteran's Day given what he has sacrificed. Maybe he should have said that Americans don't want sore winners.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Nov 11, 2008 9:12:25 PM
Ok - I don't know what is going on, but my first post is there again.... this site is bizarre.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Nov 11, 2008 9:13:48 PM
Make ya a deal?
I'll stop bashing McCain, you stop bashing Obama - and for once maybe just being American will be good enough.
the election is over. time to kiss and make up everyone.
Posted by: CMB | Nov 11, 2008 9:14:19 PM
McCain was a sore loser throughout his entire campaign. I am so unimpressed with him and feel sorry that his integrity was so compromised in this campaign.
Posted by: nina | Nov 11, 2008 9:14:49 PM
McCain is right no one wants to hear from a sore loser and I really feel John McCain is trying to be sincerely gracious about his loss. It's over and now the work begins and I feel McCain will do the right thing when it comes to supporting our new President as he tries to put America back on track. McCain created some very ugly situations that could have gotten way out of hand during the campaign and I feel he regrets what was said. We are counting on him to be honorable.
Posted by: Gambi | Nov 11, 2008 9:17:12 PM
OK, you didn't vote for McCain as is your right. But at least show some respect for this veteran that nearly died and suffered great pain in prison serving to protect this nation.
Some people people can be so juvenile with their pettiness.
Posted by: egret57 | Nov 11, 2008 9:17:32 PM
McCain - Always putting Country First. Osama - Putting himself first. Blacks still for McCain!
Posted by: Tyrone | Nov 11, 2008 9:17:34 PM
McCain's concession speach was very gracious and classy. Sore looser doesn't apply. The election is over, I hope the campaign bitterness is too. Aren't we tired of it all ? I am. I'll give Obama the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: garand911 | Nov 11, 2008 9:18:33 PM
Sure, ACORN voter fraud is swept under the carpet, Al Franken is reportedly trying to steal an election, and the Dems now want 100% support for their ill-won Marxist Socialist agenda? You gotta be kidding.
Posted by: Bill | Nov 11, 2008 9:18:39 PM
nina - that comment doesn't even make sense. How can you be a sore loser when NO ONE had won or lost? All McCain did was bring up VALID questions - most of which were NEVER answered. Today of all days, no one should be bashing Sen. McCain. That's the problem with this country - a lack of respect.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Nov 11, 2008 9:20:07 PM
I think McCain is being a gracious loser. Though I didn't vote for him, I respected and liked McCain - at least the 2000 version. Now is a time for healing and moving forward. The fact is that Obama won by well over 8 million votes - and there was a reason. I had to laugh at the writer who wrote about Obama seeming like a dictator. Especially after we have had the most oppressive, repressive, narrow-minded, arrogant Presidency of my lifetime. Obama is a welcome breath of fresh air.
Posted by: Lee | Nov 11, 2008 9:21:34 PM
I don't want to sound like a sore loser either, but I know the real reason why McCain lost. He wasn't the best that the Republicans had to offer. Can you imagine what would have happened to Barack Obama if Mitt Romney had been nominated? He would have been SMASHED. Mitt Romney is experienced, he doesn't look like he should be in a rest home, and his strong point is the economy. He ran a business for many years, making his fortune before moving into politics. He is lively, smart, and could have crushed Obama in the debates, but REPUBLICANS DID NOT CHOOSE HIM. Why? Well, it was said that he was, "too perfect." WHAT!? I don't believe that there is such a thing. Another problem was that Foreign Policy, McCain's strong point, was an issue back then, so Romney couldn't show his full strength. The third problem was Huckabee and the amount of Conservatives that are Evangelical Christians. Huckabee won the first state, with Romney close behind, and never won again. He then kept in the race, even when he had no possible chance to win, and attracted votes that would have gone to Romney. Why? No matter how long I think about it, I come up with only three possible explanations.
a.Huckabee s Romney
b.Huckabee is downright stupid
c.Huckabee s Mormons
d.All of the above
I think that the answer is probably d.
I believe that Huckabee is one of the many Evangelicals who Mormons simply because they are Mormons. Sorry about the rambling, I just am really irritated with Huckabee. So, to make a long story short, if Huckabee had been graceful and polite (like Romney) and stepped down from the election for the good of the party, then Mitt Romney would be our president, and we would have someone who could lead our nation through the hard economic times ahead of us.
Posted by: Patriot | Nov 11, 2008 9:26:27 PM
My father voted for Nixon, but ended up likeing JFK. So stranger things have happened. It's all up to Obama now.
Posted by: garand911 | Nov 11, 2008 9:27:27 PM
Post a comment



