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McCain: Americans Don't Want Sore Loser
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ShareNovember 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)
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Great American hero my butt! He showed his true colors with his choice of Palin as his running mate. He is the proto-typical selfish, bitter old man.
He is only showing contrition now because he copped an all time absolute butt whippin' at the polls. We are supposed to forget 4 months of antagonistic, divisive hatred because of two contrite post-election speeches.
I don't feel one iota of pity for this man. He reaped what he sowed and he walks away a loser, again!
Posted by: Turner | Nov 11, 2008 9:27:28 PM
a and c both got edited.
a. Huckabee strongly dislikes Romney
c. Huckabee strongly dislikes Mormons
Posted by: Patriot | Nov 11, 2008 9:28:23 PM
What do Obama and Osama have in common? They both have friends that bombed the Pentagon!
Posted by: Muhammed | Nov 11, 2008 9:30:44 PM
Ahhhh...McCain talks/stutters/evades answers JUST LIKE BUSH. Am so happy he wasn't elected president. That said, we have to get on with the business of "fixing" the mess this country is in thanks to our moron outgoing president and his nut case VP Cheney. GOOD RIDDANCE TO THEM!
Posted by: Lasandra | Nov 11, 2008 9:33:06 PM
richard bonilla ---
written like a sore loser yourself ... don't you just hate to lose? Hurts, doesn't it ...
Posted by: bob | Nov 11, 2008 9:34:12 PM
McCain was the true winner, as he was honest. Obama made empty promises, free money for those that don't pay taxes, something for nonthing.
Obama has about 15 lawsuits regarding his alleged natural-born citizenship. He has spent millions fighting these lawsuits and has yet to show his 1961 original birth certificate! He has failed to address his Indonesian citizenship status.
The Supreme Court is now addressing Obama's alleged citizenship.
Posted by: Robert J. | Nov 11, 2008 9:34:12 PM
Obama = Baby Killer
Posted by: Ted | Nov 11, 2008 9:34:22 PM
Mariann every post of yours is nasty and degrading to our young generation. And I am sick of reading something you obviously know nothing about. And please don't forget this young generation is dying in our wars to keep you safe. You owe this young generation, the future of our country, an apology.
Posted by: d | Nov 11, 2008 9:35:25 PM
patriot,good insight,you mite be rite....nina ,you are a absolute whack job....for watevwr mr Mccain may be,a sore loser and lack of integrity were not his problems!!!!!!! a brave American hero who unfortunately is a moderate repub,and those gentleman dont win presidencies in this country....Bushs problem was that he ran as a conservative and his presidency itself was statist!!!!!!!
Posted by: chad | Nov 11, 2008 9:37:23 PM
Mariann Pepitone, I think it's you who needs to get out of your own "little world of drugs and booze as stated on the internet". So much for "Country First", right? Because isn't getting behind the president, no matter who he or she is, putting your country first? No, your comments prove what hypocrites and liars you really are. I encourage you to keep it up though, because it's sentiment like that which will guarantee that the Republican Party will darken our doors nevermore. Good day to you, fascist bigot.
Posted by: Free Thinker | Nov 11, 2008 9:38:49 PM
"McCain: Americans Don't Want Sore Loser"
Americans don't want a Loser. Sore or otherwise.
Obviously.
Posted by: captainkona | Nov 11, 2008 9:39:28 PM
All of your Republicans who want President elect Obama to fail are neglecting the reality that if he fails, the whole bloody country fails....Democrats, Republicans and Independents. If thats what you want, we'll all be down the toilet! He's the President elected by a clear majority by the popular vote and the electoral vote. Its time for the Repubs to get over it!
Posted by: Hitobito | Nov 11, 2008 9:39:50 PM
This is a victory for the GOP. In 4 years we will have it made. If 10 can't run a Popeye's how can 1 run the WHITE house??
Posted by: The Truth | Nov 11, 2008 9:40:38 PM
At least Senator McCain is a naturl born citizen.
Obama has never demonstrated his natural born citizenship papers. How can we trust him? The courts are looking into Obama's citizenship, or lack of...
Posted by: Bret | Nov 11, 2008 9:40:45 PM
McCain and Palin couldn't lie straight in bed, and that's why they were the perfect double act, and that is why they got an absolute butt whippin' at the polls.
Palin cannot go a day without lying, and Mccain is a liar and a cheat. Im loving the fact that both John and Cindy McCain lied about their respective ages when they met, as their marriages and lives have been built on lies ever since. Liars, thieves and drug addicts make for perfect bed fellows.
Posted by: Turner | Nov 11, 2008 9:40:52 PM
Patriot: The Reagan revolution ran out of gas. The Christian-Business-ReaganDemocrat coalition fell apart. I think Romney would have been a better choise, but that's politics. It just wasn't meant to be. Romney will still be here for 2012. Bush and the economic situation was just too toxic for any Republican to overcome, in my opinion.
Posted by: garand911 | Nov 11, 2008 9:41:42 PM
Lasandra: Quit spreading lies! Senator Obama doesn't have "millions" to spend defending lawsuits! Take a look at his net worth. He is the poorest President-elect to ever be sworn in! He made his money in the last four years writing two books about his life! He used part of the money to pay off his college loans!
Posted by: Hitobito | Nov 11, 2008 9:43:34 PM
It would be pretty difficult for someone with an honorable reputation, such as McCain, to run with what has become a very narrow republican party. When you start calling people RINOs (Republican in Name Only), you better be prepared for the backlash. The tarnishing of their brand image was due for a long time.
Posted by: Elizabeth | Nov 11, 2008 9:44:36 PM
Patriot: You are exactly right. My family and I were all going to vote for McCain until he chose that bimbo. Why he didn't choose Romney is still a mystery to us. At first she seemed like a good pick over Romney, but the more she opened her mouth, the less we could take of her. Especially when she started those near racial riots at her speeches, not counting the $150,000 wardrobe put us over the top. My family contributed over $5000 to his campain, but in the end we submitted to the charms of Obama. I wish him well! I just hope the Republican Party can figure out a winning strategy by 2012, and I sure hope & pray that Alaskan nincompoop isn't part of it.
Posted by: bob | Nov 11, 2008 9:44:53 PM
I'd planned on not rubbing it in... but after seeing all of the pathetic loser posts out there, by people that are STILL bashing Obama... here it is: AMERICA HAS SPOKEN - IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON, STOP CRYING ABOUT IT and please find it in your hearts to both pray for Obama, that he does right by us all, and to acknowledge the historical moment that his election is for our country.
Posted by: Jay | Nov 11, 2008 9:45:21 PM
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