The Speech

If a candidate's ability to belt out a speech is your overriding criterion for earning your vote, John McCain would not be your man.  Barack Obama clearly is superior.  Actually, of the speeches given at the two conventions, Michelle Obama was better - and Sarah Palin knocked it out of the ballpark.  Of course, Bill Clinton, long after his disastrous long-winded speech many years ago at a convention, has turned into a master showman.  No.  If you were hiring a guy for his smooth and entertaining speaking abilities, McCain would top no one's list.

I think that being able to communicate with the nation is an important quality.  In my mind, the inability to do this was a critical failure of George W. Bush.  Yet, a President can connect with the people without being the guy to win Star Search. 

Was McCain able to connect? Gay Patriot West thinks so.  Ed Morrissey believes that he did.  And I think so.

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.

I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.

One of the epithets hurled at many politicians is that they have "flip-flopped."  And, count me in as one who thinks that a candidate who expresses views of a certain nature in front of an audience that wants to hear them, and then contradictory views when speaking to an audience who would dislike message "A" is not a candidate worthy of your vote.  We want our leaders to have courage and conviction; not values that sway in the winds of polls.

But altering your beliefs over time?  Learning from mistakes and from events?  Is this a failure - or a quality demonstrating that someone listens, learns and grows?

McCain described himself as one of those brash, swaggering young men who thought he needn't play by the rules that govern the rest of us.  His five and a half years of torture and imprisonment gave McCain a sharp lesson - and one which he took to heart with a vengeance.

I liked how McCain stated that both political parties need to change, and that both are responsible for some of the festering problems we have in Washington today.  I liked how McCain focused on the principles for which our nation stands, and that he is looking to uphold the principles that mean so much to him.  I like how he is able to analyze and learn from his life experiences - and change for the better.

No candidate is perfect; McCain is no exception.  But, the combination of his character, demonstrated to the ultimate degree in Vietnam, his ability to work with politicians of either party, and his desire to forge a government that stresses responsibility, freedom, respect and principle has earned my vote.