Posted on 08/23/2008 7:40:52 AM PDT by WilliamReading
Good morning, this is John McCain, speaking to you at the end of an eventful week in the presidential campaign. All the talk today is about my opponent’s selection of his running mate. To his new running mate, my congratulations and I’ll get back to you real soon on your debating opponent.
The week began with a debate of sorts between Senator Obama and me at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. In case you missed it, the discussion yielded the line of the week, and maybe even of the campaign, when Pastor Rick Warren asked my opponent a very serious question. He wanted to know at what point, in my opponent’s view, does a baby have human rights? Senator Obama thought about it for a moment, and came back with the reply that the question was, quote, “above my pay grade.”
Here was a candidate for the presidency of the United States, asked for his position on one of the central moral and legal questions of our time, and this was the best he could offer: It’s above his pay grade. He went on to assure his interviewer that there is a, quote, “moral and ethical element to this issue.” Americans expect more of their leaders.
There seems to be a pattern here in my opponent’s approach to many hard issues. Whether it’s the surge in Iraq that has brought us near to victory, or the issue of campaign reform, or the question of offshore drilling, Senator Obama’s speeches can be impressive. But when it’s time for straight answers, clear conviction, and decisive action, suddenly all of these responsibilities are – well, as he puts it, “above my pay grade.” As mottos of leadership go, it doesn’t exactly have the ring of “the buck stops here.”
Often, too, Senator Obama’s carefully hedged answers obscure more than they explain, and this was the case in his conversation with Rick Warren. Listening to my opponent at Saddleback, you would never know that this is a politician who long since left behind any middle ground on the abortion issue. He is against parental notification laws, and against restrictions on taxpayer funding for abortions. In the Illinois Senate, a bipartisan majority passed legislation to prevent the horrific practice of partial-birth abortion. Senator Obama opposed that bill, voting against it in committee and voting “present” on the Senate floor.
In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a federal law to require medical care for babies who survive abortions – living, breathing babies whom Senator Obama described as, quote, “previable.” This merciful law was called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Illinois had a version of the same law, and Barack Obama voted against it.
At Saddleback, he assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Even though the language of both the state and federal bills was identical, Senator Obama said people were, quote, “lying” about his record. When that record was later produced, he dropped the subject but didn’t withdraw the slander. And now even Senator Obama’s campaign has conceded that his claims and accusations were false.
For a man who talks so often about “hope,” Senator Obama doesn’t offer much of it in meeting this great challenge to the conscience of America. His extreme advocacy in favor of partial birth abortion and his refusal to provide medical care for babies surviving abortion should be of grave concern to reasonable people of goodwill on both sides of this issue. There is a growing consensus in America that we need to overcome narrow partisanship on this issue for both women in need and the unborn. We need more of the compassion and moral idealism that my opponent’s own party, at its best, once stood for. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath its protection.
Upholding these principles, and bringing Americans together on the side of life, is the work of leadership. And I can assure you that if I am president, advancing the cause of life will not be above my pay grade. Thanks for listening.
This speech today guarantees that McCain will choose a pro-life Vice President, most likely Mitt Romney, who is also an excellent debater and match for Joe Biden.
This speech today guarantees that McCain will choose a pro-life Vice President, definitely not a pro-abortionist like Mitt Romney,
If McCain chose RINO Romney after the forum and that speech this morning,
he would be a laughing stock with the Dems...
The Dems would have a field day...
and pro-lifers/conservatives would not trust him again...
Mccain’s VP better have spotless pro-life credentials...
This speech today guarantees that McCain will choose a pro-life Vice President, definitely not a pro-abortionist like Mitt Romney,
If McCain chose RINO Romney after the forum and that speech this morning,
he would be a laughing stock with the Dems...
The Dems would have a field day...
and pro-lifers/conservatives would not trust him again...
Mccain’s VP better have spotless proven pro-life credentials...
The door is wide open for McCain to pick a woman.
There is no need for him to go even further to the right on abortion as Obama has taken off the left of the chart
PING
I do not recall any other Republican nominee (Reagan, Bush 41, Dole, Bush 43) making abortion a major issue in a Presidential campaign. Sure, they supported pro-life, but no one ever really attacked the Democrats hard on the issue.
This is a big first for McCain, and I think to his credit.
audio version of this speech: http://www.johnmccain.com/Downloads/082208_B.mp3
Is there any possible way it could be Dick Cheney?
Palin Gov of AK
or Eric Cantor from VA
Ronald Reagan was also a “flip-flopper” on abortion.
At 5:33 PM CDST yesterday evening, I became a Grandpa for the first time. One by one, the family was taken in to see our new grandson. As I looked at him with tears of joy in my eyes, I suddenly thought about all the babies that would never see this same moment and how important it is that we have a leader who understands that abortion is the taking of a human life. Sen. McCain KNOWS this and must appoint a pro-life VP.
FOCUS
Ronald Reagan is dead...
He is not running for office this time...
Dick Cheney would be a strong VP choice for McCain, and would “lock-in” Wyoming and possibly even Montana for the Republican ticket. /s
Where’s the Vietnam ribbon ?????????
However, Romney remains the fav if mccain believes the economy is primary issue. Romney is also anti-amnesty.
Congratulations Grandpa....
That’s wonderful
We have 7 grandchildren...
One boy and then 6 girls ...youngest is 4...
It’s great...
:)
Gov Palin sounds great...
She’s a fav of lots of FReepers...
:)
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