Why McCain’s Speech Trumped Palin’s
By David KuoJohn McCain just delivered a far better speech than Sarah Palin gave last night.
Palin’s speech was a testimonial, a revival tent profession of family and faith. It was powerful, moving, and fell spectacularly short on convincing the American people that the the two words “president” and “palin” could be uttered together without a fearful shiver going up one’s spine.
McCain’s speech was the opposite. It was a sober, thoughtful, and resolute speech of the sort that a man running to be chief executive of the United States government and commander-in-chief of our armed forces should give. His seriousness is an accurate reflection of our times. Sure it contained myriad attempts at reality-show-like inspiration that mostly fell flat… but that was part of the speech’s charm… McCain just wants to govern, he’s not good at feel-goodism no matter how hard he tries.
Our politics is in such trouble today because we have confused inspiration with the ability to govern. (Note - this is note a coded attack on Sen. Obama who has laid out his own policy plans.)
What we are electing isn’t our pastor in chief, not our inspirer in chief, not the person with the best anecdote, not the one who suffered the most or who has the cutest family or the best applause lines. We are electing the person who will manage the very complicated and messy bureaucracy, be the voice of the American people to foreign leaders, protect our country, mount the bully pulpit for cultural issues that are largely beyond the reach of government. We are electing the head of government, not the savior of the world.
Tonight John McCain made it clear what he wanted to do. He wanted to be fiscally responsible, he wanted to reduce the size of government, he wanted to increase parental power in education, he wants to address the multiple threats to the country - energy, terror, and rogue nations. That, it seems, is John McCain’s agenda.
One may hate it, one may love it, but that is what this American hero wants to do. That makes it a powerful and useful speech - the best speech of the convention.
Tags: john mccain, sarah palin
September 5th, 2008 at 2:42 am
I respectfully disagree. Strongly.
As Ronald Reagan demonstrated, an ability to communicate to the American people in a way they can understand is a key aspect of leadership. Sarah Palin does this beautifullly.
I can’t wait to vote for this dynamic, strong woman — who understands the concerns of REAL families. She would make a fantastic president. I’m praying McCain decides one term is enough. Palin 2016!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
[…] And he learned in his humility that the only way he could recover any John McCain whatsoever was by fulfilling the promise of his country as best as he could. And that was the same John McCain as the one standing on stage tonight. Today’s hero, not […]
September 5th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Disagree here, too. If the last eight years have shown us anything, it is that a president cannot govern effectively without the rhetorical ability to deftly and forcefully come back at opponents. George W. has spent his two terms repeatedly getting punched in the mouth and standing there bleeding. The result is that many in the American electorate see him as a loser with whom they don’t want to be associated.
Sarah Palin exhibits exactly those charming political combat skills that Reagan had in spades. She’s a natural.
Besides, why would you criticize her for doing what we usually expect VP candidates to do, which is to deliver the ordinance?
September 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Agree here. John McCain’s speech was that of a leader rather that of a fellow. I took the part targeting Republicans as “America no longer loves us because we fell in love with ourselves, but I know the way forward. Come and follow me.” If the Republican party is smart, they will.
Side note but watching the Sarah Palin video, if I’m not mistaken, the song was “Under The Cross of Jesus” and I noticed that because I found myself humming along. I noticed what I was humming along too at the words “Two wonders I confess, the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.” A beautiful line of testimony but maybe not an apt introduction tp someone whose qualifications are in doubt.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:17 am
McCain’s speech demonstrated why he should really be our President. He is a true leader and his character is far greater than that of his opponent. Most striking to me was how he was able to take the Vietnam portion of his biography and make it relevant. He did so by explaining how that experience changed him and shaped him into the man he is today. He may not be a great orator but he comes across more authentic than most other politicians I’ve heard.