Dartblog

Tonight was a night devoted to John McCain. His background, his family, and his style. At the convention we heard from many speakers, but most notably Senators Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman, Congressman John Boehner, First Lady Laura Bush, and the President of the United States George W. Bush. These speakers highlighted different sections of his background, focusing on the adoption of his little girl from Bangladesh, the five and a half years that he spent in the Hanoi Hilton as a prisoner of war, and his time as a reformer in Congress.

The message of tonight was clear: Country First, that is the value that separates John McCain from his competitors, and the value that places him alongside the other great modern day Republican Presidents, including Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. He is a man of great character and courage. A man willing to challenge those with whom he disagrees, unafraid of political failure, and dedicated first and foremost to the good of his country. That is the kind of man that not just Republicans want in the White House, but that Americans want in the White House.

Tonight was unusual. A former member of the Democrat ticket took the stage in support of his friend, John McCain. Senator Lieberman focused his speech on partisanship and looking beyond partisanship for our leader. He made a direct appeal to Democrats and independents, not to be taken in by the show rhetoric. That though Senator Barack Obama shows great promise for the future, he is not the man ready to lead our country through tough times. He hit hard on Sen. Obama’s trip to Europe by saying that McCain travels abroad to engage the soldiers on the ground quietly and earned respect aroudn the world for the statesman that he is. I wonder what effect the appeal will have on those Democrats unsure of Obama’s credentials in a world in which America is fighting two wars, facing an increasingly aggressive Russia, and struggling to bolster our economy.

The Democrats have tried to portray McCain as just another version of President George W. Bush. This is patently false. McCain and Bush have disagreed on numerous issues. More importantly, McCain’s background demonstrates his character- his willingness to run against the grain, his history of flouting the rules to chart his own course, and his determination to do what is right for the country.

Excitement was palpable in the room tonight, but there was something else too. The audience was inspired. They saw in John McCain tonight, something truly extraordinary. He may be a politician, but John McCain truly is an American hero. Last week the Democrats tried to define Barack Obama, but tonight the Republicans allowed John McCain’s story to tell itself.

Tomorrow I hope to hear the Republicans begin to crystalize a message. Character will get you far, but policy preferences are important too. The Republicans are a party of ideas and I believe that their simple message of allowing Americans to think and choose for themselves is a message that resonates. We are a nation of immigrants, a nation of hard workers, a nation of individualists; that is what inspired the American dream and the boom that brought America to its current position as a superpower. A nation of people willing to do for themselves is a nation that will be successful. Defining this message and offering a choice to the American people should be the goals of the rest of the convention and I look forward to seeing them be accomplished.