Lieberman addresses his first GOP convention
ST. PAUL - Country first. That was the theme of day two of the Republican National Convention. First lady Laura Bush, Pres. Bush, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson and current U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman stressed that theme as they gave keynote addresses.
Lieberman's speech was particularly interesting. This was the former Democratic vice-presidential candidate-turned independent's first Republican convention.
"What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?" Lieberman asked.
"I'm here," he said, answering his own question, "to support John McCain. Because country matters more than party."
Referring to McCain's decision to run an abbreviated first day of the convention on Monday because the gulf coast was getting pounded by a hurricane, Lieberman said, "What you can expect from John McCain is exactly what you have seen this week -- putting country first."
In other words, if circumstances preclude you from opening the convention with the flair that you've been planning, at least position yourself as putting the nation ahead of partisan politics. That should, and probably did, gain McCain some favor with voters.
Of course, it was also the right thing to do.
The point being raised is an important one. The president is president of all the people. Not just members of his own party.
Addressing Democrats and independents specifically, Lieberman concluded with this admonition:
"This year," he said, "...vote for the person you believe is best for your country, not for the party you happen to belong to."
Wednesday will see McCain's name being put into nomination. And, in all likelihood, his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will speak.
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4 comments:
The Republican convention opened sounding somber and lifeless. It was hard to even listen to it until Fred Thompson got up to speak. Now I thought his speech sounded more like a pep rally at color war games, but he was able to rile the people to his team. We do have to remember though that this is no game but in fact a real war.
Later Joe Lieberman came to the podium. I was ready to be put to sleep based on past experiences of listening to him, but to my surprise he was great. Not only didn't he speak in that monotone stressed voice of the past, but he spoke in a more relaxed and pleasant sounding way. He emphasized his decisions to vote was based on the person not the party. This being the opposite push of the democratic ticket. The democrats push party and principles first with the president as the tool for the party to achieve them. He stated that we have to think of the country before the we think of the party. This being the code he lived his life by. Put America first!
When comparing the 2 candidates he did make a jab at Obama "eloquence is no substitute for record." Although I take issue with him there. McCain hasn't shown to me a record for being able to deal with domestic, economic, and foreign issues. Yes he is a military man and can lead. But I believe we need more than a war monger to run our country. We need someone educated in other disciplines of thought. We need an ambassador, a philosopher, an educator, a business man, as well as the leader to help turn our economy around and regain our position within the world community again.
Lieberman spoke of the need for national unity and how McCain can bring the country together. But here as well I take issue, for our country has been more divided between the parties and the haves and have nots since the democrats last were in office.
The last 8 years have left our country in an economic and foreign dissaster. I don't want more of the same. We need a change, and that change is needed now. Now I realize that change is scary. People like to stick with what they know. But we have to take some chances if we want things to be better and to succeed. If we do nothing, nothing will happen. We wont be any worse, but we wont be any better either. Frizzy163
The tone and tenor of the speaches certainly gave the Party gravitas!
If we were talking about strategists then I would say the Republicans out manoevered the Democrats and made them look like hysterical teenagers.
Substance is what you need from a convention, together with a clear sense of purpose and a large degree of transparency that you are prepared to share with the electorate.
What a speaker Fred Thompson is!! He is the American equivilant of Marc Antony - that most subtle of all Shakesperian characters!!
This was an obvious attempt to get Democrats who are not too comfortable with Barack Obama and independents to vote for McCain.
As Gary pointed out in the show, fully 40 percent of voters are independents. It's their votes that both parties are trying to woo. He who grabs the most independent votes will be the next president of the United States.
The question is, did Lieberman's address resonate with those voters? Time, I guess, will tell.
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