Post by ۞Quaalude™۞ on Sept 4, 2008 22:22:46 GMT -5
John McCain has accepted the Republican Party's candidacy for the White House in a speech to cheering supporters at the party's national convention.
He said he accepted the nomination with "gratitude, humility and confidence" and pledged to earn the nation's trust.
Praising his running mate Sarah Palin, he said she was the right person to help him bring change to Washington.
The Arizona senator said he respected Democratic rival Barack Obama and would seek a bipartisan approach to politics.
He pledged to fight corruption and make sure that he worked for the good of the American people, rather than special interests or himself.
"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," Mr McCain said , He said he would "fight to restore the pride and principles" of the party, damaged after some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption.
"We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire," he said. "The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get the back to basics."
Mr McCain then turned to attacking the Democrats over taxes and spending, saying they would seek to raise taxes whereas he would keep them low and cut them where possible.
He also pledged create new jobs, improve education and to reduce a "dangerous dependence on foreign oil" by producing more energy at home, including by drilling new offshore oil wells.
Mr McCain promised to take a bipartisan approach to resolving the nation's problems, saying: "Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed.
"That's how I will govern as president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again."
The much-anticipated speech in St Paul, Minnesota, will bring to a close the party's four-day event.
'War hero'
Mr McCain's wife, Cindy, in her speech praised his family values, strength of character, war service and leadership , If Americans want straight talk and the plain truth, they should take a good close look at John McCain... a man tested and true, who's never wavered in his devotion to our country," she said, after arriving on stage flanked by their seven children.
Her speech followed the convention's formal nomination of Mrs Palin - the Republican Party's first female vice-presidential candidate.
Why Spend so much Money on a 72 Year Old Man for More of the Same ?
Mrs Palin becomes only the second woman, the first being Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, to run for the US vice-presidency.
She mixed praise for Mr McCain with stinging attacks against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a speech on Wednesday night that energised the convention.
The BBC's Adam Brookes in St Paul says Mr McCain's speech will set the tone for remaining two months of campaigning before the presidential election.
Mr McCain has worked tirelessly to tell Americans his story - the Vietnam war hero, the maverick politician, the straight talker - our correspondence Say's Now I Am Personally For Obama and the sort of Change The Democrats Bring to America . What Did You Guy's Think of the McCain Speech ? QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7598152.stm
He said he accepted the nomination with "gratitude, humility and confidence" and pledged to earn the nation's trust.
Praising his running mate Sarah Palin, he said she was the right person to help him bring change to Washington.
The Arizona senator said he respected Democratic rival Barack Obama and would seek a bipartisan approach to politics.
He pledged to fight corruption and make sure that he worked for the good of the American people, rather than special interests or himself.
"Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming," Mr McCain said , He said he would "fight to restore the pride and principles" of the party, damaged after some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption.
"We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire," he said. "The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get the back to basics."
Mr McCain then turned to attacking the Democrats over taxes and spending, saying they would seek to raise taxes whereas he would keep them low and cut them where possible.
He also pledged create new jobs, improve education and to reduce a "dangerous dependence on foreign oil" by producing more energy at home, including by drilling new offshore oil wells.
Mr McCain promised to take a bipartisan approach to resolving the nation's problems, saying: "Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed.
"That's how I will govern as president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again."
The much-anticipated speech in St Paul, Minnesota, will bring to a close the party's four-day event.
'War hero'
Mr McCain's wife, Cindy, in her speech praised his family values, strength of character, war service and leadership , If Americans want straight talk and the plain truth, they should take a good close look at John McCain... a man tested and true, who's never wavered in his devotion to our country," she said, after arriving on stage flanked by their seven children.
Her speech followed the convention's formal nomination of Mrs Palin - the Republican Party's first female vice-presidential candidate.
Why Spend so much Money on a 72 Year Old Man for More of the Same ?
Mrs Palin becomes only the second woman, the first being Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, to run for the US vice-presidency.
She mixed praise for Mr McCain with stinging attacks against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a speech on Wednesday night that energised the convention.
The BBC's Adam Brookes in St Paul says Mr McCain's speech will set the tone for remaining two months of campaigning before the presidential election.
Mr McCain has worked tirelessly to tell Americans his story - the Vietnam war hero, the maverick politician, the straight talker - our correspondence Say's Now I Am Personally For Obama and the sort of Change The Democrats Bring to America . What Did You Guy's Think of the McCain Speech ? QC
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7598152.stm