McCain: It can be “tough” to be proud of USA
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WASHINGTON – Republican presidential candidate John McCain admitted on Saturday it can be difficult at times to be proud of the United States.
“I’ll admit to you … that it’s tough in some respects,” McCain said when asked by a questioner at a town hall meeting how to be proud of the country.
“We have not always done things right and we mismanaged the war in Iraq very badly for nearly four years.”
McCain’s wife, Cindy, pounced on Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, for saying in February that she was proud of her country “for the first time in my adult life.”
The Arizona senator said it was important for the United States to be more humble and inclusive.
“I think we can be proud of America because of what we’ve achieved and accomplished in this world,” he said.
“What we have to do is tell our friends around the world that we will be proud of America because of what we’re going to do.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton (McCain speaks during a town hall meeting at Federal Hall in New York on June 12).
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McCain has lost it. The “management” of the war is a lot of second guessing. Senator you are losing it. I wish you had the spine you used to have!
McCain has lost his spine! Second guessing is for wimps
America has done so much for the world; just giving the lives of our sons, fathers, brothers, etc. during WWII to help save Europe was a tremendous sacrifice. I watched my older sister as she had to move in with my parents, have a baby and pray for her husband who was in the infantry and landed at Normandy. My brother in law missed the birth of their daughter, holidays, all sorts of occasions while fighting in France and Holland; my sister had to have their child without him, worried every day that news would come that she could not bear. How can any American say they are not proud of just this one thing? America saved countries and lives. This is just ONE instance of being very proud of America. There are too many to list them here. Obama’s wife need to move to another country and stay there.
McCain is so busy trying to be all things to all people that he is nothing. Republicans won’t vote for you, John. Not enough of them anyway.
McCain is trying so hard to reach across the aisle to the independants and democrats that he is going to lose those of us who don’t appreciate him slamming our president.
Isn’t that what Michelle Obama said?
The only thing that Cindy McCain should be proud of is how she was able to steal John ( infidelity ) McCain from his bedridden wife. And to think that she waited him in this condition for 5 years while he was being held prisoner.
The desperate attempt by the media to compare the two quotes is just plain sick, but not too surprising. We straw chewing regular folks saw media bias against Hillary, we expect it against McCain as well. The media will be punished in November- that’s a promise.
McCain, like many that have served his country, knows his country is capable of greatness. He is not so easily persuaded by anti-americanism from home and abroad that he fails to see the good things the USA does.
God has blessed the USA with men (and women) of courage, which McCain has proven himself to be time and time again.
I have always been proud of America. I have not always been proud of the leaders, but that is my right as a citizen. Michelle Obama needs to re-evaluate her feelings toward this country. She like her husband have spent 20 years listening to the likes of Rev. J. Wright it is no wonder her values are messed up.
“What we have to do is tell our friends around the world that we will be proud of America because of what we’re going to do.” says McCain…………
Maybe the country should try doing something worth being proud of first.
And letthe excuses roll in.
But…but…but….REV. WRIGHT!!!!
Clyde, that was over sixty friggin years ago. How long does the world have to pay for our involvement in WW2. There were other country that paid a higher price than we did, you know.
This is a ridiculous statement. McCain is yet again exposing his campaign strategy by trying to run as a Democrat. I feel like there are two Democrats running: Carter Vs. Truman. I don’t want either of them.
Why hasn’t anyone questioned john McCain’s patriotism for the United states….. What he said is right along the lines of what Michelle Obama stated…… Double standard as usual in the Country…..People need to get a grip and realize that this is not a perfect country and we have a right to question what our government is doing especially if is affecting everyone’s economic situation… No one needs to re-evaluate their feelings on this topic….Both have said what they felt…. and they are human… back off…..
Lets grow up boys and girls and stop parsing every word both McCain and Obama say. Lets discuss the war, deficit, economy, energy and all the real problems facing America after what has happened over the last eight years. Right now we are the laughing stock of the western world.
It can be tough to be proud of the USA.
I sure want that in the White House representing
America. If he isn’t proud to be here then he should get
out. Besides is he dumb or what. His friend Bush has
made the USA what it is. Eight years of Bush and he
has nearly destroyed America.
McCain talks to much about nothing like Bush.
Obama will take him in November by a landslide.
Thank Heaven!!
If McCain gets into the White House I won’t be proud
of America for voting him in. If he does win then
you get what you deserve and stop whining. Just like
when they voted Bush in.
We can’t stand five more moths of all this parsing of talking points.
It frustrates me that he says this now, after the stink his wife raised. America is made up of it’s people and leaders. You cannot seperate the pieces. Our leaders have failed. Too many are homophobic, selfish, obese, self centered, greedy, etc, etc. You name it, there are a lot of things to be sad, and not proud of. I am angry. I am ready for change. I feel proud to be part of that change. Obama has new ideas and looks to Americans to step up and work together to make this country strong, secure, prosperous, unified and loving. That is something that anyone and everyone can be proud of. That is what Michelle meant. That is what I hope McCain meant. Those that mock, or excuse, you are exactly what I speak of. Look in the mirror. Or just shut up.
Hmm.. Will Cindy McCain (aka the St. Paulie’s Girl) slam John McCain for HIS comments saying it can be “tough” to be proud of the Unites States now? If this is John McCain’s idea of running a clean campaign, having your wife throw the mud we all should proud to call him an American.
We should definitely be proud of what we as Americans have achieved — like Marine David Matori torturing and killing a puppy in Iraq and videotaping it.
No major world power is always going to be able to be proud of all they do. This is true whether it is run by a dicator (good or bad) or by a dysfunctional democratic system (and they are all dysfunctional in some ways). Michelle Obama’s much distorted comments were obviously about a narrow issue of voter participation, but frankly the broader issue is just as real. If you want to say that you are proud of EVERYTHING about the US in past history or even recent history, you have not paid much attention to history. There are many, many great things about this country, people and political system. That does not mean that it is perfect. Real patriots don’t try to deny that.
McCain isn’t his own man anymore … he’s Bush’s made man. What a joke.
McCain is ASHAMED to be an American. Is this the kind of President we want? Shame on you, McCain.
John McCain is so proud of his country that he is willing to ruin it. Do you really think that the wife of someone running for president actually meant that she was not proud of her country or is it what you morons want to hear?
Pride comes before the fall…
You faux-patriots best take an honest, in-depth look at the real history of America. This is, no doubt, the greatest country on the planet, as was the Holy Roman Empire, and numerous nations past that have since fallen. Pride and arrogance are rampant in American leadership, and a large (but dwindling) number of citizens. Your hollow claims of “patriotism” are nothing more than a thin veil covering your true sickness: WHITE SUPREMIST MENTALITY (acute Cognitive Dissonance).
There is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that Amearica is a Great country for many many reasons to a vast majority of the people around the world.
The problem is the image of the country to people out side america who have not seen americans from inside. The perceived image is so distorted now because of these screwed up foreign policies that the true fabric of american culture and greatness have been overshadowed by the perceived image as a war-monger and aggressive power.
I’m always proud of my country, but the corporate elites are killing us.
And as for the McCain “losing his spine” post, if John McCain has lost any spine, he still has more than most people will ever have.
That McCain,
He reminds me of Captain Queeg in the Caine Mutiny (1954 Bogart Movie). Every time he is asked a tough question about the economy, its like he is being grilled on the stand about the strawberry issue.
That McCain, he needs his clock cleaned!
Just to continue my thought, I challenge people who are critical of these types of thought about pride, to tell us what we have, in the big scale, and current time frame, to be proud of?? What in our society is so great that we should toot our horns? Individually, a lot of us do as much as we can to help others, effect change, raise our families well. Helping those in need. Trying to be “green.” Individually we try. But when other countries look at us, they see fat, lazy, war hungry, greedy, self centered people. They see a government that has stripped the rights and liberties of not only their constituents, but anybody they consider different. We need to change that perception. We need to change that reality. And it starts with acknowledgement of the fact that there is little to be proud of, and we need to work hard to regain that pride and excellence in the eyes of the world.
THIS IS THE PERSON ADVISING JOHN McCAIN ON ECONOMIC MATTERS….Carly Fiorina led the company Hewelett Packard into a controversial merger with rival Compaq in 2002. Fiorina presided over a halving of Hewlett Packard’s value during her tenure and heavy job losses.[1] She was fired by HP’s board due to dissatisfaction with her performance in February 2005.
Thank you, to Mr. McCain, for giving us an alternative to Clinton, and a right answer to the blind-sighted stumblings of Mr. Obama. This country is ready for a strong answered leader, who isnt a war profiteer. The oil companies profits should be illegal…( tens of Billions per quarter);certainly immoral. I’ll vote for the leader who can show me that the oil companies do not have the right or the power to ruin our country, just because they pay off our law makers.
A vote for Mc Cain is a vote for AMNESTY!! don’t be fooled!!
My elderly Father said “The only War-Hero was the North Vietnamese Soldier that shot Him down”…
And I’m deffinately NOT voting for Obama either.
This is yet another election where I wish Pat Paulson was still alive so I could vote for Him.
I will be proud when people start voting because of the issues and not because of who a candidate knows or is associated with. Who cares about Rev Wright or John Hagee. They are not the ones running for office. I could care less about lobbyist or what a wife says. How much money they have. I am much smarter than that. I am smart enough to know that a President will not be able to deliver on everything they promise. I just listen to the policy’s of each and vote with who I believe is better for America. BTW . .I voted for Bush . .
So McCain finds it tough to be patriotic because we’re mismanaging the war?
I find it difficult to be patriotic because we’re waging an unjust, needless war.
And because America has now decided that it is OK to practice torture.
And because we no longer believe that the accused deserve trials.
McCain’s patriotism is founded on our nation’s military might. Mine is founded on what I believed to be our moral might. McCain is disappointed that we’re not winning the war. I’m disappointed that we’ve become the evil we sought to destroy.
McCain said exactly what I would hope a man seeking to become Commander In Chief would say. I can only speak for myself but I find it easy to express great pride in the United States right up to the moment the current Commander In Chief was called up to begin making decisions.
For once McCain has spoken some truth. If you haven’t lived other people’s lives you can’t tell anyone how they should feel and when they should be proud. Part of being American is being able to express that little thing called the First Amendment. If you’re like Cindy McCain and can get a pass on a drug offense most others would still be doing time for – yeah, you’d think everything is fair, too.
Everybody has been second guessing the war, and it’s one of the qualities of American government that set us apart from those ideologically rigid dictatorships who don’t see the tide coming until they’re drowning.
Go read Clausewitz, or ANYTHING for that matter (On Strategy is a good choice), and you’ll see that political objectives will and must change to fit what happens in chaotic situations. So Bush was wrong, and here we are.
Our current President has changed the objective in Iraq because the facts didn’t bear out the original objective and yet there was obviously a lot of work to be done as a result of the invasion, for better or worse. You break it, you bought it.
Michelle Obama should talk to those faithful who still promote Stalin as a great leader, and who talk about the great advances the Soviet Union made in education and technology during that era. The United States has traditionally been quick to denigrate the accomplishments of tyrants. On that point alone the United States (including its government) deserves credit, and another big fat negative for those vocal few in the Obama camp who think that continuing to be negative supports their candidate (which it doesn’t, and doesn’t appear to be something he appreciates).
this is silly. who cares what their wives said. it would be impressive if the U.S. had real power and didn’t have to influence by force. I say we take all the leaders around the world who start wars or threaten to start wars, and lock them up. It’s 2008 and we have more serious issues than these self centered, immature politicians. goodness.
I remember Bush when he ran the first time talking about humble US foreign policy. What a load of s#@$. Lesson: don’t believe what they say. McCain talks humble, let’s see him walk it.
John is articulating a fundamental truth about our history. There are a great many actions that have been taken by the U.S. Gov’t which are in direct contrast to the Constitutional charter. Genocide, Slavery, Civil Rights, support for 3rd world dictators, etc.
There is no doubt that our nation has contributed greatly to the affluence and freedom of the world, however it is a show of strength for McCain to make this acknowledgment because one of the greatest impediments to the healthy growth and development of our young people is the duality and guilt that accompanies a history of such inhumane actions silhouetted against the perfection of those eternal words ‘We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal’. Young people feel guilt and shame for a history in which our ‘forefathers’ betrayed many of the values for which they stood. Thus, for our leadership to accurately chart a course in which our young people feel not shame for our nations sketchy history, but remorse for the blind actions of misguided Americans, and when they begin to understand the context in which those shameful actions took place, then a great shift will occur. Once that happens the talents and energies of our young people can be fully directed towards confronting the most challenging issues that our nations faces, energy independence, radical islam, ecological desecration, poverty, education, health care, etc. and the first step is to recognize our past failings. We owe it to ourselves, the world, and to God to do better.
When the “straw chewing regular folks,” such as the poster above named “Yell” can’t place the responsibility on a candidate such as Senator McCain to succumb to the cult of personality that has risen within the 28% of blinded supporters around the faux conservative leadership of Bush and his minions, they blame the media. Get a firm grip folks. The last 7 years has been a farce perpetrated upon the entire world never seen previously in the annals of the U.S. Get over it. Bush in his zeal for a legacy as a “Great War President” and political party partisan gain has instead turned out to have been the worst president ever. True conservative Republicans suach as Reagan, Goldwater and Eisenhower, and yes, even Ricard M. Nixon are collectively rolling over in their graves. How far the great party has fallen…
US Navy Veteran
McCains courage seems to have gone AWOL some time ago. Don’t bother telling me what a courageous person he is, I too served in Viet Nam and saw real courage and McCain isn’t displaying it, to Americans or the World.
If he needs a time to claim he wasn’t proud of America, perhaps he should list when America turned their backs on the Vietnamese and let millions in Southeast Asia die at the hands of Communism.
I’m afraid we are down to the two most worthless candidates for president in history!
McCain made gaffe. Funny and ironic, but understandable in response to a question. Michelle Obama made a gaffe,one poorly worded sentence that has been blown out of proportion and no one including Reuters bothers to print her explanation when it is brought up – so much for the “liberal media”, Mrs Obama also said,
“What I was clearly talking about was that I’m proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process,” she said.
“For the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven’t seen and really trying to figure this out — and that’s the source of pride that I was talking about,” she added.
When asked if she had always been proud of her country, she replied “absolutely.” “Barack and I, our stories wouldn’t be possible, if it weren’t for fundamental belief and pride in this country and what it stands for.”
My family has served in the U.S. military for four generations, none of us has taken offense at McCain or Michelle’s gaffes.
I think Laura Bush put Michelle Obama’s remark about being [being proud of America] to rest. Mrs. Bush felt Mrs. Obama meant “more” proud so we should leave it there. Mrs. Obama is not running for president folks and Mrs. Bush advised Michelle to be very careful about what she says publically. Advice from one first lady to another? Perhaps. I feel Laura Bush showed how classy she is by defending Mrs. Obama. Thanks, Laura, for rising above it all!
Did he forget that he paraded his wife in front of cameras to say,.,Yes I have always been proud of America (The country which has given me millions so I dont have to go out and work as hard than you other miserable people and
TAKE PHOTO SHOOTS FOR VOUGE OUTSIDE OF MY OCEAN SIDE HOME IN CALIFORNIA…
I BET YOU ARE PROUD…HAVE YOU EVER FACED A DAY OF SCRUTINY IN YOUR LIFE…I SURE YOU HAVENT…BLONDES PEOPLE WITH BLUE EYES GENERALLY DONT
Bush and McCain are not I repeat are not real patriots.
You don’t take our military into a war on LIES and DECEIT
them and the AmericaN people. McCain who wants to keep
us in Iraq for 100 years.
I will say a million times, our brave men and women
deserve so much from us and especially the people
running this great country. Neither one of them have
any respect for life at all. IMPEACH BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN WHO WILL ONLY TAKE US INTO MORE CHAOS.
We should be proud of America, but not our LEADERS
WHO HAVE LED US DONW A HORRIBLE PATH!!
IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
MLK Jr. pleaded “Judge by character, not by the color of one’s skin” McCain has proven character. Obama is an empty designer suit, a Hollywood look with an alarming lack of concern for the defense against terrorism coming back to America. Obama has a JFK charisma, but McCain mirrors JFK words and deeds. Obama’s promises a rudderless ship headed for disaster, McCain offers experienced mariner skills to guide our country through challenging waters.
Challenging waters? Oh yea! McCain will take us
deeper and deeper into a mess. Obama will use his
head, what we have now is a empty headed President
and McCain will be the same.
I happen not to see one’s skin color. That is just
how I was raised. It is the character and heart
of a person that matters most. Bush and McCain
have neither.
What did John McCain, the Vietnam VETERAN, actually do in Vietnam ? He got shot by a North Vietnamese and spent 5 years in their under water prisons !