I don't forgive John McCain. One gracious concession speech can't undo all the damage he did.

[calmblueocean]

McCain's concession speech last night was like putting a band-aid on a grisly stab wound. McCain's entire campaign against Obama was based on lies, slurs, and innuendo. "Who is the real Barack Obama?" he asked over and over again, month after month, working to convince his Republican base that Obama was a terrorist sympathizer, perhaps even a terrorist in disguise. He told his frightened crowd that ACORN was shredding the "fabric of democracy", and led them to believe it was all part of some corrupt Obama coup. He sent his own vice president out on the trail to do the dirtiest work of stirring up hate and fear, which she did like a pro.

McCain has divided this country so bitterly, and now he will simply walk away from it, as if he had no part in the rift he helped create. It is going to take years for some people to shake the scales from their eyes and realize that Barack Obama is not the terrifying secret Muslim terrorist socialist communist that the McCain campaign led them to believe he was. Some people will never wake up. And that's McCain's fault.

I'm not going to let anyone get away with praising the man if I can help it. He had a choice to make when he was campaigning, and he chose to demonize Obama -- and let his Vice President demonize Obama -- rather than simply run on the issues. Obama's life is in greater danger because of the kind of campaign McCain ran.

I do not forgive him.

[AirmensMom]

1. My thoughts exactly.

He was nasty and dangerous. One little speech ain't gonna fix all the damage he did by whipping up all that hate.

[still_one]

2. He is paying the price for that /nt

[Crazy Dave]

3. You heard all the boos from his supporters every time he said Obama

The first time Obama mentioned McCain in his speech tens of thousands of Obama supporters applauded.

I'm sure Palin is already contemplating her race war strategy for 2012.

[TornadoTN]

8. And he didn't do a damn thing to shut them down either

He created the monster, now he can live with it.

I have no sympathy for him, nor do I have any respect for a man that didn't have any for this country.

[Morning Dew]

14. Unfortunately, we're the ones who have to live with the Hate-storm he whipped up

along with his pit bull Sarah.
He can return to his insular world of the Senate.
The rest of us, along with President Obama will have to live next to the haters.

[TornadoTN]

16. That's the sad part about it

But four years can change a lot of minds. Sure, a lot of these morons will keep hating even if Obama personally handed them all a million dollar, but a good portion of them will slowly turn their hate and rhetoric down. A few will even switch sides - the proverbial "bandwagon effect" in play.

[Morning Dew]

23. I hope you're right

:)

[pleah]

4. The hate that he and Satan Sara spread will not die for quite some time. n/t

[alison]

5. Agreed completely. Sure, his speech was gracious, but it doesn't make up for what he and his

campaign did.

[pleah]

6. dupe.

?

[seabeyond]

7. this is what i was explaining to sons this morning. he tried, but he created. yes. n/t.

[Old Codger]

9. You bet

I agree with that sentiment totally... He is a complete ass , but then I never liked him before the election, his complete disregard for normal respect of others puts him in the same class as *, he should share cells with the rest of the asshats in the white house

[bunkerbuster1]

10. While I don't forgive him, I will acknowledge that he has taken the right step

and I think it might be best to encourage people like him to take more steps like this.

You write that "McCain has divided this country so bitterly" and frankly, I don't think that's a fair assessment. McCain bears responsibility for continuing the divisiveness, true. But ANY Republican was going to do that. It was the only hope they had to win in November.

Bottom line is, he didn't do it alone, not even nearly. I say we encourage those who take the right steps when they take those steps. This morning, let's acknowledge a good deed for what it is, if we can find it in our hearts to do so.

I can. Don't expect you to, as well, but I can.

[Raineyb]

24. I will agree that his speech was a first step. However I doubt that it will go any further.

Even while he was making his speech there were outbursts and they were fairly loud too I couldn't make out what was said but then it's not like McLame said or did anything to tamp down the ugly coming from his audience. This is no different than what went on during the campaign. He's whipped up more hate and fear and now he'll go back to Washington DC and act as though he had nothing to do with it and use his concession speech as evidence that he tried to do something. However the speech is too little too damn late. The damage has been worsened and we're the ones who have to live with its aftermath.

It's not enough and I don't forgive him. Not at this time; maybe never.

Regards

[bunkerbuster1]

29. Your doubts are very well-founded.

I'm feeling gracious enough today to acknowledge what baby steps the other side takes. I'll try to continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.

Having said that, I heard the boos and catcalls too. We've got work to do.

[2Design]

11. exactly - he and she created so much hate and misinformation it is digusting

[wishlist]

12. I can't forgive the torrents of racist and hateful robocalls, mail flyers and TV ads

Pundits in media are 'whitewashing' McCain by giving him too much credit and acting like he was so magnanimous and positive not only in conceding but they have been saying that for the past week or so, that he could have gone more negative. I beg to differ. The nastiness trying to appeal to the lowest common denominators of fear and racism from McCain and Repubs was disgusting here in NC.

[MJkcj]

13. Agreed - you said it well

[October]

15. Agreed! But I am hopeful he'll calm his minions with that speech

Otherwise...I loathe the man...always have.

[Lisa0825]

17. I agree.

I was not moved. I thought it was phony, because if he was indeed that classy, as the speech was meant to portrayhim, he never would have run such a sleazy campaign.

[johnlal]

18. No, but I'm ready to relegate him to history.

He can go into the halls of republicans past, along with Bob (and Liddy) Dole.

[Spritz57]

19. I disagree with the premise. . .

I didn't think the speech was gracious, I found it insulting. If he had directly addressed the crowds' booing, given up the fake humility (his smile betrayed his words), "It's my fault," and really stressed unity, then his speech would have been gracious. I believe it was only gracious in the eyes of those who have a spirit of an innate yet overtly self entitled perspective. (Wow, I guess the coffee has hit the blood stream!).

[ComtesseDeSpair]

20. Absolutely

I was at Grant Park watching the speech on the huge screen there and I thought it was so ironic that after he had been riling his followers up to hate and fear Obama for weeks now, he now told them to have tolerance and acceptance. I turned to my GF and said, "What are you talking about, McCain? He's a terrorist-loving Muslim!!!" The damage McCain has done to divide our country and inspire hatred and distrust for a good and honest man cannot be undone with one gracious speech. Personally, I will never forgive him. Never.

[mscuedawg]

21. One hard and very important lesson that Obama taught me ...

...was to rise above and not lower himself to their level. The memory of Obama hushing the boo's has left a mark on my heart forEVER!! The memory of the boo's from McCain's concession speech and the absolute silence of the crowd listening to Obama's acceptance speech spoke VOLUMES!!

I had a huge awakening this election process in many ways...and the lesson I have walked away with is HUMILITY...

:patriot:

[emulatorloo]

26. Beautiful -- thank you -- n/t

[Roxy66]

22. Spot on!!!!!

[codjh9]

25. I agree - but his speech still surprised the hell out of me.

[Blue For You]

27. John McCain is still a low life. His campaign was an atrocity.

I don't understand why some people are going ga-ga over him with that fake speech.

[No Elephants]

28. Sing it!

[Left Is Write]

30. I agree. He gave a beautiful speech, and I think he meant what he was saying -

but he cannot erase what he did during his campaign and what he allowed to be done and said on his behalf.

[Meshuga]

31. McCain is history

He is no longer relevant.

[Liberal Dose]

32. John and Sarah stirred up and stoked so much hate, I have a hard time believing it will all just

dissipate because of a concession speech that the heaving masses think "he had to say". John and Sarah, along with Faux Snooze owe it to this country to set the record straight. Of course they won't, and we are left with another difficult task.