Bush: McCain Is ‘Ready to Lead This Nation’
September 3, 2008
President Bush addresses the convention on a giant monitor at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday.
President Bush told the GOP convention audience Tuesday night that John McCain is “ready to lead this nation,” describing him as a candidate who understands the dangers of a post-Sept. 11 world and who can stand up to attacks from the “angry left.”
Bush addressed the convention by satellite, after his scheduled visit to Minnesota on Monday was canceled as federal and local officials attended to relief efforts on the Gulf Coast, which was being battered by Hurricane Gustav.
“We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001 — that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again,” Bush said. “The man we need is John McCain.”
In his remarks, Bush returned to what is considered McCain’s strong suit, foreign policy. It was also a return to the national security themes that drove his own campaign for re-election in 2004.
Bush described McCain as an independent politician who has been a stalwart advocate for American military success in Iraq. He said McCain was the “one senator above all” who had faith in the importance of the U.S. military mission in Iraq.
His address preceded appearances by Independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who touched on similar themes.
“John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He’s not afraid to tell you when he disagrees,” Bush said. “He told them he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. That is the kind of courage and vision we need in our next commander in chief.”
Referring to McCain’s refusal to accept early release when he was a prisoner of war in the Vietnam War, Bush said, “John McCain’s life is a story of service above self.”
“If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain’s resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry left never will,” Bush said.
McCain has faced charges from Democrats that he would bring the third term of the Bush administration. Bush’s approval ratings now hover around 30 percent, and the Barack Obama campaign released a new TV ad that mockingly plays a montage of images of McCain and Bush embracing, shaking hands and sharing laughs.
“Tonight, George Bush enthusiastically passed the torch to the man who’s earned it by voting with him 90 percent of the time, and who will continue this president’s legacy for the next four years — his disastrous economic policies, his foreign policy that hasn’t made us safer, and his misguided war in Iraq that’s costing us $10 billion a month,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said.
Laura Bush, who with Cindy McCain spoke briefly Monday and urged those watching to donate to hurricane relief efforts, introduced the president Tuesday.
She called McCain a “real American hero,” and described his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as a reformer and strong executive.
“I’m proud that America’s first female vice president will be a Republican woman,” she said.
Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush were in the audience.
Source: foxnews.com
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