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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Reintroducing McCain: Day 1

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 12:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy 
MERIDIAN, Miss. -- With a 20-minute long familial history here this morning, John McCain kicked off what his campaign is formally calling the “Service to America” tour meant to reintroduce McCain to voters. But if today was any indication, the tour could accurately be renamed "Faith of my Fathers on Stage." 
 
This morning’s speech was a Cliffs Notes version of the McCain Family story found in the senator’s best-selling autobiography -- written with assistance from senior advisor Mark Salter. The message of the speech focused on how the military service of his ancestors inspired him to serve his country as well. 
 
“The family I was born to, and the family I am blessed with now, made me the man I am, and instilled in me a deep and abiding respect for the social institution that wields the greatest influence in the formation of our individual character and the character of our society,” McCain said. “Government must be attentive to the impact of its policies on families so that it does not through inattention or arrogance make it harder for parents to have the resources to succeed in the greatest work of their lives -- raising their children.” 
 
The several hundred people seated in the audience sat quietly for the first 15 minutes of McCain’s talk before applauding loudly when the candidate called for the federal government to be mindful of its effects on the American family.
 
Going forward, McCain visits his high school and college in the coming days when he is expected to outline how his education shaped his character and prepared him for the presidency.

*** UPDATE *** Howard Dean's response to the McCain tour, via the DNC: "John McCain deserves our respect for his service to our country, but no reinvention tour can change the fact that a vote for him is a vote for four more years of President Bush's failed policies. No matter how many times he tries to reintroduce himself, the voters already know that John McCain is out of touch with the challenges facing working families, admits he doesn't understand the economy, and is willing to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years. John McCain can talk about his past, but only a Democrat can bring the change the American people want for the future."

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How can you "reintroduce" a guy who has been around forever?
John McSame...more of the same...more war...more deficits and debt...more lost homes...more tax cuts...more incompetent republicans running the guvment...more more more..

Let's swiftboat this fraud and make sure he doesn't get a chance to kill our sons and grandsons in wars of choice
I can't think of anything impacting American families more than sending 4000+ young men and women to their deaths for an absolutely useless and lie of a war.
“The family I was born to, and the family I am blessed with now, made me the man I am, and instilled in me a deep and abiding respect for the social institution that wields the greatest influence in the formation of our individual character and the character of our society,” McCain said.

These words sound great but what part of "respect for social institutions" demands that we keep putting our soldiers in the middle of a civil war. Or makes them leave their families for repeated tours of duties. This man was a POW and I can not understand why he can not understand the need to bring our men and women home.

Vietnam was the most painful time in recent American history but does not give anyone the right to continue to follow a misguided path to chaos in Iraq. The sooner we leave Iraq, the sooner that country can reconcile itself into whatever shape its people desire.  We should not be so presumptuous to think we can control the entire World or the desolate sands of Iraq. McCain's experiences tell him not to "Abandon"  Iraq but what we need to do is not to "Abandon" our soldiers in this mess that George Bush has created.

It is time for new leadership, not the same old bravado that got us into this mess in the first place.

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com/
McCain is not a maverick senator. He's voted with the rethuglicans over 90% of the time. He would be another Bush, his administration will be a third Bush term because most of it will be former bushies.  A vote for McCain is a vote for (1) more war, (2) less security, (3) a bankrupted federal gov't, (4) higher defecit, (5) foreign interest foreclosing on our national debt, and (6) more global warming.
What makes Howard Dean so smart? These guys kill me with that only a Democrat BS. Howard dean is just a divisive as anyone else.
Nobody want more of McBush
Barack Obama

Education:
--- Harvard Law, magnum cum laude

Professional Experience:
--- Community organizer, lecturer, civil rights lawyer
--- 8 years state senate
--- 3 years US Senate

Military Experience:
---

Special Awards/Recognitions
--- 2005, “10 People Who Could Change the World”
--- 2005, 2007, “Most Influential People
--- 6 Honorary Law Degrees



John McCain

Education:
--- US Naval Academy

Professional Experience
--- 4 years, US House of Representatives
--- 20 years, US Senate

Military Experience:
--- 22 years, Unites States Navy pilot
--- 5 years, POW in Hanoi (while Obama was in grade school)
--- Silver Star
--- Bronze Star
--- Legion of Merit
--- Purple Heart
--- Distinguished Flying Cross

Special Awards and Recognitions
--- 1999, Profiles in Courage
--- 2005, Eisenhower Leadership Prize
--- 2006, Distinguished Service Award, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
--- 2007, Policymaker of the Year Award, World Leadership Forum


One of these men is qualified to command a military. One of them is not.

One of these men has awards for accomplishments; the other has awards for hoping for accomplishments.

One of these men is an award-winning lawmaker with 24 years in national-level law-making.

One of these men was a tortured, beaten, food-deprived POW who refused to bend to the propaganda machine of the VC while the other was in grade school.

One of these men is trying to rebuild what the Presidency was created for, national defense and enforcement of the laws, while the other is trying to make the burdens of Congress the responsibility of one man.

Obama went from community organizer/lawyer to state legislature to US Senator within ten years. And now that he is in the office that was DESIGNED TO ALLOW US to fix education, fix health care, and manage taxes, trade, and the national debt, he wants to leave it for a job that has no responsibility toward any of those things other than to agree or disagree, but has three times the salary and three times the notoriety. Odd coincidence? Not at all.

Do Not Elect a Man Whose Only Motivation is His Place in History. Do Not Elect Barack Obama.
Sorry McCain, I don't base leadership and decision-making ability on their family background and history...
That's the problem with old soldiers, they are always fighting the last war.

The nation is screaming about the economy, he's running on Iraq.

Go figure.
Howard Dean, like all democrats, taking the cheapshot with "our troops in Iraq for 100 years" ---

That is a BLATANT distortion of what McCain's intention was, and it is a playing on the emotions of the American people by suggesting McCain wants WAR in Iraq for 100 years, which is untrue.

As a senior veteran, McCain knows all the implications of a major international conflict and understands that after fighting is done, military presences in now-friendly countries can forge valuable alliances. He is hoping that the same will happen in Iraq, so that when fighting is under control, we will be able to have a presence there just as we have had in countries all over the world for the better half of 100 years.

The democratic leadership knows that the ONLY way that they can defeat McCain is to mention Bush as many times as possible, even though there are extraordinary differences between the two.
More of the same, from john mccain.

If you have liked the past 7 years and managed to hide your kid from the army then you should vote for more of the same.

If your kid fought and you are tired of the faux patriotism from the right then vote for change, any change
As I've stated before, if you've been happy with the past 7 years, feel free to cast a vote McCain's way; because a vote for him is a vote for the same thing for the next 4 years. No matter how he packages himself, he STILL is an old-time (and just plain old)politician, with old-time ideas. The younger generation wants someone who they can identify with and McCain isn't that! He can't even get his OWN party behind him and is having trouble raising money; he's a joke.
Whoa?!  Howard Dean is sounding more and more like an Obama supporter.

Yes We Can!  Obama in 08!
Well a war hero trumps an american hater anytime what has obamma ever done for this country except complain thats all his stump speech is a litany of comlaints.
Once upon a time I could've considered voting for McCain. He seemed like a decent republican. But now.......
At the beginning of the election cycle his campaign was broke and pundits were sayindg his campaign was all but dead. Then out of nowhere he gets revitalized. All the while supporting Bush's strategy. It gives me the notion that he sold his soul to teh devil (Bush) in order to garner more support ad the help of Bush fundraisers. McCain used to be opposed to the things that Bush stands for (ie tax breaks) Now all of a sudden he is on his team, yet trying to distance himself. Good luck with that but I say no, no no to Mccain
kenn.......you are ONE unhappy dude since Hillary is going down the tubes. It's starting to show.
Hello America, my name is Juan McWar. I am a 70-something years old veteran of the Vietnam War, and both my father and grandfather were military leaders. As you can see, I come from a warrior family that staunchly and patriotically advocates war to defend our great nation when threatened. It is a honor to be a veteran fighting for the causes of this great nation, no matter how worthless the cause because defending every American interest and the beauty of military life is what I care for so deeply.
As you can see from my first and last names, Juan McWar, I have been championing both centrist and hawkish American policies at home and abroad. One of my major policy efforts was immigration reform, and I vehemently supported a path to citizenship for the millions of illegals in our great nation, a nation of immigrants. I also took up ethics reform legislation and tried to the best of my ability to reform the ethical face of Washington, despite my own ties to lobbyists and the fact that I made the mistake of staffing my senate office and my campaign with lobbyists. It is a disgrace that I must acknowledge for me to hire lobbyists if I ever clamored to transform Washington into ethically sound and bipartisan hub of our national government.
More later, America. This is the first in a series of speeches from me to help you get to know me.
God Bless America!
Juan McWar
John McCain addressed about 300 people, versus Barack's 20,000 today. Granted, Senator Obama found voice at a University, even so, it is obvious John McCain is not capable of attracting that kind of enthusiasm from those who will inherit the future. His service to America will always be appreciated, but it is time out for Americans to blindly follow misguided leadership; even that of a bonified hero.

The good news is, we get it; sadly he does'nt.

Pulling for Obama '08


OMG!!


OBAMA VOTING FOR THE WAR, 84 of 85 votes, the one vote difference was for different generals. Obama wanted one general and Hillary wanted the other....

When it came to voting for and funding the war, Obama voteed yes 84 out of 85 votes, untll he started to run for President, his votes and Hillary clinton's vots were **exactly** the same. Obamaphiles only see what Obama tells them to see, nothing else.




From VA Watch Dog re: John McCain’s support of veterans and how he voted:

Invasion of Iraq: Yes.

Veterans Issues

2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 20 percent in 2006.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of D.

2006 Senator McCain sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 25 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The American Legion 50 percent in 2003.

2001 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 46 percent in 2001.

1999 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 66 percent in 1999.

1997-1998 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 0 percent in 1997-1998.

1989-1990 On the votes that the Vietnam Veterans of America considered to be the most important in 1989-1990 , Senator McCain voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.
Veterans Issues

Date Bill Title Vote

10/01/2007 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 NV
02/02/2006 Tax Rate Extension Amendment N
11/17/2005 Additional Funding For
 Veterans Amendment N
10/05/2005 Health Care for Veterans Amendment N
War hero > American hater

Clinton = economy
I REPEAT: HOW PRECIOUS THE RIGHT WING HAS DECIDED THAT WE NEED A MILITARY MAN AGAIN. IN 2000 AND 2004 VIET NAM VETS WITH A BRONZE STAR WERE LIARS AND COWARDS AND ONLY CHICKEN HAWK DRAFT-DODGERS COULD SAVE US. NOW IN YET ANOTHER STUNNING BUT COMMONPLACE ACT OF RIGHT WING HIPOCRICY, WE NEED A VET WHO'S BEEN TORTURED AND APPARENTLY LIKED IT BECAUSE HE HAS NOTHING AGAINST IT, NOW.
The american people are tops at abandoning people like in VIETNAM and I m sure IRAQ .We never care about straighting out the mess we made just like your kids they just get up and leave well this aint VIETNAM Muslims aren't Buddists and they remember along time so just get up and leave run away run away ,the same people would have said cant we work with this guy hitler,there are some evil mothers you cant work with so luckly for you wimps and sissys there are men like john macain who will stand for yopu and this countrys elected leaders if you dont like it leave,I m sure protests are welcomed in AFRICA and CHINA and the SOVIET UNION
BUSH 41 HAD MORE EXPERIENCE WITH FORIEGN POLICY THAN MCCAIN. JUST LIKE BUSH MCCAIN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS ON THE HOME FRONT. I LIKE TO KNOW HOW MCCAIN PLANS ON PAYING FOR THE ON GOING THE WAR IN IRAQ? IT IS BEING NOW BEING FUNDED BY FORIEGN COUNTRIES NOT BY THE TAXPAYER. WE OWE EVERY BODY AND THERE BROTHER FOR THIS WAR. THE COST OF THE WAR IS NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET PUT FORTH BY PRESIDENT BUSH .HOW MUCH IS THIS WAR GOING TO COST EACH AMERICAN AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS JOHN MCCAIN?
Gee I wonder how much influence his first family, you remember the original one, before he cut out on his wife, had on his life?  How come that isn't part of the Let Me Re-introduce Myself tour?  
There are millions of patriotic proud veterans in America-it does not make them presidential, nor does it for mccain. John Kerry is a decorated veteran, and the repubs made a mockery of his service. How many times is mccain going to "re-introduce" himself-he has been campaigning for about 10 years now-and no matter how much he tries to push the "hero" immage, he is nothing more than more of the same, bush all over again. As a combat disabled proud former Marine, I would NEVER consider voting for him.
McCain 08...McCain barely got out of Annapolis and wouldn't be where he is today if not for his dad the admiral.  "Bomb Iran" McCain represents what?  The glory of war.  The world is changing too fast for America to entrust her leadership to a Keating Fiver with no feeling for the economic hurt the people are in.  Vote Obama...  even Hillary is better than McCain.
Pile on OBAMMAWANNABES show what kind of new politics you are using go ahead insult a war hero everyone knows obamma is the same ole same ole name calling personel attacks attack his age his white hair or what ever other names you call him you true COLORS are showing YELLOW and GREEN,show how after insulting Macain you will bring us The outcast hilliary fans and the maCAIN PEOPLE how is that going to happen ,maybe the plan is to unite the macain and hilliary people against obamma good plan UNITER.
"Going forward, McCain visits his high school and college in the coming days when he is expected to outline how his education shaped his character and prepared him for the presidency."

Since you came in 894 out of 899 in your college graduating class, I'm not sure I would touch on the subject of how my college education prepared me to be President if I were you John.  Just a thought.
I read Mr. McCain's speech...well, most of it...and thought, "who wrote this crap?". It sounds SO stilted and old-fogey-ish (probably not a word!). Look, I know the man is old - it happens to the best of us, BUT does he have to sound like something left over and warmed up from the olden days?
McCain "gets" climate change but he doesn't get illegal immigration, resource wars (Iraq), economics, finance, or liberty (adherence to the Constitution)...

http://truthalert.net/The%20Perfect%20Storm%20of%20Energy%20Culture%20and%20Population.htm
Believe it or not, I think McCain would be worse than Bush.  I never see any black people around him, no minorities at all.  

At least Bush, have Condi around him.


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