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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 Political Researcher



Excerpts of McCain's remarks tonight

Posted: Thursday, September 04, 2008 6:49 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
John McCain on Palin and change: "I’m very proud to have introduced our next vice president to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming."

On reaching out to political opponents: "The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you. 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. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not."

(Note: While McCain decries partisan rancor, by our count, his campaign has aired at least 15 different negative/contrast TV ads against Obama since mid-July, when he departed on his overseas trip.)

On his love of country: "I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.”

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Comments

Why can't the democrats learn from their mistakes?
They concentrated on dis crediting Cheney and left Bush pretty much alone. It's now 2008 and instead of concentrating on Mccain they attack his running mate with hollow (at best) arguments. After all who is Obama running against Mccain or Palin?
Wow, the sanctimony practically drips off of the screen... McCain would have us believe that every single action he's taken since then has been for his country, and that's it.

You're right to point out that McCain has been constantly running negative ads!  Please highlight this on the air tonight, Chuck!!!
37 million viewers watched Palin's speach last night. Obama had 39 million. only 2 million less people watched the democrats pres pick than the republicans VP pick. Less than 20 million turned out to see Joe Biden spit lies out when he spoke, but than again he had only some 70 thousand turn out to vote for him in the primaries
He says he decries partisanship?  Was he watching any of last night?  Has he seen any of the ads that he has been running?

Can you say complete hypocrisy?
"the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd"

...She is one of us!

You really arent fooling anyone, McCain.
Nostalgia is great, but where's the beef?  What's your plan, McCain?  What policies are you going to set forth?

Still waiting . . . .
I knew he couldnt do it!  I new the old bird couldnt make it one speech without whipping out the POW angel.  Good lord he is so predictable.
I'm sure McCain will do good tonight - BUT
GOV PALIN was GREAT!!!!

This team has EARNED my VOTE!
And I am a Hillary Dem!
Education of our leaders, I think is important, McCain graduated 5th from the bottom of his class.  Sarah Palin attended 5 colleges in 6 years and received a degree in journalism ........ no idea what kind of grades she received.
Why would you except MCCain to tell the truth...his klondike vp choice sure didnt.
Good Luck McCain!


Hard to top your new VP - GOV Palin was outstanding.
Obama raised $8 million after Palin's speech and McCain raised $1 million!!! Love it.  Why didn't any of the pundits pick up on how Palin offended middle Americans that understand the value of their community organizers?  
It's not surprising that his speech will talk about change a lot. These acceptance speeches garner a lot of viewers, so McCain can say the opposite of how he's acted thus far and some will believe it. Rest assured though, tomorrow will be the same ol' same ol'.
Go get 'em, Senator McCain

McCain/Palin2008
Change is coming: Change you can believe in.

Obama/Biden 08
"I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s."

So...does that mean that McCain DIDN'S love his country BEFORE he was a POW???  Hmmmmm...
McCain on voting FOR Bush tax cuts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1IuoR-o24

McCain on voting AGAINST Bush tax cuts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K4I5jf9WmE

John McCain, 2003 on CSPAN said:

"Even without assuming the costs of these various contingencies, particularly the war in Iraq and the responsibilities we will have in that country following the cessation of hostilities,the increase in the Federal budget deficit envisioned over the next 10 years ought to concern greatly every member of Congress. In the first 5 months of fiscal year 2003, the United States Government has already run up a $195 billion deficit. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that even without the President's tax cuts and without further increases in spending for the remainder of the fiscal year, the total budget deficit for 2003 will reach $246 billion. If we add the projected costs this year of the President's tax cuts the deficit would reach $287 billion. Most alarming, are the deficit projections for the next 10 years, incorporating the President's proposed tax cuts, released by CBO last week: $1.8 trillion. That's a pretty staggering sum, and it does not include any of the costs of our imminent actions in Iraq."

"We should be concerned about deficits, Mr. President. They limit economic expansion by reducing the amount of national savings available for investment. This raises both interest rates and interest payments on the national debt. Deficits constrain our ability to respond effectively to unanticipated fiscal events. If we do not reduce them, projected long term deficits will reach dangerous levels, lowering the national income and standards of living for future American generations. That said, Mr. President, I would still be open, at some point, to proposals to stimulate the economy with tax cuts. But not now. We should, Mr. President, take a pause in our efforts to increase spending on non-defense needs and to reduce taxes."

-----------
that must be when he was against it before he was before it or maybe it's the other way around?

FACTS suck, don't they? But what do I know? I'm just a POW.
And that change is an Obama/ Biden administration!!
He's an absolute tool!
I swear McCain's teeth look like they were made from wood.  Perhaps he used the same dentist as George Washington. Ooops suppose that sounds a bit agist.
Wah! Wah! Wah! This whole prisoner thing is getting so redundent I want to throw up. The other prisoner's called him the songbird. You never here that in the liberal media. It has become the answer to everything. I was a prisoner. I bombed women and children. My hardest choice wasn't bombing women and children, it was staying when I knew my career in the military would be mud if I didn't stay. It was so tough getting special care because of who my father was. When he finnaly faced the enemy, it was the face of a man that was saving him from drowning and from beig beaten to death by the very people he had been bombing. War is hell! That war was just as rediculous as the war in Iraq is and all the new ones he'ld like to start.
I would like for anyone in the republican party to explain to me logically how you can consider yourself pro-life advocates when Bush, McCain and Palin authorized a war that has resulted in the death of over 4000 American citizens... I guess life only include babies.

I would also like point out how the repubs have been crying sexism all week and last night at that convention there were several different sexual buttons worn by party members. As a woman I was insulted but I guess its not sexism if you are a republican.
That filthy old McSame has endorsed the worst kind of partisan tactics. He's a phoney and liar. I can hardly wait for his stupid town hall tonight. Another vapid stump speech by the old old old man. Disgusting. Then, this farce of the RNC convention will be behind us and we can once again move forward with the change this country needs.


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