[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3130-3131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              JOHN McCAIN

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I would like to take a few moments to 
talk about one of my colleagues, the Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain.
  Last night, he secured the nomination of the Republican Party to be 
President of the United States. I must admit that about 6 months ago, I 
was one of those who questioned whether Senator McCain would be 
successful in this quest. While his passion for our Nation has never 
been in doubt, my sense was that his campaign for the Presidency was 
flickering to a close. What you saw last night is a reflection of 
character, the character of John McCain, the character that allowed him 
to persevere through the terrible torture of tiger cages in Vietnam.
  John McCain has never, ever given up on this Nation. In the end, at a 
time when there is so much cynicism in the body politic and the public 
about politicians, it is uplifting, not just for this party or for this 
body, because the next President of the United States will come from 
this body, but for this country to have as our candidate a man whose 
character has been tested in a furnace that has burned hotter than any 
one of us could possibly understand.
  At a time when the issues of security are so preeminent, we have as a 
candidate John McCain, who has been as steadfast on protecting this 
Nation as one could ever imagine. At a time when the public is 
concerned about wasteful Washington spending, we have as our candidate 
an individual who has been a champion in fighting wasteful Washington 
spending.
  I wanted to take a few moments to offer my congratulations to our 
colleague from Arizona and to say to the American public, at a time 
when there is such doubt and cynicism, such division in this country, 
we have before them an individual whose character is strong. His 
courage is unquestioned. He has shown the ability to overcome the deep, 
divisive, partisan divide that tears this body apart, that tears this 
country apart. That is a wonderful thing.
  I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our colleague from Arizona, 
Senator McCain.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise to echo the sentiments of my 
colleague from Minnesota. The great

[[Page 3131]]

thing about being involved in public service and having the opportunity 
to serve people from our respective jurisdictions is the privilege of 
becoming associated with other individuals who are dedicated public 
servants. We stand on the verge of history right here because in this 
Presidential election we are going to have two Members of the U.S. 
Senate who are going to be vying to become Commander in Chief. I think 
all of us as Members of Senate ought to be justly and duly proud of all 
of those who have put their names out there, who have worked hard, 
campaigned hard, and been willing to make the sacrifices necessary to 
travel the country expressing their views and opinions about issues to 
become President.
  Obviously, last night our good friend, Senator John McCain, became 
the nominee on the Republican side. John deserves an awful lot of 
credit for endurance, perseverance but, most importantly, for standing 
by his principles. That is the one thing we as Members of the Senate 
need to look to John and say: There are ways to do this, and there are 
ways not to. But you stood by your values. You stood by your 
principles. You did this in the right way.
  He is unique in so many ways. Everybody in here has their own unique 
assets. Certainly John has a great and storied background from a 
military perspective, and he served his country well before he ever got 
to this body. But once he got here, as my friend has just said, he 
exhibited great leadership from the standpoint of providing the kinds 
of ideas, the kind of vision that is needed from a national security 
and a national defense standpoint. He also, primarily, had a vision 
about how the taxpayers' money, how the individuals he represents, as 
well as all other taxpayers in the United States, ought to have their 
money spent. John has been a tireless advocate for the elimination of 
wasteful Washington spending. Assets such as those are what have 
projected John to the nomination of our party. I am very proud of the 
fact that he is going to be leading us.
  It is going to be a spirited campaign. All of us as Members of the 
Senate should be justly proud of all of these candidates who have been 
out there. I am very proud to stand today and salute my dear friend, my 
colleague, Senator John McCain.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Carolina.
  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I echo the comments of my colleagues. 
Congratulations to John McCain and, more importantly, congratulations 
to Cindy McCain. Cindy has stood by his side every step of the way--
through good, when people wanted to write his obituary, and now in the 
glow of being the nominee. She is clearly a wonderful partner in this 
process.
  Many ask why John McCain succeeded. I would suggest it is because he 
loves America. He believes in America. He believes in the American 
people. He stated it in a real and personal way. But as my colleagues 
have highlighted, his background has set him up for this role at this 
time in our history.
  John is a man of consistency, so consistent, many times some of his 
colleagues have been critical of the fact that he is that consistent. 
But America is hungry for consistency. They are hungry for somebody to 
represent them who actually does what they say, means what they say, 
more importantly, takes on the tough issues.
  John is passionate, John is courageous. His passion comes through 
sometimes in a different way than many of us, but he is tenacious when 
he sets his mind toward a goal. I think we have seen that in this 
election cycle. John is stubborn and he is real. I think the most 
incredible thing about John McCain is: What you see is what you get. He 
has carried out straight talk with America, even when he went to 
Michigan and said things that were not popular. He has said about the 
war: I would rather lose an election than to bring our troops home with 
less than victory. Well, John McCain meant it, and he meant it because 
he understands the next generation is what the focus of his Presidency 
is about.
  I am convinced this body should be proud because the next President 
will be a Member of this body. I am excited and delighted for John and 
Cindy McCain because their quest to be the Republican nominee has been 
fulfilled last night. I certainly commend him for his tenacity and for 
his hard work as he has gone toward this quest.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from South Carolina.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for coming down and 
highlighting the fact that the Presidential nomination on the 
Republican side has finally come to a conclusion--Senator McCain won. 
To all those who were in the race, I think I have a little taste of how 
difficult it was for you and your families.
  The Republican Party was blessed this year to have a group of 
candidates who represented the best in the Republican Party: To 
Governor Huckabee last night, he ran a great campaign; Governor Romney; 
Ron Paul--whatever you want to say about Ron Paul, he bleeds, he won 
his primary last night--and Mayor Giuliani. What a talented field we 
had on our side. It is equally true on the other side. We are going to 
have a Senator, as Senator Burr said, for both parties. I do not know 
when that last happened. But it is an exciting time.
  I have had the pleasure of knowing Senator McCain for many years. 
They will write books about how this happened because our campaign ran 
into a wall in the summer. I think one of the things you can say about 
Senator McCain, as Senator Burr indicated, is that when he sets his 
mind to something, he is pretty hard to stop. He believes he has a 
little more service left in him.
  If you want to know John McCain, you need to look at his family and 
the way he has lived his life--his time in the Navy. He looks at being 
President as one more chance to serve the country.
  I was talking to him last night. The idea of being President is 
overwhelming. It is such a prestigious office, it is such an important 
office for the world and for our Nation. I just indicated to him: Just 
look at it as another tour of duty. This time you are Commander in 
Chief.
  To the men and women in uniform out there who are serving in faraway 
places, standing watch as I speak, you are going to have a great 
Commander in Chief if John McCain wins. The other candidates are fine 
people, but I think the differences are going to be real.
  Senator Clinton said something last night. She is a very strong 
competitor and you never count the Clintons out and I do admire Senator 
Clinton. This is going to be a spirited contest. But she said she 
wanted to end the war in Iraq and win in Afghanistan. Well, what the 
heck does that mean? I want to win in Iraq and I want to win in 
Afghanistan.
  Senator Obama, who is a real phenomenon, who has come a long way in a 
short period of time, says the world is watching. He talked about some 
gentleman, the grandfather of one of his campaign operatives, I think 
maybe in Uganda, staying up all night to watch what we do in America. 
Senator Obama is absolutely right.
  I can tell you who else is watching. Some of the most vicious killers 
known to humanity are watching what we do in terms of Iraq and the war 
on terror. They are measuring us. They are measuring our candidates for 
President. They are seeing who blinks and who does not. They are going 
to watch what we do in the Senate, and they are looking for openings.
  This is going to be a great contest. What an important time for 
America and the world. I hope we can have a civil debate. I am sure it 
will be. But the fact that there are great differences in a democracy 
is a good thing. I say to the American people, you are going to be 
blessed with some good choices. Please choose wisely because a lot of 
people depend on what you say or do.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Texas.

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