McCain at Liberty

McCain commencing at Liberty:

Americans deserve more than tolerance from one another, we deserve each other?s respect, whether we think each other right or wrong in our views, as long as our character and our sincerity merit respect, and as long as we share, for all our differences, for all the noisy debates that enliven our politics, a mutual devotion to the sublime idea that this nation was conceived in ? that freedom is the inalienable right of mankind, and in accord with the laws of nature and nature?s Creator.

We have so much more that unites us than divides us. We need only to look to the enemy who now confronts us, and the benighted ideals to which Islamic extremists pledge allegiance -- their disdain for the rights of Man, their contempt for innocent human life -- to appreciate how much unites us.

...

Let us argue with each other then. By all means, let us argue. Our differences are not petty, they often involve cherished beliefs, and represent our best judgment about what is right for our country and humanity. Let us defend those beliefs. Let?s do so sincerely and strenuously. It is our right and duty to do so. And let?s not be too dismayed with the tenor and passion of our arguments, even when they wound us. We have fought among ourselves before in our history, over big things and small, with worse vitriol and bitterness than we experience today.

Let us exercise our responsibilities as free people. But let us remember, we are not enemies. We are compatriots defending ourselves from a real enemy. We have nothing to fear from each other. We are arguing over the means to better secure our freedom, promote the general welfare and defend our ideals. It should remain an argument among friends; each of us struggling to hear our conscience, and heed its demands; each of us, despite our differences, united in our great cause, and respectful of the goodness in each other. I have not always heeded this injunction myself, and I regret it very much.

Adding to Sullivan and Houtopia's take on the matter, I'd have to echo that it's a great speech. I'm not sure it reflects that now-buried quality of his that once served him well - the ability to display an independent streak here and there. Instead, McCain goes the "uniter" route and at least says all the right things along the way. I don't think anyone would have expected another "agents of intolerance" rant, but this effort isn't bad by any means. If McCain maintains some credibility along these lines, I still think he'll be nearly impossible to beat (if he manages to win the GOP nomination ... still a big if). But eventually, an election turns to discussing those issues McCain implores us to debate respectfully. Then, I'll be curious to see how he defends his statement that he'd sign a bill that forces a 16 yr old raped by her father to carry the child to birth. By 2008, that hypothetical 16 yr old will be of voting age and I'm not entirely sure that sincerity and respectfulness make up for the view that McCain is actually supporting these days.