Republicans Wrap McCain in the Flag and Run Away from Bush

By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet. Posted September 3, 2008.

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who left the Democratic Party over his hawkish support of the war in Iraq during his 2006 re-election, addressed the nation from the Republican National Convention and urged Democrats and independents to elect Republican John McCain, saying such a choice would put country before party.

"I ask you whether you are an Independent, a Reagan Democrat or a Clinton Democrat, or just a Democrat: This year, when you vote for President, vote for the person you believe is best for the country, not for the party you happen to belong to," Lieberman said. "You may be thinking of voting for John McCain but you're not sure. Some of you have never voted for a Republican before and in an ordinary election, you probably wouldn't. But this is no ordinary election, because these are not ordinary times, and John McCain is no ordinary candidate."

Lieberman's speech capped the opening night of the Republican National Convention, where numerous speakers emphasized military service and sacrifice, and courageous if not maverick leadership, as the qualities best needed in the next president. While those qualities matched McCain's life story and were ascribed to his vice-presidential choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, they also underscored how the president's party feels it must distance itself from the current Republican president's record to win in November.

"John is an independent man who thinks for himself," said President Bush, speaking by video from the White House, where he was monitoring the response to Hurricane Gustav. Even the president sought to emphasize how McCain would not follow in his footsteps. "He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I know."

The opening night of the Republican National Convention was postponed by one day in deference to the hurricane threatening the Gulf Coast. On Monday, both the president and vice-president were slated to speak but canceled those appearances. Monday evening's early speeches focused on the GOP's preferred definition of public service - serving in the military or law enforcement. Those speeches did not discuss any domestic issues.

Fred Thompson, the former presidential candidate, Tennessee Senator and actor, gave the strongest speech extolling McCain's character and opened the attacks on Obama.

"If you want to know who John McCain is, if you want to know what John McCain values, look at the men and women who wear the uniform today," Thompson said. "Now being a POW (prisoner of war) doesn't qualify anyone to be president, but it does reveal character. This is the kind of character that civilizations since the beginning of time have sought in their leaders."

He attacked Obama for speaking to an estimated 200,000 people in Germany, in "a speech designed to appeal to America's critics abroad." Thompson called Obama "the most liberal, inexperienced nominee ever to run for president." He also said Democrats would raise taxes on businesses, increasing costs for necessities for everyday Americans. Thompson also praised Palin as a political maverick, whose instincts mirrored McCain's. Concluding, he said his "role tonight" was to describe "the man behind the vision" and not "the issues." He said America needs "a president who feels no need to apologize for the U.S.A."

Thompson followed President Bush, who was introduced by First Lady Laura Bush. Her introduction, from the podium in St. Paul, included what was may have been the shortest summary of the accomplishments of a two-term president at any recent convention.

Laura Bush cited the president's accomplishments as: the "most important educational reforms in a generation," referring to the No Child Left Behind Law; appointing Supreme Court judges "who respect the Constitution;" creating "faith-based partnerships" between government and religious organizations; helping nearly 2 million Africans receive medicine for AIDS; helping to protect millions of African children from malaria; helping "50 million people" in Iraq and Afghanistan to live "in freedom;" and keeping "America safe" from further terrorist attacks after 9/11.

Lieberman's speech did not have the aggressive fire of the last prominent Democrat to speak at a Republican Convention, former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator, Zell Miller, who criticized the 2004 Democratic nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). But Lieberman described his 20-year friendship and Senate service with McCain and unambiguously said that Obama was unfit to be the next commander in chief.

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Steven Rosenfeld is a senior fellow at Alternet.org. He is author of "Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting" (AlterNet Books, 2008) and co-author of "What Happened in Ohio: A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election," with Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman (The New Press, 2006).

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