McCain’s speech

John McCain spoke for an hour last night at the Republican National Convention, and accepted his party’s nomination to be the Republican presidential candidate. Change was definitely a theme, but he offered few specifics. He also talked at length about his biography.

Andrea Bernstein, "The Takeaway’s" Political Director was in the audience for McCain’s speech.

He began with a few nice words for Barack Obama: " … you have my respect and admiration. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other."

McCain tried to stay above the fray and embody his "America first" argument. He was a little thrown when protesters unfurled banners and chanted in the audience, but hit his stride when he spoke about how the government — and included both parties — had failed Americans:

“I’ve fought corruption, and it didn’t matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust and had to be held accountable. I’ve fought big spenders in both parties, who waste your money on things you neither need nor want – and the first big-spending, pork-barrel earmark bill that comes across my desk I will veto it, I will make them famous and you will know their names, you will know their names.”

He ended on a dramatic note and talked about his experiences as a prisoner of war in Vietnam — how it changed him as a person, how it made him decide to put country first, and how it made him realize the perils of war.

"I hate war. It’s terrible beyond imagination.

"I’m running for president to keep the country I love safe, and prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has."

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