McCain talks cooperation amid cheers and protests

PRESCOTT - During the latest stop on Sen. John McCain's "Service to America" tour, McCain addressed over a thousand onlookers rom the Yavapai County Courthouse steps, from whence all of his senatorial campaigns have commenced in commemoration of his predecessor Barry Goldwater. The speech focused around the legacy of bipartisan cooperation embodied by the dynamic between Goldwater and Mo Udall, and the lessons their cross-party cooperation taught him, which was underscored by the presence of vocal protestors.

"Barry and Mo,” said McCain, “a proud conservative and a liberal reformer, went to Washington to fight for what they believed was right for this country. They were more often than not on opposite sides of the great debates of their time. But the personal regard they had for each other, and their deep love of this beautiful state, made it easy for them to work together often on behalf of Arizona.”

McCain went on to relate how he was inspired by the friendship that existed between the two men of significantly divergent ideologies; how Udall instilled in him a sense that the Arizona delegation was in Washington, D.C. to work on behalf of all Arizonans, regardless of party; and tell of an occasion when a freshman John McCain was given a boost by the far more senior during a joint trip to Casa Grande.

“His stature in Arizona was infinitely greater than mine. He could turn out a much bigger crowd than any group willing to waste a Saturday afternoon listening to me… As he addressed each issue, he would preface his comments with, ‘Congressman McCain and I are working on this.’ Of course, we weren't. Not me, anyway, not yet… At the end of his performance, he paused and said he was more interested in my thoughts on the issues. I gulped and managed to spend a few minutes faking some competence without completely embarrassing myself.”

McCain then extrapolated the general lesson to be learned from the relationship between Goldwater and Udall.

“We have our disagreements, we Americans. We contend regularly and enthusiastically over many questions... We should contend over them with one another. It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis, especially in times of crisis, we fight among ourselves for the things we believe in. It is not just our right, but our civic and moral obligation.”

As he spoke, the few dozen among the crowd who were not there to support the senator took the occasion voice their stances. Shouts of “Ron Paul!” arose from the sign-waving coterie of the Texas congressman’s supporters, and at one point the anti-war contingent began a chant of “Out of Iraq!”

It was in this context that McCain said, with an air of poignancy:

“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.”

Read the full text of John McCain's remarks.

After his address, as protestors continued to let their presence be known, McCain took questions from the press while hundreds of his supporters – the vast majority of the audience – crowded around. The senator said he was “deeply concerned” about the failure of the military to increase its ranks, that it was “outrageous” for the CEO of Bear Stearns to get “millions in stocks” while the government bailed out the company with taxpayer money, and expressed his support for the Dodd-Shelby legislation to address the mortgage crisis.

McCain was also given the opportunity to drive home the theme of his address. He wouldn’t say whether or not President Bush has lived up to his campaign pledge to be “a uniter,” but made certain to stress his own bipartisan credentials.

And when asked to comment on liberal talk radio host Ed Schultz’s assertion that McCain was a “war monger,” his response served to encapsulate the spirit of the day.

 “It’s a free country.”