Fading Old Warriors

One could almost forgive Senator John McCain for resorting to furtive and dodgy tactics in a mood of panic, struggling to shore up his standing during a long and arduous campaign that would drain anyone's physical and mental resources. But the man whom so many Americans admire for his selfless devotion to his country, for his record of achievements, for his personal sacrifices, did let down his moral guard and by that action alienated many who admired and supported him.

He transformed himself from a resolute campaigner against injustice - a moderate and personally likeable man with an excellent record in Congress where he so often positioned himself in direct contrast, rejecting the Republican line; one who effortlessly made common cause with Democrats of like mind, believing in non-partisanship for the good of the country - to a man desperate to achieve a last-opportunity win for himself.

And surely his self-esteem must have been bruised when he allowed himself to convince himself that he would surrender a bit of his dignity, his life-long beliefs, his moderate reasonableness, to bring a hypocritical evangelical hard-liner on side to stand for public office as his vice-presidential choice? Sarah Palin's viewpoints, values and stances were not a neat match with his own.

But she did represent an opportunity for him to advance his prospects among the Republican bible-belt contingent, at a cost to his personal integrity. Tellingly, his old friend Joe Lieberman whom he might have chosen as his running mate, thereby demonstrating fully his commitment to non-partisanship but did not, still had sufficient faith in him to remain close by his side throughout the travails of the campaign.

A campaign which seemed destined, rocked by events beyond his control, to leave him in the dust of failure, in any event. But which he valiantly fought to convert to his credit, disavowing the eight years of Republican misadventure under George W. Bush, blaming the country's corrupt financial institutions for the economic collapse that threatened to bring him down with it, and campaigning on promises to bring a better future for the whole of America.

His program, his agenda, was a socially responsible one, a palatable one, in many respects, reflecting that of his opponent. He did portray a hawk-like response to the two wars the country had launched. But Americans are sick of foreign combat, of expending their treasury for no gain whatever, of bearing the brunt of international contempt, of an administration concerned with benefiting the wealthy elite, of the fact that 45-million of them live in poverty.

He was doomed to lose the contest. Past time the Republicans were cleansed from high office. And then, with the sweep of blue on the map of the United States, when a majority of the public voted for a man who appeared to authentically represent their interests, John McCain surprised us all again, reverting to type, to his real persona.

Watching the man, listening to his carefully chosen words one could empathize, renew respect for him, feel he redeemed himself. That he still is a remarkable man, a notable American of singular integrity, re-surfaced. A kind and a generous man. Offering sincere, warm congratulations to the American electorate, who knew what they wanted and identified who would deliver for them.

Senator McCain's demonstrated grace, humility, gratitude, nobility, were in full display throughout his concession speech. Finally spurning, rejecting his temporary lapse toward the urgency of expedience. Urging his supporters to back the winning candidate, averring his own support for Barack Obama, whom he praised fulsomely. That generosity of spirit demonstrates his patriotism, his humanity.

One can only hope that the public, those who fervently support Republicanism, will take comfort in his conciliatory speech, urging them all to remember they are all equally American, that it is in the country's best interests to trust one another, and support a new administration in a non-partisan, wholesome response to the public will in difficult times.

And good on the man. In the end, he did manage to save himself, although he lost his aspired destiny, largely by no other hand than his own.