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Election 2008
McCain concedes election as Obama wins in a landslide
By J.D. Long-García, jdlgarcia@catholicsun.org
November 5, 2008
Americans spoke loudly Nov. 4, voting overwhelmingly for Illinois Senator Barrack Obama to be the next president of the United States.
Those were the words of Arizona Senator John McCain, who gave a relatively early 9:18 p.m. concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore.
“We have come to the end of a long journey,” McCain said, congratulating his opponent for his historic accomplishment as the first black president.
He underscored Obama’s ability to “inspire millions” to take part in the democratic process.
“His success alone commands my respect,” McCain said, flanked by his wife, Cindy, as well as his running mate, Sarah Palin, and her husband Todd.
“I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it,” McCain said. “Senator Obama believes that, too.”
During the speech, which was void of the political condemnations that came to typify the campaign, the Arizona Republican pledged to help President-elect Obama face current challenges.
“I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together,” McCain said.
He repeatedly hushed the crowd when it booed Obama.
“Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans,” he said to the crowd gather on the Biltmore’s Squaw Peak Lawn. “And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.”
Despite trailing in every major national poll, McCain supporters still guarded a quiet hope that the “maverick” would pull off a miracle on Election Day.
“I still hope McCain will come back,” said Jeff Kovac, a parishioner at St. Timothy in Mesa, who watched the results pour in at McCain’s election night rally. “I don’t know what we’re going to do if Obama wins.”
A few minutes later, he did.
“It’s time for the Church to rise up,” said Kimberly Scoggin, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tempe. “Catholics need to come back to their core values.”
Scoggin said the Obama victory made it a “sad day” for the pro-life movement.
“But our hope is not in politicians. Our hope is in the almighty God,” she added. “With almighty God, nothing is impossible.”
Her husband Joe echoed her sentiments.
“Our hope isn’t in the government. It’s in Jesus Christ,” he said. “I just wish Catholics would vote as one with life as the preeminent issue.”
The Scoggins attended the rally with their pastor, Fr. John Bonavitacola.
“Our President-elect Obama will not be cozying up to Catholics anytime soon,” he said. “So we’re going to have to make things known to him. That’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to have to stand up for what we believe in.”
Fr. Bonavitacola underscored embryonic stem cell research, abortion and same-sex marriage as issues on which the Church and Obama don’t agree.
St. Timothy parishioners Terry and Rosa Biagi, who attended the event with their two daughters, also expressed frustration.
“We’re real disappointed,” Terry said. “Our general beliefs would be more aligned with McCain.”
Pro-life advocate Tina Torry, author of “Short of a miracle” — which documents her botched abortion and subsequent birth to her daughter —also felt let down.
“I’m going to trust God even though we’re disappointed,” she said. “God’s ways are just different and we don’t know.”
Torry said the pro-life movement couldn’t depend on “the law of the land.”
“We have to go out there and reach those people,” she said, referring to pregnant mothers considering an abortion. “We have to keep speaking the truth about abortion. We have to change hearts.”
Across the country, Obama gave his victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park before an estimated quarter million supporters.
“It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America,” Obama said.
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep,” he said. “We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you — we as a people will get there.”
Perhaps with the pro-life movement in mind, Obama said he would listen to Americans, “especially when we disagree.”
Obama, like McCain, called for unity between Republicans and Democrats.
“Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long,” he said.
“And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years,” he said, “block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”
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