Once Smears, McCain's Daughter, POW Service Now Lauded By Bush

George Bush received a standing ovation by the crowd at the Republican Convention on Tuesday, in an address that said as much about the evolution of the GOP over the last eight years as it did about the future of the party.

The president's address, delivered via video conference from the White House, was received by wild applause from the Republican crowd and laid out the case for a McCain presidency. In the process, Bush touched on many of the topics that his campaign once used as smears against the current, presumptive Republican nominee.

Bush heralded McCain's time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, saying of the Arizona Republican's refusal for an early release: "For that selfless decision he suffered nearly five more years of beatings and isolation. When he was released his arms had been broken but not his honor."

He also referenced McCain's adoptive child saying that because of his family McCain knew that "human life is precious and must be defended."

He even touched on McCain's penchant for political independence, saying of the Senator: "John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He is not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I know."

For political observers it was hard not to recall from these remarks the bitter battles of the 2000 Republican primary. In that contest, McCain's service in Vietnam was used by Bush to insinuate that he may not have his mental wits. His adopted daughter was rumored to actually be an out-of-wedlock child. And his party unorthodoxy became a rallying cry to suggest he wasn't an actual Republican.

McCain and Bush famously feuded in the aftermath of that election. But, it seems, time and political expediency heal such wounds.

Comments

[CaliGold]

"For that selfless decision he suffered nearly five more years of beatings and isolation. When he was released his arms had been broken but not his honor."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ-kUS6E7PU

and why, exactly, did the MSM give some much attention to the Swift Boaters in '04 and now not to this?

[kevinem2]

I really am impressed by the talents of repub trolls who can demonstrate hand-eye coordination enough to type their drivel while fighting a monumental gag reflex to avoid applying logic to what they are putting on their computer screens. I mean c'mon, that can't be easy....

[gigi09]

This is a MUST SEE! You can't just click on the link. You have to copy it and paste it onto the browser. WOW! Bristol is a WILD CHILD. The bizarre birth of Trig is not the only evidence of her lacking in parenting skills or good judgement. Since Paling is sooooo religious.­..THIS IS TO THE EVANGELICALS!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/www.mediatakeout.com/2008/26330-explosive_pics_vp_candidate_palins_daughter_is_wilder_than_britney__pics_of_her_and_her_girls_getting_drunk_and_kissing_each_other.htmlmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/aip_founder_professed_hatred_f.phpred_f.php

[lthuedk 1]

Come clean McCain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MUY9S6iCvk

[lthuedk 1]

McCain has become the thing most repulsive to Americans; a shameless, freedom-sucking Neo Con, just like Cheney and Bush.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/finger_puppets.html

[Sparty1]

Hypocrisy in action.

I guess life must be wonderful in their nice isolated world if they feel that Dubya needs or deserves a standing ovation. SMDH!

[SueEll]

I saw the most disturbing thing last night. I tuned into the convention just as Cindy McCain was making her grand entrance with her adopted daughter, Bridget. Cindy was dressed in a very flashy, red silk dress and tons and tons of pearls. Her daughter walked behind her, very plainly dressed and looking unbelieveably self-conscious. Then a friend of Cindy McCain's came onstage and talked about Bridget's adoption and the fact that the poor kid was born with a severe cleft palate. Dear God, I thought it was awlful. Such cruel exposure and exploitation. How could a mom that truly cared about her daughter do such a thing to her? It would have been different if Bridget was an adult and had decided to give a tribute to her adopted mother.

[gigi09]

I noticed that Bridget made a cute little pose when they took the picture when Palin was announced.­..she had her hand on her hip...it was cute! She sees herself as beautiful, and can you imagine this child in the home of Cindy and John? Why is it you never see all of them together..­.you either see one daughter or the other. Who are the McCains?..­.we know so little about their familes...­do they have grandchildren? Something tells me that their family ties are not that strong. The McCains seem so dark on the inside to me...I see nothing when I see them!

[SueEll]

The McCains never show each other any signs of affection, there's always so much distance between them -- between husband and wife and then between mother and adopted daughter. She held her daughter's hand at the last minute, but even that seemed forced. They (Republicans) mocked the Obamas for their fist bumps, but they clearly love each other and their children. 'Course I don't watch them THAT much, maybe I've just missed it.

[Einstein44]

I hope that Americans do not display short term memory from this President.­.We are in a serious mess...Do not be fooled by the Republicans.

[helonias]

I guess they had to wipe all the blood off of their hands first.

[ArmyCentrist]

Standing ovation for the guy with the 25% approval rating YEAH! Did anyone actually watch this 3 ring circus, I had to turn it off when they announced Bush. It's bad enough his mug in in my office (it would look unseemly if I removed it, GOD I WANT A NEW OFFICE!!!!)

[realpolitic]

What an unbelievable hypocrite is George Bush. If not born with a silver spoon in his mouth he would be safely bagging groceries somewhere now.

[LemonMeringue]

This P.O.W. supported and pushed Bush's war policy that got nearly 5,000 examples of American "human life" killed and in all a million examples of "human life."

As P.O.W. how can he cavalierly put other people in the same situation - and for oil profits?

I think John McCain lost his morals in that P.O.W. camp.

[LemonMeringue]

He got a standing ovation? That's appalling. Where's the morality?

Why isn't anyone talking about the war?

[undecidee]

What war? We won all the war already. There is only POWs now and he is running for the highest post in this here land. He is a shoot from the hip POW and he gets his man, or woman all the time especially if he sees a crown on their head.

[arthur2008]

George Bush, resorting to the fear tactics and lies that are his only legacy, wants to warn us that "we live in dangerous times." What he neglects to say -- and what yesterday's politician John McCain fails to understand -- is that it is George W. Bush who has greatly increased that danger with policies grounded in deceit, profiteering and greed. The list of Bush/McCain misdeeds is eight years long, of course, but for starters just look at the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden's growing influence around the world. Yet Bush/McCain can see only Iraq and oil profits. Enough.

[VicDaring]

And a whole convention hall of hypocriites, who voted for W. after he and his mob smeared McCain and John Kerry's service, sit there and wave their flags and suck it all up.

Disgraceful.