PRESCOTT - Republican presidential nominee John McCain avoided the usual kind of stump speech in Prescott Saturday, instead offering his perspective on the bipartisanship of two legendary Arizona politicians, Barry Goldwater and Mo Udall, and pledging to continue their example.
McCain urged the crowd to also remember that they have more in common as Americans than they have differences.
A wide variety of people filled the north side of the Yavapai County Courthouse lawn to hear him speak, some with signs of protest and some with signs of support.
"I was expecting a stump speech," Prescott City Council Member Bob Roecker said, but instead McCain's speech brought back memories of hearing Udall speak when he and his wife lived in Tucson.
During his final stop on his "Service to America Tour," McCain's focus on Arizona's political history surprised yet delighted some people in the audience, especially when he brought up Prescott's role in that history.
"Prescott is where our beloved Barry Goldwater formally began his Senate campaigns and his campaign for the presidency on the steps of the Yavapai County Courthouse," McCain said at the start his speech. "As his successor and in deference to his tradition, I have ended all my Senate campaigns here.
"Prescott, Arizona's territorial capital, occupies a special place in the history of Arizona, and in the Goldwater legend."
McCain noted how the friendship between the Goldwater and Udall families began with Barry's and Mo's grandfathers Michael and David, the patriarchs of Arizona's most famous Republican and Democratic families. Barry Goldwater served in the Senate for decades while Mo Udall served in the House, and both ran for president.
"The grandsons of Michael and David, despite differences in political parties and philosophies, were very, very close friends," McCain said. "The friendship of Barry Goldwater and Mo Udall was based in their mutual respect for each other's character, devoted service to the state they loved, and patriotism."
Every Republican who represents this region attended Saturday's event except U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, who is under federal indictment on 35 charges including extortion and money laundering. Renzi was McCain's campaign co-chair in Arizona. His absence prompted one protester to continually shout "Where's my Congressman?" after McCain's speech.
McCain is following in Goldwater's tradition in more than one way by speaking on the Yavapai County Courthouse steps during his presidential run, fellow Sen. Jon Kyl said.
"He does not put politics above principle," Kyl said of McCain.
"Barry put us on the map, and John is keeping us there," said Ken Bennett, former state Senate president from Prescott.
McCain's speech "spoke to bipartisanship, which John McCain has always been known for and which is why he gets things done," said Arizona Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott. "And he truly has made Arizona his home."
While Goldwater and Udall were famous sons of Arizona pioneer families, "I was 45 years old when I moved to Arizona and finally found a home and the comfortable feeling of belonging to something smaller than a nation," McCain said. "When I entered politics here, I was viewed with resentment by some for my lack of an Arizona pedigree."
But Udall took him under his wing. Udall chaired the House Interior Committee and McCain was a junior member.
"Never lie to them," Udall advised McCain in his dealings with American Indians. "They've been lied to enough."
After briefly listing numerous challenges facing the nation, McCain said public servants must "work cooperatively across party lines without compromising our principles ... Mo Udall and Barry Goldwater taught me to believe that we are Americans first and partisans second, and I want to be a president that honors their faith in us."
Americans have their "noisy debates," McCain noted as one man in front shouted "Out of Iraq" and others tore his sign away from him.
However, "We have so much more that unites us than divides us," McCain said. "We need only to look to the enemy who now threatens us, and the benighted ideals to which Islamic extremists pledge allegiance - their disdain for the rights of Man, their contempt for innocent human life - to appreciate how much unites us."
Contact the reporter at jdodder@prescottaz.com
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Article comment by:
Lizz
I came early to the event, and left very late. I was surprised at the low level of attendance. I never saw any of the demonstrators being mistreated, even though a few of them were especiacially rude to everyone, not just to the speaker. I am all in favor of loyal opposition. I appreciated the demonstrators expressing themselves, but some of them were exceedingly ignorant of how to hold the flag. Moreover others were very rude to the citizens who attended the rally. There were only a hand full of demonstrators, and I was surprised at how gentle everyone was toward them, in light of their rude behavior. We live in a great town.
Posted: Monday, April 07, 2008
Article comment by:
W. Lee Radu
Shows just how cowardly Republicans really become when it comes to violating the rights of others legitimately protesting in public.
McCain stated; Americans have their "noisy debates," as one man in front shouted "Out of Iraq" and others (Republican cowards en-mass) tore his sign away from him.
McCain never showed the class, or statemanship to advise his supporters to "leave him alone".
That's the difference between demonstrating real leadership or just pandering politics.
I'm seriously convinced many in this town would Elect a convicted Child Molester, to public office, as long as he was a Republican.
Posted: Monday, April 07, 2008
Article comment by:
mohombre
Here's your man...
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Andy
These are interesting comments, likely reflecting opinions that could shape this election (which will be close). For Conservatives to eschew McCain because of his "amnesty" bill is pretty dumb, but some will do it. But will they vote for Obama come November? I think not. Like many I'm not 100% behind McCain but I'm willing to give he and Obama a chance to persuede me in the coming months. I think we owe them that as candidates. Hillary--don't get me started!
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Nancy Shelton
The term "liberal fascism" was coined by right-wing propagandists to pit people from the Republican Party against people in the Democratic Party. Same with the concept of "liberal fascisim" against "Muslim Fundamentalism."
If you have been around for the past fifty years, you will realize that the divide between conservative/Repulicans and liberal/Democrats has been heightened considerably over the past twenty or thirty years.
We have been "taught" to accept a "slate of beliefs" from one side or the other, to hate people "on the other side," rather than meet in the "middle ground" where people are individuals, decide issues for themselves, and respect honest differences of opinion.
Why? Because politicos in the highest echelon on both sides would rather the public be diverted by a "contest" between the parties than have people realize that the people who are supposed to represent us are actually spending taxpayers' money on projects which feed their own self-interests.
I personally believe that far more taxpayers' money is spent on feeding the "quid pro quo" relationships of politicians/businesses than on entitlements or defense or any other category demonized by either side.
McCain's plea to end the bipartisanship is a step in the right direction.
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
I am not 100% behind Mc Cain, but when considering a choice between two socialists and John McCain; my choice becomes clear. Better Supreme Court justices, mote financial responsibility anda person with real clear provewn character. Would Hillary or Barack pass up a chance to get out of a POW prison because others had been held longer? John Mc Cain did.
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
No on McCain
I was there yesterday. There's no way I could vote for this guy. He's all show (the big bus - straight talk express LOL!) and no substance. And besides, I'm a Conservative. He's called Conservatives names, still has questionable people running his campaign, e.g., Juan Hernandez, Joe Lieberman, Lindsay Graham - even Jon Kyl. He must be going after the Democrat votes with that gang. The Republican party is not the party of fresh ideas and youthful vigor. It's the dying party of the RINOs. After McCain gets through with it, it'll be officially dead.
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Uncle Sam
The majority of American voters, dissatisfied with the direction of the country, are seeking change. However, the American electorate should not have to merely hope for change or simply believe in it. A candidate vying to become our president should have a record to match his rhetoric. We should know something of his background and influences. We should know how life experiences and events have challenged him and helped to forge his character. We should also know his philosophy of life and worldview, his values and beliefs. And certainly we should know the candidate's record of achievement. Because, in the end, it turns out that bringing about change, whether in a political system or a country, is not a matter of rhetoric or manner, but of character and courage.
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
lebluedude
Why is it that the republicans are calling for bipartenship when we have ownership of the senate and Congress? Congress even tried to be bi-partisin. Bush would not let us. he vetoed the bills we wanted passed. We still fed out rope. Why do they think we'll fall for it again?
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
W. Lee Radu
Rick, you might want to do a little reading of some real world history (about 5000 years worth) Knowledge of actual facts can be truly liberating.
Facism is a strictly adhered to province of Right Wing Ideologies, there is NO example of Democratic (in a Republic, like ours) Facism in any nation in throughout history. It's a Neo-Conservative Myth, a Talking Point for the gullible.
Marx is dead and so is most Marxists forms of Communism, however a few few nations, China being the largest and most threatening, are practicing Communistic Dictatorship with no Marxist characteristics what-so-ever.
Revisionist History practiced by the desparate on the Right is some-what humorous, but some ignorant people still actually believe this tactic is based on reality.
Fear politics, exercised through continuosly declaring some "War For Our Very Survival" is not only old, it's pathetic.
All you do is inflate and validate some insignificant terrorist to prominance in the minds of the weak.
Get Real, eh!
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Tom
It would be more appropriate and honest if McCain invoked Teddy Kennedy, Russ Feingold, and Lieberman!! He is such a RINO!!
Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Article comment by:
Rick LaBonte
McAmnesty is the perfect idiot to put the Republican party out of its misery. He's even dumber than Bush, and that is not easy to do. Surrendering to the liberal fascists does not equal statesmanship. I predicted months ago that McCain will throw the election to the Democrats. McCain has consistently betrayed conservative principles to curry favor with the marxists. He is simply too stupid to understand that we are at war for the survival of freedom against liberal fascism allied with Muslim fundamentalism.
