I missed most of it “live” but was impressed by what little I did manage to catch.
I’d have to say this was the most powerful part of the entire speech:
But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism.
The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America — they have served the United States of America.
So I’ve got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.
Nicely done. We’ll see if Kevin Drum is right that this “put a serious dent in McCain’s ability to continue campaigning with dumb soundbites and too-cute-by-half innuendo.” If past is prologue, as they say, I wouldn’t bet any money on it. To the contrary, I suspect this bilious screed will be entirely typical of the reaction from the invidious mole-men of the right.
Seems to have gotten high marks from CNN’s resident GOP consultant Alex Castellanos, however. Although it has to be said that he’s generally one of the more fair-minded right-wing commenters. A rare thing indeed!
The New York Times has the transcript of the speech here.
Update: I liked this line from the Rude Pundit — “Now, mainstream politically speaking, that’s how you beat down an old man.”