Senator McCain, It's been an Honor

As Americans we have seen one of the longest campaigns for America’s presidency come to a close.

With our nation facing an era of uncertainty and overwhelming challenges, the defeat of Senator John S. McCain was a painful and rude awakening for such a staunch supporter of the statesman like me.

Having been a contributor and a backer of Senator McCain since his initial run against President George W. Bush for the Republican nomination in the 2000 race, I was proud to watch one of America’s greatest heroes secure the nomination of my party in 2008.

Like a few of my contemporaries, I stood in silent and lukewarm support of President Bush for the past eight years and endured the verbal onslaught of Democrats who hymned in unison chanting for a need to change.

I could not have agreed more. The Republicans needed a transitional figure. America craved change. That change, I believed with all my heart and soul, was John McCain.

Here stood a man with a track record for reform, a man with enduring qualities and generations of servitude for his country. I have come to respect the man whom with quiet eloquence spoke with integrity, honesty, and simplistic sensibility.

I have come to love a man who was ridiculed by members of his own political party for his bipartisan efforts to end the deadlock of his country and then have him once more lampooned by the opposition party for not having done enough.

Although the pundits had cautiously ruled him out and the polls showed discouraging signs, the vast majority of loyal McCain supporters still held a sense of hopeless optimism.

McCain was America’s comeback kid.

As I watched the election coverage and observed America usher in a new era of Democratic control of the Congress and the White House, I fell into tears. Fused with bitter anger, frustration, and a sense of loss beyond words, I struggled to grasp how my fellow Americans had turned so blind to what I believed was the obvious solution to our countries problems.

When the news stations finally declared the Democratic candidate as the winner of the election, I rambled about giving New England to Canada and raved about returning California to Mexico.

While I craved to turn off the television in utter disgust at what had happened, as a man who enjoys formalities and frivolous traditions, I decided to endure the waves of celebrating people being covered on CNN long enough to watch McCain formally concede the race.

And once again I was astonished at John McCain’s humility, graciousness, and his continued promise to serve the American people with whatever chance may come his way.

As McCain opened his arms to embrace the finality of America’s democracy, I sat feeling subservient and humbled by the pettiness of my previous thoughts. The American people and their collective wisdom had chosen a new man.

Along with McCain, millions of Republicans will now soon hail Barack Obama as President of this great country. We as Americans are continually reminded every election year that while our solutions may be different, our end goal for higher prosperity and security are the same.

President-elect Obama, I give you the benefit of the doubt for having won the trust of America’s majority. I hold you accountable to the promise you have made this nation. And while I give you my respect and admiration freely, you will have to earn my trust.

With that said, I wish our new President-elect strength in his conviction, and luck in his future.

And to Senator John S. McCain, sir, it’s been an honor to fight in your campaign.