John McCain, in an eminently gracious manner, spoke very eloquently last night about his loss and Sen. Obama's win. Although bitterly disappointed, I am touched by his words and proud to call myself his fellow American.
Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
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, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited....
Tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama, I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.
And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history, we make history.
These are the words of a Christian man. These are unifying, peace-building, forgiving, magnanimous words. I wish I could be as generous hearted as he is. Right now, I cannot. I will pray for the grace to love my fellow Americans and my country the way John McCain does, and the way Our Lord would have me.
For today, though, I might join my boys in their intentional mispronunciation of our new President-elect's first name....BLECK Obama...
OK, OK I know that's not charitable, gracious nor appropriate. I will go to confession and pray for a more generous heart....tomorrow.
