AP News, January 9th, 2008
Excerpts of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on his first-place finish in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.
MCCAIN: My friends, you know, I'm past the age when I can claim the noun kid, no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like.
Thank you. When the pundits declared us finished, I told them I'm going to New Hampshire where the voters don't let you make their decision for them.
And when they asked, "How are you going to do it? You're down in the polls. You don't have the money." I answered, "I'm going to New Hampshire, and I'm going to tell people the truth."
We came back here to this wonderful state we've come to trust and love. And we had just one strategy: to tell you what I believe.
I didn't just tell you what the polls said you wanted to hear. I didn't tell you what I knew to be false. I didn't try to spin you.
I just talked to the people of New Hampshire. I talked about the country we love, the many challenges we face together, and the great promise that is ours to achieve.
The work that awaits us in this hour on our watch, to defend our country from its enemies, to advance the ideals that are our greatest strengths, to increase the prosperity and opportunities of all Americans, and to make in our time, as each preceding American generation has, another better world than the one we inherited.
I talked to the people of New Hampshire. I reasoned with you. I listened to you. I answered you. Sometimes, I argued with you.
But I always told you the truth as best I can see the truth. And you did me the great honor of listening.
...
Tonight, we have taken a step, but only the first step toward repairing the broken politics of the past and restoring the trust of the American people in their government.
The people of New Hampshire have told us again that they do not send us to Washington to serve our self-interest, but to serve theirs.
They don't send us to fight each other for our own political ambitions, but to fight together our real enemies. They don't send us to Washington to stroke our egos, to keep this beautiful, bountiful, blessed country safe, prosperous and proud.
They don't send us to Washington to take more of their money and waste it on things that add not an ounce to America's strength and prosperity. They don't help a single family realize the dreams we all dream for our children, that don't help a single displaced worker find a new job, and the security and dignity it assures them, that won't keep the promise we make to young workers that the retirement they have begun to invest in will be there for them when they need it.
They don't send us to Washington to do their job, but to do ours.
My friends, I didn't go to Washington to go along to get along or to play it safe to serve my own interests. I went there to serve my country.
And that, my friends, is just what I intend to do if I am so privileged to be elected your president.
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The work that we face in our time is great, but our opportunities greater still. In a time of war and the terrible sacrifices it entails, the promise of a better future is not always clear.
But I promise you, my friends, we face no enemy, no matter how cruel and no challenge, no matter how daunting, greater than the courage, patriotism and determination of Americans.
We are the makers of history, not its victims.
And as we confront this enemy, the people privileged to serve in public office should not evade our mutual responsibility to defeat them because we are more concerned with personal or partisan ambition. Whatever the differences between us, so much more should unite us, and nothing, and nothing should unite us more closely than the imperative of defeating an enemy who despises us, our values, and modernity itself.
We must all pull together, all pull together in this critical hour and proclaim that the history of the world will not be determined by this unpardonable foe, but by the aspirations, ideals, faith and the courage of free people in this great, historic ... in this great historic task, we will never surrender. They will.
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My friends, I learned long ago that serving only one's self is a petty and unsatisfying ambition. But serve a cause greater than self-interest and you will know a happiness far more sublime than the fleeting pleasure of fame and fortune.
For me, that greater cause has always been my country, which I have served imperfectly for many years, but have loved without any reservation every day of my life.
And however this campaign turns out — and I am more confident tonight that it will turn out much better than once expected ... I am grateful beyond expression for the prospect that I might serve her a little while longer.
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So, my friends, we celebrate one victory tonight and leave for Michigan tomorrow to win another.
But let us remember — let us remember that our purpose is not ours alone. Our success is not an end in itself.
America is our cause, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Her greatness is our hope; her strength is our protection; her ideals our greatest treasure; her prosperity, the promise we keep to our children, her goodness, the hope of mankind.
That is the cause of our campaign and the platform of my party. And I will stay true to it, so help me God.
Thank you, New Hampshire. Thank you, my friends. And God bless you as you have — God bless you as you have blessed me. God bless you as you have blessed me. Enjoy this. You have earned it more than me.Tomorrow, we begin again.
Thank you.
END
