The Speech We Need to Hear
Let’s go back twelve years.
My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama — to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.
In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans, who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president, is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
Thus began John McCain’s concession speech, November 4, 2008. It was a gracious speech, in which he praised Barack Obama and urged his fellow citizens to work for a better future for their country. McCain didn’t paper over policy differences. Instead, he called for hard work and compromise.
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill 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.
McCain ended his remarks with a note of hope. Ironically, Obama had made “audacious hope” a central campaign theme.
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. Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America.
How distant McCain’s words seem! In 2020 we can safely say that many people sincerely believe that only voter suppression and intimidation can prevent victory for Mr. Biden. On the other side, many people—including Mr. Trump, apparently—think that only massive fraud can prevent the president’s reelection. Thousands on both sides are ready to protest. According to solid polling data, millions of voters on both sides regard the other side not just as wrong but as diabolically evil. The election is pictured as a crusade for social justice or a last chance to stave off state socialism. To use McCain’s words, many have despaired over our difficulties and lost belief in the promise of America.
Election Day is two days future. What the country needs is a good concession speech. It is certain that one of the two candidates will lose, but I don’t think either Biden or Trump is prepared to deliver the concession speech we need. I fear Biden is too much a captive of the “progressives” in his party to call on them to compromise and work hard with a reelected president. I fear Trump is too much a captive of his ego to admit that he lost or congratulate the man who defeated him.
If I am right, that neither candidate will make the speech we need to hear, what can we do? The next best thing is to write that speech ourselves. Suppose your candidate loses. What should he say to the winner and the country? What should you want him to say?
McCain gave us a road map. First, thank the victor for loving America enough to endure a political life and a campaign for the White House. Second, state without equivocation your belief that local and state election officials around the country have done their best to count votes. Remind your followers that while no election apparatus can be perfect, you accept the outcome of the vote.
Congratulate the winner for his victory. Praise him for communicating a vision for America’s future. Assure him that you desire that good future as much as he does. Remind him that you are still not persuaded by his policy proposals, and scores of millions of citizens voted for you. Pledge to him that you and your supporters will work hard for the country’s future, you expect strong differences over policy to lead to new and better proposals, and in some cases both sides will have to compromise.
Never vilify those who voted for the victor. Resolutely reject rancor. Remind everyone we are fellow citizens and that we need to listen to each other.
Conclude your speech with your heartfelt confidence that America’s best days are ahead of her. The campaign has shown us how great are the challenges we face, but you pledge to work with the victor and the whole country to meet them.
