McCain Gives Commencement Speech at Christian Coll

[Neil D]

[:"blue"] Looks to me like McCain could run for president. Think he might win this time???? [/]

Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer

May 13, 2006

LYNCHBURG, VA -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), offering an olive branch to Christian conservatives who could impede his presidential ambitions, Saturday called for more civility in politics — even as he stood next to an evangelical leader he once denounced as an "agent of intolerance."

"Americans deserve more than tolerance from one another," he said in a commencement address at Liberty University, a fundamentalist Baptist institution here, where he shared the stage with its founder, the Rev. Jerry Falwell. "We deserve each other's respect, whether we think each other right or wrong in our views."

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It was a rare joint appearance between two GOP powerhouses — and one time antagonists — who are positioned to play central roles in the fight for party leadership in the post-Bush era.

Considered a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, McCain did not directly refer to or apologize for his attack on Falwell in his first, unsuccessful presidential bid in 2000. But in urging the graduating students to "be respectful of the goodness in each other," McCain said, "I have not always heeded this injunction myself, and I regret it very much."

McCain has said he will not decide until after the 2006 congressional elections whether he will run for president. But he has been campaigning for other Republicans, courting party activists and taking other steps that could lay the groundwork for a presidential bid.

[:"green"] Here is the rest of the story. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

He has two problems.

1. His age

2. The Republican base

[Bravus]

I used to respect McCain.

[Dr. Shane]

He lost my respect when he starred in an "R" rated movie with nudity.