Watch The Moment John McCain Defended Barack Obama From Racist Voter
As condolences pour in for Arizona Senator John McCain, who died on Saturday, videos are resurfacing of comments he made defending his then-rival Barack Obama in 2008.
McCain ran against Obama in the 2008 election, conceding gracefully when he lost, and challenging his own supporters over their comments on the politician during his campaign.
On one occasion, a McCain took the microphone from a supporter who began using racially charged language to describe Obama, suggesting she couldn't trust him because he was "an Arab."
"No ma'am. He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with." McCain replied, in comments that are being widely shared following his death.
Thank you John McCain for defending Barack Obama against bigotry and hatred.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) August 26, 2018
This moment will forever be remembered in American history and showed just how incredible of a man you were. RIP. pic.twitter.com/XiEZGW8v6o
And in his concession speech after losing to Obama, McCain acknowledged the historical significance of Obama's victory, also stopping his own supporters from booing Obama.
"In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance," he said, adding: "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."
I'll always remember John McCain for his concession speech after losing to Obama. You'll never hear a better one: “Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.” https://t.co/VIzFiRTP3f
— Javi Perez (@JaviPerezSAM) August 26, 2018
A number of people on social media recalled that the senator had been a fan of dad jokes, one of his favorites being: "Some people ask me how I felt after losing to Obama. I told 'em I slept like a baby... woke up every two hours and cried."
Sen McCain made these terrible dad jokes all the time. If you went to his speeches on a regular basis you would hear hem over and over. One of his faves:
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) August 26, 2018
"Some people ask me how I felt after losing to Obama. I told em I slept like a baby... woke up every two hours and cried."
In a statement issued by Obama following the announcement of McCain's death, the former president praised the senator, also sending condolences to his family.
"John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics," the statement said.
"But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher—the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible—and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way," it added.
The senator maintained a good relationship with Obama following the 2008 campaign, having asked both he and former president George W. Bush to deliver eulogies at his funeral, CBS reported, while in contrast McCain allegedly did not wish President Donald Trump to attend at all.
And in a 60 Minutes interview following his diagnosis with glioblastoma, and aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017, the 81-year-old senator outlined his funeral preferences.
"I want… when I leave, that the ceremony is at the Naval Academy. And we just have a couple of people that stand up and say, 'This guy, he served his country,'" McCain said at the time.
