September 05, 2008
The McCains Emphasize Public Service in Convention Speeches
By Peter Panepento
Both Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy, made strong arguments about the importance of charity work and public service in their speeches to delegates at the Republican National Convention Thursday night.
Ms. McCain, who introduced her husband, mentioned the work of two charities — Operation Smile, which repairs facial abnormalities in young people, and the Halo Trust, which removes land mines.
The organizations have received grants from the couple’s foundation, the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation.
“To see a child rescued from a life in the shadows by Operation Smile is to witness and share a joy that is life-changing,” Ms. McCain said in her speech. “And the challenges go on. I just returned from the Republic of Georgia, where HALO Trust — an organization specializing in clearing the debris of war — and others are rescuing innocent victims from landmines and missiles.”
Call to Serve
Mr. McCain, meanwhile, focused much of his speech — in which he accepted the Republican nomination — on his record of working across party lines and of the lessons he learned as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
At the end of his speech, the Republican from Arizona challenged Americans to work to improve the country — either through government or through volunteering their time with nonprofit groups.
“If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them,” Mr. McCain said.
“Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed.
“Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.”
To find out more about where Mr. McCain and his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, stand on issues of importance to the nonprofit world, check out the Chronicle‘s Campaign 2008 special report.
Comments
Commenting is closed for this article.
Previous: $400-Million Committed to Science Institute by California Philanthropists
Next: Relief Groups Expect Weeks of Continued Needs in Louisiana, Even as Other Storms Threaten
Mr. McCain said:
“If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. … Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.”
If the comments of Mr. McCain and his cohorts at the convention are any indication, the only way some Republicans think a person can “make a difference” is by serving their causes in a vacuum, without joining any sort of organized COMMUNITY group.
During endless speeches at the convention — time and time again — Republicans derided Barack Obama’s record as a community organizer. CLEARLY they do not hold the works of grass-roots, community-based organizations in high regard. Oh sure, they want people to volunteer, but apparently they don’t want people to work together. They don’t seem to like the idea of regular people organizing their efforts to make the world a better place.
Or is it that they just don’t like seeing Liberals banding together?
Don’t Republicans like Sarah Palin claim to be inspired by Jesus? I’m a practicing Jew, and even I know that Jesus was possibly the greatest community organizer who ever lived.
My word! The hypocrisies of some Republicans appears to know absolutely NO bounds.
— T. A. Manies Sep 5, 02:21 PM #
I don’t know what convention Mr. Peter Panepento was watching, because I clearly did not hear a “Call to Serve” from either Senator McCain or Gov. Palin. Rather, Senator Obama’s time and service as a Community Organizer were derided and mocked. If the Republicans are going to run on a “pro-life” platform, I think it is more than just about conception- it is about taking care of individuals and communities, in this life, their lives. Time for the Republicans to listen to their own words.
— KristinK Sep 5, 03:12 PM #
Excuse me, but Sen. Obama’s “community service” was NOT “mocked” because of his service, but because he claims A) that that experience makes him qualified to be president of the United States, and B) that being a community organizer gives him more experience than Gov. Palin’s experience as both a mayor and a governor.
No one derides Sen. Obama’s service to his community, but it does not give him the experience required and necessary to lead the entire nation.
In fact, if you listened to Sen. McCain’s speech, he was quite complimentary of Sen. Obama and graciously acknowledged his great historic achievement to become the first African-American candidate for U.S. president. And, McCain also aired a TV ad immediately after Sen. Obama’s acceptance speech to also congratulate him. On the other hand, Sen. Obama did not extend any similar congratulations to Sen. McCain on his great service and sacrifice to our country, nor to his nomination as a presidential candidate. Need I say more?
— Kimberley Stewart Sep 6, 11:52 AM #
Volunteerism and service is not a liberal or conservative issue. Those of you who equate concern for mankind and activism for one’s community with one party or another are sadly mistaken. This is a universal, human issue, so stop associating the legitimacy of one’s desire to better society with one’s political affilations. This short-sightedness severly limits the potential of philanthropy and nonprofits nation wide.
— keri Sep 8, 10:35 PM #