Obama Recalls Viral Moment From 2008 Race With McCain: 'Some Values Transcend Party'

Former President Barack Obama is reflecting on the late GOP Sen. John McCain , his onetime rival for the White House, and a moment from the 2008 campaign that shows how McCains character compares with that of Republican Donald Trump .

During a Friday speech in Tucson, Arizona, Obama cautioned that he didnt want to over-romanticize his relationship with McCain and noted that the senator was conservative, to put it mildly.

But you know what, he understood that some values transcend party, Obama said, while at a rally for the current Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris .

He believed in honest argument and hearing the views of other people. He didnt demonize his political opponents.

Obama then referred to McCains reply to a woman at a 2008 town hall-style event in Lakeville, Minnesota, after she said she couldnt trust Obama and pushed a baseless claim that he was an Arab.

McCain shook his head in response to the woman, whose claim echoed a birther conspiracy theory about Obamas origins.

No, maam. Hes a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and thats what this campaign is all about, McCain said. Footage of the interaction made headlines at the time and has gone viral online in the years since, while also receiving backlash from those who said McCain didnt do enough to push against the womans racist remarks.

After Obama recounted the womans 2008 comments at Fridays rally, he said that McCain shut it down.

He knew that if we get in the habit of bending the truth to suit political expediency or party orthodoxy, our democracy cant work. The man had character, Obama said.

He later added: One of the most disturbing things about this election and Donald Trumps rise in politics is how we seem to have set aside the values that people like a John McCain stood for. Values we were taught.

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Obama: John McCain. I don't want to over romanticize our relationship. John was conservative to put it mildly. He ran against me in 2008 and talked about me on the campaign trail. You know what, he understood that some values transcend party. He believed an honest argument and pic.twitter.com/G9EUqTdDaK

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Obama: John McCain. I don't want to over romanticize our relationship. John was conservative to put it mildly. He ran against me in 2008 and talked about me on the campaign trail. You know what, he understood that some values transcend party. He believed an honest argument and pic.twitter.com/G9EUqTdDaK
Acyn (@Acyn) October 19, 2024