Standing on McCain's record

GOP seeks to make independence, service central

ST. PAUL - After suspending political activities for a day in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav, Republicans led by President Bush last night inaugurated their truncated national convention by celebrating nominee John McCain's record of military service and political independence.

"If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve, you can be sure the angry left never will," Bush told the convention by satellite from the White House. "He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I know."

In the most forceful speech of the evening, former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson said McCain was "the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. It's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, 'Who is this man?' and 'Can we trust this man with the presidency?' "

McCain's advisers said while they thought voters were familiar with the broad outlines of their candidate's biography, they intended to use the convention to dramatically retell it as a tale of patriotism and sacrifice that would stand in contrast with the life of his Democratic opponent, freshman Senator Barack Obama, whom they have sought to portray as frivolous and narcissistic.

While not mentioning the Democrat by name, Thompson accused Obama of delivering a "Teleprompter speech designed to appeal to America's critics abroad" and identified him as "the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president."

Convention planners hastily assembled the day's program after deciding that the limited damage from Monday's landfall of Gustav along the Gulf Coast - and minimal ensuing coverage of it as a news event - would allow them to reclaim the podium for political purposes.

Over the course of the evening, punctuated frequently with chants of "USA," McCain's allies sought to place him within a pantheon of Republican heroes, particularly Ronald Reagan. References to Obama were few, glancing, and in one case loaded with faint praise.

"Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead," said Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, a self-described "independent Democrat." "But eloquence is no substitute for a record - not in these tough times for America."

Yet Monday's cancellation created something of a backlog on the way to the podium, as four carefully scripted evenings - each with their own theme, and matching set of speakers - were jammed into three. Monday's "Reform" night was washed away, and speakers from the opening session who were meant to vouch for McCain's instincts as a reformer were added to last night's program, dubbed "Service."

"We hope everybody will notice that 'Reform' goes all the way through the week," said McCain campaign manager Rick Davis.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, the convention's keynote speaker, was pushed back to later in the convention. In his place last night were two figures who faced off for the White House eight years ago: Bush, who was addressing the convention remotely from the White House, and Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000.

Bush was scheduled to speak for just six minutes, bookended by his wife, Laura, starting before national broadcasts began, a format that helped to impose a relatively low profile on a two-term president facing chronic unpopularity in opinion polls.

Both Bush and Lieberman highlighted McCain's support for the troop surge in Iraq last year in the face of criticism at the time, and in contrast to Obama's opposition. "That is the kind of courage and vision we need in our next commander in chief," Bush said.

Lieberman's testimony to McCain's virtues as a "restless reformer" included a direct appeal to Democrats and independents. Lieberman won applause for comparing Obama unfavorably to President Bill Clinton, a figure mocked and derided at past Republican conventions but now exalted as a centrist leader by Republicans seeking to win over undecided voters who once supported his wife's candidacy.

Lieberman's appeal to bipartisan cooperation followed a biographical portrait delivered by Thompson, a presidential candidate earlier this year who has become the preferred omniscient authority at Republican conventions. Four years ago, at Bush's renomination, he offered the voiceover for a video documentary that focused on the president's response to September 11.

Last night, standing before an oversized slide show, he narrated McCain's biography - a story McCain has told in best-selling memoirs - as a "mixture of rebellion and honor." Thompson recounted with relish McCain's propensity for collecting demerits while at the Naval Academy and his courtship of a stripper while a young aviator - before offering a detailed account of his stint as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003. He went seeking truth, not publicity," said Thompson. "The same character that marked John McCain's military career has also marked his political career. This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular."

Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said the evening's speakers, Bush included, "proved how out of touch their candidate is by saying not one word about his plans to put our economy back on track and provide real relief to middle-class families."

Yesterday's theme of service indicated that McCain's campaign intended to make his military service central to the profile of their candidate that they will offer to voters. McCain, who has at times claimed he is bashful about invoking his Vietnam record in a political context, has faced criticism recently for bringing up the experience so often.

In addition, those around McCain spoke openly about the candidate's 19-year old son, Jimmy, a Marine who returned recently from Iraq. Throughout the campaign, McCain has refused to discuss Jimmy's military service at campaign events or to reporters.

"We really never talk about our sons," McCain told Fox News this spring, referring to Jimmy and an older sibling, Jack, a student at the Naval Academy. "We have two sons in the military but we never talk about it, if that's all right."

Yesterday, Thompson earned applause for pointing out that "John and Cindy McCain have one son whose just finished his first tour in Iraq."

Earlier in the day, at a meeting of the New Hampshire and South Carolina delegation, McCain's wife, Cindy, recounted a visit to a plant she said made armor designed for vehicles used by her son in combat. Immediately afterward, Davis told a story about how Jimmy learned while in Iraq that his father had won the New Hampshire primary in January.

"I'm so proud of him and all the young men and women he serves with," Cindy told the delegates. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to introduce you to my family."