McCain cites 'greatest generation' in commenting on Obama's comments

John McCain today directly addressed Barack Obama's comments about bitter small town voters -- and said he plans to tour some of those areas next week.

He didn't name Obama, but criticized his remarks in the context of the "greatest generation" that fought during World War II.

"During the Great Depression, with many millions of Americans out of work and the country suffering the worst economic crisis in our history, there rose from small towns, rural communities, inner cities, a generation of Americans who fought to save the world from despotism and mass murder, and came home to build the wealthiest, strongest and most generous nation on earth," he told the Associated Press annual meeting in Washington.

"They were not born with the advantages others in our country enjoyed. They suffered the worst during the Depression. But it had not shaken their faith in and fidelity to America and its founding ideals. Nor had it destroyed their confidence that America and their own lives could be made better. Nor did they turn to their religious faith and cultural traditions out of resentment and a feeling of powerlessness to affect the course of government or pursue prosperity. On the contrary, their faith -- their faith -- had given generations of their families purpose and meaning, as it does today. And their appreciation of traditions like hunting was based in nothing -- nothing -- than their contribution to the enjoyment of life."

McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, also said he will begin a tour of places that usually don't see a presidential candidate.

"I want to tell people living there that there must not be any forgotten parts of America; any forgotten Americans. Hope in America is not based in delusion, but in the faith that everything is possible in America. The time for pandering and false promises is over. It is time for action. It is time for change, but the right kind of change; change that trusts in the strength of free people and free markets; change that doesn't return to policies that empower government to make our choices for us, but that works to ensure that we have choices to make for ourselves. For we have always trusted Americans to build from the choices they make for themselves, a safer, stronger and more prosperous country than the one they inherited."