I spoke on Monday morning with Rosemary Church of CNN International and on Sunday afternoon with John Nicolson of talkRADIO about John McCain, considering what “America” can draw from his life and legacy.
CNN: “We’re Going to Need a Way Forward”
Rather than focus on Donald Trump today, I would rather focus on John McCain — what we can learn from him as we recognize that he wasn’t perfect.
Because what we are going to need — from politicians, from activists, from journalists, from all of us — is a way to repair the damage. We’re going to need from all of us a way forward.
And we’re going to need a way forward which is not based on insult or narcissism but on an ability to work with others, even if they disagree with your views.
Listen to talkRADIO from 4:13 in 1600-1630 Segment
I found this a challenging but productive 20-minute interview to capture both the strengths and flaws of McCain. Jon Nicolson and I cover McCain’s career, his policies both good and bad, and decisions such as his choice of Sarah Palin as Vice Presidential running mate in 2008.
McCain would have been remembered as a politician and war veteran who served his country with honor. He did some dishonorable or at least suspect things, in some people’s opinions, but still tried to hew his course. He did some things that I think are to be credited and took some positions that I think are to be condemned, even after his death.
I think the prism of the Trumpian era is going to change this. As we search for any points of light to offset the darkness that Donald Trump is bringing down on American politics and policies, I think a lot more people will be holding onto good aspects of McCain and setting aside those less-than-good aspects in the hope that we get a generation of politicians who will take away from the descent of the past few years.
