Oh, for simpler times when the most insulting thing a presidential candidate called his rival was “that one.”
Just a night after their final, bruising debate confrontation, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are due to reunite Thursday at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a formal Manhattan fundraiser for Catholic causes named after the first Catholic presidential nominee of a major party.
The annual dinner invites the two major parties’ presidential nominees as speakers during election years, providing an opportunity for the contenders to crack good-natured jokes in a relaxed setting during the final few weeks of the campaign.
No matter how funny Clinton and Trump are, it will likely be hard for them to replicate the humor and comity that characterized the 2008 dinner, when nominees Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) both spoke.
McCain’s appearance, in particular, stood out for the respect he showed Obama and the voting public at a time when it was increasingly clear he would not win the presidency.
Trump, who is also poised for a general election thumping, could learn a thing or two about grace in defeat from McCain’s speech, though he is unlikely to do so.
Speaking first, McCain got in some good zingers about his Democratic opponent.
The previous night McCain had drawn criticism at that year’s final presidential debate for referring to Obama as “that one.”
The Arizona senator made light of the gaffe at the Al Smith dinner.
“He doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he has given me the pet name ‘George Bush,’” McCain said.
Obama also shot off some funny lines when he spoke, mocking the political inconvenience of his middle name “Hussein.”
“My middle name, it’s actually not what you think. It’s actually Steve,” Obama deadpanned. “That’s right, Barack Steve Obama.”
But McCain’s closing remarks stole the show.
With the economy in a tailspin after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, polls at that time showed that McCain was set to lose to Obama by a significant margin. McCain concluded his remarks with a show of statesmanship, pledging to accept the results of the election and praising Obama’s character.
“I don’t want it getting out of this room, but my opponent is an impressive fellow in many ways,” McCain said. “Political opponents can have a little trouble seeing the best in each other, but I have had a few glimpses of this man at his best and I admire his great skill, energy and determination. It’s not for nothing that he’s inspired so many folks in his own party and beyond.”
The Arizona senator even noted the historic nature of Obama’s candidacy as a measure of the country’s progress out of a history steeped in racism.
“There was a time when the mere invitation of an African-American citizen to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage and an insult in many corridors,” he said. “Today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time and good riddance.”
“Whatever the outcome next month, Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country and I congratulate him,” he added.
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