McCain Orders Curtailed Convention for Hurricane Gustav
Senator John McCain, the man who will represent the Republican Party during the presidential elections of November this year, ordered the cancellation of all but essential opening-day activities for the Republican Convention which is set to start Monday, due to the threat Hurricane Gustav poses to the Gulf Coast region.
“This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans,” he said.
Earlier today McCain was briefed about the preparations taken ahead of Gustav’s landfall: “I’m happy to report to you that the coordination and the work that’s being done at all levels appears to be excellent.”
However, he added, challenges in communications and search and rescue operations remain.
McCain had already pledged to “act as Americans, not as Republicans” during the Republican Convention.
If he puts his words and plans into action it seems he will, indeed, act like an American first, a Republican second. A man who is able to rise above politics as usual when the country needs a universal leader.
Having said that, it has to be pointed out that even a decision to ‘rise above politics as usual’ is often ‘politics as usual.’ It may be partially heartfelt, but it does not take a whole lot of cynicism to conclude that McCain’s approach to Gustav is also, perhaps mainly, caused by opportunism; if he does not deal with Gustav in a way that appeals to Americans, that shows them he cares, he will suffer in November.
