President Obama sought to rally support for his domestic initiatives, while Sen. John McCain called for Americans to support millions of Iranian election protesters.

The onetime presidential rivals both cited the spirit of the nation's founders in their U.S. Independence Day radio and Internet addresses Saturday.

Obama said an "unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans" and led people during the nation's history to explore the West, persevere during the Depression and build a robust industrial economy.

"That is the spirit we are called to show once more," Obama said. "We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy -- and our nation itself -- are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil."

He said the same spirit will be needed to deal with problems "we cannot defer any longer," citing several areas:

--Revamping the education system, demand more from teachers, parents and students and "build schools that prepare every child in America to outcompete any worker in the world."

--Overhauling the health care system "that is imposing crushing costs on families, businesses, large and small, and state and federal budgets."

--Making clean energy "the profitable kind of energy so that we can end our dependence on foreign oil and reclaim America's future."

The House narrowly passed Obama's energy bill, and Congress is developing legislation to overhaul the health care system, making care more affordable and providing coverage for millions of the uninsured.

McCain, an Arizona Republican, says the United States has a moral obligation to publicly denounce the Iranian government and support Iranians who feel cheated by the election.

"Today, we stand with the millions of Iranians who brave batons, imprisonment and gunfire to have their voices heard and their votes counted," McCain said. "They do not ask us to arm them or come to their assistance with anything other than public declarations of solidarity, and public denunciations of the tyrants who oppress them. We have a moral obligation to do so."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...-day-speeches/

Domestic vs Foreign views. If McCain would have won the Presidential election, what do you think he would have changed in our country?

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Didn't he vote for the original bailout AND support cap-and-trade during the election?


My bet is: not very much. The Bush-McCain-Obama type are all more or less the same.

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"I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful, I will be able to complete them in 72 days. And on the 73rd day I will rest." -President Obama


"There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the Republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other." - John Adams

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http://www.democraticfreedomcaucus.org/

This is controversial. Yes he did vote for it.

McCain says he’s still a proud proponent of using a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but he’s not going to back President Barack Obama’s climate agenda any time soon.

McCain, coauthor of multiple cap-and-trade bills in the past, addressed an energy symposium sponsored by the Reform Institute.

http://www.reforminstitute.org/

McCain's idea of Cap and Trade was not in line with Obama's bill. He said “What the Obama administration has proposed is not cap-and-trade,” he continued. “It’s cap-and-tax.”

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"I will always lend a helping hand when asked".
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My avatar is my youngest daughter!

Ah, thanks for the clarification. I would have to see what McCain's version is, of course, but that makes more sense.

__________________
"I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful, I will be able to complete them in 72 days. And on the 73rd day I will rest." -President Obama


"There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the Republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other." - John Adams

Do you want equality AND small government? Join the Democratic Freedom Caucus!

http://www.democraticfreedomcaucus.org/