McClean, VA -- Continuing a trend begun several days earlier, presumptive GOP Presidential Nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) offered what his campaign called a "prebuttal" to New York Senator Hillary Clinton's concession speech to Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama Saturday.
As thousands began to fill the National Building Museum just off Washington, DC's, famed National Mall to hear Clinton (D-NY) deliver her words of endorsement to Presumptive Democratic Nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.), McCain spoke in front of several dozen supporters at what used to be a Famous Footwear just outside the city.
Standing in front of a neon-orange backdrop that read "A Concession We Can Believe In," the color seemingly turning the 72-year-old Senator's hair a sherbert hue, the former Vietnam POW was resolute that he alone offered what America was looking for is a presidential concession speech.
"Hillary Clinton today may say she joins millions of Americans in supporting Barack Obama as president, but for months she's said he's not ready to be president," McCain said. "That, my friends, is not a concession we can believe in."
Seeming to riff on a leaked transcript of the Clinton's prepared remarks, McCain often seemed troubled by the TelePrompter set up before him, mumbling at times and at one point admonishing the machine to "type louder."
"Hillary Clinton says she wasn't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling," McCain said. "I promise you, friends, that a President John McCain won't get a mere '18-million cracks' in the glass ceiling. I will shatter it, and be a female president you can believe in."
At times, the audience for McCain seemed agitated, as if trying to prod the Maverick Senator with boos, cheers and unrelated requests for 'Freebird'.
"The Democrat Party says I'm going to be the third term of George W. Bush. My friends, that's ridiculous," McCain said to various hoots from the audience. Then, several in the crowd suggested he continue the speech, but this time in a flower shop, in the charactor of a flamboyant dance instructor from Venezuala.
"My friends, I think you're looking for the improvised theatrical comedy group next door. And though they claim to offer Second-City-style comedy, it's not mild entertainment you can believe in," McCain scolded, as they filed out of the room.
McCain closed his remarks on a typical refrain, calling for a strong military, decreased spending and saying that America requires a president with experience.
"Hillary Clinton offers words of consolation and concession, but remember -- I lost to a guy of significantly less experience a full eight years ago." McCain said. "When America needs a leader to be someone other than who they actually want to lead them,, I have the experience of being that unwanted leader."
He later added: "Hillary Clinton says she'll do everything she can to get Barack Obama elected president. My friends, that's not good enough. I, John McCain, promise to do much, much more to get Barack Obama elected president. Beginning with this speech."
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