Day 2: RNC focus shifts back to McCain

By Paris Porter

With the threat of Hurricane Gustav past, Republicans were ready to sell John McCain as the next president at day two of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Republicans Fred Thompson, a former Tennessee senator, and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) a former Democrat, sold McCain as an experienced war veteran who is ready to lead the United States.

Barack Obama is a “gifted and eloquent young man…but eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times in America,” Lieberman said, who lost the Democratic Party primary election for U.S. Senate in 2006 and is now listed as an Independent Democrat.

Chalene Fang, a delegate from Georgia, criticized Obama’s experience level.

“I would feel so sorry for this country if Barack Obama was elected president of the United States. His track record is so weak. In these tough times, our country needs a proven leader and that leader is John McCain,” she said.

Fang also defended McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Palin has been criticized for having limited political experience. Previously she was mayor of the small Alaskan town of Wasilla and has been the governor of Alaska since December 2006. “She has more experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden making executive decisions,” Fang said.

First Lady Laura Bush introduced her husband as he spoke to the delegates from the White House. Delegates watched Bush on a huge screen as he called McCain a maverick and “a man ready to lead the land.”

In response to Democrats’ claims that McCain has supported the unpopular president 90 percent of the time, Bush attempted to separate himself from McCain: “He is not afraid to tell anyone what he thinks. Believe me, I know.” Delegates laughed.

Monday’s talks were all about service and Hurricane Gustav. With the hurricane’s fury spent, yesterday’s speakers turned to firing up the crowd and taking shots at Obama. Tonight, Palin will speak.