McCain says democracy, with its demands, is faith all Americans share

Published: 2005-10-21

NEW YORK (CNS) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain told the Al Smith dinner in New York Oct. 20 that democracy, with the responsibility to the greater good that it demands, represents the one shared faith of all Americans. Americans, he said, are part of an experiment "to prove to the world that democracy is not only the most effective form of government, but the only moral government." The terrorists who orchestrated the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, mistook America's commitment to liberty for materialism, said the Arizona Republican. Freedom focused merely on individual happiness, wealth or fame, McCain continued, is worthless. "The sacrifices entailed in our defense will not be borne equally, they never are. But we all have a moral obligation to do what we can to ensure our country remains worthy of the greater sacrifices that will be made by others," he said. Mentioning in particular two New Yorkers who died fighting in Iraq, he said that "America must always mean so much that it justifies so terrible a sacrifice."

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