I thought that John McCain gave a gracious and meaningful concession speech. What I didn't know was that Sarah Palin wanted to throw protocol to the wind and give a speech of her own. For more, here's a transcript of Palin's interview with NBC's Matt Lauer:
LAUER: According to a recent article in Newsweek and some other reports, on election night, you showed up at the Biltmore in Phoenix…
S. PALIN: Yes.
LAUER: … and things weren't going well. And you had some copy in your hands. You had some remarks that you would have liked to have given to that audience, and, in effect, to the nation, prior to Senator McCain giving his concession speech. And you were told, "No".
S. PALIN: Well, I had a speech that, you know, I was going to give that we'd worked on about a week. And the speech was…
LAUER: Had you cleared with anyone? Had anyone — anyone said it might be an opportunity for you to speak?
S. PALIN: Oh, certainly, the — the speech was written in — in cooperation and conjunction with a couple of the speech writers in the campaign — and had written that as an introduction to this great American hero. And of course, we had two speeches in our back pocket.
LAUER: Right.
S. PALIN: One was a concession speech that would introduce him, and it would do what John McCain just can't seem to do for himself — bless his heart, because he's not that kind of man — where I was going to brag him up and say, "You know, truly he's an American hero, has faced great adversity, knows how challenges are overcome. And let us — let us be thankful for this man, who with a servant's heart had offered himself up to
LAUER: So that sounds like a good idea. Why weren't you allowed to do it?
S. PALIN: I don't know. It was a great speech because it also then, also said, "OK, but American voters have spoken, so now, let's all come together. I know Senator McCain wants to lead in an effort of unity here in our nation, and let's work with President-elect Obama and let's go forward."
LAUER: So you walked up and you said to somebody in the campaign, "Look, I've got these comments I'd like to make. I want to," as you say, "brag on him a little bit?"
S. PALIN: Yes.
LAUER: Who said no?
S. PALIN: Somebody said no, they said that it would be unprecedented, that a V.P. candidates wouldn't introduce someone in a concession speech. And you know, all I could say was…
LAUER: Were you disappointed?
S. PALIN: A little bit because again — not — not for me personally to get to be up there on the stage and give one last speech, but to be able to say, "This is an American hero. Let us be thankful for what he just offered our nation. Now, let's all work together to support the new president.
LAUER: Did you ever consider going to Senator McCain that night and saying, "Look, you know, I'd like to say this about you, would it be OK?
S. PALIN: By that time it was, you know, literally walking — walking down…
LAUER: So this happened in the last minute.
S. PALIN: … the aisle, almost going up to the stairs, yes.
S. PALIN: And all I could think of was, well, even if it were unprecedented — and I haven't done research to see if other V.P. candidates had done such an introduction of their presidential candidate.
LAUER: Right.
S. PALIN: But, you know, I thought even if it was unprecedented, so what, you know. Geez, let's do something a little bit out of the box there. But those were the type of shots that were called that I didn't have control over. And in the end, though, that's — that's somebody else's problem or business.
You betcha.
