DENVER—Republican presidential candidate John McCain praised Hispanic military veterans for their sacrifices on Friday and said they often don’t get the credit they deserve.
In a speech to veterans in Denver at the American GI Forum convention, McCain told Hispanic veterans they risked their lives like other US soldiers, even though many Hispanic soldiers fighting overseas don’t have the rights and privileges that other American soldiers share.
“I prefer to live in a growing America, as proud of its variety as it is of the ideals that unite us. I prefer to live in a hopeful country,” McCain said to a standing ovation.
McCain said he faced strong criticism when he said the United States had an obligation to continue fighting in Iraq. He said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was willing to accept defeat.
“We both knew the politically safe choice was to support some form of retreat. I chose to support the new counterinsurgency strategy backed by additional troops.
“Many observers said my position would end my hopes of becoming president. I said I would rather lose a campaign than to see America lose a war,” McCain said.
McCain said he also bucked members of his own party.
“I knew we were failing, and I told that to an administration that did not want to hear it. I pushed for the strategy that is now succeeding before most people even admitted there was a problem,” he said.
