John McCain's Appearance on "Ellen"

This YouTube Clip and others showing John McCain and Ellen DeGeneres discussing the issue of gay marriage on her show yesterday is making its rounds around the Internet today, and of course everyone is couching it as "McCain v. Ellen."

The truth, of course, is a bit different, and certainly -- as the video shows -- there wasn't any animosity between them. The disagreement on the issue was brief and each of them had their say. It was polite and respectful, not adversarial as many would have others believe.

To fully appreciate McCain's appearance on the show (if you want to appreciate it), you'd have to see the rest of the show (which I did). Unfortunately, that footage isn't found anywhere on the Internet today. If it's there, I certainly was unable to find it after an extensive search. It's certainly not on YouTube. McCain and DeGeneres actually spoke about gay marriage for about three minutes and the rest of the 15 minutes devoted to him ranged on a variety of topics. He took two questions from audience members and got frequent applause on every other issue he discussed.

It took guts for McCain to go on a show with an inherent bias against him already built into the program. Undoubtedly, McCain's opponents will argue that it was in McCain's best interest to go on the "Ellen" show, if only for the publicity it would bring him. "Any publicity is good publicity," they'll say. The fact is, however, that this segment will be played over and over, and McCain will be villified by liberals and conservatives alike.

The liberals, as we know, will attack McCain for his "intolerance" and his belief that marriage is a special sacred union that can only exist between a man and a woman. Many conservatives will villify McCain for his "tolerance," and his willingness to allow legal privleges to homosexual couples, which affords them health and insurance benefits and most of the other privleges reserved for married men and women.

With regard to the gay marriage issue, this was one venue in which John McCain knew he wasn't going to get a fair hearing. So what did he do? Did he get preachy? Did he proclaim his values at the top of his lungs? Did he yell over the applause Ellen DeGeneres was getting from her own audience? Did he castigate her for her lifestyle? No. McCain did what he always does: he treated people with respect. He wished DeGeneres the best. When she asked him if he would walk her down the aisle. He laughed and said, "Touchè." Knowing that his very appearance on the show would set him up for a pilloried by conservatives and liberals alike, McCain did the right thing. He stood his ground politely and offered his honest beliefs to DeGeneres and her audience. He didn't try to appease them, but he didn't try to incite them either.

John McCain is going to take a beating for his appearance on the "Ellen" show, but his appearance proves once and for all that he is a class act and a man to be admired. He also proved he will stand up for his convictions and has a sense of perspective about the controversial issues.

This is a person who I believe will be a great president, if the country -- like Ellen DeGeneres -- is willing to give him a chance.