2 Candidates, 2 Americas: Old Values vs. New

McCain represents tradition that's changing

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 13, 2008 7:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – It's not just youth vs. age, Peggy Noonan writes of the general election contest that began in earnest this week, it's a battle of the Old America vs. the New America—"between the thing we were, and the thing we have been becoming for 40 years or so." The Old America McCain represents values patriotism, tradition, honor, character, stoicism, she writes. The New, Obama's America, values education, achievement, making bold decisions, breaking tradition.

“I weigh this in favor of the Old America,” Noonan writes. "Hard not to, for I remember it, and its sterling virtues." But they may not be enough to win the election, she adds. "America is always looking forward, not back, it is always in search of the fresh and leaving the tried. We like new. It's in our genes. Hope we know where we're going, though."

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., shakes hands at a town hall-style meeting at Kaukauna High School in Kaukauna, Wisc. Thursday, June 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In this file photo from Jan. 30, 2007, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama greet each other on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks inside the Federal Hall National Memorial during a town hall-style campaign event in New York City Thursday, June 12, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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2 Candidates, 2 Americas: Old Values vs. New

McCain represents tradition that's changing

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It's Obama's Moment: Hold On for Dear Life: Noonan

'Hold on for dear life,' because history's making a liberal turn

Looks Over, but Don't Count Out Conservatives: Noonan

McCain's 43% or more of the vote isn't nothing

Time for Hopefuls to Wax Philosophical

We still don't know how the candidates think: Noonan

Noonan: What if Neither Man Is Up to the Job?

Things will get mean out there

Palin Attacks Have Damaged Dems, but It's Not Over

And Obama can't make the media look dumb on this one, or it'll get really bad

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2 Candidates, 2 Americas: Old Values vs. New

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • John McCain • Peggy Noonan • Election 2008 • patriotism • tradition

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

It's Obama's Moment: Hold On for Dear Life: Noonan

'Hold on for dear life,' because history's making a liberal turn

Looks Over, but Don't Count Out Conservatives: Noonan

McCain's 43% or more of the vote isn't nothing

Time for Hopefuls to Wax Philosophical

We still don't know how the candidates think: Noonan

Noonan: What if Neither Man Is Up to the Job?

Things will get mean out there

Palin Attacks Have Damaged Dems, but It's Not Over

And Obama can't make the media look dumb on this one, or it'll get really bad

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What is Newser?