During the well attended but little understood nuptials, John McCain finally promised to love, honor and obey his new partner. Committing themselves to be together "us richer and others poorer, during others' sickness and our health," Bush and McCain exchanged moving vows which reflected their shared conservative traditions:

"To make permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest; to remain indefinitely in Iraq; to overturn Roe v. Wade; to make Samuel Alito the model for a conservative Supreme Court; to deny healthy insurance to more American children; to privatize Social Security; to dramatically expand the federal budget deficit, to get Osama Bin Laden dead or alive or at least follow him to the gates of Hell, to bring 'em on and to bomb bomb Iran."

Now forever joined at the hip, John McCain and George W. Bush had a rocky start to their relationship. Still, the two were betrothed at a lavish 2004 event in New York. Clearly over Bush's 2000 accusation that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, a blushing McCain at the March 5 celebration described his very significant other as "a man who I have a great admiration, respect and affection" for. For his part, President Bush smiled, "Johnny Mac? He had me at 'don't give me that shit and take your hands off me."