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EVERYONE should read this article. It's excellent, and it really does a great job of explaining why it's so unbelievably disgusting that McCain is so flippantly and frequently playing the POW card, evidently in any and every situation he encounters these days.
As a side note: In another thread a few days ago I commented on how I feel that McCain is using his POW status in much the same way that Giuliani was throwing around his mayor-during-9/11 status (which to Giuliani was a good character measure, for some reason unbeknownst to the majority of the rest of us) early on in the primary season. I hadn't heard anyone else making that comparison, but Spencer Ackerman, who is quoted in this article, apparently feels similarly. Anyone else agree with me? Anyway, look how that turned out for Giuliani. A lot of people got annoyed, and any star-power Giuliani may have had fizzled out relatively quickly.
Granted, McCain is much more prestigious a politician than Giuliani (I guess), but people don't like to have their intelligence insulted, which is what it seems McCain is doing every time he attempts to justify his actions (or non-actions) by playing the POW card. Do you think this is the start of McCain's downfall, or do you think he'll smarten up and eighty-six the POW-excuse-for-everything bit? Or, conversely, do you think that many people are falling for it?
When John McCain revealed that he didn't know how many houses he and his wife currently own (they have at least eight properties), the Obama campaign pounced. They accused him of being elitist and disconnected and launched an ad within hours. The McCain campaign--realizing this was trouble--retorted the only way they knew how: With a truly stupefying response from McCain spokesman Brian Rogers:
"This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison," referring to the prisoner of war camp that McCain was in during the Vietnam War.
Yes, you read that right. McCain justified not knowing how many houses he has by saying he was a POW in Vietnam, four decades ago.
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1. Being a POW is not an excuse for everything.
The bottom line is that we're sick of hearing about this as a justification for everything John McCain does or doesn't do. This instance is only the latest example, as others have noted.
The fact is, John McCain's service during Vietnam was honorable and he sacrificed a great deal. But his service to the country carries no more weight than that of any other POW. Likewise, while McCain has given so much to his country, thousands of veterans--past and present--have given as much or more.
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By bringing up the POW experience at opportunities like these, McCain is clearly trying to bait Obama into seeming to attack that experience. That's a really unfortunate move that's entirely beneath the character of a man who endured what McCain endured.
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2. Thousands of veterans are homeless--that is, they have ZERO homes.
John McCain seems to forget that while he and his wife own at least eight houses, there are currently over 150,000 homeless vets on America's streets. The only "houses" they own are cardboard boxes under a bridge. Many of these vets served alongside John McCain in Vietnam. Some might have even been POWs. Either way, thousands of them have suffered immeasurably overseas, in the service of their country.
Therefore, to justify owning eight homes by saying he was a POW for five and a half years is disingenuous at best, outright repulsive at worst. If McCain thinks so highly of the wartime experience, perhaps he has some floor space to spare for a few homeless vets in a handful of his many homes. John McCain owes troops and veterans more respect than he seems to be giving them. Whether it's cheapening the POW experience, opposing the Webb GI Bill, or blustering for more wars, he's doing a disservice to all veterans.
Yeah, obama and the left would love that, wouldn't they?
You're probably not going to like the republican convention and the recounting of McCain's history.
I can see where they would not like to be reminded how "light" obama is in the history department.
I've read a lot about McCain's history, and to put it lightly, I'm thoroughly unimpressed. In fact, I'm downright disgusted by a good portion of his "history."
Give me a person who's "light" in the history department any day, over someone who is "heavy" in cowardice, underhandedness and vice.
His new convenient excuse will only go so far. There have already been calls to release more information to provide background for his military experience.
Every politician has a theme that they believe gets them mileage. McCain uses POW, surge etc. Obama uses "change" while he really hasn't done anything new and "they're going to try to scare you.."
Seems like the change the citizens were demanding...
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Originally Posted by Rggr
Every politician has a theme that they believe gets them mileage. McCain uses POW, surge etc. Obama uses "change" while he really hasn't done anything new and "they're going to try to scare you.."
Really...hmm...
The Truth About Ethics Reform January 21, 2008
"The hard part was assembling and passing a strong package of rules against intense resistance within Congress and from lobbyists.With Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, Mr. Obama played a central role in this effort. Forcing fellow members of Congress to disclose the names of lobbyists who bundle campaign donations is not the sort of thing that endears you to your colleagues." SOURCE
The Congressional Ethics Enforcement Commission Act
According to Common Cause: "[T]his legislation would do more to reform ethics and lobbying than any other piece of legislation introduced thus far because it goes to the heart of the problem: enforcement." Public Citizen praised Senator Obama "for having the courage to challenge the business-as-usual environment on Capitol Hill and introduce far-reaching legislation." Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington stated: "This is the first bill that deals seriously with the lack of oversight and enforcement in the existing congressional ethics process. . . . This bill will help restore Americans' confidence in the integrity of Congress.
SOURCE (http://obama.senate.gov/issues/ethics_and_lobbying_reform/ - broken link)
I can see where they would not like to be reminded how "light" obama is in the history department.
So you enjoyed the '04 DNC and you voted for Kerry?
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Seems like the change the citizens were demanding...
