Today's Article
McCain wants to
flaunt his war record
at every opportunity,
then shame anyone
who dares to ask
questions about that
same record.
flaunt his war record
at every opportunity,
then shame anyone
who dares to ask
questions about that
same record.
The American Spark
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Why McCain's War Record Must Be Questioned
By Cliff Montgomery - July 2nd, 2008
Senator John McCain's (R-AZ) presidential campaign claimed to be spitting mad on Sunday, after retired
general Wesley Clark--a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-IL)--rather
reasonably stated that McCain’s experience as a bomber pilot and war prisoner doesn't immediately qualify him
to run the White House for the next four years.
Neither Sen. Obama nor the Democratic Party have openly questioned McCain's war record. Former General
Clark was himself only responding to a query from CBS's Bob Schieffer, who directly asked Clark if McCain's
war record is an especially relevant proof of his ability to handle the U.S. presidency.
But members of both the left and the right are openly questioning McCain's war record. Some have said that
McCain is guilty of war crimes for dropping bombs on Hanoi, then the capital of North Vietnam.
A popular liberal blog this Sunday charged McCain with "disloyalty", adding that as a war prisoner in Vietnam,
McCain participated in Communist propaganda movies and interviews after having been tortured.
A Navy pilot from a military background, Sen. McCain's plane was shot down on Oct. 26th, 1967; he was on a
mission to bomb an Hanoi power plant.
Breaking limbs in the crash, McCain then was beaten by crowds before being captured by authorities, who
imprisoned the hapless pilot in a POW camp. A victim of torture at the prison, McCain agreed to participate in a
number of Vietnamese propaganda actions.
"I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine," he later
admitted.
"A lot of people don't know ... that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity,"
declared John Aravosis of Americablog.com.
"Putting that bit of disloyalty aside," Aravosis continued, "what exactly is McCain's military experience that
prepares him for being commander-in-chief?"
"Getting shot down, tortured and then doing propaganda for the enemy is not command experience," Aravosis
stated in his blog post, entitled "Honestly, besides being tortured, what did McCain do to excel in the military?"
Perhaps smelling blood, an increasing number of questions about McCain's much-touted war record are
coming from liberal circles. Former Mother Jones magazine editor Jeffrey Klein declared in a recent
HuffingtonPost.com blog message that it's time for McCain to release his entire Navy record--the Arizona
senator suspiciously has kept a number of pages from both the press and the public.
"Some of the unreleased pages in McCain's Navy file may not reflect well upon his qualifications for the
presidency," Klein wrote.
McCain's spin doctors were quick to pounce on such comments.
"The American people know that John McCain's record of service and sacrifice is not a matter of debate. He
has written about and discussed his service as a POW extensively--often in excruciating and painful detail,"
Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman, told reporters Sunday.
"The American people will judge harshly anyone who demeans or attacks that service," he added.
In fact, McCain's camp is trying to have it both ways--it wants to flaunt the Arizona senator's war record at
every available opportunity, then bad-mouth anyone who dares to ask questions about that same record.
If Sen. McCain doesn't want people asking tough questions about his war record, he shouldn't have made it a
central issue of his presidential campaign in the first place.
The very people now feigning "outrage" over the questions raised on McCain's record by former Gen. Clark and
liberal bloggers were the very same individuals who freely questioned--and openly belittled--the war service of
2004 Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA) just four short years ago.
Neo-conservatives loved spitting on the war record of that hero, who, "for his leadership, courage, and sacrifice
under fire...was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts," states
Kerry's website.
So neo-cons aren't at all angry that someone would ever denigrate a heroic veteran's distinguished war record--
people who had that much fun performing the action can't pretend to hate it now.
They're only upset that someone is questioning the war record of a Republican--and that's not patriotic
outrage, that's pure politics.
Our view of this matter? Gen. Clark and the liberal bloggers may have stated it roughly, but their basic point is
valid.
Yes, John McCain certainly had a horrible experience in Vietnam--no one has denied that. It surely was
"excruciating and painful". But misfortune is not heroism.
Being shot down and tortured are matters of great calamity, not proofs of merit.
However, coming back from that hellish experience is an heroic act. So we feel that while McCain may not be
the war hero he pretends to be, he still is an American hero. His heroism came long after the war was over.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - July 2nd, 2008
Senator John McCain's (R-AZ) presidential campaign claimed to be spitting mad on Sunday, after retired
general Wesley Clark--a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-IL)--rather
reasonably stated that McCain’s experience as a bomber pilot and war prisoner doesn't immediately qualify him
to run the White House for the next four years.
Neither Sen. Obama nor the Democratic Party have openly questioned McCain's war record. Former General
Clark was himself only responding to a query from CBS's Bob Schieffer, who directly asked Clark if McCain's
war record is an especially relevant proof of his ability to handle the U.S. presidency.
But members of both the left and the right are openly questioning McCain's war record. Some have said that
McCain is guilty of war crimes for dropping bombs on Hanoi, then the capital of North Vietnam.
A popular liberal blog this Sunday charged McCain with "disloyalty", adding that as a war prisoner in Vietnam,
McCain participated in Communist propaganda movies and interviews after having been tortured.
A Navy pilot from a military background, Sen. McCain's plane was shot down on Oct. 26th, 1967; he was on a
mission to bomb an Hanoi power plant.
Breaking limbs in the crash, McCain then was beaten by crowds before being captured by authorities, who
imprisoned the hapless pilot in a POW camp. A victim of torture at the prison, McCain agreed to participate in a
number of Vietnamese propaganda actions.
"I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine," he later
admitted.
"A lot of people don't know ... that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity,"
declared John Aravosis of Americablog.com.
"Putting that bit of disloyalty aside," Aravosis continued, "what exactly is McCain's military experience that
prepares him for being commander-in-chief?"
"Getting shot down, tortured and then doing propaganda for the enemy is not command experience," Aravosis
stated in his blog post, entitled "Honestly, besides being tortured, what did McCain do to excel in the military?"
Perhaps smelling blood, an increasing number of questions about McCain's much-touted war record are
coming from liberal circles. Former Mother Jones magazine editor Jeffrey Klein declared in a recent
HuffingtonPost.com blog message that it's time for McCain to release his entire Navy record--the Arizona
senator suspiciously has kept a number of pages from both the press and the public.
"Some of the unreleased pages in McCain's Navy file may not reflect well upon his qualifications for the
presidency," Klein wrote.
McCain's spin doctors were quick to pounce on such comments.
"The American people know that John McCain's record of service and sacrifice is not a matter of debate. He
has written about and discussed his service as a POW extensively--often in excruciating and painful detail,"
Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman, told reporters Sunday.
"The American people will judge harshly anyone who demeans or attacks that service," he added.
In fact, McCain's camp is trying to have it both ways--it wants to flaunt the Arizona senator's war record at
every available opportunity, then bad-mouth anyone who dares to ask questions about that same record.
If Sen. McCain doesn't want people asking tough questions about his war record, he shouldn't have made it a
central issue of his presidential campaign in the first place.
The very people now feigning "outrage" over the questions raised on McCain's record by former Gen. Clark and
liberal bloggers were the very same individuals who freely questioned--and openly belittled--the war service of
2004 Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA) just four short years ago.
Neo-conservatives loved spitting on the war record of that hero, who, "for his leadership, courage, and sacrifice
under fire...was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts," states
Kerry's website.
So neo-cons aren't at all angry that someone would ever denigrate a heroic veteran's distinguished war record--
people who had that much fun performing the action can't pretend to hate it now.
They're only upset that someone is questioning the war record of a Republican--and that's not patriotic
outrage, that's pure politics.
Our view of this matter? Gen. Clark and the liberal bloggers may have stated it roughly, but their basic point is
valid.
Yes, John McCain certainly had a horrible experience in Vietnam--no one has denied that. It surely was
"excruciating and painful". But misfortune is not heroism.
Being shot down and tortured are matters of great calamity, not proofs of merit.
However, coming back from that hellish experience is an heroic act. So we feel that while McCain may not be
the war hero he pretends to be, he still is an American hero. His heroism came long after the war was over.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!