Senator Harkin: McCain Too "Military"

Des Moines Register:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's family background as the son and grandson of admirals has given him a worldview shaped by the military, "and he has a hard time thinking beyond that," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said Friday.

"I think he's trapped in that," Harkin said in a conference call with Iowa reporters. "Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous."

Read the whole story: Des Moines Register

Comments

[harvboa]

It takes real gutless scumbags to denigrate the service of a man like John McCain. You all must be so proud.

[TexasDem0]

Lust for war makes one militant, not military.

[hugs4u]

Senator Harkin is a great senator, so if he says it, you can bet the farm on it.

[DrDemon]

Ok so he was a pilot in the Navy who got shot down and was held hostage. I never knew that was a prerequisite to becoming a "war hero".

Nevertheless, he's no General Wesley Clark, U.S. Army (ret), Major General Albert Stubblebine, U.S. Army (ret) or Col. Ronald D. Ray, U.S. Marine Corps (ret). Now these guys ARE MILITARY HERO's and GENIUSES for they have led very successful military careers.

As I have said in the past, McCain has:

No Solutions. No Ideas. No Strategy. No Newness. No Memory. No Thoughts. No Clue!

It's All About The Hype!

[ROBOT8]

DON'T YOU MEAN TOO FASCIST?ten steps that "fascist, totalitarian, and other repressive leaders [employ to] seize and maintain power, especially in what were once democracies.” The ten steps are:
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law
naomi wolfe

[MajorKong]

I think Harkin is wrong here. The problem with McCain isn't that he was in the military. It's that he's so militaristic. He's enamored with military force as a foreign policy tool.

[riverhouse]

McCain is a deranged old man with retaliation fantasies from his days of captivity. And he's also totally corrupt. That's why he and Hillary are such big pals. They get paid by the same guys.

[MajorKong]

Senator Harkin, you need better talking points. Think what the Republicans would say about McCain if he were a Democrat:

"Professional Politician"
"Washington Insider"
"Never ran a business"
"Never had a real job"

[Starbux4eva]

McCain's only combat experience is 23 bombing missions he flew in Vietnam. he was shot down on his 23rd mission in 1967 (Almost the very beginning of the war)

They treated him like crap for a while, but then they found out he was a son of an important admiral and they gave him medical care and likely better conditions then other POWs.

And yet the guy is acting like he was in the jungle shooting the gooks for 5 years.

They trashed John Kerry, the guy who spent years in the jungle. And making this one to be some sort of a hero.

I agree with Sen. Harkin. McCain is waay too much of a warmonger. Dangerous, unstable character.

I read somewhere that he graduated at the bottom of his class in the Academy.

[riverhouse]

Let's not forget the five jets he crashed prior to be taken down because he ignored warning bells and continue the run. He's always been reckless and now he's unstable.

[rabprevent]

THAT LITTLE TROLL WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO MAINTAIN BUSH'S BS FOR ANOTHER 4 YRS SO THEY CAN REAP THE REWARDS OF RAPING AMERICANS OVER OIL. WE CAN ILL AFFORD TO HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE AMERICAN LIVES FOR HIS OWN WELL BEING. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE, WE SAW BUSH'S RESPONSE TO KATRINA AND WE SAW THE US RESPONSE TO THE HURRICANE AND THE EARTHQUAKE OVERSEAS AND YET WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN TREAT OUR OWN CITIZENS IN THIS FASHION.
WE CANNOT AFFORD ANYMORE BUSH/MCINSAME POLITICS, WE NEED CHANGE AND WE NEED IT NOW

[rollingdivision]

So let’s get this straight. Anyone who serves in the military is at least a little suspect, but those who volunteer should be considered warmongers, especially if they follow their father and grandfather into the service of their country. It’s one thing to have been drafted — that excuses someone from their association with the military — but to have actually volunteered? So all citizens who are current military and veterans, who participated in the all volunteer military, are all suspect and we should not support them for elective office.

[MajorKong]

Only if their names are John Kerry, Paul Hackett, Tammy Duckworth, Max Cleland......

[wayoutleft]

at this point- with the military implicated in falsifying evidence that supported a case for a failed war- veterans should not be supported for office. now our task is to reclaim the constitutional principle of civilian control of the military.

[TrueIndy08]

I couldn't agree more... my husband is active duty Marine Corps... currently serving his 3rd Iraq combat tour... he even says this!

He says with McCain as President, I can get ready to see him even less than I see him now... bc McCain is a war man, he loves it, and if he can start one of his own against another "evil" country, he will do it!!!

Being in the military doesn't mean you will make an excellent president... and if McCain's experience in foreign policy means blowing up innocent civilians in other countries... please give me the inexperienced candidate!!!!

[paulbikes]

and what else is new?

If he were to win, i'm moving to Vancouver.
It's so hard to believe that the goon will get a single vote, but you know he's got 30% in the bag.

I regard his campaign as a slap in the face after 8 years of bush. The GOP should sit this one out!

[TrueIndy08]

couldn't agree more... Vancouver is nice... hopefully you won't have to move there though!

[nativeeyes]

Republicans are the KKK. They come in here and spew racist rants...

Hannity's Racist Mentor HAL TURNER and Rush are KKK card memembers

Hannity admits to hating Black People..

Karl Rove is the Supreme KKK leader.


McCain's Racist Pastors Rod Parsley and John Hagee are KKK card members..

Mccain never wanted MLK Holiday in AZ.


This explains it all

EXPOSED!!!!!

[julieeiluj]

Too military, too old, too angry, too dishonest, too flip flop, too out of touch with reality, did i say too old?