Fineman: McCain Is Trivializing His POW Past

Once a remarkable and respected aspect of his biography, John McCain stands on the brink of "trivializing" his past as a prisoner of war, which has become a "crutch in the campaign," Newsweek's Howard Fineman declared Thursday.

"I think they are going to it way too many times. It's the original story that defined John McCain, that still when you read it in his book 'Faith of my Fathers,' when you read about it in 'The Nightingale's Song,' you can't help but have admiration and respect for the guy. And I think he wisely for many years stayed away from it as a political tool, he really did. But now it not only defines him, it's become a crutch in the campaign. And I think he is in danger of trivializing it. By the time they get to the convention in St. Paul, there might not be much of it left to use."

Fineman's remark, made during a segment of Countdown With Keith Olbermann, came after McCain was criticized for being elitist for not knowing how many houses he owned. An aide to the Arizona Republican hit back at the accusation by evoking McCain's service in Vietnam.

"This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison," said spokesman Brian Rogers.

As the Huffington Post documented earlier, Rogers' statement is just one of several recent instances of the McCain camp playing the POW card.

Earlier this week, for instance, amidst speculation that McCain may have received advance notice of questions at a values forum, spokeswoman Nicole Wallace declared, "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."

When Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Senator John Edwards, ridiculed McCain's health care policy, his aides didn't respond with a substantive retort. Rather, they declared that their boss knew what it was like to get inadequate care "from another government." Even earlier, when the topic was about earmarks, McCain criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton for proposing funds for a museum celebrating Woodstock. He didn't know what there was to celebrate, he said, because he was "tied up" during the music festival.

Comments

[Mojane]

If only this guy's story could become a bigger story:

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

Offers some balance, a different reality.

[sleek]

Thanks for the post.
A very interesting opinion from someone who knows McCain well and WOULD NEVER vote for him to be President.

[JimNauseam]

I don't care what ANYBODY did 40 years ago. Why should I?

[TheImpaler]

You should. We are sum of our experiences!

[esgabel]

The question is what have we learned from those experience­s...

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Whenever McCain is criticised, they just say "he was a POW", and expect the criticism to stop.

It's like every question Rudy was asked, the answer was 9/11.

[memphispaul]

The statement referenced from the McCain campaign only highlight its inherent weakness. As almost any criminal can tell you, when you cannot attack the prosecution with facts get the jury to believe that you are the victim. This is the campaign philosophy of John McCain in total. Regardless of the issue; media, elitism, political favors, infidelity or failure to respect the property rights of others John McCain and his handlers have demonstrated time & again that they are running for the job of chief victim.

[framante]

It's admirable that McCain managed to survive his horrific ordeal as a prisoner. How that relates in any way to his fitness to be chief executive eludes me. Anyone who is swayed by his ordeal, which his handlers will never let you forget, is not thinking.

[mitaka]

McCain was shot down and treated as a celebrity after his captors realized they had captured the son of the Pacific Fleet Commander. There are countless other POWs who were not as lucky as McCain was during or after his "ordeal". He has milked his direct or indirect celebrity status all his life. To begin with, his admission to West Point was obviously not based on merit as his mediocre graduation rank attests. His commanders turned a blind eye to his poor career performance as a pilot (he had already totaled several planes not in combat before his final mission). Beyond doubt, he was favored in all these cases due to his admiral father and grandfather. Then he entered politics, again milking his celebrity status. And here is the sad thing: he got all of this political capital fighting and failing in a war most US citizens now consider to have been wrong from the start.

[Erdgeist]

I am sure his ghost written books by Salter were put together with the understanding that if he were to run for President they would tell a nice story about the ideal McCain leaving out the facts about the real John McCain who some POWs contend was far from being a model POW. Bearing this in mind--McCain would be wise not to rest on his laurels.

[pfc1369]

I've often wondered why I have never heard John McCain publicly give even a passing nod to scores of other POWs, including those that were still being held when he was released.

To hear him and his lackeys tell it, he was the only POW in that entire blasted abortion the Vietnamese call The American War.

[Xenopus]

If this guy can't remember how many houses he and his wife own today, how does he remember what happened 40 years ago? Or whose war story he is telling?

I am so tired of everything we hear against McCain is answered with "this is an honorable POW, you can't accuse him of anything bad, and you owe him the Presidency­." Over and over we hear "I deserve this, I am a POW, I am just like you, my friends,..­..you know, white."
vs.
McCain's argument against Obama: "he's young, he wants to lose a war, he's arrogant, and oh yes,
did I mention he's different, he's not white."

[PhDcommonsense]

John McCains's Campaign needs to stop using his Viet Nam Experience, as if he were the only hero of that War. There were a lot of men who were heroes of that war and they are not going around wearing it on their shirt sleeves. They deserve just as much recognition as McCain.

I guess no one remembers during the 2004 Election, when Kerry pointed out his War Heroe status and he was swiftboated. McCain spoke up very luke warmly, but McCain also said, that was what Kerry got for making his Service to the Country during the Viet Nam War the centerpiece of his campaign. It caused a significant break in their relationship. Kerry was even considering McCain as a running mate.

Correct me, but isn't the McCain Campaign doing the same thing? The McCain Campaign is now trying to convince the public that he is the most patriotic person in the United States. The other veterans of wars don't come close along with the rest of us.

[nomobull]

exactly and send this to as many as you can and jog a few memories

[Balloonman]

As I remember JOHN KERRY did NOT make his VIETNAM war record and or his service a centerpiece of his 2004 campaign. On the contrary. He seldom mentioned let alone promoted his service record. It was brought to profile by the SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH (SBVT) swifboating KERRY. Saying KERRY was a liar. A number of the charges BUSH/ROVE (denied any association of course) coven of supporter 'Brothers' in Kerry's swift boat patrol boat service , as I recall, were refuted, revealed to be manufactured, false. Texas oil billiionaire/ businessman GWBUSH backer, T. Boone Pickens offered a million to anyone disprove the swiftboaters accusations. Men did, mostly KERRY'S crew members, 42 documented pages worth, but Pickens reneged, won't pay, saying findings did not directly answer to the swift boat ads. SBVT was determined by the FEC (Federal Election Commision) to be a Political Action Committee. All SBVT members with exception (one later voted for KERRY WHEN HE DETERMINED the organizations was setup to bring KERRY DOWN, not reveal truth) were BUSH donators and or supporters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Boone_Pickens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth#First_television_advertisement

[KOisGod]

In 2000, I thought McCain would have been an OK president.

In 2008 he's sold out his principals so that at long last, past his prime, he gets his chance.

But what is he inheriting, what does he stand for? What will he do? There is no plan other then,

business as usual.

The country has seen 8 years of that

We say, enough

[Zoolie]

McCain would rather lose his honor than lose an election. His hero account is NSF. He used up the honor and respect he had earned when he became a corrupt politician and started using lies to smear and destroy a decent person.

Do we really want to, again, reward the most dishonest, cutthroat, candidate by electing him president? We desperately need the person with the best ideas and ethics.

[NewArtz]

Perhaps as we are continually being reminded of his prisoner of war status, we should also remember that, if he is our leader, America will be a prisoner of war for the next 100 years.

[Unrepentant]

I think that Fineman's correct: the more voters hear it, the less it means.

[JessWonderin]

It was played out a LONG time ago . . there were over 600 POWS and many MORE actually had heroic combat contact with the enemy in command positions and unlike "Ejection Seat Johnnie" did not get "Admiral Kid" accomidations . . . and not many provided such great propaganda value as McCain.

I respect his service but not his pandering and record of NOT supporting Veteran Health Care Issues (1999-2007, 2008 wasn't "there") and his opposition to the 21st Century G.I. Bill or closing down the POW/MIA Hearings. This is one Vet that cannot support him. Actions speak louder than words.

[WFV]

I'm afraid he is overusing it and it is disrespectful to other veterans' service, I think. He's using this part of his past as justification for his actions today. Not as a basis for military decisions, which would be logical, but as a defense shield against any type of affront he perceives. It's wrong, and I am glad the MSM is finally catching onto this fact.

[Rick K]

I have not walked in his shoes, so it's hugely difficult to voice any criticism, but I do think it needs to be fair to say, "thank you for your service, but you still have to explain to me why you're qualified to be my leader" without having your Americanism questioned.

What I would like in this discourse is for the receivers of the "POW card," reporters, interviewers, town hall participants, to ask, "can you please explain what being a POW has to do with this question?"

I suspect they'd get outrage or dismissal in response, but that would be telling.