Dowd: McCain "Cheapening" POW Experience

NY Times:

My mom did not approve of men who cheated on their wives. She called them "long-tailed rats."

During the 2000 race, she listened to news reports about John McCain confessing to dalliances that caused his first marriage to fall apart after he came back from his stint as a P.O.W. in Vietnam.

I figured, given her stringent moral standards, that her great affection for McCain would be dimmed.

"So," I asked her, "what do you think of that?"

"A man who lives in a box for five years can do whatever he wants," she replied matter-of-factly.

I was startled, but it brought home to me what a powerful get-out-of-jail-free card McCain had earned by not getting out of jail free. ...

So it's hard to believe that John McCain is now in danger of exceeding his credit limit on the equivalent of an American Express black card. His campaign is cheapening his greatest strength -- and making a mockery of his already dubious claim that he's reticent to talk about his P.O.W. experience -- by flashing the P.O.W. card to rebut any criticism, no matter how unrelated. The captivity is already amply displayed in posters and TV advertisements.

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[Actionmac]

Blden will gives us a slogan for mcliar similar to the rudy giuliani's, a verb, a noun, and 911

john mcliar = a surge, a house, and POW...

[Wuzzup]

But but but he's still a POW!! So what gives Americans love POWs and it will not change now nor ever!!!

[Daly]

America loves POWs? Then there are more that just Mc; we do not acknowledge them all; aside we have never had them all on stage, given then a sign of our collective appreciation - zilch, nothing, nada.

most POWs remaining are living honorable (no bragard) lives I bet some are struggling yet Mc has not gotten them all together... wonder why?

[honeydiva]

and he's still 0ld.

[hilts]

John McCain's staff is suffering from POW Tourette's syndrome. Will they trot out this lame, pathetic excuse after Obama wipes the floor with John Airhead McCain in the debates?

[spirit8]

I am happy that Maureen finally got off the Clinton bashing and on to more important things. She has tremendous talent and needs to do more on bringing out the truth about McCain.

[AlieNation]

John McCain has often spoken about the great mental and physical trauma he suffered during and after spending five and a half years in a North Vietnamese prison camp.

What diagnosis and treatment has McCain received for his psychological traumas? How recently and, more importantly, have those problems been resolved?

Traditionally fellow U.S. Senators are circumspect about making any negative statements about the personal conduct of other senators. Yet how many times have we heard stories from other senators (including Republicans) about John McCain's out of control temper? What are they really trying to tell us?


Speaking about how he would act as Commander in Chief, John McCain often makes statements such as:
"We're in it, now we must win it."
“By the way, I will never surrender in Iraq,”
“Our American troops will come home with victory and with honor, and that's my message.”

Great patriotic sentiments, yet one cannot help but ask which war is John McCain fighting Vietnam or Iraq? Are his presidential ambitions hiding unresolved psychological conflicts over a thirty five year old peace treaty which McCain considered surrender?

These questions need to be answered before we elect anyone President. A closer examination of John McCain's military and more recent medical records would be the right place to start.

[nellie]

The more the McCain campaign goes to this well, the more they highlight the traumas of this experience, the more they make it the central theme of McCain's life, the more likely I am to ask myself whether McCain may be walking around with PTSB, no disrespect intended. He doesn't seem to be able to move beyond this terrible experience. How can he understand the problems and aspirations of the typical American citizen if this is the measure by which he evaluates everything?

[sagopalm]

I would find it much easier to take seriously the sacrifces John McCain made while serving bravely in the armed forces if he would only do the same for his fellow veterans. He doesn't.

The sacrifices Max Cleland made were much worse than those that McCain made.
As bad as McCain may have had it...many soldiers have suffered much worse trauma, even death. The only death John McCain has suffered is that of the supposed 'Maverick' he clings to like a leech to its host.
I never heard him come to Max Cleland's defense when that reprehensible smear campaign was leveled at him as a true "war hero" would have.
McCain doesn't belong in the White House anymore than bush does.

[nellie]

Excellent point.

[liz]

How many POW's were there? How many veterans with far worse physical and psychological wounds than McCain's. What--besides his father's and his wife's connections and his wife's money made him a better person to attain office than any of the others? Wes Clarke was right and it is a real loss to the election campaign that the Democrats threw him under the bus for raiseing the question thaqt needs to be raised about this man.
And that's even without going into his lack of support for any other veterans.
How can anyone respect him?

[smark]

What has JM become? The Straight Talk Express has made a complete 180 and is quickly veering off the cliff!

[Scottiedog]

He drove the Straight Talk Express into the ditch trying to turn it around.

Now McCain's driving the CRAZY TRAIN!!!

All Aboard!!

[Questinia]

POW is a logo. Powerful branding of a corporate minded party. What would McCain really be without it?
The thing to attach to the logo of POW is PTSD, a brand you wouldn't want in the White House.

Symptoms of PTSD include responses that are not in keeping with reality. PTSD is something that can't have carte blanche.

Maureen, you have psychological sophistication, don't you think this is a real issue?

[wendynyc]

McCain on Kerry in '04:

Four years ago, when John Kerry campaigned in part on his military service, McCain criticized him for it, saying he was “sick and tired of re-fighting the Vietnam War.” McCain even disparaged Kerry personally, saying his emphasis on his military record is “clearly a tactical or strategic move.”

www.crooksandliars.com

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Because John Kerry was a typical out of touch lib using polls to manage a campaign... the sad thing is... it almost worked

[Cybesq]

Funny, after November, you'll be able to plug in the words, "John McCain" for "John Kerry" and "neo con" for "lib" and your post will still work.

[tedbear]

Finally, the voice of reason. McCain does cheapen the idea of "hero."
Also, one must question the humility of a person who spends an inordinate amount of time bragging about himself, and McCain's humility isn't questioned. McCain is not questioned because the powers that be (including the media) are wealthy people who intend to stay wealthy with a Republican president. If someone questions McCain's ability to lead, as Gen. Clark did, they are quickly removed from view. The Democrats need to undue this soft peddaling around McCain's behavior because their patriotism will be questioned if they say anything negative about McCain.

McCain needs to be disected just like everyone else runniing for office. He doesn't deserve anything for his caputre except a thank you from the people of this country for serving and getting caught and lliving through it - the same thank you millions of military people deserve for the same thing. The presidency of this country is no a given to whomever was imprisioned during war. This is so stupid I cannot believe it - have we been transported to another dimension where captured soldiers are GIVEN the presidency if they want it?!!!!!

[DaOne]

Dancing queen is what McPow calls his primary care giver, Lindsay Graham

[Yasmine]

McCain said in the Saddleback event that BECAUSE OF HIS HIGH RANKING FATHER In the military, the Vietnamese jailers told McCAIN that he could be released..............
THIS was extremely revealing meaning that even POW ELITES are treated Better.than regular POW..........
So who knows the whole truth !
McCain also said he CHOSE to stay..............AND ADDED OF COURSE I DID NOT KNOW IT WOULD TAKE 3 YEARS.................
HIS POW RESUME HAS GIVEN HIM 30 YEARS OF ELECTED OFFICE...........and HERO name
so...................................etc

[obamanation31]

Milk that cow till there's no tomorrow!

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

this a friendly warning: Stick to the issues or this WILL backfire

[Eoin45]

This is a friendly warning: Your chrystal ball is no better than anyone else's.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

I'm just saying, what about the Issues... let you be held hostage for 5 years... I would milk it too

[DaOne]

Friendly warning, Take a hike!

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

I do hike, I heart nature

[nellie]

Send your post to the McCain campaign. They need the advice.

[alphax]

Noun, Verb, POW

[AnaisKarim]

Noun - my friends
Verb - surge
POW