McCain Uses POW Past To Defend Houses Again -- On Jay Leno

BURBANK, Calif. — Republican John McCain traded jibes with "Tonight" show host Jay Leno, with his age and houses the main target but McCain turned serious to defend his wife's family wealth.

"Could I just mention to you Jay, that in a moment of seriousness, I spent five and a half years in a prison cell, I didn't have a house, I didn't have a kitchen table, I didn't have a table, I didn't have a chair," said McCain, citing his history as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. "I spent those five and half years not because I wanted to get a house when I got back home."

McCain has come under criticism after he confessed he didn't know how many homes he owns with his wife Cindy. The source of the family's wealth is a Phoenix beer distributorship launched by her father.

"I'm very proud of Cindy's father," McCain said. "He's a guy who barely got out of high school, fought in World War II in the Army, came home and made a business and made the American dream."

His father-in-law "made the American dream" with his business success and has a long history of generosity to charities, McCain said.

"We spend our time in a condominium in Washington, a condominium in Phoenix, some time over here in the state of California and then we have a place up in northern Arizona," said McCain, seeking to deflect Democratic criticism that he's out of touch with working families.

"And my friends I'm proud of my record of service to this country, and it has nothing to do with houses," he said.

Most of the exchanges were lighthearted. McCain turns 72 on Friday, and was making his 13th appearance on the late-night program. In his opening, Leno took note of the British setting fire to the White House 200 years ago.

"The White House was saved by the action of one brave soldier _ John McCain," cracked Leno.

Leno also touched on the issue of McCain's wealth, noting that Tropical Storm Fay had damaged countless homes, "Most of them belonging to John McCain."

McCain joked about picking a running mate.

"I know you've been asking about who I want to be my running mate," he said. "Wouldn't it be good to have a person you don't know what party they're with, they have no political principles whatsoever, they may need a job about that time. Who can I be referring to?'"

Leno, who is about to leave NBC, demurred.

"I can make more doing a week in Vegas," Leno said.

Comments

[Beateighty]

I don't know if anyone has seen these websites, but there are a multitude of interesting notes about McCain in all of them, especially concerning his ex-wife.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/flipflops

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

[huffybike]

Oh, BRILLIANT. Audio clips from the appearance are up: http://www.entertonement.com/collections/2499/John-McCain-On-The-Tonight-Show

[firewmn]

A POW experience 41 YEARS ago........IN the 20th century DOES NOT qualify you to be Commander -in -Chief in the 21st centruy..


John you do more the fill the American dream..


YOU filled YOUR AMERICAN GREED..!!

Yes YOU DID...!!

[PublicEnemy]

Who's the celerbrity?

What does being a POW have to do with how many housed he owns? McCain has lead a privileged life. His grandfather and father both were Admirals in the Navy. He got in to an elite institutution based on his family not because of his grades. The Dems and Obama need to keep driving the message that McCain is the elitist.

[MzTexas]

Hannity used the POW excuse the other night to excuse McCain's adultery. He and his followers are making a mockery of his experience. I remember when the POWs came home and the emotion we, as a nation, felt at their return. McCain's trashing those memories.

[whozit]

What about all the veterans, tens of thousands, that don't have kitchen tables (or are living in the box that one came in)? The ones that McPOW will not support or even mention. Oh, thats right, they can't vote.

[FogBelter]

I wonder how many other POWs have used their experience as a way to manipulate others, and wriggle their way out of a jam, or would respect a fellow POW that plays that game? I think it is offensive when you consider that many POWs didn't survive their captivity and here McCain uses the experience to explain away his avarice.

[MsDoc]

There isn't much queston that the Vietnam War had a terrible and long lasting effect on many of the men who were there. Tim Reid wrote a book, "The Things They Carried" , about the war and the after-effects. I recommend it highly...with the warning that it is very disquieting.

It took my husband years to recover fully...or mostly fully. It was very difficult.

[FogBelter]

My personal passion is studying Philippine History of the American Era, as such I have read many first hand accounts of Bataan, Corregidor, the Death March, and the POW experience in Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan prison camps from WWII. I am not for a moment slighting anyone who endured captivity during war because if there ever was a definition of Hell that is it.

However, I think it is unseemly for an individual, like McCain, who has enjoyed a level of success in life that is rare for anyone, let alone a POW, to constantly use the POW experience as a crutch to cover for unrelated issues.

I visited the lonely American Cemetery in the Philippines where the heroes of Bataan and inmates of the Prison Camps are buried, I will never forget those men, or their sacrifice for our country. For that reason it sickens me to see any politician use the sacrifice of POWs for political purposes, McCain wasn't the only VIetnam POW and that should be remembered.

[fedupwithhypocrisy]

Tim O'Brien--a fantastic short story.

[MsDoc]

I do believe the constant repetition of the POW tale has made what was initially a strong statement into a pathetic joke. People are tired of it. That happened almost forty years ago and he has been using it since his return. That's a LONG time for one story.

The sad thing is that he has nothing else to offer...and that single experience, rather than making him a potentially good President, raises the spectre of a man who is obsessed by his personal demons. I can't believe that ghost on his shoulder would help in his decision making process.

I wonder if his many documented enraged outbursts, and his total disregard for women are a result of these personal demons.

That would be really scary on the world stage.

[tlgeiger62]

Sadly, I have come to realize that many feel his POW status is ALL he DOES need. I've talked to some of them. They wear it like armor.

[PAposter]

He may think he's coming across as honorable, but he's really coming across as delusional.

I hope he keeps using it, it's starting to make people worry about his mental health.

[MissDaphne]

a noun, a verb, and pee owe double ewe.

[martymartymarty]

This is McCain's *thirteenth* appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and ***OBAMA*** is the "celebrity"???

[Topfeeder]

I recorded this and watched it this morning. He gave the same stump speech he has been giving for 3 months. The same old tired lines with no variation. He again said about the American leaning French leader Sarkosy, "If you live long enough anything can happen." I really don't watch McCain's speeches but I assure you even I have heard that ditty at least 5 times.

He has appeared on The Tonight Show over 20 times in the last year. Obama has appeared only once.

[MsDoc]

His campaign writes a series of "talking points" and that's what he sticks to. They vary only slightly depending on his audience. When McC gets "off script" he really gets into trouble as shown by his positive response to the "would you reinstate the draft?" question.

[loax]

POW,POW,POW- those are the only words he knows. He is where he is because his father and grandfather got him into the Naval Academy no based on his grades, but on their names. He is a rich as he is because he is an opportunist who married money, and even that money came from some distasteful sources. To say he understands the everday struggles of the American people is hogwash. Pow, Bomb, Surge - this is all he knows. To continue to use the POW excuse for everything has diminsihed former POW'S and American servicemen and women across this country!

[gapanther]

John McCain's mind never left POW status. His whole thought process comes back to that point.

[tlgeiger62]

Exactly! His sense of entitlement is mind-boggling.

[bryansmith]

Keep it up McPOW, people will figure you out soon enough.