Close Kerry-McCain Friendship Has Dissolved

Those who know them say they once shared a genuine affection for each other, born in large part from their shared experiences serving in the Vietnam War and their work together in the early 1990s on a Senate committee investigating the fate of prisoners of war and of those missing in action during the conflict.

"This was not a light, collegial Senate friendship," said a friend of Sen. John F. Kerry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Kerry and his relationship with Sen. John McCain. Kerry and McCain "went through the wringer together. . . . They talked openly about having healed the old wounds and the old divisions about Vietnam."

Four years ago, Kerry considered offering the Republican the opportunity to be his vice presidential running mate on the Democratic ticket. But since then, their relationship has gradually deteriorated, and on Sunday, it reached a new low. Appearing on a news show, the senator from Massachusetts lambasted the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for what he called a lack of judgment about the war in Iraq.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Phil123]

Actually, he voted FOR McCain before he voted against him.

[ShamusNYC]

McB knew that Bush was a disaster in 2000 (that's why he didn't vote for him - accroding to Arianna) and still in 2004 - which is why he was going to join Kerry.

In both instances, he put his own ambitions to be President ahead of the best interests of the country - turning around to support Bush to get the nod in '08.

For someone who defined patriotism as putting the best interests of the country ahead of all else (I paraphrase), by his own defination McB is far from patriotic and could even be said to be a traitor.

Please feel free to comment if you feel that there is an error in my logic.

[marc1antony]

not the man Kerry thot he was -hangin with lo bby ists will rot your brain

[barackobama4prez]

It's because Gramps has lost his bearings. He's a warmonger and Kerry knows it.

[Meggie]

Not a suprise given all the reports of McCain's irrational temper. He can't be this close to his goal and still be friends with someone who might disagree. But, he still has Lieberman (that is still across the aisle, isn't it?)

[jrterrier]

i enthusiastically voted for kerry. but i think he's showing himself to have very little class. i think he goes out of his way to trash mccain personally and not just his policies. it makes kerry look classless given that mccain was one of the very few republicans to come to kerry's defense during the swift boat ads against him.

i don't think kerry's been very effective either.

if that's the best surrogate that obama has, he's in trouble.

[Melissa]

I voted for Kerry but he sure has turned into a huge disappointment. McCain is better off without Kerry as a "friend".

[dawlishgal]

PIffle. Kerry is the one with the class. He stood up to Bush, even recruited other veterans to tell Bush to stop sliming McCain in 2000 when Bush was accusing McCain of being a crazy Manchurian candidate turncoat. The group of senators went to Bush and confronted him personally, but Bush didn't stop it.

When Bush's swiftboaters slimed Kerry, McCain embraced Bush on stage. There is just no comparison at all. McCain made one perfunctory complaint about the swifties ( and Bush's reply was the same thing that he said to Kerry about sliming McCain...that he, himself, was not responsible and that he couldn't stop it). Nevermind that the PR mastermind behind the nefarious switfites is the widow of Bush's first Texas running mate (the former actress, Merrie Spaeth) and that the seed money was provided by friends of Poppy Bush. and that the workers on the swifty team were pretty much former paid workers of previous Bush campaigns.

..Bush denied the connections and the MSM didn't pursue it, even though the proof was all over the web. It was right in the middle of the swiftie lies that McCain appeared on stage with Bush and HUGGED him for a photo op.

If you think that infamous hug didn't speak volumes compared to that perfunctory minor complaint, you are sadly mistaken and way more than unfair to Kerry..

[barackobama4prez]

I disagree. I think Kerry is standing up for himself...lol...4 years too late!

[LeonFreilich]

RIGHT/LEFT

Conservatives swear by

The status quo;

Liberals swear at

The status, Whoa!

[mellene]

It is about time that Kerry see the light of this incredibly dishonest American hero. He may have been a valiant fighter in Vietnam but now can't be bothered to show up for votes protecting the rights of Americans from spying and more Bush policies.

[macbabe]

Congrats Kerry, smart move!

[BushBites]

McCain's a liar.

About time Kerry realized it.

[StrayTalk]

McCain has clearly driven his bus to the Dark Side. Bringing Swiftboater Col Bud Day aboard the bus is just one confirmation of this. Most of us know what it's like to have a friend take a wrong turn at some point in their life. In this case for Kerry, his friend has chosen blind presidential ambition over integrity and friendship.

[jrterrier]

Col Bud Day was a POW with McCain and they've been friends since then. despite the friendship, McCain condemned the swift boat attacks against Kerry. in that regard, McCain has shown more class than Kerry.

from 2004 AP story:
updated 1:51 p.m. ET, Thurs., Aug. 5, 2004
WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry"s military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

The White House declined.

[GuyFawkes]

McCain left Kerry for another Vietnam vet who just inherited millions.

[Meggie]

Best post!!! Who is the C***?

[watcher269]

ROFLMAO

[GuyFawkes]

McDubya's tepid condemnation of the swift boaters -- remember his "both Kerry and Bush served honorably"? Equating Kerry's service with Bush's??? - did it for me. If he couldn't stand up for his family in 2000, or his fellow veteran in 2004, then I knew this whole "maverick" label was just nonsense, like calling an athlete a "hero" . Obama was front and center, "Lay off my family!" I would like to ask McDubya, "If you can't defend your wife and child from smears, or your fellow veteran from smears, why should I believe you can defend my way of life?"

[jrterrier]

here's an AP story from 2004 where McCain defended Kerry and called the swift boat ad "dishonest and dishonorable." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5612836/

your post is misinformed.

from 2004 AP story:
updated 1:51 p.m. ET, Thurs., Aug. 5, 2004
WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry"s military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

The White House declined.

[Tropiholic]

another sad break up for mc flippy?

[CeciliaBertrand]

Unfortunately, it won't sink in -- McCain isn't "all there".

[kellygrrrl]

a few of my own personal relationships are "dissolving"
due to the desire of some people to deny the truth of what is happening before our very eyes

I simply no longer have the patience to feign nicety
for me, I have found it is best to just steer clear of those few loved ones who choose to believe the lies and allow our nation to be destroyed

[StrayTalk]

I can certainly relate to what you are saying. On the other hand some really good people I know are Republicans or even hold reactionary views. There are a lot of reasons for this. One is that they just don't pay a lot of attention to what's really going on politically. Another is its just easier for them to latch on to what their parents/ spouse/ friends believe. That's when I think i can at least get someone to think. I never give up talking to others if they are receptive or maybe bring up some bogus arguments (which is often) That's the same reason I have an Obama sticker on my car. Occasionally someone will comment on it and it may initiate a dialogue. I notice a lot of people are afraid to talk about their political views. Thats where FOX news comes in and fills the void! Dems/Libs/Progressives NEED to speak up---in person to friends, coworkers, extended family. Hey, you might actually change somebody's mind without you knowing it.

[wanj]

McBush is losing this election... period!

[elr50]

Republicans just LOVE demented candidates. Remember Reagan? I am sure a lot of Republicans don't-they don't remember last week.

What a party of a-holes.

[kellygrrrl]

you'd have to have Alzheimer's to believe the lies being spewed