John McCain Is Lying About the Cross in the Dirt, and He Needs To Be Called Out

It is now beyond a doubt that John McCain embellished/made up his story about the cross in the dirt in Vietnam, and he needs to be thoroughly questioned by a prominent journalist on a major network.

McCain's story is so similar to Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn's rendition of his experience in a Siberian gulag that it simply cannot be true. Andrew Sullivan and Mark Nickolas have provided compelling arguments that McCain's story is made up, and it is now up to the mainstream Media to grill the Senator from Arizona.

Why has this not happened so far?

One reason -- and it's the same reason the MSM did not question the lead up to war in Iraq: They are afraid of seeming unpatriotic. John McCain symbolizes everything journalists and liberals fear in America, a right war veteran with impeccable hero credentials.

The right wing smear machine will swing into action if serious questions are asked, and the usual gaggle of talking heads will hurl their tried and tested arsenal of liberal bashing talking points to deflect from the issue at hand.

Think back to pre-Iraq invasion:

Journalist/Liberal: There is no compelling evidence that Saddam has Weapons of Mass Destruction, or that there are ties between Saddam and Al Qaeda. Is an invasion necessary?

Republican Talking Head: Are you saying Saddam Hussein is a good guy? He gassed his own people! Why do you hate freedom and America so much?

And what would happen today:

Journalist/Liberal: John McCain's story about drawing a Christian Cross in the dirt while he was a prisoner in Vietnam is very similar to Alexander Solzhenitsyn's account of his time in a Siberian Gulag.

Republican Talking Head: Are you questioning John McCain's record in Vietnam? Are you calling one of America's war heroes a liar? This is step too far. This goes to show how much Liberals hate the troops. You hate freedom, and you hate America.

Rather than bow to name calling and vilification tactics, the mainstream media
(and Obama's campaign for that matter) should follow the blogosphere on this one, and take it to McCain, who is clearly lying about his experiences in Vietnam to shore up empathy from the Christian voters he dearly needs for this election.

Politicians lie all the time, but this one is particularly shocking as it is about an experience so deeply personal and profound that it defies belief that anyone would abuse it for the sake of politics. It just goes to show how far McCain will go to get himself elected.

Ben Cohen is the editor of www.thedailybanter.com and a contributing writer to www.espn.com and Boxing Monthly Magazine. He can be reached at [e-mail]

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Comments

[mnash]

A lie is a lie is a lie. The MSM needs to do their job instead of having other people do it. That's what they get paid for. The only person who seems to be doing that is k. Olbermann.

[bluevillage]

This story is said to be a right-wing URBAN LEGEND promulgated by Chuck Colson, Billy Graham and Jesse Helms, among others. See today's post by Greg Sargent at Talking Points Memo: "Solzhenitsyn Biographer: Cross-In-Dirt Gulag Story Never Happened."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/solzhenitsyn_biographer_crossi.php

Though the comments on that post suggest the story should be let go, I think this revelation is all the more reason to see it as apocryphal and, as right-wing folklore, easily picked up.

Jed Report is following it up relentlessly:

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Establishing_McCain_s_Cross_Story_Timeline_1969_or_1970

(Apropos the word "folklore," remember McCain using it at the faith forum, saying Meg Whitman's story had entered folklore? That word is astonishingly un-McCain. All of this reeks of speechwriters or ghostwriters.)

[UrsaMajority]

A Kosovo moment for McCain????

McCain absolutely needs to be called out on this. If -- as appears to be the case -- this story is as fraudulent as Hillary's "gunfire on the tarmac at Kosovo" story (which killed her), it could make a huge difference. For one, the story is not just an exaggeration, it is an outright theft from another source. Second, Hillary's mental sharpness has never been at issue; we've got ample reason to worry about McCain's. We have got to get to the bottom of this.

And, while we're at it, since McCain is absolutely running on his military service record (notice how he always wears "NAVY" caps at outdoor events), he has got to be forced to open up his military records. Bush had to.

[GunnyJ]

This is the person who may be called Mr. President.­..........­.

[JaneEyrez]

There are plenty of other lies that he can be branded with. Let this one go. It serves little purpose. If we can reveal enough of the other lies he has told, then all that he says will be suspect, as it should be.

[OurFuture2008]

The point here is that for John McCain, the end justifies the means. That's why he lied about this; that's why he lied about the cone of silence; that's why he dumped his first wife for a trophy-wife heiress (see http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-divorce11-2008jul11,0,6546861.story). He is a liar, a cheater, and a bad sport. If anyone calls him out -- as well they should -- he will be the victim of the liberal media (until his next smear on Obama, at which point he will talk about needing to have a good sense of humor).

The other point here this will only have an effect if it goes viral. If tens of millions of Americans are talking about this, then it will become news. The MSM will only pick it up if it's already a story -- they're too fearful and too corporate to make it into a story. What does that mean, my friends (as John M would say), it means that you need to spread the word about this in your community. Otherwise, the lies will keep going and we run the risk of a McCain presidency and all that could entail.

[brief candle]

This is far worse than a lie. It 's a sign of mental illness. He may actually believe this happened to him, and that my friends is scary.

[descott]

This is like Hillary's landing under heavy sniper fire. I told my husbadn I thought he made it up. Seriously. I am an ex evangelical and it seemed liek a lie. Plus the so called guard, 2 Christians worshipping God. . Well why didn't he help him escape? That is what thereal Christians did on the underground railroad, or those who hid Jews in their attics in Germany.
This whole evangelical support ruse is to have a smokescreen while they hijack the election using Deibold machines. Get the movie "Uncounted." The evangelicals did not help Bush win Ohio. Ohio was stolen via Diebold machines and voter disenfranchisement. That is the urban legend. This whole thing was a set up to make it look like the evangelicals will win the day. And Rick Warren I am sorry, I am leery of him. As I said, I am a recovering evangelical, these folks do not use critical thinking they drink koolaide.

[jhNY]

"John McCain symbolizes everything journalists...fear in America, a right war veteran with impeccable hero credentials." That must be why they spend so much time licking his loafers clean of secret-recipe barbecue sauce.

And "impeccable hero credentials" until lately at least-- thanks again to these 'journalists'-- have not included the bombing of civilians in an undeclared war. McCain's heroism began on the ground in Hanoi, after he was shot down.

[blackchaps]

Which journalist shall we feed to the lions??

[alphax]

McCain is "indirectly" labeling Obama with the Treason tag i.e. wanting American soilders to lose.

Obama should strike back and point McCain as a LIAR.

[keepemhonest]

Transcript shows Warren TOLD McCain, DURING the event, that McCain knew ALL the questions!

Read the transcript:
McCain: Are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court justices, or should I mention it?
REV. WARREN: We will get to that.
SEN. MCCAIN: Okay. All right. (Laughter.) Okay.
REV. WARREN: Man, you're jumping ahead. You know all my questions."

Check that out, "You know ALL my questions."

Read Transcript:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/08/transcript_of_obama_mccain_at.html

[camipco]

I think you're reading this line wrong.

For a start, it was entirely expected that there would be a question on the Supreme Court. You can bet Obama was expecting one too.

I think Warren here is just jesting.

I'm not saying McCain didn't cheat, he might well have. He definitely lied to Warren about being in the cone of silence. It's even possible that he conspired with Warren. I'm just saying this line isn't evidence of that.

[Avembe]

Oh GOOOSH!!!!!
in fact i tried to find if they did mention just once the Supreme Court" before what you(=keepemhonest)
reported and...you are damn RIGHT!!!
may be i missed something but , you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

[descott]

Oh my gosh, that's right. I thought that was odd. Warren had not even mentioned Supreme Court justices and McCain uttered the comment. PRoves either Warren told him or McCain listened, via blackberry. I watched Warrens body language with Obama. He seemed as if he wanted to cut Obama off. With McCain he seemed so at ease, laughing fawning, then he goes on Larry King and says, I'm in the middle, I like them both, --sure. Lucy Van Pelt and the football with Charlie Borwn. This was a set up, but this helped Obama realize go into every debate ready-- this was like the ABC debate, Hillary had been briefed. Reagan did this to Carter in 1980. Someone stole Carters debate briefing bok and gave it to the journalist asking the questions. And Reagan came off looking so solid because he knew what Carter woudl say and the reporter helped him. (Moderator). Folks will do anything. Folks we have our mantra, Not This Time. Not this Year.

[TwoCentsIn]

I suggest that Bill Moyers sit down with McCain
to get to the bottom of his POW story, including
the plagiarism of Solzhenitzyn's experience.

As with Tim Russert and "Meet the Press," all videotape
and print media backup will be necessary to jog McCain's
memory.

Rules: A buzzer sounds off whenever McCain tries to hide behind hero hegemony,
starts to "tear up," or posits, "I never said that,"
"I don't know where you're getting your information from..."

Outcome: McCain will never agree to such an interview. He knows he lied.
And he thinks the American people are so stupid that he can keep
getting away with it.

Our country cannot survive being led blindly into more wars while we suffer at home.
Wake up, America!

[jfoxx]

There are only 2 people who can plausibly refute McCain's claim: the unknown guard, and McCain himself. If the story isn't true, of course he's going to get away with it.

[necer65]

He should not get away with it. I am tired of a President that lies about everything. I sure do not want another. Enough is enough.

[RGKahn]

This is just one example of the lies, misstatement and half-truths that John McCain and/or his surrogates have made in the almost two year campaign to become POTUS. He knocks Obama for having the ambition to become the next POTUS. He was talking to fellow POWS, when then were together, back in the late 60s and early 70s that he wanted to run and become President of the United states of America, That means he has had the ambition to have that office for the past 40 years. Now that is ambition. He has used his political office to further his ambition and his personal fortune. If it were not for the old boys club atmosphere in the Senate he would no be where he is today. If it were not for his pandering to certain members of MSM he would not be where he is today.

[NotEasilyFooled]

"McCain's story is so similar to Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn's rendition of his experience in a Siberian gulag that it simply cannot be true."
It cannot be true that two different people under extreme conditions can turn to their faith for comfort in the same way ?
Oh, please! Get a life.

[eden4barack08]

Yeah right, it's by sheer coincidence that McC's favorite author was also held prisoner of war, and had a guard draw a cross in the sand to comfort him, only he was russian, while McC's was vietnamese.
Oh, and frogs have wings too.