Playing The POW Card

"The race card" is considered taboo. Even to suggest someone is using race to attack a black candidate, regardless of its accuracy, is condemned. Black candidates are forced to ignore racial overtones in an opponent's campaign, simply to avoid being accused of "playing the race card." This allows the opponent to state all manner of racial innuendos without consequences. When Senator Obama said "they" will say he is "risky" because he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills," the McCain campaign immediately accused him of "playing the race card." However, anyone who has received the hundreds of racist emails against Obama knows that Obama was right. He simply was not referring to the official McCain campaign; he was referring to "they," which includes anyone who doesn't want him to be president.

This campaign has a new twist. McCain's campaign is using "the POW card" like a weapon, beating anyone who criticizes anything about Senator McCain as if to say that any doubts of McCain's honesty, ability, experience, leadership, and even his issue positions is disrespecting his military service. We saw this with the attacks against Retired General Wesley Clark when he said, accurately, "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president." The accusation was that General Clark was questioning McCain military service and heroism in his quote.

On a recent FoxNews Hannity & Colmes show, the hosts were discussing John Edwards' marital affair with guest panelists. Colmes then asked the panelists, "...if that's true and you can't trust somebody who had an affair, how can we trust John McCain to be President of the United States -- he cheated on by his own admission on his first wife, he didn't keep his martial vows, he didn't keep his pledge to his first family?" Hannity used the POW card by replying, "Thirty years ago after five-and-a half-years of being a POW." The video shows the blind acceptance of the POW excuse for every McCain wrongdoing by his surrogates.

The most blatant POW card play to date happened after the recent Saddleback Church event on Saturday, August 16th. When people questioned why Senator McCain was not in the "cone of silence" Pastor Warren said he was in, and was instead in his motorcade, capable of listening to Obama's interview to hear the questions in advance, Nicole Wallace, a spokesperson for the McCain campaign, said, "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."

Apparently ex-prisoners of war never, ever, lie or cheat. To even suggest Senator McCain might have arrived late simply so he could listen to the questions in advance means you dishonor his military service and POW status. We are supposed to believe that he accidentally arrived late to the most important event so far of the general election, while he and all his aids resisted the temptation to listen to Obama's interview on the radio or watch it on the limo television.

We have heard constantly that McCain is "reluctant" to exploit his POW experience for political gain. Yet it has been the central theme of his campaigns. McCain has been inconsistent on every issue from offshore drilling to abortion, he has reversed his position on immigration, has been for and against tax cuts, claims to be a Bush loyalist and a maverick against Bush. The one thing he has been consistent about is the fact that he was a POW. A simple Google search shows McCain exploiting his "hero" status from his first Senatorial election to today, at every opportunity.

The questions are simple. Does being a military hero automatically make you presidential material? Does being held prisoner by an enemy make you "know how to win wars" or give you foreign policy experience? Does it make you "ready to lead?" Does it make you honest, unquestionably honorable, for the rest of your life? Should we take every POW in America and put them into Congress so we can transform our government into a zero-corruption enterprise?

It's time Obama supporters start accusing the McCain campaign of "using the POW card," dismissing these ridiculous attacks against any criticism of McCain as unfair weapons in a campaign that should be about issues.

Comments

[chucklasker]

They did it again!

Responding to the criticism that McCain can't remember how many houses he owns, Brian Rogers, a McCain campaign spokesman, said, "The reality is they have some investment properties and stuff. It's not as if he lives in ten houses... this is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."

[karela]

I used to live next door to a guy who was a Japanese POW during WWII and helped build the bridge over the River Kuai. I honored this man for his service to his country but not for his Saturday nights when he'd hold his wife down and pee on her head. Just being a POW doesn't make you good or bad. Not all of John McCain's fellow POW's think he's a good choice for president, nor some of the people who knew him from his Naval Academy days. Below, find a link to "Why I Will Not Vote For John McCain" that was published in Today In the Military by Phillip Butler. Butler was at the Naval Academy with McCain and survived eight years in the same POW camp. Butler was awarded two Bronze Stars, two Legion of Merits, two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts for his service. He has personal knowledge and good and cogent reasons for believing that John McCain could be dangerous to the country as president. He also debunks some of the things that McCain claims for himself alone. John McCain served his country, was a POW and was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart and he should be honored for that. But he has always run on claims that sound as if he stood out among the other 600 POW's and he did not.
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

[cheeto]

There is a question mark about McCain's POW days. Has he ever been treated for PTSD? From all accounts he has a vicious temper making him ill-suited to be anywhere near the red button. I suggest he seeks therapy for the next four years and we'll see how that goes.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I second that motion! The man needs serious help....but at 72 years of age a leopard can't change his spots.

[Chuck Lasker - Huffpost Blogger]

To be fair, I must say, Senator McCain appeared unusually clearheaded during the Saddleback conversation. I would say it was his most impressive performance in the campaign to date. His brain was in such high performance, he answered the three teacher questions before they were asked!

[EForst]

McCain playing the POW card is part of the overall strategy to portray McCain as a tough, experienced leader who has the courage of his convictions. Problem is, such convictions remind me of George Bush " especially, McCain"s belief that evil can be defeated. While such sure-headedness in a leader may give comfort, it should also give pause, because it was such simplistic, single-minded thinking that allowed Bush to declare his "war on terror" against an "axis of evil." Based on such rhetoric, we launched the war in Iraq, the greatest foreign policy blunder in US history. I wonder what misadventures the POW-in-Chief will lead us into?

[pa104inf]

From what I understand, because McCain was late he did not receive a question that Obama was told would be asked. This means that Obama knew a question that McCain did not. The problem we have hear is that AxleRod could not answer the questions for Obama which is why Obama will never allow a townhall meeting type debate.

[karela]

Geesh, are you confused. McCain is the one who can't be allowed to talk in public without his handlers. He frequently has to ask them what his positions are, i.e. "Brian, what is my position of condoms for Aides prevention in Africa. I'm sure I agree with the president." "I don't think we allow federal money for that." Obama gives thoughtful answers and McCain gives his stump after being asked not to. It would not be surprising that a republican might get more applause at an Evangelical meeting. But it also won't be surprising if Obama turned some hearts who listened to his answers Saturday night either. More than ever before, many Evangelicals are choosing to think for themselves---Including my next door neighbor. He says that he is pro-life, but he's pro-life for the whole life and not just the gestation period. He thinks McCain would bring many deaths and much suffering to the country and to the world. I think he's right.

[Chuck Lasker - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm not saying I know McCain listened to the Obama interview in his limo. I suspect it, but I don't know it. My main point is, we are not even allowed to suggest the possibility, because McCain was a POW. We are not allowed to question any McCain motive, for he is an ex POW, and therefore God-like in his perfection. When the POW card is being used even to justify McCain's adultery with a woman 24 years younger than him, something is wrong.

[JRandomPoster]

Reading the responses to the "cone of silence" issue across the web, I am getting the feeling that a lot of McCain supporters are willfully suspending disbelief about McCain, and that McCain is giving them the props to do it.

You'd think that the religious right would be a bit perturbed over the pastor of the faith forum willfully participating in the lie that McCain was in the "cone of silence". But no, it's liberal biased media, or McCain is a POW and POW's never lie - anything but the fundamental fact of the matter, that the pastor and McCain lied to the church and to the American people.

It is pretty disgusting.

[LondonLee]

McCain appeared too glib when asked a number of questions during the debate.
Too many anecdotes, neither of which directly answered the question.
Theirs something about MaCain that comes over as very insincere.
Surely the American public aren't going to fall for it again, after the GW experience !

Lee ( London )

[Pupadup4oBama]

LondonLee, I hope you are correct. I really do. As an outsider - you probably have the best vantage point. I just hope more Americans wise up to what these criminals are capable of.

McCain was quick Draw McGraw with his responses. Not only that, he answered them even BEFORE they were asked. Sounds fishy to me.

[Chuck Lasker - Huffpost Blogger]

Speaking of people from other countries having the best vantage point, they also have the benefit of news being unfiltered by American corporations that own our main stream media outlets. This is why I care what Europeans think of our candidates.