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The Shelf Life of John McCain's Honor
My father was a career military officer, so pardon me if I don't genuflect at self-important, self-serving mentions of our "brave men and women in uniform," too often invoked by those who never served, or never knew anyone who did, or who fought like hell and worked every angle not to, and would riot in the streets if the US instituted a sensible draft that offered their rich, pampered little boys and girls the same opportunities to die and lose limbs with which we honor our all-volunteer force.
Being familiar with the military, I also feel no need to lionize everyone who's been in it. There are fools in uniform. The conduct of several of our recent wars proves that. There are also heroes, knaves, psychos, savants, mensches, thieves, rapists and every other type of man and woman you can name. Their motives for service can range from patriotism to political opportunism to desperation. Donning a uniform does not make them better people. It just makes them soldiers.
John McCain served in Vietnam. He was shot down, imprisoned and tortured. He endured a great deal, and a big hat-tip to him for coming out of it sane and strong enough to live a life. However, he does not get a pass on despicable hypocrisy, demented race-baiting, and outright lies because he served in Vietnam and suffered as a POW. To suggest that he should is to suggest that, likewise, Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson should get a pass on bribery and racketeering charges because he was raised black and poor in the racist south. Despicable behavior is just that. Your past does not excuse it.
I am violently sick of the media dancing around this increasingly dishonorable man's outrageous sense of entitlement with which he justifies his campaign's outright lies, half-truths and transparent obfuscations.
NPR's Renee Montagne began to ask McCain about his campaign tactics and he grouchily protested, "We're not sending any negative message in our campaign. We're drawing differences in positions between myself and Sen. Obama, which are significant."
Countering that statement, Montagne asked the McCain about the TV ad blaming Obama for high gas prices. McCain stuck to his non-sensical talking points:
I believe strongly that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. And he voted for the energy bill that had all kind of tax breaks and giveaways for the oil companies. I believe if you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. And it's a big problem in America today.
On the same day that statement aired, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman lambasted McCain for failing to even to show up for a crucial vote on extending tax credits for solar and other energy efficient systems.
Friedman wrote:
In fact, John McCain has a perfect record on this renewable energy legislation. He has missed all eight votes over the last year -- which effectively counts as a no vote each time. Once, he was even in the Senate and wouldn't leave his office to vote.
Yes, Senator Straight Talk, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem--and bald-faced hypocrisy is a problem.
McCain stated that he is "not sending any negative message" in his campaign. This is the same man who all but accused Obama of treason by stating, "It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."
If that's not negative, then I suppose it is equally "positive" to say that John McCain is willing to needlessly sacrifice American service men and women's lives in order to win the presidency.
"I am proud of the campaign I am running," McCain says.
Mitt Romney, official campaign surrogate and leading candidate for McCain's Vice President is heading the race-stained charge against Barack's patriotism and Americanness. He told Fox News that, "I think John McCain is going to make sure that America stays America."
McCain will ensure that America stays as white as Romney wants it to be. (He, of the church that has never actually repudiated the theological notion that black skin is the result of a curse from God; he who approached a black child wearing a necklace and said, "Oh, you've got some bling-bling here.")
Among McCain's most disgraceful lines of attack is the suggestion that dark-skinned Obama is somehow less American than the white-skinned. McCain savaged Michelle Obama for acknowledging the personal affects of America's racial history on black Americans. He trotted out his wife Cindy to mewl that she's always been proud of her country. Yes, and she's always been rich and white, too.
"I am not sending any negative message in this campaign," McCain says.
McCain has run the notorious "celebrity" ad linking Obama to two highly sexualized, blonde white women, conjuring the salacious historical distaste for black men who soil the purity of white American womanhood.
"I am proud of the campaign I am running," he says.
In response to Obama's suggestion that Americans should encourage children to learn more than one language, McCain surrogate Rudolph Guiliani stated, "this is why he's such a popular candidate in Europe; because there's such an anti-American feeling there... he's sort of capturing that."
There it is again: "Anti-American."
McCain adviser Charlie Black stated, "We don't want to talk about his [Obama's] patriotism and character. We concede that he's a patriot and a person of good character."
Note the wording. He doesn't "believe." He "concedes." You only "concede" a debatable point. Even in this statement, the McCain camp opens the door for a vicious campaign using Obama's race to tar him as too "exotic," or "different," or "un-American," or just too damned black to be President.
"I am not sending any negative message in this campaign," McCain says. "I am proud of the campaign I am running."
Over 30 years ago, McCain served with honor. He shed that honor like a snake's spent skin somewhere between then and now. What's left is a dishonorable shell of a man, willing to pick the scab of this nation's oldest and most traumatic wound in order to win the high office to which he seems to feel he has a God-given right--so much so that he is justified in resorting to repellent tactics in order to win it.
John McCain is a dishonorable liar who once honorably wore a uniform. To hide his lies behind his medals dishonors not only the service he claims to prize--the one my father served all of his life--but also the country he seeks to lead.
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The 2000 model John McCain was credible. However, he was seen as a threat to the moneyed interests and shamefully slimed by the GOP establishment so that a more pliable lackey and puppetmaster could be installed "to restore dignity to the office than was defiled by the Clintons". What a crock! The Presidency has truly been debased by the current admin and the 2008 model McCain is trying to enter it just like W, Cheney & Co did. America deserves better!! The Democratic margin of victory must be large enough to avoid the possibility of another theft.
Shiba_Inu149
Thank you for pointing out your views on the Obama Campaign in response to my comment, I agree that Obama seems to be the more educated of two, and in no way am I an expert on every political issue that faces our nation (although to many people think they are).
In regards to your comment about Drilling...I agree with McCain that we should be Drilling on our native soil, however I do not believe that is the final solution, temporary yes, but Drilling for Oil here while making attempts to develop other forms of energy seems to be a good short term solution to me. Its seems to me that the reason the left has a problem with Drilling here is for Environmental reasons more then anything.....and while I respect that point of view and agree with it to some extent....I will cut down a Historical Redwood to heat my home for my family and friends.
The only thing that has really hurt Mr. McCain's image in my mind has been his vote on the restriction of torture. I am still dumbfounded that he voted against that. The negative stuff has to be done if he wants to win, and he's no dummy, so he knows that. But to sacrifice his integrity on that one vote really made it impossible for me to support him.
I really hope that when the debates happen, they'll ask each candidate if they will expllicitly ban the use of "aggressive" interrogation techniques against any prisoner that is in our custody or being transferred from our custody to anothers.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Well writen and backed up with facts. This needs to be said over and over, because unfortunately, too many people get their information only through the TV commercials that they see. I wish that everyone could read this, and I wish McCain especially could and then explain how he is running an honest campaign again.
Great post - I've thought the same thing for a long time now. The notion that military service alone somehow automatically makes one a hero doesn't quite track for me. Duke Cunningham was more decorated than MC - is he a hero? I think living an honorable life in the face of adversity is heroic. I think leaving one's disabled wife to play around with a rich rodeo queen speaks volumes of the man's character. And, it doesn't point to his being a hero. He's a selfish, egotistical, chump.
He lies, he flip flops all over the place. He's no maverick, he just likes to fight. He lacks charm or charisma. He can't tell a joke without blinking about a thousand times - for emphasis. He blends into whatever background they place him against. There is nothing presidential about this man.
He knows Corsi's book is just a right wing hit job without a grain of truth, but he doesn't have the moral fiber to refute it. I mean Wes Clark questioned whether military service qualified MC for the job and the right wing went crazy. Demanded O go after Clark. They went after O for Rev. Wright. Isn't it time someone demanded the same from MC? No wonder 1/5 of the Repubs in the Senate will not even show up at their own convention.
You also should have mentioned his outright lying about Obama not visiting wounded troops because he couldn't take a camera crew. i don't think they have ever retracted that.
Mr Gaiter,
Bravo to you on this article, I believe it is well written and holds noteworthy points.
My question to you however, speaking as an American that is still on the fense about my vote this November is this: What qualifies Obama to hold this countries highest seat?
Simply pointing out the falws of McCain's Campaign is not enough for me to agree 100% that Obama is the right person for the job? I think there are more people focusing their attention on making sure the canidate they are against loses, then who should really be there.
This is the reason that negitive add campaigns are a Disgrace (No matter what side they come from). My hope is that Americans base there vote off of research and fact....not media and commercials. I listened to a radio broadcast last night in which the host of the show questioned our youth (specifically between the ages of 18 & 25) on who they will be voting for this November and why. Everyone in that Q&A stated that they were voting for Obama, and nobody had any idea why, in fact the most popular answer was he is a U.S. Citizen and over 35? There were also a few that said they wanted change, when asked how they believed Obama would bring about change in the way of (Oil, Enconomics & Environment) the phone went silent.....the silent voice of Americas future...My vote will not be given so easily.
What qualifies Obama, you ask? Character, integrity, judgement, intelligence, leadership.
You should also be asking, what qualifies McCain? It appears to me that all he has going for him is experience, which doesn't necessarily translate into any of the required qualities. Case in point: Bush. He has lots of experience now. Is he qualified?
I agree with your comment because I felt much the same. To figure out which one to vote for, because I both respected and liked them, I decided to read their books. I started with one of Mr. McCain's, "Faith of my fathers" and was very impressed. Having been in the military, it helped me see how it shaped his life and helped me understand his positions. Afterwards I read Mr. Obama's book "The audacity of hope". He's a great writer, and I was very suprised to find out how well he could see the political landscape of the country changing. I found myself agreeing with his description of a new type of politics that wasn't centered on the unchanging fundamentals of the right or left, but instead sought out common ground between them, and negotiated for the greater good (read flip-flopping). I was so impressed that I decided to support him, and have been a proud supporter ever since.
I don't blame Mr. McCain for airing negatives about Mr. Obama, I don't see how else he could win, and if he truly believes he's the best thing for the country he needs to do what his advisors say he needs to do to win. However, I don't think it would change the purposeful polarization of our country and I feel that's what we really need.
Maybe this helps!
(Pt. 2 continued)
Which candidate has the best family values based on their history? Barack Obama wins this category as well. He"s had only one wife; doesn"t have a history of "carousing" and chasing women. McCain left his first wife after she was injured in an accident and immediately set out to get another trophy wife. He lied to his future wife about his age and his marital status.
Which candidate is better prepared to serve as president? While many argue that Barack Obama does not have enough experience, the facts would argue otherwise. Depending on your affiliation you might disagree with this list, but arguably the following presidents have been considered "good": Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Barack Obama has similar government experience to each of these leaders. On the other end, presidents such as Gerald Ford, James Buchanan, and James Monroe all had many years of experience, similar to McCain; any of those strike you as great leaders? All things being considered, having a balance of state experience and federal experience is helpful. Barack Obama has a balance of both state and federal experience (6 state/4 federal), while McCain has no state experience at all (0 state/26 federal).
(pt. 3 continued)
I believe that we need a president who can objectively look at a situation and make a reasoned decision, and work collaboratively with other world leaders toward a common objective (presumably a safer world for all), not a leader who"s initial instinct is to be critical, increase tensions among our adversaries, and utilize a military option as a first choice. Once again, I give Barack Obama the nod.
One final point for those of you who tout experience over judgment I simply point out that in the 1980s IBM was the undisputed world leader in computers, they were the industry standard and dominated the market. They had the experience, the knowledge, the people, everything to keep them on top of the industry. Then a funny thing happened, a couple of guys in a garage, with no experience, no fancy degrees, and no money came along. They had nothing but an idea a desire for change, and good judgment; they were literally laughed at by IBM. Today, companies like Microsoft and Apple dominate the computer world.
ShadowCaptain,
I would encorage you to check the Obama web site for information. But here's my list of things that I believe qualify him:
Which candidate shows more intelligence? Barack Obama, there should be no argument here. Barack Obama has a law degree from Harvard and has taught constitutional law. McCain graduated at the bottom of his Naval Academy class. Having a president who understands the constitution would be a refreshing change.
Which candidate proposes the best economic plan? Barack Obama again, he has provided detailed information about his proposals, and his tax plan will only increase taxes if you make more than $250,000 regardless of what untruths McCain tries to spread. I"m not near that tax bracket, and if I were I would expect to pay a little more. Although the McCain team will try to say that Senator Obama has no details or experience, it is actually McCain who provides little or no detail about his proposals. He says we need wind, solar, etc. etc. but he provides no detail about how to implement such programs, just drill, drill everywhere, and drill now.
Which candidate has the highest stature throughout the world? Barack Obama, hands down. Don"t think I need to say anything else. Although Paris Hilton may have more celebrity status, I"m not taking her candidacy too seriously.
The problem is that honorable, honest, ethical politicians don't win elections. McCain is simply doing what he needs to do to win. It's really not McCain's fault; it's the fault of the American people for falling for these tactics.
Sock it to 'em. The truth hurts. McCain can run but he can't hide.
Well said and well written. Thank you for putting this out there. McC is going to lose so bad this fall it will almost be funny.
Mr. Gaiter, you just became my new favorite writer. You and Bob Cesca should go on tour. BLESS YOU!
All that may be true but aren't you forgetting his lapel pin?
Most excellent. Thanks for saying what others only dance around. Now, can we only get a few "journalists" in the MSM to catch on?
"John McCain is a dishonorable liar who once honorably wore a uniform. "
AMEN!
Thank you Mr. Gaiter, Sir. Point-by-point - It could not be said better.
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Posted August 14, 2008 | 10:56 AM (EST)