Will An Adult Finally Prevail?!

Yes, I know. John McCain was a prisoner of war and he survived to tell his tale. It's fortunate he survived and I commend him for his service, but as president he won't prevail. He's dangerous. He's delusional. And he lacks the emotional stability and maturity for the job. Yes, he lacks the maturity for the job! He's another privileged son of another privileged family who believes he's entitled to the job. Well, he's not!!

True, McCain suffered greatly as a POW, but to his good fortune when he did arrive home he was cloaked in his celebrity, provided every resource, and protected by his family -- a decidedly different scenario from the isolation and lack of services lesser known vets are forced to endure. Their fates frequently result in homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and an inability to secure adequate medical and mental-health services for years -- even decades to come. Not so for John McCain.

John McCain, the Admiral's son, may have been a hero in war, but he'd been a self-indulgent party-boy long before he served -- and a self-indulgent POWER-boy once he got back home. In truth, the moral high ground that Senator McCain feigns to tread has fallen by the wayside often in his life. His post Vietnam affair with current wife Cindy resulted in a divorce from his first wife and a cushy marriage to an heiress [Cindy], whose well-connected father not only employed McCain, but introduced him to Arizona's elite -- which included such notables as Charles Keating, Jr., the convicted mastermind of Lincoln Savings and Loan that bilked 21,000 mostly elderly victims out of their life savings, and from whom Senator John McCain took money and gratuities.

John McCain, the son and grandson of Admirals, was one of the infamous "Keating Five," in a despicable case of white collar crime that riveted America for months, but for which the fortunate son (and son-in-law), received only a slap on the wrist. Oh, the luck of the ENTITLED!!

The fact is, despite McCain's heroic military service during the Vietnam war, the quality of his character over the forty years since warrants scrutiny of the most critical kind. McCain's life of power and privilege so closely resembles that of George W. Bush that the prospect of a John McCain presidency is cataclysmic. Though he lays claim to high moral standards, McCain, like Bush, will do anything to win -- even if the result is the tragic death of innocents. John McCain, like George W. Bush, chooses warfare over negotiation and blood over words. It's the Bush-McCain commandment of Thou Shalt NOT Speak which devolves into thus Thou - SHALT - Kill. They simply undo the "NOT."

For those who doubt the similarities of Bush & McCain, let's take a closer look:

- Bush & McCain both come from families of power
- Bush & McCain both were "partying" youths
- Bush & McCain both were low performing students
- Bush & McCain both had powerful fathers and grandfathers
- Bush & McCain both went to excellent schools because of their families
- Bush & McCain both pursued the careers of their fathers and grandfathers
- Bush & McCain both were given jobs through their families
- Bush & McCain both are sarcastic
- Bush & McCain both relish power
- Bush & McCain both like to dominate
- Bush & McCain both are quick to anger
- Bush & McCain both make reckless statements-"Bomb Iran"/"Bring It On"
- Bush & McCain both have dominant mothers
- Bush & McCain both are ruthless competitors
- Bush & McCain both want to win at all costs
- Bush & McCain both refuse to negotiate
- Bush & McCain both want to attack Iran which can cause the Third World War

Now compare Bush & McCain to Obama:

- Obama came from humble beginnings
- Obama barely knew his father
- Obama went to high school on scholarship and loans
- Obama admitted "partying" as a youth
- Obama became an stellar student
- Obama went to University NOT because of his family
- Obama went to the top of his class
- Obama got jobs on his own merit
- Obama worked at the community level
- Obama struggled with student debt
- Obama married a woman of humble means
- Obama was elected to office without family help
- Obama is measured and steady
- Obama is not quick to anger
- Obama believes in negotiation
- Obama wants to preserve the peace
- Obama believes in war as a LAST resort
- Obama is an adult

Obviously, anyone reading this piece can fault me on the subjective nature of my comparisons. Nonetheless, the similarities between Bush & McCain are undeniable -- as are the differences between Bush & McCain and Barack Obama. Watching Obama's calm, measured and thoughtful responses lead me to believe that he -- the youngest of the three -- is clearly the more adult.

For the past seven years the United States has been led by George W. Bush's juvenile American exceptionalist ideology -- which is similarly shared by McCain. America cannot survive another President with this dangerous, counterproductive and childish mentality. America desperately needs an adult.

That adult is Barack Obama.

Comments

[PLUMPLUM]

YES!

[roselaw]

I'm going to hurt a few feelings, but I don't think dropping bombs on a largely helpless country, from thousands of feet in the air, is heroic. Hanoi shot a missle that hit his plane, but our airforce had virtual control of the airspace when he went down.

And there are continuing questions, which I hope finally get answered, about McCain's alleged cooperation with his captors.

But in the main point, I totally agree--this isn't about the 1960s McCain, its about a 73 year old man who doesn't know the difference between Shia and Sunnis, and sees the world in apocalyptic terms. The war is breaking us morally, financially and policitcally, as the rest of the world leaves us behind, and that is our greatest threat, not some lunatics in Pakistani caves, or a political pipsqueek in Tehran, who has so little real power, he couldn't even open Iranian soccer matches to attendance by women.

[joanndarc]

"It's fortunate he survived and I commend him for his service, but as president he won't prevail. He's dangerous. He's delusional."

Too bad for natural selection. The delusional (brainwashed?) criminal was not killed.

[sparkandy]

Too bad for natural selection. The delusional (brainwashed?) criminal was not killed.


That's exactly the kind of post that gives some Obama supporters a reputation for being irrational. You're not doing your guy any good by wishing the opposition were dead. In fact, that's the kind of thing that scares thoughtful voters the most about Obama - his lunatic fringe of supporters.

[bajanyvie]

that's the kind of thing that scares thoughtful voters the most about Obama - his lunatic fringe of supporters."

Hmmmm....

Well I guess the lunatic fringe can be found within the base of support for any candidate, but probably the sane core far outnumbers them. So that should put you entirely at ease now to vote for Obama. Also, I can assure tyou hat the 'lunatic fringe supporter' will not be making any policy decisions.

[dadumdee]

By your logic, thoughtful voters would be scared by Jesus.

[joanndarc]

Isn't McCain a war criminal since he was taking part in an act of agression, the illegal war against Vietnam?

[Bobrobert]

Funny???

Joking about all those dead boys being criminals???

Pathetic at best.

[SethBLiNK]

McCain is an adult. And so is Hillary.

What makes Obama different is that he treats us like we're adults. Pandering is what you do to children and Obama has enough faith in us that he spares us the pander and speaks to us honestly. That's what won me over at the start and that's what's making this happen.

[ddharder]

Well put.

[Thabit]

Another thing I noticed as i listened to all the candidates speak was this , When Obama talks of his plans he uses WE to describe these plans . That he expects us to preasure our representatives to get off the pot and do the right thing is implicite in his message

All of the rest of the candidates say I will do this and I will do that as though there is no Congress or Senate to deal with in the Process.

I am in Oregon and did not get to go see him yesterday but I have already Voted for him and dropping my ballot off today (BTW i am a white no college Vet that is Disabled and 53 yrs old)

[tanyainsacramento]

Excellent and well thought out

This will be something I use when speaking to people about McCain..very helpful

[Gma11]

Thank you for that. The stark comparison is so very helpful.

[shrinqrap]

I'll bet the Clintonistas will find sexism in this article.

Somewhere.

Somehow.

It's all they got.

[Gma11]

Enough already. We've got to let it go. We've got more important issues to concentrate on. (I understand your frustrations!!)

[candlegravity]

Fun article, but what purpose does it really server posting it on HuffPo? Aren't you kind of preaching to the choir?

[orle8050]

Great article!

[S1m0n]

It's ironic: Obama is the youngest candidate, but when he wins, he'll be the first adult president since Bush Senior.

[charon]

A very brief, concise account of the significant facts about McCain. Thank you.

[DMW1]

Great article, one I will definitely share.

[jhamm1]

"It's fortunate he survived and I commend him for his service"

Speak for yourself.

And would everybody stop commending him for his service already? As we all know, the only recognition Republicans allocated John Kerry's service was a contusion of slander and mockery, and I have no intention of doing McCain any favors in this regard either.

[shiplett]

We should not do or say what is (or was) unacceptably done or said to us.

The Swiftboating of John Kerry was wrong. Swiftboating John McCain would be just as wrong, and perhaps worse, because it would be coming from the people who were victims of it the first go 'round.

Remember the golden rule, and take the high road:

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

[Dap]

Dear Ms. Milazzo,

Thank you, Spot-On, another well reasoned essay/post. Kudos! Agape.