McCain's POW Defense: Devaluing Our Service and His Own
The McCain campaign has spent weeks trying to portray Obama as out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Americans. Today, an interviewer at Politico.com asked McCain how many homes he and his wife owned, to which he responded that he was not sure but would get someone from his staff to answer.
Contrary to what many will tell you, this does not make McCain out of touch with ordinary Americans, as many families today are in trouble with their banks and trying to figure out how many homes they have - zero or one.
Still, it's the campaign's defense we find deeply troubling:
"This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."
We obviously honor and respect McCain's service and the five-and-a-half years of horror that he went through at the hands of the North Vietnamese; but it's not an excuse for everything. He has already used it to explain away his infidelities in his first marriage. He's used it to defend his healthcare plan. He just the other day used it to deflect accusations of having skirted the rules of the Saddleback forum.
It's time for the Senator to stop cheapening the war experiences of thousands of vets and his fellow POWs, and his own as well, by stretching the boundaries of logic to make his POW status a wild-card rebuttal to all accusations or an answer to all difficult questions.
We are veterans who like John McCain, who served honorably, but and we continue to serve our country honorably by not using our military experiences as unjustifiable necessary shields or stepping stones. John McCain has faced and will continue to face many difficult questions that he does not have an answer for, and problems to which that he will provide no solutions to, in the 70 days between now and the election. When he uses his status as a veteran to deflect legitimate questions and concerns, it devalues not just his service to our country but ours as well.
So today, we ask not as Veterans for Obama, but as Veterans of America that Sen. McCain respect the service of his fellow POWs and combat veterans, and stop cheapening their service by hiding behind his own.
Lt. General Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.) is the steering committee chairman of Vets for Obama. Visit their official site or join them on Facebook.
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Thank you General for your insight and thoughts.W
My dad served in WW2 and never talked about his experiences. His attitude was it was something he had to do and he did it. End of story. I did not learn until his funeral that he actually fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The real heros are the ones who don't boast about what they did.
Amen!
My father, like yours, fought in WW2. Daddy doesn't talk about the war either. My brother fought in Vietnam. He doesn't speak of his service. I have zero respect for McCain and applaud Lt. General Gard for speaking out.
Both my father and my brother who was a Marine in Vietnam never talked about their years in service. I don't know if it was just the way people were in those days (people in those days did not talk about psychiatric issues; it was all very private & personal) or if the whole experience was just too traumatic. I often remember being told to forget and just move on with your life. I think there must be a lot of surviors guilt.
My grandfather's were both WW2 vets - one American, the other British. Both were very private about most of their experiences, despite both being decorated (I actually have one of my paternal grandfather's medals, as he left it to me). The most I heard was from my maternal grandfather (the Brit) about his experience as a paratrooper in Northern Africa. And his stories were almost always about the people he met and history he learned, not the battles he was involved in.
Both were proud of their service, but neither were anything but humble about it. It was never an excuse for any behaviour in later life.
Sir, thank you for saying what a lot of Vets are thinking. To me, using one's military service for political purposes is almost as bad as constantly beating us over the head with 9/11. Both issues have nothing to do with the current campaign.
It would be so nice to have a campaign based on issues and possible solutions rather than lies, innuendo, and rhetoric designed to get people worked up emotionally. I wonder if I will ever see a political campaign like that in my lifetime. Well, I never thought I'd see a black man running for president, so I guess there is hope.
These are indeed our Hero's, strong , silent an proud! Not mr. mccain at all!
Remember when war heroes were quiet men?
In the early 60's, I attended Bataan Elementary School. As I would later learn, 22 men from my town died in the Bataan Death March or during their 3.5 years as POWs, and 10 local men survived.
http://www
Many of these men were the parents of my friends, or went to our church, or were just known as neighbors in our small town.
I'm not aware that any of them ever talked about it publicly. It was just something that everyone in town knew about, and we respected them for it.
They didn't march in the Memorial Day Parades as "those Death March heroes" but, instead, simply marched as members of the local VFW, along with the other vets.
I liked it that way.
These constant reminders from McCain's own lips about his service are starting to wear a little thin. Learn a lesson from these real heroes - strong and silent goes a long way.
JFK got a lot of press over his PT109 WWII record after he was elected. His explanation of why he became a hero:
"They sank my boat."
copy/paste this for more on Baatan: http://www
Thank you General Gard. If McCain had not been a child of privilege with a total and complete support system awaiting his return, McCain’s future might have been totally different. After suffering through the Viet Nam war, whether POW or not, many veterans had psychic breaks and remain homeless or disabled. What has McCain done for his fellow veterans after all those years in the Senate? He is so out of touch with his past comrades, that thousands of veterans are homeless, scared forever by their experiences during the war and upon their return. Veterans have to pay for meals in veteran hospitals, endure third world standards in care facilities. McCain fails to value their sacrifice or understand, that when they came home and no one was there waiting with the millions of dollars that allow a person to heal at their leisure. Poor little rich boy. McCain’s snub at the Vietnamese man that helped save his life is one more an indication of McCain’s delusion that he owe’s nothing to anyone. It’s is always all about McCain and what he endured. He acts as if he was the only POW.
He continues to let them sleep under a bridge and in some cities, they are being run away from that.
God bless you, sir.
Nice article! And it's good to see it written by someone who can callout McCain when he is just trying to BS his way into the White House.
Just think, if all the other vets used their Veteran status the way McCain has, they would all have cheap-looking 60 year old barbie doll wives, an ex-wife who is left with the kids and little retirement, and they would all have trouble deciding which home to live in for the winter, and summer, etc.
Thanks to all our vets for all their sacrifice! And just remember who is trying to make things better for you.
YES WE CAN
Not to belabor the point, but there IS no "war record"... just his record of imprisonment in Hanoi, a bloody shirt he waves incessantly.
Regardless of what one thought of the Vietnam conflict, his actual "war record" -- unlike that of the hundreds of thousands of grunts who banged it out daily on the ground -- consisted of dropping 500-pounders from 10,000 feet on people he couldn't see, until he failed to take ordered evasive action and was shot down. Understandably, the locals took a dim view of his aerial contributions and responded.
Military service, whether in an honorable or dishonorable cause, has become a virtual third rail in our political discourse, one best left untouched. It's about time that those with the requisite credentials, such as Lt. Gen. Gard, begin to strip McCain of the mantle he's shamelessly discrediting and wearing threadbare in a cynical effort to -- like his predecessor -- steal the presidency.
Perhaps this question has been raised in other comments, forgive the repetition if so.
I read a quick blip somewhere (perhaps in the March 2008 blog by one of McCain's fellow POW's) that the Geneva Convention and the rules of conduct for the US armed forces dictate that any prisoner can not make the decision to accept an offer of release when there are other prisoners not offered the same. Reason being that the release of POW's is a negotiating chip for their govt and not to be goofed up by individuals.
IF this is the case, then McCain's claim that refusing release was the most agonizing decision he ever made could be viewed in an entirely different light. Not whether to leave, but whether to break military law.
I wish someone who knows about this stuff would explore this and report!
It's been well explored and reported on for decades. The Code of Conduct for the US military says that prisoners should be released in the order in which they are captured, with exception of those who are ill or injured. Geneva Conventions have nothing to do with this.
McCain was both ill and injured. McCain was offered early release, and refused it. A handful of prisoners took early release even though they were healthy, and several others actively collaborated with their captors. But the vast majority of the POWs adhered to the Code of Conduct.
There are numerous books on this subject; many eyewitnesses and records from both governments confirm all this. The books written by and about the POWs are fascinating, btw, but not for the squeamish. The abuse and neglect they endured was horrible.
I appreciate the illumination from all.
I incorrectly substituted 'law" for "code of Conduct"..
I do wish McCain would get back to the business at hand in real time. I have always respected him as thinking and productive member of congress. That respect is diminishing. I think it may be his 'handlers' more than the man, but I will still be voting for Obama/Biden.
I have put "Why We Fight" on my netflix que, I saw it a few years ago and want to hear again McCain's comments on the purpose and logic of war.
To elaborate on my answer:
"Not whether to leave, but whether to break military law."
It's not a law; it's a guide for conduct.
Several POWs did take early release, even though they were healthy. They were not punished in any way, and in fact the ones who chose to stay in the military were promoted. They did earn the everlasting resentment of the POWs they left behind, though.
Most of the collaborators were kicked out of the military, and charged with a crime, but not prosecuted. One of them was allowed to remain in the service because he was repentant and regretful.
A few badly injured and tortured prisoners were released early by the North Vietnamese. After they spoke out to the press about their treatment, the North Vietnamese let up a bit and treatment for those left behind, including McCain, was improved.
General Gard, thanks for calling out those slimes who will want to cash out on the blood and tears of all our veterans for a mere political pot of porridge.
Thanks for your courage.
YEAH, MCCAIN WILL WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE ONLY POW AMERICA HAS EVER HAD. HE IS DEVALUING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE PAID BY THOSE TROOPS WHO DIED AND HAD NO CHANCE OF CONVERTING THEIR ORDEAL INTO A POLITICAL CELEBRITY STATUS.
SHAME ON MCCAIN. HE IS A USURPER!!!
Republican Politicians have been spinning/lying about their own service (George W. Bush claimed to be a 'Combat Veteran' of the Viet Nam war during his failed run for Congress in the '70's) and the service of others (Pat Tillman & Jessica Lynch come to mind) to conflate their image as Warriors & Tough Guys. It is dishonest, and just as importantly it is DISHONORABLE.
Pat Tillman & Jessica Lynch (and every other member of the military) are heroes because THEY SERVED THEIR NATION HONORABLY. Why is that not enough for the Neo-Cons, the ChickenHawks & McCain?
His prisoner status seems to be McCain's only claim to fame to hear him tell it. If that's it, why vote for him?
Strange how millions of average Americans can identify with Obama and reject McCain!
McCain is out of touch with reality!
when the rest of us vets tell our war storys...p
Amen! It would be great if MCain would go live with his fellow POW's and veterens under that bridge or in that ward for a week. McCain's philosiohy: You are all on your own. If you have money, great. If you don't , so sad, too bad.
My sentiments exactly.
Probably the most truthful and enlightening comment on Vietnam vets that has appeared on this board. Thank you gaebolgaes.
Thank you for your service. I am ashamed of this country for the treatment that Vietnam Vets got when they returned.
And the lack thereof.
As a child I watched 3 of my Father's friends waste away and die from Agent Orange, leaving 8 children and 3 widows behind. The U.S. Government denied and helped in the cover-up of any and all ties between Agent Orange and all of those soldiers deaths for more than a decade.
I am still watching one of my High School friends suffer the effects of Gulf War Syndrome and just like Agent Orange, the U.S. Government denies any connection between the illnesses and military service.
So far in the War on Terra it's service members suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury and other combat related mental illnesses that are being neglected or cut loose by the Government.
The way the Government treats our veterans was the reason I didn't choose a career in the military.
Thank you for saying that.
It's 14 years late, but Thank You for what you did. Is there a web or blog site that puts out information on what we can do to help change the situation? Updates on legislation that we can pressure our representatives on, write letters to the editors about, maybe contribute to an ad campaign?
Sadly MSM has been treating our Vietnam Vets as a non issue. Can you help us bring it back front and center? It seems to me that the final "exit plan" of any military confilict must include helping our veterans re-integrate with the society they defended and ensuring that our veterans have the help they need.
That said, McCain scares me.
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