John McCain: The War Hero

[Marlin Clock]

Sorry, please move this to political squabbles.




He may not be the greatest politician, but I want everyone to at least have some respect for this man for what he went through during Vietnam. Here's a section on it.

By then a lieutenant commander, McCain was almost killed on July 29, 1967, when he was near the center of the Forrestal fire. He escaped from his burning jet and was trying to help another pilot escape when a bomb exploded; McCain was struck in the legs and chest by fragments.The ensuing fire killed 134 sailors and took 24 hours to control. With the Forrestal out of commission, McCain volunteered for assignment with the USS Oriskany.

John McCain's capture and imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam, when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi. McCain fractured both arms and a leg, and then nearly drowned, when he parachuted into Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi. After he regained consciousness, a crowd attacked him, crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt, and bayoneted him. Lieutenant Commander McCain was then transported to Hanoi's main Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton".
McCain being pulled from Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi and becoming a POW on October 26, 1967
McCain being pulled from Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi and becoming a POW on October 26, 1967

Although McCain was badly wounded, his captors refused to treat his injuries, instead beating and interrogating him to get information, and he was given medical care only when the North Vietnamese discovered that his father was a top admiral. His status as a prisoner of war (POW) made the front pages of major newspapers.

McCain spent six weeks in the hospital while receiving marginal care. Now having lost 50 pounds (23 kg), in a chest cast, and with his hair turned white, McCain was sent to a different camp on the outskirts of Hanoi in December 1967, into a cell with two other Americans who did not expect him to live a week. In March 1968, McCain was put into solitary confinement, where he would remain for two years.

In mid–1968, McCain's father was named commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater, and McCain was offered early release. The North Vietnamese made that offer because they wanted to appear merciful for propaganda purposes, and also wanted to show other POWs that elites like McCain were willing to be treated preferentially. McCain turned down the offer of repatriation; he would only accept the offer if every man taken in before him was released as well.

In August 1968, a program of severe torture began on McCain. He was subjected to rope bindings and repeated beatings every two hours, at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery. Further injuries led to the beginning of a suicide attempt, which was stopped by guards. After four days, McCain made an anti-American propaganda "confession". He has always felt that his statement was dishonorable, but as he would later write, "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine." His injuries left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head. He subsequently received two to three beatings per week because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements. Other American POWs were similarly tortured and maltreated in order to extract "confessions" and propaganda statements.
Interview with McCain on April 24, 1973, after his return home
Interview with McCain on April 24, 1973, after his return home

McCain refused to meet with various anti-war groups seeking peace in Hanoi, wanting to give neither them nor the North Vietnamese a propaganda victory. From late 1969 onward, treatment of McCain and many of the other POWs became more tolerable, while McCain continued to be an active resister against the camp authorities. McCain and other prisoners cheered the B-52 Stratofortress-led U.S. "Christmas Bombing" campaign of December 1972, which they viewed as a forceful measure to push North Vietnam to terms.

Altogether, McCain was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. He was finally released from captivity on March 14, 1973.

[RomanClock]

He is certainly a tough man.

[Loki Clock]

I don't care, I don't want him as my president and this does nothing to make his case. Hitler fought in WWI, and was a badass. But that doesn't make him the kind of person we want in office.

[AbsintheClock]

I had respect for his service long before he even had a remote chance of becoming president. I don't think he isn't a patriot or doesn't care about his country. I question his political ethics, not his service in the senate, or in Vietnam.

Although I do find it pretty pathetic that McCain's campaign group acts like anyone questioned it. Seems hypocritical all together considering what people pulled with John Kerry durring the whole swift boat thing.

[Pube Carville]

I question if he was even there. How do we REALLY know he was there? Really, how do we know? Sure there's pictures, and records but records don't speak for themselves. Records speak for records. Now what if he just really hid out in his closet for 5 years on a heavy acid trip? You ever think of that. All you ever think of is your needs, and you never call me anymore. Oh Marlin why don't you call me anymore honey? All I want to do is spoon.

[Marlin Clock]

I'm with Pube Savage now. Just give it up.

Also I'm not pro-McCain, just shoutin' this out because I think some people give him too much shit.

[Professor Lord Remmington]

I'm sorry but he got shoot down SIX TIMES
in my book that doesn't make him a war hero that makes him a shit pilot

[FluxCapacitorClock]

What he went through during Vietnam does not make him qualified to be president and I don't understand why people think it does.

[RomanClock]

What he went through during Vietnam does not make him qualified to be president and I don't understand why people think it does.

It reveals his character and character is an important factor in voting, but the service in itself doesn't mean he should be president, I think most people know that.

[PropagandaClock]

Pfe there were more badass people that endured larder things.
The real heroes are the ones who died over there.

Flying a airplane OOoOoooo thats real though, whilst on the ground men fought and died every day.

I have a huge respect for McCain because he can tell other republicans to sod off, and he did endure alot, a whole lot. But using it in his campaign is shitting on the legacy of those who endured worse, or died, over at vietnam.

[RomanClock]

But using it in his campaign is shitting on the legacy of those who endured worse, or died, over at vietnam.

He's not though, hes answering the questions that people asked about him. He did not initiate the dialog on his service, nor is he using it as a campaign point. Others might use it, but I don't recall him specifically saying that its a reason for him to be president.

[Loki Clock]

What he went through during Vietnam does not make him qualified to be president and I don't understand why people think it does.

Traditionally, generals are favored picks for the presidency because they have a great understanding of the army. This is favorable, considering it's good to have the leader know how the greatest force available to the country works. This payed off with Eisenhower warning Kennedy about the vulnerability of America to a military coup, whereupon Kennedy proceeded to lock that shit down.

He's not though, hes answering the questions that people asked about him. He did not initiate the dialog on his service, nor is he using it as a campaign point. Others might use it, but I don't recall him specifically saying that its a reason for him to be president.

He dedicates entire campaign ads to it.

[u2]vQsckD9trn4[/u2]

The "cut the president out of a tree" part is just kind of fucked up.

[RomanClock]

He dedicates entire campaign ads to it.

The "cut the president out of a tree" part is just kind of fucked up.

This is an autobiography about his service, not ad for presidency.
Its pretty interesting. I didn't take it as an advertisement to be president.
Just a neat story of an old man.

Edit: Yea, at the end they did push the presidency part, but they are just saying "he has the character and this shows it." The focus is on that he didn't give in to the enemy, not that he served in the military.

[FluxCapacitorClock]

"JOHN MCCAIN
COURAGEOUS SERVICE
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
BOLD SOLUTIONS"

"go to //www.johnmccain.com"

"PAID FOR BY JOHN MCCAIN 2008"





Roman that is an ad. Autobiographies are longer than 12 minutes.

[Loki Clock]

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[RomanClock]

"JOHN MCCAIN
COURAGEOUS SERVICE
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
BOLD SOLUTIONS"
"go to //www.johnmccain.com"
"PAID FOR BY JOHN MCCAIN 2008"
Roman that is an ad. Autobiographies are longer than 12 minutes.

You obviously do not watch history channel. Its almost the exact same thing.
It is evidence that he has involved his service, but the point is not that he served, its what he DID while serving. And his campaign is NOT based on his military service even though it is one of his points. And duh it was paid for by McCain :\
Its quite simple: He is not saying he should be president BECAUSE he served. He is saying his service shows his CHARACTER. Its VERRRRRY simple!!!! Do I need to repeat myself more? Here goes:

The video is an overview of his service in the military, what evens shaped his character and how he became who he was today. If he did not talk about his service, thats basically saying he didn't exist for 10-20 years.

Not only the above points but WHY is service in the army a BAD thing? His service was a major factor in making him become who he is today, you can't just ignore a highly important part of his life. AND the dialog about his service was initiated by an inquiring press, so he's giving them an answer!

So lets see:
1. His service is not a singular factor to qualify him for president.
2. His service is a very important part of his life and shaped him as a person.
3. There is NO WAY to avoid revealing any part of your life when you run for president.

and so on and so forth...

[Loki Clock]

If he did not talk about his service, thats basically saying he didn't exist for 10-20 years.

Too bad it's a campaign, not a life story, or we'd really miss those 10-20 years! By your standards, shouldn't he pay for a 30 second ad saying that he's married?

[RomanClock]

Too bad it's a campaign, not a life story, or we'd really miss those 10-20 years! By your standards, shouldn't he pay for a 30 second ad saying that he's married?

If you haven't noticed his wife is almost always with him and speaks about him too.

[Loki Clock]

If you haven't noticed his wife is almost always with him and speaks about him too.

But he didn't dedicate a CAMPAIGN ad to her.

[poopbutt]

Have you ever noticed that for some reason all the people that need a Democrat vote republican? or is it just me