That's a heavy charge. McCain's POW record is the one shining moment of great courage in his record. It's what put him in the national spotlight in the first place. And the ordeal he went through was so horrific that you can't question his valor. But now, he has gone and done something that was so unnecessary -- apparently embellishing a story during his stay at the POW camps.
There was absolutely no need for this. His perseverance through five and half years of the prison camp was plenty heroic. He didn't need to add anything to it. But it looks like he did:
Here is the original ad McCain ran about this story. Here is a post with more details on this story, where you can see the whole Solzhenitsyn quote (and the possible Chuck Colson quote where it actually originated from) and get all of the background on how McCain came up with this story in 1999 and in fact might have even changed it in 2000 from it happening to another soldier to it happening to him. This is beyond the pale. You want to talk about a character issue. This is about character.
I know some of you won't believe me, but I am actually disappointed in McCain. I didn't think he would do something like this. Remember I voted for him in the 2000 primaries when I was still a Republican. He was a guy I believed in. To see him make up things about something so important and personal, it makes you lose faith in all politicians to some degree. Is there anything they won't stoop to?
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Is McCain Lying About His POW Experience?
Posted Aug 19th 2008 11:16AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, John McCain, Christianity, Video
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Reader Comments ( Page 13 of 13)
181. Can anyone tell me what in the sam hell being a
POW got to do with being president
O Dennis at 2:07AM on Aug 22nd 2008
182. All you foolish idiots who are questioning Barack Obama's United States citizenship should really stop drawing attention to this issue.
It appears that John McCain's own citizenship and presidential constitutionality is way more questionable... now where exactly was he born again???
John Sidney McCain - "natural born" US Citizen???
FINN at 2:25AM on Aug 22nd 2008
183. Captain Negative
My condolences to you for the loss of your 9/11 conspiracy theory. The latest study of the collapse of bldg #7(correct bldg?)just totally wipes out your conspiracy theory. Oh well back to the drawing board.
In less than 2 weeks, you lost 2 conspiracy theories, 9/11 and the maybe "Anthrax" conspiracy.
And no need for me to contact anyone about Hussein Obama's phoney Birth Certificate, as you can see on post #179, a court action in federal court is under way concerning Obama's Birth Certificate.
Robert OKane at 6:33AM on Aug 22nd 2008
184. When John McCain got to Congress 26 years ago, he could have used his power, to push for a war crimes tribunal, but he didn't. Even if he wasn't tortured, he could have done it for the others who also claimed they were tortured, but he didn't. Why?
OBAMA 2008 at 7:02AM on Aug 22nd 2008
This is only possible if you win the war.
"WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO"
But I doubt you were even around then. Try looking it up in a library instead of on the WEB. The added effort may make the knowledge gained more rewarding. But then again some want theirs NOW not work for it.
M2D5 at 8:33AM on Aug 22nd 2008
185. 176. To Insane Kokane
I am still voting for Obama!! Also I have won over many family members to Obama who where on the fence by sending copies of your e-mails. Your my best convincer. I have nieces and nephews that can not believe there is an American that is so insane. They tell me if you are the spokemen for repukes, they want no part of what you stand for. So please please Kokane keep it up!.
Tommy at 11:27PM on Aug 21st 2008
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cool. I emailed this blog and the Daily Kos link to all of my employers and family members to show them them what you are talking about. What do ya know it worked McCain is now tied with Obama in all of the polls and some of them he is ahead!!!!! So keep up the good work Cenk and Kos!!! By the way "tommy" aka Captain they all agree on one thing, increase the meds!!
Bernie W. at 9:31AM on Aug 22nd 2008
186. Again...
Who will investigate Sidney McCain's phony birth certificate and natural born status???
Sidney McCain claims he was born in 1936 at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone however the Coco Solo Hospital wasn't even constructed until the Summer of 1941.
In addition, the area containing it wasn't transferred from the civil part of the Panama Canal Zone to the naval part until Franklin Roosevelt signed an Executive Order 8981 on December 17, 1941.
So, where exactly was Sidney McCain born and where is HIS birth certificate???
Sidney McCain - "natural born" US Citizen???
FINN at 11:58AM on Aug 22nd 2008
187. Sidney McCain claims he was born in 1936 at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone however the Coco Solo Hospital wasn't even constructed until the Summer of 1941.
Pssst, let you in a little tip.
The Air Station has to exist before the hospital can. The construction of the hospital would depend on whether or not there were a sufficent number of "customers" to justify building a hospital.
Until such an infusion of "business", medical stuff would be taken care of at a "Medical Dispensary", sort of like your walk-in health care centers today. Over 15,000 people on a military base in N.C. but he nearest Hospital was at a much larger base some 30-40 miles away,go figure. I guess my buddies who were married and their wives who had children, those kids are not citizens either since the were not born in a hospital.
M2D5 at 1:48PM on Aug 22nd 2008
188. "I guess my buddies who were married and their wives who had children, those kids are not citizens either since the were not born in a hospital."
Huh??? That doesn't make any grammatical or logical sense... If they were born anywhere in North Carolina they would be natural born US citizens, hospital or no hospital.
Now, back to the issue at hand... where EXACTLY was Sidney McCain born and which facility is stated on his birth certificate???
Sidney McCain - "Natural born US citizen?"
FINN at 5:50PM on Aug 22nd 2008
189. 188.
Now, back to the issue at hand... where EXACTLY was Sidney McCain born and which facility is stated on his birth certificate???
Sidney McCain - "Natural born US citizen?"
FINN at 5:50PM on Aug 22nd 2008
------------------------------
McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone to a US service man and his american wife. Said zone was under the control of the US and considered a US possession. Now it may come as a revelation to you, but not all children are born in hospitals, some are born at home with a Dr. attending who then fills out the birth certificate afterwards.
The military just doesn't take your word about your child becoming a dependent when you file for extra pay because you have a child. I'm quite certain that all appropriate steps were carried out because if you need to be reminded, John Sydney McCain's Grandfather was an Admiral in the US Navy at the time and you do not screw an admiral's family around no matter what branch of service you are in and particularly in the 1930's when our military was relatively small but exceedingly strict in matters dealing with such matters. If Obama has citizenship, its through his mother who was a US citizen, not his father. If there would be any doubt, it would be over the residence of Obama's mother prior to her giving birth to him in Hawaii.
In McCain's case, the US military substantiates his citizenship. In Obama's, its the 15th Amendment and the state of Hawaii. Clear enough for you FINN?
Dedmanrisn at 8:30PM on Aug 22nd 2008
190. Dedmanrisn,
Hey, thanks for the post last night. I appreciate it and your honesty.
No matter what, we are brothers in humanity, and with faith, we are brothers in Christ.
I posted that message to you the other day, because I may have been confused as to where you were coming from. It didn't seem like the Ded I'm used to. I've never had a problem with your posts even though we disagree on our politics. That is because you are clear on your stance and you stick to the issues and your view of the world and how our country should be run.
You too, in the past have communicated to me when you thought my thinking may have been a little off track. Out of respect, I did the same for you.
Again, thanks for the post. Blessings to you and your family.
Botts at 8:58PM on Aug 22nd 2008
191. why bother writing? it is drivel . find another job.
sharon at 5:28PM on Aug 25th 2008
192. 169. " he was a halfass navy pilot..."
jj klop at 4:24PM on Aug 21st 2008
How so ?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He crashed five planes and damned near sank the Forrestal, killing over a hundred and wounding scores more, this after graduating at the bottom of his class.
Tim at 10:03AM on Aug 26th 2008
193. of course he is lying. being a pow does not make you ready to lead. the truth always prevails.people somehow people believe because mccain has served his country he is beyond human error, not! he is lieing about the cross reference. mccain does not have integrity or character, he and clinton would make an excellent team. mccain/clinton 08 please continue to expose his lies.
Marcia J at 11:24AM on Aug 26th 2008
194. 192. 169. " he was a halfass navy pilot..."
jj klop at 4:24PM on Aug 21st 2008
How so ?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He crashed five planes and damned near sank the Forrestal, killing over a hundred and wounding scores more, this after graduating at the bottom of his class.
Tim at 10:03AM on Aug 26th 2008
Let me ask you a question
How Does your foot taste?
Because you have really screwed up big time.
It is plain to see even by the most near sighted
individual who has actually seen the television films of the accident onboard the Forestall that day. McCain was sitting in a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk on the edge ot the carrier flight deck. His aircraft was fully loaded for a mission and he was sitting in the cockpit waiting for his A-4 to be moved into launching position. A McDonald Douglas F-4 Phantom was parked and chained down, unoccupied , at another end of the flight. A four(4) inch ZUNI rocket's motor ignited( The reason later supplied by NAVWEAPS). The ZUNI rocket took off from under the Port wing of the F-4 , flew the length of the flight deck and struck McCain's aircraft slightly aft of the cockpit.His aircraft was parked among over a dozen fully armed aircraft just inches apart The Plane commenced to burn, McCain climbed out over his windscreen and on the A-4's refuel probe. He then jumped and rolled over the flames that were enveloping his aircraft. Subsequently his bombs began to "cook off" , there were 500 & 1000Lbs bombs on his plane. The nearby aiircraft inturn started to burn and their ordinance cooked off also. Navy flight deck personnel raced towards the fire when it started. Unfortunately when the ordinance cooked off it killed almost all the fire fighting personnel.
This is not a sea story, scuttlebutt, or some neo-con dream. Anyone who wants to find out can search for the film of this accident. I have seen it many times and it shows what really happened.
John McCain was involved in three(3) aircraft crashed that were ruled as being caused by "MECHANICAL FAILURE".
He was in one aircraft accident, described above.
Finally he was shot down over Hanoi by a SAM.
As far as attempting to blame him for all the deaths on the Forestall crewmen, you had better take a long time. Politics is one thing but a flat out total and complete lie as you have posted deserves to be responded to in the most strident manner. Now go back to you Blog team leader to screw back on your head that has been just handed to you.
M2D5 at 3:00PM on Aug 26th 2008
195. How did McCain get into Annapolis? His Father and Grandfather were Admirals. How did he repay the favor? By being 4th lowest in a class of 700. He graduated as his fatehr intervened. Ask his friends and classmates. Honor thy father?
Why did McCain get shot down? Ignoring orders, ( his Fathers) and flying too low.
How did he break his arm and legs? Of his own admission, not reading the flight manual and as he ejected.
How many flight hours did he clock total? 23
WHY DID JOHN McCAIN ABANDON and close all records inclduing his own on FELLOW PILOT POWS left in Vietnam and Korea? WHY...maybe he doesnt want anyone to know he was given special treatment and was brainwashed by the Russians.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALLLLL THE FACTS.
Get the facts if you are going to support a racist coward. YES JOHN McCain.
I am a white woman by the way and Palin is an idiot who shoots animals for fun. Ah yes....would make a great president while she is raising 4 kids one disabled and divorcing her husband who has had just about enough.
mamabear at 4:32PM on Sep 14th 2008