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 2 of 13)
16. bob, I don't want to hurt the feelings of my other trolls, but you're my favorite.
Sorry to disappoint you and yours, but this thread isn't about Captain Negative. It's about the Republican candidate (whom you are stuck with) being exposed as a liar.
Instead of trying desperately to change the subject, you'd be farther ahead learning to live with your disappointment.
Captain Negative at 6:55PM on Aug 19th 2008
17. Cappy,
I wasn't changing the subject. I was just pointing out how desperate you guys look when faced with the prospect of a horse race. And that directly relates to Cenk's blog
The reason it's a horse race isn't because McCain pulled off such a stellar performance and Obama underwhelmed. It's because of guys like you and Django and your media counterparts who continually beat the senility, overmedicated, infirmity drum. All McCain has to do is not crap his pants or have too many senior moments and he wins.
This is the same reason Bush got elected. All he had to do is look slightly better than the total retard you folks tried to make him out to be and he won.
You're the guy who's going to get McCain elected. Every time he appears to be less than the total beast you and yours make him out to be, you lose credibility even on the stuff that's true.
And btw you're my troll and I wish you'd knock it off. Nya, Nya, Nya!
bob at 7:13PM on Aug 19th 2008
18. . When are you liberal bloggers going to write about Obama's military experience? Oh wait... he doesn't have any.... answered my own question.
MarineVeteran
Mc Cains military record. Gets into Annapolis, only because of his lineage. He graduates four spots from the bottom of his class. After graduating, he crashes several planes, sets a fire on the Forrestal by wet starting his jet and in the resulting melee, kills 132 men and wounds scores more. A short time later he manages to get himself caputered by the Vietnamese, where he distinguishes himself by singing like a canary to the Soviets (see following link: powmccain.org )
Is this the kind od "military experience you're looking for? Perhaps it's the military dud that dummya laid or that of Ronnie Raygun (who actually thought he had helped liberate the Jews form Aushwitz) or Limbaugh or Cheney?
Tim at 8:09PM on Aug 19th 2008
19. I do not know which one is worse, Cenk or that Captain whatever. I know neither one of you have ever embellished anything. That would be below your intellectual prowess.
JIM at 9:44PM on Aug 19th 2008
20. Unbelievable. I've thought you were over the top before now, but you've exceeded all of your other "Obama Moments" with this one. EVEN if, in the most unlikely chance ever, McCain was lying about his war record, or his military service, or his time as a POW, he at least HAS a military record, has military service, and has time spent as a POW to tell stories about. Obama? I think not. This is the most despicable attack yet, but nothing surprises me when it comes to negative attacks by the left.
breaktrack at 10:32PM on Aug 19th 2008
21. "I know neither one of you have ever embellished anything." Jim
Geez Jim,
How about embellishing something to make yourself look like a faithful Christian when it's known that you're not one, and doing it in front of thousands of Christians so you can get some votes to be the leader of the United States of America.
Now that's a little different. Right Jim?
After 70 Flip Flops, and constant pandering, we've come to get used to this from McCain.
But who cares, Obama is a Muslim.
Botts at 10:40PM on Aug 19th 2008
22. breaktrack,
It's not an attack. It's a question, and a darn good one at that.
Since when does a Military record coupled with being a POW make you a Presidential Candidate?
Botts at 10:42PM on Aug 19th 2008
23. Why do you think both McCain and Obama are trying to convince the conservative Evangelicals to vote for them. Neither candidate is good enough to run an honest White House Administration. That is why so many conservative Christians are sitting on the fence and will reluctantly vote for one candidate or not at all.
Duane at 11:36PM on Aug 19th 2008
24. Logically, it becomes a scary thought to think a junior senator with only a few years of experience could become the supreme military commander of the strongest military in the world.
Duane at 11:50PM on Aug 19th 2008
25. LOL. His nickname in the POW prison was Songbird! Not good.
Uncla Al at 11:51PM on Aug 19th 2008
26. Boycott. MSN, ABC, NBC TV News, Keith Olberman, etc.
Boycott any organization that promotes and financially
supports flip-flopping freaking loser Obummer.
Boycott any comedian or late night shows that only
make fun of Republicans and Senator McCain.
Boycott Oprah Winfrey.
Boycott all celebrities who are for and endorse
flip-flopping freaking loser Obummer.
Boycott your church if you have to if it supports
flip-flopping freaking loser Obummer in any way.
It is imperative that flip-flopping freaking loser
Obummer never sets foot in our White House
as President.
It is obvious that the left liberal media, flip-flopping
freaking loser Obummer supporters will give him a
free pass ON EVERYTHING he says and does. There is
no point in arguing with them. They are so brainwashed
they'd rather question a POW veteran's conduct on
whether he was tortured alot or just a little;
than flip-flopping freaking loser Obummers American
hating racists friends ties to socialism and islamic
extremists.
At least until the election. Turn off, tune out all liberal
TV media and radio. This is the only way we can make
a dent; through finances and low TV ratings. Internet is okay
because you can pretty much voice your opinions, however
as you can see you are not making any headway with
the Obammcrats. They see no evil, they hear no evil,
and they speak no evil when it concerns flip-flopping
freaking loser Obummer is concerned.
If you love our great country and you do not want to
see it spiral out of control not just from the Democrats
but by a President(?) Obama Administration, you'll know
what to do.
Spread the word. Spread it everywhere. Time is running
out.
BOYCOTT!!!
BOYCOTT!!!
BOYCOTT!!!
Mad Dog at 11:54PM on Aug 19th 2008
27. "Since when does a Military record coupled with being a POW make you a Presidential Candidate?" Botts
Since when does a career as a "community organizer" and a two year senator make you a Presidential Candidate?
libertarian88 at 12:17AM on Aug 20th 2008
28. "Since when does a career as a "community organizer" and a two year senator make you a Presidential Candidate?" Libertarian
Exactly. It's more than that. It has to be. We need to apply this to both candidates. We need to look at everything. Let's start with intellect, then go from there.
Botts at 12:36AM on Aug 20th 2008
29. confess: how many of you thought mccain had twisted cyndi's arm when you first saw it in a sling.
Louis IX KingofFrance at 12:46AM on Aug 20th 2008
30. MarineVeteran post
The left wingnuts problem is they have said Bush/Cheney was not Vets so how could he lead the military.
Obama has no military experience so by the left wingnuts own logic, Obama is not qualified to be President and Commander in Chief of the military since he was never even been in the boy scouts.
Left wingnuts logic really is funny. Any action Bush/Cheny has taken in the world, it is left wingnuts saying Oil is the reason for the action, such as Iraq War, Afgan War, and even the recent conflict in Georgia. The wingnuts said USA support for Georgia was because of oil and Pipeline.
Yet it is the Left Wing Nuts and the Democrats who stop any new drilling for oil where the oil is and stop development of shale oil for commercial use. USA has about 1 trillion barrels of proven oil reserves, more than enough to make USA energy sufficient, but they block every attempt to get this oil. Get the 1 trillion barrels of oil then there is no reason to go after oil in other parts of the world as the Left Wingnuts suggest.
Robert OKane at 4:14AM on Aug 20th 2008