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 3 of 13)
31. Only you, King Louis. Now go brush out your wig.
OpenYourBlindEye08 at 4:19AM on Aug 20th 2008
32. Cenk questions McCain's honesty about his POW time, but adds nothing new to prior unproven questions from McCain/Bush days when the same unproven smears were used against McCain
Obama's past is still a mystery. Obama refuses to release a certified and signed birth certificate, only shows a reported phoney certificate that is neither certified or signed. That copy was given to a left wingnuts site, the DailyKos.
Obama still continues the BIG LIE on his web site where he's claims he WAS NEVER A MUSLIM, though he and other legal documents prove otherwise. It all shows that Obama was indeed a Muslim as a youth as the documents show. There are NO DOCUMENTS that show otherwise, none that show he was a Christian. He was even registered as a Muslim for 2 years at a Catholic School he attended while in Indonesia.
A 2007 Associated Press photograph, suppressed until now, shows the school register of the child who is today known as Barack Hussein Obama but was officially listed then as Barry Soetoro, whose citizenship was listed as "Indonesian" and whose religion was listed as "Islam." The visual evidence starkly contradicts the Obama campaign's claim that he was not a Muslim and confirms that he is a national of at least one other country.
In addition, it raises the highly problematic issue of what is Obama's official name. If it turns out to Barry Soetoro, and no official change of name was ever made, Obama may face an array of charges of deception and misprision that may throw into doubt, at the very least, his fitness to run.
Deep doubts remain about the veracity of the "certificate of live birth" image produced for his campaign by the radical left-wing Daily Kos blog. There are reports that investigative teams -- from the Republican and Democratic parties as well as various intelligence agencies -- are seeking out the details of his murky childhood from Kenya to Indonesia.
Obama just vacationed in Hawaii and never went to get a certified and signed birth certificate from the State of Hawaii.
Robert OKane at 4:37AM on Aug 20th 2008
33. "We need to look at everything. Let's start with intellect, then go from there."
Botts at 12:36AM on Aug 20th 2008
*********************
There are going to have to be a few more teleprompter-less appearances by Obama before there can be a realistic evaluation of intellect.
bob at 6:41AM on Aug 20th 2008
34. "There are going to have to be a few more teleprompter-less appearances by Obama before there can be a realistic evaluation of intellect."
Hi Bob,
And next time there is another ridiculous event as this, we'll have McCain go first so Obama can listen to the questions in his limo too before hand. We'll call the limo, "The Cone of Silence".
McCain will also have to study more on his Geography and History, before I think we can judge his intellect fairly.
Botts at 7:22AM on Aug 20th 2008
35. Robert,
If you ever want to start to be taken seriously, you have to be serious.
And if you are being serious, I don't really no what more to tell you anymore.
You know there isn't any birth certificate issues and you know he isn't a muslim. And if you persist on doing this, all I can say is that I feel sorry for you. It's really sad to see.
Botts at 7:25AM on Aug 20th 2008
36. You were a Republican at one time? Amazing. But considering how far the Republicans have gone from their roots, it doesn't surprise me. Even that Marxist prick Obama said McCain served honorably. Now you go and knock his service. Then again, you knocked Phelps too. You really are an idiot.
Jon at 7:37AM on Aug 20th 2008
37. What a bucnh of hogwash. This shouldn't even be in print.
jam at 8:13AM on Aug 20th 2008
38. Jon,
No one is knocking his service. But there are questions regarding a story that might not be true regarding an instance in his service. And a story that was told for the gullible Institutionalized Evangelicals to garner votes. Everyone knows McCain isn't religious. Only now he is since he's running for President.
Botts at 8:25AM on Aug 20th 2008
39. well, you're right about one thing...I don't believe you! I doubt that in all of the prison camps there was only one Christian guard. In fact, I would be surprised if a great deal more than two prisoners didn't have this type of experience. When there is a severe language barrier, simple symbols can speak a thousand words.
falling at 8:31AM on Aug 20th 2008
40. "And next time there is another ridiculous event as this, we'll have McCain go first so Obama can listen to the questions in his limo too before hand. We'll call the limo, "The Cone of Silence". "
Fine by me, Botts.
I'll assume for the moment that the "cheating" claim has been verified - whether it has or not.
So given that assumption, did you feel that the questions at this ridiculous event were so tough that someone who you feel is intellectually superior was put in a position of great disadvantage by not hearing them prior to his session?
bob at 8:28AM on Aug 20th 2008
41. McCain is not lying any more about his record than John Kerry did about his.
Jeff Phillips at 8:37AM on Aug 20th 2008
42. Maybe people draw crosses in the dirt when they don't speak the same language but want to communicate their Christianity?
Maybe people have been doing that for centuries, even before Solzhenitsyn wrote about it?
Cenk, you really have entered final stage douchebaggery.
A little nervous about Obama eh? Discovering he can't talk or think without a pre-written speech?
Kitty at 8:49AM on Aug 20th 2008
43. You are a ASShole.
Micahel at 12:50PM on Aug 21st 2008
44. Hey Botts
I have watched Democrats come to Michigan every four years since 1968 and promise to keep our jobs here. Yet the numbers show they still continue to leave. Is this not pandering for votes? All politicians do this. My concern is that the left only print anything they can find that is NEGATIVE to get voters thinking that way. WHEN THE MASSES HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW BAD THINGS ARE THEY START TO BELIEVE IT. I do not care if McCain is a great Christian or not. I do not care if Obama is a Muslim or not. I am concerned with the over desire for power. Political parties will do and say ANYTHING to get back in power, even at the expense of our country and its people. The battles between the parties have kept our nation from becoming what it should be. These politicians who we put in office keep us snorting at each other while they ALL line their pockets and laugh at us.
Now,I ask you is this story really worthy of being here?
JIM at 9:24AM on Aug 20th 2008
45. "So given that assumption, did you feel that the questions at this ridiculous event were so tough that someone who you feel is intellectually superior was put in a position of great disadvantage by not hearing them prior to his session?"
Hey Bob,
Great question. I appreciate that.
No I don't think he was put at a disadvantage and I would have hoped that both candidates could have had the same opportunities. With that said, it would have been better to have had both candidates up there at the same time.
Then we wouldn't have to question it.
But there was only one candidate that day that gave spur of the moment, thoughtful answers.
That makes him the superior in my book.
Botts at 9:55AM on Aug 20th 2008