stone thrower12:26PMJun 17th 2008

Go McCain(former Hillary supporter)

David Schildkraut12:35PMJun 17th 2008

NO COMMENT!

coolpharmer1:07PMJun 17th 2008

FACT SHEET: Military record of John Sidney McCain III
Both McCain III’s father and grandfather were Admirals in the United States Navy. His father
Admiral John S. ”Junior” McCain was commander of U.S. forces in Europe - later commander of American forces in Vietnam while McCain III was being held prisoner of war.

His grandfather John S. McCain, Sr. commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
McCain III, like his father and grandfather, also attended the United States Naval Academy.
McCain III finished near the bottom of his graduating class in 1958.

McCain III lost five U.S. Navy aircraft
1 - Student pilot McCain III lost jet number one in 1958 when he plunged into Corpus
Christi Bay while practicing landings.
2 - Pilot McCain III lost another plane two years later while he was deployed in the
Mediterranean. ”Flying too low over the Iberian Peninsula, he took out some power lines
which led to a spate of newspaper stories in which he was predictably identified as the
son of an admiral.
3 - Pilot McCain III lost number three in 1965 when he was returning from flying a Navy trainer solo to Philadelphia for an Army-Navy football game. McCain III radioed, ”I’ve got a flameout” and ejected at one thousand feet. The plane crashed to the ground and
McCain III floated to a deserted beach.
4 - Combat pilot McCain III lost his fourth on July 29, 1967, soon after he was assigned to the USS Forrestal as an A-4 Skyhawk combat pilot. While waiting his turn for takeoff, an accidently fired rocket slammed into McCain's plane. He escaped from the burning aircraft, but the explosions that followed killed 134 sailors, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and threatened to sink the ship.
5 - Combat pilot McCain III lost a fifth plane three months later (Oct. 26, 1967) during his 23rd mission over North Vietnam when he failed to avoid a surface-to-air missile. McCain III ejected from the plane breaking both arms and a leg in the process and subsequently parachuted into Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi. After being pulled from the lake by the North
Vietnamese, McCain III was bayoneted in his left foot and shoulder and struck by a rifle butt. He was then transported to the Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton.

1973 New York Daily News labeled POW McCain III a “PW Songbird”
On McCain III’s fourth day of being denied medical treatment, slapped, and threatened with death by the communist (they were demanding military information in exchange for medical treatment), McCain III broke and told his interrogator, ”O.K., I’ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.” U.S. News and World Report, May 14, 1973 article written by former POW John McCain.It was then that the communist learned that McCain III’s father was Admiral John S. McCain, the soon-to-be commander of all U.S. Forces in the Pacific. The Vietnamese rushed McCain III to Gai Lam military hospital (U.S. government documents), a medical facility normally unavailable for U.S. POWs.

By Nov. 9, 1967 (U.S. government documents) Hanoi press was quoting McCain III describing
his mission including the number of aircraft in his flight, information about rescue ships, and the
order of which U.S. attacks would take place.
While in still in North Vietnam’s military hospital, McCain III gave an interview to prominent
French television reporter Francois Chalais for a series titled Life in Hanoi. Chalais’ interview with
McCain III was aired in Europe.
Vietnamese doctors operated on McCain’s Leg in early December, 1967.
Six weeks after he was shot down, McCain was taken from the hospital and delivered to a
U.S. POW camp,

In May of 1968, McCain III allowed himself to be interviewed by two North Vietnamese
generals at separate times.” May 14, 1973 article written by former POW John McCain
In August 1968, other POWs learned for the first time that John McCain III had been taken
prisoner.
On June 5, 1969, the New York Daily News reported in a article headlined Reds Say PW
Songbird Is Pilot Son of Admiral, “ . . . Hanoi has aired a broadcast in which the pilot son of
United States Commander in the Pacific, Adm. John McCain, purportedly admits to having
bombed civilian targets in North Vietnam and praises medical treatment he has received since
being taken prisoner . . .” The Washington Post explained McCain III’s broadcast: “The English-
Language broadcast beamed at South Vietnam was one of a series using American prisoners. It
was in response to a plea by Defense Secretary Melvin S. Laird, May 19, that North Vietnam treat
prisoners according to the humanitarian standards set forth by the Geneva Convention.”
In 1970, McCain III agreed to an interview with Dr. Fernando Barral, a Spanish psychiatrist
who was living in Cuba at the time.
The meeting between Barral and McCain III (which was photographed by the Vietnamese)
took place away from the prison at the office of the Committee for Foreign Cultural Relations in
Hanoi (declassified government document). During the meeting, POW McCain sipped coffee and
ate oranges and cakes with the Cuban.
While talking with Barral, McCain III further seriously violated the military Code of Conduct by
failing to evade answering questions ”to the utmost of his ability” when he, according government
documents, helped Barral by answering questions in Spanish, a language McCain had learned in
school. The interview was published in the in January 1970.
McCain III was released from North Vietnam March 15, 1973
In 1993, during one of his many trips back to Hanoi, McCain asked the Vietnamese not to
make public any records they hold pertaining to returned U.S. POWs. McCain III claims, that
while a POW, he tried to kill himself.
McCain III was awarded “medals for valor” equal to nearly a medal-and-a-half for each
hour he spent in combat
For 23 combat missions (an estimated 20 hours over enemy territory), the U.S. Navy awarded
McCain III, the son of famous admirals, a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit for Valor, a Distinguished
Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, two Commendation medals plus two Purple Hearts and a
dozen service medals.
“McCain had roughly 20 hours in combat,” explains Bill Bell, a veteran of Vietnam and former
chief of the U.S. Office for POW/MIA Affairs -- the first official U.S. representative in Vietnam
since the 1973 fall of Saigon.
“Since McCain got 28 medals,” Bell continued, “that equals to about a medal-and-a-half for
each hour he spent in combat. There were infantry guys -- grunts on the ground -- who had more
than 7,000 hours in combat and I can tell you that there were times and situations where I’m sure
a prison cell would have looked pretty good to them by comparison. The question really is how
many guys got that number of medals for not being shot down.”

For years, McCain has been an unchecked master at manipulating an overly friendly and biased news media. The former POW turned Congressman, turned U.S. Senator, has managed to gloss over his failures as a pilot and his collaborations with the enemy to become America’s POW-hero presidential candidate.

april1:28PMJun 17th 2008

Next they will be looking through his underwear drawer. Whatever there may be that we don't know--It will never be as disgusting as what we know about Obama and the DNC,former Hillary supporter for McCain

misty1:37PMJun 17th 2008

Obama's a Socialist Puppet and I can't wait for November so real Americans can soundly defeat him.

coolpharmer1:46PMJun 17th 2008

Trips, you need to watch this Robert Greenwald joint about your candidate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ4eeQzDlgM&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-greenwald/the-real-mccain-big-oil-f_b_107541.html

milller1:49PMJun 17th 2008

none needed

Keith Schath1:50PMJun 17th 2008

Now we'll see how hypocritical republican religious sheep are for sure. The apparent facts about the less than illustrious military career of McCain are significantly worse than the supposed poor career of Kerry that had a certain large group not willing to vote for him. I don't even think it will matter to this bunch if it all proves to be as reported. Look at Bush, he headed nothing but companies that went bankrupt, there isn't much doubt with anyone with a brain that he went AWOL from the national guard, there were enough morons voting to put an idiot in the highest office in the land. When are we going to start looking for signs of intelligence and public service aspirations ahead of political connections and good ole boy mentality? I firmly believe Bush was the perfect figurehead that can get away with anything (which he did) by being able to successfully claim ignorance in the form of mental retardation under pressure and scrutiny. Everyone will pass off most of what Bush was involved in under the guise of him not being smart enough to do better.

Trips2:09PMJun 17th 2008

coolpharmer1:07PMJun 17th 2008

So lets list Barack Obamas military service, or his
loyality to his country. Losing planes is part of
military operations. Apparently you don't know that.
You need to watch the fire on the Forrestal. McCain,
barely escaped with his life. Why don't you try it
sometime

Keith Schath2:12PMJun 17th 2008

Trips, you do not have a grasp of the reality of real military realities. Pilots are very rarely allowed to crash multiple planes and fly another. My guess is that if you could find a pilot who crashed 5 he would have to be flying prototype test planes. McCain did not have the decorated and illustrious career that would have him assigned to other planes without a certain free reign allowed because of high up family connections. It's idiotic to try to defend someone with as lackluster and immorally colorful a history as McCain has, you fight the wrong battle and play an incredibly stupid game by entertaining any thoughts of signing us up for four more years of the same crap we've had for the last seven. And I'm holding back not only LOL but lmyaoff that you buy the hero line. You'd have more credibility if you all accepted the fact that McCain is a dog with fleas (and mange) and come up with an alternative that makes some sense for the american people not the oil companies and good ole boy network.

And misty, real americans put Bush in office and allowed the biggest mess to be made of this country in history, if real americans are the religious righteous hate spouting imbeciles who supported Bush then let the smarter unreal americans try to fix this mess. The IQ of a president should have more than 2 digits as should the voters voting them into office. Do some research on the recent Obama co-authored legislation and why it is the best thing to happen for the american people and you'll understand how we get ourselves out of the current by taking control of our government and how it spends money, these changes will never happen under McCains watch. Talk about puppets, a puppet never would want to make spending issues made public for intelligent people to see.

Trips2:15PMJun 17th 2008

coolpharmer

I don't have to watch a report. I served on the same
ship as McCain, So I don't need someones interpretation of what they think happened. By the way
he is not my Candidate. You just need to get your facts strait, and not listen to individuals on You
Tube that don't.

Trips2:19PMJun 17th 2008

Keith Schath2:12PMJun 17th 2008

Trips, you do not have a grasp of the reality of real military realities

Well I served 28 months on the same carrier as McCain,
did, and then for An Air Wing Admiral as his aide. so
I would assume that I would have more of a grasp on
what or what not happens in military realities. How
about you.

Peggy2:27PMJun 17th 2008

OMG. Another unbiased question based on a HuffPost article. I'm really much more interested in some current events. For example, where are the records of Obama's time in the Illinois Senate? If he can't seem to find these records, why should anyone expect McCain to release records that are at least 30 years old. The Obama camp explains that any questions directed at Obama are distractions to the campaign he wants to run. Then, they bring up these idiotic things about the opposing candidate. Does this sound vaguely like the fuss he raised about the Clinton tax returns. He started demanding them in early February, two months before the required filing date of April 15 for the 2007 return. But it turned out he hadn't filed or released his own. Then, he only gave out part of his return without supporting schedules. He keeps saying he wants to talk about the issues. Well, why not do exactly that. Guess it's because he can't make up his mind what to do on the issues. He seems to be the second coming of John Kerry (flip flop, flip flop, flip flop). Don't forget, he opposed the Irag war (when he didn't have a vote in the Senate) before he voted to continue financing the war (when he had to vote). It's ironic that someone who hasn't even visited Iraq in over two years is questioning someone with real military credentials.

coolpharmer2:28PMJun 17th 2008

prove it

Keith Schath2:43PMJun 17th 2008

B-52 carried SRAM nuclear missiles in the Air Force, very familiar with the pilot program and the overall intolerance for crashing planes. By the way, the question is whether or not McCain has anything to hide on his military records. If he doesn't he will gladly sign the release form as Kerry did authorizing the military to release his records to the press. Hey, if there's nothing to hide why refuse? My guess is a horrible record wouldn't make any difference to the typical republican religious political imbecile anyway, they simply won't care as their minds are already made up to follow whoever the Republicans want, they vote like they adhere to their religion, faithfully and blindly. Hey, here's a newsflash, McCain doesn't stand a chance and you will see another Republican made to be their candidate before the election campaign begins in earnest. Not even a little of Hillary's fallout can help him now, there isn't much about the man to like and less about his ability as an effective politician. You have to love him wanting to be a co-sponsor on Obama's new legislation, the funny thing is that Obama is willing to give up some of the credit in the interest of gaining the strength for the initiative rather than being able to make points with his claim to authoring it.

Keith Schath2:46PMJun 17th 2008

A president doesn't have to have military credentials common sense and the ability to listen to the military heads and advisors who have had a lifetime of illustrious military exposure will go a lot further than someone like Bush or McCain. In fact someone not fully indoctrinated into the ludicrous way military spending is currently done might be able to save a lot of money.

coolpharmer2:46PMJun 17th 2008

When it comes out to the nation that McCain was the same sort of arrogant flyboy f-up as Dubya - one that the Navy would have never promoted to Admiral, as his staff has claimed to the New York Times. Then I think his campaign is toast.

Peggy2:47PMJun 17th 2008

coolpharmer2:28PMJun 17th 2008

prove it
---------------------------------------------------

Think you're talking to Trips but - prove what? The only thing you provided was a link to a Huffington Post article to prove a point another Huffington Post blogger was trying to make. That's like saying Keith Olbermann must be right because Chris Matthews just said the same thing. Circular thinking is never logical.

coolpharmer2:54PMJun 17th 2008

On McCain’s fourth day of being denied medical treatment, slapped, and threatened with death by the communist (they were demanding military information in exchange for medical treatment), McCain III broke and told his interrogator, ”O.K., I’ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.” U.S. News and World Report, May 14, 1973 article written by former POW John McCain.

It was then that the communist learned that McCain’s father was Admiral John S. McCain, the soon-to-be commander of all U.S. Forces in the Pacific. The Vietnamese rushed McCain III to Gai Lam military hospital (U.S. government documents), a medical facility normally unavailable for U.S. POWs.

By Nov. 9, 1967 (U.S. government documents) Hanoi press was quoting McCain describing his mission including the number of aircraft in his flight, information about rescue ships, and the order of which U.S. attacks would take place.

Tara2:55PMJun 17th 2008

OK this is where I would come for honest un-biased reporting. And intelligent comments on.... I know more than you. If you don't agree with me then you are an idiot..... oh well chose your insluting name calling.

I will keep it simple. Everything Obama does is good and everything McCain does is bad.