McCain Highlights His Heritage On Bio Tour

GOP Candidate Talks About Family's Military Past During Speech Near Airfield Named For His Grandfather

(CBS/AP)  Republican Sen. John McCain opened a new chapter in his presidential campaign on Monday, casting himself as an "imperfect servant of my country," descended from a family of U.S. warriors devoted to honor, courage and duty.

In remarks both personal and philosophical, McCain recalled ancestors buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and mused about "the honor we earn and the love we give when we work and sacrifice with others for a cause greater than our self-interest."

A prisoner of war in Vietnam at a time his own father commanded all U.S. forces in the Pacific, McCain said, "He prayed on his knees every night for my safe return. ... Yet, when duty required it, he gave the order for B-52s to bomb Hanoi, in close proximity to my prison."

The Arizona senator spoke at Mississippi State University near a naval air field named for his grandfather. It was the first stop on a weeklong tour that his campaign called a "Service to America Tour," an attempt to introduce him to the public as his party's candidate for the fall campaign. (Watch McCain talk to CBS News about his life and family.)

The Arizona senator emerged victorious from the Republican primaries weeks ago. Seven months before the election, polls point toward a competitive race with either Sens. Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton, rivals in a marathon struggle for the Democratic nomination.

McCain mentioned neither of his potential opponents in his prepared remarks. Nor did he discuss the war in Iraq or the spike in home mortgage foreclosures - major issues where he differs from both his potential opponents.

In comments to reporters en route to the speech, he said it could be two or three days before the outcome is known of the Iraqi government's attempt to take control of Basra from Shiite militias.

He said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the move on his own, adding, "I was surprised because I didn't think he'd do it yet."

In his speech, McCain offered a list of general do's and don'ts for government, details to be filled in at a later date.

Government must avoid through inattention or arrogance making it "harder for parents to have the resources to succeed in the greatest work of their lives raising their children," he said. But it should "help make health care affordable and accessible to the least fortunate among us."

He said "tax policy must not rob parents of the means to care for their children and provide them the opportunities their parents provided them. Government spending must not be squandered on things we do not need and can't afford."

He added that "government can't just throw money at public education while reinforcing the failures of many of our schools, but should, through choice and competition, by rewarding good teachers and holding bad teachers accountable, help parents prepare their children for the challenges and opportunities of the global economy."

In addition, "Government must be attentive to the impact on families of parents who have lost jobs in our changing economy that won't come back." He said current job retraining programs are "antiquated, repetitive and ineffective."

In an interview with CBS News' Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, McCain also weighed in on changes proposed by the administration to the banking system.

"We've got to try to separate the honest family members who, frankly, have been victimized and those who are speculators or people who lent this money knowing full well it wouldn't be paid back," he said. "We need more transparency. We're going to need more oversight." (Watch more of McCain on the issues.)

Family was a recurrent theme in McCain's speech, and he dwelt at length on his own.

"A distant ancestor served on General Washington's staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation's history," he said.

As a boy, McCain said he spent part of his summers on his uncle's place in Mississippi, property that generations of McCains had left to join the military.

He recalled his grandfather, a four-star admiral, as a rumpled man who worked with his shoes off, "tobacco leavings ... always scattered about him."

His grandfather commanded a carrier task force in the Pacific in World War II, and was given "a privileged place on the deck of the USS Missouri to witness the signing of the unconditional surrender that ended the war," McCain said with evident pride.

The senator's own father commanded a submarine in the Pacific during World War II. Later, during Vietnam he led all U.S. forces in the Pacific at a time when his son was a prisoner of war.

Both father and grandfather were four-star admirals, the only such pair in Navy history.

"They were my first heroes, and their respect for me has been one of the most lasting ambitions of my life," McCain said.

"They gave their lives to their country, and taught me lessons about honor, courage, duty, perseverance and leadership that I didn't fully grasp until later in life, but remembered when I needed them most.

"I have been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I am their son, and they showed me how to love my country, and that has made all the difference for me."

[mudrose-2009]

We fought a war with Japan and Germany. Afterwards we maintained a military presence there, which we are doing today. We fought a war in Korea, we maintained a military presence in Korea, which we are doing to this day. The first Gulf War, we threw Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, and we have a military presence there to this day,%u201D McCain told reporters aboard his campaign plane.

%u201CSo he doesn%u2019t either, hasn%u2019t read or understand %u2026 the history of this country in warfare, and the way that we secure alliances and secure the peace. That%u2019s through military government to government agreements that call for United States presence and mutual defense. Not only in that country itself, but also in the region. %u2026 So in all due respect, it displays a fundamental misunderstanding of history and how we%u2019ve maintained national security, and what we need to do in the future to maintain our security in the face of the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism. And I understand that because he has no experience or background in any of it,%u201D McCain said.

In response to B. Hussein Obama''s 100 years of war remark. The Oreo hasn''t a clue.

[mudrose-2009]

McCain is a military person, his only solution to problems is bomb people. Does he ever feel remorse for the people he killed in Viet Nam? He was only acting on orders, but over a million people, real human beings, men, women and children, were killed for questionable purpose. If we make him president, God help the world.
Posted by jgunther7

Did the Vietcong feel sorry for killing the Vietnamese down South? Did Pol Pot worry about the 2 million Cambodians he killed after the Democratic Congress cut off funding?

First you bastardos b/itch about the people who have no military service, then you b/itch about the one''s that do calling them murderers. But you would rather have a slick oreo with no record (zippo - 2 years in Illinois House and 2 years in D.C. Senate with no record of achievement at all) or a lying hag who brags about vast right wing comspiracies or her Bosnia snipergate. Right? Whatever is most expedient for the moment is what you people root for. Whatever the talking point is is what you people rant about. Right? Ugh!

[jgunther7]

McCain is a military person, his only solution to problems is bomb people. Does he ever feel remorse for the people he killed in Viet Nam? He was only acting on orders, but over a million people, real human beings, men, women and children, were killed for questionable purpose. If we make him president, God help the world.

[ioweign]

Senator McCain will not allow Al Qaeda and its allies to transform Iraq into their base for terrorism.

Posted by ShawnHussey at 07:50 PM : Mar 31, 2008


Saddam thought the same way and actually prevented it...

[shawnhussey]

Senator McCain has manifested his love for and devotion to our country.If elected President,he will carry out his duties in an honorable manner.He will carry out the war against terrorism with the goal of victory.He realizes that Iraq is on the main front of that war.He will not abandon this front.Senators Clinton and Obama will abandon the people of Iraq,who are trying to secure liberty and democracy in that troubled nation.Senator McCain will not allow Al Qaeda and its allies to transform Iraq into their base for terrorism.

[nirak2-2009]

and I don''t spell the fighting right LOL

[nirak2-2009]

McCain the old Geezer is ready for the old folks home.
He can''t remember who the US is fighing in Iraq for heavens sake.

[ioweign]

This is the Latte Liberal generation, they don''t like conflict - they don''t like to get their hands dirty, the don''t like hangnails or heros. They don''''t know the difference. They are too above the fray to realize that our military is what keeps them drinking their lattes.

Nasty punks, I hope to go Pewlosi doesn''t renew FISA so that when the little islamofascist nazis come, may the get them right in the middle of a gulp.


Posted by mudrose at 05:07 PM : Mar 31, 2008

Wow - Muddy - Evidently Bush and Cheney don''t like to get their hands dirty either, if you would take the time to checkout their military history.

[mudrose-2009]

And don''t you love the way the Latte Liberals pimp poverty and victimization, just like their beloved Rev. Wright and B. Hussein Obama? Oh, and don''t forget the Clintoid. They like to bully anybody who doesn''t give them their way so it''s throw the old hag away too while your at it.

Pimping victimization and poverty very lucrative - why B. Hussein Obama has a $1 million mansion and the Rev. Wright will occupy his retirement cottage to the tune of $1.6 million in a gated "gay community". Oh and don''t forget Al Bore either. Mr. Global warming will entertain us with his save the planet c/rap too. Scientists that studied climate trends their whole lives are being told by the flat azzer that they are flat earthers. Nice guy.

[mudrose-2009]

Accomplichments by McCains family doesn''''''''t put bread on Americans table today and Purple stars are awarded to someone with a hangnail. - - Posted by nirak2

lol! - and rookies with 1/2 a term in Washington don''''t have the experience to put bread on the table.

Posted by trapbreak

This is the Latte Liberal generation, they don''t like conflict - they don''t like to get their hands dirty, the don''t like hangnails or heros. They don''t know the difference. They are too above the fray to realize that our military is what keeps them drinking their lattes.

Nasty punks, I hope to go Pewlosi doesn''t renew FISA so that when the little islamofascist nazis come, may the get them right in the middle of a gulp.

[nirak2-2009]

trapbreak
Accomplichments by McCains family doesn''t put bread on Americans table today and Purple stars are awarded to someone with a hangnail.

[nirak2-2009]

What is there we don''t know about McCain.
He was a POW. One of the lucky ones. 4,000 didn''t make it back from Iraq alone.
He is a Senator and a war hawk who want''s to continue what Bush started and we all know how that is going.
About the economy he knows zilch and it doesn''t touch him much, since dumping his first wife to marry a very rich one.
Nothing else I wan''t to know!
Go Obama, you at least give us hope!!!!!!!

[newsjunky5]

I think McCain deserves something for his service, like a free plot in Arlington.

[newsjunky5]

Wow. He''s talking about affordable health care, helping people who have lost their jobs, and fixing public education.
Just like his mentor who promised not to engage in nationbuilding and to be a compassionate conservative, and to fix public education. These are things Bush promised, but is not interested in doing.

[prinzowhales]

Webster Tarpley, is writing that the attack on Iran will come on August 6 at 0400 according to a Russian general. The general is calling for the Security Council to meet to deal with the threat. I believe this was at truthnews.com...may have been at rense.com.

This will change the entire complexion of the political situation here in America. Hopefully, the Russian general is wrong.

[trishab4]

A PRISNOER OF WAR STAYS A PRISOER OF WAR AL HIS LIFE.

SORRY TO SAY IT, BUT AS LONG AS RULES CONSIDER AS SANE THE NATURE OF CANDIDATES NEED TO BEAR WHEN APPLYING FOR CANDIDACY, I''D RECOMMAND THE PHYSICIANS AROUND MCCAIN TO EXAMINIE HIM THOROUGHLY. JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND OF DEMENTIA OR PSYCHOSIS MAY LEAD THIS GUY INTO CALLING THE BOMBING NOT TO MENTION NUKING ENEMIES FOR NO VALUABLE REASON... GOT IT NOW?

[prinzowhales]

Good old Admiral McCain...He helped orchestrate the cover-up of the Israeli attack on the USS LIBERTY... and that delightful son with the anger management problem, married to the druggie-daughter of an organized crime figure...The North Vietnamese were so fond of John that nicknamed him "the Songbird". He made 32 propaganda films for the North Vietnamese... trading secrets for special treatment for his broken bones...broken because he failed to draw in his arms when he ejected.

McCain is a North Vietnamese ace...he personally accounted for five US planes that he lost out from under him.

This man is a security risk!! You do not allow a man who has been under the discipline of opposing forces access to secrets...the same counter intelligence standard would hold for ANY candidate...and this one is married into organized crime and is a Keating Fiver to boot!

[walt1944-2009]

John "The Great Pretender" McCain has begun to dig back into his past to show how "true-red, white, & blue" an American he was.

McCain remembered ancestors buried at Arlington (was that before or after Gen Lee surrendered?), as well as his captivity in Hanoi as a guest of the North Vietnamese at the Hanoi Hilton, remembering how his father ordered bombing raids near the "Hilton" (and probably wondering when the next one would land in his lap!).

McCain has promised more episodes of his life to come; some of them being about how he fought woolly mammoths and saber-tooth tigers while going to and from school in the snow uphill both ways, about how he learned to write chiselling his name on a boulder, and the pet dinosaur he kept in his back yard.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil (more of the same), McCain????

[gkc99]

If McCain hadn''t been a pilot, he''d be a nobody today.

His legislative record is nothing notable, that''s for sure. He''s been a great lobbyist for Mexican truckers and illegal immigrants. He''s at odds with his own party and with the opposition party.

In short, in terms of his chances of becoming president of the USA, being a POW was the best thing that ever happened to McCain.

[ioweign]

The McCain Governmental Clapper

User Manual

1 Claps - Answers the "Red" Phone
2 Claps - Depends
3 Claps - Turns Bathroom Light on/off
4 Claps - First Alert interface-Help I''m lost and don''t know what to do.
5 Claps - First Alert interface-Help I know where I am but don''t know what to do.
6 Claps - Call Vicky Iseman then 5 Claps
7 Claps - Call George then 4 Claps