Is McCain's War Record Fair Game?

Politico: McCain Camp Outraged After Wesley Clark, Liberal Bloggers Target Candidate's Service In Vietnam, Time As POW

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Smith.

---

The highest voltage third rail of this presidential campaign may not be race, sex, or age, but Senator John McCain's military service.

McCain's campaign Sunday issued a pair of outraged statements after retired general and Barack Obama supporter Wesley Clark said he didn't think that McCain’s service as a fighter pilot and prisoner of war was relevant to running the country. Obama has consistently praised McCain's service, and called him "a genuine American hero."

But farther to the left - and among some of McCain's conservative enemies as well - harsher attacks are circulating. Critics have accused McCain of war crimes for bombing targets in Hanoi in the 1960s. Sunday, a widely read liberal blog accused McCain of "disloyalty" during his captivity in Vietnam for his coerced participation in propaganda films and interviews after he’d been tortured.

"A lot of people don't know… that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity," wrote Americablog's John Aravosis. "Putting that bit of disloyalty aside, what exactly is McCain's military experience that prepares him for being commander in chief?"

"Getting shot down, tortured, and then doing propaganda for the enemy is not command experience," Aravosis wrote in the blog post, entitled "Honestly, besides being tortured, what did McCain do to excel in the military?"

McCain's camp responded sharply to the Americablog posting Sunday night.

"The American people know that John McCain's record of service and sacrifice is not a matter of debate. He has written about and discussed his service as a POW extensively-often in excruciating and painful detail," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "The American people will judge harshly anyone who demeans or attacks that service."

McCain has written repeatedly of his service, including a long 1973 magazine article and in his memoir, Faith of My Fathers. A Navy aviator from a military family, he was shot down on his 23rd sortie over Vietnam on October 26, 1967. His mission was to bomb a power plant in the North Vietnamese capital. Already suffering from broken limbs, he was beaten by a crowd before being taken to a POW camp. After being tortured there, he participated in some Vietnamese propaganda efforts.

"I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine," he later wrote.

But he later defied his captors by refusing to meet with anti-war delegations from abroad, he wrote, and also refused the most valuable special treatment he was offered: Early release.

"I did not want to go out of order," he later wrote. He was finally released on March 14, 1973.

Obama and the Democratic establishment haven't challenged McCain's record. Indeed, even Clark's words came in response to a direct question from CBS's Bob Schieffer on the specific relevance of McCain's service to the presidency.

West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller in April cut a bit closer, suggesting that McCain's days as a fighter pilot were themselves a critique of his character.

"What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground?" he asked. "He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."

Rockefeller promptly, abjectly apologized, praising McCain's "honorable and noble service to our country" and deploring his own "inaccurate and wrong analogy." His apology reflected a conventional political wisdom that McCain's heroism is too well established, and a climate of respect for soldiers too strong, for attacks on his service to do anything but backfire.

But Aravosis, who reiterated his criticism in an interview with Politico Sunday night, isn't the only one to test this line of attack.

The newsletter CounterPunch published this April an article by Doug Valentine headed "Meet the Real John McCain: North Vietnam's Go-To Collaborator."

Valentine suggested McCain contemplated suicide-something the candidate has written about, and attributed in part to his guilt at not withstanding torture-because he was a "war criminal" whose bombs fell on civilians.

McCain, who sought-along with Senator John Kerry-to debunk claims that Vietnam still held American prisoners into the 1990s, has been attacked in similar terms by leaders of POW/MIA movement, whom he and Kerry cast as charlatans.

That movement has produced the most outlandish attacks on McCain, including widely dismissed and unsubstantiated claims that McCain was not tortured and a smear casting him as a "Manchurian candidate."

But most of the attacks on McCain's war record are now coming from the left. In a Huffington Post blog, a former editor of Mother Jones magazine, Jeffrey Klein, called-in tones reminiscent of right-wing attacks on Kerry in 2004-on McCain to release elements of his Navy record that the candidate has not made available to the public or the press.

"Some of the unreleased pages in McCain's Navy file may not reflect well upon his qualifications for the presidency," he wrote. As to why, Klein speculated that "From day one in the Navy, McCain screwed-up again and again, only to be forgiven because his father and grandfather were four-star admirals."

David Fenton, a prominent progressive public relations executive who works for MoveOn and other groups, also inquired about details of McCain's Navy sorties, a source familiar with the inquiries told Politico. Fenton declined to comment on the inquiries, and a person familiar with them said they were unconnected to his work for MoveOn.

Some anti-war activists link McCain's current position on Iraq to his time in Vietnam.

"I wouldn't characterize anybody who fought in Vietnam as a war hero," said Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of the theatrical anti-war group Code Pink. "In 23 bombing sorties, there must have been civilians that were killed and there's no heroism to that."

"Anyone who can't look back and admit how wrong it was to be in Vietnam and be killing civilians deserves to be challenged," she said, though she stressed that her group is more focused on McCain's present support for the war in Iraq than on his past.

Benjamin said she had her doubts about whether criticism of McCain's record could catch on, and she's not the only skeptic. Even Valentine, the CounterPunch author, said McCain's wartime experience could only be questioned "off-Broadway."

Others, however, disagree, and the increasing buzz of emails and blog posts-the new equivalent on the left of what, in the 1990s, would have been stirrings on conservative talk radio-suggest that this line of attack won't go away, at least not from elements of the energized pro-Obama grassroots, and from parts of the anti-war left.

A search of Obama’s community website, my.BarackObama.com, finds two posts calling McCain a “war criminal.”

Noam Chomsky, the linguist and activist, said in an email that he thought Americans should question the relevance of McCain's torture in an unjust war to his campaign.

"The questions could scarcely even be understood within the reigning intellectual and moral culture-though I don't doubt that much of the population would understand," Chomsky said.

And Aravosis was unapologetic about his charge of "disloyalty," citing the similar charges levied at Kerry from the right in 2004.

"McCain is running for president of the United States, not the student council. He should stop feigning shock and outrage and start answering some very legitimate questions about his character and his experience," he said in a message to Politico. "Well, the Republicans sported Band-Aids to mock John erry's medals from Vietnam. They mocked his injuries in war."

"McCain isn't being mocked, he's being questioned," he said.

For now, that is a minority view on the left. Democrats took from the Vietnam era the lesson that they should not attack soldiers' service, and McCain's Senate colleagues of both parties-including Obama- have expressed deep respect for his service and his suffering. He also worked after the war to heal some of its open wounds, winning the unexpected appreciation of some anti-Vietnam war stalwarts, who are now damping down the attempts to attack his war record.

"I know and like McCain," Tom Hayden, a former California State Senator and prominent anti-war activist, told Politico in an email. "From my own perspective and that of many anti-war activists of that era, the fact that he bombed North Vietnam some 25 times, probably killing civilians, gets blurred with the facts that he suffered through that long prison ordeal, then also went on to promote diplomatic relations between the two countries."

"It's like asking a guy that served his jail term here-you'd say he's done his time so that's behind him," Hayden said.

[one-american]

The attack on McCain typifies the sleaze of the Obama/Clinton campaign.

The Democrats whine about attacks from Republicans (which have not occured) and then they launch into a smear campaign.

Damned Democrats!

[one-american]

And Noam Chomsky should have his traitor neck stretched at the end of a rope.

[obama4janito]

Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, born a Jewess, now a Palestinian Islamic ''ore. She, if anyone in this country, has no right to denounce soldiers who fought for her freedom while she cheerleads for her real idols - Adolf Hitler and Yasser Arafat.

[minnick8-2009]

Until Obama has served the U.S. in capacities equal to McCain, he doesn''t have a leg to stand on in pointing a finger and critizing. Obama is a sleeze bag. I hope the democrats wake up before it is too late and they have installed him as the President.

[mudrose-2009]

Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, born a Jewess, now a Palestinian Islamic ''''ore. She, if anyone in this country, has no right to denounce soldiers who fought for her freedom while she cheerleads for her real idols - Adolf Hitler and Yasser Arafat.

Posted by Obama4Janito

I concur. Carry on. I couldn''t have said it any better.

[obama4janito]

Where exactly did this neo-Nazi jerk John Aravisos serve? When he has the right to polish John McCain''s boots, then another non-serving, cowardly Left Fascist bozo has the right to question. Until then, Aravosis, go to Tehran where cowards like you and Obama truly belong, and take that other Nazi collaborator Fenton from the Soros-Hitler funded MoveOn.Org with you.

[minnick8-2009]

CBS

Who is "John erry''s?"

[pvperson]

"I don''t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," retired General Wesley Clark.

"If Barack Obama wants to question John McCain''s service to his country, he should have the guts to do it himself and not hide behind his campaign surrogates," retired Admiral and McCain surragate Leighton Smith.

A little hypocritical don''t ya think, there Snuffy?

Oh and by the way Obama4Janito, your Stepin'''' Fetchit remark and your name itself mark you as a jerkass racist slimeball that has no business telling other Americans what to think. Jerkwad.

[minnick8-2009]

Isn''t it nice that the anti-war left has all of the same benefits of our Constitutional government with all of its rights, priviliedges, and freedoms as those who have been willing to serve the country to preserve them? I wish all the vocal hypocritical, anti war liberals would move to another country.

I also wish that service to the country was mandatory for all--two years minimum at age 18, like Israel.

[chrisl45]

Look at what happened to former generals as president! John gave-up a possible admiral-ship to work with the congress. Anyway, no matter who is president you cannot exactly pick the right person for the next great calamity. What we have to have is a school that teaches the officials how to become president, hog-wash! John McCain is the best man for the job. No one comes close to his credentials.

[lovegetpeace]

If NeoCons cannot stop the smearing and lies about Obama, Swift Boating McCain is fair game.

[lovegetpeace]

If NeoCons cannot stop the smearing and lies about Obama, Swift Boating McCain is fair game.

[jjp735i]

I did not hear Republicans yell to loud when Bush and Friends attacked McCains war record, nor when Swift Boat ads went after Kerry. Just because someone was in the service does mean they would make a good President. Just look at Bush. He served.

[chrisl45]

I think the media is fearful of Obama losing. They have launched/begun an attack on Clark/US military to descredit him/military, to kill US soldiers, and to force their objectives.

[Mccarthyaw]

The attack on McCain typifies the sleaze of the Obama/Clinton campaign.

The Democrats whine about attacks from Republicans (which have not occured) and then they launch into a smear campaign.

Damned Democrats!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by One-American at 11:01 AM : Jun 30, 2008

Are you serious? The Republican party has not run a single smear campaign against Obama? Then how did I get the impression that he somehow was a Muslim radical terrorist that reufuses to wear a flag pin and stand up for the pledge of allegiance because he is unpatriotic? Couldnt have been the Republicans, could it?

[Mccarthyaw]

The attack on McCain typifies the sleaze of the Obama/Clinton campaign.

The Democrats whine about attacks from Republicans (which have not occured) and then they launch into a smear campaign.

Damned Democrats!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by One-American at 11:01 AM : Jun 30, 2008

Are you serious? The Republican party has not run a single smear campaign against Obama? Then how did I get the impression that he somehow was a Muslim radical terrorist that reufuses to wear a flag pin and stand up for the pledge of allegiance because he is unpatriotic? Couldnt have been the Republicans, could it?

[mswolfestock]

I don''t think that John McCain received enough counselling or debriefing to help him recover from his POW experiences. He is not fit to be President because of this - he refuses to get over being a POW; he''s using this one experience in his life to define himself. He needs help to get over it, and even then, he will only be qualified to counsel other former POWs. He is not fit to be President because he is too old, and he is out of touch with the rest of America because he won''t get over being an ex-POW. At the very least, his war record BEFORE he got shot down should be examined in close detail. I''m extremely suspicious about his record being glossed over or covered up because his father and grandfather were high-ranking officers themselves. This is very much like George Bushit''s so-called "military experience." He got over because his daddy was rich and powerful, and look where THAT got us.

[armydog2]

How does getting shot down and spending 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton qualify mccain to be president? I respect and thank him for his service to our country, and now even his former jailer is endorsing him,?.My son is now serving a second tour of duty in bagdad right now, does that qualify him to be president? I think my son is a better man than mccain and would definitely be a better leader and president than mccain.

[zerato-2009]

Mccain crashed, taken prisoner, tortured and appeared in a propoganda film. Waht there makes him or anyone qualified for the presidency?
Bush was a beter flier
many prisoners were kept prisoner
many were tortured.
not many were in viet cong propoganda films
no war time leadership.
It seems taht wesley clark has a point.

[jimfinster]

I am not a McCain fan. But he did voluntarily serve in the military and was disabled for life as a result. His military service is not something to attack or question.

[genesis15-2009]

I would hate to think where this country would be if the anti-war idiots had the final decision throughout history. The British would still be taxing our cup of tea. Slavery would still be a norm. If not that, Aryan whites would be saluting a dead image of Hitler, assuming he would be dead from old age by now, and everybody else would be dead. If not that, Saddam would be in total control over the Middle East starting with Kuwait. If it was left up to the anti-war zealots, Osama bin Laden would be in a mansion rather than a cave.

[frootloop47]

Supposedly, McCain getting shot down and becoming a POW was his own fault.
His mission was cancelled and he was told to return.
However, he was such a Cowboy and Stubborn (sound familiar?) and got shot down.
That was the third airplane trashed. He crashed two planes prior.

[kofiananimus]

1) If all Wesley Clark said was "he didn''t think that McCain%u2019s service as a fighter pilot and prisoner of war was relevant to running the country", then the title of this article, "...Wesley Clark, Others Attack McCain''s Service In Vietnam, Time As POW" is libel. Clark didn''t attack McCain''s service record.

2) what goes around comes around, swift boaters. If it was OK to attack John Kerry''s military record in 2004, then McCain''s record is fair game.

[ioweign]

The attack on McCain typifies the sleaze of the Obama/Clinton campaign.

The Democrats whine about attacks from Republicans (which have not occured) and then they launch into a smear campaign.

Damned Democrats!

Posted by One-American at 11:01 AM : Jun 30, 2008

2004 Questioning John Kerry''s Naval Service and Medals

2008 Questioning John McCain''s Naval Service and Medals

It wasn''t a problem in 2004 and now it is !

[jimfinster]

what goes around comes around, swift boaters. If it was OK to attack John Kerry''''s military record in 2004, then McCain''''s record is fair game.

Posted by kofiananimus


What is that old saying ... two wrongs don''t make a right?

[nolalou]

I am not a McCain fan. But he did voluntarily serve in the military and was disabled for life as a result. His military service is not something to attack or question.
Posted by jimfinster

While I cannot speak for some of the sources quoted in this article, I did see the interview on Sunday with Gen Wesley Clark. He said he did honor McCain''s military service, and considered him a hero, but that service is not an automatic qualification to be President. How can anyone not agree with that. There were thousands of Americans who fought and were wounded in the Vietnam war, and many who were prisoners of war, does that mean they are all qualified to be President? All Gen. Clark did is state the obvious.

[genesis15-2009]

2) what goes around comes around, swift boaters. If it was OK to attack John Kerry''''s military record in 2004, then McCain''''s record is fair game.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by kofiananimus

Scary Kerry betrayed the service of his own men with fairy tale stories of deliberate mass murder. No comparison.

[jimfinster]

I am not a McCain fan. But he did voluntarily serve in the military and was disabled for life as a result. His military service is not something to attack or question.
Posted by jimfinster

While I cannot speak for some of the sources quoted in this article, I did see the interview on Sunday with Gen Wesley Clark. He said he did honor McCain''''s military service, and considered him a hero, but that service is not an automatic qualification to be President. How can anyone not agree with that. There were thousands of Americans who fought and were wounded in the Vietnam war, and many who were prisoners of war, does that mean they are all qualified to be President? All Gen. Clark did is state the obvious.

Posted by nolalou


Military experience is a plus for any politician. What Clark is trying to do is neutralize that plus. I think it is a mistake, because it only highlights Obama''s total lack of experience in that area.

[zerato-2009]

"I would hate to think where this country would be if the anti-war idiots had the final decision throughout history..... "
Posted by genesis15

You cut a broad swath with that. It seems taht war would be a last resort Not attacking someone taht never attacked us. Not as a way of opening up the persian gulf for oil interests. not as reason to install a friendly government.

[jack3213]

Disgusting Liberals- digging for straws - their Democratic candidtae is NOT QUALIFIED AT ALL- and they degrade a WAR HERO like MCCAIN- trully evil. Obama will fail miserbaly and thank heavens for that.

[ioweign]

Scary Kerry betrayed the service of his own men with fairy tale stories of deliberate mass murder. No comparison.

Posted by genesis15 at 11:38 AM : Jun 30, 2008

2004 revisited here - your knife cuts both ways and you do not determine the direction.

[frootloop47]

McCain was then stationed in A-1 Skyraider squadrons,[17] on the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise,[18] in the Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.[19] The planes he was flying crashed TWICE and once collided with power lines, but he received no major injuries.[19]
Reference: Wiki %u201CJohn McCain%u201D

Crisps...the guy couldn''t even fly a plane :-)

[genesis15-2009]

genesis15: My Lai


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Nancy_Naive

Can you give me more please than that historical point in history. Don''t demonize an entire army because of what a few did. But I knew you would bring that tired story up because that is the only one you know.

[zerato-2009]

they degrade a WAR HERO like MCCAIN- trully evil.

Posted by jack3213

So jack what makes him a war hero.

[inventagod2]

Oh, jeeze - here come the screaming neocons...
Waaaahhhh! Waaaahhhh!

[frootloop47]

Being too stubborn to turn back for a mission, then getting shot down and captured doesn''t quite make someone a "war hero". Everybody''s been pretty nice to the old guy.

[genesis15-2009]

Scary Kerry betrayed the service of his own men with fairy tale stories of deliberate mass murder. No comparison.

Posted by genesis15 at 11:38 AM : Jun 30, 2008

2004 revisited here - your knife cuts both ways and you do not determine the direction.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by IOWEIGN

With that type of analysis we would all be saluting Hitler right now. If America had remained in isolation during the wars of the past, then America DOES NOT EXIST nor do any of you, expecially if your not white.

[indivthinker]

So the Democrats have Wesley Clark on Obama''s side. Big deal. The Republicans have many generals on theirs. But all military leaders pail in comparison to Collin Powell and and his endorsement, something which I want to know. That will be the X-factor on military endorsements.

[alien_view]

No one should be suprised by the Liberal/Democrats from using play #5 in their play book to smear and defame anyone at anycost for any reason true or untrue. The object is to win. If you think the other party stands a good chance of winning the nastier you get with play #5. The problem with play #5 is that it has a severe tendency to back fire, especially when the other party is a war hero and more than ready and qualified to assume the Presidency of the US. McCain will be the next President of the US, not because of lies like the left would have you believe, but because he is the best qualified and he is a hero. Just like Ike in WWII.

[jimfinster]

So the Democrats have Wesley Clark on Obama''''s side. Big deal. The Republicans have many generals on theirs. But all military leaders pail in comparison to Collin Powell and and his endorsement, something which I want to know. That will be the X-factor on military endorsements.

Posted by indivthinker


I have no respect for Powell after his involvement with the Iraq fiasco. Who cares what he thinks now?

[zerato-2009]

With that type of analysis we would all be saluting Hitler right now. If America had remained in isolation during the wars of the past, then America DOES NOT EXIST nor do any of you, expecially if your not white.

Posted by genesis15

Godwins''s law

[jack3213]

WAR HERO: HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND REMEMBERS THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN-

SOMEONE WHO PUTS THEIR COUNTRY FIRST- ABOVE ALL ELSE.

THAT IS MCCAIN.

[frootloop47]

"So the Democrats have Wesley Clark on Obama''''s side. Big deal. "
--------
Wesley Clark and about 40 other retired Generals.
NOT to mention, Colonels, LTC''s, on down.

Get with it! Come next January this country will start getting back on the right track.

Vote OBAMA!!

[G H M]

Why is it when McSame or Bush is in trouble the Pakistan''s start an offensive and look for Osama?
I wonder how much taxpayer money this is costing us to Boost McSame.

[andor3]

What the Dems say is right: We thank Sen. McCain for his service, but it is not in any way a plus or minus for a President. History has not shown that military men make better leaders. What is all the fuss about?

[ioweign]

Scary Kerry betrayed the service of his own men with fairy tale stories of deliberate mass murder. No comparison.

Posted by genesis15 at 11:38 AM : Jun 30, 2008

2004 revisited here - your knife cuts both ways and you do not determine the direction.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

Posted by IOWEIGN

With that type of analysis we would all be saluting Hitler right now. If America had remained in isolation during the wars of the past, then America DOES NOT EXIST nor do any of you, expecially if your not white.

Posted by genesis15 at 11:47 AM : Jun 30, 2008

You are an idiot!!!

[irliberal]

WAR HERO: HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND REMEMBERS THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN-

SOMEONE WHO PUTS THEIR COUNTRY FIRST- ABOVE ALL ELSE.

THAT IS MCCAIN.

Posted by JACK3213 at 11:51 A

Yes, it is. It''s also John Kerry. But that didn''t stop you from painting him with tar and feathers did it?

Hypocrite.

[zerato-2009]

"But all military leaders pail in comparison to Collin Powell and and his endorsement, something which I want to know. That will be the X-factor on military endorsements."

Posted by indivthinker

Colin powell was the general said we should not get involved in a war that we do not ahve an exit strategy and lied to the UN about the Iraq threat. was taht the general you thnk so much of his judgement?

[williamfold]

after what happened to Kerry in''04, anybody on the Right whining about McCain''s record being brought up can just Sh Th Fu Up.

[hungry1968]

they degrade a WAR HERO like MCCAIN- trully evil.

Posted by jack3213

So jack what makes him a war hero.

Posted by zerato at 11:44 AM : Jun 30, 2008





My favorite question for the neo cons:

"What "heroic" act, has John McCain EVER performed?"

Followed by:

"Why was John McCain awarded several medals and accommodations for being a POW, while those he was incarcerated with NEVER got anything? Did his "daddy" being an admiral have anything to do with it?"