A Serious Question Of Character

(The Nation)  This column was written by John Nichols.

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For many Americans, the measure of a candidate seeking the presidency comes down to questions of character.

Perhaps the most important of these is: How does he or she react under pressure?

It is certainly reasonable to surmise that, if a candidate cannot handle the rigors of the campaign, then he or she might have trouble tackling the responsibilities of the office.

It is this fair test that John McCain has, in recent days, been failing - badly.

There is no question that McCain has been hit hard by the success of Barack Obama's trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Europe.

After essentially demanding that Obama make the trip -- with the implicit suggestion that the presumptive Democratic nominee for president was not up to the challenges of the international stage -- the Republican candidate and his supporters then whined about the fact that the media was paying attention to Obama's travels.

As it turned out, McCain was right to worry that reporters, and by extension the American people, would be paying close attention to Obama's global tour.

The Democratic candidate went from strength to strength, He focused attention on the mess that the Bush administration has made of Afghanistan, advanced the discussion of how and when to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, met with both Israelis and Palestinians on a successful transit of the Middle East, earned not just respect but encouragement from world leaders, consulted knowledgeably with U.S. generals and enjoyed the cheers of troops who treated him as their next commander-in-chief.

Desperate to find something to complain about, McCain seized on the fact that Obama did not visit wounded U.S. troops at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The McCain camp has even gone so far as to suggest that the failure of the Democratic candidate to use wounded troops as the backdrop for a campaign-style visit to Germany "casts serious doubt on his judgment and calls into question his priorities."

So what does U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican who served in Vietnam, say about the latest spin from McCain, the man he actively supported for president in 2000 and who he continues to describe as "a very dear and close friend of mine"?

Hagel, who accompanied Obama on the visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, was asked on the CBS program "Face the Nation" about the German leg of the Democrat's globe trot.

"At that point, it was a political trip for Senator Obama," Hagel explained." "I think it would have been inappropriate for him (to visit the hospital) -- and certainly he would have been criticized by the McCain people and the press and, probably should have been -- if, on a political trip in Europe, paid for by political funds, not the taxpayers, to go essentially then and be accused of using our wounded men and women as props for his campaign."

Of course, Hagel is right.

McCain and his aides were so desperate to find something to complain about that they would have attacked Obama no matter what he did.

But the nature of this attack, and of the broader suggestion that Obama is somehow unconcerned about the United States and its troops, reveals the real McCain.

As Hagel says, "I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives, and when we start to get into 'You're less patriotic than me, I'm more patriotic.' John's better than that."

Unfortunately, there is mounting evidence that John is not better than that.

And it is this evidence that calls into question whether McCain, his distinguished past service notwithstanding, retains the character - specifically the ability to react responsibly to pressure -- that is required of a president.
By John Nichols
Reprinted with permission from The Nation

[dashortround]

McCain, who is far, far from poor himself, and who is wedded to an heiress worth $100 million dollars, STILL cashes his Social Security checks!

Many wealthy people do a real service to their fellow taxpayers, and politely decline to accept Social Security checks that they certainly don''t need, even if they are eligible to receive them. It''s just a matter of principle, and a question of "character" to not drink from the public well, when you are obviously already so well off.

But not John McCain - no, sir! He cashes every one! Apparently the money is more important to him than the principle.

So much for "character".

[coffeeusa]

I do not question McCain''s character-it is proven.
I work in education so I focus on the issues-I still have some serious questions on Obama''s stance on issues.
I lived through an oil embargo and I do not want to live through one again-we now are the most materialistic society in the world and have so many possesions that are necessary to conduct communication in daily life and in business. I lost my job at Boeing due to an oil embargo and in Seattle it took many of us years to recover. I hate our dependency on oil but I just cannot see where politicians, who use more personnaly use more oil than a village and are trying to tell us to wait it out until we get alternative fuel are speaking the truth. Now if Obama and the other politicians who are not in favor of drilling, would quit using oil and use alternative energy for their source of energy to operate their campaigns, offices, homes, technology, air travel, etc. then I could support their stand on not drilling.
I live in a state that manufacutures and distributes airplanes and we need oil to do this. We have to fuel up in other countries to come to the US. We need oil and I prefer Ameriacan.
I also support coal as it powers electricity-I need and use it. I also support nuclear but I fear it some.
I really do support wind power but there is not national delivery system and we need it. Therefore, I guess I am saying, I do not support Obama''s stand on this issue-even though I think he is a very exciting politician.

[veteran188]

how much experience did bush have?

republicon are creating a red herring , they voted for mcbush and he had nothing, he still has no experience running a country,

mcSame ,his experience is mostly being in prison, most prisoners come out worse than they went in,
he appears no different,

McCain can not be trusted to do anything but continue the failed policy of McBush

[ioweign]

In contrast, John McCain''''s 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military
service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more
impressive than ever. At 71, John McCain may just be hitting his stride.
Think about IT!!!

A great many people in this country have obviously gone stark raving mad!

Posted by OldThought at 07:10 PM : Jul 30, 2008


71 years under the Federal umbrella and all his paychecks signed by Uncle Sam - some experience there bud...Hugo Chavez was a career military man too.

[patriot12436]

hhroams
It just seems like it is the same as four years ago we are all looking for the lesser evil to vote for. I am afraid if we don''t get some real leadership this time it will be too late for our country.

[patriot12436]

bgc
Up yours

[patriot12436]

aintaken
I am still hoping for a third party to come out of no where and win.

[patriot12436]

t

[patriot12436]

t

[sanfelz]

McCain''s moment has passed. He is old and cranky and is influenced by ths advisors'' flavor of the day.
With all his vaunted experience, McCain still was duped by the lies of the Bush Administration into supporting an invasion into a country who did not attack us and which harbored no terrorists until we dismantled the government.
One would hope that after 26 years in the Senate, McCain would realize that Federal tax cuts just lead to less aid to states and more state and local tax increases or loss of services. But McCain is not experienced, just old. This old dog did not learn any new tricks even when he was younger.