Why does being tortured in a war that shouldn't have been fought matter?

[undeterred]

Most Americans think vietnam was a mistake. People don't choose to be tortured, they are unlucky. Are they heroes any more than combatatants who are paralyzed or lose limbs?

But granted that he's made a sacrifice, what does this have to do with being president? I'm grasping for the logic here. If anything, it seems to skew all his thinking to frame all conflict in terms of vietnam- which is no better than a bunch of oil men looking for loot.

[boston bean]

1. This is a miserable post. It is despicable. If you can't figure out why, there is no hope. nt

[iamjoy]

2. Strength of Character

That he endured that and isn't clinically insane speaks to a certain fortitude most of us lack.

And why is it an either or? Max Cleland is admirable too. Shall we come up with a single agreed upon definition of hero and heroism? Should we rank people or experiences on a scale of who is the most heroic?

Sheesh.

Of course, I want more than fortitude in a President.

[undeterred]

3. He has an anger problem.

I don't think going through this experience qualifies him to be president- I think it distorts his view of things. His commercial is a video of him as a prisoner- "The American Americans Have Been Waiting For"...

[AllentownJake]

4. No NO NO

Do not question his service....attack his crazy platform. No re-fighting Vietnam IRAQ IRAQ IRAQ IRAQ.

There are so many better things to say about McCain than Vietnam.

[thoughtcrime1984]

5. He is a tough SOB, and we Dems don't want to go there.

What I mean is, any perceived slights by Obama or his campaign against McCain's military service and imprisonment will be absolutely lambasted by the media, and will turn up Obama's negatives quicker than just about anything else could. The smart thing for Dems to do in that matter, is to tip their cap, thank him for his courageous service to our country, and then attack the heck out of him- on anything but his service in Vietnam. He is a candidate full of holes- we don't need to even go to the dark side of belittling his character.

[undeterred]

6. The next 7 months will be one long vietnam torture commercial.

Its already started.

I do not understand how people are persuaded by this.

[thoughtcrime1984]

21. Well, I agree with you in that anybody in the military can become a POW

It took no special skill on his part to be captured. He had to survive, however, and rose to the level of US senator despite such a horrible experience. It in no way makes him capable of being our President, though, that is very true. If Dems rail on him for anything Vietnam, however, the media will open up a can of plague on Obama, which could render him damaged goods to the mouth-breathers that hang on every word of the MSM. We just cannot touch that one. Everything else is fair game.

[MaineDem]

7. Why are you saying this???

His time as a POW, as far as I'm concerned, is what it was. He served his time; he served his country; he came home. Many didn't. But this is NOT an issue we want to touch. We are better than that!

This is pretty low to even bring up. frankly, I'm surprised you've done this.

[undeterred]

8. I'm not attacking him

I am asking a simple question. I forgot I was in a den of pit bulls. I'm leaving now.

[MaineDem]

11. Not pit bulls

We were appalled when they "swiftboated" Kerry and this would be the same thing, even worse. All I'm saying is that we'd be better not to touch that aspect of his life.

Honestly, there is plenty more to hang him with.

[salbi]

12. I didn't see it as an attack

McCain served more than most. He endured terrible conditions and I consider him a hero for it, but does that qualify him to be president or even to run a war? He is the one portaying himself in prison camps in the commercials and since he is bringing it up, I think people do have the right to question it. I would feel better if his commercials were about what he'll bring to the presidency, not about getting a sympathy vote for the torture he endured. I am not taking anything away from what he went through, just questioning if he should be using that to get elected.

[MaineDem]

17. Perhaps I over reacted

And for that, I'm sorry.

I just don't want to see us become them.

You're absolutely correct, what he went through then has nothing whatsoever to do with his ability to be President.

[Mooney]

9. This is a losing argument if there ever was one.

If you want to piss off 95% of the electorate and make them vote for McCain, this is the way to do it. If you want to manufacture more sympathy for him than he is capable of generating on his own, this is the way to do it.

[TexasObserver]

10. that he was a POW is wrongly heralded as important

It's unfortunate he was a POW, but it does not make him fit for the presidency.

He was a lousy student at the Naval Academy, a mediocre officer in the military, and his career as a politician has been littered with angry fits and shady dealings.

But you can't really make any headway talking about how his POW status doesn't make him fit for the presidency.

[ORDem]

19. I agree that attacking his military record is likely a non-starter, even though when

you think about it, all he was doing was dropping bombs on men, women, children from 20,000 ft in a nice warm cockpit. It's not like he was in the infantry. I really don't see any heroism in that, especially compared to the sacrifices others were making on the ground.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. Sometimes I think Democrats TRY to lose

attacking McCain's military service is just dumb.

[JayFredMuggs]

14. But that's not what is being done in this thread

It is questioning the claim that a long-standing hero, POW, with high regard from the American people, is the person we should trust in the Oval Office, just because he's a Hero.

There are lots of hero's from all wars, few of them are Presidential material. Very Few, John McSame is certainly NOT Presidential material, given his entire lifetime history, stands on issues, and his lack of grasp of so many problems our nation faces today.

[breakaleg]

15. Presidents send people into war. He's been there, first of all. But more to the point,

whether the war was right or wrong, the soldiers are doing what's been asked of them and that's to be commended - period.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

16. I see what you're saying, especially in light of Kerry's heroic record being used AGAINST him.

Not to mention, McCain's military "job" was bombing villages.

Before Sen. Kerry was swiftboated I would have been averse to going this direction, especially as a veteran myself.

But, why should this discussion be off limits, especially if McCain plans to use it to leverage a win in the GE? :shrug:

[WyLoochka]

18. He is no more

a "hero" than the 200,000 homeless Vietnam vets who are still wandering around the country, most of whom are totally ignored by their fellow countrymen.

He is luckier than they are though, as he is the son of an admiral and had a superior support network to come home to.

He's a bit more heartlessly crafty too. To wit, his quick dumping of his disfigured wife, who had endured much while waiting for him, for a wealthy beer heiress who could help him with the financial backing and connections to launch his career in politics.

[Buzz Clik]

20. Yeah, surving torture is special. Period.