Most of us consider John McCain a war hero. I certainly do. McCain was a prisoner of war for five and a half years after being shot down over Hanoi. He was beaten and tortured and forced to sign confessions of war crimes. Once the Vietnamese found out McCain’s father was the commander of all the Naval forces in the Pacific the offered him a chance to go home early. McCain refused because none of the other American prisoners of war would have been let free. In other words, McCain said I’m not leaving without them. That is heroic.
Vietnam Veteran Ted Sampley disagrees. Sampley is a former Green Beret that served in combat for two years during Vietnam. He was a guest on Ankarlo Mornings today, saying McCain’s Naval Career has been helped out by his family name (both McCain’s father and grandfather were four-star Admirals). Sampley also says McCain has been working hard to normalize relations with Vietnam despite the fact that several prisoners of war haven’t been returned to America. Read more of what Sampley says here.
For full disclosure’s sake, Sampley is behind a group called “Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.” Sound familiar? It should because Sampley had a significant role with the “Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry” in 2004.
You won’t hear me questions either Kerry or McCain’s war record. They served and served well. Sampley served. He has raised his issues with McCain. I have my own. But, they are based on his legislative records. I can site three examples: McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy and McCain-Lieberman. McCain-Feingold is a serious attack on the free speech portion of the first amendment. McCain-Kennedy was the failed immigration “amnesty” bill from 2007 and McCain-Lieberman pushes the federal government to get more involved in the global warming debate. That being said, McCain has a lifetime 83% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union (though his 2006 rating was only a 65). Doesn’t that count for something?
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Anyone attacking John McCain’s military record and especially his time spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam needs to have a similar experience. Otherwise, they are just repeating internet stories that they want to believe and that agrees with their own thoughts. I don’t agree with all of McCain’s politics (immigration and global warming) but I as Vietnam veteran would never denigrate his prisoner of war experience. To do otherwise really a cheapens all veterans from all wars. I suspect that Ted Sampley may have an agenda other than setting a record straight.
Ankarlo says he will not question McCain’s war record . . . but he devotes an hour of his program to a veteran of questionable credibility to slander McCain up and down. Check Mr. Sampley out on the internet and see what kind of person he is. He certainly is not a reliable authority on anything to do with the Vietnam War. This is a cheap, below-the-belt attack by Ankarlo who would love to see Sen. McCain lose tomorrow. And Ankarlo is going to criticize the Clinton attack machine? In the immortal words of Tony Femino, “What a joke!”
John,
Thank you. You speak a deep and profound truth. Kurtz I also want to see juan McCain loose tomorrow. However I do not wish to hear one vet belittle or trash anothers service record, to me this is a disgrace to all vets and I am sure these brothers in arms would agree.
First I want to state that I cannot even imagine the fear and devistating pain inflicted and endured by John McCain as well as other POW’s. And cannot even imagine how I would handle that situation. However, I do have to wonder about some of these stories, why the favortism for McCain and what about those men that died because they refused to give the information to the enemy that McCain admittedly gave. That being said, what matters at this point is:
It has become quite evident that McCain has a temper issue. What kind of a “LEADER” responds to adversity with the anger he lashes out with.We have heard it with our own ears. What happens when he isnt able to get the leader of another country to agree with him. Scarry!
I also have to wonder about the confidence and honesty of a man
(or woman) that will not look you in the eye when he debates, or disagrees with you. And takes the bits and pieces of an issues that suites him to bash someone else.
We have all heard and seen him behave in a very un presidential manner, He may very well be a great military mind, that being said the issues our country needs a president that has control of his emotions, can look you in the eye,can disagree with you and still treat you with respect. One that understand, you surround yourself with advisors who are very knowledable in the areas you may not be as knowledgable about. With strong men and women that can advise you. I cannot see McCain doing that. He will not want anyone strong surrounding him as I feel he would be intimidated by that. We need a leader with strong unwaivering values who we know we can trust.
What canidate has not had any dirt dug up on them througout this entire campaign? What canidate has looked his apponents in the eye while they bash him?
Our country is in a shakey state and this is not a popularity contest and magnanimous does not always a leader make. I personaly cannot vote for socialism nor can I vote for a man who acts like a High scool canidate.
I think the point is that Ankarlo will do abosultely anything to point out the bad in a candidate he does not like. His personal distaste and the public display thereof shows how weak he really is.
As for Mitt he is not squeaky clean. He didn’t get to where he was without stomping all over some people.
Point is people are sick of the holier than thou attitude of the GOP. It’s not that all Democrats are perfrect. It is that we don’t profess to be. The GOP puts themself up on this pedastal and then continues to knock themself off of that pedastal because of their close antics; ie, racism, infedility, lying, gay sex and the list goes on and on.
While some in the domocraatic power circles may be guilty of the above. We do not stand up there and preach that we are not and then do exactly the opposite behind closed doors.
Ankarlo you need to learn to hear out of your left ear as well. If you actually can hear and listen from both you will be better off for it.
Dell I agree with Janet. Man after reading your blog feel as though my standing as a Republican has been attacked and I have no defense. I think I need a rape shower, some how I just feel dirty.