Vietnam Vets Against John McCcain
By 4magoo
@4magoo (396)
October 19, 2008 2:56am CST
I am a Vietnam vet and was the Commander of the 39th Scout Dogs of the 173rd Airborne. Someone sent me this link. It was shocked by what I read. For example trading military information for medical help. The Hanoi press quoted McCain III by describing his mssion including the number of aircraft in his flight, information about rescue ships, and the order in which US attacks would take place. On June 5, 1969 the New York Daily News reported in an article headlined "Reds Say PW Songbird is Pilot Son of Admiral," It goes on to talk in detail about what was said and other newspaper articles covering the same subject. McCain has strongly been opposed to releasing information on MIA's. Why? Was he brainwashed? Of course he was ... anyone captured is put through brainwashing segments and when they found out he was the son of an admiral, he would have been subjected to it more than others. Does this have any bearing on his ability to lead or ability to make quality judgments? I don't know but since the issue has been raise of his war record and his "leadership" I think that Fox News would agree that in the spirit of fair and balanced reporting, we should look at what the other side has to say about his war record and its possible negative effect on his ability to lead.
Is this information posted on this website accurate and should McCain be challenged to explain his actions in Vietnam and his reasons for opposing the full disclosure of MIA materials?
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/mccain_post_card_word%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
3 responses
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I've known most of this for quite some time, because of my work with Vietnam vets, and honestly, I've counted it to the credit of the Obama campaign that they have not gone there - at all. Considering that he has made it a centerpiece of his campaign, it would have been an easy hit. There have been some calls among left wing bloggers for the Navy to release McCain's full service record, and some under-the-radar mutterings about him having given out military information that caused American deaths, but nothing like the full-scale frontal attack on Obama's patriotism.
For myself, the suggestion that McCain is a Manchurian candidate who was brainwashed during his captivity is pretty ludicrous. He admitted himself in his book that he reached his breaking point under torture, and I don't count that against him. I honestly don't think that dragging McCain through that kind of investigations serves anyone's purpose, and I wouldn't want to see it.
@4magoo (396)
•
19 Oct 08
Like I have said before, you are nicer than I am. Obama is also a nicer person than I am but that is why he should be presisdent. After this election we are going to have some big divides in our country and we need someone that can stay above the fray, keep calm and not take it personal.
What do you do with vets. I am a disable vet. 10% for hearing. Not very exciting or anything.
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I doubt that I'm a nicer person than you, 4magoo. My kids would certainly not think so ;). They've been listening to me yell at the television for weeks now. I just think that it's not a good path to go down - this country is divided enough already, and our only real hope is to put aside our differences and unite. It's also very well known that negative attacks on people rather than on policy and positions just don't play well to a Democrat base. It's purely practical.
These days, I don't do much with veterans. Before my position was cut due to huge state budget cuts in 2001, I developed a curriculum and taught computer repair and information technology, as well as office computer skills to vets in a shelter for homeless veterans. We also did a lot of job outreach and general advocacy work with homeless veterans - though we didn't turn away ANY veteran - helping them fill out and file paperwork for VA claims for medical care. The shelter was a grassroots effort - I performed in several benefits to help raise funds to buy an abandoned armory and rehab it into a shelter for homeless veterans, and had the supreme pleasure of working alongside community organizers and veterans to wash and paint walls during the earliest years, before they attracted any VA and government grant funding.
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
19 Oct 08
You know what? I don't think you really want to go there and it's a good thing that the Obama camp hasn't.
The man spent five years as a prisoner of war. He could have gone home early but he stayed until they all went home together. The man had multiple broken bones and was delirious. I doubt you or many people could have endured the pain. I am more concerned with Obama's shady past than I am with McCain's past.
@4magoo (396)
•
19 Oct 08
And why would I not want to go there? I volunteered for the Army Infantry and was a first leutenant in Vietnam with the 173rd. There are a lot of men that have seen a lot more action than McCain. I will admit that we probably shouldn't go there but for the reasons of not further dividing the country not because I think that he did anything great. He just attempted to survive. You would do it and I would do it. It does't make us special. It makes us human.
As to the shady past, what are you talking about? Everything to share has been shared. You aren't still trying to make hay with the old Ayers thing are you?
