Iraq Vet: McCain’s ‘Not The Only Person Who Suffered In War,’ ‘He Doesn’t Get A Free Pass’
Iraq Vet: McCain’s ‘Not The Only Person Who Suffered In War,’ ‘He Doesn’t Get A Free Pass’
Yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was asked on the Today Show whether he had an estimate of when troops could come home from Iraq. McCain replied, “No, but it’s not too important. What’s important is the casualties in Iraq.” Defending McCain against what his campaign called “a false attack,” Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) cited McCain’s Vietnam experience as justification for McCain’s assertion.
Appearing on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, VoteVets Vice Chairman and Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Brandon Friedman disputed the idea that McCain’s military experience gave him “carte blanche” on war issues. He called McCain’s comments “a morale crusher,” and said veterans like him “would expect a lot more” from someone who’s “been in our shoes”:
FRIEDMAN: John McCain should know better. You know, he’s been in our shoes. He’s had it worst than most of us. You know, he should know better. … You know, we all respect John McCain’s service. But he’s not the only person who suffered in war. We have troops coming back from this war who are quadriplegics, who’ve been maimed, who had to go through so much. And, you know, it doesn’t give him a carte blanche reason to say something like that. He doesn’t it get a free pass.
Watch it:
Despite the McCain camp’s attempt to spin away his comments, the fact is McCain has a history of being careless when it comes to soldiers. He spearheaded opposition to Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century GI Bill, helped block legislation lengthening the time soldiers spend at home between deployments, and has consistently voted against increasing funding for the Veterans Administration.
Though McCain constantly touts his support of the troops — and their support of him — his record belies his rhetoric.
Transcript:
OLBERMANN: How do veterans, how do veterans` families feel when they hear that the man who wants to be the next commander-in-chief does not think it`s too important when they come home?
FRIEDMAN: Keith, this is a morale crusher. You know, if you can imagine, say a sergeant, who`s on his third tour and he`s in the 14th month of that tour and he hears the potential president saying something like this, it kills morale.
You know, the troops are over there and, you know, I`ve been there, I`ve had to deal with this. But the troops over there hang on every word they hear from a leader, you know, especially the commander-in-chief but also someone who could be the commander-in-chief.
And when they hear something like this, you know, it really kills them on the inside because, you know, their families want them home. They want to come home, you know, or focus on the real global war on terror elsewhere. But this is really a killer when you hear something like this.
OLBERMANN: What I hear when I hear from servicemen or I talk to vets, more than anything else, is their astonishment when generals or veterans like McCain or the brass — just to use the general term there — don`t get it. That of all people, these are the ones they naively thought would understand risk and sacrifice. Does it — does it matter more that they are abandoned by a John McCain who did serve as opposed to a George Bush who did not?
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely, Keith. You know, we`ve come to not expect a whole lot from George W. Bush. But when you have a veteran like John McCain who has gone through so much in Vietnam, you really expect a lot more out of him because the way you see it as a soldier or marine or airman or whatever, is that John McCain should know better.
You know, he`s been in our shoes. He`s had it worst than most of us. You know, he should know better.
And, you know, for those of us who`ve been there and who`ve lived through this, we just would expect a lot more and it really saddens us, you know, to see this happen, because there are thousands and thousands of veterans who`d just disagree with him on this.
OLBERMANN: And the Lieberman reaction or the reaction to his reaction, where basically he referenced McCain`s status as a veteran, as POW, as war hero, as carte blanche for the excuse for this, as if McCain is immune to military criticism simply because he was a POW, that the merits can`t even be discussed. Then, that reminds me of every bit of army red tape I`ve ever heard of or every bit of censorship that a military sometimes invokes in times of war relative to its own personnel.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely. You know, we all respect John McCain`s service. But he`s not the only person who suffered in war. We have troops coming back from this war who are quadriplegics, who`ve been maimed, who had to go through so much. And, you know, it doesn`t give him a carte blanche reason to say something like that. He doesn`t it get a free pass.
You know, we`ve been over there, too. We`ve been in war too. And we know what it`s like. And he doesn`t get a free pass, especially from us because we hold him to a higher standard.
And you know, all I can say is that we respect John McCain`s service. All we ask in return is that he respects ours. And from many of the people I talked to, who are on active duty, or who have just come off active duty but who have served over there, we don`t feel like we`re getting that a lot of the time.
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Right the GOPhuque ON!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pmAt least he doesn’t trowel on the makeup like a trollop, you c***!
What is a trollop anyway?
June 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pmI concur with Friedman, McPutz is not the ONLY vet who went to war. There are many other vets and so, his veteran status does NOT give him carte blanch on all matters on war & peace, and veteran issues.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pmGrampy McSame says – My Friends back in the day we liked staying where we were, nope, if you went for a walk somewhere, you’d stay there, no matter what, I never thought about going home after I went somewhere, never, neeevvveeer, I tell ya, I don’t care if the woods were full of bears and wild monkeys armed with coconuts, I wouldn’t care to leave, nope once I go somewhere I stay the course, just think what would happen if everyone that went somewhere would turn around and go back home, that would be total madness, why even my dog doesn’t do that, once I let him out, it’s off he goes, I sure do go thru the dogs though…I think I sat in a coconut cream pie….mmmm….it just doesn’t matter.
Admit it grampy, you are stumbling and still the MSM is giving you all the breaks that they can.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pmflavinoid ~ a floozy, a lady of the night, a tramp…
June 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pmgetting the pix?
It’s about time. I have long wondered how he gets to be the spokesman for all veterans. They are not a block of tunnel-blind robots. They have views as diverse as any other group of Americans. And, of course, many are opposed to this war.
John McCain – NOPE t-shirts and stickers available now.
It’s time that McCain’s self-appointed status as Veteran-in-Chief is challenged.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pmUsing “Lieberman Logic”, why doesn’t the Republicanic Party nominate the most severely war-induced brain damaged veteran who had registered as a Republican to run for president? Using “Lieberman Logic”, this person would have the most authority and credibility to lead us at this critical time period in our foreign policy.
John McCain should be respected for his war service and injuries. But he should be open to criticism, if not outright contempt, for his war policies.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pmMcCLUELESS!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pmAnd this is McCain’s Party who swiftboated both Kerry and another great wounded warrior, Max Cleland. And Johnny Boy didn’t come to either man’s side.
Goes to show that he is an Elitist as a veteran, just like he and his beer-selling wife is.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pmMr. Friedman raises an amazingly valid point. As a Vietnam Veteran, and a former POW, Mr. McCain should be held to a much higher standard in regards to both this war of choice and in how he deals with American armed forces and veterans. How can a man who’s receiving more the $50,000 in veteran’s benefits oppose rewarding those who care enough to put their lives on the line in service of this country? Why doesn’t the ‘Liberal Media’ step up and at least question this milestone in hypocrisy?
June 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pmImpeach Perino, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Add:
….in their personal lives.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pmHe is certainly not the only one that served. I do honor his service, and that of all our veterans.
That being said, he needs to understand that we, the American people, are tired of this endless war for a lie! We want our veteran’s supported by passing the GI bill. Supporting the troops means more than little yellow ribbon magnets.
Obama is right, McCain is not.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pmMcShame!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pmMcCain does not relate to the troops. With all due respect to him as a serviceman and a POW — he was only a Navy pilot! What does he know about our Army and Marines on the ground? He only sees the 30,000 foot view (both figuratively and literally).
June 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pmMcCain went through a lot as a POW. Normally one would think that this would make the vet a lot more sensitive to the needs of other vets. I am not to sure that that is true. Why does hazing continue in many fraternities? Why do some bosses who were abused at the beginning of their career (think associates at a law firm) turn around and abuse those coming up behind them? Why do some commanders in the military continue similar traditions on the new soldiers behind them?
There is an attitude that develops. You have probably heard it as well: “Do not complain to me. I had it a lot worse than you did.”McCain comes from a privileged military family (father and grandfather 4 star admirals) with a guaranteed admission and passage through the academy. The time spent in captivity must have been especially tough on him. Unfortunately, he has developed an attitude that no one else (at least very, very few) ever went through what he had endured and have no right to complain about their treatment in the system or to expect special consideration for their service. To McCain, few could earn or deserve it.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pmTeleMan Says:
Make that 30,000 feet and 30,000 B.C.!
I thought it was the finishing fifth from the bottom in your academy class and being the son and grandson of Admirals that gave you the free pass…..
June 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pmAs a VietNam war vet, I don’t give McIIIrd an inch on his supposed CINC qualification assertion.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pmHe’s never commanded anything more complex than a training unit.
He’s never demonstrated any ana!ytic behavior that would lend itself to the complex equation of talk versus fight that a POTUS needs.
Now, as a POUTER, he’s eminently qualified.
Hey, moderator! It took three tries before I realized that I had to modify the word ana!ytical to get past moderation.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pmIs your software that stupid?
Since when is being a former prisoner of war qualification for president of the U.S.?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:09 pmSince when is being a former lousy pilot qualification for commander in chief of the military?
#15 JMOHR Says:
There is an attitude that develops. You have probably heard it as well: “Do not complain to me. I had it a lot worse than you did.”McCain comes from a privileged military family (father and grandfather 4 star admirals) with a guaranteed admission and passage through the academy. The time spent in captivity must have been especially tough on him. Unfortunately, he has developed an attitude that no one else (at least very, very few) ever went through what he had endured and have no right to complain about their treatment in the system or to expect special consideration for their service. To McCain, few could earn or deserve it.
That is an excellent point. He has developed a callous attitude towards other vets. McCain has shown that unsympathetic side over and over again in the way he votes against Veterans Issues. What angers me is his hyprocrisy of saying how much he supports them. May 26th 2008 McCain said ”
I take a back seat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans.” That anyone would believe this is just astounding. Because every politician practically has a better voting record for veterans than he does.
Great post as always-thank you :)
June 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pmMany want to attribute the callowness of McShame to his age rather than to his basic intelligence. He didn’t get to be ranked 894/899 in his graduating class from Annapolis because he was the brightest bulb in the pack. His was a legacy enrollment. If his father was not an admiral and another relative also a line officer, it is really doubtful that he would have been accepted on his own merits.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pmA large number of those who served their country suffered as much or more than McShame did for their service, but have not tried to use that to advance their careers. I am tired of hearing about McShame the hero. His accomplishments since the service are less than remarkable. Given how he treated his first wife and his kids, he doesn’t qualify for hero status in my book. Nor is the homewrecker who is his current wife anything to write home about.
celtic cynic Says:
Since when is being a former lousy pilot qualification for commander in chief of the military?
Whaddya mean lousy? He’s an Ace! He took out 5 aircraft! (What? They were our planes?)
June 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pmceltic cynic Says:
Since when is being a former lousy pilot qualification for commander in chief of the military?
Well, our current CiC, went to flight school, just couldn’t bother to show up for his monthly weekend training sessions in the ANGUS. And he finished about at the same levels as Johnny Boy in his legacy-purchased ed-U-kashon.
Some very similar traits between these two AssKlowns!
June 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pmMcCain may have been a lousy pilot but looking at Bush, I just don’t see how that mush-for-brains was ever qualified to fly a Cessna much less a jet. Would you even get in a car with him?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pmMcCain isn’t a jerk because he was a POW or because he’s old. He’s that way in spite of his experience. He’s got the same personality disorder that W has as exhibited by his lack of empathy for his fellow man. He was a privileged brat flaunting his connections throughout his Naval Academy who didn’t have enough discipline to “act” like he gave a crap. He has exploited his POW status to stop all the negative facts about him from being discussed. We cannot elect a president because he dictates what is off topic in regards to his personal flaws.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pmTeleman, W is afraid to ride a horse, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t piloted anything since he went AWOL.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pmI wrote a comment which was neither vile nor containing ad hominem attacks against anyone yet Think Progress has seen fit to “moderate” my comment. What exactly are they moderating? It seems that I may have been under the mistaken belief that liberal blogs have been great believers in tolerance and wishing to encourage critical thinking. Perhaps I may have been wrong in making that assumption.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:03 pm.
What Senator Johnny McTORTURE meant was:
“As long as we protect the troops from ‘death’ we can keep them in this clusterfu(k for life…”
.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pmShayne Says:
Teleman, W is afraid to ride a horse, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t piloted anything since he went AWOL.
How about the time he was getting the photo op’ where he was running the big excavation equipment and about ran over the press?
He’s literally like a kid when they let him run the big gear for photo op’s.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:29 pmThe Kanye West infamous 7 words come to mind concerning Mr. Straight Jacket Talk Express:
John
McCain
doesn’t
care
about
the
troops!
Memo to Grampa:
1. You are not the only person on this earth who served in the military nor was injured while serving.
2. Iraq leaders don’t want the U.S. troops there anymore and they want the meddling in their country to stop.
3. The troops are human beings and not casualities nor a number!
Finally, the war in Iraq is not a war but an invasion on false pretenses!
June 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm