Comments on: McCain Falling into the Kerry Trap?

By: Steve Perry

Steve Perry — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:51:41 +0000

I have voted for McCain and will continue to vote for him and support him with all my heart. Although a republican, he tries to reach consensus with the other party, but does what he thinks is right regardless of the consequences. Think about the other front runners in the Republican primaries. Have they changed their positions on important issues? Positions that they ran on over and over again when they began running for President? What stands have they taken that were sure to alienate a large section of their own party? And what sacrifices have they made for this country? Sure John served in the Navy, but he's been a member of the Armed Services committee for a long time so it's kind of a hollow argument to say he doesn't know what it's like to be in the Army. What do Romney, Giuliani, Clinton, Obama, Gingrich, Edwards, or any of the others know about the military-- period? What sacrifices have they made that shows their love of our country?

By: Eneils Bailey

Eneils Bailey — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:45:10 +0000

"I salute him, but I can not vote for him."

Thanks Wayne, for reminding me, my comment is in the context of the Presidential Primary.

In the general election, holding my nose and crossing my fingers, I would vote for McCain over any democrat in the field.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:15:41 +0000

McCain service and Kerry service including Kerry's three weeks on the river has little in common. Saying they both receive the Silver Star is misleading as well particularly for that time period. It implies they both did similar actions to receive it, which was often not the case.

I admire McCain’s service. Although it ticks me off when he acts like he knows how it is to be in any branch of the service. A pilot’s and infantryman’s job are completely different not to mention Special Forces.

However the only way I will vote for McCain using the current list of candidates for president is if he is running against Clinton.

By: cian

cian — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:57:21 +0000

There’s not a Republican voter who doesn’t honor McCain’s sacrifices for his country in Vietnam; not too many Americans,

Absolutely James. His extraordinary heroism cannot be denied, and as an ordinary Joe challenged by nothing more than the usual trials and tribulations of 21st century middle American life, his courage has always been an inspiration.

But politics in general, and the presidency particularly, is all about the art of the possible and, as we have seen over the past few months, requires huge compromise and an innate ability to pander. No matter how he tries, it just doesn't suit a man of McCain stature and it shows.

Also, as was pointed out by veteran organisations at the time, the swiftboat attack didn't just ridicule Kerry's medals, it put a question mark over all such awards. Watching supporter of President Bush wearing band aids on their faces at the republican convention in 2004 was truly depressing. What was it that sticker Homer wore in one episode said? Oh yeah, 'Supporting some of our troops'. Get one to General Pace, quick.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:50:02 +0000

All that said, though, I wonder if McCain isn’t falling into the same trap as John Kerry in 2004: Campaigning as if it’s 1973.

You make it sound like this is a change for him.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:15:39 +0000

I'm not sure where McCain is going with this. His service is absolutely a plus. But, like Kerry found out, service is not a trump card that excuses all else.

I suppose it doesn't hurt to push something that you would probably find 99% of republicans would give McCain high marks on, but the problems McCain is having with the republican base doesn't stem from their forgetting he served.

The best thing you can say for it is that it is a positive message telling us about McCain (and thus why we should vote for him) as opposed to a negative message tearing down his competition.

By: anjin-san

anjin-san — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 06:19:59 +0000

Did Bush and his crew honor McCain's sacrifices for his country when they slimed him during the 2000 campaign? The "war hero" factor is overrated. I think McCain is a hell of a guy for enduring what he did in 'Nam. I still don't really want him to be president.

By: Eneils Bailey

Eneils Bailey — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:03:28 +0000

DM,
I agree with you 100 per cent.
I have the utmost respect for John McCain and what he went through for this country. It is enough to make you cry when you read about what he endured for this country at the POW camps. And I have no problems with the people of Arizona who keep him a a United States Senator.
It always surprises the leftoids when you can speak of a personal life and separate that from their political life. If I came face to face with John McCain, I would be in awe of him as a person. And I would disagree with him vehemently on his political decisions. I could dish out my disagreements with him, but I am sure he could take it. No doubt, he has seen far worse than me.
I don't know what he has been through, could not even imagine.
I salute him, but I can not vote for him.

By: ken

ken — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:32:03 +0000

Judging McCain by his Senate record you would think he was an agent for the Chinese communists.

Throughout his twenty plus years as a US Senator he never once, that's right never once, found anything that our government does worth paying for. Nothing, nada, zip.

If McCain had his way the USA would not exist.

By: Director Mitch

Director Mitch — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:30:15 +0000

There are lots of men and women in uniform who I would shake their hand, buy them a drink, and thank them for serving our country.

That doesn't mean I would want them as my president.

By: Viet Nam Now Exhibition Blog

Viet Nam Now Exhibition Blog — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

- In the mid-1960s, U.S. troops confined the peripatetic Vietcong (and many Vietnamese civilians) to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This alleging any corruption, Sanofi-Aventis spokesman Rene Cazetien said that his company produced 917,000 treatments of ART McCain Falling into the Kerry Trap? Outside Beltway - The son and grandson of Navy Admirals, the North Vietnamese quickly realized when they captured him that they had a special But politics in general, and the presidency particularly, is all about the

By: The Hotline's Blogometer

The Hotline's Blogometer — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

MCCAIN: Vietnam Is Not Enough Describing new John McCain campaign video entitled 'Service with Honor' as "pretty powerful," Outside the Beltway's James Joyner wonders " if McCain isn't falling into the same trap as John Kerry in 2004: Campaigning as if it's 1973." Joyner explains: "There's not a Republican voter who doesn't honor McCain's sacrifices for his country in Vietnam; not too many

By: » OTB News

» OTB News — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Archives December 2006 August 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 [IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] McCain Falling into the Kerry Trap? Survey: Role of Internet Advertising in American Politics Charitable Fundraising Gimmicks Redux Iraq: The Way Ahead Beltway Traffic Jam Mortgage Late Payments, Defaults at All Time Highs U.S. Defense Spending Below Average?