In mid-1968, his father John S. McCain Jr. was named commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater, and the North Vietnamese offered McCain early release because they wanted to appear merciful for propaganda purposes and also to show other POWs that elite prisoners were willing to be treated preferentially. McCain refused repatriation unless every man taken in before him was also released. Such early release was prohibited by the POWs’ interpretation of the military Code of Conduct which states in Article III: ‘I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.’ To prevent the enemy from using prisoners for propaganda, officers were to agree to be released in the order in which they were captured.
Beginning in August 1968, McCain was subjected to a program of severe torture. He was bound and beaten every two hours; this punishment occurred at the same time that he was suffering from heat and dysentery. Further injuries brought McCain to ‘the point of suicide,’ but his preparations were interrupted by guards. Eventually, McCain made an anti-U.S. propaganda ‘confession.’ He had always felt that his statement was dishonorable, but as he later wrote, ‘I had learned what we all learned over there: every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine.’ Many U.S. POWs were tortured and maltreated in order to extract ‘confessions’ and propaganda statements; virtually all of them eventually yielded something to their captors. McCain received two to three beatings weekly because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements.
The very definition of a hero: John McCain.
Does that sound like a hero? You’re goddamn right it does. John McCain was a great American hero. I honor his service and sacrifice for this country. Thus a non-serving asshole like Trump casting aspersions on a hero disqualifies him from being Commander in Chief of the US Military. PERIOD. All Veterans should stand firm on this. Complain all you want about the morality of wars our heroes fought. Of course question the politics. However, if you are running for public office, don’t you EVER sneer at or mock the service of the men and women who sacrificed for this country. One thing I won’t do is vote for any asshole who does this. Ever.
What did Trump do during Vietnam? He hid behind daddy’s money and claimed he had bone spurs in his feet to avoid military service. Good for him. Maybe Vietnam was no place for an American to fight a war. Mohammed Ali thought so and took a principled stance against the war that cost him his world title and millions in earnings. Many more Americans opposed the war, protested against it, and some even ran off to Canada to avoid the draft. I could never agree to do something like that, but I get it—not everyone needs to be a warrior for the USA to be patriotic or love this country. Most shouldn’t. You don’t even have to have served in the military to be President of the USA. But at the least, PLEASE, honor the ones who do sacrifice. Even your political enemies. I couldn’t stand McCain the politician, but McCain the Veteran? Loved him.
But Trump? He chickenshitted his way out of fighting in the war, OK, fine, but then had the fucking petty, bitchy, and childish gall to question McCain’s sacrifice while running for President? We’re so proud, Donny. Please vote this creep out of office.
