No matter what you think of McCain, and I am NOT a fan, the optics on this one are bad enough that if someone on staff actually requested this, then that person should be made free to pursue other opportunities. I’m not at all sure it really happened. There are some indications that perhaps the ship was being painted right up until the day before the event, and then the tarp removed right before, and a maintenance barge sent away so as to not be part of the warship anchorage for the event. Someone needs to get to the bottom of what really happened and take appropriate action / PR steps beyond what has happened to date.
Totally agree with you.