Give it a break. Stockdale did it because he thought it was the right thing to do. Sure, as a politician, he was a square peg in a round hole. But, knowing him as you undoubtedly do, do you think he would have done it if he thought it was the WRONG thing to do? No way.
He did it out of loyalty, and gratitude to Perot for what Perot did. And he did a lot for the POW's, and not for his own personal gain.
Say what you will about Perot, his involvement with the POW's was not a charade to further his own objectives. He was pushing it when nobody gave a good damn about them.
It is true that Perot enabled the Clintons to gain the White House. I voted for Perot almost completely because he had Stockdale with him. It was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made, and I sure do regret it.
My dad was a 30 year naval veteran, and we lived overseas during nearly the entire Vietnam war. As a kid, I was completely into the plight of the POW's. I knew their names and stories. I had the bracelets, the whole nine yards. I went to Andrews AFB when they released them and flew them home, and watched it all on television.
When I joined the Navy, My first squadron Commanding Officer was Commander McCain (VA-174). I sure don't respect him politically, but I sure do respect him for what he did for his country.
Bottom line, Admiral Stockdale deserves our unmitigated respect for what he did, because he did it out of principle. It may have been wrong, but he did it for all the right reasons.
I didn't like the way the media portrayed him, either.
You can be sure he didn't appreciate it either, but I will bet you a buck he just shrugged it off.
For a man who went toe-to-toe with his inquisitors in that North Vietnamese hellhole, I do not think for a second that Admiral Stockdale lost any sleep over the way he was ridiculed.
I think he was just too at peace with himself and who he was to be offended by Saturday Night Live or their ilk.