I can't think of a single USNA graduate (James Webb, John McCain, Jimmy Carter, Charles Larson) who I am proud to see in politics. What's up with that?
I think a vast majority of sailors are fine people. But remember that in the post WW2 era, the Navy was where kids could go if they weren't into draft-dodging but didn't want to worry about actually getting killed in a war zone. Neither Korea or Vietnam put naval forces in extreme danger.
Of course, the Swift Boats were highly dangerous, but there were only a few people who served in that capacity. Kerry wouldn't have been on swift boats if he hadn't asked for the assignment -- and he did that because his friend was killed and he wanted revenge.
BTW, according to his authorised book Tour Of Duty, once he was in Vietnam for a month, having seen guys come back (and not) from swift boat patrols, he decided he didn't want to do it. He skipped a meeting, and was "volunteered" for duty. He begged his commander to take him off the duty, but his commander made him go.
That's not part of his story he brags about. I've urged people who didn't like the SBVets to read Tour Of Duty instead, it usually had the same effect once I told them what to pay attention to.
Oliver North did not succeed in his run for Senator either.