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Getting to Know John McCain [MUST READ!]
The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 30, 2008 | Karl Rove

Posted on 04/29/2008 10:07:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

It came to me while I was having dinner with Doris Day. No, not that Doris Day. The Doris Day who is married to Col. Bud Day, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, fighter pilot, Vietnam POW and roommate of John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton.

As we ate near the Days' home in Florida recently, I heard things about Sen. McCain that were deeply moving and politically troubling. Moving because they told me things about him the American people need to know. And troubling because it is clear that Mr. McCain is one of the most private individuals to run for president in history.

When it comes to choosing a president, the American people want to know more about a candidate than policy positions. They want to know about character, the values ingrained in his heart. For Mr. McCain, that means they will want to know more about him personally than he has been willing to reveal.

Mr. Day relayed to me one of the stories Americans should hear. It involves what happened to him after escaping from a North Vietnamese prison during the war. When he was recaptured, a Vietnamese captor broke his arm and said, "I told you I would make you a cripple."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; brokenarm; budday; duplicate; election; elections; hanoihilton; karlrove; mccain; nocinmoh; pow; propaganda; rino; rove; vietnam
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To: Wiseghy
"There are few people on Earth who can testify, based upon their experience, to the level of integrity and discipline it would take to stay with one's buddies and endure unspeakable crippling treatment rather than return to a comfortable life at home."

It has been said by those far more knowledgeable then we here on the FR that no person can withstand real torture for very long without telling what he knows. John McCain has admitted to breaking and has expressed his shame and guilt for doing so even though no man could have done any better unless he managed to find a way to kill himself first. I thought I read somewhere that McCain once tried to do that while a prisoner and was undergoing his 5 years of torture.

161 posted on 04/30/2008 3:34:45 AM PDT by Vio24
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To: roamer_1

Why don’t you go and riot at the WTO with your Obama-loving buddies instead of posting here?


162 posted on 04/30/2008 3:35:24 AM PDT by counterpunch (John McCain for President - Because we need VICTORY in Iraq, not RETREAT)
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To: LongElegantLegs
The problem with the list is it is full of half truths and spin. Why weren't links posted to the proof of these claims?

McCain haters will believe anything they are told about him that is negative because they want to. Lemmings all.

163 posted on 04/30/2008 3:38:57 AM PDT by Vio24
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To: exit82
What John McCain did in Hanoi forty years ago is not relevant to today.

According to you then, character means nothing. Why don't you go on back to the DU site.

164 posted on 04/30/2008 3:41:52 AM PDT by Vio24
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To: Vio24
The problem with the list is it is full of half truths and spin.

Where were there any lies or half truths? Everything there is true.
165 posted on 04/30/2008 3:49:22 AM PDT by John D
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Bump!

VETS PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR ROLL CALL ROSTER AT:
http://Vets4McCain.com

166 posted on 04/30/2008 3:54:36 AM PDT by W04Man (OUR TROOPS DESERVE A QUALIFIED CIC....... http:Vets4McCain.com.... sign the Roll Call!)
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Comment #167 Removed by Moderator

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Read later.

McCain's private life is really not that impressive. Ask him about his first marriage ... . How the current one financed his divorce. What condition his first wife was in with three kids ... how he abandoned her because she was disfigured and disabled for the current one. The first wife was a former model. He's not so honorable. He's disgusting.

168 posted on 04/30/2008 4:33:00 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: SoConPubbie
Men change.

Yep, especially when the go inside "the beltway".......

169 posted on 04/30/2008 4:42:54 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly. - B. Franklin)
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To: MARTIAL MONK

And he wants to spend how many trillions on ‘global warming’— er,ah ‘climate change’?

Tell me, what’s his budget for a border fence? Any plans to do something different with federal taxation? I’m sure he’s got lots to say about Social Security reform too.

Conservatives are discovering their lack of influence and power, and looking for new ways to be heard since voting for Republicans apparently isn’t working.


170 posted on 04/30/2008 4:47:03 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, weÂ’re still retarded.)
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To: maine-iac7

Whats the matter.You got a problem with the truth?


171 posted on 04/30/2008 4:47:05 AM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I do not always agree with John McCain’s politics ...but there is NO question in my mind of his suitability for the presidency.


172 posted on 04/30/2008 4:47:07 AM PDT by mo
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To: John D

Ok, show me the links to verify your “truth”


173 posted on 04/30/2008 4:51:19 AM PDT by Vio24
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
McCain had character as a POW. Now, he just is a character (actor). He can play any part with equal enthusiasm working the audience on both sides of the stage (but prefers the left). Who is John McCain, really? Does he even know?
174 posted on 04/30/2008 4:52:24 AM PDT by TADSLOS (John McCain marches stealthily at the half step to the socialist drum to let the sheeple sleep.)
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To: SoConPubbie
Serving has nothing to do with it.

Bullship.

Me, my brothers and my son {currently serving} all served and you say serving has nothing to do with it.

Vets take our service to our Country very seriously.

Which outfit did you serve in?

175 posted on 04/30/2008 4:54:46 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: MarineBrat

Zing! That’s gonna leave a mark.


176 posted on 04/30/2008 4:57:34 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, weÂ’re still retarded.)
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To: ovrtaxt
Tell me, what’s his budget for a border fence? Any plans to do something different with federal taxation? I’m sure he’s got lots to say about Social Security reform too.

He's going to build the fence period. He is going after a flatter, simplified tax code. Social Security is one of his highest priorities.

These are the basics of the McCain campaign, I can't believe that you haven't gotten the message. I think that he may need some adjustments because if you don't know the answers to those questions, there are others in the same position. Check out his campaign website. I think that you will be very pleasantly surprised.

177 posted on 04/30/2008 5:07:37 AM PDT by MARTIAL MONK (I'm waiting for the POP!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thank you for the post, sir. This helps ease the pain after McCain turned on the NC Republicans a few days ago. I still have reservations about him but after reading the article I’ll feel better voting for him.


178 posted on 04/30/2008 5:14:36 AM PDT by DogBarkTree (The correct word isn't "immigrant" when what they are doing is "invading".)
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To: LSUfan
Your cynical attitude towards members of our military is disappointing and belies the general ignorance of someone who failed to serve.

Well gee, that's a new one on me. That must have been somebody else in my body when I was at San Diego, Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, Kaneohe Bay, Philippines, parts of Africa, Indonesia, India and South America...... cause it sure felt like I was in the military.

What I meant is that a lot of military men see a simple line of command with an honorable and wise leader preferable than the mess that is a republican form of democracy.

It has to do with what is the best form of government.

Marcus Aurelius showed that a wise,benevolent and honorable dictator is great. Sometimes the egos of officers thinks that they are "wise, honorable and benevolent"...and that they would bring about change if only they were in charge.

Think about most flag officers that you've known or at least Lt. Col or higher. There are great leaders, great military leaders and great political leaders.

George Washington is at one end of the spectrum and U.S. Grant at the other. See what I mean.... and Dwight D... is somewhere in the middle.

I'm not a "fan" of McCain. I'm a "fan" of freedom. I've earned it (you'll have to trust me on that one). As for "attitude" towards the military.... I'll let all 8 of my uncles, 4-5 cousins and my dad know that I think they would suck as president, since they're all in the military as well..... you hump.

179 posted on 04/30/2008 5:27:13 AM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: MARTIAL MONK; ovrtaxt
I can't believe that you haven't gotten the message.

Yeah, he was loud and clear on the border fence.

"We Are Not Going To Build Fences And Barriers"

Maybe he should link that on his campaign website.

Who is the real John McCain? Does anyone know? Does HE even know?

180 posted on 04/30/2008 5:30:01 AM PDT by TADSLOS (John McCain marches stealthily at the half step to the socialist drum to let the sheeple sleep.)
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