Did John McCain Say He Didn't Really Love America?

Talking Points Memo ^ | 6/19/08

[mngran2]

Yes he did.

On his show tonight, Dan Abrams drew attention to a quote from John McCain in an interview with Sean Hannity that flew under the radar for the past 3 months:

HANNITY: -- and then I understand you didn't get any medical help for nine days. You spent two years of this five-and-a-half-year period in solitary confinement. What does that do to a person, to spend that much time in solitary confinement?

MCCAIN: I think it makes you a better person. Obviously, it makes you love America. I really didn't love America until I was deprived of her company, but probably the most important thing about it, Sean, is that I was privileged to have the opportunity to serve in the company of heroes.

In light of all of the political hay that the repubs have made out of Michelle Obama saying that seeing such enthusiasm in this election cycle had caused her to be really proud of America for the first time in her adult life, I think it is worth giving a second look. Does anybody think McCain didn't love America before he was a POW? No. It's interesting that both McCain and Obama used the qualifier "really" in their statements... although Michelle's comments are oft repeated without the "really." It's interesting how when lines fit or don't fit particular scripts the are or are not noticed. Obama's comment were pounced upon almost immediately, while McCain's comment wasn't noticed for 3 months.

[HappyinAZ]

.......You are posting misinformation again. Still attacking long time freepers and recommending visits to liberal sites.....

I’m sorry...what planet are you reporting in from today?

Take your meds sweetie and go rest while the rest of us discuss politics.

[Rapscallion]

Let me make the statement very clear for fool Dan Abrams:

I really did not love America until I was deprived of her... and I saw how much I had taken my freedoms for granted. Freedom from torture, freedom from captivity, freedom to walk around unhindered. freedom to read, freedom to speak, freedom to worship. I realized how really free and wonderful America is and I swore I would never take it for granted again or fail to love this country every day for the rest of my life....

If you really want to know what McCain meant, have your friends isolate you and treat you like a real captive for just 30 days. Dan Abrams needs the same lesson I believe.

[spacejunkie01]

I don’t think this broad (mngran) is so much a McCain hater as an obama ass kisser. Clearly trying to defend those that hate this country and it’s NOT mccain.

[nikos1121]

I went to school in Europe for 4 years after college. I can say I didn’t truly LOVE America until I was deprived of her. This is vastly different than Michelle Obama who has had the fruit of America and did not like her.

[1035rep]

Why are you posting propaganda from an UnAmerican Democrat Party website?

Because we want to be a garbage dump like DU and KOS ?

[HappyinAZ]

McCain was 31 when he was captured.

Sorry..thought he was in his late 20’s...but it doesn’t really matter....his point was that one doesn’t value their freedoms until they are deprived of them.

[1035rep]

Wow, what a touching story. I’m glad it had a happy ending.

[TribalPrincess2U]

“Because we want to be a garbage dump like DU and KOS ? “

No, because we want the truth to be heard. This only gets to be garbage when people from DU and Kos think they can post their crap on FR and get away with it.

[1035rep]

That was my point all along.

Nice try.

[1035rep]

Exactly!!!!!!

[Sacajaweau]

Geez...Little slow on comprehension??

[DogBarkTree]

Im no fan of McLame but this thread is absurd. Makes me wonder what the real point of this really is.

[1035rep]

You should have seen the one last night regarding Cindy McCain’s “evil eyes”. Obviously the liberals are running scared. They just discovered Obama doesn’t walk on water.

[TalonDJ]

No, because we want the truth to be heard. This only gets to be garbage when people from DU and Kos think they can post their crap on FR and get away with it

He posted a excerpt from a TRANSCRIPT. That is about as 'the truth' as you can get. He did not post opinion or 'propaganda' as you put it. Why not direct your hate some place where it is deserved.

[mojito]

This is a shallow and pathetic attempt at a smear. Are the libtards really saying that McCain didn't love America when he enlisted to fight for his country in an unpopular war?

Are they attempting to twist the meaning of the words of a man who was tortured by the enemy, and whose deepening love of his country helped him and his companions survive their ordeal?

This is a fine example of leftist moral equivalence. See? McCain is just like Michelle O! The truth is that Michelle the belle has always had a big chip on her shoulder, and all the opportunities given to her solely because of her race have only made her angrier and more spiteful rather than grateful.

[TalonDJ]

Wow, you sure caught a lot of flak for this post. You would think folks WANTED to make this campaign just about bone headed Freudian slips. Personally I want to see it start focusing on the meat of the issue which is Obama’s pure Marxist policies. Let it go people. Lets get the spotlight on some issues of real substance.

[aruanan]

Yep, I always get kind of a lump in my throat when the Customs person says, "Welcome home."

The contrast between U.S. Customs and that of, say, a Latin American country where the military guy in charge asks your group of students to come with him into a little side room for a look inside their pants is striking.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Go back to DU

[Luke21]

I dislike McCain intensely, but this is a real stretch.

[chesty_puller]

While I was in Viet Nam I didn’t love this country either. According to everything I read, my country sure didn’t love me. This thread is inane.