Now look at McCain. For years he had been dogged by a group of lunatics questioning his honor. These were people of marginal intellect and dubious sanity. These people would stoop to anything to smear his character and his service. They were indeed dishonorable and dishonest.
Don't believe me? Let's take McCain out of the mix and substitute Colonel Bud Day, a man of unquestionable honor and integrity and courage. Do you believe that Colonel Day was a liar, a coward, an opportunist who would sell his MOH for personal or political gain? Read this. Politicizing the Congressional Medal of Honor These are the same people attacking John McCain.
Is it any wonder that McCain would defend a fellow Senator and Vietnam veteran (no matter how undistinguished his service) against charges from the likes of these guys?
The problem was that the Swift Vets were not the likes of these guys. It was the absolutely Sterling character of the Vets, both individually and as a group that finally won the day. People like Ted Sampley made the job a lot tougher.
With McCain's experience, I don't blame him for being doubtful of another group which looked a lot like those he had delt with before.
I really don't want to get into a "who shot John" (sic - no pun intended) concerning John McCain and his service. I did so a few years ago and ended up eating quite a bit of crow.
Mr. McCain endured and survived something that I don't know if I could have. Whether that makes him a hero or not is certainly up to the interpretation of each person making that decision.
I can't however accept your proposition about his inability to take the time and check out the veracity of those Swift Boat Vets that he so rapidly and callously attacked.
I still can't accept him supporting John Kerry's service record during the "war" much less getting anywhere close to supporting the vile man after he (Kerry) came back and vilified us all.
I can accept that Mr. McCain must have some mental and emotional challenges after what he went through. I know I do, and I didn't go through the period of torture and confinement he did.
All that said, I have not gotten to the point that I am able to forgive or forget many of Mr. McCain's words and actions since he has been in political office, especially concerning all matters related to RVN.
Thank you for the kind and respectful manner in which couched your position to me. It was so much more that of a gentleman or lady than replying with a curt "BS".