A Quiet Humanitarian

The Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | Michael Gerson

[Amelia]

....Given her history of humanitarianism, these adjectives might be associated with McCain herself. The election of her husband would also bring to the White House an adventurous, traveled, intriguingly fearless first lady. Over the years, McCain has taken medical services to a Sandinista stronghold after Nicaragua's civil war; set up a mobile hospital near Kuwait City while the oil wells still burned from the Persian Gulf War; helped in Bangladesh after a cyclone. And while in that country in 1991 she found her daughter Bridget in an orphanage -- "She really picked me," McCain insists. Sometimes the desire to save every child is properly concentrated on a single child.

Like most of Cindy McCain's life, these stories are generally hidden behind a wall of well-tailored reticence. She values the privacy of her family and resents the intrusiveness of the media. None of her relief work has been done for political consumption or Washington prominence. On the contrary, it has been an alternative life to the culture of the capital -- the rejection of the normal progress of a senator's wife. "It is not about me -- it never has been. I felt it was important -- that I had to do it. I never took government money. It was my own, and I am not ashamed of it." ...

[Amelia]

I've left a lot of this out, as we're required to do, but this is a really wonderful article about Cindy McCain and her relief work.

In the media, I've heard a lot more about her "skeleton closet" than about her humanitarian work, but it seems this side of her *ought* to get more attention.

Can you see Michelle Obama doing this sort of thing?

[Kimmers]

I have not seen any articles about Michelle going to Africa to help out “her people”......the contrast between the two of these is stark

[fullchroma]

I have not seen any articles about Michelle going to Africa to help out “her people”......the contrast between the two of these is stark.

I'll say. The Quiet Humanitarian and the Garrulous Narcissist

[Amelia]

Would it be possible for you to please add “(Cindy McCain)” to the title of this thread, so people will have a better idea of the content?

I should have done that myself when posting.

Thanks for your consideration!

[AmericaUnite]

Wow. This was in the Washington Post!

[Amelia]

I have not seen any articles about Michelle going to Africa to help out “her people”......the contrast between the two of these is stark

Is it not?

I was a bit surprised that a woman of Cindy's wealth would subject herself to the danger she has. It sounds as if she is as much of a hero, in her own way, as her husband.

[Amelia]

Wow. This was in the Washington Post!

Yeah, can you believe it? I couldn't.

[Salvation]

Cindy McCain bump. Wonderful lady.

[Kimmers]

The more I read about Cindy the more my admiration grows for her. She has done all of this quietly and with publicity... I do appreciate anyone that donates money or time, I am not impressed when it is done accompanied by a press junket or a structure named after the donor.

[avacado]

The next First Lady of the United States of America!

[Amelia]

The more I read about Cindy the more my admiration grows for her. She has done all of this quietly and with publicity... I do appreciate anyone that donates money or time, I am not impressed when it is done accompanied by a press junket or a structure named after the donor.

Exactly! John McCain has never been my favorite candidate (except compared to Obama) but after reading this I would like to vote for him just to get Cindy as First Lady!

[hershey]

Bingo!

[Katarina]

I really like her she would make an awesome First Lady.