Ben Carson, When Asked If McCain Is a War Hero: ‘Depends on Your Definition’

Mediaite ^ | 07/18/2015 | Josh Feldman

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Dr. Ben Carson was asked about Donald Trump‘s comments today and ended up saying something odd about John McCain.

In case you still haven’t heard, Trump said today, of McCain’s status as a war hero, “He’s a war hero ’cause he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”

Pretty much all of Trump’s GOP rivals came out to scold him over those comments. As of yet, Carson hasn’t done that, but as Politico reported, this is what happened when he was asked:

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, whose appearance followed Trump’s at the summit, declined to comment on Trump’s remarks after leaving the stage. He also would not say when asked whether or not McCain was a war hero. “It depends on your definition of a war hero,” he said.

And that wasn’t all:

In case any of you are actually wondering whether McCain should be considered a war hero, he wrote a firsthand accounting of what he underwent.

Ted Cruz, meanwhile, praised McCain but also refused to say anything negative about Trump.

[Blackirish]

Flight Lieutenant Eric Williams.

[Will88]

Louis Zamperini

Never heard the name. Is he someone well known nationally?

[stanne]

Well Ben Carson sure isn’t going to be the one to clean up this mess.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I don't think this is going to hurt Trump.

I think it's going to hurt McQueeg.

[montag813]

The only reason he got into flight school was because of his daddy. He got shot down because he got drunk the night before and flew hungover.

Songbird McCain CRASHED TWO planes before deployment. NO Navy airman has ever been given a combat aircraft to fly after doing that. But the second plane he crashed while stationed at "McCain Airfield," which pretty much tells you all you need to know. Also look into his indifference (or cowardice?) during the Forrestal fire.

[oh8eleven]

When Asked If McCain Is a War Hero: ‘Depends on Your Definition’
I still do not understand how being captured by the enemy makes someone a hero.
Perhaps one's behavior while being held captive can be seen as heroic ... but I don't think that includes McCain.
IIRC, he got special treatment by the enemy in return for ... no one knows.

[Blackirish]

George Thomas Coker

[Hugin]

They just made a movie about him, “Unbroken”.

[Fiddlstix]

BINGO!

[Gamecock]

***It depends on your definition of a war hero**

There is a large measure of truth in that statement.

To a lot of folks anyone who has worn the uniform is a hero.
To some it is about a medal worn on the chest or hung around the neck.

All I know is that the heroes I know don’t brag about being heroes.

[oh8eleven]

Louis Zamperini
Interesting - I just took this book out of the library yesterday ...

[Sarah Barracuda]

Funny how the media is always rushing to Republicans and asking them to denounce other Republicans but I haven’t heard one member of the press ask ANY Democrat what they thought of Planned Parenthood being caught on tape selling BABY ORGANS to the highest bidder

[exit82]

Look, McCain served. McCain was a POW. I don’t think that he should ever have to apologize about that. But McCain also started this verbal war with Trump, so I am not going to let him hide behind his war record.

Well said.

[Hugin]

Some surviving Forrestal crewmen blame him for starting that fire. They claim he wet started the plane to shake up the pilot behind him, and that cooked off one of the bombs on the other plane’s wing.

[Fiddlstix]

Yes! Very True!

[Chgogal]

McCain, like Obama, is the Anti-Trump.

[Blackirish]

Unbroken is the name of the book about his life. It was a best seller and made into a movie. Harrowing read.

[Will88]

How well known are any of these people you are listing? Why is it taking five minutes between each famous person you’ve listed? Why didn’t you list them all in one post since you say they are so well known?

[onona]

It is, an awesome read. The movie doesn’t do it justice

[Fiddlstix]

I've read this thread, I've also followed McLames "career".
Some very good points have been made on this thread.
Truth be told Were it not for his "daddy" nobody would have let McLame pilot a Piper Cub!