Correction to Congressman Dornan’s remarks towards the end of the video:
Bob Dornan was describing how McCain as the son of a famous Admiral was offered a chance to go home and leave the other POWs to remain behind for 5 years to undergo unspeakable torture. Dornan then erroneously attributed McCain’s refusal to go home as a decision on his part and his father’s part to save his future political career.
It was later disclosed by Admiral Stockdale who was the Commanding Officer of all POWs inside the Hanoi Hilton that he denied all POWs any chance to go home early if it meant leaving even one POW behind.
So it wasn’t McCain’s refusal, it was Admiral Stockdale’s order.
To this day McCain and his sycophants in the media and his campaign tout ‘his’ refusal as a POW to go home early as evidence of his patriotism and concern for his fellow POWs thereby affirming his status as a ‘War Hero’ even though he was never once cited for heroism or bravery.
My congressman just posted a statement supporting McCain on FB of the 26 posts 25 are crucifying him. Many are vets. More then half are threatening to pull all support for his senate race or re eleaction. The video has been posted on his FB post. He sure misread his supporters
Here's the context and reference in italics to Admiral Stockdale in his own words:
Admiral (then a USN Captain) Stockdale and all other POWs inside the HH confirmed the only way to come home early was if Admiral Stockdale granted permission; there was no other way around it. There were very few releasees. One was a Seaman Apprentice named Douglas Hegdahl III who had spent night and day memorizing the names of 256 aviators into a rhyme and jingle. He was ordered to be an early release because he had those names to pass on to his debriefer when he got home.
McCain was never ordered to early release although the enemy offered it to him. He refused because of the standing order given by his POW Commanding Officer James Stockdale. Many have construed this refusal as of his own volition. He did obey the order and the consequence of not obeying the order was well-described by Congressman Dornan.
From Admiral Stockdale's book p.254:
There was little concern in any American's mind about the possibility of the Vietnamese throwing anybody out to defame him; we now knew the Vietnamese well enough to be sure that any early releasee would have to buy his way out by groveling on his knees before the Communists, bad-mouthing America. I gave their new release program a name: FRP -- the "Fink Release Program," and that was the way it was to be known. I also issued an order that started on its way to the other cell blocks of Las Vegas and with subsequent movers to the camps elsewhere in the city and outside it: "No early release; we all go home together".
Here's the context and reference in italics to Admiral Stockdale in his own words:
Admiral (then a USN Captain) Stockdale and all other POWs inside the HH confirmed the only way to come home early was if Admiral Stockdale granted permission; there was no other way around it. There were very few releasees. One was a Seaman Apprentice named Douglas Hegdahl III who had spent night and day memorizing the names of 256 aviators into a rhyme and jingle. He was ordered to be an early release because he had those names to pass on to his debriefer when he got home.
McCain was never ordered to early release although the enemy offered it to him. He refused because of the standing order given by his POW Commanding Officer James Stockdale. Many have construed this refusal as of his own volition. He did obey the order and the consequence of not obeying the order was well-described by Congressman Dornan.
From Admiral Stockdale's book p.254:
There was little concern in any American's mind about the possibility of the Vietnamese throwing anybody out to defame him; we now knew the Vietnamese well enough to be sure that any early releasee would have to buy his way out by groveling on his knees before the Communists, bad-mouthing America. I gave their new release program a name: FRP -- the "Fink Release Program," and that was the way it was to be known. I also issued an order that started on its way to the other cell blocks of Las Vegas and with subsequent movers to the camps elsewhere in the city and outside it: "No early release; we all go home together".