[Full Metal Jacket actor Matthew] Modine: McCain was a bad P.O.W.!

dcexaminer.com ^ | 28 Aug 08 | Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin

[seanmerc]

We ran into actor Matthew Modine (remember "Full Metal Jacket"?!?) at Denver's La Rumba restaurant and, while the Obama supporter had plenty to say about John McCain's policies, he also had plenty of critiques of McCain's military service -- a topic that almost no one dares denounce.

"I mean, he got shot down three times!" said Modine, taking on one of McCain's most lauded personal accomplishments. "That's not success!" While on a bombing mission over North Vietnam, McCain was shot down and held as a prisoner of war. When McCain's father was named commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, the future Arizona senator was offered an early release, but rejected it because his captors would not also released his fellow American P.O.W.s.

That kind of loyalty has earned McCain endless accolades, but Modine thinks that McCain's rejection of the release offer is yet another example of McCain's shortcomings. "And he wasn't even a good prisoner of war," said Modine. "He should have left as soon as he could. That's what you're supposed to do as a prisoner of war: Leave when you can. It defeats the enemy. It makes them look bad and it weakens them."

[ANGGAPO]

Can someone arrange for a backseat mission over Afghanistan for this creep. Getting shot at will make your day, getting hit could end it.

[Frank_Discussion]

Gunny needs to rip his head off and, well, you know...

[library user]

Is male nudity permitted on FR? I’m pretty sure only posts of hot women are allowed. :)

[Lee'sGhost]

“Wow - breathtaking stupidity.”

Worth repeating.

[purpleraine]

How many B movies deos someone have to make before they think they have something important to say in public?

[Bryher1]

Agreed... but the book was even better.

[gunnyg]

Ah yes—somewon always has to post those silly pics....

http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/gunnyg/jackwebb.html

[DesScorp]

This man is scum.

[retrokitten]

Other then Full Metal Jacket, I’m having a hard time remembering anything else he has been in. Really, the first 35ish minutes of FMJ is the best part of the movie and he’s hardly in that part. LOL

[evets]

You are correct, sir... Ekthelthior!

[Salamander]

As if a photo of that’s wimp’s bare arse would “inflame” or “entice” ~anyone~ here....it’s nearly gender-neutral....LOL

[Salamander]

Sorry...I did not read the book.

[EDINVA]

Guess the Code of Conduct (and Honor) weren’t in Modine’s script.

[ETCM]

>>He should have left as soon as he could.

They were under orders not to leave early under those circumstances. Simple as that.

Not only that, it's straight out of the Code of Conduct.

" If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy."

[conservativeharleyguy]

"...I mean, he got shot down three times!” said Modine..."

Note to Modine:
Hey Matt, you've got it completely backwards. Imagine the courage it took to get back in the cockpit and fly back in there after the first time, and the second time, knowing the potential consequences.

A military pilot doesn't have the option of saying "no thanks, I've already been shot down. I don't want to go back". They go where they are ordered to go, and put their lives on the line for the greater good. Something, that as a narcissistic, self-indulgent, Hollywood actor (make-believe artist?), you'll never understand.

Oh and by the way, it would not "defeat the enemy" to leave when given the chance. It would give an enemy a major propaganda victory (you know, much like your entire existence) for an officer to accept a release and leave behind other troops. Do you understand the concept of duty to others? Especially an officer's duty to subordinates for whose very lives they, as leaders, are responsible? Believe it or not, it's a much heavier burden than deciding which marginal movie to pretend to be someone else in. See, one major difference between an officer and an executive is that an officer has to take care of the needs of his subordinates, rather than demanding that his subordinates take care of him.

Accepting parole or special favors from enemy captors is expressly forbidden by the US Military Code of Conduct for the simple reasons of the aforementioned propaganda advantage, and that it would provide an enemy captor with a wedge to drive the remaining prisoners apart. It would be the extreme example of self-interest and disregard for the welfare of others, and is a court-martial offense. I suppose they probably didn't teach you that in fake Hollywood boot camp on the set of FMJ.

Call up your old colleague from FMJ, Retired Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermy, and ask him about it. He'll square you away. And please stop trying to elevate your status by diminishing that of other, far better men. It's a pathological weakness, and it makes you seem petty. In reality, you're not worthy of polishing John McCain's old low quarters.

[Redleg Duke]

And Matthew Modine served where and when?

[MayflowerMadam]

“...actor Matthew Modine...”

Well, since MATTHEW MODINE has spoken, and he’s an expert on warfare, guess we’ll just have to vote for Obama now. Sheesh. What a self-absorbed putz. (Is “putz” a word that’ll get me in trouble here?!?)

[mountainlion]

So some b movie actor becomes a military expert overnight?

I look at it like McCain had the balls to bet back in seat and go after them again. The US planes were setting ducks over the north.

[mort56]

Wow - breathtaking stupidity.

You didn't expect any better, I hope.

[opus86]

Mr. Modine is a ridiculous turd.