While there will be a temptation in the media to compare the
attacks on McCain's military service to those of the Swift Boaters,
there's absolutely no equivalence here.
John Kerry tried to run on his war record, even though after
serving in Vietnam for a few months he came back and testified
against his fellow soldiers and accused them of war crimes.
John McCain served as a POW and initially refused to make such
statements under torture. Only after McCain was severally beaten
within an inch of his life, and he failed several times to commit
suicide, did he agree to make any such statements to the North
Vietnamese, and he expressed shame about it.
As recounted below, when he got back from Vietnam, instead of
publicly smearing those he served with to launch his political
career, McCain went through grueling physical therapy so he could
learn to fly again and continue to serve his country.
As Jim notes, any attempt by the left to go after McCain's war
record will blow up in their faces, big time.
topics:
John McCain, Military
