McCain And The Radical Who Went to Hanoi To Support the North Vietnamese (McCain Embraced Him)
I can think of few nice things to say about John McCain. Actually there are exactly two. The first is that when the great Arizona liberal Congressman, Mo Udall, was dying of Parkinson's disease, Mc Cain was one of the few of Udall's former colleagues who ever bothered to visit. There was no political gain in sitting with a dying man, but Mc Cain did it anyway.
The other was when he accepted the apologiy of David Ifshin, a 60's radical who had gone to Hanoi to support the Viet Cong and who recorded messages to imprisoned GI's urging them to give up. One of the POW's who was subjected to Ifshin's diatribes was John Mc Cain.
Decades later, Ifshin, who I knew and liked, wanted to make amends so he met with Mc Cain and apologized for his treachery. Mc Cain heard him out and forgave him. They became friends and, when Ifshin died all too young a decade ago, Mc Cain eulogized him at his funeral. Mc Cain was as personally close to Ifshin as Obama is NOT close to Ayers. It's the difference between a significant friendship and an association fostered through working together on a project.
The point is that McCain dishonors himself by attacking Obama for not shunning Ayers although he, to his credit, refused to shun Ifshin. If David Ifshin was still here, would Mc Cain throw him over the side in order to get elected? The answer is obvious. (Of course, he wouldn't have to. Democrats don't smear their opponents for accepting the apologies of sinners).
It is pathetic. John McCain is not so much running against Obama as against the man he used to be
M.J.
I disagree with many of your positions, but this is a case where I think the point you make is salient and valuable.
Thanks for the thought.
October 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
THANKS
October 6, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he's running against the man he once wanted us all to think he was. The Rolling Stone article referenced here seemingly daily since its publication offers solid, even conclusive evidence of the "man behind the mask" that McCain never wanted us to see.
He's lost, he knows it, and his only hope is to drown Obama with him. Not gonna happen...
October 6, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right, sir
October 6, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
MJ, this is a brilliant connection; thanks for bringing it up!
On Jay Leno, there's footage of Crosby Stills & Nash making up with John McCain. Way, way, way different considering CSN never bombed or acted traitorous, but McCain did express gratitude that they tried to bring him home in their own way. (This would have been helpful to bring up when he went on his rant against HRC's funding the Woodstock museum...)
It was very touching actually. (I miss the old John McCain... :( Now he's "Dishonorable John")
October 6, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is weird. This is the weirdest American election I can remember. The guy who everyone says is odd and exotic is stone cold sober and the guy who everyone knows and likes acts like a druken sailor in port for a weekend binge.
McCain is the dangerous choice in 2008, it's crystal clear. Like Krauthammer said, Obama may be a little green but he obviously has a first class temperment, a Presidential temperment.
October 6, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Barack Obama was "associated" with William Ayers, then John McCain was "associated" with the North Vietnamese.
October 6, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking the exact same thing. Did he accept the apology of David Ifshin because he himself (McCain) "associated" with the North Vietnamese and he didn't want to apear as a hyocrite?
October 6, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would McCain throw Ifshin under the bus... of course and back over him a few times for good measure.
What becomes of honor when ambition rules?
October 6, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink