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Why My Former Hero Shouldn’t Be President
Off the coast of Vietnam, a shipboard catastrophe cut short your chances to soar in combat. While preparing for takeoff from the USS Forrestal, another plane’s missile malfunctioned, shooting into your A4 Skyhawk. “It felt like my plane exploded,” you wrote, but fortunately, the impact just knocked your bombs into a lake of burning fuel. You shut down your engines, popped the canopy, and leapt through a wall of flame before “running as fast as [you] could” away from the fire—just how pilots are trained to respond. Enlisted sailors raced toward the inferno, brandishing extinguishers like knives in a gunfight. Seconds later, a thousand-pound bomb cooked off, obliterating the firefighters, blowing you back, and shredding your plane.
I know that politics is a blood sport, Senator, but your strong survival instinct needs to evolve. After 9-11, much more was at stake in the international arena than your presidential dream. While terrorism is real, our paranoid, legalistic response has only endangered America more.
“John McCain is here today because he had strong survival instinct,” explained Jerel Jones, a Forrestal sailor who produced a documentary about the disaster. As the fire raged, forklifts driven by enlisted men pushed burning planes overboard. Stunned and singed, you went below decks and helped jettison bombs. The ship reeled from explosions. You “thought it was going to sink.” But with the fire out and the crew in chaos, you left the Forrestal, catching a press helicopter and reporting for duty to a front-page celebrity interview with The New York Times—routine ejection, indeed!
“Hours after the fire that ravaged the flight deck and killed so many fellow crewmen,” the Times reported, “Commander McCain sat in Saigon and shook his head, ‘It was such a great ship.’ ”
When asked about the crewmen, 138 of whom would perish, you remarked that the enlisted men “certainly would have survived, had they not stayed to help the pilots fight the fire.”
Years ago, I marveled at your strong survival instinct. Today, after comparing the credible accounts of this apocalypse at sea with my own naval experience, I’m baffled that you left your shipmates behind to plant the seeds of your public image. Furthermore, it seems selfish that your words relegated the blue-shirts to being mere helpers, when they—not the pilots—saved the day. But strangest of all is that the accounts of the fire mention nothing of your mourning for the dead who once packed your parachute. While your shipmates were still grieving aboard the Forrestal in the Philippines, your autobiography implies that you grieved on vacation in the French Riviera and London before transferring off the Forrestal and lunging back to war in a matter of weeks.
Forgive me if you know something that the public doesn’t—I could understand if your grief was private—but what were your priorities as a leader? Where did the troops who sacrificed their lives under you fit into your celebrity lifestyle?
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Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
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Christopher Brownfield drove nuclear submarines before volunteering for duty in Iraq. In Baghdad, he worked as a liaison between the State Department, coalition militaries, and the Iraqi government. He is studying international energy policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has written a book, My Nuclear Family: Growing up with Energy & Violence.
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Christopher Brownfield drove nuclear submarines before volunteering for duty in Iraq. In Baghdad, he worked as a liaison between the State Department, coalition militaries, and the Iraqi government. He is studying international energy policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has written a book, My Nuclear Family: Growing up with Energy & Violence.
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Christopher Brownfield drove nuclear submarines before volunteering for duty in Iraq. In Baghdad, he worked as a liaison between the State Department, coalition militaries, and the Iraqi government. He is studying international energy policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has written a book, My Nuclear Family: Growing up with Energy & Violence.
speechless...by far the most eloquent case as to how you can support our military and freedoms and not support the war hungry right.
kudos and thank you.
I am a Vietnam veteran who voted for McCain in 2000 (even though I was a Democrat then and now I am an Indepenent voter). John McCain did not lose his way - he still tarvels the same path of rationalization that puts HIM FIRST - not Country First. Your essay clearly depicts the real McCain. I almost feel sorry for him.
Good, but the Rolling Stone put up much more specifics against Mr McCain.
Both you and R.S. missed the Swedish 1973 video that was aired on CNN's Situation Room on 9/11/2008 of the release of America's POWs in Hanoi. In the video McCain is shown very clearly smartly saluting (twice) to the American officer receiving the released POWs.
This is important because McCain in his branding of himself, says that he cannot comb his hair and lift his hands and arms above his chest. And yet, this video shows Mr McCain making the regulatory salute: arm at rigid right angle, arm is rigid, fully-extended and flat, with the hand razor-flat and fully extended touching his eyebrow. Then later this video shows Mr McCain almost running with his body extended and shaking the hand of the receiving American officer.
Recall Fred Thompson's description of Mr McCain's POW ordeal. I am sure it was awful, but all that he suffered did not jive with what CNN's airing of the Swedish video showed.
Someone is lying.
Then there is too McCain's passing the Naval physical examination to determine "flight readiness" permitting McCain to fly again Naval Jets.
Think about McCain's political career where everything was undergirded by his branding himself as "WAR HERO".
When is someone going to "out" this abject liar?
What a moving piece. I am so sorry for the loss of your hero. I hope that you can find another to look up to.
Christopher Brownfield's eloquent piece on his disillusionment with John McCain should be disseminated widely. It's the most persuasive account I've read about the long history of the senator's vaulting ambition, cold-hearted conservatism, and cranky narcissism-all of which were written on his contemptuous face during the first debate with Obama.
Excellent piece. There is just so very much information that is NOT getting out to the voters that cling to right wing zealotry and patriotic drivel.
Its easy to Bash a Man who has been thu the worst. l.As Much as I disagree with McCain As a Vet I will never degrade a Mans service.But I understaND rhat Obama's people will stoop to any level to get their man in.The Hate for the Republians is so great that U all are willing to destroy America to get Power.No Way as a Vet will I ever vote for a Man who does not respect our Flag oer our Country.Shame on you all.May you all rot in for what your doing to this great Country
This was an excellent article, and I hope it becomes more widespread... You said exactly what I feel, only better and more knowledgeably.
Wow....you have opened my eyes. I have struggled with who McCain is,especially in light of the recent "gloves off" approach his campaign has taken.....
thank you
Why hasn't the press connected McCain with FLDS polygamists in Colorado
City, Arizona, the largest polygamous enclave (10,000 people) in the U.S.? And isn't it
ironic that Sarah Palin has a down syndrome baby and a teenage pregnant daughter - both very common in FLDS culture?
In my recent documentary, BANKING ON HEAVEN, Mohave County Senator Linda Binder asked for McCain's help because of the human rights violations in Colorado City, but McCain wouldn't even return her calls. McCain, an Arizona senator for 26 years, didn't lift a finger to help polygamous women and children in his own backyard. Now the FLDS polygamists have spread to Texas (YFZ Ranch), and they're building compounds in Colorado (Westcliffe), South Dakota (Black Hills), Idaho, Nevada, and so on...
Did you know that FLDS members vote in one big Republican block? Watch this clip:
http://www.bankingonheaven.com
Reading this affected me so strongly, I had to register so I could comment.
Thank you for your service. I felt the same admiration for Senator McCain you felt. I ignored Senator McCain's sanctimony and hypocrisy about some issues in his past because he took hard stands that no other Republican (except Hegel) had the guts to take on issues like torture, tax cuts in time of war and flying the Confederate flag over America's cities. It makes it that much harder to see him standing silent as the crowds he's egged on with divisive lies, chant "traitor" and "terrorist" about Senator Obama.And he's flip-flopped on taxes and torture, the issues that won my admiration -- to keep the hateful, fearful GOP base happy.
As a former infantry officer, I too have seen strings get pulled to let screw ups off the hook... if their fathers had stars. Senator McCain would win my respect if he admitted straight out that he crashed 3 jets and should have had his head handed to him. Instead, he chooses to ignore that and tell us over and over about his POW experiences.
Very insightful!
Though I found many of the author's points interesting, I registered in order to make a point. I am an Iraq War vet as well, an Infantry Officer, and I disagree with many of the assertions you make in the article.
I admit that I have reservations about both candidates. Like the author, I have wanted McCain to be President since he was railroaded in 2000. This campaign has instilled many doubts that either could effectively do the job. Unfortunately, such is the nature of American politics; where the electorate is essentially convinced by competing parties that the opposition is unqualified, then forced to choose between the two.
My problem with the article, and the main stream media (all detestable, including Fox News and MSNBC), is that they refuse to look at Obama through the same microscope they apply to McCain. There's rarely a mention of the fact that Obama sat in Rev Wright's church for twenty years before denouncing him (after beginning his run for President). Now, I don't believe Obama shares the opinions of Wright, but he sat there and listened to the America bashing for that long, and it never occurred to him to stand up and leave? I think, that much like the situation with Ayers and Rezko, these men were all stepping stones to a broader political career, and Obama's ability to overlook major character flaws in the name of ambition is what disturbs me.
I do not feel that McCain will win the Presidency, but hope the media pays as much attention to the next four years as they have to McCain's facial expressions.
As we witness the extremely-divisive Nancy Pelosi step up and implement her "bi-partisanship", I certainly hope Obama still gives a voice to the right, and represents 100% of the nation, and not just the 50.1% that elects him (both things George Bush never accomplished).
As a retired Army SF'r (Viet Nam '65, '66, '71, Central America in the '80's), I'd have to say that the kind of people that can risk their life routinely, accept "impossible" missions, and overcome incredible obstacles tend to be a bit self-centered, egotistical, flamboyant, arrogant, rebellious, etc. But that's a small price to pay for what these "hero's" accomplish. You lost your hero because he didn't live up to your unreasonable expectations. If you apply the same standards to your wife, you won't be married very long. Unless, of course, you marry a "Stepford" wife. My sorrow is not for your lost hero, it is for you; because no one will ever live up to your vision of a hero. Least of all, you.
My fiance came back to Phoenix with injuries sustained in combat in Afghanistan.He underwent fifteen surgeries. He fought to stay in the military, but was medically separated, with only two years to retirement. Despite his own disabilities, he has been the most loving father and advocate for his special needs child. Then, he got a letter from the IRS demanding $15,000 taxes on his military medical separation pay. We turned to our senator, John McCain, for help. McCain's response was a letter saying my fiance had to pay it.After citing the specific code that exempts such a tax, the IRS agreed there had been a terrible mistake and told my fiance he didn't owe anything.McCain lost my vote after I sat with my fianc� at the VA for endless hours. McCain's $3.2 million estate was just fifteen minutes away, but he has ignored the hundreds of homeless Phoenix vets right here in his home state. Thousands more are struggling to find decent jobs to support their families, affordable housing, and medical benefits they were promised and never got. After the Walter Reed scandal hit the papers, McCain pressed a few palms and then disappeared again. So when McCain claims he knows what's best for our country, I just shake my head. With all his "experience" and "concern" for our vets, he betrayed the mission. Thanks, Senator, but no thanks. We're voting for Obama.
The enemy is here and dug in well. Every position of power in America has been identified - targeted and acquired. McCain is a 100% jerkI hate him but, HAMAS, HEZBULA and IRAN have endorsed OBAMA HUSAIN . ARE YOU INSANE?
I read your letter but you did not say anything new about McCains past - nothing that a democrat wouldn't say. I tell ya, I would not be surprise if the next time I here something about you it has something to do with DON"T ASK DON"T TELL.
People like you get real soldiers killed. Learn your history. Hochiminh was days away from defeat and surrender but, people like you and Bill Aryers gave him encouragement to go on and kill 1000s more great Americans. After we pulled out of Vietnam 2 million allies and civilians people were murdered.
I hate John McCain because I am for torture when our military is in harms way and we have missing soldiers. Panties on the head is not torture and McCain should have said so. If McCain would have stood with Bush and not Ted Kennedy and the dems we would have been home years ago. Maybe.
Your eloquence is the giveaway.
Rambo2700, it's hard to take you seriously when your name evokes images of Sylvester Stallone, guns blazing?
Thank you.
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