McCain criticizes Obama's lack of military service

[EV_Ares]

UNION CITY, Calif., May 22 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain opened a new line of attack against Democratic front-runner Barack Obama on Thursday, taking aim at Obama's lack of military service.

McCain, a former Navy pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam, struck back after Obama criticized McCain on the U.S. Senate floor in Washington for opposing legislation that would give expanded benefits to military veterans.

Link to entire article: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN22519277

And yet, McCain cozies up to Bush who hid out and partied and who did not want to serve in a war so did everything in his power and family influence to stay out of the military. Never even finished his NG tour.

[Selatius]

1. Since when was it bad for a president not to have military service? nt

[sarge43]

20. It isn't bad.

*Sigh. One more time - Franklin Roosevelt didn't put in a day in the military. During WWII he had the good sense to pick the best field commanders available, define the mission and then let those commanders do their job. Last time I checked, it worked quite well.

Adolph Hitler served on the Western Front, WWI, as message runner - nasty duty. He was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery under fire. For the record, the German army has never passed out the IC at every mess call, especially to enlisted noncombatants. If anyone knew what a horror war can be, that would be a ground pounder who survived the Western Front. During WWII Hitler picked a lot of yes men for the General Staff, interfered routinely in daily operations and overall mission (Napoleon, "Order plus counter order equals confusion.") and destroyed the German army on the Eastern Front through sheer pig headedness and ego.

Military experience is absolutely no guarantee of military competence.

Maybe McCain will step up and explain how a commissioned officer got away with failing to maintain qualification in his assigned duties, ie Bush dodging his flight physical. I hope he does, because I've never heard or read a good explanation. The Air Force I was in for 21 years would hand a pilot his head for that stunt.

[BlooInBloo]

2. I predict this one will not end well for McCain.

[anigbrowl]

11. True patriots bomb peasants in other countries and enjoy it.

I know McCain went through a lot in Viet Nam but I don't have all that much sympathy for what he was doing over there.

[BlooInBloo]

12. Neither do I, but I don't blame him for that. Nor do I blame him for the pro-VC propaganda he made..

since that was a typical thing American captives were forced to do.

But I suspect we'll start seeing more McCain war-mongering moments caught on film as a result, and the public is definitely NOT down with that.

[CJCRANE]

15. McCain's pro-VC propaganda proves torture

produces confessions that are garbage. Either that or McCain hates America - the Repubs need to choose one way or the other.

[BlooInBloo]

17. Nice one.

[Kber]

22. Succinctly put.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. I think they turned him around.

[DemVet]

40. Hey, I resemble that remark.

[Avalux]

3. ROFL! This is so ridiculous.

The military people I know can't stand McCain because he wouldn't support this bill. A lot of them are Republicans. No worries.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Oh, for Chrissakes..........

Look at your own party, John. Especially the fat bald-headed stooge Cheney, the one with five Purple deferrments.

Give me a break, Gramps...............

[Wapsie B]

21. Exactly. Cheney has not a day of military service.

And we all know about *

[DefenseLawyer]

27. Dick was too busy flunking out of college and getting DUIs n/t

[ErinBerin84]

5. I had a thread on this earlier, McCain's statement was ridiculous

. I predict a McCain public temper flare up soon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6077663

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Sen. Obama needs to QUICKLY remind people that

Sen. McCain has voted against the most recent improvements suggested for the GI Bill.

We CANNOT allow the repukes to take the higher ground when it comes to having performed military service or not. They crucified Kerry for his military service - let's crucify "Crazy-A$$" McCain for his military service and the fact that he's turned his back on today's veterans!

[MadBadger]

16. Thats what drew the criticism I believe

[babylonsister]

7. This is a defense of McCain not voting for the GI Bill? How does this

compare to McCain's 'support' of the troops? Was there a reason for Obama to join the military when he was busy educating himself? Does this mean McCain trumps anyone without a military background? :crazy:
And yes, what about his buddy the blivet?

[Occam Bandage]

8. Obama: Pro-Veterans. McCain: Pro-Creation-of-Veterans.

[Buck Rabbit]

9. If only Obama's Dad and Grandpappy had been Admirals.

He too could have got legacied into the Naval Academy, though Obama would not have been 894th out of 899 in his class.

[TheDebbieDee]

10. Sen. Obama needs to QUICKLY remind people that

Sen. McCain has voted against the most recent improvements suggested for the GI Bill.

We CANNOT allow the repukes to take the higher ground when it comes to having performed military service or not. They crucified Kerry for his military service - let's crucify "Crazy-A$$" McCain for his military service and the fact that he's turned his back on today's veterans!

[CJCRANE]

13. Bush. Cheney. 'Nuff said.

[Frustratedlady]

14. With the record of the Republican Party re: military service, I don't think

I'd open that can of worms, if I was McCain.

Is his brain engaged? He's making a lot of mistakes today.

[jefferson_dem]

18. Obama's response - measured and reasonable versus McCain's "diatribes and schoolyard taunts"

Update: Obama responds:

I am proud to stand with Senator Webb and a bipartisan coalition to give our veterans the support and opportunity they deserve. It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign used this issue to launch yet another lengthy personal, political attack instead of debating an honest policy difference. He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama – it’s about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention. Senator Webb’s bipartisan bill will do this, and the bill that John McCain supports would not. These endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts from the McCain campaign do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0508/Vet_umbrage.html

[Heather MC]

19. McCain didn't even vote for the GI bill, if he is so experienced about the military why doesn't he

support them?

[barack the house]

23. Sen. Obama should come back and say respect to his service but even without

military service Sen. obama had the foresight to recognize the consequences of a dumb war.

[newmajority]

25. Exactly which war was Obama supposed to have fought in??

Don't seem to recall there actually being one, in between Vietnam and Poppy's invasion of Iraq.

Unless he "should have been" peddling Cocaine with Oliver North in Central America, or something? :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

26. The one he opposed?

[DefenseLawyer]

28. He may have joined the KISS Army

I know I did.

[newmajority]

31. I want to Barack and Roll all night! And save the Democratic party every day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGyE-WpoN8

[Skidmore]

29. Bush-McCain smoke and mirrors--look what their military experience got us.

Unending war and a mountain of national debt.

[eleny]

30. What about Jim Webb? It's his legislation

McCain is shameless piece of work. Like something I'd scrape off the bottom of my shoe.

[SoxFan]

32. FDR was a friggin' wuss

Dude, anyone could have taken down Hitler!

:sarcasm:

[otohara]

33. He Never Criticized Bush/Cheney & Others w/o Military

background. Actually defended them - saying military service is a choice.

[Swamp Rat]

34. In that case, McCain's service record is open season.

I suppose folks will want to know what McCain told the Viet Cong.

[DefenseLawyer]

36. Didn't he crash 5 planes or something?

I'm glad he went into politics and not commercial aviation.

[Swamp Rat]

37. He should have NEVER questioned Obama's patriotism in this way.

McCain's service record is open season.

No mercy! :evilgrin:

[angstlessk]

35. the job of president CRIES OUT for someone who can drop bombs over Hanoi

sure it does..what an old coot!

[GoesTo11]

38. This is wrong on so many levels.

Obama "did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform"

Well, it's not like he was shirking. Obama was born in 1961, was 18 in 1979. There was no draft, there was no real military threat other than police missions. There was the Iran helicopter thing, the unfortunate Marine base in Beirut, and the invasion of Grenada somewhere around then. This was the era of Stripes, starring Bill Murray and the under-appreciated P.J. Soles.

True Obama didn't serve in Viet Nam, but he was maybe 2 when it started and 12 when it finished. All he got was the child deferment (plus he was not in the US for some of that time).

If McCain wants to take the votes of everyone who has served in uniform, and to blow off everyone who hasn't served in uniform, bring it on. Because after the end of the draft and the end of the Viet Nam war, military service has been a pretty small proportion of people. What are there now, about 1 million people out of 300 million?

Plus, it's a lot different serving your country in uniform if your father and grandfather are admirals, you go to the Naval Academy (and graduate at the bottom of your class), expecting great glory and great opportunity along with the excitement of flying hither and yon and blowing up planes and people (albeit with the risk of becoming a POW), vs. going in as a child of a single parent, who is going to start as a private and clean latrines.

I respect those who serve, but when we put them on a pedestal above everyone else, when we worship the military and are afraid to have Washington question the generals, we are a military state not a democracy. No way.

McCain knows better. Just lost a bit more respect for him.

[moondust]

39. ...he said, forgetting that most of his Republican colleagues are chickenhawks.

:eyes: