Honesty. Candor.
Posted on September 4, 2008
Tonight In John McCain’s speech you heard quite a bit about his experience in Vietnam.
It will be called “milking” his hardships. It will be called “too much” even by some on McCain’s side. It makes people uncomfortable. Watch for it. Within two hours of this post you’ll see the snarking from the Left about his bringing to memory his experience as a prisoner of war. It will be vicious.
Remember two things. One, unlike John Kerry’s constant mentioning of Vietnam service four years ago, in which the media at that time, if you can remember a whole four years ago, largely saw it as a positive affirmation, and way to put a dark time behind us, the media in the next day will criticize McCain for bringing it up at all.
Two, what you saw tonight, is a man who is running to be your President and Commander in Chief reveal his soul. In talking about his torture, travail, and salvation in a little cell, he was unveiling himself. You now know his motivations. You now know his pains and the reasons for his hopes and convictions. He was willing to let you delve the deepest parts of him as you consider whether to vote for him. That was a risk, but whether or not it will work, he did it seemingly without fear. He is what he is, and lets you look at him full on.
Compare and contrast, my friends. Do you know Obama’s deepest parts? Has he looked you in the eye and talked to you about how his serial abandonments as a child (about which I am genuinely sympathetic, and as a dependency law defense attorney empathetic)? Has Obama bared himself? Do you know his motivations and why he wants to be president? Do you have a clue why he was so into that church he went to for so long? And on and on.
Tonight John McCain bared himself. He became transparent, in contrast to his enigma of an opponent. He told you, if you were listening, what his motivations are and why he wants to be president. You are secure in knowing that you possess that piece of information before you vote.
» Filed Under Elections, Liberal Media/Bias, News, Patriotism, Psychology
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Milking his hardships? Those liberal hacks infesting the media have no right to even raise a cynical eyebrow about what McCain talked about. Why? Because of what he went through. McCain experienced things most of us couldn’t possibly imagine and survived it. As he pretty much said, those years as a POW shaped who he is today.
Of course, I can see why the media would be critical of McCain talking about his POW experiences. McCain’s experiences speak volumes about himself, but also about Obama. While I also do sympathize with the problems Obama had to face growing up, they cannot compare to years of repeated torture. Also, remember Saddleback, when both were asked about — I think — their most difficult decision or something like that. Obama simply said opposing the Iraq War, while McCain said not taking an early release from that hell hole he was in. Notice the contrast?
Still, I dare the media to try and be critical about it. Think about the growing backlash over their treatment of Sarah Palin. Criticizing McCain for talking about what he personally experienced would lead to infinitely worse repercussions. I mean, who wants to hear jeers from people whose biggest problem is not getting their cup of coffee on time or something puny like that?
And before someone mentions Kerry and the Switboating and all that – keep this in mind. McCain has remained consistent about his service in Vietnam. Kerry (though, to his credit, served as well) condemned his service completely, until he had his shot at the presidency. (Kerry? Flip-flopping? The devil you say!)
My obviously cantankerous nature aside, it took a lot of guts for McCain to go into such detail. I salute you, sir.