General Discussion

H2O Man

(79,069 posts)

22. Good question. Recommended.

Sat Jul 18, 2015, 08:35 PM

Jul 2015

I think the question in the OP, and the various responses, make for one of the more interesting of discussions on this forum in recent times. Thank you for that.

McCain is, in my opinion, a complex character. I can't judge young men who believed their government in that era, and went to fight in Vietnam, in a negative light. The politicians? Absolutely. They were either ignorant, or fans of war; neither justifies sending US forces to Vietnam to kill or be killed.

I respect McCain for his strength as a POW. I have no problem with anyone calling him a hero. I am not big on anyone who would degrade him for that.

As a politician, although he is obviously a republican, there have been instances where I thought he was doing what he believed best for the people of this nation. There were even a few times when I agreed with him.

I felt that he was treated like shit in the 2000 republican primary. The odd thing was, rather than split completely from those who fucked him, in his bitterness, McCain became more like his enemies.

Strange man.

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Question for DUers: Do you consider John McCain to be a war hero? [View all] oberliner Jul 2015 OP

John McCain served our country, endured being a prisoner of war, pipoman Jul 2015 #1

Same. peacebird Jul 2015 #3

That's pretty much my opinion as well oberliner Jul 2015 #5

+ 1 DashOneBravo Jul 2015 #7

Well said. Cleita Jul 2015 #10

Well said. nt msanthrope Jul 2015 #15

Totally agree yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #27

pipoman never said the words war hero. LeftOfWest Jul 2015 #66

This ^^^^^^^^^ treestar Jul 2015 #45

This ^^ n/t susanna Jul 2015 #63

He was a POW during the Vietnam war, but received such attention due to his father being a well.... dmosh42 Jul 2015 #73

That was his grandfather. former9thward Jul 2015 #100

I respect him for surviving a horrible situation Generic Brad Jul 2015 #86

Well, he did refuse to be released early for propaganda purposes goldent Jul 2015 #97

No, but I won't shitbag him for being a PoW like Trump is doing Scootaloo Jul 2015 #2

Ditto...........eom truegrit44 Jul 2015 #12

Yeah, that's the thing -- whether to categorize him as a 'war hero' isn't the core issue for me. Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #85

IMO, no. But he has legitimately earned respect for his service and being a POW nt riderinthestorm Jul 2015 #4

My answer is the more offensive part of Trump's statement was that POWs were less "war hero" GreatGazoo Jul 2015 #6

Yeah that was crazy oberliner Jul 2015 #9

Yes! Trump is insane. 4139 Jul 2015 #21

Exactly and declaring it... Historic NY Jul 2015 #82

The lost irony is that in McCain's 6 years in captivity he appeared numerous times as a prop for Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #8

Like making up stuff, don't you. former9thward Jul 2015 #101

The Guardian, 2008: Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #103

From your first link: former9thward Jul 2015 #107

As much as I feel that "hero" is something of an overused word in media petronius Jul 2015 #11

That's exactly how I feel about it. LuvNewcastle Jul 2015 #41

True, especially when Trump didn't fucking go himself treestar Jul 2015 #47

I lost four college classmates (and friends) in VN 1939 Jul 2015 #93

Fuck, no DavidDvorkin Jul 2015 #13

So did a million other through no choice yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #31

McCain had the choice DavidDvorkin Jul 2015 #32

Actually he had zero "enemy" hits yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #37

Meaning that his bombs didn't kill anyone on the ground? DavidDvorkin Jul 2015 #38

I don't know. Probably bad aim but I was not there. yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #40

That is the crucial distinction for me as well. raouldukelives Jul 2015 #53

I do not consider him a war hero. Deadshot Jul 2015 #14

A hero? Adrahil Jul 2015 #16

Hero yes but that does not preclude his being an idiot dembotoz Jul 2015 #17

He refused an early exchange that he was offered Recursion Jul 2015 #18

FYI almost all refused early release. truebluegreen Jul 2015 #25

Yup. I admire them for that (nt) Recursion Jul 2015 #26

I do as well truebluegreen Jul 2015 #30

He's not worthy of the contempt shown by that asshole Trump. lpbk2713 Jul 2015 #19

No. nt Walk away Jul 2015 #20

Good question. Recommended. H2O Man Jul 2015 #22

Thanks! oberliner Jul 2015 #34

yes restorefreedom Jul 2015 #23

I think anyone who goes in harm's way, is grievously wounded, tortured by the enemy, thrown into MADem Jul 2015 #24

+1 tammywammy Jul 2015 #28

I agree with you. Warren DeMontague Jul 2015 #70

No. He was a sailor who followed orders. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #29

One of the more dispicable quotes by A.E. Telcontar Jul 2015 #84

Really? I'm rather fond of it. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #92

Wonder if he'd feel the same way if he was in a camp when 3rd Army came marching in Telcontar Jul 2015 #109

Who knows? Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #110

He wans't tho, so he disparages the millions who served Telcontar Jul 2015 #111

Like McCain? Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #112

Like Eisenhower Telcontar Jul 2015 #114

So, McCain was dropping bombs to "make the world a better place"? Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #118

Seeing as how I'm in Afghanistan right now Telcontar Jul 2015 #119

Does that make you a "hero"? Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #120

Yup Telcontar Jul 2015 #121

John McCain is a Veteran and former POW. Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #33

I don't like this "one true hero" business HassleCat Jul 2015 #35

I consider every POW a War Hero. Sunlei Jul 2015 #36

This. +1000 nt TeamPooka Jul 2015 #57

Yes Depaysement Jul 2015 #39

Definitely not. copernicusrev Jul 2015 #42

Yes, He is a war Hero, but I wouldn't vote for him dem in texas Jul 2015 #43

No. He did nothing heroic. Warren Stupidity Jul 2015 #44

Audie Murphy, Sgt. York, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: war heroes distingused in battle. oasis Jul 2015 #46

Yes. tavernier Jul 2015 #48

Both are jerks, Trump and McCain. roamer65 Jul 2015 #49

No, he did nothing above and beyond the call of duty. bluedigger Jul 2015 #50

No. bravenak Jul 2015 #51

he was a pow. loves his country. for this deserves respect. elehhhhna Jul 2015 #52

I consider Trump a big fat zero that much I will say Person 2713 Jul 2015 #54

Of course he was a POW. I liked him as a Senator up doc03 Jul 2015 #55

He was a totally incompetent pilot. HooptieWagon Jul 2015 #56

All his previous sorties were against civilian targets, so you are right. Lives, in a strange twist,were saved. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #108

No, but still. xenoturkey Jul 2015 #58

He is as much of a hero as the 5 men who died this week. dilby Jul 2015 #59

lol rbrnmw Jul 2015 #60

I'll consider him a war hero when the GOP extends the same courtesy to John Kerry. Initech Jul 2015 #61

I think John McCain should be left alone! I have no idea if he is a war hero! akbacchus_BC Jul 2015 #62

Nope. I'll admit that he was once deserving of respect for having survived being a PoW... Lancero Jul 2015 #64

That was a nice tribute to Cain, however, he is President material! akbacchus_BC Jul 2015 #65

Typo? a2liberal Jul 2015 #67

I corrected my post but have no akbacchus_BC Jul 2015 #69

yw and thanks a2liberal Jul 2015 #71

I think John McCain is a great man who fell into a Nixonian partisan black hole Sen. Walter Sobchak Jul 2015 #68

No. There is nothing heroic about war. nt bemildred Jul 2015 #72

What about this? oberliner Jul 2015 #74

That is what any decent person would do. bemildred Jul 2015 #76

Doesn't "heroic" mean "showing great courage"? oberliner Jul 2015 #78

So what do you think of the plans for the Red Heifer anyway? bemildred Jul 2015 #79

Messiah is coming oberliner Jul 2015 #89

no, that would be "courageous". Warren Stupidity Jul 2015 #96

No, that would be a "synonym" oberliner Jul 2015 #98

well the dictionary definition is lame. Heroes perform heroic acts - Warren Stupidity Jul 2015 #102

My dad a WW2 vet always said that the only true heroes died in battle. B Calm Jul 2015 #75

Or died trying to save others. Erose999 Jul 2015 #115

He's probably closer to being a war hero than Rump is to being a President. nt Buns_of_Fire Jul 2015 #77

No but it has nothing to with him having been captured and being a POW. n/t pampango Jul 2015 #80

this vet says yes DrDan Jul 2015 #81

Yes. nt Phentex Jul 2015 #83

I think his military service record, including his time as POW, is worthy of respect. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2015 #87

No I don't, but I don't consider myself to be a war hero either Victor_c3 Jul 2015 #88

I consider him to be a horrible pilot that should have never been B Calm Jul 2015 #90

I do not agree with him at all DiverDave Jul 2015 #91

Yes. Being a terrible politician doesn't diminish that fact. Lyric Jul 2015 #94

No LittleBlue Jul 2015 #95

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #99

yes. definitely Liberal_in_LA Jul 2015 #104

CRIMINAL..too many returning POWs said he should be court marshalled emsimon33 Jul 2015 #105

I consider him to be a survivor. Blue_In_AK Jul 2015 #106

Well, I get sort of meh about it the more I consider it. ladyVet Jul 2015 #113

He has done nothing heroic Matrosov Jul 2015 #116

Yes, he is a war hero. hamsterjill Jul 2015 #117

He kept faith with his fellow prisoners and endured torture. Orsino Jul 2015 #122

The Soviets actually mentioned McCain Mrdie Jul 2015 #123