Mixed Feelings About John McCain

It is very difficult for me to criticize John McCain. After all he's a war hero from my - the Vietnam - generation. He was an Air Force pilot who put his life on the line time after time at his country's demand. No matter what you think about the Vietnam War, just like the situation today in Iraq, I think honoring the soldiers in the line of fire is just the right thing to do.

And then on top of that, he's shot down, captured and spends years - YEARS - inside a Viet Cong prison under conditions that I truly cannot imagine. I know I would have gone completely Hannibal Lecter and started biting people's faces off. But somehow he maintained his sanity, seemingly managed to put it behind him and moved on to a successful political career. And now he's running for President of the United States!

How can you say anything the least bit derogatory about such a man?

Well, I guess an interview back in March on his campaign tour bus in Iowa forces me to reconsider my attitude toward the man. At least I need to make sure he doesn't get elected to the office he currently seeks.

The article can be found in The Caucus, a blog that is a part of The New York Times. The author is Adam Nagourney. More of his posts can be found here.

Here is an excerpt:

Q: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”

Mr. McCain: (Long pause) “You’ve stumped me.”

Q: “I mean, I think you’d probably agree it probably does help stop it?”

Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Are we on the Straight Talk express? I’m not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”

Q: “But you would agree that condoms do stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Would you say: ‘No, we’re not going to distribute them,’ knowing that?”

Mr. McCain: (Twelve-second pause) “Get me Coburn’s thing, ask Weaver to get me Coburn’s paper that he just gave me in the last couple of days. I’ve never gotten into these issues before.”

This went on for a few more moments until a reporter from the Chicago Tribune broke in and asked Mr. McCain about the weight of a pig that he saw at the Iowa State Fair last year.

Part of me wonders is Mr. McCain can be this ignorant on such a widespread and important issue. I somehow doubt it, but he certainly comes off that way. I suspect his response has more to do with being clueless on how to be politically correct on such a tumultuous issue that divides so many people in our country. That and the fact that our current president is totally delusional about the issues and offers solutions that do more harm than good.

Mr. McCain deserves respect and admiration for what he went through 40 years ago and what he has achieved since. But as far as being our next president, please everyone, not a chance!