McCain ignored his rescuer?

arbilad · Head Chef

McCain ignored his rescuer?

Duke of Mirth · Profuse Pontificator

Well, I think I would cut McCain some slack. He thanked him and embraced him. I probably wouldn't want to carry on a close relationship with the guy that saved me only so I would be tortured for the next 5+ years of my life. Plus anything further would be used for more photo ops and propaganda for the current regime in Vietnam.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

I think more importantly why something as ridiculous as this is even a news story.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

When we don't know the candidates on a first-hand basis, I think we're left with these little tidbits to try to piece together who they are and what they're like. I think it's natural to want to know how a certain person acted in many different settings to try to understand the "real" them.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

So was the intent of this article to suggest that McCain hates people from Vietnam because he was a POW?

arbilad · Head Chef

I'm not sure what the intent of the article was, but I'll tell you the impression that I got from it - he's a hateful man.
There is plenty of support for this impression. He is famed for his volcanic temper. He blew up at a reporter recently. And it wouldn't have killed him to give the guy who saved his life something better than a cheap souvenir. Or acknowledge him briefly in his autobiography. That wouldn't have given the Vietnam government any more propaganda material than they had already from McCain's meeting with the man. Even if it did give them more propaganda material - this man risked his life to save an enemy. The least McCain could have done would be to acknowledge his rescuer in his autobiography, even if the enemy got a little boost from it. Acts of charity deserve acts of charity in return.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Cocobeem wrote:

When we don't know the candidates on a first-hand basis, I think we're left with these little tidbits to try to piece together who they are and what they're like. I think it's natural to want to know how a certain person acted in many different settings to try to understand the "real" them.

Yes, and we know how accurate media is in helping us understand the "real" them. Everybody's got an agenda. Truth is thin on the ground. I don't trust any of it.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

FWIW, I think this is just another hit piece intended to sew discord and suggest that McCain is a bigot and full of hate. I don't believe he is. I believe he's a human man who believes he's doing the right thing by serving in political office.

--Ray

arbilad · Head Chef

rayb wrote:

FWIW, I think this is just another hit piece intended to sew discord and suggest that McCain is a bigot and full of hate. I don't believe he is. I believe he's a human man who believes he's doing the right thing by serving in political office.

--Ray

Vote for him or not as you wish, but at least do so with an accurate idea of who he really is. I'm including some links below about his temper.

Now, as Bok said, the media distorts everything. You'll have no argument from me on that. But the stuff we get from the media is the only information we have about him, apart from what we would see if we attended a rally and saw him in person. So go ahead and take these links with a grain of salt, but ask yourself why it's so easy to find evidence of his temper. Either they're doing a really good hatchet job or there may be truth to the accusations.

McCain gets angry at a reporter

McCain campaign people claim that he has tamed temper for campaign

An article from 1999 about McCain getting mad at state officials

There are many, many more such articles from many sources. The many sources thing indicates to me a greater chance of veracity. If it was only hard core liberal sources, it would be easy to ignore.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

Arbi, I'm so delighted to have your approval to vote for whom I wish... rolleyes

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

McCain gets angry at reporter?

The video gives a very different impression than the transcript. Does he seem angry to you?

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Uh... not that angry. The reporter was definitely annoying.