McCain's Secret, Questionable Record

[Nonno]

"At a meeting in his Pentagon office in early 1981, Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman told Capt. John S. McCain III that he was about to attain his life ambition: becoming an admiral.... Mr. McCain declined the prospect of his first admiral's star to make a run for Congress, saying that he could 'do more good there,' Mr. Lehman recalled." So claimed the New York Times in a front-page article on May 29 this year.

This story is highly improbable for several reasons, not least of all because John McCain himself has always told a very different story about his stalled naval career.


Jeffrey Klein: McCain's Secret, Questionable Record

[SamSpade]

This is stupid. What kind of military service have the Democrats offered us in terms of national leadership? A guy who dodged the draft. A guy who served 5 months as a journalist. And then there's John Kerry.

Obama has never served.

And this article, with very little evidence, disputes the situation whereupon McCain might have made admiral. How many Democrats running ever made it as high as Navy Captain?

It's a tempest in a teapot. It's like disputing someone's second Nobel prize.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

It's like disputing someone's second Nobel prize.

Speaking of the Nobel Prize, ever hear about Irena Sendler?
She's one of the nominees that Al Gore beat out for the prize.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by aps45819

Speaking of the Nobel Prize, ever hear about Irena Sendler?
She's one of the nominees that Al Gore beat out for the prize.

I never understood how Gore won the "Peace Prize" for jetting around the world talking about global warming and making a movie. Some people languish in prisons, aid the dying, provide medical relief in war-torn countries, live amongst lepers and show a dedication few of us possess - and they make a difference. Gore isn't worthy to stand amongst such giants.

[Bann (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"At a meeting in his Pentagon office in early 1981, Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman told Capt. John S. McCain III that he was about to attain his life ambition: becoming an admiral.... Mr. McCain declined the prospect of his first admiral's star to make a run for Congress, saying that he could 'do more good there,' Mr. Lehman recalled." So claimed the New York Times in a front-page article on May 29 this year.

This story is highly improbable for several reasons, not least of all because John McCain himself has always told a very different story about his stalled naval career.

Jeffrey Klein: McCain's Secret, Questionable Record

Klein needs to re-read that NYT article. He's making arguments about things not even in the article. Not to mention the fact that he has a reading comprehension problem.

First of all, John F Lehman was not quoted in the article as having "OFFERED" McCain the rank of Admiral. It's not even implied.

Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman told Capt. John S. McCain III that he was about to attain his life ambition: becoming an admiral

This suggests that Lehman tried to tell McCain that attaining Admiral was in his future. Anyway, as far as I know, the SecNav doesn't have the ability to promote.

Then, Klein says that the NYT doesn't mention that Lehman is an advisor on the McCain campaign - and it does!

Oh, yeah - I quit reading a little bit after that - Klein's article goes on & on & on with much ado about nothing.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by Bann

Oh, yeah - I quit reading a little bit after that - Klein's article goes on & on & on with much ado about nothing.

It's the Huffington Post, which generally has the credibility of Air America, the Daily Kos, or any of a number of poorly researched *right-wing* sites.

Like this kind of stuff matters.

[edinsomd]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

This is stupid. What kind of military service have the Democrats offered us in terms of national leadership? A guy who dodged the draft. A guy who served 5 months as a journalist. And then there's John Kerry.

Obama has never served.

And this article, with very little evidence, disputes the situation whereupon McCain might have made admiral. How many Democrats running ever made it as high as Navy Captain?

It's a tempest in a teapot. It's like disputing someone's second Nobel prize.

Weasley Clark comes to mind.
Ed

[Lenny]

...standard bearer. Why would the liberals try so hard to discredit the NYT? It's one of their standard bearers.

Must be part of the BHO strategy of "Throw them under the bus> It'll give us better traction trying to convince the non-Kool Aid crowd."

Once again, some want to act like the Clintonites and just attack the source. There are some details that Klien gets wrong, but his core point is spot on... there is no way that McCain could have been considered for promotion to admiral (actually Commodore at the time) at the time Lehman referenced. He's also correct in saying that McCain should have come out and said this was not true. Klien was also wrong in saying attack pilots are at the lower end of the flying hierarchy on a carrier, but that spot is held by COD pilots.

As to Obama's lack of military service, that is 100% correct... but Obama's lack of military service doesn't change McCain's poor record of performance in the military. Yes, McCain did accomplish many things, and making captain is a great accomplishment, but as Klien correctly points out... McCain had his Dad, and his Dad's friends, running interference for him. If McCain's Dad wasn't an admiral, McCain doesn't even get into the academy. Also, McCain did a lot of bad things along with the good things. Do these balance each other? To some I'm sure they do, but I see that view as an insult to the guys who achieved many great things in the military without screwing up.

If McCain wants to say he was a naval officer, a pilot, a POW, that's fine. But when he says "vote for me to be President because my record of service as a naval officer, pilot, and POW proves I am up to the task", that's a different story.

[chernmax]

The one star rank appeared again in 1982 with the title of Commodore Admiral. The next year, after numerous protests to the Chief of Naval Operations, Commodore Admiral was changed to simply Commodore. In 1985, Commodore had also begun to appear as a position title for senior Captains who commanded Destroyer Squadrons, Patrol Boat Flotillas, and Naval Aircraft Groups. To prevent confusion between the title of Commodore and the actual rank, the one star Navy admiral rank was changed to Rear Admiral (Lower Half). From that point on, Commodore remained a title and all Navy one star admirals were referred to as Rear Admiral (Lower Half).


And your continued horsesh!t attacks on McCain's military record are ridiculous and unfounded and just like the retired 4 star General and former Presidential candidate Wesley Clark who made the foolish comment about McCain's military service, NObama threw his ass under the bus, just like we continue to do to you...

Originally Posted by Bruzilla

Once again, some want to act like the Clintonites and just attack the source. There are some details that Klien gets wrong, but his core point is spot on... there is no way that McCain could have been considered for promotion to admiral (actually Commodore at the time) at the time Lehman referenced. He's also correct in saying that McCain should have come out and said this was not true. Klien was also wrong in saying attack pilots are at the lower end of the flying hierarchy on a carrier, but that spot is held by COD pilots.

As to Obama's lack of military service, that is 100% correct... but Obama's lack of military service doesn't change McCain's poor record of performance in the military. Yes, McCain did accomplish many things, and making captain is a great accomplishment, but as Klien correctly points out... McCain had his Dad, and his Dad's friends, running interference for him. If McCain's Dad wasn't an admiral, McCain doesn't even get into the academy. Also, McCain did a lot of bad things along with the good things. Do these balance each other? To some I'm sure they do, but I see that view as an insult to the guys who achieved many great things in the military without screwing up.

If McCain wants to say he was a naval officer, a pilot, a POW, that's fine. But when he says "vote for me to be President because my record of service as a naval officer, pilot, and POW proves I am up to the task", that's a different story.