By Paul West
John McCain has few stronger supporters than his younger brother Joe, who recently got himself into hot water when he described the fiercely contested Northern Virginia suburbs as "communist country." But that remark pales beside Joe's latest blast, in a new email to friends, that criticizes the conduct of those piloting McCain's campaign as it sails into shoals and makes a desperate plea for the campaign to change course.
It's only the latest attack on the leadership of the campaign from McCain supporters (and follows closely on Bill Kristol's column in Monday's New York Times calling on McCain to fire his campaign). But it's the first from a member of McCain's family, someone who has been actively campaigning on the candidate's behalf.
Joe McCain, portraying himself as a sailor ringing a warning bell, describes the campaign team "poring over plans and maps and high-minded thoughts" while his brother's presidential ship steams toward treacherous waters.
Joe is particularly critical of top campaign officials (unnamed) who "so tightly 'control the message'" that they have cut the press off from those who know the candidate best (presumably including his brother). Joe McCain, who notes that he once was a reporter and has worked in campaign press shops, calls these news-management efforts "counter-intuitive, counter-experiential, and counter-productive."
Joe goes on to say that the decision to clamp down on press contact with intimates of the Arizona senator is "causing gangrene. It has gradually bled away all the good will that this great man had from the press, for he alone among politicians would talk to them openly, without finesse, without guile."
Reporters, he notes, once returned the affection "regardless of their political lean . . . they loved him nonetheless."
Joe--who did not respond immediately to a request for further comment--urges the campaign to allow him and others to talk to reporters about "the John McCain we know. Some reporters will get it wrong, most will not get it perfectly, but almost all will appreciate the reopening of the gates of information and reward us for it."
Joe says he and others "were muzzled by those (running the campaign) without the understanding that you cannot control the media by keeping them from information, but you can lose all their good will."
Joe urges his brother's campaign to "Let John McCain be John McCain, a Great Warrior and Leader of Men and Women . . . "
He also pleads with the campaign's top managers to "let us talk to these reporters and tell them of the John McCain we know. Some reporters will get it wrong, most will not get it perfectly, but almost all will appreciate the reopening of the gates of information and reward us for it."
Joe McCain's plea is an echo of Kristol's call for McCain to become an "open and accessible candidate" again. "Provide total media accessibility on their campaign planes and buses. Kick most of the aides off and send them out to swing states to work for the state coordinators on getting voters to the polls," he wrote.
No immediate reaction from the McCain camp to Joe's missive.
Below is a copy of the entire email--
From: Joe McCain >
>
Sent: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:27 pm
Subject: Shoaling
I write this to all who have a 'McCain08' or an 'RNC' address in the hopes that in a place here and there might at this last moment someone who sees what I see.
I have carried around to voters in several states, John McCain's naval Flight Jacket he left aboard the USS Oriskany on Oct 26th, 1967 and didn't see for 5 ½ years as he suffered terribly in his duty to his country and his fellow POWs. And even as one of the wors t injured of all prisoners in Hanoi he refused early release to uphold his oath of service. A decision he made in a dark place, away from the media, the public, the polls -- a decision he made as his own personal bond with the citizens of the United States, their past, their present, their future. Honor above all else.
Truly, I sometimes I hold that heavy leather mantle and all the service and the complex life it connotes -- and the thought that its wearer might not be selected to be Captain of the Ship of State in these parlous times is just anathema to me, unthinkable.
So, as a sailor who sees his ship sailing into shoals while the rest of the officers and warrants are poring over plans and maps and high-minded thoughts, I make one last effort to ring the bell and put a light on these shallows I see as we steam toward destiny with but three weeks left in this long voyage.
This portrayal of John McCain as a scrapper, as an alley fighter so far in these debates and these TV ads misses a much higher calling that he has - to a distant hill where he will put behind him the scrap yards and the greed and will lead this land to a higher plane. For of all of John's many qualities - fighter, scholar, communer, reflector - the highest is vision and hope and ethics and a pull to the light, for John McCain knows where we came from, where we stumbled, where we were confused , and where we lit beacons to all other people who dream of sweeter things and a better place.
Let John McCain be John McCain, a Great Warrior and Leader of Men and Women, who sees a distant shore where the best of this land can gather and put behind them the scrapping and the greed and the disingenuous to pick up the markers left for us by the great men of our history, from Henry, Paine, Jefferson, Washington, Madison to Lincoln, the first Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan. Men immune from the petty temptations to acquire wealth from the citizens for they saw a much brighter reward - to lead and to uplift.
Make ads that show John not as crank and curmudgeon but as a great leader for his time, a man who always, always fights for the average American as best he can, to even the ground and to make more things possible for all.
I reprint at the end of this a TV Ad I concocted that tries to illuminate and personalize John's sacrifice. I sent it to some before, so it will be redundant. It's fairly simple, with two minimalist sets, and can be set up in almost any studio. It doesn't have to be this one, of course - for this is mine own vanity of John's portrait -- but something of its ilk, one that will leave with the American voter a final image - a leader, a man who sacrificed himself for us, and after that gift dedicated the rest of his life to make that sacrifice count in service to all Americans.
And most especially, let those who know him talk to the people about him, through the press. This policy of trying to so tightly 'control the message' by cutting off those who know him from the cacophony of national and local voices - the reporters and the editors - is counter-intuitive, counter-experiential, and counter-productive. It creates ligatures and tourniquets that are causing gangrene. It has gradually bled away all the good will that this great man had from the press, for he alone among politicians would talk to them openly, without finesse, without guile. And regardless of the their political lean - and whether we like it or not, reporters think and have opinions - they loved him nonetheless.
Let us talk to these reporters and tell them of the John McCain we know. Some reporters will get it wrong, most will not get it perfectly, but almost all will appreciate the reopening of the gates of information and reward us for it.
For now they are angry and frustrated -- what happened to this John McCain and his legions who would always talk us? Well, they were muzzled by those without the understanding that you cannot control the media by keeping them from information, but you can lose all their good will. They were misled by those who meant well, but who simply don't know the reality of this aspect of a political race. [I pretend no expertise in campaigning, by I do understand the press aspect of it, for I was a reporter for several years, and worked in Press in two California campaigns]
In these last three weeks, let us have the torches to light this man's way to the highest hill in The Land.
Let us climb this McEverest together. N ot as a taut, careful clatch all back to back facing outward, but each scrambling up the various paths we each know with elan and an eye fixed on the Summit!
-------------------------------
"The Flight Jacket" [:60] 'masterscene' format, A/V format won't hold.....
FADE IN:
MEDIUM SHOT of leather military flight jacket hanging on a hook on a grey steel ship's bulkhead
AMBIENT SOUNDS of naval aircraft carrier in bg, outside - jets ... catapult 'WHOOSH' ... muffled "....all hands stand by on the flight deck..."
SLOWLY MOVE IN ON Jacket. Turned so that we can see a name label
MOVE IN CLOSER, until we can make out on the label - "John S. McCain ... Lt Cdr .... USN'
VOICEOVER
&n bsp; This Naval Flight Jacket was left behind
on the carrier USS Oriskany for five-and-a-
half years while John McCain was a prisoner
in Hanoi.
SLOW MOVE around Flight Jacket.
V.O. (cont)
McCain was beaten, tortured -- one of the
worst injured of all POWs.
STILL TAKING A GOOD LOOK at Flight Jacket
&nbs p; V.O. (cont)
Hanoi offered him an early release as
a publicity stunt to counter mounting
criticisms of torturing our captured
men
&nbs p; [beat]
But John McCain refused this early
release to obey his oath to his
country and his duty to his fellow
&n bsp; prisoners.
CUT TO:
MEDIUM-CLOSE SHOT
Red Telephone. It suddenly RINGS
&n bsp; V.O. (cont)
Who do you think should answer that phone
at 3 in the morning?
Or at any other time.
&nb sp;
CUT TO::
MEDIUM LONG SHOT Of
Flight Jacket -- PULL BACK A BIT
John McCain walks INTO FRAME,20reaches for the Flight Jacket
JOHN McCAIN
I'm John McCain ... and I lived this
Message.
&n bsp; FADE OUT
=
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Too Late--Palin distroyed the little creditability and trust most educated and informed voters still had in the Republican Party---she distroyed all trust.
Posted by: Sims | October 14, 2008 2:46 PM
What does that blatantly pandering ad have to do with the financial crisis we are going through? Joe McCain chooses to ignore that John McCain is a grown man who should be able to make his own path but he let them lead him astray with the Palin pick. John McCain and John McCain alone has chosen to lie repeatedly about his voting record and he alone chose to malign a fellow Senator with lies and innuendo. John McCain is bringing down his own ship (much like he brought down two_or three of his own planes)! I do not deny that he suffered but does that mean we owe him the presidency?
Posted by: CherieB | October 14, 2008 4:55 PM
John McCain served admirably - but that doesn't mean he should be president. It is time to pass leadership to the next generation. And he should not dishonor himself with a mean spirited campaign. I will vote for Obama.
Posted by: Jan | October 14, 2008 4:59 PM
It's too late. People have been losing their homes, retirement funds, etc. and he comes up with a late, economic plan 3 wks. before the election? Where has he been. His economic plan mimicks Obama's from a couple of days ago. And don't forget that he allowed the crowds to say those disgusting remarks for days before he told them Sen. Obama is a decent man and you don't have to be afraid of him. He's too erractic. In the same day, hel'll change his mind twice. I can't tell what he believes in because when he makes a statement in the debate...I research it and it's a lie. EX: Obama didn't vote to tax people who make 42,000 or less. He never has. FACT: McCain doesn't want to tax the wealthy. FACT: He voted against GI bills, etc. and he's a military man! How could he do that when he was a prisoner of war? That says it all. The Huffington post listed/provided a link to all of the legislation that McCain voted against and it was a long list!!
Posted by: K Scott | October 14, 2008 5:15 PM
John McCain has unfortunately lost his way in this campaign. Choosing Sarah Palin will be a decisioni he'll probably regret for the rest of his days. You can't run on a slogan of Country First and then put the country at risk with the possibility of Palin becoming president. She seems like a nice enough person, she's just unfortunately not close to being qualified to be Leader of the Free World.
Posted by: Chris | October 14, 2008 5:25 PM
Our choice of a president and commander in chief in these troubled times should not be made out of reverence for relics. It must be made out of a careful and thoughtful consideration of issues: issues that will determine the survival and well-being of all of us. People are already committing suicide over losing their homes and jobs. Worshipping a flight jacket will not lead to the kind of deliberation we need to be doing in preparation for electing a president who will be a strong advocate for all the people--including veterans, children, and the economically devestated--in the here and now.
Posted by: Belva McKann | October 14, 2008 5:43 PM
I agree with Sims. It's too late.
Choosing Palin showed he cared not for the country but only in drumming up votes.
Then, to add insult to injury, he sent her to unleash her vitriolic and dangerous tirade at their rallies.
I have no respect for a candidate who would incite feelings of fear and hatred when positivity and strength is SO needed at this time.
John McCain represents more of George Bush's dark, bloody and embarrassingly heartless
tenure. Bush/McCain-Palin
are all too quick to go to war!
BARACK OBAMA represents
a chance for a totally NEW beginning!!!!
BARACK OBAMA represents
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE!!!
Posted by: Jacks | October 14, 2008 5:52 PM
It is way too late for this, and falling back on the POW card is not enough. As a conservative, I used to disagree with McCain, but I respected him. Now, I pity him, and he no longer has my respect. He turned into his campaign into a farce by selecting Palin (imagine her with the 3AM call) and into a completely vile mess over the last 2 months with negative smears, lies and innuendos. To suggest that your opponent pals around with terrorists crossed a line. We all know it. Sadly, McCain does as well but wants to win more than anything else. The man who said country first has decided to risk the country and his honor to win a campaign. Completely unseemly, quite unpresidential, and very, very pathetic.
Posted by: Lois in Florida | October 14, 2008 5:58 PM
Country First?! The worst joke was Sarah Palin's pick - may the joke be on John McCain, for recklessly endangering our national security with this most disastrous pick. That type of "judgement" is not what we need from him. Imagine a crisis moment, where the president is "unavailable" - and .... Sarah Palin in charge of our military apparatus!? Come on - what happened to our best and our brightest, and what happened to McCain's "honor"?!
Posted by: Carl Lewis | October 14, 2008 6:12 PM
I don't stomach sentimentality in politics and as soon as I got to the flack jacket I expected nausea and read on very cautiously. I saw nothing to change my mind. Just a younger brother's last ditch effort for an old man not fit to govern.
Posted by: angela sands | October 14, 2008 6:22 PM
Great. Is this what we would have to look forward to in a McCain administration? Fire the White House staff and set the President free!
Posted by: kjstjohn | October 14, 2008 6:25 PM
I think we should all appreciate that McCain served his country well. He was imprisoned and tortured to the point that he made propaganda tapes for the enemy condemning the presence of the United States in South East Asia. I believe all who know this happened understand why he did what he did. But having said that.. we have to also understand that we still must not forget that none of us are perfect; not even John McCain.
It's also ironic that when this information was taken to Barack Obama, he refused to try and capitalize on this unfortunate incident. There's no doubt in my mind that Sarah Palin would have slammed the point home had this been something about Obama. McCain has allowed Palin to drag his campaign through the mud.
When supporters begin calling for the death of the opposition, it's time to change tactics. But somehow McCain has allowed this to continue. Shame on him!!
Posted by: demillicent | October 14, 2008 6:26 PM
Unfortunately mccain is mcain and is not of presidential timber...(irregardless of his choosing the hockey-mom).
Posted by: Christopher Flynn | October 14, 2008 6:29 PM
If being a POW and outsider are the principal ingredients of a good president, then there are other POW's who would make a better choice - the ones who haven't sought the office and lived in DC for the past 30 years. McCain is now the prisoner of another type of war, and not one in which he has distinguished himself as a patriot or a leader. The strait talk express left the station months ago and McCain was left at the station. You can't lie and turn into a hatemonger and then take it back at the last moment because the polls aren't going your way. That One doesn't have to kick your butt tomorrow night. You will do a fine job of kicking yourself in the rear every time you open your mouth and pretend to know what you are talking about or that you are sincere in saying it. The only thing you are sincere about at this point is desperation for power and ascendance. Down with King George III.
Posted by: Clyde Platt | October 14, 2008 6:55 PM
The Obama campaign and its surrogates have all praised McCain's service to the country. However, the constant reiteration of his time as a POW is wearing thin. Joe McCain wants this election to be about the story of his brother, not the issues. The difficult times facing our nation require a leader who is looking forward, not backwards. I for one, want a press corps who is asking tough questions of both candidates. And Joe, your brother is the leader of the Republican party and of his campaign, if he wanted it to be run differently, then he has the power to make that happen. It is a little difficult to try to run a heroic and honorable biography driven campaign when all the candidate does is sling mud at his opponent, that is neither honorable nor heroic.
Posted by: Hope | October 14, 2008 7:02 PM
It's John McCain's campaign. Why doesn't he accept responsibility for it, for who he can talk to, what he can say, who he can nominate for VP, the direction they take, etc.? IT'S HIS CAMPAIGN!!!
Posted by: sandy | October 14, 2008 7:11 PM
I am tired of negative ads. i have voted republican since Ronald Regan ran for president. This year due to the negativety, Palin as choice for VP, and slow responses to economy i am going to vote for Obama. he is cool in debates, he doesn't try to attack others families or spread lies regarding his opponent. Everyone has done something as it doesn't bother me that Palin fired her ex brother in law (most would if they could help a brother or sister) but to have her pick up the phone at 3:00 AM no thank you.
Posted by: Pete Gilreath | October 14, 2008 7:12 PM
Joe McCain should realise his brother John, choose this path. Noone forced him to do it. His remarks in his 2002 book, emphatically states his ambition is to be president, because that's his ambition, not for patriotic reasons and not for reforms he would like to make but for the ambition to be POTUS which he has had for a long time. McCain choose the worst of people to run his campaign for whatever reason and he has to accept responsiblity. Noone needs to or should stoop to the levels that John McCain and his campaign staff have done.
Posted by: Sandra | October 14, 2008 7:15 PM
I honor John McCain's loyal service to this country, especially since it came during such a controversial time and those who fought in Vietnam suffered so much. However, this campaign is about the American people and how they will survive the breakdown in our economy, lack of health insurance, the wars abroad and other issues. It is not about John McCain being rewarded for a job well done in a war that was fought decades ago. I am not trying to disrespect Vietnam; my uncle was one of those soldiers who were spit on when he came back. My nephew is in Afghanistan right now. Therefore, I honor their service very much. Joe McCain's plea is heartfelt, but someone needs to tell him that this campaign is not being run for his family or his brother alone. It is not a time to make sure that John McCain’s reputation is restored. It is not a time for John McCain to feel good about his campaign again. America’s reputation needs to be restored. We need to feel good again. McCain’s new speech ends in an impassioned plea for all the things we need to fight for in order to make America great again. He frequently talks about “our enemies”. I do not know about anyone else out there, but I do not have any fight left in me. I’m ready to work to make things better and cooperate to find solutions. It seems like we have been our own worst enemy for the past eight years and maybe we need to deal with that first. I want a president who is a leader who is calm and thoughtful before reacting. The time for warrior presidents who fight, fight, fight is past.
Posted by: Caroline | October 14, 2008 7:47 PM
A moving letter from a man who clearly knows and loves his brother.
Mccain is a remarkable man, who endured unimaginable horrors. His strength as a soldier is beyond dispute.
But, the fact remains. A leader leads.
To blame his nameless handlers for a candidate's inability to inspire and connect with Americans at this vital hour, seems only to underscore his shortcomings in the ineffable arts required to rally a nation.
An ad about an old jacket-- a relic from a distant time and a place far removed from the modern struggles of Americans-- is not the answer.
Say what you will about Mccain's opponent, but he at least perceives what it is Americans yearn for: a leader who understands that it is not about him. It is not about what he did, it is about what this country can do. A great leader leads not by celebrating his own greatness, but by demonstrating his faith in the ability of his people, when challenged, to be great themselves.
Posted by: Lem | October 14, 2008 7:59 PM
You can't change a person. All of McWar's choices, from his campaign managers and people "running" it, to picking Sarah McDumb, shows a complete lack of understanding and love for the country, and the world, who count on the US to make the world a better place.
Obama-Biden 08 So Help US God!
Posted by: TooLittleTooLate | October 14, 2008 8:02 PM
I know they're brothers but "scholar," really?
Posted by: xian | October 14, 2008 8:06 PM
John McCain chose to NOT be open with this country. If running for 10 years hasn't taught McCain something, then yes, he need not try to govern 300 million people.
Posted by: Sam | October 14, 2008 8:08 PM
Palin seems like a "nice enough person"? The Palin who is stirring up the racists with her insinuations that Obama is an Arab terrorist?
Posted by: Good Grief Man | October 14, 2008 8:13 PM
We need to take a long hard look at where this country is after eight years of Republican domination. John McCain represent the affluent, self-righteous Republican party. They have done nothing but serve their own interest. George Bush lied to get us in a war that is not winnable the blood of our young people and the innocent people of Iraq have been shed for pure unbridle greed, John McCain supports the war for that he should not be allowed to be president. It is a shame that he chose Sarah Palin (to his undoing) as his VP choice, if you listen to this woman you know she is way out of her league and you don't need to be a Washington elite to know that. I predicted that their use of negative campaigning was going to be their undoing. Whatever you say about Obama, you cannot say he has been ignorant or vindictive in his campaigning. John McCain has pandered to the worst of the worst by allowing them to voice their hate-filled and bigoted ideas, any decent person knows in their hearts that this campaign has gone way wrong. The past is the past, you might have been a war hero but you have definitely lost my respect and the respect of millions of Americans.
Posted by: Broderick | October 14, 2008 8:21 PM
Frankly, McCain and Palin have done to many negative things for me to forget. I would fear for the country if they won. I am voting for Obama/Biden.
Posted by: PLD | October 14, 2008 8:58 PM
Joe McCain says that it is an anathema & unthinkable to not select Johnny Rotten as America's President.
I Say Too Bad , Being a POW does not ENTITLE Johnny Rotten to be Our President !
I Want Someone Intelligent , Strong & Calm , not the Erratic Self Entitled Old Man that seems to be Living In An Alternate Reality !
Again Joe I Say TOO DAMN BAD !
Posted by: CindyKay | October 14, 2008 9:05 PM
Joe McCain must have worshiped his big brother all of his life, without seeing the qualities of the people around him. The concept of holding up a Navy Flight Jacket as a idol of worship entitles Joe to a visit to a mental ward. To compare John McCain to people of the quality of personalities such as Jefferson, Wahington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan, is sac-religious in comparison. These men were leaders, who have all proved their weight. They lead the country, and were successful before they became president. One thing that they all have in common over McCain is they earned the wealth they acquired, instead of marrying a rich woman, and become obsessed with one day being president. Calling a man a leader who was ranked 894 of 899 graduates from Annapolis, who crashed two planes outside of combat, and sent a multi million dollar plane down when becoming captured in VietNam tells me that the little brother should open his eyes to the direction of McCains campaign. It is loosing!!! the first well recognized problem of his leadership was the selection of Palin ( 100% unqualified) to sit as VP nor the Presidents seat if McCains health failed, and it passed to Palin. Just think of the ramifications with Palin possesing the codes to the nuclear arms of the USA. Joe, go back to church and remind yourself of what worship actually is, and stop worshiping Idols such as a Flight Jacket !!! and its owner.
Posted by: Wayne Beeman | October 14, 2008 10:09 PM
Sorry but just like with HRC who ran an equally bad campaign in every sense of the work.
If you can't run a decent/successfull campaign (I don't care how much experience you're supposed to have) how can you run a country!?
Posted by: Deborah | October 14, 2008 10:24 PM
If John McCain cannot control his own campaign, how can we trust him with the presidency? But what did you expect of a campaign run by some of Washington's most powerful and experienced lobbyists? Rather than raising sympathy for his brother's candidacy, Joe McCain's sentimental pandering had given us a dramatic insight into the dangerous world that a McPalin White House would be for the majority of people in this country. Thanks Joe!
Posted by: Valfen | October 14, 2008 10:54 PM
It is a lovely article written by a man who obviously respects and loves his brother - but I have followed this campaign very closely and I cannot support a ticket with Sarah Palin as VP.
Posted by: Cheryl in Utah | October 14, 2008 10:58 PM
If McCain cannot run his campaign how in the heck is he going to run the country.
Posted by: Jenifer | October 14, 2008 11:02 PM
Joe McCain- I disagree with you greatly, but admire you and your brother so much. Please know we admire families like yours. I hope you guard your family members hearts. They are on their way to being broken. God Bless you!
Posted by: Jeff Carones | October 14, 2008 11:07 PM
I Don't feel sorry for McCain.He fought in a war we had no business being in, just like the one in Iraq which he was so anxious to get us into.McCain loves war and that's all he's known all his life..He's not the only soldier who was totured.Being a POW does not give him any special priveledges....on the contrary the torture he suffered should makes us think twice about allowing him to become our next president.....He's unstable!
Posted by: Mesuki | October 14, 2008 11:07 PM
McCain a scholar? Hummmm.
Posted by: chillypre | October 14, 2008 11:11 PM
It is a shame they ruin McCain. There is bad people handling his campaign and forcing Palin on him only energize the conservative base. She doesn't have a clue and that is bringing McCain down plus the idiots around him that tells him what to do. They are just as dumb as Palin. All that hatred they brought out last week brought out the nut jobs on the conservative base. He deserves to lose not standing up and take control of his campaign.
Posted by: jerryz Burbank, IL | October 14, 2008 11:16 PM
I feel bad for McCain. I was so ready to support him and didn't really think twice about it until Obama came into the race. I was still open to McCain because I am a moderate but the tone of his campaign and the mgmt of his campaign prevents me from being able to support him. You don't reward someone with the presidency simply because of his military service. It is an asset but it isn't the only prerequisite. He is becoming a punchline. It isn't fair but that is how many in the country perceives his candidacy now.
Posted by: Harry | October 14, 2008 11:24 PM
I don't want to post a comment, just say thanks for carrying the story and the comments.
Posted by: David | October 14, 2008 11:34 PM
John McCain's record regarding POW/MIAs is less than stellar. See:
http://powwarrior.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/the-measure-of-the-man-why-john-mccain-doesnt-measure-up/
John McCain sold his soul to the minor-demon, Rove, so he's responsible for his own undoing.
If you lay down with dogs, you're going to get up with fleas.
Posted by: Forseti | October 14, 2008 11:35 PM
Free McCain!
We the God fearing conservative MUST free McCain from the hands of Sarah Palin. Since Palin joined the ticket. She has been dominating the campaign and taken over the running of this election.
We Must free McCain from the hands of Palin so he can operate as his Maverick self.
Free McCain
Posted by: Toffee | October 14, 2008 11:54 PM
McCain has run a sloppy and dumb campaign. He needs to be more modest about his POW time instead of bragging about hourly and using it as a ploy for the Presidency.
He focuses on blaming his rival for everything and has just begun to stress a coherent position on anything except for being a proud american.
He went negative at the drop of a hat when polls dipped.
He let's his pitbull (foaming at the mouth) spout off his divisive mean message for America. He admittedly knows little about the economy.
His brother sounds like a loon. His wife wears $300K outfits on stage as people lose their homes. He seriously underestimated white female voters by chosing unaccomplished run-on sentence Palin. Mccain doesn't deserve the Presidency and he's to blame.
Posted by: RJII | October 15, 2008 12:40 AM
Poor Joe McCain. I never expect the relatives to be rational over their loved ones, so if he can't bring himself to indict his brother for conduct unbecoming, I can't blame him.
If John McCain is allowing himself to be sequestered and led astray by consultants now, why would he be strong enough as president? McCain should have let himself be McCain. Possibly he has, and this is the only McCain he can be.
Posted by: Mrs. Polly | October 15, 2008 12:58 AM
By all means, please let John McCain be himself...The self that ranked 894 out of 899 in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy...the self that crashed three planes before he even saw combat, the self that "wet-started" a fourth jet aboard the USS Forrestral as a prank, resulting in the explosion and fire that killed more than 132 men on board...the self who received mail, visitors, phone calls and prostitutes in his POW quarters in exchange for making propaganda tapes...the self who later used his influence as a Senator to close all MIA records, declaring the remaining POW's dead, so that he could clear the way for US trade relations with Vietnam...the self who immediately abandoned his first wife upon his return from Vietnam because she had been disfigured in an accident...the self who bought his ex-wife's silence by agreeing to pay for her medical bills for life (family friend Ross Perot paid all of the initial medical costs and was never repaid by McCain)... What a great guy. Yes, John McCain, please, be yourself.
Posted by: Kit | October 15, 2008 12:58 AM
No one is questioning that John McCain lived through heck on earth as a prisoner of war. What I question is whether or not that qualifies someone for the presidency. Aside from not agreeing with his policies, I think the fact that he was a prisoner of war should automatically disqualify him. Has he ever received any intensive therapy after returning home? Quite honestly, he seems to me like a warmonger and I don't want him anywhere near a nuclear button. If I have to choose between either McCain or Palin to answer the 3am phone call, I say let the butler answer the phone. That way, maybe the country will still have a chance in heck.
Posted by: Hilda Bell | October 15, 2008 1:35 AM
Why do we need to revisit the fact that John was a POW? We get it! It smacks of President Bush consistantly reminding us of 9/11 every time he needs America to support him. Palin said it best when she told Biden not to look to the past but to the future. If Joe McCain has nothing new for us as Americans, please do us a favor and leave the jacket in a closet and give us real answers to real problems. That is how Obama is winning this race.
Posted by: Anthony | October 15, 2008 1:41 AM
McCain was mad as he11 when Bush did this to him in 00'. He even said that those people deserved a special place in he11. So what does he do? He turns around and hires the same type (even some of the same) people to run his campaign. His choice of Palin (of which I'm sure wasn't really his choice, but rather his "handlers"), was just the final nail in is coffin. I can tell from the comments I read across different boards everyday, that this "base" of McCain, is getting more frightened everyday. You can read it in all their repeated lies, over and over again, in that they believe, like Bush, that if you repeat it enough times, it will become true. I glad that at long last, a larger majority of the voting public, has finally seen through the lies that is the Republican party. If the Repubs keep this up, then the moderates and the intelligent people of them, will leave and form a new, different party. It's either that, or else they take away the unporpotional amount of say that they let the far right religious nuts have in the policies of the Repub party. A far larger portion of the people in this country are actually moderate, and both parties let the far fringes have too much say. It's usually because these far people, are the ones who squeak the loudest, while the moderates are content to just try and makes things work, and to try and work with their neighbors to make thing work.
Posted by: Tom | October 15, 2008 1:52 AM
John Mccain's brother should
make commercials. You can improve the box,but that doesn't make the product better.young woters are savvy.
this is not the time to try to sell an image,when so many have been hurt by laws written by his bud P.G.
Everyone feels sorry for J.M.,but my family has lost money. It wasn,t gambling money . It was for our retirement. Find another job john. My partner will have to at 47 years of age.
Posted by: Hollace Henry | October 15, 2008 2:07 AM
If John McCain is the Maverick that he claims to be and knows what to do and how to lead then why doesn't he take some responsibility for how his campaign is run? Remember these are the same people who WOULD HAVE ended up running his presidency as well.
Posted by: Julie S | October 15, 2008 2:09 AM
Ok McCain is a Vietnam vet. So is my husband and many other people. He was a POW what about the other POW's
and MIA's. Some came back as McCain had. Other's didn't. Some stories can pretty old real fast. Look at his voting history on vet's issues.
If he can lose his temper [that Maverick] as bad as some say why the heck can't he tell his campagn camp, with all his temper, to stop that mess. He doesn't want to.
I have to admit his brother's letter was very lovely and brotherly. He is a good brother. He's very loyal to John McCain. Why has McCain let these people do this to him. I see no loyalty in return.
That's just My take on this.
Posted by: Juanita | October 15, 2008 5:44 AM
While I appreciate the mix of frustration and loyalty Joe McCain feels, his premise is pretty bizarre. John McCain is an adult, who should have enough experience and judgment to realize how incompetent his campaign has been. He certainly has the ability to fire them.
The Palin pick went beyond just bad campaign strategy, though, and actively put the country at risk. It's one thing to try to keep the right wing of your base in line by spouting primitive nonsense from the stump during the campaign (every politician panders to one extent or other), it's another to appoint a lightweight fringe politician to a position which puts the nation in danger of her becoming president.
Posted by: Larry Johnson | October 15, 2008 6:20 AM
It's very powerful, especially that last line. I have struggled to respect John McCain, of whom I knew little before the primaries. The lies... the Palin...the dearth of ideas... they are all too much for me. Nevertheless, I feel sad for JM that he will carry regrets away from this campaign.
His brother's love is evident and, I hope, a source of solace to him.
Posted by: HeatherG | October 15, 2008 8:06 AM
You lost me at 'leather' flight jacket. When was the last time our pilots wore leather? I don't want to live in the past. Look where that got us. McCain clearly doesn't have the vision, discipline, or temperment needed to lead our nation forward. We aren't a nation of 'Leave it to Beaver' families anymore. McCain has managed to alienate over half the population, and inflame hatred towards his opponent in the rest. The way he has run, or lost control of, his campaign has been the best indicater of just how unfit he is to lead. His choice of Palin left me stunned, and broke my trust in him forever. The only thing he can do now is try to redeem himself with the nation as he leaves the political landscape. McCain has run the worst campaign I have ever seen.
Posted by: Arishia | October 15, 2008 9:09 AM
If John McCain cannot be the CEO of his own campaign, how can be the CEO of the country? Will he run the country or leave decision making to his advisors? That's a risk the country cannot take in these trying times.
Posted by: Steve | October 15, 2008 9:12 AM
Frank talk, Joe McCain! I hope your brother will listen to you.
Posted by: Dare Nigeria | October 15, 2008 9:42 AM
With friends like this who need enemies?
William Ayers - American Terrorist
Raila Odinga - Cousin, Radical Islamist
Raul Reyes - Columbian Terrorist
Antonio Rezko - Slum Lord
Professor Khalidi - Muslim Terrorist Supporter and Got Obama into Harvard
Reverend Wright - Racist Muslim Supporter/Preacher, Anti-American
Reverend James Meeks - Racist
Reverend Louis Farrakhan - Racist Nation of Islam / Faux Preacher
Reverend. Jesse Jackson - Racist - Anti-Semetic
Nadhmi Auchi - Muslim Billionaire
Sohaib Abassi - Muslim Millionaire
Vote 4 SAFE and Beautiful America!
McCain / Palin 08
Posted by: Donna | October 15, 2008 12:10 PM