Sen. John McCain, who faced down his captors in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp with jut-jawed defiance and later turned his rebellious streak into a 35-year political career that took him to Congress and the Republican presidential nomination, died Saturday after battling brain cancer for more than a year. He was 81.
McCain, with his irascible grin and fighter-pilot moxie, was a fearless and outspoken voice on policy and politics to the end, unswerving in his defense of democratic values and unflinching in his criticism of his fellow Republican, President Donald Trump. He was elected to the Senate from Arizona six times but twice thwarted in seeking the presidency.
An upstart presidential bid in 2000 didn't last long. Eight years later, he fought back from the brink of defeat to win the GOP nomination, only to be overpowered by Democrat Barack Obama. McCain chose a little-known Alaska governor as his running mate in that race, and turned Sarah Palin into a national political figure.
After losing to Obama in an electoral landslide, McCain returned to the Senate determined not to be defined by a failed presidential campaign in which his reputation as a maverick had faded. In the politics of the moment and in national political debate over the decades, McCain energetically advanced his ideas and punched back hard at critics — Trump not least among them.
The scion of a decorated military family, McCain embraced his role as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to "defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America."
Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said simply: "That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation."
Also at The New York Timesand c|net.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Arik on Sunday August 26 2018, @04:25PM (3 children)
Admiral James Stockdale was by all accounts tortured far more heavily and for far longer. He was crippled by the mistreatment he received but he never broke. When he was finally released, he was given the Medal of Honor - and a pink slip.
McCain, a junior pilot who had been shot down after around 20 hours of combat, who broke and cooperated both by giving military information and by making propaganda recordings, he received a whopping 28 medals. And years of physical therapy instead of a pink slip.
If his father hadn't been Admiral John Sidney McCain Jr, CINCPAC, I can't imagine this would have turned out the way it did for him. I don't know if a fair court would determine his actions amounted to treason or not - because no fair court was ever allowed to consider the question. It was just too dangerous, politically.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Sunday August 26 2018, @04:38PM
I was busy typing, and didn't see your post. Please scroll up a tiny bit, to see my reply to AC. I concur with your conclusion - if Daddy wasn't an admiral, everything about Little Johnny's career would have gone differently.
And, I appreciate your lead in. Interesting allegations, is precisely right. Nothing provable, nothing proven - but others who made as great, or greater sacrifices, were neglected. Kinda reminds you of John Kerry, except John McCain didn't write his own recommendations for awards - his daddy did.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 27 2018, @05:56PM (1 child)
Sounds like somebody doesn't know the difference between allegation, facts, and what builds credible statements. [politifact.com]
(Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday August 28 2018, @06:47PM
The link you provided actually confirms most of the allegations made against McCain, while spinning each and every paragraph just as hard as they can in his favor nonetheless.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?