McCain Camp Plays POW Card on House Gaffe

[Waiting For Everyman]

Sam Stein, August 21, 2008 Huffington Post

Preceding this election, there was a fairly wide-ranging belief that McCain was hesitant to use his POW experience in a political context. The Senator himself, during the 2004 election, said he was "sick and tired of re-fighting" the Vietnam War.

"It's offensive to me, and it's angering to me that we're doing this," he said. "It's time to move on."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/21/mccain-camp-plays-pow-car_n_120428.html

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McC's overuse of the POW card is becoming a joke. I think it's time for the Dems to highlight that absurdity by making it MORE of a joke. That way, it's not about being a POW but about USING it... as a response/excuse for EVERYTHING.

An ad with the quote above would be good, followed by clips of McC saying it 9 million times in every imaginable context.

Or "I know, I know, it's because he was a POW... " when anticipating what he or his surrogates would say about any issue. "We the people" could do a lot of that, and writers, bloggers, etc.

I'd suggest, taking the obvious theme of McC's campaign and finish making the joke he turned it into. Then emphasize his years of baggage and show the contrast to Obama... a self-made grassroots activist/advocate with a strong populist economic message.

Obama should talk about renegotiating our trade deals (a la Pat Choate), and re-regulating the villains in the economic crisis. (Local Dems could repeat the message using the effort Congress has already been making to do that.) He should show that McC's a 1% elitist and for their self-benefitting policies, while O's a man of the people and the one who really believes in the true American way - protecting the opportunity and interests of all. Top it off with the correct judgement to stay out of the Iraq War, and restoring respect for the Presidency in the world's eyes.

And HIT HARD. People not only vote FOR a candidate, they also vote AGAINST the other candidate just as much at the same time. Dems usually fail to recognize that. O needs to make both arguments - based on the facts. It's using truth that makes it a positive campaign, not leaving out all criticism or flaws or misdeeds of the opponent. Those need to be vetted fully in a campaign, and Dems fail to do that! It frustrates people and turns them off.

In this case, simply running on holding those responsible accountable for this mess would win the election!

People want some justice and reality, and McLame is a joke!
Not only that, he's a joke who is USING our respect for POWs as a smokescreen, to hide what he's all about and the kind of policies he would impose.

[FreakinDJ]

1. I want to know about the 32 broadcast confessions

The Vietnamese broadcast 32 confessions made by John McSame during his time as a POW

[bushisanidiot]

2. He's a POW? I had no idea!!

RELEASE YOUR MILITARY RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC, MR. MCCAIN!!

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING???!

[Bozita]

3. Noun + Verb + POW = "one-size-fits-all" answer/comment for any question

[endthewar]

4. Sad but true.

The McCain camp doesn't seem to respect McCain's service. At least now the media might feel guilty with any plans to air his POW footage for no real reason.

[Recursion]

5. Disturbingly, this was the Rovian argument against him in 2000

"He was a POW; it made him crazy."

When you boil it down, that's what McCain is saying now too.