McCains Huge Military History Debate Flub

[Coexist]

courtesy of the St. Pete Times

"President Eisenhower, on the night before the Normandy invasion... letter of resignation to the United States Army for the failure of the landings at Normandy."

McCain flubs military history

Early in the first presidential debate, Sen. John McCain veered into military history during a discussion of the financial crisis.

...

It says: "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

A noble sentiment — but not a letter of resignation.

"That must be what McCain is referencing," said David Fitzpatrick, a military historian at the University of Michigan. "I never heard that Eisenhower had prepared a letter of resignation. That would be incorrect."

The invasion was a success and Eisenhower did not have to use the note.

McCain ought not use it either — at least not as an example of pre-written resignation letter. Though Eisenhower did intend to take responsibility for the failure, that's quite different from preparing to resign his generalship. We find this anecdote to be False.

[Captain Hilts]

1. And Ike gave into McCarthyism by not challenging Sen. Jenner for calling George C. Marshall a commie

To Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt, this was unforgiveable. And they NEVER forgave him.

Another military guy who was a political coward.

[Kutjara]

2. Also, he screwed up his mention of the corporate tax rate in Ireland.

He said it's 11%, when in fact it's 12.5% for trading income and 25% for non-trading (investment) income. And there are far fewer loopholes in the Irish tax code.

Not a stickler for fact-checking, is Geritol John.

[Coexist]

11. really?

why is no one on tv fact checking the debate yet?

[HannibalBarca]

13. Also the European Union

is very much pushing for us to raise this as they see it as an unfair advantage over other countries.

[Coexist]

15. are you in Ireland?

what are the other EU business tax rates?

[frogcycle]

3. the reason he even brought this up

was to cover his ass for calling for the SEC/FEC chair to resign, after claiming he'd fire him which he could not.

And whatever campaign staffers dug this up as a strategy to put lipstick on THAT pig didn't do the most basic of homework.

He'd have done better to let that sleeping dog lie.

hmmm... speaking of dogs and lying...

[Coexist]

17. !

[billybob537]

4. McNutjob Might want to

get to work on his concession speach now and avoid the last minute rush!

[Coexist]

6. I think, in private, they are already beginning to craft it.

[Wednesdays]

16. The only question now is, will he deliver it on Election Night

...or will it be much sooner? :bounce: :popcorn:

[Politicub]

5. McCain lies so easily

It's not surprising he gets his fictions confused with truth.

[Window]

7. Kick

[FrenchieCat]

8. Have they done the Reagan one yet?

The fact that it was a lie that he wouldn't meet with USSR leaders till after something or other...but yet that was totally not true?

[Coexist]

10. I haven't heard that.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Kick!

[MadrasT]

12. Guess now we know why he was 894/899 at Annapolis...

Just sayin'

[Coexist]

14. *zing*