The answer to all tough questions for John McCain: "I was a POW."

[Buzz Clik]

I come for a very conservative family. My first vote in a general election was cast for Richard Nixon. I voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980.

During the Vietnam War, I had two brothers in the Marines, and three brothers-in-law in the services: a Marine, one in the Army, and one in the Navy. All were active during Vietnam, and three of them were on the ground in 'Nam during the fighting. My brother-in-law in the Army was in a tank when it was attacked by the Viet Cong. He was the sole survivor, but he left half of his arm and other bits and pieces behind. Three days of survival before he was found and evacuated.

My family -- every one of us -- bought the POW/MIA bracelets and wore them until they broke. The U.S. left Vietnam when I was still 18, and my piddle-shit experience in the Corps of Engineers didn't amount to much in comparison to the sacrifice made by every other male in my family. I will defend our service men and women against all comers.

Senator McCain's service and sacrifice were startling. Despite the number of tours in the armed forces by my family, our contribution pales to his. He has my respect and admiration. He exhibited some of the qualities that we look for in a President: tenacity, survival against great odds, loyalty, sacrifice.

But this is where my praise for him ends. Despite my own family's contributions and losses and despite our unflinching support, I have heard enough. To paraphrase Sarah Palin, what were your leadership responsibilities when you were being tortured and held in a cage, Mr. McCain? You lead your fellow prisoners by example, for sure, but nothing more. No executive work loads, no life-changing decisions. This was a personal experience for you, not a leadership experience.

The time to show leadership is now. Focus on issues. Answer questions directly, and recognize that your time in a Vietnamese POW camp is not an answer to any question relevant to leading the most powerful country in the world in 2009.

We respect and admire all that you've given, but we want a President, not a man who cannot leave the past behind.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Well said and thank YOU for your service. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

3. Thanks, but ...

However, I feel like I made more of a contribution when we sent yet another Marine to Iraq. We shared duties supporting his family during his two tours. (We almost lost him. He heard a deep thud outside his tent followed by a lot of excitement. A mortar had fallen about ten feet away but failed to explode. With only a layer of fabric between him and the round. jebus.)

[ColbertWatcher]

4. We'll bring him home when we get the bastards out the White House! n/t

[radfringe]

2. palin's answer to everything is that it's a sexist question....

to sum up their campaign and a hat tip to biden:

it's a noun, a verb, and a sexist POW

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Perfect! n/t

[MzNov]

6. Personal Pronoun - Past Tense Verb - POW !!!

"separated"