McCain POW Life - Spin or Fact?

How much of McCain's POW story is spin and how much is fact? And, does it have anything to do with his qualifications to be President?

Read the two direct accounts linked below to get a different version of McCain's main claim to fame, that of being a POW hero.

In the first, "Why I Will Not Vote For John McCain", by Dr. Phillip Butler*, a highly decorated naval veteran, Butler speaks of his first-hand experiences with McCain from living with him at the US Naval Academy to being POWs together.

http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:qq-1iVKbZIIJ:www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html+why+did+John+McCain+become+a+POW&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us

A few highlights:

"We experienced injuries and malnutrition that are coming home to roost. So I believe John's age (73) and survival expectation are not good for being elected to serve as our President for 4 or more years"

"I can verify that John has an infamous reputation for being a hot head. He has a quick and explosive temper that many have experienced first hand. Folks, quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button."

"It is also disappointing to see him take on and support Bush's war in Iraq, even stating we might be there for another 100 years. For me John represents the entrenched and bankrupt policies of Washington-as-usual. The past 7 years have proven to be disastrous for our country. And I believe John's views on war, foreign policy, economics, environment, health care, education, national infrastructure and other important areas are much the same as those of the Bush administration."

"I'm disappointed to see John represent himself politically in ways that are not accurate. He is not a moderate Republican. On some issues he is a maverick. But his voting record is far to the right. I fear for his nominations to our Supreme Court, and the consequent continuing loss of individual freedoms, especially regarding moral and religious issues. John is not a religious person, but he has taken every opportunity to ally himself with some really obnoxious and crazy fundamentalist ministers lately. I was also disappointed to see him cozy up to Bush because I know he hates that man. He disingenuously and famously put his arm around the guy, even after Bush had intensely disrespected him with lies and slander. So on these and many other instances, I don't see that John is the "straight talk express" he claims to be."

*Butler is a 1961 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former light-attack carrier pilot. In 1965 (almost 3 years before McCain) he was shot down over North Vietnam where he spent eight years as a prisoner of war. He is a highly decorated veteran and POW.

In a second account, an article http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3172 by Col. David Hackworth, a highly decorated veteran officer of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, states among other detailed research findings, "McCain certainly doesn't appear to be a war hero by conventional standards, but rather a tough survivor whose handlers are overplaying the war hero card."

With one foot in the grave, it is finally time to acknowledge John McCain for one of his finest accomplishments in life...being a POW, yes, and then spinning us with it over and over and over again. Since his capture in 1967 during the Vietnam War, McCain hasn't missed a chance to tell (boast) us his story of capture, torture and heroism with a touch of mock humility thrown in when crediting other prisoners for his very survival.