Some things about McCain I did not know...

[jenfur]

I haven't read very much about his private life, but WOW, it really reinforces my reason for thinking he is a very different breed of politician and he should definately be our next President.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1214492529435

 

[manning]

From the article

Yet McCain never brought up his own son's service in some of the roughest areas of Iraq. His principled refusal of political advantage from his son's Iraq service extends to refusal even to be interviewed on the subject, or to introduce his son to campaign audiences.

 

[freckles and boo]

hmmm.... not exactly a balanced or objective article. His wife, Cindy McCain, was the person responsible for saving the life of their daughter and the other orphaned child. She brought the baby home and told him they were keeping her. It is likely that she provided the resources to pay for both children's medical care, considering she is extraordinarily wealthy. I would suggest reading last weeks Newsweek cover story if you want to find out more about Cindy. As for him, I still think he is a very, very angry man who is far too rigid to be an effective president. I am not sure who the article is trying to compare him to, but it doesn't seem like it is Obama.

 

[rie'smom]

You can't compare McCain and Obama. McCain fought for his country and has years of public service under his belt. Obama hasn't fought for his country and doesn't have years of public service experience.

 

[moon]

hmmm.... not exactly a balanced or objective article. His wife, Cindy McCain, was the person responsible for saving the life of their daughter and the other orphaned child. She brought the baby home and told him they were keeping her. It is likely that she provided the resources to pay for both children's medical care, considering she is extraordinarily wealthy. I would suggest reading last weeks Newsweek cover story if you want to find out more about Cindy. As for him, I still think he is a very, very angry man who is far too rigid to be an effective president. I am not sure who the article is trying to compare him to, but it doesn't seem like it is Obama.

McCain and wife live together, don't they? So it's fair to assume they both raised the child as their own. Paying for medical care is just one aspect of her upbringing. It looks like she also found a home, family, love.

First you say that "Cindy brought the baby home and told him they were keeping her" and then you say that he is a man who is "far too rigid" Which is it? Those two statements contradict each other.

While I don't care for McCain as president, I must admit that I'm impressed by this story. It shows character and compassion from the McCains.

 

[mrdiscranky]

I haven't read very much about his private life, but WOW, it really reinforces my reason for thinking he is a very different breed of politician and he should definately be our next President.

If you believe that McCain's success as a family man are things we should discuss and reasons to elect him President, do you also believe we should discuss is failings as a family man as potential reasons not to elect him President?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

McCain and wife live together, don't they? So it's fair to assume they both raised the child as their own. Paying for medical care is just one aspect of her upbringing. It looks like she also found a home, family, love.

First you say that "Cindy brought the baby home and told him they were keeping her" and then you say that he is a man who is "far too rigid" Which is it? Those two statements contradict each other.

While I don't care for McCain as president, I must admit that I'm impressed by this story. It shows character and compassion from the McCains.

I keep hearing from McCain and Hillary supporters alike, that somehow McCain can't be both rigid and soft, or progressive (pro-Kyoto treaty, pro-amnesty for illegal immigrants) and conservative (pro-war in Iraq, pro-Bush tax cuts). Are there not issues on which we are all more laid back and some on which we are more strict? I had no idea that a person was required to be only be one way or the other in every aspect of life...as if because McCain holds a liberal policy on climate change and amnesty, it precludes anyone from complaining about his 100 year war in Iraq.

 

[freckles and boo]

McCain and wife live together, don't they? So it's fair to assume they both raised the child as their own. Paying for medical care is just one aspect of her upbringing. It looks like she also found a home, family, love.

First you say that "Cindy brought the baby home and told him they were keeping her" and then you say that he is a man who is "far too rigid" Which is it? Those two statements contradict each other.

While I don't care for McCain as president, I must admit that I'm impressed by this story. It shows character and compassion from the McCains.

Actually they rarely lived together as most married people do. He continued to serve in the military and later she decided long ago to stay in Arizona while he was in Washington. It has only been since their children have gotten much older that they have spent much time together. I have a great deal of respect for her and I believe she is a very compassionate person. Why on earth would an heiress become a special education teacher if she didn't have a huge heart and a love for children? However, that doesn't mean he isn't a difficult man.

 

[moon]

Actually they rarely lived together as most married people do. He continued to serve in the military and later she decided long ago to stay in Arizona while he was in Washington. It has only been since their children have gotten much older that they have spent much time together. I have a great deal of respect for her and I believe she is a very compassionate person. Why on earth would an heiress become a special education teacher if she didn't have a huge heart and a love for children? However, that doesn't mean he isn't a difficult man.

I won't argue wether he is a difficult man or not. However it sounded to me -and please correct me if I'm wrong- like you were implying that the child's adoption was practically forced on him. He adopted her too, right?

I just think it was an act of great compassion, from both of them. Also the fact that he choose to protect her privacy eight years ago speaks well about his feelings for her. It would have been so easy to exploit her!

Now I'm not saying that criticisms about his politics or platform, or his political carreer are out. But this, this only deserves praise and admiration. And what can I say? I'm impressed by their adopting that child. Yes I am.

And my opinion of Cindy has taken an 180 turn. She'd be a wonderful 1st lady.

 

[Magic Mom]

it precludes anyone from complaining about his 100 year war in Iraq.

SInce he doesn't want a 100 year war in Iraq, why would you complain about it?

 

[IDoDis]

Yep, McCain has LOTS of character --- NOT!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

He left his first wife after she was physically impaired following a bad car accident and married Cindy a month later.

 

[profdsny]

If you believe that McCain's success as a family man are things we should discuss and reasons to elect him President, do you also believe we should discuss is failings as a family man as potential reasons not to elect him President?

You mean like all the times he cheated on his first wife? And his second wife?

 

[moon]

I keep hearing from McCain and Hillary supporters alike, that somehow McCain can't be both rigid and soft, or progressive (pro-Kyoto treaty, pro-amnesty for illegal immigrants) and conservative (pro-war in Iraq, pro-Bush tax cuts). Are there not issues on which we are all more laid back and some on which we are more strict? I had no idea that a person was required to be only be one way or the other in every aspect of life...as if because McCain holds a liberal policy on climate change and amnesty, it precludes anyone from complaining about his 100 year war in Iraq.

Well, I'm not among those who said that Actually IIRC, that was my first post about McCain. I was planning to stay out of this thread, but I thought that trying to dismiss his role in the adoption of that child wasn't right, and that's why I posted.

Yes, there are issues where one is more laid back/strict esp when it comes to things that don't affect our day to day lives, but for a rigid man to accept a severely ill, foreign child into his home if he wasn't fully on board with the plan......well that's a pretty big stretch, IMO

 

[Magic Mom]

Yep, McCain has LOTS of character --- NOT!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

He left his first wife after she was physically impaired following a bad car accident and married Cindy a month later.

Do you think that the trauma of his 4 years in captivity has anything to do with that? Between her accident and his years as a prisoner of war in horrendous conditions, their young marriage didn't stand a chance. It was almost 30 years ago, and his first wife speaks highly of him, so why is it an issue?

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Yep, McCain has LOTS of character --- NOT!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

He left his first wife after she was physically impaired following a bad car accident and married Cindy a month later.

I don't think him divorcing his first wife means he lacks character. And it's not like he came home, saw her, and immediately filed for divorce. They didn't divorce until 1980.
If divorce and remarriage equals bad character, I would guess over half the DIS (including myself) would fall under that catagory. Puhleez!

 

[smartestnumber5]

I didn't read the article as I don't see what his personal character has to do with anything. (As others have pointed out though--is his character really that good? I bet the article didn't include the time he called his second? wife a *&/^ in front of cameras .)

I figure anyone who wants to be president and is willing to take part in the dirty campaigning and put their family through the crap needed to get there is a pretty selfish person to begin with and no one I would want to know.

But even if he did have great character, even if he was a second Mother Theresa in his personal life, I don't see how it would matter? That doesn't change his political views or the policies he wants to put into place. What the heck is the use of a really nice guy who takes orphans into his family being president if his political policies suck or are discriminatory? Alternatively, who cares if he calls his wife a *&/^ everyday if he policies protect minority groups and are best for the country?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

He's just a man, with flaws like the rest of us. I don't put people up on pedestals, but I think there is a lot to be admired about John McCain, and I think Cindy is an amazing mom. YMMV

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Do you think that the trauma of his 4 years in captivity has anything to do with that? Between her accident and his years as a prisoner of war in horrendous conditions, their young marriage didn't stand a chance. It was almost 30 years ago, and his first wife speaks highly of him, so why is it an issue?

The POW experience molds people differently. I think that to paint with a broad brush any soldier taken prisoner in a time of war as a willing recipient of a get out of marriage free card is a callous and cynical. There have been plenty of POWs who have returned to the states to live happy, divorce free lives, some with wives who may or may not have been better off health-wise than Carol McCain and her 23 operations, who faithfully stayed at home looking after the children and waited anxiously for news of her husband's return.

Here's a recent shot of Carol, who still claims to adore her 1st husband dearly:

 

[profdsny]

Do you think that the trauma of his 4 years in captivity has anything to do with that? Between her accident and his years as a prisoner of war in horrendous conditions, their young marriage didn't stand a chance. It was almost 30 years ago, and his first wife speaks highly of him, so why is it an issue?

It's an issue because some go on about how great and moral he is. As it is, he cheated on nu 2 also. What's the excuse there?

 

[IDoDis]

I don't think him divorcing his first wife means he lacks character. And it's not like he came home, saw her, and immediately filed for divorce. They didn't divorce until 1980.
If divorce and remarriage equals bad character, I would guess over half the DIS (including myself) would fall under that catagory. Puhleez!

Well, if it's ok to cheat on your wife as he did with Cindy and numerous other women while he was still married to Carol, then I don't know how you can say the man has character. It's a moot point anyway cuz he's not going to win the election!