Sen. John McCain Touts His Military Experience

Categorized | North America

Sen. John McCain Touts His Military Experience

Posted on 03 November 2007

“John McCain, a Vietnam war prisoner, argued Friday that his top rivals for the GOP nomination aren’t qualified to deal with issues like torture - or to be president in wartime - because they never served in the military…

‘There’s a clear division between those who have a military background and experience in these issues and people like Giuliani, Romney and Thompson who don’t - who chose to do other things when this nation was fighting its wars,’ McCain told reporters after touring a shipyard and taking questions from workers wearing hard hats and blue jeans.’

Quotation from article by Associated Press writer Liz Sidoti

It’s accepted as Gospel that military experience is a qualification, indeed almost a requirement, for serving as commander-in chief. President George W. Bush’s faux military service in the Texas Air National Guard, didn’t serve him or the country very well.

At this critical juncture in history it’s imperative that we elect a president with a burning desire of peace — regardless of whether or not he/she served in the military.

It’s ludicrous to claim that only a veteran is qualified to be commander-in-chief. The next president will most likely institute a national health care program; by McCain’s logic it could be argued that only a physician should be entrusted with that monumental task.

We are engaged in a war against terrorists who engage in horrific criminal acts; should we demand that the next president have a degree in criminal justice?

Americans respect Sen. John McCain’s service in Vietnam, but there are many ways to serve your country and it shouldn’t be a requirement for a presidential candidate to have served in the military.

REFERENCES:

1. Faith of My Fathers
2. John McCain: An American Odyssey