Sen. Jim Webb Piles On: McCain Should ‘Calm Down’ on Using Military Record

"And John McCain's my long-time friend, if that is one area that I would ask him to calm down on, it`s that, don't be standing up and uttering your political views and implying that all the people in the military support them because they don't, any more than when the Democrats have political issues during the Vietnam War."

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July 1, 2008 at 1:20 pm - MSNBC
Dateline: Washington, D.C.
Sean   July 1st, 2008 - 1:53 pm

Democrat version of swift-boating

credible   July 1st, 2008 - 2:00 pm

How convenient of all those who bring up his war record to trash it or to tell him not to mention it so much.

Tax Paying US Military Veteran   July 1st, 2008 - 2:18 pm

no one has ever trashed his war record. what a lie. All General Clark (and now other Generals) said is that being a hero, and yes he called him a hero, doesn’t automatically mean he has the best judgment to be Commander in Chief.

Unlike the people that spread lies about Kerry’s earning of medals, people saying McCain’s judgment is off isn’t even close to the distortion of the “swiftboaters.” And what a dumb thing for the Democrats to use that euphamism for swiftboaters, when what those people did was lying. Dems should have called it just that instead of buying into the media and GOP term swiftboater.

credible   July 1st, 2008 - 2:38 pm

Hey “Tax Paying US Military Veteran”

“Obama advisor Rand Beers says his captivity during the Vietnam War “sadly limited” McCain’s ability to be a war-time leader.”

I’ll call that trashing. Don’t call me the liar, you liar.

PaleRyder   July 1st, 2008 - 2:41 pm

The swift boat vets put up a million dollar challenge to anyone who could disprove their claims.Not even kerry himself bothered to take it on.Of course the dem leadership doesn’t want McCain to ever talk about military experience,or anyone else for that matter.In their eyes our military are rapists,baby-killers and murderers,even to the point of making those lying allegations on the floor of the Us House.If there is hate being spewed and lies being told ,it is most definetly coming from the dnc and the obama camp.They can’t wait for America to be defeated and our economy to trash.That is the difference in patriotism,doing it for the power grab of a political party or doing what is right for the country.The entire existence of what is left of the dem party depends and relies on the downfall of this country and the constant trashing of America.Willingness to sit on the oil and gas crisis and the mortgage crisis for the last 2 years simply to use it as an election issue, says all you need to know about the mindset of democratic so-called leadership in dc.There is nothing left of the dem party other than pure hatred and it is apparent everyday in the media and on the campaign trial with barry and his talking buffoons like webb.As a life long dem I am joining millions who are leaving the party and voting straight down the ticket for repubs this year.If they were to show me video of McCain having sex with a goat,he is still getting my converted dem vote over this current group of Hate-America first losers.

dswilli   July 1st, 2008 - 2:51 pm

Good plan Dims attack a former Vietnam POW. You’ll be sure to win now, my advice increase the attacks ten fold. Despicable clowns are attacking McCain’s strength don’t seem to realize how slimey they appear. Well in this case looks aren’t deceiving.

PMD   July 1st, 2008 - 2:57 pm

This is offensive…? What did Jim Webb say that is inaccurate or unfair?

Jeff   July 1st, 2008 - 3:31 pm

PaleRyder is correct…the dems have had control of congress for years and done NOTHING except put earmarks on bills and run the deficit up and be obstructionist, denigrate our military and if elected they will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

JBH   July 1st, 2008 - 3:50 pm

Jeff is so right. The Dems have done nothing but ruin this country in the past two years they have had control of congress. Oil prices have gone through the roof, housing market has collapsed, unemployment is going sky high, we’re losing the war in Afghanistan, inflation is out of control, the stock market is sliding, bin Laden is still at large, the Iraq war wages on. Consumer confidence is its lowest in 25 years, personal bankruptcies have hit a new high and the National Debt is soaring, most of it owed to China and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the Dems have allowed the Oil Companies to and military contractors make huge profits.

We cannot afford two more years of this. It’s too bad GWB cannot serve a thrid term but McCain for all his weaknesses is our only hope.

Namaste   July 1st, 2008 - 3:53 pm

John McCain deserves our gratitude for his time spent as a POW.But he was not such a hero when he hot dogged the engine on one of his planes creating a horrible accident killing many of his fellows on a carrier. Of course he was quickly transferred elsewhere. His pain and suffering while in prison were awful however while he was languishing in prison he was not experiencing the battlefield in the way that Sen.Webb and others were. And when McCain came home to a hero’s welcome he certainly did not treat his wife the way we would expect a hero to do.
Do your homework and find out what happened between the Academy and his homecoming from Hanoi.

President Blue Gums   July 1st, 2008 - 4:08 pm

McCain said ALL the military supported his views? NEVER HAPPENED! What a liar!

And the Swift Boat Vets were NEVER PROVEN WRONG! Kerry ran in combat! Read up on how he got his silver medal. Kerry is a coward and a liar. Obama is just an empty suit for Democrat Power Masters.

Democrats are from Satan.

dswilli   July 1st, 2008 - 4:14 pm

Swift boating is a victim of revisionist history PaleRyder is spot on accurate. The media would have you believe the swifties mounted a campaign of lies which stupid conservatives believed. Nothing could be further from the truth. The media was given first look at the swifties claims. They chose to spike the story. Ironically if they had explored the story early, chances are the uproar would have died down. And most likely John Kerry would have been elected. The swifties wisely did an end run around the media, brilliant! Do not let the left lie about the swifties these men are heroes of the highest order.

osamaobama   July 1st, 2008 - 4:28 pm

More garbage from the luney left. God help us if osama gets elected…

Flyoverman   July 1st, 2008 - 4:29 pm

Namaste July 1st, 2008 – 3:53 pm

“John McCain deserves our gratitude …..But he was not such a hero when he hot dogged the engine on one of his planes creating a horrible accident killing many of his fellows on a carrier.”

You mean McCain caused a Zunie rocket on a F4 Phantom parked on the starborad side of the flight deck to sympathetically launch and hit the fuel tank of McCain’s A4 Skyhawk parked forward on the port side of the USS Forrestal in 1967?

In your own words “Do your homework and find out what happened.”

BIG LO IN K-TOWN   July 1st, 2008 - 4:33 pm

Ret. Gen. Wesley “Liberal” Clark started with his remarks about Sen. McCain’s military experience not qualifying him to hold the High office of President of The United States of America. Then Sen. Jim “Hypocrit” Webb who ran for office in VA. on a Military record criticizes Sen. McCain??? I haven’t heard Sen. McCain criticze any Ret. Military who served this great country with character and dignity. He was offered the chance to leave the Prisoner of War Camp, but stayed with his fellow American Servicemen!!! What a Great Hero!! OBAMA is about qualified enough with his no past record of doing nothing as one of you readers 2 year old grandchild…………….

Flyoverman   July 1st, 2008 - 4:38 pm

Namaste July 1st, 2008 – 3:53 pm ”

Of course he was quickly transferred elsewhere.”

P.S. McCain had been reassigned to the Forrestal after his regualr carrier the USS Oriskany had been damaged by fire 8 months earlier.

Interestingly, the “story” you reference talks about McCain being whisked off the Forrestal to the USS Oriskany when it came alongside to assist. The Oriskany was in the yards under repair at the time.

In your own words “Do your homework and find out what happened.”

Matt77   July 1st, 2008 - 4:41 pm

@JBH, You’re a satirist, right, you’re really a liberal troll? Brilliant and spot on my friend, you sound exactly like a little idiot with a hard hat and lunch bucket parroting a whining effeminate voiced creep with a talk show. Webb’s shot was a little cheap, granted, but on their worst day liberals will never even come close to the utter moral corruption and sleaziness of the gutter politics that the GOP has been practicing since the 70’s.

Usaq Madik   July 1st, 2008 - 4:45 pm

“And when McCain came home to a hero’s welcome he certainly did not treat his wife the way we would expect a hero to do.”

Oh, you mean the two aren’t on good terms today? McCain hasn’t been a solid husband and father since?

Man… if this is all the libs have against Johnny boy, November should be a cake walk.

Usaq Madik   July 1st, 2008 - 4:50 pm

“but on their worst day liberals will never even come close to the utter moral corruption and sleaziness of the gutter politics that the GOP has been practicing since the 70’s.”

lol Maybe not on their worst, but on their average to great days, they can’t be beat!

dswilli   July 1st, 2008 - 4:58 pm

Matt77 how on earth does covering up a botched effort to spy on Democrats get close to Clinton shenanigans? Personally I’m a little more troubled by Communist China acquiring our nuclear secrets for illegal campaign contributions. But hey that’s just me.

Steve T   July 1st, 2008 - 5:16 pm

What bunch of nimrods.
Usak Madik, Pale Ryder, and the rest of the blind mice who follow their party to the abyss.
No one from the liberal left has ever denigrated McCain’s service to his country.
He is the one running on his military record which is mainly about being a POW.
Wesley Clark and Jim Webb are far more qualified to say what they did than any of us.
The Swiftboaters were attempting to take away from Kerry’s service record. Most of this had to do with Kerry being one of the first Vietnam veterans to speak out against the war. Obviously, the right thinking vets didn’t like this very much.
John McCain is a great man because of how he served. He’s qualified to be Commander In Chief more because of his senate record (Armed Services Committee) than his military record.
Has anybody else noticed this election has become “don’t say anything close to the real truth because someone might be offended?”
I’m a left leaning, middle of the roader who occasionally hates his country because he doesn’t like bleeding hearts trying to take his guns away.

Steve T   July 1st, 2008 - 5:25 pm

dswilli
Try at some time to take a look at a history book or something of factual bearing.
That fact someone is still trying to justify Nixon and the Watergate junk is mind boggling.
The Chinese scandals go on today. You did hear about the classified parts we sent to the Chinese government by mistake?
But we all know this is purely a Republican thing and that should be the focus.
At what point are we all Americans and this is about what’s good for everybody?
Oh no!!! We have to make it a Democrat/Republican thing. I am so glad I can brag about being Independent since I could first vote.
You suckers can remain all caught up in your partisan party politics. They don’t care about you at all. All they care about is your vote and they take that for granted!!!!

Keith   July 1st, 2008 - 5:46 pm

LOL – You wanna bring on classified parts being sold to China?

Look up Johnny Huang and Charlie Trie and what Klinton gave to China in the way of guidance technology, missile and nuke technology via LORAL in exchange for campaign donations. Better yet, just shut up donkies and LEARN YOUR HISTORY. Don’t rewrite it, learn it.

Usaq Madik   July 1st, 2008 - 5:58 pm

Steve T,

Why would I take you seriously when you can’t even spell my name correctly?

The fact that you can’t see the subtleties going on in the liberal left as relates to McCain’s service is amazing to me. They will never outright attack his record. It’s impossible. So they launch these little salvos. They appear harmless, but they are attempts to steer the populace and media away from McCain’s character as proven by his service record.

If Obama can run on the hot air of Hope/Change/YesWeCan, why is McCain not allowed to run on his record of service to the nation?

Your point about partisan politics is well taken though.

Truth Avenger   July 1st, 2008 - 6:40 pm

Do you really think that this whole trash McCains military record was not a coordinated movement by the Obama camp. Let some ex-military democrats trash McCain while Obama is allowed to “take the high ground”. If Obama gets elected I’d place money on Webb and Clark getting positions in Obama’s administration.

Virginia   July 1st, 2008 - 6:43 pm

the blogger who pointed out that Webb ran on his military record, (in state of Virginia! Home of countless military bases and personnel), is correct! Then he turned democrat. Webb has a son who is or was in Iraq, and apparently has more military discipline than his father, as I have not heard him speak out. Webb always touts the fact that he was Secretary of the Navy. Big Deal. Use the perks and then slam the institution!!!

Terry   July 1st, 2008 - 6:56 pm

Why do people talk of “service to their country” and beat their chest. What BS. McCain wanted prestige and cheap thrills and to play with expensive planes of which he crashed several.

His record has been that of stupidity and stubborness like when he STUBBORNLY ignored the missile warning that got him in to that mess. His record has been that of opportunism and treason such as wanted to give Amnesty to known felons in order to pander to Mexicans. He wants a North American Union and is a member of CFR. I can’t believe some of your people are so tuned out to what his intentions are?

[...] Jim Webb Acts Like An As*hole [...]

BUTCH   July 1st, 2008 - 8:23 pm

2 words
Harry Reid

Rover   July 1st, 2008 - 8:55 pm

The McCainiacs are certainly having a bad day today aren’t they! :D

Someone mentions hero boy McCain’s war record and they all “wish” they could defend it :D But an old can of worms got opened and there is no closing it now.

While they could not kick the POS out of the naval academy due to ‘daddy’, they certainly did make sure McCain was at the very bottom.

“Ace” McCains flying record is dismal…

McCain uses his POW time to try an make himself seem brave. He should have written a book like Hilter’s Mein Kampf. They wish McCain’s book Faith of my Fathers would just go away since it is the autobiography of a looser, not a leader.

And all this is just “today”…

Wait till we go to work on adultery and all his old flings start to speak up about his love life! :D

Then there is McCain’s membership in the Keating Five club! :D

As it worked out, this senile old looser who can’t run a computer and can’t drive a car ended up representing the Republican party. In a very real way, McCain ‘exactly’ represents what is left of it.

So you old used up McCain supporting losers had better stick your dentures in tight and have the nurse get you some fresh diapers, because McCains campaign is going down just like his Skyhawk. But there is still hope!!! Maybe Bush and Cheney can start campaigning for him!!! HAhahahahahhaaa!!

Oh! And if McCain should somehow manage to win, he’s just a another Democrat anyway! :D

400

Steve F   July 1st, 2008 - 8:59 pm

Mad dick who cares how you spell your moby name! The facts are ALL of Obamas (military advisors) are ALL rather Metrosexuals (don’t ask don’t tell) types! Wes knows alot about bombing bridges and Chinese Embassy from 35,000feet, and Wes we are STILL there,,how long has that been? Over ten years for Monica! Real class Wes!

dswilli   July 1st, 2008 - 9:18 pm

Rover’s here, someone forgot to flush again.

shortpastor   July 1st, 2008 - 9:22 pm

Soon to be President McCain has more courage in his little finger than Obama has in his own body. I have a son-in-law in the Army serving in Iraq, and, if H. Obama is elected president, I will do everything in my power to get him to resign from the military. There is no way that I want him fighting for a Commander-in-Chief that doesn’t have the courage or qualifications to run a mid-size city, not even to consider the most powerful nation in the world.

RuleTheWorld   July 1st, 2008 - 9:22 pm

We should disband the military. Obama will not go far enough, fast enough. Yes, he will cut funding to the military and downsize our force in his first term. But, he must do more. No military, no war. No military, no fighting. No military, world peace.

Obama’s second term will start the process for no more military.

Obama will perfect our society, and the world. I’m a Kucinich supporter and an Obama voter. Democrats will finally rule the world!

m-antony   July 1st, 2008 - 10:04 pm

Webb, you got used. How does it feel? obama, put you in as a “mouthpiece”. Trying to win a “swing”state. Full of Navy vets. And ,the north of Virginia,is full of blacks.You bring disgrace to the star. You should tell the teams what you mean. Ba st ar do!

Starlite   July 1st, 2008 - 10:36 pm

Webb has been called down for lying about stupid stuff trying to act tough. I don’t care for his Pedophile leanings, i also wonder if his Staffer is still carrying his Gun for him. My advice, shut-up!

Thunderbolt   July 1st, 2008 - 11:09 pm

Is Jim Webb for real? That’s how he basically got elected was by “selling” his military service in Vietnam. In fact he even went as far as selling his family history or as stated in his old Web for Senate site: “Both sides of Jim’s family have a strong citizen-soldier military tradition that predates the Revolutionary War.”

That site is even archived: http://tinyurl.com/5ffm8y

The whole basis for his campaign revolved around his military service.

What a hypocrite.

p   July 6th, 2008 - 11:15 am

To swift boat someone is to tell the truth. As Tim Russert did to Hillary of the illegal alien driver lisence question

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