Posted on 02/01/2008 4:54:35 AM PST by Catphish
Edited on 02/01/2008 5:31:22 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Seattle Times
Romney's strapping sons, worlds away from Sadr City
Froma Harrop / Syndicated columnist
August 22, 2007
Seattle Times: Mitt Romney has five strapping sons, and not one of them has ever served in the military. When asked about this in Bettendorf, Iowa, the Republican presidential hopeful said that "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected." He noted that his boy Josh had driven a Winnebago to all of Iowa's 99 counties — all 99 of them!
There has been a lot of back-and-forth over this tactless comment. Jim Geraghty wrote on National Review Online that he's "tired" of the "chicken-hawk line of attack." These are the accusations, usually from the left, that politicians who cheerlead forneocon wars, but always leave the fighting to other people and their children, are hypocrites. Though unhappy with Romney's response, Geraghty characterized the question as "rude" and the candidate's answer as merely "off-key."
Excerpted. Story here Seattle Times
CBS News and AP
Next Generation Of McCains Joins Up
Sen. John McCain's Son, Jimmy, To Become A U.S. Marine
PHOENIX, July 29, 2006
CBS News: (AP) The youngest son of Arizona Sen. John McCain has joined the Marine Corps and will begin basic training in California in September, according to a report in Time magazine.
Jimmy McCain, 18, will spend three months in boot camp, followed by a month of specialized training before being assigned to a unit. With 25,000 of 178,000 active duty Marines in Iraq now and 80,000 having done tours of duty there or in Afghanistan in recent years, his chances at deployment to a war zone are high.
"I'm obviously very proud of my son," the elder McCain told Time for a story in editions going on sale Monday, "but also understandably a little nervous."
McCain's communications director, Eileen McMenamin, confirmed the accuracy of the Time story but said the Senator would not comment further Saturday.
McCain, 70, has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Iraq, saying just last month during a Senate debate on a troop-withdrawal resolution that leaving Iraq would "risk disaster."
"Withdrawal and fail, or commit and succeed," McCain said.
McCain said having a son serving in the war would not change his position.
A Republican considered a possible presidential candidate in 2008, McCain served as a Navy pilot and was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years.
Sen. McCain's father, Admiral John S. McCain Jr., commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific during Vietnam, where he was responsible for air strikes that may have endangered his imprisoned son. His grandfather, Admiral John S. McCain Sr., served in the Pacific in WW II and was present at the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.
Another of Sen. McCain's seven children, Jack, 20, just completed his first year at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Sen. McCain said Jimmy was well aware of the family's Navy background but had friends in the Corps, had read about the service branch and "he just wanted to join up.
"I don't think there's anything unusual about Jimmy," McCain said. "There are, thank God, lots of young men and women like him."
Here are the links:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/29/politics/main1847378.shtml
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003847586_froma22.html
The reason we have a volunteer army is so those who want to serve can make that choice.
It is understandable and commendable that McCain's son has joined, but he comes from a military tradition.
This will happen in reverse with conservatives walking out and the Democrap will win.
“one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.”
oh puh lease
I wonder how much choice the young lad had.
I wonder if McCain has angry outbursts at home, too.
You're RIGHT! OMG this is HORRIBLE. After all Obama was an Army General and Hillary was a Navy SEAL. They'll cream Mitt with this.
Get lost with your old, stale news from 2006 and 2007.
Vote for McCain then, and splinter the party. The nasty vile McCain is certainly better?
This may be a non issue in some states but not all states. Here in Florida it was important. It added to the perception that McCain was pro military and helped him do well here. We have a lot of military and retired military in the state. Other states with a strong military presence may find it is more than a non issue as well.
Doubt it would make a difference seeing as how we had a candidate who was an Army Ranger in Vietnam and whose son was a USMC Capt. who had served 3 tours. McCain’s son hasn’t even entered RT yet and Romney’s kids are busy making phone pranks.
Obama and Hillary both want to pull the troops out of Iraq, so their service or lack thereof is insignificant or so the logic goes . . . .
During Nam when we had a draft Romney’s Daddy got him a deferment and he went to Paris instead...
He never served in the US military when he could have...
The question doesn’t help the Democrat nominee, therefore it won’t be asked. Instead, McCain will be subtly portrayed as a warmonger in order to turn off the soccer moms and moderates who are tired of the war. Expect his “100 years” statement to be used against him.
Being pro-war and having a military background helps McCain only with conservatives, many of whom won’t vote for him for other reasons. It does not help him with the rest of the electorate.
Mitt has no sons who served, Hillary has no sons who served, Obama has no sons who served. McCain deserves to win because his did? Is this a new prerequisite to be President?
Sorry. Non-issue.
Its not just that the six of them never served its the arrogant “excuses”
yes, even obama would be better than romney. At least Obama stands for something (and wouldn’t give us health insurance mandates)
Maybe we should elect his Son, but not him.
Romney’s kids are busy making phone pranks.”
I got 3 calls from the Romney camp last night
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