McCain Did the Same Thing As McChrsytal

NBC ^ | June 27, 2010 | Meet the Press

[Brown Deer]

MR. GREGORY: Did the president do the right thing?

SEN. McCAIN: Yes, he did, and he took the appropriate steps, in my view. I would like to say, in General McChrystal's behalf, that he played a key role in Iraq in the efforts against al-Qaeda. A lot of this is not known and will--may never be known. But General McChrystal did a great job there. The president took appropriate action, and we wish General McChrystal well in the future.

...

SEN. McCAIN: First of all, there's no excuse for it, OK? There's no excuse for it. But part of it, some of it was frustration. Part of it was a group of officers who find themselves with a night off which they did not expect, having been working 24/7 in Kabul. They went out in a social environment. And I must tell you that as a young Navy pilot that on occasion at happy hour some things were said about our commanding officer that maybe we wouldn't want to be held responsible for. But that does not excuse anything. But it certainly maybe understands the--makes people understand the circumstances a little better. But, overall, you just, you just can't do those things, and we expect our officer corps to have the maturity to realize that.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I’m a military brat. Wanted to serve, but developed asthma during my late teen years and back in the 80’s, that was enough to keep you out. My dad was an E-9. Just background to give you my point of view on this.

You respect the chain of command, and if you don’t, and if the chain of command loses their trust in you, you are removed from your position.

Lincoln and McClellan.
Truman and MacArthur.
Obama and McChrystal.

[joe fonebone]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342812/posts

here is one of many articles on this occurance and loss of life due to spineless officers and generals putting their politcal careers ahead of the troops they command...if you wish to do further research, here on FR, go ahead...and try to be nice once in a while....

[joe fonebone]

thank you for your kindly worded reply....you are correct in practicality, but I do know that if soldiers were being slaughtered, career or not, I would provide them with support...I guess this is what happens when you into the upper ranks, politics come before command

[Ditto]

Fact: John Sidney McCain has lost more combat aircraft than any other United States Senator. Conclusion: He was a lousy aviator.

Cheep shot. How many US Senators flew off a aircraft carrier into combat?

[MayflowerMadam]

“You do know that the new guy was the old guys boss?”

Of course I know that. I doubt if Petraeus voted for Obama, though, as McChrystal did.

[mkjessup]

Fact: John Sidney McCain has lost more combat aircraft than any other United States Senator. Conclusion: He was a lousy aviator.
Cheep shot. How many US Senators flew off a aircraft carrier into combat

You bet it's a cheap shot. And McCain deserves every one of 'em. He is the master of taking cheap shots at his conservative adversaries (NEVER his 'Rat buddies) and the fact I cited is correct (with the possible exception of that pinko Tom Harkin).

To Hell with McCain, he deserves everything he gets, and more.

[Brown Deer]

Both of these quotes, directly attributed to McChrystal, are problematic.

You said that he constantly complained about his superiors. Neither Holbrooke or Eikenberry were McChrystal's superiors.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” You bet it’s a cheap shot. And McCain deserves every one of ‘em. He is the master of taking cheap shots at his conservative adversaries (NEVER his ‘Rat buddies) and the fact I cited is correct (with the possible exception of that pinko Tom Harkin). “

McCain is such an EVIL FRAUD I wouldn’t care if he was “framed”

LOL!

[Brown Deer]

Did he do it in front of a reporter?

I don't know if McCain did it in front of a reporter, but he admitted doing it on national television.

What exactly did McChrystal say about his superior officers in front of a reporter?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

He wasn't quoted, but it was clear from the story that he did. I don't know why Conservatives are trying to defend this behavior. It's inappropriate under Obama, it would have been inappropriate under Bush. It's simply inappropriate.

[Fundamentally Fair]

What exactly did McChrystal say about his superior officers in front of a reporter?

I assume you read the article and don't think that what he said was enough to get fired over. That's your opinion. I also see that is all discussed upthread.

My point here is that McCain's admission cannot be compared to the McChrystal situation. McChrystal is a 4-star with a large wartime command. McCain was never more than an 06.

[Brown Deer]

Conservatives are trying to defend this behavior.

I don't know of anyone who has defended his behavior, but there are many like you, that have made up stories about what he said.

It's simply inappropriate.

and what McCain did was not? For McCain to say that he himself bad mouthed his superior officers in public, and then turn around and say that it is inexcusable for others to do the same, is inexcusable.

[Fundamentally Fair]

For your consideration:

UCMJ Article 88  Contempt toward officials: Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

[Brown Deer]

I assume you read the article and don't think that what he said was enough to get fired over. That's your opinion.

That's a mighty big assumption, to say what you think my opinion is. You got that wrong, completely missed the point and still never answered the question.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Yes, what McCain did was inappropriate. If you look at my first post, you will see I said exactly that. If you look at what McCain said, he would agree.

While you are wearing the uniform it is inappropriate to publically trash your superiors. The bigger the audience, the bigger the problem. The higher your rank, the bigger the problem.

[Brown Deer]

I know the UCMJ. What’s your point?

[Brown Deer]

While you are wearing the uniform it is inappropriate to publically trash your superiors.

As far as I know, McChrystal never did, but McCain did.

[Fundamentally Fair]

What’s your point?

That the statements don't need to be about this "superiors" (as in direct chain of command). Merely refering to VP Biden as "Bite Me" is enough.

[Fundamentally Fair]

That's a mighty big assumption...

OK...I won't assume that you read the article.

[Brown Deer]

Merely refering to VP Biden as "Bite Me" is enough.

and what does that have to do with anything that McChrystal said?