Posted on 02/07/2008 9:27:03 PM PST by PhilDragoo
Ever since John McCain won the South Carolina and Florida Republican primaries, the Internet has been awash (ablaze is probably a better word) with assertions, arguments, and proof that he is not a conservative. See, for example, Straight Talk About The Straight-Talker.
In the last few days, however, a few commentators have revived long-standing speculation about whether McCain’s non-conservative positions and conduct are rooted in something much darker than mere opportunism or closet liberalism. Some have even characterized McCain as a Vietnam War “Manchurian Candidate”—after the title of the famous 1959 novel by Richard Condon, and the subsequent movie of the same name.
In essence, The Manchurian Candidate tells of an American POW from the Korean War who is brainwashed by the Chinese communists. When, back in the United States, he is flashed the Queen of Diamonds, he becomes a lethal killing machine in service of his mother’s and her husband’s political ambitions.
The term “Manchurian Candidate” has found its way into the American lexicon to mean someone whose mind has been tinkered with, so as to make him do the bidding of the forces that brainwashed him.
Although it is absurd to think that John McCain was brainwashed by the communists into becoming a Manchurian Candidate during his five-plus years of captivity in North Vietnam, there is some circumstantial evidence to suggest that something may have occurred there that the now-presumptive Republican presidential nominee may not want disclosed.
And if that is true, there is a dagger aimed at the heart of his potential candidacy, and thus at our nation, by the ascendancy of Hillary Clinton.
At the threshold, it needs to be said that for every critical question about McCain’s conduct in North Vietnam, and afterwards, there is an arguably benign answer.
Soon after being shot down on October 26, 1967 in the middle of Hanoi, McCain asked for medical attention and promptly received it at a North Vietnamese military hospital. Was it because he quickly told his captors who his father was, as his detractors claim? Was it because he was so badly injured, as his supporters contend? Or for some other reason(s)?
Even though no returning POW reported that he had been interrogated by non-Vietnamese communist intelligence or security agents who identified themselves as such, there is considerable circumstantial evidence, and at least three pieces of direct evidence, that some had been. Indeed, McCain himself has admitted that he was interviewed by at least one “French” reporter, that he had a discussion with “ a famous North Vietnamese writer” about Ernest Hemingway, that unspecified “others came to find out about life in the United States” that one of them “was Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, the hero [!] of Dienbienphu,” and that indeed, “[m]any [unspecified] visitors came to talk to me”
During those interviews, literary discussions, cultural conversations, and military dialogues, did McCain disclose information that he should not have, as his detractors claim? Or did he not, as his supporters contend? (For the record, neither McCain nor any other POW should be criticized for whatever information, however sensitive, they may have given up under torture.)
As a United States Senator, McCain joined with colleague John Kerry to choke off an official inquiry into the fate of American MIAs. Was it because McCain had something personal to hide and/or like Kerry was trying to facilitate restoration of normal relations with the communists, as his detractors claim? Or because he honestly believed the Vietnamese had not withheld any American servicemen, as his supporters contend? Or for some other reason(s)?
McCain was instrumental in having Congress seal the debriefings of all returned prisoners of war. Was it because of legitimate privacy concerns? Or did his and others’ debriefings inculpate him because of his conduct in captivity.
One can speculate about how many people know the answer to such questions.
But one thing is certain.
John McCain knows the answers.
Putting aside that morally the American people have a right to know those answers right now—during the Republican primaries for the presidency of the United States—there is a crucially important practical reason as well.
It is likely that the Clintons are laying in wait for McCain to become the Republican candidate. If they possess damaging answers to these and related questions, the Clinton Machine will use them to destroy John McCain, not as a primary candidate, but, if he is nominated, as the anointed Republican standard bearer in November.
We need to ask only two questions: If damaging information does exist about McCain, could the Clintons have it and, if they do, will they use it?
It is not widely known that when Bill Clinton’s last term as Arkansas governor was ending, consideration was given to Hillary succeeding him. For strategic reasons, she passed.
Can anyone doubt that the Clinton’s game plan, from the beginning of Bill’s quest for the White House, was that Hillary would follow his presidency with one of her own?
Accordingly, the Clintons being the Clintons, it can be assumed that at least from their first days in the White House they began to amass intelligence about Hillary’s potential rivals years down the line. Certainly, John McCain had to have been on that list.
The Vietnamese, with whom President Clinton normalized relations, had McCain’s POW files.
The government, of which Clinton was the Chief Executive, had the Vietnam POW debriefing files.
Perhaps the President could have obtained the Vietnamese files. Certainly the debriefing files were only a phone call or email away.
Remember that nearly a thousand FBI files, mostly about Republicans, somehow wound up in the White House, with some flunky personnel director taking the fall for the Clintons.
If the Clinton Machine has damaging information about McCain’s time as a POW, and about his conduct in POW/MIA affairs during his tenure in Congress, will they use it?
To ask the question is to answer it.
Remember how the Clintons dealt with Monica Lewinsky and Bill’s other women (as well as Linda Tripp)? Remember how just two weeks ago they used Obama’s self-admitted drug use and legal representation of a slumlord? Remember the Clintons’ attacks on the reputations of others who were threats to them?
While McCain is immune to the Queen of Diamonds—whatever he is, John McCain is no Manchurian Candidate!—still, he is not immune to the slash-and-burn tactics of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
As much as John McCain has been injured before, Bill and Hillary Clinton—those pustules on the American body politic—may be poised to teach him another painful lesson.
Unless, that is, he makes a preemptive strike by releasing heretofore sealed records, exercises as much damage control as he can, and thus avoids being sandbagged during the post-primary election campaign.
The Clintons are out there, aiming for John McCain just as surely as was the SAM missile that brought him down into Hanoi’s Western Lake.
Henry Mark Holzer, professor emeritus at Brooklyn Law School, is a constitutional and appellate lawyer. His most recent book 'The Supreme Court Opinions of Clarence Thomas (1991-2006)' has just been published. He maintains a website at www.henrymarkholzer.com
It has frequently been posited on this forum that the moment John McCain is the Republican candidate (and that moment is not yet) he will be painted with the media's laser target designators.
Amongst the various charges leveled or insinuated will no doubt be something relating to McCain's captivity.
The Left has gleefully crusaded for a McCain candidacy and will pursue his destruction with equal or greater glee.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who smells a setup with the miraculous McCain “comeback”.
Also, it seems that a tidal wave of McCain support and insults directed at truculent conservatives has swept though FR, just in the past few days. Mainly posters I have never seen before. Part of the setup, perhaps...
There will be assumptions that he has PTSD and questions about the medications he uses. This is is going to get ugly.
Boooooomp !!!!
The primary is all but over, so I question pushing the idea that the new head of the republican party is an insane war monger.
[Unless, that is, he makes a preemptive strike by releasing heretofore sealed records]
But he won’t - if they are harmful to him. His arrogance matches Hillary’s and he may believe nothing will be revealed.
But - I’m not adroit at political shenanigans!
That charge will emanate from the Clinton War Room, not any forum of conservative discussion. Such is the thesis of the article above.
Yep!
Just as soon as McLame in THE Nominee, the Media, the Clintoons and the Democrats in general will TRASH HIM like he was last week’s pizza !!! No doubt.
Just as soon as McLame is THE Nominee ...
Then, if so moved, please volunteer and give money. We can still deny McCain victory in the convention. Don't let the propagandist pundits deceive you.
We have a month before the “Ides of March”!
McCain was next to last on my list but I will hold my nose and vote for him. When I read crazy things like this I worry about some of my fellow FReepers.
I’d rather pull in Fred Thompson if that is possible!
Thanks for the ping!
I am NOT voting. there is no choice. I do not approve of this man for president.
Nor do I approve of the dem candidate. There is NO choice.
I am NOT voting. there is no choice. I do not approve of this man for president.
Nor do I approve of the dem candidate. There is NO choice.
There! See - I am adroit at shenanigans of a different sort!
Lol, you sped ‘him-her’ up, it reminds me of ‘me’ when I get DEEP into politics!!
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