[Video] John McCain, POW Bros
This is about as far as a random joke on Twitter should probably go.
Much like how Rudy Giuliani became known for nothing more than a noun, a verb and 9/11 (By the way, I’m pumped for Biden), Senator John McCain has put himself in a position where he stands for little more than his time as a prisoner of war during Vietnam. When the Obama campaign nailed him for forgetting how many houses he owns, John McCain cried POW. When the fact that McCain was not in a “cone of silence” during the Saddleback forum came to light, McCain responded with POW. Even when offering up his wife in a wet t-shirt contest, the answer was POW. And these were just a few of the instances that a quick google search turned up. The google search necessary only because I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this excuse in the past week alone.
John McCain uses his prisoner of war status as both sword and shield. It’s the entirety of his foreign policy experience and ultimate defense against legitimate questions and concerns rolled into a single onomatopoeia.
I wouldn’t have such a problem with this had he utilized his tragic experience in some sort of relevant way. For example, as an advocate for better care and rehabilitation for our troops coming back from the Middle East with post traumatic stress disorder and other conditions, as I’m sure he knows exactly what that feels like. Or how about shining a light on not only the veterans of our current wars, but those of past wars who had no home to come back to? I’d gladly accept his lame, “I lived in one house for five and a half years,” joke were it in that context. Instead, his experience has become just that: a punchline.
Typically, these sorts of opinion pieces are accompanied by a disclaimer. Something like, “John McCain is a national hero and deserves respect for his time as a prisoner of war, but!” The “but,” this time being that I don’t care for that disclaimer. Until John McCain shows some respect for not only himself but his fellow veterans by not trivializing something so horrible, I don’t feel the need to respect it either.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I heard John McCain collaborated with his prison guards in order to gain special treatment and favors.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Thank you for the comment, but that’s something I wouldn’t know anything about. Out of bounds, my friend :)
August 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
You kind of already went “Out of Bounds” by making a political message thinly veiled with a video game shell when you are first and foremost an entertainment writer. What does any of this has to do with video games?
I know you like shaking things up, it’s how you roll. But if you don’t like fights, don’t throw the first punch.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
So I’m only allowed to write about video games? I’m not allowed to have an opinion on anything else in the world? I’m not, on my own blog, allowed to write about anything I feel like? I had no idea.
I don’t consider my video to be “out of bounds.” It’s a statement about how, when faced with just about any question, John McCain defaults to a story of his prisoner of war status. Heck, just last night he did it again on Jay Leno when it again made little to no sense. I wanted to point it out as by and large, it’s a free pass for him every time.
What I don’t want to get into — and this is where the boundary comes into play — is the sleazy, rumor mongering nature of these things where people start saying what largely amounts to “crazy shit” in its support. While I appreciate Evo’s comment (as I do any comment, including yours) I would call that the “crazy shit.”
That’s the kind of stuff I don’t in any way want to encourage. I don’t like it when I hear “McCain traded favors as a POW” the same way I don’t like hearing “Barack is a secret Muslim.” I’m not sure where you got the idea that I don’t like fights out of that, because believe me, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I made the short.
And believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve actually had to actually get defensive about it.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
sad but true…oh so true!
August 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one fed up with McCain’s noun-verb-POW. It was awful, it was terrible, I feel really bad that he had to go through that. But it doesn’t make him fit to be President. It doesn’t make him unfit, either. It’s a little like saying “my father beat me when I was a kid… I should be President!” Fuck that. It’s irrelevant.
He should be bringing that out when he talks about helping our vets or making our detentions centers (Guantanamo anyone?) more humane. He should bring that out when we talk about being the only major industrialized nation not to sign the treaty to ban torture.
But it is not a valid defense when someone calls you on not being able to remember how many houses you have. And to be honest, I don’t even think that was such a big deal. Yes, it shows he’s not middle class… jesus, what middle class person could EVER afford to run for President? Hillary spent 13 million of her own money. You just can’t do it (which, by the way, is a fucking shame).
Anyway… POW my ass. That was 35 years ago. What have you done for us lately?
August 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Transparent scheming to get your name in the headlines by doing something offensive. That you actually think the problem is McCain, while Obama has no platform, no ideas, and no experience - that’s classic.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I’m the American Public, and I approve of this message.
The obvious tie in for Mike, and the other voting citizens who have entirely missed the plot the last 7 1/5 years, is that in Mario Bros. the “POW” block is used the same way McCain uses his “POW” card. That’s how it relates to video games.
Satire, mortherfucker, do you speak it?
August 27th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
And of course, I spell “motherfucker” wrong. Great.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Can someone please tell this McCain blowhard and his fans to stop referring to him as a War Hero? Look, I’m a real American hero.
This McCain guy, all he did was get shot down, and then not turn on his own people. That’s not exactly what me & fellow Joes view as an act of heroism, you know? Aren’t you guys setting the bar pretty low for “heroism”?
What do you call the guys that come home who actually complete their missions? Are they like “Gods of War” or “War All-Stars”?
Why don’t we just call McCain what he is, a “War Participant”? That way, the guys who actually help the US WIN can be called “War Heroes”, instead of trying to make a bunch of guys who failed their missions feel good abut themselves.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
“That you actually think the problem is McCain, while Obama has no platform, no ideas, and no experience - that’s classic.”
No experience, eh?
Last I checked, John McCain was never the President of the United States, either, so he’s got the same level of experience: None.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
This is pretty fucking astute, well done.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Bullshit.
Half the shit you attribute to him isn’t true. The rest is just snarky bullshit.
Obama isn’t any better - look at the Rezko deal.
While you’re at it, just ask Ron Paul about why he thinks blacks have poor political sensibilities.
You might want to check a place like Snopes every once in a while.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Pssst….they do. Take off your fluffy pink PC blankie and look how they vote.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Being from Australia I was not aware that john mccain did that. It remiinds me of when I was kid and i would get in trouble for something, i woul always say things like “i ve got a sore leg” to try and deflect, seems to me mcain is acting like me circa 1985 when I was 8 years old. On side note you guys need a new election system this one is broken, seriously how much time and money gets wasted schmoozing voters. In Australia, most people think the election is between barack and hilary due to the convoluted and bloated process in place. I find this amusing cos barack and hilary will not win, your country is too racist and sexist still (mind you australia’s not much better). Mccain will win as he is a member of skull and bones from yale just like the current president and the one before that and the one before that. I bet you 5 bucks( australian). cheers
August 28th, 2008 at 3:45 am
If you really think this is offensive, I can’t imagine how you live. You must have your hands covering your eyes at all times (coincidentally, something John McCain is incapable of doing).
August 28th, 2008 at 6:58 am
brilliant!!
August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Fantastic post! I adore the video game motif. Shall be plugging you on me blog Saturday, as POW Week concludes with some fun.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Great analogy and nostalgia! I love how McCain’s face changes as he jumps and when he hits the POW “brick”. YouTube classic right here.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:45 am
I don’t know if I should continue laughing at the video or go with my natural logical thought process and stop to think about how true (yet silly) the video really is. In that respect you pretty much nailed down my opinion of McCain as well. I can honestly say that this was probably one the most worth while things I’ve read on the internet in a while.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am
You are a sad pathetic young punk. A fricken video gamer huh. You have no idea about men like John McCain. John McCain and men like him are the reason your are allowed your freedom. You little coward!
September 11th, 2008 at 10:47 am
@RJC: No, why don’t YOU get off MY lawn.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:45 am
@RJC
Touting ex-POW status should not be used as a “get out of any question I don’t want to answer for free” card.
We can respect a man like John McCain for serving in the military and making it through a very tough ordeal, but his military service does not immediately qualify him to be President.
Also, I know several current and former servicemen who are avid video gamers. I wonder what they would think of your comments.