<p>People say we should forget that McCain cheated on his wife because it happened so long ago. By that logic, shouldn't we be overlooking his POW record and focusing on what he is now?</p>
<p>I came across this website that I think overstates this issue perhaps, but it is an indication McCain has overused the POW schtick and left himself wide open:</p>
<p>Lots of democrats 'forgot' that Clinton cheated on his wife when they supported him during the primaries... when he was campaigning for his wife.</p>
<p>This is just my opinion, but cheating and marital relationships are personal issues. Everybody has some kind of personal issues with other people. Unless it's outstanding and ludicrous, I don't see how it is our business or really relevant to the election. I'd prefer if they (the candidates) spent more time talking about their actual stances on issues instead of their personal lives.</p>
<p>Of course, someone's character can be a tiebreaker but I doubt that is the purpose of all of this personal information.</p>
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<p>But, as to your actual post, yeah, maybe he does talk about being a POW too much. Maybe he should talk about issues instead. I agree, both sides should debate policy more and talk less about personal life (Obama's brother, McCain's houses, etc).</p>
<p>I think they have to watch it. The ad about Obama's brother, which first shows McCain as a POW, and then shows Obama swimming and golfing, was pretty egregious. McCain has been living in luxury for decades, and his recent gaffe reminded everybody of that.</p>
<p>There are many people who have bravely endured hardship, torture and deprivation. That, in itself, is not a reason to elect them to public office and I resent it being the answer to every question.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Lots of democrats 'forgot' that Clinton cheated on his wife when they supported him during the primaries... when he was campaigning for his wife.
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</p>
<p>Bill Clinton never claimed allegiance to the party of moral puritanism.</p>
<p>And anyway, she didn't cheat on him, as far as I know, and she was the one running. But I can tell you lots of Democrats didn't forget about it, which is one reason Obama won.</p>
<p>I think it's a fair point. Obama's trying to paint McCain as some out of touch rich guy that can't relate to their problems. But clearly, he's been there.</p>
<p>In contrast, Obama complains about the price of Arugula, goes to fancy big name schools, marries someone that laments the misery of being black, earns big bucks for his cheap charisma in books, and buys big houses with the help of big crooks.</p>
<p>Score, McCain.</p>
<p>Lose, Obama, for even trying to make something as dumb as this an issue. They've just unleashed Pandora's box :D</p>
<p>pugfug: I complain about the price of arugula, and i don't even like the stuff. but seriously, it's skyrocketed. no lie. </p>
<p>mccain is horrifyingly out of touch with america's lower classes. heck, he can't imagine the middle class's problems. yes, he was a POW, and i'm not trying to downplay that fact, but it doesn't mean that he understands the issues americans are dealing with.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Obama's trying to paint McCain as some out of touch rich guy that can't relate to their problems. But clearly, he's been there.
[/quote]
Um, as far as I know, the average American has not lived in a POW camp. Nor have they owned more than 7 houses. That's basically all that McCain has done. What in there shows his empathy for the middle class? McCain was born pretty wealthy (son of an admiral, son of a son of an admiral), went to war wealthy, lived in a POW camp, came back and was still doing pretty well, then went on to be fabulously wealthy.</p>
<p>In contrast, Obama was born to a middle class family and worked his way into an elite institution. His parents did not have a wing named after them. He did not get on based on familial connections. He got there throught smarts and hard work. How dare he succeed in the American dream... what an elitist prick. Then he goes on to marry a woman who quit a big-time law firm, making the big bucks, to work for a non-profit group.</p>
<p>I think it's pretty clear who came out ahead here...</p>
<p>Really, the only thing McCain has going for him is that he didn't dodge military service even though he was rich. Of course, flying airplanes from carriers isn't really like serving on the ground. You have less chance of dying, less fear, less anxiety, and so on and so forth.</p>
<p>Really, I find it sad that people buy the 'POW' thing as reason for him to be elected. Its like saying Obama's house was repeatedly bombed by KKK revivalists in the 1960s makes him a good leader (false, I know, just pulling out an example). He is fit to serve for other reasons than experiences that have little to do with governing. Its a pity vote, elementally.</p>
<p>And by the way, Obama didn't actually complain about the price of arugula. He was talking about how farmers could switch to specialty crops--like argula--that bring high prices. The difference between Obama and McCain is that Obama is actually conscious of what things cost. McCain doesn't have to worry about any of that. He probably had no idea that his shoes cost $520, for example.</p>
<p>It is silly for either one of them to talk about being wealthy as they both are. It is a non-issue neither one of them are middle class, and both are far from the average person.</p>
<p>^True, but McCain has never experienced being middle class or being poor. Obama was born middle class-ish in Hawaii and he grew up (partially) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia is a pretty poor country, so Obama most likely grew up around poverty for a large portion of his childhood. </p>
<p>He may be rich now, but he earned his way to the top and he remembers where he came from. McCain, on the other hand...</p>
<p>Its easy to be middle class in America. If your poor then it gets bad. I live in the poorest urban country in America, middle class(45K a year is rich) is way to easy, im kinda sick of earning people complain.</p>
<p>In reading the list at that site, it wasn't the POW aspect that bothered me, it was his apparent disdain for females (coarse jokes, coarser language).</p>
<p>Yeah, did you hear the joke he made about Clinton's daughter, when she was under 18? That's pretty misogynist to me. Also, for those who say that Obama is rich, not only did he grow up modestly, but hey, by McCain's definition-Obama isn't even rich! You have to make 5 million dollars a year to be rich and Barack only made $4.2 million dollars in 2007 (up from about $1 million in 2006 and $1.6 million in 2005)! So yeah, he's not rich, he's middle class still. [/sarcasm]</p>
<p>For the joke McCain made about Chelsea:</p>
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"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?" McCain said at a GOP fund-raiser in Washington. "Because Janet Reno is her father."
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<p>Yeah, I'm sure he has a lot of respect for women...</p>