How come McCain's treatment of his first wife doesn't get more press?

[shira]

It's funny how John Edwards gets so much flack about his cheating on Elizabeth. How come John McCain's treatment of his own (first) wife commands so little attention?

A synopsis:

McCain's first wife, Carol, was a beauty. But during the time McCain was a prisoner in Viet Nam, she was in a awful auto accident, which destroyed her body and her looks. When McCain was released, he cheated on her regularly and after meeting Cindy, abandoned Carol.

McCain - quite a guy

She was the woman McCain dreamed of during his long incarceration and torture in Vietnam?s infamous ?Hanoi Hilton? prison and the woman who faithfully stayed at home looking after the children and waiting anxiously for news.

But when McCain returned to America in 1973 to a fanfare of publicity and a handshake from Richard Nixon, he discovered his wife had been disfigured in a terrible car crash three years earlier. Her car had skidded on icy roads into a telegraph pole on Christmas Eve, 1969. Her pelvis and one arm were shattered by the impact and she suffered massive internal injuries.

When Carol was discharged from hospital after six months of life-saving surgery, the prognosis was bleak. In order to save her legs, surgeons had been forced to cut away huge sections of shattered bone, taking with it her tall, willowy figure. She was confined to a wheelchair and was forced to use a catheter.

Through sheer hard work, Carol learned to walk again. But when John McCain came home from Vietnam, she had gained a lot of weight and bore little resemblance to her old self.

Today, she stands at just 5ft4in and still walks awkwardly, with a pronounced limp. Her body is held together by screws and metal plates and, at 70, her face is worn by wrinkles that speak of decades of silent suffering.
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Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans? rights, said: ?I have been following John McCain?s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is ? deceit.

?When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it.

?Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better.

?This is a guy who makes such a big deal about his character. He has no character. He is a fake. If there was any character in that first marriage, it all belonged to Carol.?

What does anyone see in this guy?

 

[Capitalizt]

This is a man's man. He's going to conquer evil overseas and put women in their place at home.

Go Mccain Go!

God Bless America! Let Freedom Ring! YEEEEEAAAH!

 

[Newbian]

Thank about it.

He left a 70 year old for a woman almost 20 years younger.

That never happens.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Newbian
Thank about it.

He left a 70 year old for a woman almost 20 years younger.

That never happens.

A younger woman who happens to be wealthy and owns a Beer Distributorship. Hell even Jesus wouldn't be able to pass on that let alone some hot tempered yahoo looking to advance his political career.

 

[JD50]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

 

[Bitek]

Wow...I knew he cheated on his first wife, but wow, that's unbelievable. Dumping the woman when she's crippled and disfigured. Bush was a party boy too, but least he never cheated on and left his wife.

 

[JD50]

I dunno, the guy had just returned home after spending 6 years in the Hanoi Hilton, I think I'll give him a little leeway. I have no idea how I'd act after having been through that hell, I'd probably be ready to live it up as well. I'm not excusing his actions, just saying that I think he deserves a little leeway. And uh...it was 30 years ago, so who cares?

 

[dahunan]

one would think any retard who was held captive as a prisoner of WAR --- would seek more diplomacy instead of yelling about 100yrs of war

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: dahunan
one would think any retard who was held captive as a prisoner of WAR --- would seek more diplomacy instead of yelling about 100yrs of war

You must have forgotten... He's John 'I know how to win wars' McCain !!!!!!!!!

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

And that's all been getting dismissed by the MSM and the left, so why would they go after McCain for something that happened 30 years ago?

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: dahunan
one would think any retard who was held captive as a prisoner of WAR --- would seek more diplomacy instead of yelling about 100yrs of war

You must have forgotten... He's John 'I know how to win wars' McCain !!!!!!!!!

Seeing as how the surge (that McCain was for and Obama opposed) has worked, that line probably won't work as well as you'd like.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

And that's all been getting dismissed by the MSM and the left, so why would they go after McCain for something that happened 30 years ago?

I give little leeway to politicians who screw around on their wives and even less who screw around on wives who have had problems such as McCain's ex. It's disgusting that somebody would just dump their wife for the reasons he did. It shows he has little loyalty and heart. It calls into question his conviction of word and deed. Somebody like that wouldn't change their viewpoint after 30 years. If anything, he's probably become more selfish and deceitful in the soothing and corrupting womb of Washington politics.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

And that's all been getting dismissed by the MSM and the left, so why would they go after McCain for something that happened 30 years ago?

I give little leeway to politicians who screw around on their wives and even less who screw around on wives who have had problems such as McCain's ex. It's disgusting that somebody would just dump their wife for the reasons he did. It shows he has little loyalty and heart. It calls into question his conviction of word and deed. Somebody like that wouldn't change their viewpoint after 30 years. If anything, he's probably become more selfish and deceitful in the soothing and corrupting womb of Washington politics.

I agree with the bold. However, the rest of what you said could also be said with regards to Obama's past. Like I said, the MSM and the left are very dismissive of Obama's past, so why would they go after McCain for his?

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

And that's all been getting dismissed by the MSM and the left, so why would they go after McCain for something that happened 30 years ago?

I give little leeway to politicians who screw around on their wives and even less who screw around on wives who have had problems such as McCain's ex. It's disgusting that somebody would just dump their wife for the reasons he did. It shows he has little loyalty and heart. It calls into question his conviction of word and deed. Somebody like that wouldn't change their viewpoint after 30 years. If anything, he's probably become more selfish and deceitful in the soothing and corrupting womb of Washington politics.

I agree with the bold. However, the rest of what you said could also be said with regards to Obama's past. Like I said, the MSM and the left are very dismissive of Obama's past, so why would they go after McCain for his?

Show proof that Michelle Obama was sick and Barak cheated on her during that time. Otherwise, you're full of it. Obama hasn't shown anything close to this type of behavior.

My own wife had cancer and went through (and is still going through) a lot of tough times. Assholes like McCain and Edwards, self serving pricks, shouldn't be exalted in any acts if they exhibit those behaviors.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

What does time have to do with it? The Obama has been getting stuff dredged up from their distant past throughout this campaign. His father who he barely knew. His early education in Indonesia. His wife's thesis. The ties to Ayers. If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

And that's all been getting dismissed by the MSM and the left, so why would they go after McCain for something that happened 30 years ago?

I give little leeway to politicians who screw around on their wives and even less who screw around on wives who have had problems such as McCain's ex. It's disgusting that somebody would just dump their wife for the reasons he did. It shows he has little loyalty and heart. It calls into question his conviction of word and deed. Somebody like that wouldn't change their viewpoint after 30 years. If anything, he's probably become more selfish and deceitful in the soothing and corrupting womb of Washington politics.

I agree with the bold. However, the rest of what you said could also be said with regards to Obama's past. Like I said, the MSM and the left are very dismissive of Obama's past, so why would they go after McCain for his?

Show proof that Michelle Obama was sick and Barak cheated on her during that time. Otherwise, you're full of it. Obama hasn't shown anything close to this type of behavior.

My own wife had cancer and went through (and is still going through) a lot of tough times. Assholes like McCain and Edwards, self serving pricks, shouldn't be exalted in any acts if they exhibit those behaviors.

I was talking about Obama making poor decisions in his past, not Michelle Obama being sick and him cheating on her, you're not stupid LK, you know what I meant.

 

[PokerGuy]

Yeah, going through a life altering event and spending years apart (both McCain and his first wife) never causes problems in a relationship :roll: He was not the same man when he came back, and she was not the same woman (physically as well as mentally), so it stands to reason that their relationship was in jeopardy and eventually broke down. If he left her simply because she didn't look like she once did, then yes, I'd have a problem with his bahavior, but that's assuming information not presenting in evidence.

I'd take that over the former drug dealer who happily attended in the racist church for 20 years who is friends with a known unrepentant terrorist and other convicted felons any day of the week.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: JD50
I was talking about Obama making poor decisions in his past, not Michelle Obama being sick and him cheating on her, you're not stupid LK, you know what I meant.

LOL. So, doing drugs when you're 20 is equivalent to betraying your wife and being a gigolo.

Wow, what world do you come from?

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: JD50
I was talking about Obama making poor decisions in his past, not Michelle Obama being sick and him cheating on her, you're not stupid LK, you know what I meant.

LOL. So, doing drugs when you're 20 is equivalent to betraying your wife and being a gigolo.

Wow, what world do you come from?

No, not at all. But both are poor decisions, you can't excuse one and harp on the other, with the excuse being that "it's in the past". There are plenty of other poor decisions that Obama has made in the past, but I'm not going to get into that here because that's not the point of this thread. My point is that if you're going to criticize McCain for his past, you must also accept the criticism of Obama's past.

Also, like I said, I'll give McCain a little leeway, it was a pretty unique set of circumstances.

 

[Brovane]

IMHO the reason that McCain's treatment of his first wife gets so little attention.

#1-He had been a POW for 6 years which makes people give him a little leeway. If you are separated from your spouse for 6-years things can happen.
#2-This happen 30-years ago. It isn't fresh news and the wounds are not so fresh.
#3-McCain has taken full responsibility for what happened to his first marriage. He has basically said it is all his fault and taken all the blame. He hasn't tried to minimize what happen which doesn't give the press really anywhere to take it. When asked what is his biggest moral failing he said his first marriage. People can accept in the US that he screwed up and he has admitted that he screwed up.
#4-This has already been covered before. McCain is his previous runs for the nomination this was already covered.
#5-You have no bitter ex-wife talking trash about him on the news.

You put all this together and this is why this isn't covered much at all.

 

[Xavier434]

This definitely does not make McCain look good, but all things considered this is just another "OH NO HE DINT!" story. I am not going to completely ignore it, but I am going to ignore most of it just like I ignore most of the details within the red herrings written about Obama.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: JD50
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it happened 30 years ago....

And he doesnt keep it a secret. What story is there when he is willing to talk about it and has in the past?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Hafen
Wow...I knew he cheated on his first wife, but wow, that's unbelievable. Dumping the woman when she's crippled and disfigured. Bush was a party boy too, but least he never cheated on and left his wife.

If you read the whole article, rather than the cut and paste job in the OP, a few things stand out, the main being that McCain was clearly becoming dissatisfied with marriage even before leaving for Vietnam and that Carol already had one divorce under her belt. She and McCain married after knowing each other for less than a year. The stage was set for a divorce from the very beginning. Two young people, neither of whom had a history of lasting relationships, rushed into a marriage with no real chance to get to know each other, and the inevitable result is that they later divorced. Trying to claim that the divorce was because McCain thought his wife had become unattractive is grossly oversimplifying the situation.

Emotionally, it's a difficult thing to stomach because we all (myself included) want to think that we would stay if something terrible happened to our significant other, but we always assume that love was there from the start. The simple fact here is that McCain's marriage to Carol was faltering even before he left for Vietnam and probably would have ended regardless.

None of this changes the fact that McCain shouldn't have married Carol in the first place when he clearly wasn't ready to settle down, and none of this changes the fact that he should not have been involved with other women while he was married. Both of those things are, in my opinion, show very poor judgment are are reason enough to question McCain's credibility, but to say that he left Carol simply because she no longer looked like she once did is a naive oversimplification.

ZV

 

[ProfJohn]

Even before McCain had met Cindy him and Carol had gone through a short separation.

The fact that she has supported him in all his campaigns sorta kills the story. How do you run an attack story about a guy leaving his wife for a younger woman when that wife goes around talking about how much she still loves him and supports his political career?

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yeah, going through a life altering event and spending years apart (both McCain and his first wife) never causes problems in a relationship :roll: He was not the same man when he came back, and she was not the same woman (physically as well as mentally), so it stands to reason that their relationship was in jeopardy and eventually broke down. If he left her simply because she didn't look like she once did, then yes, I'd have a problem with his bahavior, but that's assuming information not presenting in evidence.

I'd take that over the former drug dealer who happily attended in the racist church for 20 years who is friends with a known unrepentant terrorist and other convicted felons any day of the week.

Obama was a drug dealer? You're a terrible liar.