McCain's Son Served In Iraq's Anbar Province

The New York Times had a story entitled "McCain Is Vocal on War, but Silent on Son’s Service."

The story states in part: "Mr. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to Iraq. What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son, who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his father’s New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck military vehicle out of the mud. In his 71 years, Mr. McCain has confronted war as a pilot, a prisoner and a United States senator, but never before as a father. His son’s departure for Iraq brought him the same worry that every military parent feels, friends say, while the young marine’s experiences there have given him a sustained grunt’s-eye view of the action and private confirmation for his argument that United States strategy in Iraq is working. While Jimmy McCain’s service is a story all his own — he enlisted at age 17 — it illuminates the beliefs about duty, honor and sacrifice with which family friends say he was raised. Military ideals have defined Mr. McCain as a person and a politician, and he is placing them at the core of his presidential candidacy."

I am very surprised that this is the first time I have heard of this, and that McCain never mentions it. It's very interesting to me that McCain's own son has served in Iraq. I think it says a lot about John McCain that he has not used his son's service as fodder for his political campaign, like a typical politician may have. Especially when it is relevant because it destroys the argument that supporters of the war are not the ones whose boys are fighting it. We thank Jimmy McCain for his service and hope that his father be the future Commander and Chief. For the full story see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/us/politics/06mccain.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Tweet