Since the movie American Sniper is in the headlines it got me thinking about another guy who the media labeled an "American Hero." John McCain. McCain I am sure everyone knows is the Republican Senator from Arizona.
McCain got the "American Hero" title because he was shot down in Vietnam and held prisoner for a couple of years. The problem with that is McCain is probably the worst person of the prisoners to be labeled a hero. There were several others who deserved much more respect and honor. McCain's conduct compared to many of the other prisoners was questionable.
McCain relied on his father and grandfathers pull to get ahead, both of them were admirals in the navy. He was a poor pilot, and his personal conduct was terrible. According to one of his classmates at Annapolis Phil Butler also a prisoner of war in Vietnam, “He was a huge screw off”
McCain received special treat continuously. He wrecked two separate jets anyone else would have been grounded, but not him. (daddy).
Early in his Senatorial career he got caught up in the Keating savings and loan scandal. He survived that with just a mild rebuke. He took special favors from Keating and tried to influence regulators in Keatings favor. He survived by going on every news show proclaiming his innocence. I think that is where his media career started. Every news show wants McCain on it. Of course we have found out from Chuck Todd of Meet the Press that you can't ask anyone hard questions because they might not come back on.
The list goes on and on with McCain. This brings me to my point. McCain "American Hero" who is always pushing for the American Military to put boots on the ground, which means troops. He doesn't seem to mind that means the men and women who serve will be coming home in body bags.
McCain just tried to put an amendment onto the Keystone pipeline bill to repeal the Jones Act. The Jones Act protects American merchant mariners and ensures that American companies also employ Americans on domestic ships. It also requires that all goods shipped between ports of the United States be carried by vessels build in the United States and owned and operated by Americans. Merchant mariners are essential to the US economy and repealing the Jones Act will allow foreign merchants to come here and take the jobs of American citizens.
The industry supports over 400,000 jobs. Along with the economic damage McCain's amendment threatens national security, according to U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft, “That for me is the real consequence, it will put our entire U.S. (merchant) fleet in jeopardy...and then in time of crisis who are we going to get to carry out our logistics. Very difficult if we don't have U.S.-flagged ships.
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“The only parties that stand to benefit from the amendment are heavily subsidized foreign shipping competitors who are not subject to US laws, regulations, environmental standards and taxes” according to Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trade Department.
Instead of being an American Hero we find out he has no problem selling the military down the river along with American jobs.
The media should actually pay attention to whom they are bestowing the title of American Hero.
