John McCain -
Republican U.S. Senator from Arizona
John Sidney McCain was born in a
Naval hospital on August 29, 1936 in the
Panama Canal Zone. Following in his father’s and grandfather’s tradition of
honor, McCain went to the
U.S. Naval Academy at
Annapolis at age 17. McCain graduated in 1958, and soon started training to become a Naval
aircraft carrier pilot. To keep with the family wartime
tradition, McCain requested to go to
Vietnam.
The Forrestal Disaster
McCain became
Lieutenant Commander aboard the
USS Forrestal, which was stationed off the coast of Vietnam. On July 29, 1967, as McCain was preparing to take off, a
missile in a plane along side his accidentally fired. The fuel tanks on McCain’s
plane were hit. McCain managed to climb on to the nose of his plane and drop to the deck. McCain was blasted several feet when eventually more
bombs exploded. There is a video of the event, and it is truly amazing to see a future
Senator climb from a burning plane. After a full day of fighting the fire, 134 were dead, it was recorded as the worst non-combat-related accident in
American Naval
history.
Although McCain was offered a trip home after the
disaster, he wanted to stay. He transferred to the
USS Oriskany.
The Hanoi Hilton
Three months after
the Forrestal disaster, McCain went on his 23rd bombing mission into
North Vietnam. His target was a
power plant deep into
Hanoi. McCain’s right wing was ripped off by a
surface-to-air, and McCain ejected. He was badly injured, both arms were
broken, as well as one leg. McCain landed in a lake and angry mob dragged him out. The
mob beat him, breaking his shoulder and stabbing him with
bayonets.
McCain was delivered to the “
Hanoi Hilton” (a Vietnamese POW camp) and was denied
medical treatment. Although his condition was deteriorating, his fellow
POW’s managed to slowly improve his health with care.
A few months after McCain was captured, his father,
Admiral Jack McCain, was appointed
commander of all U.S. forces located in the
Pacific. In an effort to look
compassionate, the
North Vietnamese offered McCain an early release. In a most
chivalrous manner, McCain refused, citing a code of conduct that POW’s should be set free in the order that they are captured. McCain was so set in his decision that he denied the offer even while being
beaten.
John McCain spent five years as a prisoner of war, two of which he spent in
solitary confinement.
The End of the War
McCain was released with over 600 other POW’s in 1973. McCain went through long and intense
physical rehabilitation to regain his flight status. McCain became a
Captain and appointed to be the
Navy’s
liaison the
U.S. Senate. He then met his wife, Cindy Hensley, they were married and moved to
Arizona.
Politics
Always willing to serve his country, McCain became a candidate for the Arizona House position in 1982. McCain worked harder than his opponents and
campaigned nonstop. McCain won the
election and made it a practice to return home to Arizona every weekend. McCain’s devotion to his state won his
reelection.
In 1986,
Barry Goldwater retired from the U.S. Senate, and McCain was elected as his successor. McCain was in line with Goldwater’s tradition of
independence and plain-talk
conservatism. McCain was reelected in 1998 with 70% of the vote, garnering even 40% of
Democrats.
Policies
McCain retains typical conservative
polices, fighting for smaller
national government and lower
taxes. Pro-
small business and
opportunity. Unlike some, McCain acts on his polices, which earned him the nickname “The
Sheriff.” McCain wishes to get rid of both the
death and
marriage taxes. He also prides himself on protecting children, whether it be from
internet porn, or giving them the education they deserve.
McCain believes most strongly that nothing can take place before
campaign and finance reform.
Despite his amazing
repertoire, some do criticize McCain for his “
moderate Republican” views, which leave him with two wings at his throat.
Election Results
1998 General
- John McCain(R) 696,577 68.7%
- Ed Ranger (D) 275,224 27.2%
- John C. Zajac (LIBERT) 23,004 2.3%
- Robert "Bob" Park (REF) 18,288 1.8%
1998 Primary
- John McCain (R) unopposed
Previous Winning Percentages
- 1992 Senate Election 56%
- 1986 Senate Election 61%
- 1984 House Election 78%
- 1982 House Election 66%
Works Cited:
Encyclopedia Britannica Online. (www.eb.com)
Senator John McCain. (http://mccain.senate.gov/biography.htm)
Senator John McCain. (http://www.senate.gov/~mccain/bio.htm)
Straight Talk America. (www.straighttalkamerica.com)