We Need More Politicians Like John McCain
While I didn’t agree with Senator John McCain on many political issues, I greatly admired and respected him. He was a man of great courage and integrity who respected all Americans. Like all humans, he faltered but admitted his mistakes with honesty and humility while being humble about his achievements.
As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I knew how much courage and integrity it took to stay true to our Constitution, values and principles while serving in Vietnam and especially as a prisoner of war. I frequently drew courage, strength and determination from his experiences to survive as a prisoner of a far different war, the war on human trafficking and enslavement. I still do as I seek justice while recovering from horrors nobody should endure nor know.
In 2008 when he decided to run for President, I knew that I wouldn’t vote for him but wanted to see him as the Republican nominee. I understood that if whoever ran against him was defeated, McCain would serve as he always had with the same courage and integrity that earned him great respect from not just his fellow servicemen, Arizonans or Americans but humanity itself.
It was heartbreaking to watch his own party demand that Sarah Palin be his running mate believing that it was the only way to defeat the excitement behind the Democratic candidates. They chose to tarnish his reputation and integrity in an effort to win at all costs. I was proud of those who didn’t stoop to destroying McCain for it but far prouder of him for doing his best under horrific circumstances once more.
When Trump ran in 2016, I saw my own war hero father who received the Purple Heart and other servicemen cheering Trump as he said that he only liked those who weren’t captured. I immediately turned into their commanding officer as I had done throughout my lifetime and dressed them down. I reminded them of their own service and sacrifice. I could never and would never discount nor discredit their honorable service to our nation. It was unfathomable that they did. I reminded them that they could attack him for his policies but never his service. Once they said, “Yes, Ma’am,” I left them with their thoughts. They never again mocked another person’s service in my presence.
I believe that most Americans long for politicians with the same courage and integrity as John McCain. They saw Trump as the opposite of the career politicians who put winning elections, PAC donations and backroom deals at the forefront instead of the diverse people who make up our great nation.
While I hold many of the same views as and vote mainly for Democrats, I consider myself to be more like and try to emulate the late, great John McCain. He was an undeniable maverick in his political career. He didn’t try to get your vote by being anything other than himself. He chose instead to earn it by showing the courage and integrity that was an integral part of who he was.
We have witnessed that same courage and integrity in far too few of our politicians for far too long. Even as Trump destroys our once great nation and world, there are many who don’t have the courage nor integrity to stand up for the American people out of fear. Those who have face the consequences for their lack of allegiance to a single American instead of the Constitution.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
Those words carry great weight for me and many Americans. Unfortunately we still see politicians who are playing politics as usual. They support only those politicians who they believe have a chance of winning and increasing the number of members in office who will vote ‘their’ way without any regard for the American people’s needs nor the courage and integrity necessary to fully serve their constituents.
While I happily reside in the Republican stronghold of Nebraska as a staunch liberal like I did in Georgia, I have seen far too few of the politicians who have the same courage and integrity that John McCain possessed during his lifetime. I long for the day when we have fewer yes men and bootlickers for politicians and far more like Senator John McCain who represented his constituents as a politician should, with the courage and integrity necessary to fully serve we the people.
Those who do have my support and respect because they understand that
Every life matters, especially yours.
God bless Nebraska and especially Her people.
