Nothing in politics is more dangerous than misdirected vitriol.  Witness the recent hullabaloo from Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.V.) who made some snide comments about Senate colleague and presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

Rockefeller's comments show not only a lack of tact but a real absence of common sense for a Senator whose legislative committee jurisdiction includes veterans and aviation-related issues.  Because he's already apologized for the comments, I won't belabor the point.  Suffice it to say, the interview in question also reveals how his heated rhetoric got the best of him and the worst of the facts. 

McCain's plane in Vietnam likely did not "drop" missiles, although he might have "launched" them and "dropped" bombs.  Although it appears the model of A4 McCain flew may have been capable of dropping laser-guided bombs, it does not seem likely as the designator must be aimed by ground personnel and McCain was bombing North Vietnam -- ie: not home to too many friendlies.  And, they typically didn't drop from 35,000 feet more like 4,500 feet (See link below).  Not the Sen.  Rockefeller would know as he was in the Peace Corps (at HQ, in the field) and later with VISTA during part of the Vietnam years; interestingly he appears to have married (eliminating any risk of being drafted) about the time McCain was shot down in 1967.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Sen. Rockefeller was right to apologize.  The episode reveals a great deal about the extent that anti-war politicians will go to drum up misinformation about Vietnam, or for that matter, the war on terror.  While anyone can forgive a public speaker for the occasional gaffe, a gaffe that is so heavy on bad facts shows the vitriol with which many war opponents are willing to go to launch a battle of hyperbole.