So by the same token, then Barack Obama, having risen from modest means as opposed to having everything handed to you vis-a-vis McCain, has the content of chracter to be president.

Not quite, Dan. Lack of experience doesn't necessarily translate into sturdiness of character.

And the "having everything handed to you" line about McCain is baloney. You don't have qualifying as a naval aviator "handed to you," for example. And as much as you hate to admit it, five and a half years in the Hanoi Hilton is a character defining moment.

Besides, your gal Hillary didn't exactly rise from the mean streets.

McCain was the son of, and a Grandson of Admirals.
Sadly, in the American military, 'Rank hath its privileges'.

McCain graduated at the bottom of his class. Virtually every naval aviator graduated in the top third of their class rather than at the bottom of their class.

Rank hath its privileges? Was McCain permitted to join the Naval aviators because of family connections or his grades?

Obama was raised by a single mother, and despite this, he persevered and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the best law school in America. Certainly, this qualifies as a character defining moment. He proved his worth in the most demanding environment in America.

My father was navigator on the Lead plane for his B-24 Liberator squadron.
He was one of the lucky 20% from his group that survived his tour of duty in WW II.
He was shot down 3 times. Twice, his plane was able to limp to the English Channel before going down. The third time, his plane crashed behind enemy lines in France.

Using his Catholic Church Latin knowledge, he was able to convince French Catholic nuns to help him hide from the Nazi’s hunting for him until he was able to escape back across the English Channel to resume his bombing runs on Germany. Does this make him a war hero? Does this make him better suited to lead America than a pilot that was only shot down once? IMHO, being shot down should not be a major criteria for choosing a leader. America has thousands and thousands of people that are true war heroes.

McCain's grandfather was a admiral that commanded carrier task forces, but he dropped dead just weeks after the signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokoyo harbor. He clearly didn't influence his grandson's admission to Annapolis, nor his assignment to a naval aviation career.

McCain's father was a Captain (one of thousands in the Navy at the time) when John applied to the Naval Academy. He was a submariner who was not particularly liked by many in the Pentagon, so his influence on John's admission or aviation career is being largely overestimated by liberals.

If you read his autobiography, the idea that he was raised in privileged circumstances is laughable. He lived in military housing on numerous bases as his father was transferred from base to base. he did attend a private high school, but was not accepted by his blue blood classmates because of his humble (and military) background.

I believe that the character of both McCain and Palin to be superior to that of Obama or Biden. Obama reminds me of the power hungry, slimy pols of Chicago - associating with people of questionable backgrounds and activities and doing whatever is necessary to achieve their own political agenda. No thanks.

In-awe:
Thanks for the background on McCain.
I still am mystified why he was selected for the highly competitive position of Naval aviator when almost every one of them graduated in the top third of their class. Can you also help me understand this?
Thanks in advance!

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