Heroic Service and Understanding

Last night, Fred Thompson, a former Presidential candidate himself, came to the RNC to speak about John McCain's service to this country. What John McCain went through as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton is truly unimaginable.

With two broken arms and a broken leg, John McCain was held prisoner and left to die. He didn't, and when he didn't, he was tortured and tempted to betray the United States and his fellow soldiers - fellow POWs. He didn't, and when he didn't, he was placed in solitary confinement - for years. He was offered the opportunity to get out, if only he cooperated with the Vietnamese, and still he did not.

As Sen. Thompson pointed out so eloquently last night, this is a true testament to John McCain's character. Faith in God, his family and his country got him through, but not without an amazing will, loyalty and personal integrity.

This morning at breakfast, we heard from former RNC Chair, Jim Nicholson, who shared with us a story from many years ago. After campaigning all day long for a fellow Republican candidate (not himself) in Colorado and driving from Denver to Pueblo and back, John McCain made a special request and a special trip to the local VA hospital in Denver to visit with some Veterans. This was a late night trip, with no press and no political purpose. John McCain made this trip simply out of true care and concern.

It's true that his time as a POW and his military service alone do not qualify someone to be President, but it's also true that the character that John McCain has shown is certainly a quality desired in a President.

What's also true, and one of the reasons that I feel so strongly about needing Senator McCain now, is his understanding and compassion for fellow Veterans. This is a time when we are creating a whole new generation of Veterans. We NEED someone who can relate to them and the struggles they face when they come home from war. John McCain is that someone.