Well the responses aren't wholly unexpected though most of them wholly personal and of not much substance otherwise.
But this is exactly why I said (many posts back) that raising questions about McCain's pow experiences was not the way to go.
True some of the testimony in the video seems quite compelling, though (as one observed) probably not something that can be proven one way or another.
Also true, your contention that if this were about Obama instead of McCain, this shit would be played out in daily installments - in newspapers and on T.V.... no doubt there'd be "Obama the Traitor" frosties for sale at Wimpy's (or is it Wendies??? Can't remember which...)
The main reason why bringing up McCain's record doesn't play well is that it doesn't "wear" well for the left. They are not too adept at character assasination, smears, and dirty politics...wholly against their mantra...that "take the high road" bit - who and what they profess to be about.
Now the conservative right?? Right up their alley. So in line with their mindset, persona, and overall outlook that mocking someone's war record is for them like taking a breath of air.
Recall how they smeared Kerry? Put out false information, outright lies, and mocked his record (and ALL veterans IMO), by wearing bandages at the convention?? (see here
FactCheck.org: Republican-funded Group Attacks Kerry's War Record
(and here)
CNN.com - Delegates*mock Kerry with*'purple heart' bandages - Aug 31, 2004
No one got up in arms about that did they? That's because it was so typically "Republican". Such shit is what they're best at. Besides they had nothing to lose. The ones who were in their camp (or leaning that way) ate
that bullshit up like free french fries (yum!). The ones were
were offended weren't voting for Bush anyway.
Obama's camp on the other hand knows better. There is still too much angst in America over Vietnam anyway. And in this election, too many undecideds... too many pissed off Billary supporters. It wouldn't take much to turn them off totally to Obama (and more than a few probably want a good reason anyway). They may not like McCAin, or what he stands for. But neither would they like trying to call into question some guy's actions while a pow.
Obama quite wisely steers clear of this one, and (on his war record) gives McCain his due.
And he sure as hell doesn't deserve more than that.