The McCain argument

[4themind]

(NOTE: While I respect McCain's service, I AM NOT ESPOUSING THE VIRTUES OF THIS ARGUMENT, JUST WANTED TO DESCRIBE HOW I THINK HE WILL MAKE HIS ARGUMENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WHAT STRATEGIES SHOULD BE USED BY THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TO GET AROUND THIS

I think this may be a taste of what either democrat may face in the fall. The argument is this; relate his experiences as a POW to show that he's gone through as bad or worse than what many Americans go through. He could say that he's not OUT of touch with pain and hardship because he's gone through it himself.... and survived it, and based upon his own experiences he believes the best solution to (insert problem here) is (insert republican talking point here)

Here's an example from an interview with george stephanopolous on sunday:

"STEPHANOPOULOS: One of the points Mrs. Edwards made in the Wall
Street Journal, she said that your whole life, you had government
health care. You were the son of a Naval officer, a Naval officer,
now a member of Congress. And her point is, why shouldn’t every
American be able to get the kind of health care that members of
Congress get or members of the military get?

MCCAIN: It’s a cheap shot, but I did have a period of time where
I didn’t have very good government health care. I HAD IT FROM ANOTHER GOVERNMENT
(LAUGHTER)

MCCAIN: SO LOOK I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE IN AMERICA NOT TO HAVE HEALTHCARE. We know that Americans are hurting there as well. We’ve
got to make health care affordable and available. The difference,
again, between myself and the Democrats, and with all due respect,
Mrs. Edwards, I want the families to make the choices. They want the
government to make the choices. That’s a fundamental difference, and
we will continue to debate that issue.

But we can provide incentives."

Here are some hypothetical examples:

On housing: 'I know what it's like to lose my home, and also to be transfered into a different one,the Hanoi Hilton, I was able to survive that through grit, determination, and never giving up, and I believe that ALL americans have these traits as well, and so we should...(insert republican talking points)

On torture: 'I KNOW what torture is, my opponent does not, I know the excruciating physical and mental pain that it causes and water boarding doesn't compare to what I received from the vietnam on a daily basis, but it COULD help prevent ordinary americans from facing even worse from a terrorist attack. My opponent is literally "out-of-touch" on this issue.

So here's my question, assuming your CANDIDATE OF CHOICE wins, what's the best way for him or her to defuse these arguments?

(Note: I think there are clear logical fallacies in this argument, but I'm wondering of the best way to expose these without pissing off a chunk of veterans and sympathizers)
Apologies for gramatical and spelling mistakes also, I need to head to class ad wanted to come back home to feedback, Thanks!

[polpilot]

1. Healthcare's such a funny topic!

[islandmkl]

2. his answer re: Elizabeth Edwards comments looked 'cute' at the time, at best...

let him play that response EVERY TIME he is asked...

and it will look as lame as it is....

his vulnerabilities are getting the 'pass' only because the dems have spent NO ENERGY or RESOURCES to attack mccain...

it's coming, though...it's coming