John McCain's youngest son is joining the Marines.

[napi21]

He's to report to Camp Pendelton, in Sept I think. I think the report said he's 18.

Report said they asked the Senator how he felt, and he said very proud, but concerned, as every parent would be, but we all need to make sacrifices during war time.

I don't have a link. I just heard it on KGO news at the top of the hour.

I didn't even know John HAD a son!

[snowbear]

1. 7 kids..plus 4 grandkids (per Wikipedia)

He has seven children; John adopted first wife Carol's sons (Doug and Andy), and he and Carol had a daughter, (Sydney). John has three biological children by Cindy (Meghan Columbia University (2007), Jack United States Naval Academy (2009), and James Brophy College Preparatory (2006), plus he and Cindy adopted their youngest daughter (Bridget) after discovering her in a Bangladeshi orphanage run by Mother Teresa. McCain's son James entered the Marine Corps in 2006.

He has four grandchildren.

(Wikipedia)

[MrSlayer]

2. Best of luck to him.

Coming from privilege like that and risking your life to serve your country shows character. Good luck to the kid.

[FUGW]

3. We all come from privilege being Americans

it shows character no matter who your Daddy is.

[MrSlayer]

10. Yes it does.

But for someone like that who really doesn't need to go that route to do so is rare. Look at the Chimp and his entire chickenhawk administration. War mongers all without a second of combat or even meaningful uniformed service among them aside from Rumsfeld.

Not everyone in America is privileged, a lot of people go into the military because there is no other option for them.

[napi21]

4. OH I agree, I wish him luck as well! Unfortunately, the Marines

are right in the middle of Shrub's mess in Iraq, and I really fear for him.

[antigone382]

5. Nobody's child should have to be put at risk this way...

Yeah, I know a bunch of posters will come after me saying that people like McCain are the ones who *should* have to sacrifice their kids, that this boy's probably gonna get a cushy job anyway where he won't really be put at risk, that McCain doesn't deserve our sympathy. Yeah, fine. Whatever. You're probably right. But I don't care. It isn't about whether McCain is a shithead or his son is a freeper or who deserves what...to me, it's just somebody else's child being led to the slaughter...that's all I see, that's the only way I can react. I know what it is to wonder if this will be your last phone conversation with someone you love, to hold your breath every time another casualty is announced, to look at every soldier and see the spitting image of your brother (or your child, your grandchild, your spouse, your friend), and I just can't react to the news of anyone sending their kid to war with anything but unbearable sadness.

[eleny]

7. He'll either be cannon fodder with the rest or protected

All I know is that his father better not use his son's military enlistment for his own political gain nor use him as a poster child to get others to join up.

[MrSlayer]

11. If he's anything like his father he won't accept special treatment.

John McCain's father was an Admiral in the Navy and he could have used his influence to get out of the VC POW camp he was in but refused the offer because his men were not afforded the same luxury. Let's not assume anything here about the kid's service.

[SensibleAmerican]

17. Why do I think we're gonna hear this bullshit for the next 2 years?

n/t

[mitchum]

24. Bingo! This will be excellent campaign material for "maverick" McCain

a pox on that bushco toady

[cmkramer]

22. not just an admiral

he was commander-in-chief of the Pacific Command from 1968-1972.

[TheFarseer]

6. That's great

Stay safe, John McCain's son!

[enki23]

8. campaign stunt.

color me cynical. i don't fucking care.

[greenbriar]

9. I'm with you

this is for show, he will be a Radar O'riley and be protected

[JI7]

12. i doubt it, i heard McCain's son doesn't like Bush

my guess is he is doing it more in order to follow his father, grandfather etc.

[SensibleAmerican]

16. Does he support his father?

That's what matters.

I wouldn't doubt that McCain's family hates the Bushes, but the reason why is not related to ideology. Rather it's related to the 2000 campaign.

At the same time, he may be like Ron Reagan. He didn't agree with his father's policies, but he still supported him.

[JI7]

18. i'm sure he supports his father, but i don't think he would join the

military just to help his dad's political career. i really think it's just something he really wants to do whether or not his dad does run for President. he comes from a family with a history of military service.

i bring up the part where he doesn't like Bush because it shows that he is probably the type that wouldn't join for some other agenda .

(i'm pretty sure McCain has 2 sons with his current wife. not sure if he had any sons with his first wife. i think he did have at least one daughter with her. but the son i read about that doesn't like Bush could be the other one and not the one who is joining the military. i know McCain's daughter doesn't like Bush either and she said she voted for Bush. but regardless of all of this, i really do think his son is joining because he wants to and would do so even if McCain wasn't going to run for President)

[napi21]

19. His other son is in the Navy.

This was posted in post #1.

He has seven children; John adopted first wife Carol's sons (Doug and Andy), and he and Carol had a daughter, (Sydney). John has three biological children by Cindy (Meghan Columbia University (2007), Jack United States Naval Academy (2009), and James Brophy College Preparatory (2006), plus he and Cindy adopted their youngest daughter (Bridget) after discovering her in a Bangladeshi orphanage run by Mother Teresa. McCain's son James entered the Marine Corps in 2006.

He has four grandchildren.

(Wikipedia)

[niyad]

25. that son isn't active duty--he's only a midshipman going into his second

year at the academy. hardly the same thing as being front line in a combat zone.

[napi21]

26. Oh I know, but he's going to be an officer when he graduates

THEN he will be on the front line somewhere!

All I'm saying is that Johns boys both have joined the military, as opposed to almost every other congressman senator or other members of this admin.

Duncan Hunter is the only one I am aware of who has a son in Iraq.

[niyad]

28. IF he graduates, you mean. and please GODDESS, may there BE

no front lines when this group graduates. my guess is that he will have a nice handy shore billet somewhere on the west coast.

[napi21]

32. Maybe, but I don't think so. John's father was an Admiral, and he

sure didn't get any cushy billet, did he?

My son was in theNavy for 15 years, and like any other org. people can pull strings, but in this case, my bet is it wont happen.

Time will tell. I still wish both of his boys good luck!

[blm]

33. It's his older son who hates Bush openly.

But, that still wouldn't prevent him from helping his old man and I find it deplorable that McCain would have his son even join at this time instead of after college.

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Well, now maybe McCain would work to bring his son home

and out of harm's way. Then again, the cynical me says that the son will be just fine as long as 'The Maverick' stays inside the corral.

[Straight Shooter]

14. I'm a cynic. He's bolstering his father's chances for a run in 2008.

Then again, he's 18, so maybe he's starry-eyed and still believes he's immortal. :shrug:

[Mojorabbit]

15. Here is the link

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1220414,00.html?cnn=yes

[Beausoir]

20. This isn't the first time McCain has sacrificed a child for his career.

He allowed Rove to viciously smear and slime his daughter.

Now, he sends his own son into the meat grinder..just to bolster his career.

Despicable man.

[Posteritatis]

30. I wasn't aware he was forcing his son to enlist. (n/t)

[bumblebee1]

34. He also let * smear his wife in that campaign.

[watercolors]

21. I;m sure he will never leave the US!

Meanwhile my grandson might be headed back to Iraq for a 3rd tour!

[donsu]

23. poor brainwashed boy

but maybe he is just being used as a tool

whichever, poor boy

[liberaliraqvet26]

27. What a ploy for '08...

now get the "rank & file" repukes to send their kids over.

[City Lights]

31. Yes!

Two of my fundy cousins have kids entering their senior year in HS next year. Forget college. Enlist!

[lonestarnot]

29. Oh Yeah! PEACE AT LAST! MCCAIN KNOWS SOMETHING WE

DON'T.

[mdmc]

35. McCain Guliani 2008

:patriot: