McCain Shows Principle and Courage for Veterans

Many of us have been stunned by how rapidly the momentum of Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) has slowed to a stop in recent weeks. Republicans who are the most interested in the '08 presidential race are now counting him out. The principled maverick, his critics say, was tossed aside when McCain tried to recreate himself as a conservative of the establishment that will never accept him.

McCain's comments yesterday, in which he took blame for the scandalous substandard care for veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, show he is still struggling to be defined by his principles even when they shine in a negative light. "I will take responsibility for being a member of the Armed Services Committee and not knowing about it and not doing anything about it," McCain said of the revelations about Walter Reed. He is right, he should have known.

Sure, it may be politically expedient to take blame before you are blamed, but such a statement took courage. McCain is dogged by so many liabilities in the 2008 race:The old wounds he caused with social conservatives that won't seem to heal, a weak war chest, his support for immigration reform that conservatives oppose, and most of all his lonely support for escalation in the Iraq war. But he is willing to risk his political fortunes for his stand on the war, and regard to the welfare of veterans. No one should question that McCain's words were heartfelt. McCain, a war hero whose sons have followed him into military service, can speak for veterans in this country better than Romney, Guiliani, Clinton, Obama, or Edwards could ever hope to.

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