An Open Letter to Senator John McCain

I am the wife of an active duty Sailor in the U.S. Navy, and I find it incomprehensible how you could possibly go around the Country campaigning for Bush when he went AWOL at the very same time you were being tortured in a POW camp! How you can justify proclaiming a deserter fit for duty as Commander in Chief of the very military he walked away from is beyond me! 

See the articles that are being published as I write this, which prints information about how Bush scrubbed his record before running for Governor.

The Conventional wisdom seems to be that you are collecting "IOUs" to be used when you run for President in 2004. I think you're terribly wrong, for you've sold your soul for political gain. If you were true to yourself and America and especially to the many Veterans that fought and died in Vietnam like yourself, you'd stand tall and expose Bush for what he is instead of campaigning with him. Then America could really trust you as a man of honor. Unfortunately, you chose to sell your soul for political gain and have therefore lost any credibility you may have had left. Now, should you choose to run for President in 2004, this will be what America will remember, a Vietnam Veteran that sold out his fellow Vets for political gain.

Senator McCain, I'd like to ask you to reconsider what you're doing to the Vietnam Veterans that have already suffered so much indignation, as well as to all other Veterans of all wars who have served their Country with pride and dignity and honor. I'd like to ask you to do what's right and stand up, tell the American People what the truth is before they cast a vote for someone whom they are unaware of being the very antithesis what you and every Veteran stands for. It is time to put Country before self. I can guarantee you that you would earn the respect of every single American who loves Country for doing the right thing.

I would like for you to read what I feel is the meaning of being an American Soldier:

What does one represent when they put on an American military uniform? What is the first impression that others get when they see someone wearing the uniform of any of the branches of the military? Of course, there's the obvious pride in one's Country. The kind of pride that would make a man or woman gladly give their life if it means perpetuating the Freedom and dignity that America represents. There's pride in one's self, knowing that being that cog in the big wheel of protecting the Freedom of America is something to be not only honored but respected with awe.

There is also a true feeling of history. The knowledge that those who came before you also took pride in that uniform and all that it represents, especially those that literally saved the world during WWII. The American uniform was a literal sight of liberation for those like my mother and her family that survived the horrors of the Holocaust. But it wasn't/isn't only a sign of liberation for Holocaust survivors. It is a sign of freedom craved by every repressed and oppressed people in the world. The American uniform is a sacred symbol, respected by all who love Freedom and truth. The American uniform is feared and loathed by those who only know hatred and bigotry. The American military member is a person that has made a special commitment to serve honorably, bravely and without reservation putting Country before self. To the American soldier, the uniform represents the larger family that is America.

So what does it mean when one puts on the American uniform, and then tosses it aside like trash? It means that not only was that pledge of commitment not worth the paper it was written on, but is a literal slap in the face to all who lived up to that commitment. What does it mean to send someone else in harms way while someone uses political connections to bypass the waiting list established to enter the Air National Guard to protect the "dangers" of Texas skies? It means that we shall never know if that person that went in that person's place was wounded or killed in action. It is a clear indication that person put self before Country.

When a soldier (Sailor, Marine, Coast Guard, Air National Guard or Army) refuses to follow a direct order, that behavior goes against the very meaning of protecting one's Country. Normally when that happens, the offending party winds up with a whole load of trouble. When someone refuses to take a mandatory physical, the usual course of action would be a dishonorable discharge and/or time in the brig. So, what does it mean when someone not only refuses to take that physical, they simply walk away from their commitment to Country and duty? Well, history has now taught us that it depends on whether you have a father who has the political connections to buy your way out of trouble or not.

For Bush to ignore these charges or outright lie about them shows the true hypocrite that he is. While he screams about Gore's character, Bush forgets that his actions speak louder than any innuendo he can spew out. Gore went to Vietnam to serve, for he had a conscience that wouldn't allow him to let someone else go in his place. Gore didn't use his father's political ties to buy his way out of serving his Country. Only someone with the moral deficiency of George W. Bush would make statements that Gore was in a safe place where there was no threat. For everyone that went to Vietnam knows that there was no such thing as a safe place in Vietnam. Gore lived up to his commitment, completing his service in a timely fashion. He wore that uniform with pride, integrity and dignity. Bush walked away from his commitment when it no longer suited him. Gore saluted those who served along side him, Bush thumbed his nose at those who fulfilled their commitment by just walking away and not showing up for duty. Gore felt a sense of pride when he got his honorable discharge, for it was truly earned. Bush bought his honorable discharge, which then became a contradiction in terms. For there was absolutely nothing honorable about the way George W. Bush treated that American uniform and those who served before him and alongside him.

Finally, little by little, the truth is coming out about Bush's AWOL status and how he deserted the very military he now wants to lead as Commander in Chief. Daily we are seeing more coverage, including tonight on CNN, which claimed that unless it's printed in the NY Times, Bush doesn't have to answer to it. Tell me, are they going to finally print the TRUTH about Bush going AWOL for 2 years while you sat in a POW camp in Vietnam being tortured? I'd also like to know how you justift endorsing Bush "ready for duty" when it's now shown as fact that Bush went AWOL. Shouldn't you be demanding Bush's records to be made public, just as Bush did to him you the primaries?

Your silence on this issue is deafening.

Carol Levy