John McCain Claims Steeler Story 'Honest Mistake:' You Make The Call

As FanHouse's JJ Cooper noted last night, John McCain told a story on the campaign trail about the Steelers line that didn't make any sense. McCain told a Pittsburgh television station that he recited the names of Steelers defensive linemen as names of men in his squadron to North Vietnamese interrogators (see YouTube above):

"When I was first interrogated and really had to give some information because of the physical pressures that were on me, I named the starting lineup -- defensive line -- of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron-mates!"

As Cooper pointed out, it would make no sense to name the Steelers of that time because they were pretty obscure playing on a poor team. Turns out that McCain has related this event many times, but always with the Green Bay Packers named instead.

As FanHouse commenter "cdh" noted:

It's not an issue of which line he was mentioning, or whether he would have known since he wasn't from Pittsburgh... it's that he's just plain reversing himself.

McCain in fact named the starting lineup of the Green Bay Packers, and has stated such numerous times.

It's such a bad pander I'm confused why he thinks he can get away with it.

Commenter cdh says pander, John McCain says "honest mistake." You make the call.

Apparently, he's told this particular story before, but always with the names of the Green Bay Packer line. The Green Bay version is in his book, Faith of our Fathers, and it is dramatized twice in the movie based on the book. McCain has also discussed a clip of the Packer lineman scene on CNN.

McCain's service to his country in the worst of situations is something to be honored, but watching the video of him talking Steelers is absolutely cringeworthy.

Previously at FanHouse:
John McCain's Steelers Story Doesn't Add Up
UFC President Dana White: 'I Consider John McCain the Guy Who Started the UFC'
Barack Obama Supports Chicago Olympics, John McCain Concerned About Spending
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain All Seek WWE Fans' Endorsements
Chicago Bears Fan Barack Obama Won't Pander to Minnesota Vikings Fans

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

7-11-2008 @ 3:05PM

David in NYC said...

There is also the possibility that the senile old fart's brain is deteriorating that quickly (or was never all that good to begin with -- he's already admitted he doesn't know how to use a PC).

7-11-2008 @ 3:08PM

ryan said...

Oh get off his case!!

This man will be our next president.

Now whether he lives to carry out his first term is a whole nother story.

http://www.collegefastbreak.com/

7-11-2008 @ 4:28PM

jim said...

We need a president with more mental capacity.
McSame indeed.

7-11-2008 @ 5:07PM

romegas314 said...

Comment #1 -- with his name, maybe he's a Mac guy.

Two posts on this issue? I'm glad to see Fanhouse all over this one. The good Lord knows I come here for breathless posts about politics that only tangentially relate to sports.

7-11-2008 @ 5:10PM

Stephanie Stradley said...

@4 romegas314-

The first entry was just questioning the plausibility of McCain's story. The second entry was a followup stating that McCain now says it was the Packers, and that this is something he has made a big deal about in the past.

Politicians appealing to the common man through sports is not unusual but it is full of peril. I'm sure at least some people were interested in learning about the followup to the story.

Thanks for reading and commenting,
Steph

7-11-2008 @ 6:38PM

Eddie said...

Look, the dude got tortured in a vc camp when he should have been enjoying leave with the rest of his squad back stateside- he's a war hero, I get it. That being said, if I ever need somebody to parachute into hostile territory, Grandpa gets my vote. If I want a president that is at least sane or intelligent enough to hide the fact that he lies straight to my face, I'm voting anyone else. It sunk dear old Hillary and now I'm afraid I'm going to have to shoot down dear ol granddad again.

7-11-2008 @ 6:43PM

JG said...

McCain , McCain, my dear old friend.... You need to get wise to the 21 century and leave those old manipulating political ways of yours back in 1492. Trying to appeal and gain some sort of relation through a sport that you lie about (and get caught) is not a good way to appear honest and get votes. "My mistake?", WOW, that is a big mistake, especially if it was during one of your most memoral times! - If that would be the case, now people are going to think you're losing it and not fit for being a president.

Don't worry Steph, i thought it was a good read. Very amusing and sad for McCain.

7-11-2008 @ 8:57PM

ELARELO1 said...

John Sidney McCain is an honorable man who has served his country honorably in both military and civilian capacities. As a military man he had the flying skill and personal courage to fly from aircraft carriers to deliver ordnance to enemy targets. Professional sports people DO NOT put their lives on the line as do military personnel. I believe the man when he gave his 'honest mistake' recollection.

7-11-2008 @ 9:59PM

Harrison said...

You have to admit that the names sound similar: "Packers", "Steelers." Same number of syllables, too. I'm just really glad that he hasn't used the "G-word" to refer to people of Vietnamese extraction this time around. He caught a lot of flack for that in...2000, wasn't it?

7-13-2008 @ 5:48PM

SIPIT38 said...

WHTH IT'S POOR RECALL/CAMPAIGN FATIGUE OR PURE POLITICS, THE REAL TEST 4 MC W/B THE DEBATES IN THE FALL. .GIVE HIM BNFT OF DOUBT. .HE PAID HIS DUES. STEVE (9 YR AF/VN ERA VTRN)

7-12-2008 @ 2:39AM

He's definitely not presidential, and i'm not so sure he should be allowed in public. This is a senile and delusional old man. He might be a notch up from the W, but that's not saying anything.

War hero, absolutely. Capable of running a Starbucks, maybe. Could lead (quite possibly) the greatest nation ever? Hell no.

Lets not lower our standard anymore.

7-12-2008 @ 6:59AM

al coholic said...

I can't speak for everyone but occasionally I just say something incorrectly. It's happened to Hillary and it would likely happen to any of us whose every utterance was compared to any previous statement we made.

7-12-2008 @ 9:34AM

Analyzer Steve said...

With McCain's advanced age he is bound to make simple and forgetful mistakes of this nature and should not be criticized for it because of his age. My Dad, about the same age as McCain, does this all the time too.

The real question to ask is will he remember with clarity which country he wants to attack with the ballistic nuclear missiles he will control when he is our president?

7-12-2008 @ 3:09PM

Ironside said...

Had McCain come to my hometown and told the story using the Green Bay Packers, I would have been very proud and impressed. Had he done what he did to Pittsburgh and changed it to the Dolphins to pander votes and I found out it was Geen Bay, I'd have been as disgusted with it as I am now. Veterans, Combat soldiers, and POWs need not change/exaggerate their story to appease anybody. As a veteran I'm apalled! Shame on John McCain! He was a hero and now he's changing his story to pander for votes. ARGH!

I'm a peacetime veteran who was a voice radio operator with HHC in an armored unit and I'm proud of it regardless of what anybody thinks.

7-12-2008 @ 10:52AM

Stuck on RT 1 said...

There's no fool like an old fool!

7-12-2008 @ 11:14AM

papabear said...

A book and a movie were made with this in it? Wow

This is worse that Hillary`s "honest mistake" and I thought the world was gonna end on that one. I hope he doesn`t get mixed up and send his top secret replies to IRAN instead of the IRS, it is almost spelled the same.

7-13-2008 @ 10:46PM

Don Davis said...

Pittsburgh Steelers Give Name of ‘John McCain’ to Avoid Trouble
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=2005

7-13-2008 @ 8:56AM

Harry said...

Jesus..... I hate that I might have to vote for that real manipulator Obama now. I was able to look past the fact that McCain might be a senile old fool. But now I have to lump him into the Hillary in Bosnia catagory with this crap. Can we get a mulligan on both of these goobers. Maybe they can pick us a decent VP who won't have to say whatever they think you want to hear. Probably not. I'm moving to Canada.

7-13-2008 @ 10:42AM

Tony Mars said...

Head over to SaveBrett.net to sign the online petition urging the Packers to take Brett Favre back. Seldom does a genuine hero come along ... Rarer still one who needs our help. The site just went up overnight. Be the first to sign and show your support! ------- http://www.SaveBrett.net

7-14-2008 @ 5:31PM

Gere said...

Gee Steph, please don't tell us your an Obamite. Its starting to get ridiculous, and this election campaigning for two year sprior has got to stop. I am sick of it and want to puke each time I see the man. Yes I am for McCain, mainly because I have no doubt where he stands as far as being a patriotic American goes. That's a whole lot more than I can so for YKW.

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