John McCain is my senator and I’ve met him 4 times. I disagree with him on just about every issue and have never voted for him, but I respect the man beyond words. The first time I felt great respect for him was the exchange you mentioned. But it was the first time I met him in person that really cemented it in my mind. He attended the ceremony for our Granite Mountain Hotshots and stood among us, head bowed, as one of us. He watched each hearse go by and gave a salute, silently. He didn’t turn it into a political spectacle. He didn’t take the podium. He shared a quiet moment with each of the widows and families of the fallen men but didn’t cash in on the moment for political gain. He was quiet, dignified and respectful. He repeated those actions at Kayla Mueller’s memorial.
I ran into him at his office here where I had begun visiting his staff (bringing Starbucks and donuts) after the election to voice my concerns. I didn’t know he was there one day, and he came out of his office, engaged me in conversation and spoke to me intelligently, with no political spin, about the issues that concerned me. As I left I told him how his reply to the woman on the campaign trail and his actions at the memorial services had impressed me. He actually looked a bit embarrassed and said: “I was just trying to do what I thought was right”. He has since closed the office in this town, but if it were open now, I know there would be at least a few of us standing outside bearing get-well signs and mine would say “Thank you for spending your life trying to do the right thing”.
