The Most Revered Republican: John McCain

A graduate of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, he flew A-4 Skyhawks for the Navy and made many ground strikes on enemy positions in the Vietnam War. Over Hanoi in October 1967, McCain was shot down and became a POW who did not break, did not relent, and did not give up after years of torture and other mistreatment.

He became a member of the US House or Representatives in 1982 and a he became a US Republican Senator in 1987.

McCain was permanently injured during his torture and was not able to raise his arm over his head. When the US was torturing prisoners during the second Iraq conflagration, he adamantly opposed it and often found himself alone in this regard.

McCain was one of the first Republicans to attempt campaign reform and helped pass McCain-Feingold in 2002. Also it was known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.

He is loved and sorely missed not just for his comportment, his courage and his patriotism, but for his willingness to stand up for what was right, versus what was politic.