McCain flubs military history (Eisenhower's "letter of resignation ")

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/elections/pfstatement.html?sid=744

To make a point about accountability, he relayed an anecdote about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Only McCain got the story wrong in a way that undermined his point.

<snip>

Then he said: "But there's also the issue of responsibility. You've mentioned President Dwight David Eisenhower. President Eisenhower, on the night before the Normandy invasion, went into his room and he wrote out two letters. One of them was a letter congratulating the great members of the military and allies that had conducted and succeeded in the greatest invasion in history, still to this day, and forever. And he wrote out another letter, and that was a letter of resignation to the United States Army for the failure of the landings at Normandy. Somehow, we've lost that accountability."

<snip>

It says: "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone." A noble sentiment — but not a letter of resignation.

"That must be what McCain is referencing," said David Fitzpatrick, a military historian at the University of Michigan. "I never heard that Eisenhower had prepared a letter of resignation. That would be incorrect."

[Bucky]

1. Here's a link. He got it close, but wrong. I've heard the resignation letter story too.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/744/

The reality is that Ike said the blame was his, if it all went wrong. He could well have been fired for a bad result on D-Day 1944, but he didn't mention resignation. He only left the door wide open to being sacked.

Not too much of a difference. Ike was still holding himself accountable for his own decisions. You know, back when Republicans did that sort of thing.

[Windy]

4. McCain is running for president...He should have checked out the facts

Again, cursory off the cuff remarks that lack substance. The hallmark of McCain

[TwilightGardener]

2. What an ass. Never get your history lessons from Grampa--they make shit up.

[marylanddem]

3. And Eisenhower's granddaughter Susan supports Obama

through "Republicans for Obama" - I think she was on Colbert show...

[rainbow4321]

5. Oh, really?? Well this could get interesting if she decides to go public

With a reaction to Mctroll's screw up.

[Overseas]

6. First of all I was appalled by McLame discussing accountability

when he has been leading the push for deregulation, with his chief financial adviser and mentor, Phil Gramm and now is pretending that he was always a reformer, in favor of controlling Wall Street. That stunk.

Now I am doubly appalled when I learn that he used an example that can be so easily debunked. Shameless McCain.

============
In stark contrast,

I was glad to see a You Tube in circulation already that shows Obama's comments about McLame's Iraq policy statements-- "You said the war would be over quickly..." etc. followed each time by clips of McLame making those very same statements. So glad to see that. Obama's strong criticisms can be verified with videotape of McShame verifying each one.

[progressive_realist]

7. Can one actually resign from the Army?

I don't have a military background, so I'm not sure how it works for officers. But it seems you can retire or request to be removed from command, but I don't think you can just say "I quit". An organization founded on the principle of following orders doesn't seem like it would work if the members had the option to quit whenever they wanted.

Besides, since Eisenhower was the ranking general at that point, wouldn't any resignation letter have to be personally addressed to the President? The commander of the Army can't submit a letter of resignation to "the United States Army", as if there is some clerk somewhere whose job is to process it.

McSame said a lot of things last night that just didn't make any sense, and this is one of them.