Redstate

By Kevin Price Posted in 2008 — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

I'm not a fan of Bob Dole the politician, but I always admired his patriotism. I heard a story about him that was one of the finest stories I have ever heard of any American.

Bob Dole, himself a disabled veteran of WWII who overcame severe injury to lead a productive life as a lawyer and later as a legislator. While serving in Congress during the Vietnam War, Dole quietly wore a bracelet on behalf of a POW who was hoping for the opportunity to come home.

Dole wore this bracelet without fanfare and hoped for that person's return. According to the story, Senator Dole wore that bracelet for five years, never taking it off once. He wore it, even as Members of Congress argued to end funding for the troops before POWs were safely returned.

Many years later the former POW and Dole met. That POW was John McCain. The following is from Senator McCain's nomination speech for Dole at the 1996 Republican National Convention:

"I have had the honor in my life of being commanded by a great many brave, resourceful and decent leaders, but none more so than my friend, Bob Dole. A long time ago, in another walk of life, I was deprived of my liberty. The brave men I served with there wanted nothing more than to keep faith with our country and for our country to keep faith with us."

"When the United States Senate tried to cut off funding for the war in Vietnam before America's prisoners of war were released, Bob Dole led the opposition. For seven weeks, for seven weeks he forcefully debated the measure and succeeded in preventing America from leaving the field while so many of her sons remained the prisoners of our enemies. All the while he waged that debate, all the while he waged that debate, Bob Dole wore a P.O.W. bracelet that bore my name."

"I never knew that Bob had done me that great honor until very recently. Bob never told me he wore my bracelet. He never sought my thanks. He never imposed on me an obligation to him for the support he gave me at a time when I needed it most. I learned of it, just last winter during a debate on Bosnia, when Bob mentioned it only to emphasize the point that no matter how strong our opposition to the President's policy, we must never let our troops doubt for a second that they had the full support of the United States Congress and people."

"Although Bob Dole never asked me for recognition for his kindness to me, I have felt since learning of it, that this modest, good man deserved from me a heartfelt expression of gratitude. I wish to do so now. For myself, for my comrades who came home with me to the country we loved so dearly, and for the many thousands who did not: Thank you, Bob, thank you for the honor of your concern and support. We fought in different wars, but we keep the same faith. I shall always be grateful."

Decades. That's the length of time from which Dole wore the bracelet until he mentioned it to McCain. He quietly did that honorable thing for no other reason than because it was the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, USA Today reports:

"Whenever the presidential campaign trail gets to John McCain, all he has to do is look down at his wrist.
McCain said he has been wearing a bracelet in memory of Cpl. Matthew Stanley ever since Stanley's mother gave it to him two months ago while he was campaigning in New Hampshire. The 22-year-old soldier was killed last year in Iraq."

"The Republican senator from Arizona was wearing the black bracelet during an interview Tuesday with reporters and editors of The Associated Press. He said he promised Stanley's mother, Lynn Savage of Wolfeboro, N.H., that he will do everything in his power to make sure her son's death was not in vain."

"It means any political ambitions of mine pale in comparison to the sacrifice that nearly 4,000 family members have made," McCain said of the bracelet. He said although political pundits say his determination not to end the fight in Iraq will kill his political career, "when you meet the mother of Matthew Stanley, then what difference does that make?"

McCain is wearing the same bracelet with pride on the cover of Time.

I want to be cautious as I write this. I don't have the same story of either of these men. But knowing Dole's story of the bracelet, I find McCain's approach a little disconcerting. The display on the cover seemed more about him than the dead soldier for whom he wore it.

I am going to look into finding just such a bracelet myself and I appreciate the awareness. But, I still find this most troubling.
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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650), Publisher of the HoustonBusinessReview.com and writes frequently in his www.BizPlusBlog.com.