McCain Fumbles Packers Story into Steelers Territory
Like many Steelers fans, I left my hometown; trading the hills and three rivers of Pittsburgh for Cheeseheads and cows. Yet, this hasn’t deterred my love for perhaps the greatest sports franchise in history, even in the land of Bret Favre. The Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-time Super Bowl Champions, and the emotional lifeblood of Pittsburgh, are now being used in a pathetic attempt by Senator McCain to gain a few fans.
Appearing in Pittsburgh, PA yesterday, John McCain repeated his oft-cited story of survival in a POW camp. McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir that when pressured as a POW in Vietnam to give up squadron information, he instead repeated the starting lineup of the Green Bay Packers in place of his squadron.
However, this story conveniently changed when McCain appeared in Pittsburgh. While talking to a KDKA Reporter he said:
“When I was first interrogated and really had to give some information because of the pressures, physical pressures on me, I named the starting lineup, defensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron mates.”
I find it hard to believe that McCain recalled the lineup of what was then one of the worst teams in football, going 1-13 in the 1969 season. While the Green Bay Packers of the 1960s were nationally recognized champions, Pittsburgh had yet to build their famous Steel Curtain defense.
The McCain campaign called this an ‘honest mistake,’ and there is no doubt that mistakes occur. However, McCain continually cites misinformation, forgets important people, and claims ignorance on policy issues. Is he just too busy or too old to recall such minor facts, or is Senator McCain willing to confuse the facts to be more appealing?
McCain’s deviation from his well known story proves that he is willing and able to say whatever is necessary. As a life-long Steelers fan I am offended that he would exploit the legacy of my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. If McCain can conveniently mistake the names of two great sports teams, one can only imagine the lengths to which his pandering will go in the future.