Media Obituaries Didn’t Give Us ‘The Full McCain’

The sugary praise, often from former critics, does his memory no favors.

John Fund September 2, 2018

The past week has featured so much extravagant praise of John McCain that Jill Abramson, the former editor of the New York Times, had to admit “McCain would cringe over some of the glowing tributes pouring in.”

Take this example from The New Yorker:

In death, McCain had finally become one with the country that was the object of his deepest faith, and any praise lavished on him, during the funeral proceedings or at any point afterward, would redound to the greater glory of America.

...............Many commenters rightly criticized President Trump’s churlishness toward John McCain. (Editor's Note:  For the record, I disagree.  McCain got what he deserved from Trump, and everything he says in this article makes that clear.  RK)  But when it was revealed that Sarah Palin, his 2008 vice-presidential running mate — who has never said a negative word about McCain and indeed expressed only gratitude toward him — was being excluded from his funeral and memorial services, the same pundits were silent. Noticing the public rebuke of Palin would have interrupted the narrative of John McCain as an example of what’s best and noble in our politics.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post led the parade of puffery earlier this year when he declared McCain “the single greatest political leader of our time.” He followed up this week by declaring that McCain “never forgot that political opponents are not his enemies, and that there are things more important than winning elections.”

Even those who view McCain in iconic terms would find that statement preposterous..........To Read More....