A thoughtful and reasonable response Bob. Upon reflection however, I have to disagree somewhat. I have read his biography and find its candor refreshing and anything but self promoting. Given his character, courage and maverick independence, I think it highly likely in captivity that he thought nothing about his future military career when given a chance for freedom, but took his stance out of honor and commitment to his fellow POW's. It was his choice to do so. I do not call McCain a hero though he may very well be. I agree that the loose use of that term politically these days is nauseating and diminishes those who are true heroes. 

I was never called upon to make the kind of sacrifice that Senator McCain did. I suspect that may be true for you and many others. If I was in the Hanoi Hilton and gravely injured, I suspect that I would have agreed to make propaganda tapes, which America would know were coerced, to save my life in order to live and fight another day. Just saying...