The first thing Democrats should do is end all this praise toward John McCain as a hero and a great man.  

It is undeniable that John McCain as a Vietnam prisoner of war endured great hardship, but so did John Kerry and Max Cleland endure tragedy and lasting injuries there, in Cleland's case losing his limbs.

The record reveals that in each case the same Republican hypocrites who respond to every criticism of McCain with a reminder that he was in a Vietnamese prison camp and have Sarah Palin deliver a stiff dose of same when she introduces him at joint rallies, provided anything but respect for the Vietnam accomplishments of Democrats.

What about what former Dick Cheney operative Mary Matlin said immediately after the 2004 Democratic Convention?