I am not one to give much credence to those who accuse Barack Obama of secretly being a Muslim or John McCain a North Vietnamese collaborator, but the video below is the first time I have found anything that gives a hint of truth in either charge.

This video comes from a non-neutral source, Vietnam Veterans Against McCain, but the most powerful accusations come straight from the mouth of one of the most conservative Congressmen in the last quarter of a century, Bob Dornan, Republican from California. The tape is nearly 8 minutes long.

Dornan, former Republican Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire, and others present the case that McCain killed legislation that would have opened classified POW/MIA files from the Pentagon. Dornan makes the charge that out of the entire House of Representatives and Senate, it was McCain who stood in the way of the legislation. The legislation passed the House 401-0, but died in the Senate because McCain used all the prestige he could muster as a war hero and POW to kill it.

Multiple interviewees, most in prominent positions, actively question why McCain prevented POW records from being released when other POWs and political leaders were strongly in favor of it. Dornan’s explanation: McCain did not want his experience as a POW to come out in a Presidential campaign. It does make one wonder why these records have remained sealed for decades.

The tape mentions that McCain made 32 propaganda tapes while a POW. While it is understood that all POW’s were forced to do things they regret and were not responsible for these actions, it is implied that McCain went further in accommodating the North Vietnamese than necessary. Dornan reports on a transcript from another POW who heard one of the McCain tapes:

“Oh my God, is that Admiral McCain’s son, is that the admiral’s son? Is that Johnny, telling us that our principle (bombing) targets are schools, orphanages, hospitals, temples, churches?”

As Dornan says, “That was Jane Fonda’s line.”

Towards the end of the tape, Dornan reports a story that McCain told the Vietnamese that if the records of POWs were released they would not get diplomatic relations with the U.S.

Maybe this is all smoke, but it is intriguing. There’s no doubt that the Vietnamese prefer McCain to Obama. As a member of Congress, McCain has been good for the Vietnamese government. They probably have high hopes for a McCain administration too.

There is one very serious omission with this tape. It has no credits. That casts a bit of a question over the allegations, as compelling as they may be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g