I'm just throwing out a couple of names here, no doubt with a little effort scores more good potential Commander in Chiefs in waiting VP's can be found by pursuing this line of inquiory. It all boils down to this. What is the most important criteria for selecting a Vice President? Their qualifications to become President immediately in an emergency obviously. And obviously, according to America's media, nothing qualifies one more to become Commander in Chief than riding in a plane, getting shot down, and subsequently being held prisoner.
We know now that Ross Perot was well ahead of his time. He clearly heard that giant sucking sound of good jobs being whisked outside our borders while others slept, or alternately claimed that Perot suffered from auditory hallucinations.
But that wasn't all. Although the American people were not quite ready for it way back then in the 20th century, Ross Perot already knew the importance of getting shot down and captured to prepare someone to become Commander in Chief. Perot chose as his running mate Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was shot down over Viet Nam and held as a prisoner of war there.
John McCain and Jim Stockdale were not alone in that distinction or in their heroism however:
"In the Vietnamese conflict, a major concern in negotiations between the U.S. and North Vietnam was the release of hundreds of American prisoners of war and the repatriation of both North and South Vietnamese prisoners. By 1971 the prospects of U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam depended largely on a solution of the prisoner-of-war problem, which had been employed as a bargaining point by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, after the signing of the cease-fire in January, the first contingent of 143 American military and civilian prisoners of war arrived in the Philippines. During the following weeks, 444 prisoners were released."
http://www.history.com/...
That seems not to be a complete account however. According to statistics compiled in one study, 333 United States Air Men returned alive to the United States after being held as POWs during the Viet Nam war, out of a total of 660 U.S Viet Nam POWs who survived the war and returned home:
http://www.angel45-2b.com/...
No doubt there are other Viet Nam ex P.O.W.'s who, like John McCain, are still young enough to serve their nation in one of the most grueling jobs on earth. But Americans have been shot down and held capture more recently than Viet Nam. With only minimal research I uncovered two potential Vice Presidential choices who suffered that same fate during the Gulf War. I throw these two names out here because both of them have written books about their experiences, proving they have communication skills at least equal to John McCain, to add further icing to the cake.
I wanted to conduct deeper research but time is running out and I know that both the Republican and Democratic campaigns have a better capacity to conduct final vetting than I do. I present these VP candidate possiblilities here now for both partys to consider, each war heros both certified to have, unlike Barack Obama, ridden in planes that were shot down by America's enemies and held prisoner as a result. Leadership that counts:
Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum, Ph.D., M.D.
"In addition to senior flight surgeon wings, BG Cornum wears the airborne, air assault, and the expert field medic badges. Decorations include the Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Purple Heart, Air Medal, POW Medal and others. Dr. Cornum has written or co-authored one book, four book chapters, and numerous scientific articles. She sits on numerous committees and advisory boards, including the Secretary's POW Advisory Committee for the VA."
http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/...
"inside Iraqi territory, a U.S. Army helicopter on a medical rescue mission was shot down with eight Americans aboard. Five of them were killed instantly; the three survivors were captured by Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard. One of the survivors was Maj. Rhonda Cornum."
http://www.alibris.com/...
Her diary of this experience forms the basis of the published book:
"She Went to War: The Rhonda Cornum Story "
Colonel (ret) David William Eberly:
"An airman, he participated in the initial air strike into Iraq. On January 19, the fourth night of the campaign, he was shot down while flying an F-15E Strike Eagle and, after three nights, eventually captured on the Syrian border. He was subsequently repatriated with the other allies from five countries on March 5, 1991...
...As an airman, he flew over 3400 hours with tours in fighter squadrons in the Philippines, Germany, and the United States. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he served as the Director of Operations for the 4th Fighter Wing (Provisional), flying the F-15E in Oman and from Saudi Arabia. His combat awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.
In April 1998, Colonel and Mrs. Eberly represented the Gulf War POWs at the opening of the National POW Memorial in Andersonville. His book: Faith Beyond Belief is available via www.faithbeyondbelief.com"
http://www.axpow.org/...
I know there must be others. It cwn be argued thqt being Vice President of the United States is theoretically the second most important job in the world. Doesn't America deserve a Vice President who was shot down by our enemies while riding in a plane? Let us leave no stone unturned.