The only difference between McCain and Kerry's heroism is McCain got shot down

The hypocricy of comparing the Republkicans' treatment of John Kerry in 2004 and their fetishistic worship of McCain's war record is revolting.

and the Democrats respectful treatment of him compared with the "purple heart bandaids" hatemongers

He led his men in battle heroically. As Michael Moore recently pointed out, where is the heroism in bombing innocent civilians from an airplane?

Kerry had to make the choice to carry on doing what he was doing every day. He could have gone AWOL, deserted, curled up in a ball and cried. But he did none of those things. Instead, he stuck out his dangerous duty, led his men, and acquitted himself nobly and bravely.

McCain got shot down and captured. Within short order, he'd capitulated to his captors in return for medical treatment and other favors. Then he sat back to watch the rest of the war. He had no choice in the matter, so his "courage" lay in enduring a situation over which he had no control.

I think this is what all that "I chose to stay when I could have been released early" stuff is about: it puts the element of choice back into his narrative and makes him less of a passive participant.