None of us can even comprehend what John McCain went through as POW in Vietnam. He was broken under relentless torture. He was honest about his experience and he spoke out tirelessly and eloquently against the senseless practice of torture by the American government. Anti-war leader John Kerry was a close friend, as was Democratic lion Ted Kennedy. As many in his party openly embraced racism, McCain defended Barack Obama as a worthy opponent and a fellow patriot. Like most of us, McCain was a complex, imperfect individual, but because of his service and sacrifice he understood more than anyone what really qualifies as a life-and-death struggle, and he never put politics in that category.