McCain 'Sorry' to Hear of Perot's Criticism of Him

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Arizona Sen. John McCain said Friday he was "sorry" to hear former presidential candidate Ross Perot's biting criticism of him and his efforts on behalf of Vietnam War POWs.

"I'm just sorry to hear that," McCain said when asked about Perot's comments to Newsweek. "I appreciated all the wonderful things that Ross Perot has done for our military and their families, especially the POWs."

Perot, a Dallas businessman, told Newsweek this week that McCain always seeks "attention and glory" and is "the classic opportunist."

"Other POWs won't even sit at the same table with him," Perot told the magazine.

For many years, Perot has said that McCain, a POW in North Vietnam for almost six years, has turned his back on evidence that U.S. POWs were left behind in Vietnam after the war.

"There's evidence, evidence, evidence," Perot told Newsweek. "McCain was adamant about shutting down anything to do with recovering POWs."

Not so, McCain said Friday, as he has said for years.

"There's a record of a POW-MIA commission which unanimously reported out there is no credible evidence there are Americans alive in Southeast Asia," he said after a campaign event in advance of Saturday's South Carolina primary. "And I'm proud of the work we did on a bipartisan basis in recognition of Vietnam to put the war behind us."

"I'm proud of my record there," said McCain, who reacts to criticism of his military record by bringing out former fellow POWs who vouch for his courage and honor.

Perot also criticized McCain's personal life, claiming he took care of McCain's family – and the request of McCain's mother Roberta - after the senator's first wife was injured in an auto wreck.

"After he came home, he walked with a limp, she walked with a limp," Perot said. "So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from California and the rest is history."

Cindy McCain, the senator's current wife, is from a wealthy Arizona business family.

Perot, an unsuccessful third-party presidential candidate in 1992, said he is backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president. Romney and McCain are top-tier GOP candidates for the nomination.

"When I went to the Naval Academy and met my first Mormons, I asked why so many were excellent officers," Perot told the magazine. "I learned it was because of their strong family unit."