I generally don't hold comments made under extreme duress against captured servicemen. The exception would be if they rat out fellow prisoners for special treatment, no evidence he did any of that.
I note he wasn't allowed to mention having his leg brutally re-broken to get him to talk - Most if not all of those guys gave up something after holding out as long as possible, else they would not have survived.
My favorite was Jeremiah Denton.
Shot down in an A-6 and held in captivity for 8 years. During a televised press conference, he repeatedly blinked out TORTURE in morse code with his eyes. It got past the NV censors and was broadcast world wide, and he endured months of torture and solitary confinement for this ingenious act of bravery.
McCain himself was offered early release due to the fact that his father was an admiral, he declined. Props to him for that, no doubt that would have destroyed the political career he was already planning had he accepted it. He rode it out, I think he held himself up as good or better than any of us would have in similar circumstances.
Though yes, he is a stinking POS now.
