Clark: McCain A Hero, But Lacks Command Experience

WASHINGTON — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate now supporting Barack Obama, said Sunday John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief.

Underscoring during a national television appearance a position he has been expressing for several weeks, Clark said performing heroic military service is not a substitute for gaining command experience.

"In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.

"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn't held executive responsibility," Clark said. "That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded _ that wasn't a wartime squadron."

Moderator Bob Schieffer, who raised the issue by citing similar remarks Clark has made previously, noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied.

In a March conference call with reporters while he was still backing Hillary Rodham Clinton, Clark said: "Everybody admires John McCain's service as a fighter pilot, his courage as a prisoner of war. There's no issue there. He's a great man and an honorable man. But having served as a fighter pilot _ and I know my experience as a company commander in Vietnam _ that doesn't prepare you to be commander in chief in terms of dealing with the national strategic issues that are involved. It may give you a feeling for what the troops are going through in the process, but it doesn't give you the experience first hand of the national strategic issues."

He reiterated that position last week in an article on The Huffington Post Web site.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to question John McCain's military service, that's their right," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said after Clark's appearance Sunday. "But let's please drop the pretense that Barack Obama stands for a new type of politics. The reality is he's proving to be a typical politician who is willing to say anything to get elected, including allowing his campaign surrogates to demean and attack John McCain's military service record."

Comments

[sueno]

I am a non-war vet,
I've watched for years as the Republicans used military criteria as a pulse of patriotism.
Gen. Clark should be the V.P.
He's right, McCain used his military service as a weapon against his former rivals in this race
as well as the Democrats often.
His rank was Pilot, U.S. Navy- McCain didn't manage anything.
Yes, he is a hero, as are the many returning service-people that he has sent to war.
But this is a job application, and the observation should count- he did not lead people into battle-
Since he's employing those "Swift Boat" people again-
he deserves the "swift" truth heading his way.

[Flagal]

Here is a link to a funny article on Webb and his possibilities as VP.

http://www­.236.com/n­ews/2008/0­6/30/i_wan­t_to_be_nu­mber_two_j­im_we_7439­.php

[NotMcCain]

John Roberts on CNN just introduced the topic thusly, "John McCain has made his status as a POW a centerpiece of his claim that he has the experience to be president."

This is EXACTLY the perception that General Clark so accurately was responding to.

Soundbites aside, the point is: "Being a POW doesn't give you the mlitary or foreign policy experience needed for the job of President of the United States." Period.

McCain keeps spinning that it DOES. Really, it doesn't make any sense to claim that. Thank you, General Clark.

And when will REPUBLICANS begin a criticism of Wesley Clark with a statement like, "We honor General Clark for his heroism and 30 years of unselfish service to his country, but...."

Right. When H*** freezes over. And yet--they get away with showing complete disrespect to a genuine war hero who is a Democrat.

WHY??????

[Denemator]

Don't you just love the msm for distorting what is a totally correct statement on mcpain, so he was a pow and got himself shot down, ok first of all, it doesn't mean much for him as a pilot to get shot down, second getting shot down doesn't mean you are a good CIC. Why would that make hime a hero, lots of service man go beyond the call of duty, few get rewarded. Their families needing foodstamps and if they dare to be injured, sub par treatment at home. I cringe when I see another one of those "support our troops" on the back of a car, these hollow meaning less statements are the trade mark of the goppers, they talk the talk but walking the walk is not part of their mostly fat asses.

Enough said, just remeber the swift boaters and how they treated a real hero.

[DocR]

Exactly. The homage being heaped on McCain as a military leader and de facto Commander in Chief is ridiculous given the actual facts. He would have been tossed out of the Naval Academy if not for his father. He flew 23 missions into North Vietnam dropping bombs and shooting rockets at designated ground targets. When his plane was hit he did not get into the proper tuck position when he ejected and this caused his injuries. He was resuced from drowning by a Vietnamese civilian. Wesley Clark has a much, much more distinguished military record and he has exercised command over international forces numbering hundreds of thousands of people. He has fought in real battles, earned medals, made command level decisions, etc. Clark has forgotten more about real warfare and leadership then McCain ever knew.

[gladys46]

Mc, Inc. should lecture O about dismissing words coming from any and everybody ... yet, he "needs" swiftboater vet's support!

Has Mc ever dismissed their horrific attacks of Kerry!?

[oafishcad]

McCain's response was the lie-that Clark dissed his military service-he never did. McCain is the liar-not Clark. When did up become down and down up? And is McCain really that big a Priss?

[RIPHRC]

If I wreck my car, can I be secretary of transportation?

[thundermummy]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That line should be repeated over and over again as the response to McDingbat's service record!

[HerbTee]

How Does General Wesley Clark See the Differences?

Question: What do you call a soldier or Marine who is in daily urban combat, is fighting for his very life and the lives of his buddies, who closes with and either destroys or captures the enemy almost face-to-face, is lowly paid, who is exposed daily to filth, squalor, illnesses, diseases, snipers, booby-traps, poison gas, artillery, mortar and rocket shrapnel, roadside bombs, ambushes, RPGs, bullets of every caliber, possible “friendly fire”, combat-related accidents, carries almost 100 pounds of gear on his back, extreme weather conditions, eats his meals cold out of foiled packets, sleeps very little, hasn’t fully bathed in many days or weeks, helps injured and sick civilians and when it’s finally over either goes home quietly to his loved ones without much fanfare, personal rewards, fame, fortune…or goes home in a flagged draped coffin?

Answer: A HERO!

Question: What do you call a fighter pilot who after a good meal, a hot shower and a good night’s sleep in a warm bunk at the base or on an aircraft carrier goes on a bombing mission flying thousands of feet in the air near the speed of sound to bomb an enemy he rarely sees, is shot out of the sky by an enemy missile or antiaircraft fire, is captured and taken prisoner and survives for years until finally released to go home alive?

Answer: AN UNLUCKY S.O.B.!

[Denemator]

Correct.

[Norge]

Heros, nonsense. If they were defending their own homes and families in their own country then perhaps such a term could be used.

It is rediculous to go to other countries and murder people and actually consider yourselves heros.
The true term is Fools.

Rolf Krogsæther

[ObserverinVancouver]

Weren't most of the people fighting in Vietnam drafted? I.e., they didn't have a choice (unless they wanted to escape to Canada where they would be welcomed with open arms).

[maxiemom]

John McCain is a hero, and because of that, he's gotten a free ride from the media for years. To criticize his credentials on national security, JUST BECAUSE HE IS A HERO, is considered blasphemy, even when the 'transgressor' is a 4 star general. When McCain had his press conference today, he said he hasn't been trading on his POW experience as part of his so-called national security expertise. That's bunk. He doesn't have to raise the issue. THE MEDIA DOES IT FOR HIM EACH AND EVERY DAY, OFTEN REFERRING TO HIM AS A WAR HERO, FORMER POW, ETC, . He also knows that whenever his name is mentioned, PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY THINK OF HIM COMING HOME ON THAT STRETCHER! When he makes statements that ludicrous, he's being disingenuous at best. It's laughable.

Obama needs to pick a running mate like Jim Webb whose war hero status was ON THE BATTLEFIELD. Webb was also near the top of his class at the Naval Academy, not at the BOTTOM, LIKE JOHN MCCAIN, WHO GOT IN DESPITE HIS LOW GRADES IN SCHOOL, BECAUSE HIS DAD WAS AN ADMIRAL . Webb also has actual experience as Secretary of the Navy, which once again trumps any and all experience McCain can lay claim to Webb's son served in Iraq: where have McCain's kids been despite his family's military history and McCain's support for the war (and Webb's warnings AGAINST the war BEFORE we ever went in). Someone needs to show McCain for what he is.

[LiberalBuzz]

Exactly WHY is McBush considered a hero?

Can anyone say why?

Did he go behind enemy lines and rescue people?

Did he shoot down planes that were attacking troops and save their lives?

Did he jump on a grenade?

Did he lead a charge to liberate a captured village or troops?

From what I can tell he got his academy appointment because daddy was an admiral.

He graduated at the bottom of his class, which doesn't say much about his intellectual abilities.

He crashed so many planes that anyone else would have been either cashiered out or put on ground duty but because daddy was a high ranking admiral they kept giving him another plane to crash until finally he got captured.

THEN after suffering terribly at the hands of the North Vietnamese he came home and started cheating on his wife until he landed a rich beer heiress.

While in office he routinely voted with republicans against American citizens.

While running in 2000 he was terribly smeared and said nothing about it and when asked to he hugged and kissed the man responsible for the slime attacks on him.

So why exactly is he a hero???

[Liberal2]

Well, I just asked the same question as you about McCain. OTOH, I know what made McCain a hero....his rethug registration. Were he a democrat, he'd be called a third-rate pilot.

[Denemator]

Obama also needs to correct himself in regards to WC since his dismissal of that correct statement gives credence to the goppers "outrage"

[oafishcad]

Yes, it does. There was never anything to be "outraged" about.

[helonias]

He admits he can't even use a freaking computer.

What else could be worse.

[williamg]

Now, THAT is a disqulifier for President of the United States of America. He is sooo 1950's.

[DontBeFoolish]

Let's not, let the media get it twisted folks. General Clark did not demean John McCain's service in any way. This is the REPUB press machine, hard at work twisting General Clark's words. Going with what General Clark siad, It's pretty simple logic. Does every great athelete, make great coaches? NO. Does every great seamstress become top designers. NO. Does every great mom, raise great daughters(No offense mons), and so on. Let's STAY ALERT people, they are starting to putting Stuff in the game. Don't let it fool you, we all knew it was coming.

[Catseyes]

The news media wants a close race for bigger ratings. They are purposely skewing the coverage to McCain eventhough he is way behind. If it appears to be a blowout, who the hell will watch their telecasts. The country has made up its mind.....sorry McCain!

[Steamboater]

Clark is right. Just because McCain got caught and served prsion time as well as torture (something he's learned nothing from as he voted to support Bush's waterboarding) doesn't mean McCain is qualified for the presidency. Once again, Obama spits on progressives by throwing Clark under the bus though. It's getting worse and worse.

[uvymopkq]

"Democrat Barack Obama rejected a retired general's suggestion that Republican John McCain's military experience didn't necessarily qualify him to be president. " Associated Press.
How's that for getting shot in the back Gen. Wes.

[mijumom]

Yes, Obama is disappointing and I'm a supporter...

[Liberal2]

I always said Obama's "promises" were bogus. Nothing more than whatever the listener thought he meant.

[4real]

duh. Obama can't come out and openly say he agrees with Clarke because the MSM will play that out worst than the Rev Wright story.

The headlines will be: Obama disses servicemen and women.

It will be weeks and weeks of coverage of interviews with war vets and people serving now as the media tries to get their take on Obama's diss.

the repugs and media would play it all the way to november until the whole country believes that Obama hates the military.

Obama will never go low. That is not his style.

[Dane1911]

Exactly, lol,....people are so stupid..lol...and Barrack will make people mad at him sometimes...he is humans, he cant please everyone without disaapointing few in the process....Obama played it smart, come on now...Obama may be running a campiagn of change, but he is a politican...and He knows how to play the game very well...lol...Ilove this guy....

Obama 08 Webb/Clark 08

[Dansden]

Everyone should EMAIL the MSNBCTV 'media mouths for McBush' and tell them to quit the harrassment of one of our most revered U.S. Generals- General Wesley Clark!

[KBAR]

http://www.nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry082603.asp

[oafishcad]

Yes, far right interest groups don't support General Clark, big surprise.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Clark's larger point was that John "Ace" Mc Cain't does not have executive experience, and Clark is absolutely correct. It was when that one comment was taken out of context that got Clark in a bit of hot water.

Having said that, an argument can be made that Johnny Ace's record of graduation at the bottom of his class at Annapolis, his record of piloting 5 American planes into the ground, including getting one shot out from under him, show him to have been an abysmal performer in his military career. How is that NOT germane and fair game when he runs on his 'war hero' record?

And for the record, I don't doubt for a second that Johnny Ace gave each endeavor his best efforts. In fact, he scares me precisely because I believe that he DID give those things his best efforts but came up so very short time after time.