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

[ComnCents]

Being a POW gave Mac Clone a long time to think about what he would do when he got out.

Like how was he going to dump his inconvenient wife.

[gladys46]

And love the country that gave him invaluable training and whose clothing he wore for once!!

Since he did not love "her" until he missed "her" company!!

[DCtrain]

Let's see:

Bag wife
Chase young women
go political
Chase more women
Disrespect women
Get robotic arms
Make speeches with militry green backdrops
Attract 10s of people

[bethinCary]

He's also been known to have crashed several airplanes while in the AF.

while I can understand some being critical of attacking Mac on his service--the fact that he's crashed a few planes does denote a kind of recklessness or inablity to make good decisions to which he should have to answer for..

I'm not knocking his service or belittling him in any way for his capture--i would like to just know how this happened (crashes) and why-to be able to judge his ability to make decisions..
I think he's fairgame to be able to get a clearer picture of who Mac.

If he wants to use that experience as part of his advertisement for being stronger on security or whatever argument he is trying to make about it--he needs to be able to be scrutinized for it too.
It's the only way for people to fill in blanks about him..
He's not allowed to say..."you can't question that"(military service).
That's what I understand Clark to be saying-though I wish he would have expounded opon it, and not left his comments so coarsely worded, leaving ambiguity.

[GLaB]

No, he NEVER crashed a single plane in the Air Force.

Bringing uninformed dolts out into public are why Obama and Clark and the rest of the Democratic Campaign should steer well clear of criticising McCain's military experience. There is nothing to be gained, there; only lost.

[oafishcad]

He did however crash while flying for the Navy.

[KBAR]

Headummy! McCain was NOT in the Air Force.

[oafishcad]

Yet he did fly planes in the war, stop the nitpicking. How anal are Republicans?

[NYC07]

Clark has finally said what everyone in the crowd knows to be true and was afraid to say: That the Emperor has no clothes!! On every MSM talk show it's always the same “Oh you can't challenge McCain on anything military, you can't doubt his love for the country, his military experience is the greatest, you can't do this, you can't do that. Clark had the B...s to speak up to but an end to this BS. Being a bad pilot isn’t a qualification for becoming President.

[Flagal]

I guess Kerry wasnt a hero because he didnt get shot down and captured.
Hmmm....

[NotMcCain]

I just heard the CNN reporter, Dana Bash, (summarizing at length the McCain position--she might have just read their email to us, really) say, "The McCain people saw how John Kerry's mlitary service was smeared when he ran for president and they don't want the same thing to happen to John McCain."

Arrrgggghhhh!!!! How can these people REPEAT this cr*p???

Rove and his buddy ORCHESTRATED the smear of John Kerry with complete Republican party support and cooperation.

Where is Rove now? Of course, working for John McSame.

They lie. They lie. And then they lie some more.

Meanwhile, a man like Clark who has the b**** to speak the truth about McCain's POW experience being IRRELEVANT to the skills needed as President...gets slimed by Republicans, and backed up in it by the media.

Now I see how brainwashing works.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Clark just said what everyone else was mumbling under their breath.

[Mekarri]

Mumbling? Hell, I been screaming it to top of my lung.

[KBAR]

This Wes Clark?
Things turned out in the end, of course. But one million refugees later, and only because one of Gen. Clark's subordinates, Gen. Michael C. Short, did an end run around Clark to institute an increasingly aggressive bombing campaign against Belgrade. By the end, Bacevich writes, "Clark found his control over ongoing operations eroding. Rather than the theater commander, he became hardly more than a kibitzer."

Something to keep in mind the next time — and it will be soon — you hear about Wes Clark's prescience.

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

[oafishcad]

Sorry, quoting right wingers with an anti-liberal bias doesn't mean it's true, and usually means is untrue.

[NotMcCain]

Will I ever see a Republican criticize General Clark by FIRST acknowledging HIS heroism under fire and HIS patriotic service to this country for 30 years????

.....No, I didn't think so.

[kellygrrrl]

OT

looks like it's not just us -- even the Swedes are fighting for their right to privacy

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080630/sweden_e_mail_spying.html

[joekerr]

**** you Huff post with your ****** stupid filter and censorship. I don't care if I get banned. WTF is your guys problem with what people write? I can't even use words that aren't bad words. How bout a George Carlin day where we all get to say what we want? What is this, Disney? Are little kids reading this? We are all grown folks here, I think we can take it. This censorship thing is just another example of why America s***s. What are you afraid off? That some silly bloggers feelings will get hurt? That they can't handle a little critique? Jebus help me.

[Flagal]

But mister, I'm only 9.

[Mekarri]

Agreed

[CTmom13]

Clark is right though....McSame is runing on being a POW and that's the problem, that is all he has....Being a POW does not make you a good leader. I would trust a General over McSame a POW any day.

Plus McSame and the republicians swift boated Kerry with his miliatary funny it was ok then

Not all veterens think McSame would make a good POTUS

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/index.htm

[CTtransplant]

Clark is right. McCain may be a patriot because of his service to our country - but being shot down does not qualify you to be commander in chief. Don't see the problem with that!

[Flagal]

agreed, and technically it doesnt make you a hero either.
But let me say I do respect Johnnys service to our country.

[Shaddup]

If I un into the wall catching a fly ball in the outfield, do I get to be manager?

[Dansden]

Brilliantly humorous!!!!!!!

.....and if you call your wife a 'c*^t' in public,
you get to be a presidential candidate for the republican party.....

[gladys46]

...and if you don't love the country until you miss "her" company ...

[adl]

I don't see why Obama rejects these comments, they're true.

[OlongapoEd]

For one thing, the mainstream media's vehement pro-McCain bias makes it politically impossible for Obama to agree with Clark. The political situation in the USA has deteriorated so badly it is almost certainly impossible for a completely honest person to be elected President.

[adl]

I can see why Obama may not be able to agree with Clark, but what about remaining silent on the whole matter? Why does he have to denounce comments that are true and were not dismissive of McCain's service?

[gladys46]

Did you really listen to O's general response!!? He said that patriotism shouldnot be used as a "shield" nor a "sword" ...did you really, really listen!?

[BitterInPA]

Clark is 100% correct, otherwise I would expect that EVERY veteran held as a POW is automatically qualified to be "Commander in Chief". The only thing that his military service shows me is that McCain had the ability to lose planes (5) and to graduate at the bottom of his class at Annapolis.

When is the media could to DO THEIR JOB and report on all of the evidence of his military screw ups?
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/mccain_military_record.htm

[RichardD]

Never mind being shot down, McCain has not done anything that would qualify him to be America's President.
Never. Not once.
He is the bottom of the GOP barrel. And, it is a pretty big frickin' barrel, as barrels go.

[Bystander]

The same could certainly be said for BO: "Never. Not once." Are you really Wesley Clark posting under a pseudonym? Ha!

[RichardD]

'Bystanders' are always so helpful. Often being the types of lookers-on that are too scared to be engaged.

[nukemind]

Actually, during his short time in national public office, Obama has worked to curtail the spread of nuclear weapons with the Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Iniative. In addition, he opposed the war, a big plus (the funding aspect being a necessity as the war is currently taking place and taking away funding would result in political ammo for the GOP to claim the Dems don't support the troops), has said he will talk to Iran (a huge improvement over McCain's run and gun policy of no talk and all action for meatheads) to figure out a way to mend our differences, and, the vast majority of the world's leaders including among our allies, believe he'd be better for the world as opposed to McCain who has promised to continue Bush's policies. If nothing else we at least know from the issues where they stand and McCain's on the brink of an abyss and looks poised to pull this country down with him.

[nukemind]

Of course Obama has to appear as if he disagrees as he is vigorously courting the vets to vote for him (and many will, probably more than in past years for a Dem). Clark's frankness is interesting in that it cuts to heart of the military worship that exists in this (and other) country. The soldier is literally honored as a mighty warrior who goes out to smite our enemies in the name of freedom etc. Quite an old tradition really, but what does it all mean? Soldiers, except in military junta regimes, are little more than pawns who are ordered about by civilians (and in this administration many who have never put on a military uniform). Some are fortunate enough to learn a skill that translates into a job in the 'real' world, while others simply emerge with some small benefits and paltry payouts. So how does this quality, say McCain to be a foreign policy expert? Has he studied foreign policy at an abstract level? Has he looked as the causes and effects of wars and conflict resolution at all? Judging from his positions, adamant support for the Iraq war, sabre-rattling aimed at Iran, and a desire to solve problems with force, he's grossly underqualified as it appears he has learned very little during his time as senator.

[allonfla]

Have any of you been paying attention for the past year and a half?

We are talking about the MSM! It does not matter if what Clark said is True! IT does not matter to them! They need controversy! News has been slow! They are biased towards McCain! They treat him like their grandfather!

Obama was right to reject the comments! He did not reject Wes Clark! Only His Comments! If Obama believed it was a good idea to make the same comment, he would have done it already! And as you can see it would have been serious damage if he did! Imagine if these words came out of Obama's mouth! Someone who has never served in the military!

McCain could easily state that being a community organizer does not mean you can lead the country! Why give McCain the opportunity to play the victim! This is a not a school yard fight and if Obama had done what any of you "former" supporters say now and previously - He would have been DONE!!!!

[NotMcCain]

There was nothing in the comments to "reject".

Clark has been making the (excellent) point for weeks that POW experience is not related in any way to the judgment, knowledge and leadership that one needs to be President of the United States.

Obama should have PRAISED General Clark and reminded everyone that, if anyone has the right to make this argument, it is a man who is not only a hero on the battlefield, but also has given 30 years in service to his country.

I am UPSET by this. Is Obama going to be just another cowardly Dem? I'm proud of General Clark for making a tough point very fairly and objectively. Too bad so many people are too stupid and/or too brainwashed to understand what it really was.