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

[Raymondf]

I wish he wasn't retired, we could strip him of his stars, and cut his pay, and lower the gas prices.

[bunnyhead]

Wes Clake for president! McCain can't even fly straight, let alone be president.

[Bystander]

What a "unique" way to highlight Obama's command / executive experience. Even one of Obama's spokesmen said, "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and, of course, he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark." What an embarrassment!

The Perfumed Prince would be a wonderful VP candidate. You go Wes! Priceless!

[zendem1]

Why is he a hero? So he got his plane shot out from under him, so what? So did alot of guys. So he got captured, so what? so did alot of guys. Some didn't make it back, and some stayed over there long after the war was over. It certainly doesn't qualify him to be president. That's just chickenhawk logic. Stop smooching his wrinkly white behind and go after him..
John Mccain is a liar and he has sold his soul to the oil companies.

[riverhouse]

Votevets.org has a supportive petition re Wes Clark available to be signed.

[PoliticalJNKY]

Thanks! Signed it!

[Vern58]

Thanks- just did it.

[Mekarri]

Done! Thanks!

[theone718]

I don't see what is wrong with this, Clark was CORRECT. I can't stand the news riding McCains coattails.

[kellygrrrl]

hear hear!

enough with the False Hero Worship

[thos]

If this is as good as it gets, I wish you luck in November.

[gladys46]

Thanks we'll take it!!

[1PALady]

If this was someone going after O for some reason or other, McCunt certainly wouldn't comment. He would not denouce and reject until he absolutely had to, so O should just stay out of the fray!

[sandtats]

Ain't that the truth. I'm so sick of this man's sanctimony and self righteousness. He's shown he is incapable of graciousness, humility, on any level; taking every opportunity to pontificate on the shortcomings, the insincerity, the lack of "everything" in others, never himself. He is totally lacking of any introspection. He is in others words, a pompous blowhard. As president, I don't think you'd ever hear this man apologize for anything, ever. WHY does the press continue to give this man a pass on everything!?

[gladys46]

Elder respect!?

[Peteyman]

If you're talking about Obama you are dead on wrong. You think that they give him a free pass on everything? Sorry but I'm gonna have to go ahead and sort of disagree with you there. You see, Obama is not the one who's been given the free pass. If you remember the Primary, or, if you are like some people, have selective memory, you will remember that Reverend Wright got more coverage than anything else during that period. Hillary's Bosnia incident got maybe a couple of days before being buried. Obama given a free pass? I think not.

[gladys46]

Agree. Clark is not a paid staffer! O did make a general statement saying that no one's "service" should be devalued! He did not say that Mc had any justification in using that military status as sole credentials for becoming POTUS!

Clark is to the letter!

[adl]

And, if what Clark said is what they've reported above, he didn't devalue McCain's service. He simply stated that it's not adequate qualification for being POTUS.

[1PALady]

Keep on telling the truth Wes!

[williamg]

Our 2008 election has reverted back to elections of old by focusing on ......Viet­nam?

[Soundofthunder]

Military service isn't a preparatory requirement to be president, anymore than an intelligence test, although I am in favor of the latter.

SOT

[Shaddup]

Psych evaluation.

[Norge]

Just exactly what is heroic about dropping bombs and napalm on human beings in their own country?
and most were civilians about 2.5 million, not the mere 3000 of 9/11.

If such is heroic by American military standards, then 9/11 would also be classified as even more heroic, those who flew the planes even gave their own lives perposely.

Rolf Krogsæther

[Raymondf]

What an assinine statement.

[Mekarri]

Good point.

[Jahmekyah]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. And THE BIGGEST piece of evidence to show how the McCain apologist media, in tandem with the McCain campaign, has conspired to make this campaign as difficult as possible for Obama, while building this invisible forcefield around John McCain and his "foreign policy credentials". There was NO atack on McCains patriotism, NO attack on his service and NO wildly exaggerated or untrue statements. The man raises legitimate, smart, nuanced questions about how John McCain's particular type of military services informs the type of judgment and foreign policy acumen required to be president. That's all. Obama runs on change, so they question what kind of change. Therefore if McCain is going to run on his experience and foreign policy credentials, it is only fair to ask questions about how his experience makes him an expert on foreign policy.

The Obama Campaign has allowed themselves to be pressured and manipulated by the media into having to apologize for these legitimate criticism. Poor. Now it will be impossible to ask any questions of McCain regarding foreign policy. So the McBush campaign will ensure that the conversation is always about foreign policy. Its sad but I'm gonna call it like it is. With stuff like that happening, and when you add in the fact that now liberals and democrats are trying to attack Obama for not agreeing with them on everything, John McCain will be the 44th President of the United States. Good job democrats.

[kellygrrrl]

I assume 0bama is attempting to hold to his promise that he will not tolerate any "dirty" or "disrespectful" politiking
I guess he felt these comments were disrespectful

I personally do not and I am glad a General is speaking the truth here about the "Hero Status" of MkKain

[williamg]

It really pissed me off when the GOP did everything possible to devalue Gore's military service because he was 'just a journalist'.

So why would I then applaud Clark's attempt to devalue McCain's service. Clarks own words:

"That large squadron in the Navy that [McCain] commanded — that wasn’t a wartime squadron,”

[Independent voter]

I completely agree with Clark and have been saying the same thing for over a year.

It's sad that Obama doesn't have the cajones to stand behind Clark on this issue, but has chosen to run away from it like a little kitty kat with his tail between it's legs. Obama can't continue to let McCain define him.

I supported Obama with vigor for 18 months, but now I like him less every day. (FISA!)

[Bystander]

He's just another politician­...so much for "change."

[DavieB36]

Politics is politics Washington was a politician, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, both Roosevelts, Lincoln, JFK. Nelson Mandela was for change and he to was a politician. In fact if you had read your history you would know that there have been many reformers who were "just" politicians.

[TexasCrat]

You are missing the point. Obama is ahead in nearly every conceivable measure and he's ahead because the GOP brand is damaged, severely. All Obama has to do is stick to the issues: McCain's flip flops on immigration, McCain's ignorance regarding the economy, McCain's backing Bush more than 90% of the time, McCain's inability to connect with working class Americans, McCain's lack of charisma and likeabilit­y...that's ALL Obama has to focus on. He does not have to make this a personal battle about McCain's military experience and he shouldn't do that because Obama has none. Why in the holy hell would he want to battle McCain over experience? Wesley Clarke is a Hillary Clinton surrogate and Obama should think twice before asking former Clinton supporters to speak on his behalf...i­f Clarke was even asked.

[allonfla]

You are the coward actually. Just another fair-weathered supporter.

You say Obama ran when he disagrees with Clark, but you just ran off like a kitty kat when you disagreed with Obama.

Clark told the truth, yes. Could he have said it better? yes. Should Obama condone it?, no.
if Obama would not say it himself then he should not back a 'surrogate" or supporter who said it.

Same goes for McCain and Charlie Black. Would you call McCain a coward for not "agreeing" with Black. We know he does but it would be serious trouble if he said so.

[Querent]

Your comment about Independent_voter leads me to believe you are an ex-Republican. They are the ones who love to label other people "cowards", whether there is any evidence of it or not.

By the way, kitty cats never run with their tails between their legs. Dogs tend to put their tails between their legs while cringing, and I have seen some run that way as well. Not cats.

[adl]

I have to kitty kats. They're pretty brave.

[adl]

I meant "two"