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

[jonjon66]

well, isn't what Mr Clark said true?

[MikeG2008]

Who better than Wesley Clark to point out this TRUTH. This is something we've commented on at my house for months! How does being a bomber pilot and a prisoner of war make a man uniquely qualified to lead the US armed forces in a dangerous time? Instead of reacting with feigned shock at having this reality brought up, the McCain campaign could perhaps explain and delineate precisely how McCain's experiences have prepared him to excel at the job of Commander-in-Chief. This is what the man is running on, so we should have the right to ask these questions!

[bikerdude]

Clark is right, of course. McCain and backers are trying to reframe what he said. If you are sitting in a pow cell for 5 years you are not learning military strategy. If you graduated within 5 of the bottom of your military college class, you are probably lacking in military strategy knowledge. If you crash 5 jets during your career, chances are you were doing things other than learning military strategy. And finally, if your grandfather and father were both admirals and you get passed over instead of promoted, the military itself probably thinks you lack knowledge of military strategy. Being a POW is hard duty, but it doesn't prepare you for president. This same pow who suffered torture, voted to permit torture by US forces. That's close to madness in my book.

[StephenDedalus82]

Would be nice if our politics could stomach totally true statements such as Clark's. But no, in our Orwellian world, our most violent, expensive, and pointless activities are also the most sacrosanct.

[gladys46]

Actually, I resent Mc's tacit and not so tacit political strategy of an american payback for his military service ... didn't he receive all military amenities? Wasn't he already honored for "his" service? Geez, the man didn't even have to pay property taxes or creditors!!

What exactly is this POW status supposed to bring ... a sympathy vote!!? Kerry wasn't granted that!

[barackobama4prez]

Democrats= sniveling punks (as interpreted by rethuglicans)

Republicans=strong warriors (as interpreted by democrats)

What gives?

[bikerdude]

I dunno. John Kerry got his purple heart without being captured and held prisoner. John McCain didn't fare so well. The party doesn't matter as much as the man who joins either.

[riverhouse]

Kerry was wounded in combat. McCain broke his arms when his plane crashed. The Purple Heart is for combat wounds. McCain has none.

[williamg]

James Joyner writes:

Still, at the larger level, this strikes me as a poor argument. While "getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down" might not be sufficient qualification to be president, it’s certainly more than Barack Obama ever endured. And, while Obama has experience at the community level that McCain can’t match, it’s a dangerous game for him to send out surrogates to minimize McCain’s service. As Bruce McQuain asks, "if the willingness to fight for your country, put your life on the line and suffer the brutality McCain suffered as a POW doesn’t make the cut as far as qualifications go, how far below that does a ‘community organizer’ show up on the list of non-qualifications?"

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/06/wes-clark-on-mccains-military-experience/

[judesuper]

Gen. Clark is absolutely correct. What's wrong with a former general saying what he thinks? I happen to agree with him. Being shot down does not a president make.

[williamg]

Was it necessary to minimize the squadron he led?

[Mekarri]

How does telling the truth minimize the squadron he led?

[buggedabouttheus]

Good for you Wesley Clark! It is time someone brought sanity to this "the military makes you ready to lead" (without any qualifiers) nonsense. If you are a Navy flyer and barely can hook your plane it does not qualify you to be leader just because grampa and dad were.

I always love it when that one person takes a look and says that the emperor is walking around in his underwear.

Good for you General Wesley Clark you sir are what I call a good patriot for telling the truth when everyone else, even my Presidential choice Obama, seems afraid to say his war experience while honorable is not enough to deign him leader of the free world.

[kellygrrrl]

0bama cannot say it - as he does not have military boots in his closet

but he certainly does not need to apologize for Gen Clark saying it

it is The Truth

[adl]

I agree.

[Mekarri]

I understand that Obama couldn't say this. If would be a repug wet dream if Obama was stupid enough to say this, even though it is true. Obama has to careful and smart and it seem to me that he got that covered. Clark or some other military person had to be the one to say this. And I would just like to say to Wesley Clark thank you.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi All,

Around the ranch there are a few things you don't step on or stomp . . . If you do, you quickly learn to regret it . . . cause you will find nobody standing next to you.

Looks like Clark needs a few "lower education" lessons.

[portwes]

Been a staunch Obama supporter till now. I am a little less staunch today.

Because he has now caved in and apologized to a perfectly sane logical statement by Clark, and before that caving in to FISA crap, I am beginning to think his spine is getting more like jelly by the week.

Of course, there is no one else to vote for, but Obama better start showing some guts in these issues, or he runs the danger of some weak-minded Dems staying home and not voting in November.

[qwr]

I agree. Why does Obama need to "reject" comments that seem logical, and why must his campaign comment on everything? Why not just leave the comments alone? Every time Obama makes claims such as, "Clinton has a good voting record," he wins points with those who give him credit for being generous, and loses points with those (like me) who would rather hear the truth.

[Mekarri]

We are not the only people that are voting. He can't win with just us so let him get there first. Try to remember people, Obama is one person and I don't understand why everyone is so upset that he has to compromise and yes even give in sometimes. Americans need to stop acting as if we live in happy ever after land and join me in the real world. We are adults and I'm sure that in your own lives you have had to back down or compromise even though you knew you were right and they were wrong. It is a hard pill to swallow but at some point in your lives you had to do it. I want Obama to become President and so far he has done nothing that has change my mind. If you want a superhero go read a comic but if you are an adult and care about your children and country then you will realize that Obama is our best hope.

[Independent voter]

I'm with you. Obama has done some serious caving in lately and he hasn't even gotten the damn job yet.

[gladys46]

O is not "caving" .... he said that no one should devalue Mc's service!! He did not say that Mc or his staff is correct in using his service against another as sole qualifications to become POTUS!

Didn't ya hear him!!?

[kellygrrrl]

or maybe he is just trying to win

just a thought

he is personally not in any position to make these statements
he doesn't have to apologize for them -- I agree

but since he has made it clear that he will not support any "dirty politiking" perhaps he perceives this as "dirty" or "disrepectful"

but the truth is, it doesn't matter what he says -- the ReThugs will spin him as a flip-flopping, weak on terror, same old same old politician -- and then they'll remind you that he is black

He should stand on his principle -- I guess that is what he thinks he is doing

[gladys46]

Please!! O is running for POTUS on the way, why should he stop to squash tiny bugs! This is nothing! Clark speaks to his own well known knowledge of military equating to POTUS qualification! O's not responsible for that and should not be expected to agree!

[NotMcCain]

I've yet to hear a Republican say "General Clark is an American hero and we respect his 30 years of service to our country, but...."

Why do Democrats always give the "we respect...." statement, but Republicans can totally INSULT a genuine hero who's served his country for THIRTY YEARS like Wesley Clark?

Where's the consistency here?

[gladys46]

Consistently ignorant!

[Peteyman]

Because unlike Republicans, Democrats at least have the decency to give them a wrap around.

[carex]

Clark is correct.

I am sympathetic to McCains experience as a prisoner fo war, my uncle was a prisoner for over 3 years.

But seriously, what abilities did McCain gain as a prisoner of war that would aid him as commander in chief? Also, Mr. McCain has a notoriously terrible temper> Does he have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his war time experiences? His campaign came out and stated he was "dealing" with his temper issues, What does that mean? Has he been treated for PTSD. Do we need a President with nuclear codes to also poccess a hair trigger temper?

It is like Hillary Clinton saying her experience as first lady qualified her to be president. No it does not.

I see McCain as largely unelectable due to his age, temperment (PTSD), financial dealings One of the Keating 5 in the 1980's, not to mention the general climate about the republican brand). The only thing this guy knows is war so he is in the right party.

[roch20]

I've been waiting for a very long time for a straight talking man to say this, someone with military credentials; and Wesley Clark has made my day!!! Now, Obama needs to back off, stop acting as if a lie it's being said or something, he's saying nothing more than the whole truth!!!!

[kahalaman]

Bob Schieffer first brought up McCain's pilot experience as somehow relevant to making decisions in the Whitehouse. Clarke was simply disagreeing with his assertion. It's a shame Obama chooses to play it safe by "rejecting" Clarke's completely appropriate comments. It looks like there will be an endless stream of political BS leading up to the election.