Clark's and Biden's Statements? Not Much Difference. Why No Fuss Now?

"I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," - Gen. Wesley Clark, June 29, 2008

"These times require more than a good soldier." - Sen. Joe Biden, August 23, 2008

There's not a whole hell of a lot of difference between these two statements. Perhaps if Gen. Clark hadn't been officially declared a pariah by the weaker, more politically-correct folks in the Obama campaign, Obama wouldn't be perceived as not hitting back at the vicious Republican attacks on his character.

The simple fact remains that the plain and honest statement by Gen. Clark is right on the money.

McCain was a failure at Annapolis and a failure as a pilot. Yeah, we're sorry he got locked up for five years, but how many innocent people have we locked up in jails all over America? And how many more have we put through the same kinds of torture McCain suffered? In Guantanamo and our franchise dungeons all over the world?

Let's not forget, McCain's voting record on torture. He was against it when he was being tortured, and for it when it was politically advantageous.

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It's time to stop kissing McCain's red white and blue butt on the subject of serving in the military, especially since he has supported Bush in denying our current military the equipment it needed to fight and protect itself, and in the shameful manner in which it has treated the troops when they came home, dead and alive.

So, stop saying how much you respect his service. Tell the truth. Call him on his pandering on his Vietnam experience. Dig up some other ex-POW's who will call him on using his experiences for current political gain.

And anyway, his five years in a POW camp over thirty years ago apparently has nothing to do with the situation into which the Bush administration has put us. Wait, maybe it has everything to do with it...and getting rid of the last of the pro-Vietnam War leaders is a good thing.

Our military is not to be worshiped. It is to be used as a last resort, and to present a strong face to those who would attack us. Period. They do the job they applied for, just like everybody else. Cops and firemen are no less heroes. Garbage collectors and those who deliver the mail, also.

General Clark? There are many of us who applauded your statement. I'm sorry you won't be at the convention. It's a big mistake on the part of the Democratic Party (no strangers to big mistakes).

NOTE: Although posters say he will be at the convention on Thursday, he does not appear in the schedule and a search on the Democratic National Convention site finds nothing about him.

ADD: Thanks to poster Sam Thornton for digging up this revealing piece by McCain's co-Hanoi Hilton prisoner Phillip Butler who is not voting for McCain.

Tom does a talk show live Thursdays at 5:30pm ET with fellow Huffingtonposter Art Levine. Listen here.

Comments

[DonnaZ]

Thanks Tom,

I missed this when you first posted. I'm still angry that the media set out to destroy Wes Clark, and I'm just as angry that the Democrats let them do it. He is one of strongest voices, and a great advocate for Democrats all over this country.

Tonight I'm listening to the convention. There have been many fine speakers; however, Wes Clark is a great speaker...his voice is missed.

[dbradfield]

Wait just a second...McCain was a POW??? First I have heard!

/sarcasm

[edgraham]

The Democrats have been very careful. For some reason they don't want to offend anyone. It just seems that the vote this year should be 100,000,000 to 3 in favor of any Democratic nominee.

If Obama loses, the racists have won. They have caused more trouble in America than the terrorists.

Ed Graham

[prichard]

Clark's response, ""I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president" used Bob Schieffer's own words about McCain to disagree with Schieffer. Schieffer reacted with shocked outrage and huffily snapped at Clark. The rest of the establishment media then jumped to the defense of McCain and Schieffer.

My take on it is that Obama's press people over-reacted to Clark disagreeing with Bob Schieffer because Schieffer is one of the grand poohbahs of the ultimate insider opinion-maker gasbags.

Oblivious to the fact that a victorious SACEUR is a terrible thing to waste -- to say nothing of the fact that dismaying Clark's large group of supporters was dumb -- they reacted out of fear of MSM gasbags ganging up on them for countenancing Clark's truthtelling. Immediately caving to press bullies like they did was the equivalent of hanging "kick me" signs around their necks.

But that's all blood under the bridge. They need to use Clark as a campaign surrogate to counter McCain's attacks on Obama's patriotism.

Biden will hopefully be a successful attack dog. But on the hot button issue of patriotism, which McCain has been successfully using to drive up doubts about Obama, you can't beat having a 4-star, who quickly won a war that stopped a genocide, stand up for our nominee.

[marc1antony]

the difference? Joe Biden did not endorse anyone and Wesley Clark was a Clinton supporter.

[enomaj]

clarke for secdef

[vernbvb]

-You know, i always wondered why McCain was singled out for so much praise as a POW and given so many medals for being a POW for 5 years. I realized he endured a lot but so did all POW's. It is my understanding that he only had approximately 20 hours of combat duty. Someone tell me what made him such a hero. Is it because he had the opportunity to leave Viet Nam but chose to stay. Well it is my understanding that had he chosen to leave in front of another POW who was next in line according to their military ethics, he would not have been looked on favorably and rather than coming home a hero, he would be touted as taking advantage of his father's position. Since McCain had done nothing up to that point to distinguish himself, it would be somewhat difficult to face his peers and his father had he taken that particular opportunity to leave. And of course he never expected to be in prison camp for as long as he was. I believe McCain did emerge from prison camp as a hero who grew in understanding and character as a result of his experience. But POW status does not make one a leader. Senator McCain continues to point to his past as a POW in every speech and some ads as though it is one of the criteria for leadership.

[standard]

"Someone tell me what made him such a hero."

The press in America don't seem to draw the distinction between being a victim and being a hero. On 9/11, the heroes were the firefighters who, although off duty, reported to the scene, the firefighters and police officers who did their jobs in the face of that staggering disaster, those of the passengers on the "fourth" plane who forced it down in Pennsylvania, and several civilians who risked their own lives in the towers to save others. Yet the press seems to lump together with them all who died that day, other than the murderers themselves. All who perished in 9/11, other than the fanatic highjackers, should be valued and mourned and honored. But just as not all heroes are also victims, so, too, not all victims are also heroes.

John McCain was a casualty of war who suffered greatly and behaved honorably. But a hero? That's a case that has not been made and I think you're exactly right to point that out.

In the Navy years ago--and probably in all branches of the service to this day--enlisted men with a spotless record of personal behavior over a period of time were awarded a good conduct medal. Such medals were not awarded to commissioned officers, from whom such conduct was simply expected. The philosophy underlying that practice is just as valid here.

[athenasword]

Great post. Wes Clark was spot on and I do hope to see him in Denver. Perhaps it was just his earlier statements were off in timing only. Now is a better moment to rip into McCane's "credential" as a pow.

[Chillinout]

I agree that Obama should not have distanced himself from Gen. Clark's comments. They were absolutely true.

The reason Biden's comments were accepted and Gen Clark's weren't is because the MSM is slowly turning against Mc Cain. They are no longer as much his base and they are starting to look at him a little more critically.

[captcoyote]

His point? "General Clark? There are many of us who applauded your statement. I'm sorry you won't be at the convention. It's a big mistake on the part of the Democratic Party (no strangers to big mistakes)."

It is in his final paragraph. Now it appears that he may be doing something at the convention. I had not heard that myself - but I am not at the convention. Nevertheless, I agree with the general sentiments of the author. I would go so far to say that before Obama picked Biden (which I think is an excellent choice), I was still hoping Obama would pick General Clark. We need to kick McCain right in the rear. Fortunately I think Biden is a guy who can get the job done. We just need to support him when he does, and not stab him in the back like General Clark was.

[SamThornton]

Tom, on your challenge to "Dig up some other ex-POW's" who'll call McCain on his use of his past status for political gain, one can't do better than Phil Butler, who lived across the hall from McCain at the Naval Academy and was one of his fellow-POW's at the Hanoi Hilton. Phil actually spent a couple of years more in captivity than McCain. Mr. Butler recounts his experiences with McCain, and the reasons he won't vote for him, here: http://tinyurl.com/2w3l32

[vernbvb]

Thank you for this very informative and interesting link. Wish this could be made into an informative ad. Did you read the comments in the discussion. Some people prefer to be informed and ignorant.

[Vigla]

I have to say I was seceretly holding out hope for Clark, but it was just not meant to be. I think the statements Clark made and defended were totally true, but they damaged his chances nontheless.

It is true that McCain is overstating his executive experience...he has none. His senatorial experience is not executive experience, sorry.

[DaOne]

Damn straight Gen. Clarkes comment was bang on. It's becoming more true every day.

[elleng]

General Clark has been invited to and will have some role in the convention, fortunately.

[ljm]

Wes Clark is supposed to be at the convention on Thursday.