Obama Dismisses Questions on Clark

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(ZANESVILLE, Ohio) Barack Obama dismissed questions about Gen. Wesley Clark today, arguing that although his comments about John McCain were "inartful," they should not be an issue in the election.

"I'm happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran, but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like Gen. Clark said something that was inartful about Sen. McCain, I don't think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night," Obama said at a press conference here.

In a response to a question whether Clark was "swiftboating" McCain, Obama argued that his comments did not have the same intent as the ads against Kerry in 2004. He went on to dismiss reports that his praise for McCain in yesterday's speech on patriotism was a result of Clark's comments.

"I think my staff will confirm that that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago," Obama said, "I have repeatedly insisted that Sen. McCain's service is heroic and that he deserves our respect."

Obama added that he has not spoken to Clark since his comments on "Face the Nation" Sunday when he suggested that McCain's military service was not the same as executive experience.

Obama also spoke about his telephone conversation with Bill Clinton yesterday, characterizing it as amicable. He said the two did not discuss the primary season, but Obama appeared to have forgiven Clinton for comments he made against him during the primaries.

"I think what we both acknowledged is is that when you're in a tough primary battle, you say things that, you know, afterwards you may end up thinking, 'ah, it might have been a little intemperate'," Obama said and added, "But that's the nature of political campaigns."

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by Harpersage July 2, 2008 10:52 PM EDT: WHAT A DORK!!! This guy ''Omaar-101'' couldn''t find his a-- with both hands let alone know anything about this country or its history. Any one who would stupe so low as to make a remark about people-ANY PEOPLE- weither they are white, black, red or yellow as he did not only shows their ignorence but also shows just how prejudice they really are, so don''t knock the white race for something you are obviously guilty of.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 July 2, 2008 2:16 PM EDT: John McCain and the Republicans love war and want the United States to be at war (for profits) indefinitely. The Wartime Military Industrial Complex is something the Conservatives have coveted since 1960 to maintain their power and to control the Middle American Working Class, in addition to their obscure affinity for the death and violence involved with war.; Reply to this comment


by omaar-101 July 2, 2008 10:53 AM EDT: ---------------------

Posted by RowdyWicca & JACK 3212:

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, White Jesus Above, Please don`t let that Bi-Racial, Black Man, I`m So Terrified of seeing this Happen !!!

Whites like Me are the True Victims Here !!

George Bush & D!ck Cheney are Geniuses and Barack is Bi-Racial, Vote for George Bush for a 3rd Term or The Pure & White 72 Yrs old Semi-Senile John McCain...Please !!!

Obama`s a Marxist, Communist, Leninist, Stalinist, Polygomist, Racist...

He!! Any (Ist Word) I can Think of ...

Whites Only in the White House !!

Oh Please White God, We Are the Only Race, that should be in the Oval Office !!!

Oh Great KKK (White Christians) Aryans, Nazis, White Seperatist, White Supremist Everywhere.

Please Don`t Allow this to Happen, Jesus is White, White People...

PLEASE WHITE GOD...NOOOOOO !!!!!!!

----------------------------

WELL (ROWDY & JACK3212) AT LEAST WE KNOW YOUR WHITE RACIST A$$`s ARE SCARED TO DEATH !! AND EXTREMELY DESPERATE TO HAVE WHITES ONLY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, EVEN IF ITS A SEMI-SENILE OLD *** LIKE JOHN MCCAIN.; Reply to this comment


by omaar-101 July 2, 2008 10:45 AM EDT: Posted by JACK3213: Obama doesn`t Love His Country. He`s in Love with an Idea of what he wants to Change the Country into, which is Pretty much Another `Eurozone`.

1. Bush has CHANGED this COUNTRY HAS`NT HE...As All Presidents and the Senate & Congress has done Every 4-8 Years....Duh

2. You sure as He!! have NO COMPLAINTS about the SAD CHANGE this Current President has Put the Country in, No QUALMS AT ALL !!

3. GREAT VISION, 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH & CHENEY !!

But He doesn`t Love His country for what It Is, or its History.

3. OH YEAH, I`LL TAKE YOUR SENTIMENT, YOU LOVE EVERY IOTA OF THIS BLOODY HISTORY, ESPECIALLLY WHEN YOU BLOCK OUT THE BLOODY PARTS.

He just wants to Change it into Something Else. Something `2 Parts Europe and 1 Part Chicago Politics..

4. YOU MEAN 8 YRS. OF BIG TEXAS GOVERNMENT & OIL PROTECTION POLITICS..OH YEAH THAT MAKES SENSE !!

5. LIKE BIG GOVERNMENT SPENDING GEORGE W. BUSH, the BIGGEST DOLLING OUT OF GOVERNMENT BILLIONS. THE BIGGEST DOLLING PRESIDENT IN USA HISTORY, THAT MUST`VE ESCAPED YOUR SHARP POLITICAL EYE.

With no Room for 1.Religion, 2.Self-Reliance, or 3.Self-Defense`.

6. THIS PROPOGANDIST MESSAGE, WAS BOUGHT AND SADLY FUNDED BY THE ARYAN NATION AND IT`S FOLLOWERS.
-----------------------------------

PS: KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE WHITE...PLEASE !!!; Reply to this comment


by jack3213 July 2, 2008 10:07 AM EDT: Obama doesn''t love his country. He''s in love with an idea of what he wants to change the country into, which is pretty much another Eurozone.

But he doesn''t love his country for what it is, or its history.

He just wants to change it into something else. Something two parts Europe and one part Chicago politics, with no room for religion, self-reliance, or self-defense.; Reply to this comment


by rowdywicca July 2, 2008 8:25 AM EDT: "He said the two did not discuss the primary season, but Obama appeared to have forgiven Clinton for comments he made against him during the primaries. "

The point is you assssss, did Bill Clinton forgive YOU for trashing his totally successful administartion!

I mean really! For Obama to make the above statement is the most assanine thing he''s ever said!!!
You *** you accused him of being a racist!!!

ROFL! ROFL!; Reply to this comment


by shingles1 July 2, 2008 1:56 AM EDT: Amazing how the McCain fanboys in the press and the fake conservatives all have their panties in a twist over this ridiculous nonissue and manufactured ''outrage''.

Here''s the ''money'' quote in context:

SCHIEFFER: Can I just interrupt you? I have to say, Barack Obama hasn''t had any of these experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.

CLARK: I don''t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.

Do you people even know how to read? Clark was directly responding to what Schieffer said - he wasn''t attacking McCain''s record, he wasn''t attacking McCain''s heroism (in fact, he applauded McCain''s heroism earlier in the segment) - he was questioning the RELEVANCE of McCain''s particular combat experience as a prerequisite to be president of the United States. It''s so simple, even a five year could figure it out. But clearly, not you clowns.

That''s not swiftboating. Swiftboating would be if Clark said that McCain''s POW status was all a sham and he really spent his war years basking in the sun and frolicking with scantily clad maidens on Bai Chay beach.
That''s swiftboating.; Reply to this comment


by samuel081 July 2, 2008 1:09 AM EDT: As Jone775 said above: "...it''s the judgement to lead that matter..." And that is what Obama lacks: the judgement to lead !!! The whole episode about Rev Wright was about his judgement in not having dissassociated himself from such a derisive hatemonger to begin with...ie, until he saw the heat was on him to do so...Will he allow folks like Wright into his White House?? Will he appoint to the Supreme Court the most far left jurists he can get through Congress? (McCain will not...) and, having told AIPAC he will staunchly support Israel, will he then go and put his support behind avowed terrorists like Hamas? Obama is not presidential material...He needs to spend more time in the Senate polishing himself and readying himself for a leadership role...Frankly, at 3 AM, I don''t trust him to make the right decision...; Reply to this comment


by johnmcsame July 2, 2008 12:48 AM EDT: Weasel Cluck has been describe by fellow officers abrasive and unpopular. He was relieved of command after the war in Yugoslavia for insubordination.

He was sucking up to Hillary in the Democratic primary but now has his head up Obama''s @ss.; Reply to this comment


by johnmcsame July 2, 2008 12:39 AM EDT: Has Weasel Cluck fully answered charges that he deliberately targeted civilians in Yugoslavia.

The man is a war criminal and should be tried for mass murder.; Reply to this comment