Clark Doesn't Back Off McCain Critique

Retired General Doesn't Apologize For Saying GOP Candidate's Service Does Not Qualify Him To Be President

(AP)  Retired Gen. Wesley Clark of Little Rock on Tuesday rejected suggestions that he apologize for saying John McCain's medal-winning military service did not qualify him for the White House.

Elaborating, Clark said a president must have judgment, not merely courage and character.

Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential hopeful, said Clark's comments had been inartful. But McCain's campaign judged them worse, and worked to stoke the controversy.

One ally of the Republican presidential contender accused Obama of "winking and nodding" when he should be condemning Clark and his comments. "This is now about Obama, not Wesley Clark," added Orson Swindle on a conference call with reporters organized by the Republican presidential candidate's campaign.

Swindle, a retired colonel and - like McCain - prisoner of war in Vietnam, added that Obama should tell his surrogates to "knock this crap off."

Clark set off the controversy on Sunday when he said McCain's wartime experience as a Navy pilot and his command of an air squadron in peacetime was did not provide him with experience needed to become president.

"I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," he added at the time.

McCain frequently emphasizes his military service as he campaigns for the White House.

Obama, who did not serve in the military, frequently cites his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq as evidence of the judgment needed in a commander in chief.

Despite criticism from Republicans, Clark declined to back down in a morning interview with ABC on Tuesday. "The experience that he had as a fighter pilot isn't the same as having been at the highest levels of the military and having to make ...life or death decisions about national, strategic issues," he said.

Asked whether he felt he owed McCain an apology, Clark responded, "I'm very sorry that this has distracted from the message of patriotism that Sen. Obama wants to put out."

Later, in a National Public Radio interview, Clark was asked about his statements in 2004 that Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, had "heard the thump of enemy mortars, He's seen the flash of tracers" and could lead in a time of war.

"I think that you can always cite a candidate's service in the armed forces as a testimony to his character and his courage. But I don't think early service justifies moving away from looking at a candidate's judgment," he replied.

McCain's campaign responded with its second conference call by surrogates on this subject in two days.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., rebutted Clark's claim by arguing that McCain's years as a prisoner of war and the mistreatment he endured made him uniquely qualified to lead the campaign in the Senate to ban the use of torture in the interrogation of detainees in the war on terror.

"Nobody could have taken the floor and spoken about detainee policy" the same way, Graham added.

Obama, campaigning in Ohio, said he did not believe Clark's intent was the same as critics who four years ago challenged John Kerry's account of his own wartime service in Vietnam. The so-called Swift Boat ads are is widely blamed by Democrats for playing a role in Kerry's defeat in the presidential race in 2004.

"I don't think that Gen. Clark had the same intent as the Swift Boat ads of four years ago. I reject that analogy," Obama said.

He said McCain "deserves the utmost honor and respect for his service to our country."

At the same time, he said his admonishment - in a Monday speech on patriotism - against devaluing McCain's military service had been in early drafts of his speech, and was not added at the last minute in response to what Clark had said.

"The question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we've got to work on, that would be a top priority of mine," he said. "The fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show, like Gen. Clark, said something that was inartful about John McCain, I don't think is what is keeping Ohioans up at night," he said.

On Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."

[jack3213]

When someone understands what side of the coin Obama is on- for any issue -can you tell him, yourself, I''m too busy actually supporting someone who does know what he stands for.

MCCAIN 2008.

Hey Clark, shut your pie hole.

[noloyalisti]

This MORON McSame is STILL supporting this illegal and immoral travesty in the Middle East, one of the great tragedies of our lifetime. He doesn''t even support the troops having voted against the new GI Bill. Keep him the heck away from my government. All the other Grand Oil Party people as well.

[pr_boxer]

Thats just what I was thinking General. thanks for saying it.

[pr_boxer]

Wonder if McCain has it straight about where Al Qaeda is being trained yet?

Can''t let his puppet master Joe Lieberman go to far away!

LOL, McCain is almost as dumb as Bush!

[aldon61]

Good for General Clark! What he said was accurate; being shot down, imprisoned and tortured does NOT add up as a presidential qualification. Sure, McCain served, lots of us have done that and we''re grateful for his service. It does not mean a hill of beans when it comes down to running our country. On the issues, McCains policies full far short of what we need to get us our of this mess Bush has left us in.

[aldon61]

McCain is almost as dumb as Bush!


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

Posted by pr_boxer at 02:36 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Glad you said "almost"; NO ONE can be dumber than Bushie baby!

[zerato-2009]

Wes clark told the truth. Mccain attacked him and asked that he be removed from a campaign he is not a part of. ....... Mccain''''s age is getting him confused again.......... Even mccain has said waht clark answered on three separate occasions .............. Mcain''''s age is still getting him confused......... YOu say taht obama does not have military service to run on. Does mccain expect that when he runs on his record, we should not question it because it is his military record ........Is mccain getting confused again?

[von_marko]

John Kerry February 23, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East

Al Gore September 23, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."

Johnny Edwards February 6, 2003
"The question is whether we''re going to allow this man who''s been developing weapons of mass destruction continue to develop weapons of mass destruction, get nuclear capability and get to the place where -- if we''re going to stop him if he invades a country around him -- it''ll cost millions of lives as opposed to thousands of lives.

[von_marko]

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998
"We have to defend our future from these predators of the 21st Century.... They will be all the more lethal if we allow them to build arsenals of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. We simply cannot allow that to happen. There is no more clear example of this threat than Saddam Hussein."

Ted Kennedy September 27, 2002 "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."

Chuck Schumer October 10, 2002
"It is Hussein''s vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and future potential support for terrorist acts and organizations that make him a danger to the people of the united states."

[zerato-2009]

Hey Clark, shut your pie hole.

Posted by jack3213

Jackie boy.. you need to ease up on the caffeine. YOu are getting surly.

[von_marko]

Nancy Pelosi December 16, 1998 "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998 "If Saddam rejects peace, and we have to use force, our purpose is clear: We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq''s weapons of mass destruction program."

Madeleine Albright February 1, 1998 "We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and the security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction."

[von_marko]

Jay Rockefeller October 10, 2002 "There was unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. We also should remember that we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."

Joe Biden August 4, 2002 "[H]e does have the capacity, as all terrorist-related operations do, of smuggling stuff into the United States and doing something terrible. That is true. But there''s been no connection, hard connection made yet between he and al-Qaida or his willingness or effort to do that thus far. Doesn''t mean he won''t. This is a bad guy."

*** Durbin September 30, 1999
"One of the most compelling threats we in this country face today is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Threat assessments regularly warn us of the possibility that North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or some other nation may acquire or develop nuclear weapons."

Bill Nelson August 25, 2002
"[M]y own personal view is, I think Saddam has chemical and biological weapons, and I expect that he is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. So at some point, we might have to act precipitously."

[zerato-2009]

Uh oh van marko has learned to cut and paste irrevalent quotes and lies. He has been on the tutorial a little to long..

[mr2258]

Gen Clark is a disgrace to the Brave Men and Women of the United States military.Obama should kick him under the bus.

[von_marko]

John Kerry February 23, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East

Al Gore September 23, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."

[von_marko]

%u201CYou think everyone over there is a college graduate? They%u2019re 19 and 20-year-old kids who couldn%u2019t get a job%u2026 You know, the soldiers are not scholars, they%u2019re not war experts%u2026 They%u2019re not the best people to ask about the war because they%u2019re gonna die any second.%u201D

Actor and Obama SUpporter Richard Belzer, showing his %u201Csupport%u201D for our troops

[zerato-2009]

Gen Clark is a disgrace to the Brave Men and Women of the United States military.Obama should kick him under the bus.
Posted by mr2258

From what I heard he did run over Clark with the bus. Clark was right. Being a pow does not make him ready to become president. Mccain agreeed with that with statements in the past. So tell me why you would say both clark was a disgrace, if he is saying the same thing Mccain said?

[zerato-2009]

Posted by von_marko

"It is not important when the troops come home" mccain showing his support of the troops

[medmom04]

There is no way, no possible connection, between military service & commander in chief qualifications. Clark is right, and should be, considering his own military achievements. he doesn''t flaunt his experience, as McCain attempts to (hard to blaim McCain, it''s really all he has to tote for independents, dems, & anyone who gives a ***** about their civil rights.

[martel_v]

Gen Clark is a disgrace to the Brave Men and Women of the United States military.Obama should kick him under the bus. - Posted by mr2258

Of course he''s a disgrace. We can''t allow people to utter such heresy, especially when it''s a general doing it. After all, the Constitution specifically says that the qualification for the presidency is military service because the country is supposed to be run like an army.

After all, that''s why people voted for Bush instead of Kerry. Bush was a war hero; Kerry was a draft dodger. Everybody knows that. Who''d want to vote for a draft dodger? Of course, Cheney helped in this regard too. He was another great war hero who served his country FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES; imagine that, FIVE times.

It''s also why people voted for Reagan instead of Carter. Reagan was another great military hero in wartime. Carter? Another draft dodger.

So history demonstrates clearly that not only does the Constitution mandate it, but the people clearly always vote for the man with a military rank over somebody who taught Constitutional law or was, God forbid, a woman, for example.

I could go on and on...Roosevelt and Lincoln to name just a couple more.

So there''s just no excuse for Clark''s statement. He needs to read his Constitution. A person would think he had, given the fact that he swore an oath to uphold it but, given the fact that he''s a Democrat, he certainly doesn''t care about America anyway.

[dmgenet]

Clark is right. Being in combat or serving in the military is not a qualification for public service. How much more simple can one get. Apologies need not be offered. Obama should have not taken the bait.

Even McCain should appreciate Clark''s forthrightness. It certainly is NOT "truthiness", which most politician speak. Go ahead Clark let the Republicans mentally masturbate while the Democrats take the presidency.

[martel_v]

%u201CYou think everyone over there is a college graduate? They%u2019re 19 and 20-year-old kids who couldn%u2019t get a job%u2026 You know, the soldiers are not scholars, they%u2019re not war experts%u2026 They%u2019re not the best people to ask about the war because they%u2019re gonna die any second.%u201D

Actor and Obama SUpporter Richard Belzer, showing his %u201Csupport%u201D for our troops - Posted by von_marko

Yeah, there''s another guy who just needs to keep his piehole shut. It doesn''t matter if it''s true or not true, if somebody''s fighting for the country he''s much more intelligent and informed than anybody who isn''t fighting; and what he says has to be heard and believed by the rest of us. If somebody doesn''t see it that way, they need to be taught a lesson - a few years in the slammer would be a good start. Pretty much everybody can agree with that and, if you don''t, you''re a traitor, right?

[dmgenet]

RE: the thinly veiled sarcasm Posted by martel_v at 04:57 PM : Jul 02, 2008.

Well done. I loved it.

[martel_v]

RE: the thinly veiled sarcasm Posted by martel_v at 04:57 PM : Jul 02, 2008.

Well done. I loved it. - Posted by dmgenet

Thanks, but I can''t take any credit. I owe it all to the echo effect.

You know how irresistible it is when you hear a repeating echo. You have to shout something so you can hear it echo back to you.

I just listen to the echo chamber for awhile, give the echo a half-twist counterclockwise, and there it is! ;)

[starleo146]

mccain better toughen that skin, and stop his whining. Clark said," he admired his service, but in all of his service he never held an executive position." He has been elected over and over for his war service, so Clark treated Mc Cain with respect, and the media pulled that one sentence out and blew it up, and y''all fell for it. He was treated better than the republicans treated John Kerry for his service. You can never say a word about a republican devils that they are.

[medmom04]

martel_v:
your rips on women and nonmilitary folk says alot about what a little person you are. and NO, this country was clearly designed to be run as a DEMOCRACY, not as an army! what is wrong with you? seek help!
done.

[medmom04]

the constitution does not say the country should be run like an army. if citing, do it correctly. this is ridiculous!

[demwatcher]

Ret Gen Clark is a bitter, whiny, jerkwad. He was FIRED as Supreme Allied Commander of our forces in Europe.

You''ve got to REALLY screw up as a General to get fired from a post like that. His integrity and character were found wanting. He was seen as a (wait for it) loose cannon by his superiors and opposed Pentagon policy even after his removal.

I wouldn''t trust a word that comes out of his disgraced mouth.

Educate yourselves on this man''s background before supporting the *** that he spews.

[demwatcher]

"martel_v:
your rips on women and nonmilitary folk says alot about what a little person you are. and NO, this country was clearly designed to be run as a DEMOCRACY, not as an army! what is wrong with you? seek help!
done.

Posted by medmom04 at 07:47 PM : Jul 02, 2008"

This country was designed to be run as a Republic. What''s wrong with you?

[sgtrds-e4]

Why should he back off? He didn''t say anything wrong! I have read and re-read his statement and I can not find one single way to take anything he said as denigrating McCain''s war record in any manner. Can ANYONE point out to me what was insulting about what he said? Can anyone point out to me where what he said was any kind of a shot at Mccain''s service? All he said was that getting shot down and being in a prison camp does not constitute command experience and it doesn''t. What''s wrong with saying the truth?

[notbuynit]

Nothing to apologize for ...it''s true! My father was in the military, doesn''t make him any more qualified to be president of the PTA let alone USA.

Slaughter this sacred cow already!

[cdfoxtrot]

DemWatcher, he wasn''t fired from his post as commander in Europe. His retirement occurred during President Clinton''s term, and he''d hardly have been Hillary''s supporter if he''d been forced out. He''s a brilliant man with an incredible resume.

As for his comments on McBush, his comments are spot on. Bombing the c r a p out of people from 35,000 feet doesn''t qualify someone to be president. And McBush clearly didn''t learn a thing from his time as a prisoner, given his support for torture and for breaking the international agreements that the US officially, but not in practice, supports.

[sgtrds-e4]

In making up phony insults where there obviously were none and then acting so hurt by them, McCain is coming off more like a spoiled whiny little girl then a veteran. He reminds me of what any parent has gone through with kids in the backseat, where McCain is the one crying "Mommy! Daddy! He keeps touching me! Make him stop!" Whah Whah Whah. He''s becoming an embarrassment.

[realpatriot1]

Conservatives can''t refute what Clark said because it was absolutely true and in no way demeaned McCain''s service. It merely pointed out that his service did not give him any special qualities for the job of President.

Because conservatives can''t refute the obvious truth they instead resort to demeaning Clark''s service thus demonstrating their own hypocracy and disrespect for the military.

It''s a real hoot to hear the same folks who spent all of 2004 trashing Kerry''s service get their panties in a bunch when others fail to blindly salute McCain''s crass use of his military service for political brownie points.

I respect McCain for his service but not for thinking that it affords him some special quality of judgement which his positions on Iraq, Afghanistan, & Pakastan tend to bely.

Others have gone further than Clark and have questioned McCain for his cooperation with the Viet Cong and for his bombing missions over Hanoi and that is dispicable but Clark''s comments were right on the money.

[rowdywicca]

Clark needs to keep his mouth shut...his record for unethical orders got him FIRED from his NATO position...

Obama sent out the wrong hit man to diminish McCain''s record! Clark''s record isn''t so damned SHINEY itself!

[medmom04]

demwatcher:
jump on the bandwagon! i am very familiar with our constitution, and what it means. not an army. but thanks for your vomitous input.

[johnmcsame]

Weasel Cluck is the running dog for the DEMS. He is unleashed whenever the DEMS need a military veteran to demean the military service of a Republican military veteran. Being seen as the running dog for the DEMS is not going to enhance his political career. You may have graduated top of your class but you certainly have little or no integrity.

[noprejudice]

it''s just too much!! fervan makes outlandish statements, and then this demwatcher has to intercede insults at every posting! if you are not interested in dialogue, pleeeez stop using this as your toxin outlet! find another way to release your anger folks! this should be a great forum for dialogue!

[johnmcsame]

Wesley Clarke, a man with little integrity and no honor.

[cold777]

Wesley Clarke, a man with integrity and honor.

[sgtrds-e4]

Wesley Clarke, a man with little integrity and no honor.

Posted by johnmcsame at 11:42 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Please point out to me and others what Wes Clark said that was wrong or the denigrated McCain''s military service. I can''t see what anyone is objecting to, so if you know. let us all know.

[patriot12436]

Clark was fired for incompetence, now he is hoping for a diplomatic post. He has no credibility to talk about anyone. He didn''t defend himself against being fired. He knows he screwed up as was said.

[sgtrds-e4]

patriot12436

What did he say that was wrong or denigrated McCain''s war service? What?

[lambor59]

W.Clarke is the best US general with all the honor, McCain is as smart as Bush, that''s why he got shot down in VietNam with a sling shot...The Vietnamese had made a mistake by releasing this dumbo old thug.

[lambor59]

Why apologize for Bush''s cronies whose experience is in sweeping leaves for 7 years at Hanoi Hilton?

[patriot12436]

sgtrds
I am saying clark was a screw up himself so who is he to criticize anyone.

[patriot12436]

lambor59
Sweeping leaves for 7 years at Hanoi Hilton ? Anyone who survived being a POW deserves respect. Don''t recall clark being in combat anywhere.

[actornaught]

...Don''''t recall clark being in combat anywhere.
Posted by patriot12436 at 06:06 AM : Jul 03, 2008

Only because you didn''t look. He took 4 rounds from an AK-47, and continued to lead the battle.

Try wikipedia...

[actornaught]

Clark "graduated as valedictorian of West Point."

Where was John?

[actornaught]

What did he say that was wrong or denigrated McCain''''s war service? What?
Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 02:24 AM : Jul 03, 2008

There is nothing, it''s all yipping-points marching orders, based on hallucination.

With what happened to John, he deserves medical care and respect. At best, it proves he''s not a coward, nothing more.

Obama also proves he''s not a coward, running for president when Colin Powell was too scared. And he has a record of achievement that will only get better, whereas John is rapidly slideing downhill from what was once a fine career.