Clark on McCain: "He hasn't held executive responsibility"

Heck, this guy campaigned for Hillary. And Hillary campaigned like a Republican.
Well God fearing Republicans, it's like Jesus said, "If you live by the sword, you die by it."
I don't like it, but a lot of Dems wanna use Republican strategies against, well, Repubs.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bS627KVMCU

Strange how a group of men, none of whom served with John Kerry directly, can have such knowledge of him. And this was given credibility back in 2004 by many of the same Republicans who are now criticizing Clark's statements.

www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/mccain-to-hold-fundraiser_b_53684.html

Funny how the chickens always come home to roost.

hmmmmm. i don't recall obama using military service as a campaign prop. that would be mccain.

i made the same exact point on this blog in the past that general clark is making now. getting shot down by the enemy and spending years as their prisoner doesn't qualify a person to be president. admiration for his bravery (even though he broke under pressure) and service aside, he's got nothing.

Granted that McCain has some military background. Point for him.

Obama has some community organization in his background. Point for him.

McCain was not a community organizer and Obama was not in the military.

The score here is even.

They are two different people with not only differeing backgrounds, but siome difference in perspective. I do think that Obama was taking the higher road by saying Clark's remarks were out of line. So far, the candidates have been behaving better than their supporters.

i agree with rg, here. general clark did not denigrate mccain's service, nor did he question mccain's patriotism (as the right has constantly done to obama). what he did was to state that mccain being shot down and captured by the enemy does not give him a free ride to the oval office.

btw, anyone else catch schieffer's flub, where apparently "barack obama is more ready than barack obama...?" the man needs his afternoon nap.

Evidently, Clark's remarks were bad enough that Obama rejected them.

"being shot at is not a sign of being intelligent nor of living a paricularly healthy lifestyle"

That is patently offensive. Do you think they LIKE getting shot at? A military force is a regrettable necessity and we should be glad that somebody is willing to do it.

Also, do you have any IDEA of the level of training and intelligence that's required to fly a fighter in combat??? I'm not saying it qualifies one for executive duties, but to imply that any dummy can do is is just stupid. Your ignorance on this topic is flabbergasting.

the problem is that he doesn't have to exaggerate. there's this hero worship in this country where a large majority of people romanticize those who fought in battle and underwent the horrors of torture and lived to tell about it. it doesn't mean that mccain was an exceptional warrior (he wasn't) nor that he is any kind of great leader.

realistically i don't expect those people to think about it critically, which is why it is important for a decorated army general, valedictorian of west point, graduate of oxford, with 34 years of military experience to say it out loud.

"Evidently, Clark's remarks were bad enough that Obama rejected them."

hm. so obama wants to play nice. good for him. although what i heard was obama (just as clark himself did) praise mccain for his service, and clark even said that mccain was a kind of hero to him. i didn't hear anyone - including righties - dispute the facts that clark pointed out. instead they want to make mccain the victim for the pity vote.

this was a very smart move for general clark. the only issue where mccain has a chance to win is on his military record. the fact that that record isn't enough is an important one. but opening this issue up for people to see, he has pulled the rug out from under mccain's campaign. expect the swift-boating of clark to begin, led by col. bud day, who's part of mccain's "truth" squad. so much for truth.

general clark is not backing down:

"There are many important issues in this presidential election, clearly one of the most important issues is national security and keeping the American people safe. In my opinion, protecting the American people is the most important duty of our next President. I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. I would never dishonor the service of someone who chose to wear the uniform for our nation.

John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed - he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America. But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues."