Wesley Clark "swiftboats" John Mccain (1 of 2)

Right On, General Clark. Do Not Back Down. Boy, talk about your echo chamber in the media. Yesterday, General Wesley Clark went on CBS' Face the Nation, and repeated something he's said many times before. If you missed it, here's the full quote in context :

Bob Schieffer: Well you, you went so far as to say that you thought John McCain was, quote, and these are your words, "untested and untried," And I must say I, I had to read that twice, because you're talking about somebody who was a prisoner of war. He was a squadron commander of the largest squadron in the Navy. He's been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for lo these many years. How can you say that John McCain is un- untested and untried? General?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. 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 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. That large squadron in Air- in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, 'I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle it-'

Bob Schieffer: Well-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: ' -it publicly.' He hasn't made those calls, Bob.


So, in short, General Clark respects John McCain's service, calls him a hero to millions, but notes that experience doesn't make him qualified to be Commander in Chief.

Now, VoteVets.org isn't getting into the presidential race, but I don't see what is so wrong about what General Clark said. And yet, immediately and unsurprisingly, the McCain campaign let loose with a response that expressed shock and dismay. Almost right after that, all of the media was up in arms about how 'wrong' this was. Pretty disappointingly, even progressive surrogates couldn't muster the strength to back up General Clark on TV.

Why?

This wasn't a swift boating, or any low politics. General Clark called McCain a hero to millions for his sacrifice. And, that's a pretty big statement coming from a man who, himself, left Vietnam on a stretcher. But, facts are facts:

• Senator McCain's service and experience, both as a POW and as a Senator apparently hasn't infused him with a dose of good judgment.

• Senator McCain's experience hasn't led him to realize that the war in Iraq and it's continuance has empowered and emboldened Iran, and destabilized the region.

• Senator McCain's experience hasn't caused him to recognize that we're losing ground in Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden is still out there, plotting.

• Senator McCain's experience didn't lead him to support the 21st Century GI Bill -- he opposed it. It didn't even make him feel the need to get back to Washington to vote on this -- one of the most important veterans' bills this Congress. He twice skipped votes on the GI Bill, to fundraise.

• Senator McCain's experience didn't help him empathize with troops are overstretched and overdeployed, when he voted against the bipartisan Webb-Hagel "Dwell Time Amendment," which would have given troops as much time at home as in the field.

Senator McCain is running on his experience, saying it makes him ready to lead right away. By doing so, he is asking people to look at what that experience taught him. By looking at Senator McCain's positions and votes (or lack of them), it seems that experience has not given him the right judgment on important issues of our time. And, while we should all honor Senator McCain's service, that doesn't mean we should necessarily honor it by putting him in the White House to take up George W. Bush's third term.

So, General Clark is 100 percent absolutely right, and he should not back down. I'd hope that some of the so-called progressives on television back him up on this, and not get intimidated by the media and McCain campaign press releases. These are important times, and deserve a blunt and honest debate.

In some circles, that's just called 'straight talk.'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/right-on-general-clark-do_b_109977.html

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[Donkat9]

Wes Clark is absolutely right. As an aside, Mc has done nothing but stand in the way of veteran issues. He has opposed the families of POWs. He opposed the GI bill then tried to take credit for it. As usual, all the MC people can do is attack - notice they never argue based on issues - how can they, Mc constantly flip flops in issues. Against Bush tax cuts, for Bush tax cuts. For Gay marriage, against Gay marriage (this flip flop happened in 11 minutes). Alzheimers?

[s10129107]

wesley clark is an EXPERT 4 star general. the man knows what he's talking about and NEVER uses his experiences as POLITICAL LEVERAGE.

[steveo2504]

FUCK YOU Clark you sucked obamas dick for too long!!! You fucking piss boy cunt.

signed retired US Army

[apotcake13]

Gen. Wesley Clark for President 2012!!!!! Obama could be his vice pres

[ampegged]

*Respect*

[TimmyHaag]

@CalifSunshine2008

Hey genius, having or lacking respect for service members doesn't matter. What is a real dishonor is all the chicken hawks lining up and waving their flags behind the 1% of the population they deem should always be at war without going for themselves.

I'm an Iraq Vet and I'm a big fan of our President so your pussy mouth can suck my "war hero" dick.

[CalifSunshine2008]

Obama is a pussy! Amazing you guys are still fans. He tell Turkey we are no longer a Christian nation..he tells other reporters we are the largest Muslim nation. He bows low to the Saudi King..and pays him first respect on his trip to the MiddleEast..WHY?? Who do you think funded your vote!

[CalifSunshine2008]

Yes, the military doing their job is honorable. What is a dishonor is the lack of respect you have for the men sworn to protect you!

[CELIBERICO]

Your comments are "Reductio Ad Absurdum" and "Ad Hominem" combined, you do not attack the person and then you infer "reduced to absurdity in your argument. The facts and evidence are clear. One was a prisoner of war and the other was not.... and for more than 5 years. Clark does not build himself up at all in these "ad hominem" attacks which are fallacy in argumentation. McCain did well in serving his country. Go McCain !!

[daddymak9]

And to sum it up, was Clark a fuck up who crashed five planes BEFORE being shot down? Yes or No? Was Clark shot down by enemy combatants while on an unauthorized combat mission? Fuck McCain. He's no more of a hero than anyone else who served. Anyone else who was not the son and grandson of well respected Naval admirals would have been relieved of duty after crashing five planes, not allowed into the Naval Academy to graduate fifth from the bottom.

[CELIBERICO]

and to sum it up, was Clark a Prisoner of War ? ??? !!!

Yes or No ? No, he was never been a prisoner of war. Its simple ,anyone can talk and talk talk, but until that person actually lives the life of a prisoner of war, then I believe he'd do an about face and keep his mouth shut and keep silent, this man has no business talking a bunch of bs to get kudos with others. You do not attack a man who has been through hell and back, how sickening. I don't see Clark running for anything

[randomusernamemygod]

Just a list of all the decorations this so called "scum bag" has. Combat Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge Defense Distinguished Service Medal: 5 Army Distinguished Service Medal: 2 Silver Star Legion of Merit: 4 Bronze Star: 2 Purple Heart French Ordre national du Mérite German Merit Cross of the Federal Republic (Order of Merit) Presidential Medal of Freedom. This man "Clark" was also shot 4 times in vietnam and dispite the wounds lead his men in a counter attack.