Everyone has been lambasting General Wesley Clark today over his comments about John McCain, including Barack Obama who rejected his comments. But has anyone watched the comments? Not only does General Clark not disparage John McCain's war record, he calls him his "hero" for how courageous he was in his service.
The only point General Clark is making is that this does not translate to having experience in executive responsibility. That point is not only uncontroversial, it is indisputable. Is everyone who got shot out of a plane or spent time in a POW camp qualified to be President of the United States? Of course, not.
Does that experience and how he handled it speak to John McCain's courage? Absolutely. His service to the country? No doubt. But does it speak to whether he has the national security or foreign policy experience necessary to be president? Absolutely not.
Watch General Clark's comments here and judge for yourself whether he said something outrageous or perfectly rational:
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General Clark is Absolutely Right!
Posted Jul 1st 2008 12:09AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, John McCain, Video
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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 4)
16. By the same rational what experience does Obama have? Clark convienietly ignors the fact that McCain was also a commander of a fighter wing that won many awards and has been a senator for many years and has been on commities pertaining to national defence. Now tell me what has Obama done.
Don Stagnaro at 10:03AM on Jul 1st 2008
17. This tells us that Clark is no longer on Obama's short list for VP, but I'm sure Clark will get a good job in an Obama administration as payoff for taking the hit for Obama on this one!
Poor Obama! He has had to distance himself from his friends, his pastors, and now his own potential VP's!
falling at 10:45AM on Jul 1st 2008
18. 16. I AM A WOMAN I WAS FOR HILLARY NOT BCOS SHE WAS A WOMAN BUT BCOS SHE WAS A QUALIFIED DEMOCRAT FOR THE PRESIDENCY. REAL AMERICAN, PROVEN LOYAL TO THE FUNAMENTS OF THIS COUNTRY. AM NOT OUT FOR A PARTY, AM OUT FOR A COUNTRY. AND THE ONLY ONE THATCAN FULFILL THOSE CHARACTERISTICS RIGHT NOW IS MC CAIN AND WIFE. EVEN THAT I SYMPATIZED MORE WITH DEMOCRATS AM NOT A DUMB, I SEE, FEEL AND KNOW THAT OBAMA AND WIFE ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND DANGEROUS FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THE FUTURE OF NY CHILDREN, THEY KEEP SAYING IS ANOTHER ELECTION, BUT IS NOT, IT'S AND EPIC ELECTION COS WHAT ITS AT STAKE IS THE PEACE IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE REST OF THE WORLD....MCAAIN GIVES ME MENTAL PEACE I FEEL SAFE WITH HIM...NOT TO MENTION THAT SUPPORTING OBAMA SHE BETRAYS AMERICA
laury at 10:18AM on Jul 1st 2008
19. Cenk,
Remember that Gen. Hugh Shelton, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, relieved Gen. Clark as Commander-in-Chief of NATO. Gen. Shelton won't say why, but the speculation has to do with Gen. Clark commenting to allies about the lack of ground troops.
Also, there are a lot of people who think Jesse Ventura is a foreign policy expert for criticizing our Iraq policy. He is even less qualified than Sen. McCain, since he was an enlisted man serving in a SEAL unit.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they teach a lot of foreign policy material at the service academies?
Kent at 11:09AM on Jul 1st 2008
20. When Bill Clinton said "Jesse Jackson also won the South Carolina primary" he was "absolutely right", and yet all you Obots accused him of racism for saying it. I guess what goes around come around.
In politics, perception is reality and the perception is that Wesley Clark dissed an American hero who suffered greatly for his country. Face it, Wesley Clark stepped on his dick and he also stepped on Barack Obama's dick by underlining the paucity of the latter's "command experience".
P.S. Joe Liebermann is an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. He is not a Republican.
The Old Ranger at 11:01AM on Jul 1st 2008
21. WE VOTERS WITH GOOD JUDGEMENT KNOW WE SHOULD NOT VOTE ON SYMPHANY AT THE SAME TIME WE DO NOT CRITIZE A HERO OF OUR COUNTRY.STILL MY OPION IS MCCAIN HAS DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY WHAT OBAMA HAS STOPPED SHORT OF BY NOT ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY, NOW OBAMA HAS NOTHING TO PROVE HIS LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT HIS WORD THAT IS FRUITLESS HE JUST WANTS THE TITLE OF PRESIDENT. WHICH WOULD BE WORSE THAN BUSH,HAS BEEN MCCAIN O8
mary at 11:58AM on Jul 1st 2008
22. The American people have shown what they think of war heroes with military service by dumping G. H.W. Bush for the draft dodging serial adulterer from Hope Arkansas. Then going twice for the hedonistic illegal drug using drunken Texas Air Force Reserve AWOL daddy's/mommies boy over two Viet Nam veterans. Ronald Reagan and John Wayne played in the movies the man that Wotld War II bomber pilot George McGovern was in real life.
Bombing North Viet Nam was neither moral nor heroic. They were attacked by the United States in the midst of a civil war. McCain's servive though honorable was to a dishonorable war. Clark was right.
PF at 12:57PM on Jul 1st 2008
23. By the same rational what experience does Obama have?
xxxxx
Clark's point, which I guess you missed is that the experience Mcsame had in the military wasn't relevant to duties as president. He was very specific and even addressed your next 'point'.
xxxxxxxxxxx
Clark convienietly ignors the fact that McCain was also a commander of a fighter wing that won many awards and has been a senator for many years and has been on commities pertaining to national defence.
xxxxx
He stated correctly that McCain was in command of that squadron when it was not wartime commissioned. He went on to say and I might add say from his position as four star general that mccain was never in a command position. He had never ordered the bombs to fall.
That is 100% true. From the military's point of view, Mcsame was middle management at best, not on any senior command track.
For his position on defense, committees he still votes against the best interests of the troops. He voted against the latest bill that expanded the GI bill. He has a long long history of paying lip service to veterans and hacking them off at the knees with his votes. Check the record.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Now tell me what has Obama done.
xxxxx
Taken the lead from mcsame because he displays more of what's needed in a president - detailed plans for the economy, sound foreign policy concepts, an interest in restoring constitutional government and the overwhelming support of the public.
The point Clark made was that mcsames military service was irrelevant.
Mcsame seems to be a verb, a noun and POW.
To put this in a little more perspective, Jimi Hendrix was a paratrooper....did that qualify him for president?
Clif Kuplen at 1:11PM on Jul 1st 2008
24. Clark is right. Getting shot down does not qualify McCain to be President. But... Any Presidential candidate should be able to put his military record up against his opponent's record. Bush 1 did it. Carter did it. JFK, remember PT 109? So, let's compare Mc Cain's military record against Obama's. Well, still thinking?
Being a prisoner of war develops character. Has Obama endured anything comparable?
Rational Thinker at 1:36PM on Jul 1st 2008
25. Seems Gen. Clark put his foot in his mouth onceagain. John McCain is a good man and seems Gen Clark can not understand military people and shouldmore than anyone else. Was not John McCain a senator for alot of years also, and has been a freethinking Senator. Seems that honor, and love of ourcountry means nothing today in our nation. Gen Clark send many air force men to bomb many citizensduring the war he was over looking. So does he nowblame those Air Force men today also? I really do not like what some of the people that work for Obama say, are they nuts or what? Some people that work for the Rep. also should just shut up.
jc at 1:51PM on Jul 1st 2008
26. Chunk Unger is absolutely stupid.....How did you get...how do you keep this gig...Please don't tell me you get paid.
ChenkSuckkkks at 1:55PM on Jul 1st 2008
27. General Clark was merely mirroring the verbage host Bob Scheiffer used in posing his question. Why are people such idiots?
Nicki at 11:52PM on Jul 1st 2008
28. Obama just tossed General Clark under the buss. Obama had Clark do his dirty work for him so he could walk away and look clean. It won't work. This has the smell of Bill Clinton all over it. They are all lower than pond scum.
Rick at 3:17PM on Jul 1st 2008
29. Since we are recommending books, try,
"The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder"
by Vincent Bugliosi
Captain Negative at 3:34PM on Jul 1st 2008
30. Cenk: Yo, moron, everything you do or say is trivialized by your rabid liberal agenda. Too bad you are blind to those pesky little items call facts.
-- NOBAMA 08!
Obama Sucks at 3:55PM on Jul 1st 2008