Retired U.S. Gen. Wesley Clark, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, has questioned whether Sen. John McCain’s military experience qualified him to be commander-in-chief.
Clark – referring to McCain’s experience, or lack thereof, in setting national security policies and understanding the risk involved in such matters – said, “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 the armed forces, as a prisoner of war. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn’t held executive responsibility,” said Clark, a former NATO commander…
“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,” Clark said.
Schieffer noted that Obama did not have any of those experiences, nor had he “ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.”
“Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” Clark said.
Someone had to say it, sooner or later.
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#30 – Paddy-O
Obama has plenty of experience. And just on general principles he’s got McBush beat six ways from Sunday. Even if you think McCain is a fine fellow (in spite of calling his wife a “cunt” and a “trollop”), he doesn’t have jack shit in the way of qualifications to be president.
And have you ever heard him speak? Sheesh. He’s about as uninspiring as Dumbya, although he does pronounce most words correctly, and doesn’t come across as a total retard. Just boring, and so 50’s.
We could use a little change. Not the same old same old from McSame(old) ¡¡Si, se puede!!
#31 – Cool. List the relevant experience that qualifies for the Chief Exec of the country. Saying he has plenty doesn’t mean anything.
Right now I can’t see voting for either guy.
The only qualification you need to be president is to get the votes to be elected.
I think Clark’s remarks are aimed at the notion that McCain’s military experience ESPECIALLY qualifies him for the presidency. Given neither candidate has “executive” experience or other types of experience some people might want, who is best for the country. McCain “more of the same” or Obama “let’s see if we can do better.” I know which way I’m voting…
I see McCain as too much like Hillary recounting running for cover while being shot at in Serbia–her “experience that qualifies me for president.” Same with McCain–he’s delusional.
I see most of the faults of Obama as pretty clear indications of what our electorial system pretty well “forces” a candidate to do? Take that with a grain of salt, but what saint could ever actually get elected? There simply are too many stupid people allowed to vote who think that not wearing a flag on your lapel, or which church you go to, or who you were in a room with 20 years ago, is relevant in an election.
Proven failed politics vs unknown liberal, choice is clear.
Am I the only one who noticed Schieffers increduluous “Really?” when Clark said that being shot down in a fighter plane is not a qualification for president?
Those of us who suspected that the “liberal mainstream media” think that McCain is the better candidate merely because he was shot down and became a POW have had our suspicions confirmed.
Never mind the issues. Never mind integrity. John McCain was a less than mediocre pilot and got shot down, that makes him qualified to run the government.
I don’t think that it is the shot down part that makes people think of him so well, it is how he handled 5+ years of EXTREME duress in a barbaric prison system (that they now deny btw).
If memory serves, it has been Mccain who has been pushing for the normalization of relations with Vietnam and looking to the future in that respect.
Mccain also was last in his Academy class, but what does that mean? As a 21 year old he was rebellious and asked questions? He really had no choice but to go to Canoe U. have you seen what his father and grandfather did in the USN? Now those are war heroes.
I would rather that than a yes man politician that thinks nothing of the men below him, only how he looks, as the people with Clark have insinuated.
34 Kim Helliwell
If your idea of doing it better is the tyranny of fascism as a lifestyle then McCain is your man.
Everything he promises gives him “hope” that your lifestyle will “change” into serving government. Sorry, no freedoms allowed.
#38–busdriver==so how does acting well while in prison qualify one to be president? Seems to me 4 years ago he recognized he was in a prison controlled by right wing religious fundies–and he has capitulated to these agents of intolerance.
Normalizing relations with Vietnam is good policy supported by everybody now including Obama. Kinda makes war look like a real stupid foreign policy doesn’t it? Now, lets see, who is supporting war? Oh, its McCain==the same guy that knows first hand of its horrors.
Being 5th to last in his class means McCain was possibly a spoiled admiral’s brat who would have been kicked out without that silver spoon in his mouth. Same with pilot training. Just another dynasty in action. Maybe a good reason to vote McCain is that he doesn’t have any kiddies? Not really an overwhelmingly good reason is it?
Clark isn’t running for president==way to keep your eye on the ball.
Hopefully, as the General Election campaigning gets underway, we the general public will have a chance to make an oranges to oranges comparison of how they stand on the issues, how they will get those issues passed through congress, and how congress is expected to act and react.
I admire McCain for his courage (Hanoi), and I also admire Obama for his civil rights work.
This noise from Clark is just an unnecessary distraction, static.
HERE IS HOW IT IS:
#39 bobbo
You certainly have a way of turning copyright infringement into pompous and creepy.
Remember, the only good general is one who continues to agree with the fascists on the right even after he’s done obeying the orders of his masters…those who can reason for themselves are clearly traitors.
You can tell this one has struck close to the bone, given the high number of vitriolic responses from the usual crowd of the brain dead. It shows how much faith they put into the “military experience” shtick they feel is the only way for their guy to win. It’s a non-issue. Military experience does nothing but teach you how to kill. That is it’s reason for existence and primary purpose. Can you get something else out of it also? Most likely..but using military service as a yardstick of how good an executive you might be? Not so much.
This noise from Clark is just an unnecessary distraction, static.
I admire McCain for his courage (Hanoi), and I also admire Obama for his civil rights work. To me, it’s six of one, half dozen of the other. They both have their patriotic credentials intact.
Hopefully, as the General Election campaigning gets underway, we the general public will have a chance to make an apples to apples comparison of how they stand on the issues, how they will get those issues passed through congress, and how congress is expected to act and react.
SO, HERE IS HOW IT STANDS: Obama is weak on his political experience. McCain is weak on his political propositions(s).
They both don’t have a clue about how the economy works. (Anyone with a fifth grade understanding of economics knows that the windfall profits tax is an idiotic idea, but reimplementing Usuary laws are a very good idea. http://www.usurylaw.com)
I am waiting till after their VP candidates are announced, and then for the debates, before making any decisions.
Don’t ask my why it posted twice…
#42–Dr D==you surprise me. Focus on that pompous part and copyright infringement won’t be relevant at all.
#45–Ah Yea==why wait for VP. You have the crucial elements already. Failed Policies vs unknown liberalism. Isn’t the choice clear even with all the unknowns?
It’s certainly amazing after 8 years of the current idiot how anyone could hope for 8 more years of another idiot! Perhaps when the rest of the jobs are sent overseas we’ll start sending illegals. What else is there to hope for?
#33 – ‘dro
>>At least I know Obama is as qualified as McCain
>>in one thing: Flip-flopping
Yeah. One day the motherfucker doesn’t wear an American flag pin, and the next day he does!
However, Obama is a Tenderfoot at flip-flopping; McSame is an Eagle Scout. With all the merit badges. That guy is the MASTER of the flip-flop. Has he stayed consistent on anything?
Oh yeah. He wears a flag pin every day. My bad.
#49 – Hill(ary)
>>Just another angry hack thread.
Heh heh. You’ve turned from an angry, embittered supporter of dimwits and failed policies into a trolling bozo, typing nonsense like that and “worship me, you liberal lackeys”.
Maybe time to retire?
MCCain(McBush)? Commander in Chief ? As a Fighter Pilot, every problem will have CROSS HAIRS ON IT !!! Iran ? McCain: “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb; Bomb Bomb Iran (to the tune of the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann.”) !!! Bombing Iran is SURE TO MAKE OIL PRICES COME DOWN (NOT) !!! Just like INVADING IRAQ FOR NO REASON CAUSED OIL PRICES TO PLUMMET (NOT) !!! Vote for McBush and be prepared to pay $20 a gallon or walk to work !!!
#21/51, He isn’t the only flip-flopper. Obama flipped twice in the last week — the wiretapping issue and the 2nd Amendment. The only difference between these two men is their age and physical appearance.
How to tell a red state type voter==all flip-flops are the same. Good in-depth analysis. Sounds equal handed, but I smell a neocon fundie.
TomB–“generally” libs spot the flip-flops and continue with analysis. Generally cons spot the flip-flop and use it as an excuse to cover the real agenda.
Your case?
#57, I use it to bring balance to the argument. I like neither of the msm-enforced candidates. They both have more flippers than a Coelacanth and look like a catfish on dry land.
If someone is going to call the kettle black, they should ensure they are screaming from a telflon pot.
#56 – Tommie B
I’m not sure how Obama “flip-flopped” on the Second Amendment. Perhaps you could provide a link? And as to his alleged “flip-flop” on the issue of wiretapping/ telecom amnesty compromise bill, well, the guy’s got to be an asshole on something, right? Nobody’s perfect.
But comparing his flip-flop record to McBush’s endless changing of his mind is ludicrous. McBush can’t make up his mind on anything.
Here’s a list of Obamas position on issues. Please provide a list of which ones you think he flip-flopped on. Other than caving in on the illegal wiretapping/ telecom amnesty issue, I’m not seeing any. For McBush’s flip-flops, just Google “McCain” and “flip-flop”. He’s right up there with Dumbya for not knowing what the fuck he’s supposed to think.
http://tinyurl.com/ys7gka
#59, You just defended his flopping?!?!?
Don’t that beat all. You win.
#59 “I’m not sure how Obama “flip-flopped” on the Second Amendment.”
You never saw the TV interview where he said that the DC gun ban was constitutional?
Neither candidate has “Commander In Chief” experience. McCain has real military experience. His prisoner of war experience was not “military experience” but it does give him a perspective from that point of view. McCain has no “Professor of Constitutional Law” experience.
Obama has the Professor of Constitutional Law experience but no military experience.
Both have senatorial experience which is the only recent experience either one of them have that is so close to this moment to be of real value.
The Republican agenda which touts McCain’s military experience as being such a Valuable Attribute comes from the same organization that produced the Swift Boat campaign against Kerry. The instructions seem to be, “If the military experience is not Republican military experience, trash it! It’s nothing!”
“Swift Boating” has become a new political verb: To engage in the nastiest of campaign smears.
What will this year’s Republican verb contain?
#61, Yeah, I guess if you are going to flup on something, I guess constitutional issues are the ones to do it on. No need to fool around with it, do it BIG!
#62 “Obama has the Professor of Constitutional Law experience ”
He should ask for a refund from the Univ he attended.
Other than blowing it on his ability to decide Constitutional law and being a Freshman Sen. What are his quals to be the Chief Exec of the U.S.?
Barack Obama hasn’t flipflopped on the 2nd Amendment. He’s been having it both ways for awhile now. In the debates he was saying it’s an individual right to own a gun, and cities can restrict guns. 10 years ago he supported a total ban, but he claims it was an aide’s mistake. Why can’t he hire competent aides?
McCain had a career in the military after Vietnam as well. He managed to become squadron commander.
Okay, I think we’ve summed it up.
McCain has some
verifiable exec experience & more time in the Senate.
Obama has no real exec experience and very little time at the Senate.
McCain has Field Officer exp in the military (as CIC is a major part of being POTUS it’s good)
Obama has no exp in this area. (not good but not damning either)
McCain is honorable when it matters (when your life is REALLY threatened you still do what’s right)
Obama – Not known. Never tested.
McCain doesn’t want a quick pull out from Iraq.
(not smart)
Obama wants to greatly raise taxes. (not smart)
Neither has a grip on what to do regarding energy.
Neither has economic cred or workable plan.
Pick your poison. Both are poor choices. There are better in both parties that didn’t make it.