Wes Clark and McCain's POW status comments

Remember when Wes Clark made comments in response to an interviewer's direct comments about McCain's POW status being a factor in his suitability in becoming president?

One of the criticisms directed at Clark was that McCain didn't use his POW to sell his presidency possibility. Well, McCain himself seems to have spent a considerable amount of time pimping his POW experiences at the convention during his speech. Now, normally I would find it acceptable. But not after the sanctimonious responses from his camp during the Wes Clark controversy.

And even worse moment was when McCain made a snide comment about which candidate had the scars to live with.

obama owes Wes Clark an apology for not standing up to him enough when Clark was taking down McCain about whether POW status alone means a thing when it comes to voting for Presidency.

Update [2008-9-8 14:51:0 by Pravin]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eErkrUxDcjI Fred Thompson saying being a POW doesnt qualify one to be President

Tags: Clark McCain POW (all tags)

Comments

10 Comments

yes, that is a crucial Obama Mistake

In my humble opinion, democrats must have spent the summer attacking McCain's POW  status on 2 fronts.

1) POW status does not mean qualifications for President.

2) It has made him mentally unstable.

Basically make his strong point weak point.

by ann0nymous 2008-09-06 04:01AM | 0 recs
Re: Wes Clark and McCain's POW status comments

Jesus, BOTH you two must want Sarah Palin in the WH!

Look, you can check, Wes Clark was my FIRST pick for VP...Senator Clinton second, Biden third.

Secondly, Obama DID have his back, in spite of all the Clinton folks going nutziod (sorry to return the primary wars, but you started it) on the SECOND day of the flap, Obama came out backing Wes.

But, third and most important

ARE YOU CRAZY!

America just gave McCain a tongue bath, a vast majority of this country is knee-jerk reactive to anything Military, they can't tell REAL from Overdone and political.

Now, you are telling me, Obama should, for some crazy reason, publically oboligize to Wes and call out McCain on his using the POW status?

Yes, because some imagined slight to Wes is absolutely critical to make up at this point, EVEN IF it absolutely creates a firestorm in the media and loses lots of independent low information voter support.

Man, I am SOOOOOO glad folks like AxelRod are running this campaign, and not political junkies like US (I am including ME in this group.)

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-06 04:18AM | 0 recs
Re: Wes Clark and McCain's POW status comments

Wow.  are you sure?

On a day focused on burnishing his credentials as a patriot, Sen. Barack Obama repudiated comments made by retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark over the weekend questioning the significance of Sen. John McCain's military record.

"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 the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron," Clark had said on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday. "...I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton today said that Obama does not agree with that characterization. "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark," Burton said in a statement.

by TxDem08 2008-09-06 06:59AM | 0 recs
Re: Wes Clark and McCain's POW status comments

So what if Clark was your VP choice. Obama was my choice for President. My only agenda is to give the dems some balls.

America's kneejerk fawning over anything military didnt extend to Kerry. Because Republicans are unapolegetic about what they do. Americans in general follow confident people. Obama was not good enough on O Reilly. Obama made a good point when O Reilly was trying to get him to admit the surge worked, but the point Obama made about it was too late and too mild in tone.

by Pravin 2008-09-06 04:38PM | 0 recs
Re: Wes Clark and McCain's POW status comments

Agree 100%

by pradeep 2008-09-06 10:51PM | 0 recs
Nice TROLL Diary

But not a very clever one. Having spent so many years in the military Wesly Clark is well aware of what it means to take one for the team.

Obama would get smeared for going anywhere near John McCain's service, whether what he said was justified or not. Hell, you'd probably be one of the people smearing him.

Even a fricking General took heat rounds for making perfectly legitimate remarks.

But, no seriously. I really really do appreciate your concern

by USArmyParatrooper 2008-09-07 06:25AM | 0 recs
Re: Nice TROLL Diary

Thanks, you're dead on it.

This diary is silly, no wonder we lose election after election.

As you say, even Wes got hammered, that how knee-jerk the press is about military matters.

And, again, WTF do you want Obama to distract from the battle to APOLOGIZE TO WES?

Why? What does that do, except start a conversation he doesn't wnat to have?

Oh, I know, you want him to be tough.

Thank god, again, crazy bloggers. INCLUDING ME btw are not running this campaign.

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-07 07:42AM | 0 recs
Re: Nice TROLL Diary

I didnt mean he shpould LITERALLY GIVE  A PUBLIC APOLOGY to Wes. But he should incirporate Wes as part of his campaign instead of making Wes nearly invisible. It is clear Obama's people are afraid of this kind of controversy. Like I said, everyone likes to say "oh dont go there. It is dangerous to tread that territory". Guess what it works. Republivcans have been unashamed in using such low strategy and it worked for them. No, professinals are running the campaign as always which is why Democrats keep losing winnable elecitons. Obama should be kicking that moron's ass right now regardless of racists not voting for Obama.

Don't be a blind loyalist. Obama was embarassing on O Reilly with the surge shit. I do see his camp responding more forcefully towards Palin which is good.

The republicans had some really vile speeches and McCain still got a convention bounce in the polls no worse than what Obama got for avoiding "controversial" speeches by certain speakers. What does that tell you.

by Pravin 2008-09-08 10:24AM | 0 recs
Re: Nice TROLL Diary

Idiot, I have been praising Obama on this blog longer than I have noticed you on this blog. BVefore you accuse people of putting up troll diaries, get a fucking clue and check my history.

McCain is getting away with pimping his POW service despite his denials he was every going to use it. Democrats need to call him on it. Dems do not need to make direct ads on behalf of Obama. But do what the repubs do and let surrogates do it. '

If you want to debate my opinion, do it. But fuck off with your misrepresentation of me faking being an obama squpporter.

by Pravin 2008-09-08 10:27AM | 0 recs
Re: Nice TROLL Diary

Ordinarily I would apologize for jumping to conclusions. But since you told me to fuck off... blow me.

BTW, I actually thought Obama did a good job on O'Reilly, but I do agree with you about putting Clark back into the mix.

The fact is the "surge" had nothing to do with the drop in violence. As someone who's been there I can make very strong arguments for my opinion. But Obama cannot come out and say that directly. Do you disagree on that?

by USArmyParatrooper 2008-09-09 03:37PM | 0 recs

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