Ret. Gen. Clark: McCain lacks command experience

[wmenorr67]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate now supporting Barack Obama, said Sunday John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief.

Underscoring during a national television appearance a position he has been expressing for several weeks, Clark said performing heroic military service is not a substitute for gaining command experience.

"In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "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 the 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," Clark said. "That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded - that wasn't a wartime squadron."

Moderator Bob Schieffer, who raised the issue by citing similar remarks Clark has made previously, noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied.

In a March conference call with reporters while he was still backing Hillary Rodham Clinton, Clark said: "Everybody admires John McCain's service as a fighter pilot, his courage as a prisoner of war. There's no issue there. He's a great man and an honorable man. But having served as a fighter pilot - and I know my experience as a company commander in Vietnam - that doesn't prepare you to be commander in chief in terms of dealing with the national strategic issues that are involved. It may give you a feeling for what the troops are going through in the process, but it doesn't give you the experience first hand of the national strategic issues."

He reiterated that position last week in an article on The Huffington Post Web site.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to question John McCain's military service, that's their right," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said after Clark's appearance Sunday. "But let's please drop the pretense that Barack Obama stands for a new type of politics. The reality is he's proving to be a typical politician who is willing to say anything to get elected, including allowing his campaign surrogates to demean and attack John McCain's military service record."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLARK_MCCAIN?SITE=OKTUL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Like Obama has experience.  Wow is about all I can say.

[RevDisk]

If Wesley Clark said the sky was blue, I'd double check just to be sure.  Then look for where the knife was planted.  He was a very self serving officer.  Wouldn't think twice about selling out anyone or his own country if he thought it'd get him something. 

Bastard very nearly caused WWIII due to his own ego and stupidity.   One of the few things Clinton did right was forcing him to retire. 

[Finch]

Clark may be scum but, this is very true... "said Sunday John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief."

[wmenorr67]

No but at the sametime he has been on the Senate Armed Services Committee and spent 20 years in the Navy.  Let me see that is 20 more years than Obama even thought about.  So between the two who is more qualified?  Just because you reached high ranks in the military doesn't mean you are capable of being CIC.

[agricola]

If Wesley Clark said the sky was blue, I'd double check just to be sure.  Then look for where the knife was planted.  He was a very self serving officer.  Wouldn't think twice about selling out anyone or his own country if he thought it'd get him something. 

Bastard very nearly caused WWIII due to his own ego and stupidity.   One of the few things Clinton did right was forcing him to retire. 

Indeed.  General Sir Mike Jackson may have had many faults but refusing Clark's orders on that occasion was not one of them.

[Manedwolf]

Okay, Mr. "If people want assault weapons, they can join the Army..." 

[wmenorr67]

Okay, Mr. "If people want assault weapons, they can join the Army..." 

I joined the Army but have to give mine back when I am done.  That isn't fair.

[Lennyjoe]

Clark is an idiot.  Pure and simple. 

[grampster]

Clark's comments are some of the most stupid I've heard lately.  The only qualification to be president/CIC is to be a natural born citizen and be 35+ years old. 

On that basis, McCain is actually more qualified as he is over twice the age qualification and Obama is till wet behind the ears.  As for citizenship, he has participated in governmental duty for as long as Obama has been alive.

If one is to criticize qualifications, then use the correct parameters.

[K Frame]

McCain also has FAR more experience as an elected official than Obama.

[MechAg94]

That is a bit of a strange comment when one reflects on who both the candidates are.

I would say that any Senator is less qualified in general than a governor or someone like that, but here we have two Senators, one with a great deal more political and military experience than the other.  And one who seems to have trouble with the geography of the USA, who knows about the rest of the world. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

having clark bad mouth you is a positive endorsement to many

[RevDisk]

Indeed.  General Sir Mike Jackson may have had many faults but refusing Clark's orders on that occasion was not one of them.

I noticed the you Brits didn't exactly punish him for disobeying orders from a Yank.  Tsk, tsk   

[agricola]

Indeed.  General Sir Mike Jackson may have had many faults but refusing Clark's orders on that occasion was not one of them.

I noticed the you Brits didn't exactly punish him for disobeying orders from a Yank.  Tsk, tsk   

 

It would have been a nice time to be a fly in that room though... "You want me to do WHAT?"

[stevelyn]

Clark may be scum but, this is very true... "said Sunday John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief."

Neither does Clark's and I'm sure the bastard was going to tout HIS military credentials to weasel his way into the job.

One of the few things Clinton did right was forcing him to retire. 

Yeah, but he also served as Clintoon's useful idiot during the Govt massacre at Waco. It was Clark's command that the equipment and personnel were drawn from that supported the waffen BATFECes and FBI.

[longeyes]

He was a whore for Clinton; now he's a whore for Obama.

He needs to explain his "valor" in producing an independent Kosovo that is the drug gateway to Europe.  Hackworth called his type a "perfumed prince."

Trying to gut McCain's martial credentials is not only a fool's errand it is ignoble.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

one more "wesley  clark" moment  not his worst and likely not his last

[Manedwolf]

Perhaps he's trying to compete with McPeak in behind-kissing in hopes of the SecDef slot.

[longeyes]

Clark serves a useful purpose: he reminds us that even soldiers can exhibit all the same weaknesses as civilians.

[French G.]

McCain, I still don't like him. But, I love him when you stand him next to Barry. I figure 7 years captivity by a militaristic ideologically whacko state is pretty good experience to help McCain know you can't negotiate with your nutso enemies. That and the Code of Conduct to not bring discredit upon the US. Barack on the other hand would love a polite tea and crumpets session with folks like Amadinnerjacket's Iran. Now that's experience.

[RevDisk]

Clark serves a useful purpose: he reminds us that even soldiers officers can exhibit all the same weaknesses as civilians.

Fixed for you.  Clark was not a soldier.  He was an officer.  Big difference.   

[Dannyboy]

Best line so far.

The Saddest Thing About Barack Obama's Available Military Expertise... ...is that though he has Wes Clark in his corner, the only person he knows with the experience of getting a bomb on target is Bill Ayers.

[The Annoyed Man]

I don't know what Wesley Clark's positions are on the U.S. Constitution, so I can't say as to whether or not I like the guy, but it appears I was right about one thing:

When someone in the military voices a dissenting opinion, they pay dearly for it.

EDIT: To be clear, I think his support for Obama's presidency indicates that he doesn't hold the Constitution in high regard.

[Dannyboy]

Here's what I don't get:  Clark backed John Fraud Kerry in 04 because of his military service.  How can he now say that John McCain's military service doesn't make him qualified?

[SteveS]

Moderator Bob Schieffer, who raised the issue by citing similar remarks Clark has made previously, noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied.

I don't like Clark, but Schieffer made a really moronic statement and Clark's answer was good.  Military service, in an of itself, doesn't warrant a vote from me.  I sure as Hell wouldn't vote for Clark and he has plenty of experience.