Obama: Clark’s Critique Not a Swiftboat
ABC News’ Sunlen Miller Reports: Senator Obama denied that Gen. Wesley Clark’s critique of John McCain’s war service is tantamount to the Swiftboat attacks of 2004.
Obama’s comments came after day two of a controversy which originally spurred from Obama supporter, Wes Clarke’s, statements Sunday on “Face the Nation.”
“He hasn’t held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn’t a wartime squadron,” Clark told CBS, “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” he added.
At a press availability in Zanesville, Ohio Obama denied the connection of Clark’s statement to that of the attacks by the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth to John Kerry’s war record in 2004.
“I don’t think that General Clark you know had the same intent as the swift boat ads that we saw four years ago, I reject that analogy,” Obama said curtly back to the allegation by a reporter.
Clark has not backed away from his statements on McCain and Obama confirmed that he has not spoken to Clark yet since Sunday.
The Illinois Senator did not answer a question outright if he believes Clark should apologize to McCain – something the former general has not done – and rather downplayed the importance of the whole controversy.
“I’m happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like General Clark said something that was in artful about Sen. McCain I don’t think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night."
Obama’s comments today came after a much publicized speech on patriotism on Monday in Missouri, where the Senator spoke out against his supporters devaluing McCain’s service – a comment that was widely viewed by many to be an obvious reference to the Clark dust up.
The Obama campaign also pointed reporters to the quote instead of offering a written response.
“For those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country – no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary,” Obama said on Monday, “And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides. We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform.”
But today, Obama said this reference was not in response to this controversy and had been written well before Clark’s statements.
“I think in at least one publication was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago,” Obama told reporters in Zanesville, Ohio today.
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Why would Obama approve of Clarke’s message? What’s there to gain from it? Unlike the McCain idiotic campaign, the Obama campaign is not stupid enough to indulge in a useless, stupid tactic. Clarke is on his own on this mess. Clearly.
Posted by: Kevin | July 1, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
General Clark was responding to a question. If you believe his response was dictated by Obama then you must believe he was sitting in the interview with an earpiece and that Obama was sitting in some communications centre monitoring the public figures who may be interviewed over their support for his campaign.
Posted by: Klippa | July 1, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
The only phony is the phony himself, BhO.
Posted by: Boneheaded, from Chicago | July 1, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
should clark continue with his rants he will push any undecided vets to the McCain side. We don’t appreciate a man who was relieved of his command slurring a war hero.
Posted by: mich mike | July 1, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
When will the reporters elevate their questions to ones that shows insights and background and not only the “bobbing head” talking points? Ah, the corporate media squeezing profits at the low end of information gathering food chain. The shift would be welcomed.
Posted by: Lou R | July 1, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
The Obama supporters held Hillary personally responsible for any remarks about Obama that her supporters made
But now they don’t hold Obama responsible for the remarks that Obama’s supporters make?
Could there be a double standard?
The worst thing about Obama are his annoying supporters “Yes, we can” – ugh. They are the least informed bunch of idiots you could ever imagine.
That’s why they voted for him despite the fact that Hillary was (obviously) the stronger candidate.
Posted by: ch | July 1, 2008, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Noone has or is questioning McCain valor, Clark and I for that matter, question why 6 years in prison qualifies him to be president. It doesn’t. This hubbub is about spin not what was said. Reverse Swift Boating.
Posted by: JR | July 1, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Please explain to me how the war hero was slurred?
Did Clark imply that McCain lied about his military history?
Did Clark try to claim that McCain killed innocent civilians in cold blood?
Other than stating an obvious fact: McCain’s military history does not include the level of command that qualifies one to be President, how was McCain slurred against?
And how does that comment compare against the slanderous and obnoxious Swiftboat attack that Sen. Kerry suffered?
I’d really like to know.
Posted by: TardisJockey | July 1, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
Me too, Dr. Who, me too.
This is all about neo-con spin to make it something it isn’t. If you can’t sell a real talking point, make one up.
Posted by: JR | July 1, 2008, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
I think your meds are kickin in REDNECK, I don’t think any of the Swift Boaters can write.
Posted by: JR | July 1, 2008, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
Clark’s quip was bad, but Obama is correct in saying that it doesn’t come close to Swiftboating. He’s just one guy making very tame observations on McCain’s service. There is no deep-pocketed group effort to concoct lies.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | July 1, 2008, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
This is why people hate the media–Clark didn’t question McCain’s military service. He questioned whether or not it was relevant in regards to the presidency. Get over it.
Posted by: CJ | July 1, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
No it wasn’t a Swiftboating because swiftboating means telling the truth from your very own comrades who were with you.
You know, like when the Cambodia Christmas event (which was seared…SEARED in Kerry’s memory) was found to be a huge lie.
So he’s right. This is no swiftboat.
Posted by: Jo | July 1, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
OUT OF CONTEXT ALERT!!!
“I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” he added.
* * * * *
Do you mean that Clark “added” this, or do you REALLY mean that Clark responded to a question by [Face the Nation host] Schieffer????
SCHIEFFER: Can I just interrupt you? I have to say, Barack Obama hasn’t had any of these experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.
CLARK: I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.
Posted by: John's conscience | July 1, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
“This hubbub is about spin not what was said. Reverse Swift Boating.” JR, Obama supporters did the same thing to Hillary regarding RFK comments. What goes around comes around. Karma really is a bitch.
Posted by: Jeff | July 1, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
How many times can you get this wrong? Clark did not “critique … John McCain’s war service.” He critiqued John McCain’s foreign policy experience. You seem not to get the difference, the irony is, that is exactly McCain’s point. If anything Clark was critiquing the media coverage which assumes somehow that McCain’s experience as a POW puts him on the expertise level of a Nunn or a Lugar.
Posted by: Cornfields | July 1, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
ooops… I meant to say that that is exactly Clark’s point.
Posted by: Cornfields | July 1, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
it is impossible for obama to win in November and he has only himself, his wife, his hateful colleagues and his racist, sexist, arrogant, ignorant and naive supporters to blame…..of course, they will all try to blame anyone else for such failure, but that will only exacerbate their problems in life due to their inability to take responsibility for their own poor judgment and bad behavior
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
OK, just a post or two ago ABC criticized Obama for leaving out about two minutes of explanation for a single line in a 30 second ad Obama is running.
Now ABC quotes Wesley Clark’s comments about MCain’s executive experience on CBS’s Face the Nation then includes this: “I don’t think riding in a ffighter jet and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.”
ABC left out that Clark was immediately repeating the exact words of CBS host
Bob Schieffer, who used them in a manner which could only be construed to imply that “riding in a fighter jet and getting shot down” better qualified McCain to be President than Obama.
If ABC can be critical of Obama leaving out two minutes of material from a 30 second ad, what does it say about ABC which had no space limit?
Posted by: Ricky | July 1, 2008, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
only Senator Clinton is capable of being the best President that our children, our troops and our country so desperately needs right now
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Obama benefits from Clark’s comments by Obama taking the High Road. Come on now, Obama came out so quick on Clark’s comments it is funny. And what does Obama do, hey don’t attack McCain and then he throws in a quick > like those who attached me. Obama is so fake but he is smart……….
Posted by: Jack | July 1, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
such manipulation of friends and colleagues for personal gain is nothing new for obama……he even exaggerated the extremist nature of some of his schoolmates in his autobiographies to make himself look more tolerant and progressive…..
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
Friday, June 27, 2008
Barak Obama: Socialist Slumlord?
Grove Parc Plaza — a possible testing ground for President Obama’s future housing policies — may argue strongly against this candidate’s qualifications and judgment:
About 99 of the units are vacant, many rendered uninhabitable by unfixed problems, such as collapsed roofs and fire damage. Mice scamper through the halls. Battered mailboxes hang open. Sewage backs up into kitchen sinks. In 2006, federal inspectors graded the condition of the complex an 11 on a 100-point scale – a score so bad the buildings now face demolition.
Grove Parc has become a symbol for some in Chicago of the broader failures of giving public subsidies to private companies to build and manage affordable housing – an approach strongly backed by Obama as the best replacement for public housing…
The campaign did not respond to questions about whether Obama was aware of the problems with buildings in his district during his time as a state senator, nor did it comment on the roles played by people connected to the senator.
Among those tied to Obama politically, personally, or professionally are:
Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama’s presidential campaign and a member of his finance committee. Jarrett is the chief executive of Habitat Co., which managed Grove Parc Plaza from 2001 until this winter and co-managed an even larger subsidized complex in Chicago that was seized by the federal government in 2006, after city inspectors found widespread problems.
Allison Davis, a major fund-raiser for Obama’s US Senate campaign and a former lead partner at Obama’s former law firm. Davis, a developer, was involved in the creation of Grove Parc and has used government subsidies to rehabilitate more than 1,500 units in Chicago, including a North Side building cited by city inspectors last year after chronic plumbing failures resulted in raw sewage spilling into several apartments.
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, perhaps the most important fund-raiser for Obama’s early political campaigns and a friend who helped the Obamas buy a home in 2005. Rezko’s company used subsidies to rehabilitate more than 1,000 apartments, mostly in and around Obama’s district, then refused to manage the units, leaving the buildings to decay to the point where many no longer were habitable.
Campaign finance records show that six prominent developers – including Jarrett, Davis, and Rezko – collectively contributed more than $175,000 to Obama’s campaigns over the last decade and raised hundreds of thousands more from other donors. Rezko alone raised at least $200,000, by Obama’s own accounting.
One of those contributors, Cecil Butler, controlled Lawndale Restoration, the largest subsidized complex in Chicago, which was seized by the government in 2006 after city inspectors found more than 1,800 code violations.
Butler and Davis did not respond to messages. Rezko is in prison; his lawyer did not respond to inquiries.
UPDATE: Via Kaus, more on Valerie Jarrett.
Link posted by Steve Antler : 10:44 AM
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
This whole thing is a spin by the news taken out of context, to make a buck for these large Corp. News(?) organizations.
If the news wanted to be objective they would report the question that prompted the answer that Clark gave, period.
Who is the bad guy here? The news organization playing both candidates, and the people. It sells.
The laws that allow the press to own too much of the media market is one of the most dangerous positions our government has ever taken to suppress freedom of the press.
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Obama is as sly as a fox
Posted by: brigitte | July 1, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Sure miss Hillary Clinton. She would not be making these constant shifts in policies, etc.
Posted by: rafraf | July 1, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
tim, Just another example of Obama’s track record of poor judgment if 20 years in Rev. Wright’s church was not enough to convince anyone Obama does not have the experience or judgment to be President.
Posted by: gary | July 1, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
General Westly Clark is right, and better not back down. McSame is doing nothing good right now for our country. He and his friends should all be in Prison. We should also water-board them into the truth!
Posted by: dkr | July 1, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
Using the press as the fall guy for Obama’s surrogate, Clark obvious despicable comments about McCain makes no sense.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
I don’t recall John McCain ever saying that getting shot down qualifies him for being President.
Personally, I think Clark should be ashamed of himself for making these comments about Sen. McCain. Of course, if one looks at what really motivates Clark and has for years – not just B.O. – you really wouldn’t be surprised. His agenda is very subversive. Read about him.
Posted by: Lisa Again | July 1, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
America was not founded to be a fascist state, where anything military is worshipped, and nothing military can be critcized. This country appears to be headed more in the direction of Germany of the 1930s with each passing day. No American is obligated to worship someone for their military “service.” And just what benefit did I get from McCain’s military “service,” anyway? I stinking, unjustified, immoral political war and a great big recession afterwards – very much like the Iraq war. Our founding fathers didn’t worship the military, and spoke very pointedly about keeping this country out of foreign wars and entanglements. General Clark, and anyone else, can say whatever they want about John McCain’s qualifications. I do not worship McCain. I think he’s basically a male prostitute – head and shoulders into the public trough for his entire life – and leaving his first wife to latch onto his second’s wife inherited fortune. He never started a business, or created a product, or did anything creative or productive. A willing participant in a stupid, immoral war, lifelong federal employee, and a politician. In other words – a slime ball. Our military worshipping neo-fascists are the most un-American of all. Moreover, our bloated millitary is sucking this country dry, and is the biggest and ugliest example of unconstrained big government in the history of the world.
Posted by: Bob Bergstrom | July 1, 2008, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
fake obama.
Posted by: andres | July 1, 2008, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
does anyone here think that clark knows more about so called hero mccain—–a lot of us older people do.
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
Obama is for defeat in Iraq and letting Al Qaeda and Iran declare victory and attack the US at will. Obama is against drilling for new oil and bringing gas prices down. Obama is for higher taxes and big government programs that will do nothing but line the pockets of his slum lord Rezco type buddies. Obama has no experience, poor judgment, waffles and makes a lot a gaffes. So what’s to like
Posted by: terry | July 1, 2008, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
Good Job, Barracky! Get all the Military families, NRA members, automobile drivers and Evangelicals riled up and we can kiss your candidacy good-bye. Be against everything American then try to tell us you’re a patriot. We’re laughing out loud in the heartland!
Posted by: Mary | July 1, 2008, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Good Job, Barracky! Get all the Military families, NRA members, automobile drivers and Evangelicals riled up and we can kiss your candidacy good-bye. Be against everything American then try to tell us you’re a patriot. We’re laughing out loud in the heartland!
Posted by: Mary | July 1, 2008, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Wesley Clark is a murderer. All the insults the left has been hurling at Bush, should have been directed at Clinton and Clark for what they did. Bombing a European city ….a CITY, with justification that was fabricated…. and not a single leftist parade or rally. Not a single outburst at the Oscars, no documentaries, no free rock concerts…… Liberalism is a Mental Disorder, and all you leftists are full of crap!
Posted by: Joe | July 1, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
This is one of those “Emperor’s New Clothes” things where we have to pretend things are not what they are.
McCain would have been thrown out of the Naval Academy for his 100+ demerits every year if his father wasn’t an Admiral.
And he, at the bottom of his class, bumped someone much more accomplished to be chosen as a pilot for the same reason.
The plane shot down over N.Vietnam was the 5th he had lost.
While in detention he, and other prisoners, refused to be released unless those captured before him were released first. That’s very admirable, but is there a single man out of those 100′s of captives who did otherwise?
So, we say how wonderful his service and sacrifice were when, in fact, if the really qualified midshipman he bumped from flight school had been in that position, there’s a good chance he might not have lost his plane.
Posted by: Mickey | July 1, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
Hey Barack, When are you going to produce a VALID birth certificate? Why’d your camp put out a phoney document? What are you hiding Barack? When is the mainstream media going to report on this? What are they waiting for?
Posted by: Badger1 | July 1, 2008, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
In February 2003, the Arizona Republican said “Absolutely not,” when asked whether “military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief.”
End of story!
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
mickey-
mccain got injured bailing out of plane–and later told story his injurys were from torture –people really need to research him.
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Well, if McCain isn’t qualified then OHB is even less so….
Posted by: miniver | July 1, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
mccain is like one of the three stooges compared to obama—–the guy is not very smart
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
Instead of questioning Senator McCain’s qualifications to make strategic assessments, General Clark needs to give the same speech to himself in the mirror. Remember your near strategic blunder in Kosovo ? See the BBC article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/409576.stm
The head of the Kosovo peacekeeping force overruled Nato supreme commander General Wesley Clark as allied troops poured into the province because he feared triggering a global conflict, according to a magazine report.
“I’m not going to start the Third World War for you,” Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Jackson reportedly told the US commander during one heated exchange.
The row, reported by the US magazine Newsweek, erupted after General Jackson refused orders to send an air assault team into Pristina airport to block Russian forces who unexpectedly seized it when the Nato bombardment ended.
General Jackson was backed by the UK Government
Both generals sought political backing for their stance but only General Jackson received it.
Trouble flared between the two men as soon as the air strikes ended, Newsweek said.
It said the American general was so anxious to stop the Russians stealing a march on the allies he ordered British and French troops to take the airport.
When General Jackson refused, General Clark asked Admiral James Ellis, in charge of Nato’s Southern Command, to position helicopters on the runways to prevent Russian Ilyushin transport aircraft from landing.
However, Admiral Ellis (US) also refused, reportedly saying General Jackson would not like it.
Posted by: Kevin | July 1, 2008, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Thinking, Military service vs community worker and State Senator whose biggest achievement was facilitating the Grove Parc Plaza slums, hmmm
Posted by: gary | July 1, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Look, the point is just because McCain was shot down does not mean he’s qualified to be President. Period. Now, he was responding to a question. @ndly, is McCain going to apologize for dogging Carter?? Or does an ex-Pres not deserve the same respect as McCain. Or should we have the repugs apologize for trying to say that Obama is incompetent, or hasn’t accomplished anything in his career?? Grow up kids……
Posted by: The Oracle | July 1, 2008, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
Badger, take a valium and go to sleep.
Posted by: The Oracle | July 1, 2008, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
how many lies can mccain tell about the lies he told earlier—ask him a question and oner several days you will get many different answers—he will never be anything but mcbush——he can take his free trade and shove it where the sun dont shine—ANOTHER MR NAFTA WORKING TO SELL US OUT MORE WITH COLUMBIA——WHERE HAS MY JOB GONE
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
To all you confused Hillary people. Wesley Clark was a Clinton surrogate until she lost. He now backs Obama.
I quite frankly don’t think what Clark said was off base. It was in response to a question.
Posted by: wlw100 | July 1, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
I agree with Wesley Clark. No one is belittling McCain or disregarding his service or imprisonment – but that doesn’t qualify you to be the president. McCain is known for his hot temper, poor judgment and less than honest approach to business. None of his military peers are campaigning for him, republican senators and congressmen alike are issuing “no comment” statements when asked about McCain’s tenuous grasp on reality. McCain served his country, no doubt about it – that doesn’t mean he’s not a crazy old coot now.
Posted by: Nancy | July 1, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
rodney, I have done the research and you lie. You have been reading too many left wing blogs.
Posted by: gary | July 1, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it’s time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 5% then vote for Obama.
Posted by: pt | July 1, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
The trouble with McCain is that he doesn’t have a platform to run on. He is just another Bush look a like. His whole campaign so far is to paint Obama as a weak liberal, but hasn’t bothered to to tell us who he is but a Bush surrogate. He keeps moving further to the right.
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
Nancy: If McCain’s service doesn’t qualify him for the presidency does Obama”s. He sat for 20 years and agreed with RACIST pastor and priest, took money from Resko, hung around with terrorists, etc. etc. What about Obama’s history of being a crack head. What are your qualifications to brand him a crazy old coot. You need help.
Posted by: Russ | July 1, 2008, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
Obama takes zero responsibility for anything, but he sure as hell will grab the paycheck…
Posted by: trettione | July 1, 2008, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
Does Obama know anyone who is sane?
Posted by: grace | July 1, 2008, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
I was a Clinton/Clark supporter. While I understand the point Clark is trying to make, it is in poor taste. If it were a surrogate of McCain’s saying something like this about Obama (if the shoes were on the other foot), you can bet Obama would be fuming. I think it is going to backfire.
Posted by: Susan | July 1, 2008, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
gary—two of other prisoners were to be tried for treason and mccain was made a hero not unusual as his father was a admiral. dont know how old you are .
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Nancy, Military service vs community worker and State Senator whose biggest achievement was facilitating the Grove Parc Plaza slums, hmmm Obama is known for his waffling, gaffes, lack of experience and poor judgment not too mention being very happy about gas prices being so high so all the poor people Obama purports to care about are forced out of their cars and onto bicycles. Obama: “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK…. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.”
Posted by: Kim | July 1, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
It would be one thing if Obama had any military experience which qualifies him to be the commander-in-chief and there was a comparison to make with McCain. Obama has none, so this will backfire. The thing I don’t understand is what Clark hopes to get from Obama for doing this.
Posted by: Susan | July 1, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Free Ride says Clark’s comment not a swiftboat. Free Ride once said he was going to be swift boated. How would he know swiftboating if he doesn’t consider Clark’s crap swiftboating. Obama is not only arrogant but disingenious. Certainly not worthy to be the party’s nominee. Hillary Democrats hope for Hillary and Michael Bloomberg or Chuck Hagel. Then again, John McCain and Mitt Romney is so appealing to Hillary Democrats.
Posted by: benvictor | July 1, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
ch, chris, rafraf:
You do know that Gen. Clark was a Hillary supporter, right?
Posted by: El_Pajaro | July 1, 2008, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Hmmm…Clark graduated as valedictorian of his class at West Point and went on to serve more than thirty honorable years in the Army. He was supreme commander of NATO and retired after waging the Kosovo campaign which was a resounding success without a single American casualty. McCain squeaked into the naval academy because daddy and grandpa were admirals. He graduated 894 out of 899 and went on to a below average naval career where he was known more for his drinking and womanizing than for his professionalism. His fellow POWs have called him a traitor, trading information on troop movement for preferential treatment. His career since leaving the military has been unethical and self-serving. I’m going to have to go with General Clark on this one. Good call.
Posted by: Rebecca | July 1, 2008, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
McCain had better jump on this one quickly as this may be a test of his response time. He can point out that not only was he a prisoner-of-war, he has much more relative experience than Obama.
Posted by: Susan | July 1, 2008, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
rebecca i hope gary is reading your post
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Did I miss something here? Who in the world has said that McCain’s years in a POW camp qualifies him to become president? I seem to be only hearing about that issue from Obama’s supporters. OF COURSE, THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT QUALIFIER! NEITHER IS FLYING BOMBING MISSIONS OVER HANOI! But… being from a military family and gaining the experience as an officer for 23 years in the military, eight of which McCain served AFTER his release from Hanoi Hilton, certainly provides great presidential resume’ material, especially since Obama doesn’t have any military record to present. Also, the fact that two of McCain’s sons are currently serving in the middle-east doesn’t hurt either. General Clark’s negative reflection on McCain’s service record should come as no surprise considering Clark. It should also be the the function of all Obama supporters (as on this site) to degrade McCain’s strongest areas. THAT’S POLITICS!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
El_Pajaro – Yes, that’s the only thing that might prevent him from being Vice-President.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Clark, sadly, can get that opinion out there to question McCain’s qualifications to be President. As a military man, it might seem okay for him to say it and get away with its political intent. What a ploy! Obama supporters can make the hits while Obama plays a lofty stance above the negativity of such remarks. His entire compaign has worked in such a manner: hit and run. If Clark’s remarks stay in the news long enough, their ploy may work.
On the other hand, so many voters who respect John McCain’s service may just get angrier. Obama says this is not equal to a “swiftboat” attack on Kerry, but is it? This is just another trick to get mileage out of a message. It makes me think of all the race cards Obama’s camp pulled.
This is just anoter disgusting effort to say that honorable and heroic service do not help shape a man into a leader. Since Obama has no such service or equal honor and sacrifice in his background, is he now equal to McCain? What a joke! Obama has such a weak resume and little experience in all the areas that matter.
FROM THE HANOI HILTON TO THE WHITEHOUSE!
McCain ’08
Posted by: georgia | July 1, 2008, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
While McCain was being held prisoner his loyal wife carol waited patiently for hime to return. But when he did return he decided to trade her in for a much younger model who he believed to be more perfect and wealthier.Someone who could help him with his political aspirations and ambitions. I have no respect for anyone that so casually dumps on someone like he did his first wife.
Posted by: con me not | July 1, 2008, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
This 2005 interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press make it very clear.
************************************
RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.
SEN. McCAIN: No. No. The fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.
**********************************
Obama 2008 will be Great!!!
Posted by: pt | July 1, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
georgia along with a few north vietnamese friends wow
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
KID TO MOM: “Mommy, mommy, I got shot over Vietnam and then got held prisoner for 5 years: Can I be President?”
MOM: “Well son, if you never got shot down and subsequently avoided getting captured, then I would have said you have a wing to stand on. As of now, I am concerned about your judgment – you know? Failing to spot and dodge that missile plus I don’t know what secrets you gave up to the VIET-KONGS in order to save your soul. I am proud of you son, you are a hero but…I guess the short answer my son is: NO!”
Posted by: Emanuel | July 1, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Oh, the audacity of Obama, spending millions on a commercial that emphasizes his, growing up in a loving white family. Yet throughout his childhood, and early adlolescence, he was harboring disdain towards the race of his mother. He then made the choice to join a black liberation church, and remain there, only leaving that racially polarizing ideoly , out of political expediance. Excerpts from his books. From Dreams of My Father, ” I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER’S RACE”.
From ‘Dreams of my Father’, “THE EMOTION BETWEEN THE RACES COULD NEVER BE PURE…THE OTHER RACE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN JUST THAT; MENACING, ALIEN AND APART.”
From ‘Dreams of My Father’, “I CEASED TO ADVERTISE MY MOTHER’S RACE AT THE AGE OF 12 OR 13, WHEN I BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT BY DOING SO I WAS INGRATIATING MYSELF TO WHITES.”
From Dreams Of My Father, “NEVER EMULATE THE WHITE MEN and brown men whose fates didn’t speak to my own. IT WAS INTO MY FATHER’S IMAGE, THE BLACK MAN, SON OF AFRICA, THAT I’D PACKED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES I SOUGHT IN MYSELF”.
From Dreams Of My Father: “THAT HATE HADN’T GONE AWAY,” he wrote, BLAMING “WHITE PEOPLE— some cruel, some IGNORANT, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives.”
From Dreams Of My Father; “There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs,” he wrote. “IT REMAINED NECESSARY TO PROVE WHICH SIDE YOU WERE ON, TO SHOW YOUR LOYALTY TO THE BLACK MASSES, TO STRIKE OUT, AND NAME NAMES. ”
From Dreams Of My Father, “I HAD GROWN ACCUSTOMED , everywhere, TO SUSPICIONS BETWEEN THE RACES.”
Obama is not worthy.
Posted by: Badger1 | July 1, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Neo cons being hypocrits here. They slammed McCain in 2000 calling him a manchurian candidate who supported the enemy, they slammed Kerry in 2004 calling him a liar and questioning his patriotism. Now they’re slamming Gen Clark for just giving an opinion on whether he believes McCain’s experience entitles McCain or not. The neo-cons who spend all their best campaign capital on slamming vetrans hardly deserve to stand with veterans.
Posted by: Scotti | July 1, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Lets make it easy: neither Obama or McCain will do anything for the American people. Both belong to two parties that are immersed in protecting themselves and getting re-elected. The best we can do is vote for a viable third party candidate such as a Libertarian or Constitution Party.
Posted by: Jeff G | July 1, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
RUSS & KIM – funny that you immediately assume that I’m an Obama supporter just because I don’t think that McCain is qualified to lead. Also very interesting that the majority of your “facts” appear to have come from chain emails and Ann Coulter – equally reliable sources. Russ, thanks for the personal attack (I need help?) it reminded me of the level of communication used around here. I never mentioned Obama, I simply stated that based on his consistent behavior – I think that McCain is a crazy old coot. I’m allowed to think that. You’re allowed to think otherwise & I won’t insult you for it. I’m sure that there are issues that are as important to you as mine are to me – they just happen to be different. That said, I’ll leave you all to hurl insults and post unfounded “facts” – thanks for the reminder that posting here is pointless. Enjoy!
Posted by: Nancy | July 1, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Badger1 It’s obvious you’re stuck on race, and you’re taking quotes out of context because you really want this to be about race. The rest of your party is not following your lead and for good reason. This isn’t about race!
Posted by: Scotti | July 1, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
John McCain was banging cindy while he was still married to carol. Is not that called adultery??? A fine upstanding candidate for president he is.
Posted by: con me not | July 1, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Not to mention what McCain thinks of Military Service when he voted against or refused to support the new GI Bill.
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
nancy—–BOOT THE COOT—should be political slogan
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Correction:McCain had ONE son serving overseas, he was there 7 months and never came close to combat or “grunt work” according to MY NEPHEW who as stationed with him. He went home long before the rest of his unit.
By the way – why aren’t McCain’s three kids from his first marriage campaigning for him? Ohhhhh yeahhh, maybe because they know the real McCain.
Posted by: Rebecca | July 1, 2008, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
Badger1 – You do realize that he was talking about the typical stages that an adolescent from a minority group goes through, don’t you? Well, you would keep smearing him whether you did or not, so I guess it doesn’t matter.
I would be careful directing people toward Obama’s books, however. They are one of his best assets.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
badger will sit on the back of bus next year
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
who in their right mind would want an old coot mcbush running country–send him to columbia the next nafta type sellout.
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
RODNEY ~ HAHA! Might be a good bumper sticker. : ) Have a great afternoon!
Posted by: Nancy | July 1, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
Racism has no place in this election, this year, this country – my country. Face it America, the unthinkable is going to happen, thanks to THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
Posted by: Emanuel | July 1, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
mccain does not communicate well—is that not a mental problem.or perhaps a social issue
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Thinking – THAT PARTICULAR GI BILL WAS TERRIBLE. I APPLAUD MCCAIN FOR NOT VOTING FOR IT. IF YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE YOU WOULD AGREE. MCCAIN’S MILITARY EXPERIENCE WAS A EXAMPLE OF HOW HE ARRIVED AT DECICION.
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
nancy
you to
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
Nancy: from your comments one can only surmise that you are following your hero and smoking that funny stuff. I challenge you to prove incorrect about what I said about Hussein. Did he accept hundreds of thousands of dollars from rezko in exchange for getting tax dollars to put into slums that are unfit to live in? did he sit in that racist church listending to that racist pastor for twenty years? Does he hang around with terrorists like Ayers, Dorn, etc. ? does he lie often? He claims to ride the high road and let his hatchet men do his dirty deeds. Look at the other record of Wesley Clark. He was a good friend of Bill Clinton. Ol Wes stabbed Adm. Smith in the back to get the job as NATO commander. He did such a terrible job that Clinton fired him. He did not retire from that job. CHECK THE FACTS.
Posted by: Russ | July 1, 2008, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
BOB bergstrom
you have it all wrong!
It is the bloated welfare state
SUCKING THIS COUNTRY DRY!!!!
Posted by: tantonia | July 1, 2008, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
clark knows all about mccain–count on it
Posted by: rodney | July 1, 2008, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Wow, you people don’t get it. You keep yelling that Barack Obama has no military experience. EXACTLY!! That’s what this is about — it doesn’t take military experience to be a good president. That’s McCain’s platform, that he’s a war hero and blah,blah,blah. What else is he bringing to the table? What solutions – other than singing “Bomb Iran” while laughing and suggesting that anyone in a financial/mortgage crises “get a second job and cancel vacation this year”. That was honestly his solution. He and his Stepford wife and their hundred million are completely out of touch with middle class America and the issues.
I think the others are right, he’s a crazy,old coot!
Posted by: Denise | July 1, 2008, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
He’s a staunch Democrat. No shame in that. His first choice was Hillary but he’s willing to support the nominee that his party puts forth. Exactly what all of the Romney,Huckabee,etc folks did for McCain.
Posted by: Rebecca | July 1, 2008, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Temagami
You make assumptions about me you know nothing about.
This particular GI Bill was supported by every major Veterans group. That is how bad it is.
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
If I were Obama, I would be very embarrassed by the nature of many of the pro Obama blogs on this sight (Yeh, some McCain’s also) – practically NO discussion of issues – just dirt and name calling. I really enjoy political debate particularly when the opposition comes through with reasonable arguments and cites sources, etc. It’s really too bad when all some bloggers can do is down and dirty. My interest in doing this kind of blogging has certainly waned.
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
What Clark is absolutely true and is only controversial and inflammatory in the context of an absurd “I’m more patriotic than thou” atmosphere created and sustained by the GOP hypocrisy machine. What in fact DOES imprisonment in Vietnam do to qualify one as commander in chief?? Absolutely nothing, no more than it would disqualify McCain. This reverential “pass” that we’re supposed to give former military—of either party—is ridiculous. They should stand or fall on their merits, period. Our country is founded and sustained by CIVILIAN rule and for good reason: and to make a fetish out of the uniform as if it automatically confers wisdom and capability is foolish. It makes me think a good chunk of Americans would more comfortable under military rule, and that frankly scares me as much as much or more than the GOP fear machine that fuels it. This non-story is no less absurd than the flap about the flag lapel pins: look, if we’ve come to that as evidence or not of one’s patriotic qualifications, we’re long gone as a nation. Such absurd, simplistic, idiotic jingoism, and Obama recent moves seem to indicate he’s taking the bait.
Posted by: cameotoo | July 1, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
what was senator Mccain doing in his 20′s? He was flying misions over vietnam, and suffering in a prison camp. What about Obama? He was snorting cocian and smoking dope. Whioh candidate do you think has the back ground better suited to lead our county?
Posted by: Nathan Kent | July 1, 2008, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
God Rodney, you couldn’t be more spot on.
Clark was just saying that you don’t have to have a war medal to be president.
Every experience a person has throughout their life, helps them in their future endeavors.
I believe that Obama does not have as much political experience as, say, Hillary, but after Bush, how could anyone question anyone’s resume for being President?
Bush set the standard pretty low, wouldn’t you say?
Posted by: Phlipper | July 1, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
I just don’t get people who are not troubled by massive proposed tax increases. What they fail to understand/digest is that the taxes we pay are already sufficient in terms of paying for even more than we already have in this country, it’s just a matter of WHERE AND HOW IT’S BEING SPENT, and that is a bi-partisan issue. The entire method of taxing the people should be reexmained and rehauled. WE DON’T NEED TAX INCREASES TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER. WE NEED MORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Posted by: Lisa Again | July 1, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
Thinking – REALLY? Which veteran groups? THAT PARTICULAR BILL WAS ALSO NOT VERY POPULAR IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY PENALISED OLDER GI AND DISCOURAGED REUPS!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
how ’bout the fact that mccain’s kid is serving in iraq right now? that fact alone is evidence that he has more at stake being the President/CommanderinChief than obamakerry does
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
There is one good thing comming out of Clarke’s comment. Even though he never attacked McCain’s war record; the more that some cry foul, the more this is talked about, the more alot of people are going to say “Wait, does his war record really make him qualified in National Security?” His supporters are doing McCain more harm by not letting this drop. Just like the age thing. Remember it was said he was confused? They took offense because they thought it was in reference to his age. But, noone, except the McCain people said age. They are the ones that brought it up. Now people are wondering if he is really to old to be President.
Posted by: Iam4thisCountry | July 1, 2008, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
because I love my son want what is best for him, I will continue to support Senator Clinton because she is the only candidate who is capable of being the best President that he deserves and that all our children, our troops and our Nation desperately need right now…..if you’re comfortable with supporting an inferior candidate, then that’s on you…..
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Clark blew it…… By saying John McCain wasnt qualified to be president based on military, and political experience, he highlighted Obamas lack of achievements, and admirable service.
Posted by: Badger1 | July 1, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
I listen to NPR every morning and have always looked forward to Schieffer’s comments on what’s going on in the world around us. I am appalled that he would make sure a frivolous comment as “REALLY” when interviewing General Clark. He is the real culprit in all of this and I hope that it weighs heavy on him as a result. He should be above this crap and should admit his very imperfect journalistic skills. I don’t equate Schieffer anymore with the likes of Walter Cronkite and others in the media who earned our trust and devotion.
Posted by: glen lyle | July 1, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Russ. You were right. CLARK WAS FIRED!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
who is better qualified to lead our great nation than someone who joins and abandons a church for purely political reasons?
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Temagami
Really! here is a list of supporters
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The American Legion
The Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA)
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
AMVETS
The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA)
The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS)
The Student Veterans of America (SVA)
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
The National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC)
The Partnership for Veterans’ Education
The American Council on Education (ACE)
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Posted by: Thinking | July 1, 2008, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
who better to serve and protect the interests of our children than one who subjected his own children to the rants and hateful speeches of his church?
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Joe,
The entire world is quickly moving to the left.
Don’t tell us we’re full of crap. Can’t you see the operating-on-blind-belief right wing will be totally irrelevant within a few years. Mark that down in your little book of hate bud.
Posted by: JB | July 1, 2008, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
who better to inspire as President than one whose followers intimidated and harassed and used racist epithets against those who did not support him?
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
the neo-cons and republican party remain relevant way beyond their expiration date because of the ignorance and stupidity of those who choose candidates like obama to lead them
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Badger1. I agree – this may well be one area for Obama to say to his supporters – KNOCK OFF MCCAIN’S MILITARY! I would be embarrassed also.
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
McCain’s Military service vs Obama’s track record as a community worker and State Senator whose biggest achievement was facilitating the Grove Parc Plaza slums which included Obama’s funneling of tax payer funds to Obama’s biggest campaign contributor, convicted felon Rezco, hmmm
Obama is known for his waffling, gaffes, lack of experience, poor judgment including Obama’s long time associations wiht crooks, racists and domestic terrorists ie Rezco, Rev. Wright, Ayers to name just a few. Oh I forgot to mention, Obama admitted using cocaine and crack. So what again make you Obama supporters think Obama is qualified to be President? I challenge you to name one thing in Obama’s background that is positive other than making long and boring speeches full of a bunch of platitudes in front of a teleprompter.
Posted by: Jim | July 1, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Cindy. Are you Cindy McCrackCocaine? The economy has adversely affected many, lost jobs, gas at over $4 a gallon,etc It’s only a small percentage that are losing their homes because they made an unwise mortgage decision. McCain’s suggestion that they “get a second job and cancel vacation this year” callously assumed that people were sitting in their butts and sucking their thumbs. What an insult to hard-working Americans already stretched as tightly as they can stretch, cutting budgets down to bare bones and still coming up short. Does McCain honestly think that folks haven’t taken second jobs, does he really think they’re running off to Club Med while their mortgage goes unpaid? He’s out of touch and just plain nuts.
Posted by: Denise | July 1, 2008, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
lieberman was the wrong vp choice in 2000, kerry was the wrong choice in 2004 and obama is the wrong choice in 2008…..wtg ignorant fools….you have no idea how to win the White House for the greater benefit of the American people….
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
Obama, B Hussein— the B stands for B_U_L_L_S_H_I_T_T_E_R—- General Clarkie the Girlie…..
Posted by: fred | July 1, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Thinking. What is you’re source for your list of veteran groups supporting that bill?
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Just say no to the flip flopping, deceiving,liar Obama. He is giving his surrogates the ok to speak and do his dirty work, so he won’t look bad. How can anyone trust him? He’s so dangerously inexperienced but brilliant at the confusing and deceiving the voters into believing anything he says its scary. I hope we all can see right thru him and sort the lies and see the truth in Obama. Vote with your brain not your passion, leave that in the bedroom where it belongs. Just say no to Obama.
Posted by: SayNoToObama | July 1, 2008, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
SayNoToObama
Still voting with my brain.
Still voting for Obama.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
The ONLY proven record senator Obama has, is to be a flip-flop so far! senator Barrack Obama had flip-flopped on most of the issues so far!
I do not really know what Obama stands for?
I can NOT trust him neither the majority of the American people will!
Posted by: Amy | July 1, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
i think “smart voter for obama” is an oxymoron….
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Hey AMy,
Barrack Obama is the new John Kerry the flip-flop!
Posted by: Tim | July 1, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
here’s another one: “independent thinker for obama”
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
I think that Wessley Clark wanted to raise question marks against Obama’s experience, Plus he does NOT want to be his VP!
Clark was a Hillary supporter and hated Obama the most from the very begining!
Wessley Clark made sure Obama won’t ask him the VP position!
Posted by: Kim | July 1, 2008, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
If Hillary had won the nomination none of these nasty posts would be necessary! I have read all of these posts and it is very easy to tell that the Obama campaign workers are here tonight with their maligning posts…because that is all they are capable of! Just dirt news..no substance…just like Obama….they must all be from the same genetic gene pool!!!
Posted by: mfmros | July 1, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
That’s how they do it in Chicago.
Posted by: Mack | July 1, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
kerry is the electoral equivalent of ronald reagan compared to obama
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
I am an independent and find McCain the most qualified from the very begining!
Go McCain!
Posted by: Jim | July 1, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
Among all the pie in the sky programs Obama wants to put in, no doubt he will throw a heck of a lot more of OUR money at worthless education programs. Washington DC has the highest per pupil spending and THE RESULTS ARE A DISATER!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
PT–Who’s more like Bush? Need an answer see Obama in Ohio–Faith Base.
Posted by: Robert in Cleveland | July 1, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
This is a tempest in a teapot, making it out to be more than it is. The swift boat group of ill repute called Kerry and his unit liars and worse, questioned their patriotism. Wesley’s remark was nothing more that surviving 5 years as a POW doesn’t automatically infer presidential skills. It is a testament to McCain’s tenacity and grit.
slow news so they are manufacturing emotional quagmires to pump it up
Posted by: Citizen Voter | July 1, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
The CRITIQUE on Senator McCain is Definately A SWIFTBOAT/FALSE DOCUMENTS attack! Goodness FORBID that we NOT attack DEAR, SWEET MICHELLE for being ANTI WHITE and ANTI JEWISH. But THey can certainly LIBEL AND SLANDER a TRUE PATRIOT who served his country HONORABLY, and has worked well with both sides of the Aisle. Well until the DEMOCRATS turned their BACKS on him, and started LIBELING and SLANDERING HIM at EVERY TURN! I will never vote for a RACIST, HYPOCRITE, (EVERY VOICE), Nose up the GAZOO Politician who has NO EXPERIENCE in Foreign policy, Let alone in SERVING in it’s DEFENSE! BY the WAY! I am sick of him continueing to IMPUNE our troops – while saying BUT I “SUPPORT” them! If ‘HE’ continues to have the gall to call what he does SUPPORT, I swear I will be PHYSICALLY ILL, BUT not ILL ENOUGH ‘not’ to VOTE for A TRUE PATRIOT! And that certainly is NOT Obama!
Posted by: debraraes | July 1, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Wessley Clark was the one who told everyone and raised questions about Obama’s experience few months ago!
He was a Hillary supporter,
Those DemocRATs became a circus lately!
They flip-flop as a team!
I will Vote republican!
Posted by: Joan | July 1, 2008, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
Does Obama take showers everyday?
he smells!
Arabs do not take showers!
Obama yikes!
Posted by: Joe | July 1, 2008, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
Jock sounds to me like ur voting with ur passion and not with ur brain after all. If you want to vote for your messiah is fine, but i will continue post my distaste and disagreement with Obama and all his flip flops and change of policies every day. The Democratic party could have done better, in selecting someone who is ready to lead the country, not someone who is taking a chance on everything, testing the waters to see what the voters want to hear on a day to day basis. Obama cannot be trusted. He is dangerously inexperienced. Are you sure you are still voting with your brain and not your passion. Just Say No To Obama.
Posted by: SayNoToObama | July 1, 2008, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
If Hillary had won the nomination, all of this racism and hatred would not have been so magnified and expanded! People who have studied Obama’s policies especially now when his new words moving him from the left to the center to placate every audience he visits,show how shallow he is! Too bad some people cannot look past his color and look at him for what he is…he is bad for this country and everyone should take a hard look because you cannot take back your vote! A vote for Obama is a vote for distruction of this country!
Posted by: mfmros | July 1, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
actions speak louder than words….my action was to vote for Senator Clinton because she is the only candidate who is capable of being the best President for my child, all of our children, our troops and our country….
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
it is on your conscience if you support a less capable candidate (mccain/obama) to protect and lead the lives of our children at home and our children in the military
Posted by: chris | July 1, 2008, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
Seriously? That’s all you’ve got? His middle name? OHMYGOD!JOHN MCCAIN HAS THE SAME NAME AS JOHN WAYNE GACY – HE MUST BE A SERIAL KILLER! JOHN WILKES BOOTH! OHNO! HE’S AN ASSASSIN! See how much sense that makes? You’re gonna’ have to get some better insults.
Posted by: Rocky | July 1, 2008, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
OBAMA!! OBAMA!! OBAMA!!
BARACK FLIP-FLIP “FAST EDIIE” OBAMA.
GO RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN BACK TO RIGHT AGAIN.SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
EVEN MOVEVON.ORG IS NOW UNDER THE BUS.
OMG!!
HOW DID WE GET HERE WITH THIS GUY?
HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE A SCOUT MASTER, IF YOU ASK ME.
LISTEN TO HIS CULT MEMBERS.
THEY ACTUALLY SEE SOME SENSE IN OBAMA AND HIS SURROGATES ATTACKING A 5-YR POW.
A GENUINE AMERICAN HERO.
THIS ONE IS LIKE BONE FISH–IT’S CAUGHT IN OBAMA’S THROAT.
WHAT TO DO, OBAMA?
FROM MESSIAH TO EMPEROR… YOU NEVER LEARN.
TJ, THE CLINTONITE, NOW SUPPORTING MCCAIN- THE REAL AMERICAN HERO.
Posted by: TJ | July 1, 2008, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
Some people are spilling racial comments in the name of supporting Mccain. If supporting Mccain means becoming a racist, I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A MCCAIN.
Posted by: vuzous | July 1, 2008, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
Obama is a flip-flopper? Wasn’t it McCain that was ready to change parties to be Kerry’s running mate? McCain has run so many times and failed that he just wants in that oval office any way he can get there. He says whatever the room wants to hear. He’s a sad little man.
Posted by: OhBrother | July 1, 2008, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
SayNoToObama – Well, both my brain and my passion of course. But I certainly don’t see Obama as a messiah or neither does anyone else. that’s a right wing smear campaign, of course.
I actually could wish Obama had more experience, and I have disagreed with him on several issues, but overall he is the only one talking about the issues I have cared about for 30 years, and he just might be brilliant enough to pull some of them off. At least someone is willing to try.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Obama is the only person that has ever ran for president that frightens me. He doesn’t have the judgement or charater to be a good president. Every time he says something it takes a week for he staff to explain what he really means. If he was to say the wrong thing to lets say Russsia we might have a thermo nuclear device on our door step before his staff could explain. Is he really who we want for president? Wrong man wrong place wrong country. Wake up America we can not afford this empty suit.
Posted by: john | July 1, 2008, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
No they aren’t STUPID enough to do the Libeling and SLANDERING of McCain THEIRSELVES. THey are allowing CLARK to do it FOR THEM. And as for OBAMA, I will respect HIM when HE SERVES THIS COUNTRY in the MILITARY, the same as McCain HAS!
Posted by: debraraes | July 1, 2008, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
As a longtime Rep I can assure BruhMan that McCain IS pretty far from Bush, actually, even now I would prefer Bush as pres, but he can’t run again. One main area of likeness is the war on terrorism. Like it or not, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY SINCE 911. THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT AND OUR ACTIVITY IN AFGANISTAN AND IRAQ HAVE HAD NO SMALL ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT!!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
McCain would be moving to the center too if he could trust the Republican base to support him. But instead he has to keep moving right, on tax cuts, offshore drilling, torture, and probably several more. That’s OK, it’s just politics, but he hardly has room to criticize.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
What parent would look forward to their son or daughter serving in the military under Obama?
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
WEll said BJ.
Posted by: debraraes | July 1, 2008, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Temagami: “What parent would look forward to their son or daughter serving in the military under Obama?”
Maybe the ones who want their son or daughter HOME and ALIVE.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
Temagami -
Yeah, gotta love that “War on Terror.” Too bad we haven’t even caught the people who attacked us. Why were we fighting again?
Posted by: jock59801 | July 1, 2008, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
Don’t look now, but after Obama puts in all those liberal programs and hires all those thousands of new people to run them, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE IN FUTURE ELECTIONS? DEMOCRAC!! IT IS CALLED LEGAL VOTE GETTING!! In Great Britain more that 60 percent of workers are public employees!! GBs liberal programs are a mess. With OB, same worn out stuff!! We don’t want same results as GB!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
The majority of people in this country are now seeing Obama for what he is! He has ticked off so many factions in this country he will never get to be POTUS…he has changed his tune on so many policies just to pander to the audience that he happens to be with! People are not dumb…they see right thru his play acting! You can count on the Dems shooting themselves in the foot once again! This would not be happening if Hillary was nominated!! Too bad the DNC is run by a bunch of idiots that tried to shove this noboby down our throats!!!
Posted by: mfmros | July 1, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Jock. Nice try, but some have been caught – where have you been hiding? AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BACK!! THANKS TO BUSH AND TONY BLAIR!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
BruhMan.
If you ARE in the military – you must be very proud.
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
McCain’s voting record is much better than Barrack Hussein. Besides not really voting this year at all, he’s done a couple of really “unique” things for voting.
1) He has requested that some of the few votes that he has ever bothered to make since Senator be changed stating that he voted “incorrectly” and really didn’t know how press the yeah or nay button. I kid you not. Do we really want an idiot incapable of pressing buttons? Comeon
2) Then there is little ChiTown voting habit of Obama which those actually think their politicians are supposed to actual work might fine amusing. Obama in order to avoid making tuff decisions (prehaps he is incapable or does not care to make decisions where he personally isn’t getting paid under the table by Rezko’s others) is not even attempting to vote at all (maybe he still hasn’t figure out the yeah or nay button)but has this nasty habit of voting “Present” to show he voted—just that he really didn’t vote.
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
When Geraldine Ferraro said Obama would not be where he is right now if he was not black Hillary had to let Ferraro go! How come Obama does not throw Clark under the bus, after all Clark said Obama was not qualified to be pres when he was on Hillary’s team! I see a double standard with Clark being a two faced fence jumper!!
Posted by: mfmros | July 1, 2008, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
Every politician flip-flops, especially for today’s sound-bite addled media definition of flip-flop. Usually, especially when it seems to involve some nuance of changing judgment, I don’t hold it against them. However when McCain went from being the staunchest opponent of government-sponsored torture, sponsoring bills to prohibit it, yet then later voted to allow the CIA to waterboard — something he had already called what it is, torture — that’s a flip-flop I cannot forgive. It’s terrible for anyone to support, but for McCain… In a heartbeat, I lost all the quite plentiful respect I had for him.
Oh and sorry, anyone hoping for relief in gas prices to result from off-shore drilling is in for a shock. It will take years for any to appear, the oil is expensive to drill, and the incoming supply will not be substantially increased. All it will mean is that an American oil company gets to sell oil at $140/barrel instead of an OPEC one. Yay, I guess?
Posted by: cb | July 1, 2008, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Off for din. Later. Enjoy
Posted by: Temagami | July 1, 2008, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Buckaroobonsai…..I love it…great bumper sticker!!!
Posted by: mfmros | July 1, 2008, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
I’m legitimately confused. So being a war hero does make you qualified to be president? I don’t think so. So, why is it offensive to say that?
Posted by: Mike | July 1, 2008, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Clark’s comments about McCain’s service were disgraceful – we all know what he meant to do and that was diminish McCain’s military record and his abilities. Clark and Obama really have no respect for any one but themselves; they are content in fact made a living out of quarter backing others.
Clark and Obama can go to H— and they will in just few short months from now. Obama doesn’t deserve to sit at the same table with John McCain. As far as Mr. Clark go’s he is not a man, a man would not denigrate a hero like John McCain. Clark is type of guy who would be a punk in prison along with Obama. What floors me is how this piece of cr-p ever got to be a general and lead men.
As for Obama what can you say he has never done anything but give speeches and quarter back those who actually did something.
Posted by: a citizen | July 1, 2008, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
GENERAL CLARK WON THE AIR CAMPAIGN THAT ENDED GENOCIDE BY THE SERBIANS. Remember?? Hello?? Last American victory that is for sure!!
Posted by: Joe | July 1, 2008, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
Given what the muslim terrorists are doing and have done to our guys and even their own people—-waterboarding really isn’t torture. In fact, the intel provided probably has saved hundreds of people from being tortured and murdered by these thugs. When the terrorists stop doing worse than waterboarding, then perhaps we can revisit this issue.
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
Given what the Muslims we saved in Serbia did at the school with to all those poor small children, Clark was on the wrong side. Sorry, by husband was over there……….but it is the fact. The people we “saved” turned around and murdered a whole bunch of people whilst they specifically target small kids. If I were Clark, I wouldn’t be to proud of myself on this. And In fact, shouldn’t Clark have known he helping some really nasty terrorists?
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
There has not been another 9/11 attack. The surge is working and Al Qaeda and Iran are in retreat. If Obama is elected all that has been gained in Iraq could be lost and a greater more deadly war could erupt in the Middle East causing more death and destruction and the lost of more US troops. An Al Qeada and Iranian victory in Iraq would allow our enemies to establish a base in Iraq from which to attack the US and with Iraq’s great oil reserves, Al Qaeda and Iran would have the means an opportunity to attack us hard. That is what the US will face if Obama gets elected and waves the white flag of defeat in Iraq, more death, more destruction and more 9/11s.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
Nonsense…why is it, if anyone says anything bad about Barrac, the Obama kiddies immediately start calling them names like racist. The day of calling people names in order to slander them to shut them out is over with—most know it for it is when they see it. Grow up already!!
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
How much did Obama pay to gengeral Clark to do the dirty job?
Obama and his people smear the Democrat. After September, the democrate will be at the end.
Posted by: Kevin P | July 1, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
McCain was a celebrity POW because
of his father’s admiralty in the
Navy.
This business that his injuries
are from beatings and torture is
fiction.
His injuries are from the impact
he suffered when he ejected from
his plane and hit the surface of
the lake. He was unconscious when
he was pulled out of the water.
Posted by: anon | July 1, 2008, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
BruhMan, Instead of calling people names, tell me what is incorrect about the fact that:
–The US has not been attacked since 9/11
–Al Qaeda and Iran are in retreat in Iraq
– Obama plan to retreat from Iraq would allow Al Qaeda and Iran to regain control of Iraq
– Iraq has large oil reserves that would give Al Qaeda and Iran the means and opportunity to attack the US and attack us
– Al Qaeda has already attacked the US on 9/11 and has vowed to destroy the US. Iran calls the US the “Great Satan” and has vowed to destroy the West.
What makes the Obama supporters think that given the opportunity and control of Iraq and Iraq’s large oil reserves, Al Qaeda and Iran won’t attack the US? Me thinks since both Al Qaeda and Iran are our sworn enemies and, in the case of Al Qaeda have already attacked the US, they will not hesitate to attack us again if given half the chance and Obama will be responsible.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
BruhMan, Instead of calling people names, tell me what is incorrect about the fact that:
–The US has not been attacked since 9/11
–The surge has worked and Al Qaeda and Iran are in retreat in Iraq
– Obama’s plan to retreat from Iraq would allow Al Qaeda and Iran to regain control of Iraq
– Iraq has large oil reserves that would give Al Qaeda and Iran the means and opportunity to attack the US and attack us hard.
– Al Qaeda has already attacked the US on 9/11 and has vowed to destroy the US. Iran calls the US the “Great Satan” and has vowed to destroy the West.
What makes the Obama supporters think that given the opportunity and control of Iraq and Iraq’s large oil reserves, Al Qaeda and Iran won’t attack the US? Me thinks since both Al Qaeda and Iran are our sworn enemies and, in the case of Al Qaeda have already attacked the US, they will not hesitate to attack us again if given half the chance and Obama will be responsible.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Sure anon—-its a fake story of McCain being tortured that started decades ago because everyone knew then that McCain would be running for president as a POW and it is exactly McCain still can’t raise his arms above his head? This exactly why the Obama supporters come across as nutty.
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
tim, I agree, a vote for Obama is a vote for more war, more deaths and more 9/11s.
Posted by: sara | July 1, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
The Democrat is not for the middle clasee any more. They take money form the middle class and give to the lazy people. Demecrat make the country weaker.
The Republican leave the middle class alone, they force the lazy people to work for the rich, so they can take care themself and make the country stronger.
Why both the Democrat and the Republican can not touch the rich, because America system is the capitalism.
Obama is a socialist or a communist, thus he can kick the rich, he is realy a genuis god. Unfortunatly, he loves money from the rich just like other politician, the only his different from other politicans is a expert lier.
It your choice, I vote for McCain this time, even I am a Democrat
Posted by: Kevin P | July 1, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
McCain must not care that much about “Swift Boating” if he has one of the people on his “Truth Squad”.
In hearing the entire conversation I do believe that in this instance McCain is trying to play “victim”.
Posted by: musicisourhigh | July 1, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Kevin P — Weslark supported Hillary Clinton until 3 weeks ago, and backed Barack Obama after Hillary Clinton officially backed Barack Obama, so give me a break trying to imply that Wes Clark speaking is Obama’s doing. It is NOT!!
I guarantee you that Wes Clark would be saying this had Hillary Clinton won the nomination.
And if Wes Clark himself had won the democratic nomination over BOTH Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, Wes Clark would have been saying the same thing about John McCain.
Wes Clarks point is that John McCain voted for the Iraq war, and that was a bad judgement made by John McCain. John McCain wanting to keep our soldiers in Iraq, even after the war has ended is bad judgement.
That John McCain seems to want to keep our soldiers in Iraq, even when RIGHT NOW in Afghanistan, the Taliban, and AlQueada is expanding in numbers, and running around free in Afghanistan, and on the border of Pakistan killing our soldiers. These bastards in Afghanistan are the people who committed 9/11, and John McCain has NO plans as to how to deal with the Taliban, and AlQueada who is expanding.
With the fact that our military numbers are shrinking, and we DO NOT have enough soldiers to fight in these two wars, the fact that John McCain has no plans when it come to getting out of Iraq is a disaster, and bad judgement.
John McCain seem to lack any plan for how to deal with both Iraq, OR Afgahnistan, and by his willingness to have our military members in Iraq indefinetly, shows that he is NOT thinking about having an army that is ready, and prepared to support us if other military situation come up. We ccannot have all our armed forces in ttwo countries, you would expect that a mJohn McCain would understand that, BUT HHE DOES NOT. That is a judgement pproblem, and that is what Wes Clark is pointing out.
The fact is OVER 18,000 military members have already died in both Iraq, and Afghanistan combined, and John McCain has NO plans to get out of Iraq, and he has NO plans of how to deal with the Taliban, and AlQueada in Afghanistan.
So when Wes Clark says that John mcCain has bad judgement when it comes to the war in Iraq, and Afghanistan, this is what he is talking about, the fact that John McCain seems NOT to have a plan to, OR even seems to want to leave Iraq. And John McCain in wanting thousands of our soldiers to stay in Iraq indefinetly, has NO plans on how to defeat AlQueada, and the Taliban in Afghanistan, with our already dwindling numbere of our military members.
Posted by: GARY | July 1, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
JOHN McCAIN IS SUCH A WHINER, AND CRY BABY!!
JOHN McCAIN YOU SHOULD BE MORE THAN ABLE TO HANDLE THE HONEST, AND FACTUAL OBSERVATIONS MADE BY OTHERS. THAT IS WHAT WES CLARK (WHO ALSO SERVED HIS COUNTRY HONORABLY IN THE ARMY, AND RETURNED HOME FROM WAR WITH BULLETS IN HIS BODY) IS DOING, WES CLARK IS SIMPLY MAKING AN FACTUAL OBSERVATION.
JOHN McCAIN, IS A 70 YEAR OLD BABY, AND HE AND HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF NEED THEIR BABY BOTTLES, AND THEIR MID DAY NAPS.
JOHN McCAIN THE WHINING SOLDIER!!
Posted by: rick | July 1, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
McCAIN’S FLIP-FLOP LIST:
* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell, Parsley, and Hagee as “agents of intolerance” but later courted them to join his campaign, evn spoke at Falwell’s college.
* McCain broke his own campaign finance reform rules, and committed a crime, in this election by opting INTO campaign finance, then borrowing millions from the bank against the campaign money, then decided to OPT OUT of campaign financing, breaking the law.
* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he”s pro-ethanol.
* And then he was for Roe v, Wade, NOW he is against it.
* John McCain was for the windfall tax on the oil companies, now he is against it.
* John McCain was against off-shore drilling, now he is for it.
* John McCain said he was for the DREAM act, NOW he was against the DREAM ACT.
* John McCain said that he was for Immigration Reform, but when Republicans showed anger at his decision, John McCain changed and decided to be against it, NOW John McCain is both for, and against it depending on who he is talking to.
* John McCain still lying about the possibilty of the gas tax holiday, even though we are 5 day into summer already.
* John McCain was against the Bush tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, BUT, NOW John McCain is for the tax cuts!
* John McCain says he’s against diplomatic talks with Iran, but in 2005 John McCain voted to allow for Haliburton to do business with Iran
(John McCain also receive money form Haliburton Lobbyist)
Posted by: PAUL | July 1, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
BruhMan, We do not have to stay in Iraq forever. Once Iraq is stabilized the US may have the same type of presence that we do in Japan and Europe which are our allies. The President if Iraq met with Iran and told them that he already considers the US as Iraq’s friends and, despite Iran’s objections, plans to go forward with an ongoing relationship with the US, which is a win win for everyone and will help the Middle East remain stable.
Obama’s plan of waving the white flag of defeat will result in an unstable Middle East that could blow up in everyone’s face causing more war, death and destruction. As to your concern about oil, go tell Obama to support drilling for oil here and maybe the US would not be so dependent on oil in the Middle East. Keep in mind that the Democrats are the ones that have stood in the way of drilling for oil here on our own soil for years so when you Obama supporters keep up your mantra about “blood for oil” which I do not agree with, blame Obama and the rest of the Democrats as they are the ones that have made the US so dependent on Middle East oil.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
I think people are missing something here. This is typical Army (or Marine) “grunts” railing against “arroant flyboys” which has been going on forever. The “grunts” realize that the “flyboys” are more glamorous and get the attention the “grunts” don’t get
Posted by: MFB45th | July 1, 2008, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
Wes Clarks point is that John McCain voted for the Iraq war, and that was a bad judgement made by John McCain. John McCain wanting to keep our soldiers in Iraq, even after the war has ended is bad judgement.
That John McCain seems to want to keep our soldiers in Iraq, even when RIGHT NOW in Afghanistan, the Taliban, and AlQueada is expanding in numbers, and running around free in Afghanistan, and on the border of Pakistan killing our soldiers. These bastards in Afghanistan are the people who committed 9/11, and John McCain has NO plans as to how to deal with the Taliban, and AlQueada who is expanding.
With the fact that our military numbers are shrinking, and we DO NOT have enough soldiers to fight in these two wars, the fact that John McCain has no plans when it come to getting out of Iraq is a disaster, and bad judgement.
THAT’S ALL WES CLARK IS SAYING, AND THE PROOF HE IS USING IS JOHN McCAIN’S OWN WORDS THAT HE IS WILLING TO LEAVE SOLDEIRS IN IRAQ INDEFINETLY……….
Posted by: GARY | July 1, 2008, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
Clarke is probably hoping to Obama’s Vp—-Obama can’t talk, doesn’t have anything military in his backing, and lacks experienc—perhaps Obama is hoping to leech off Clark. Clark can do all the talking and Obama can copy off him like he did Hilliary. Face it, Obama has to do something he isn’t very bright and he doesn’t do well without a teleprompter
Posted by: chattyway | July 1, 2008, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
Gee I miss Hillary…..
Posted by: Texas Lil | July 1, 2008, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
It is hard to believe that their are adults who wouldn’t understand that his was calculated on the part of obama but just in case. I am from Little Rock and Wes Clark is no unknown commodity to those of us who grew up with him. He was then as he is now an ambitious jerk who has no character. The military people who supervised him had nothing good to say about him. However, he is viewed as the only one in the obama camp who can cast dispersions on McCain’s qualifications to be commander in chief. Since McCain has not made a point of his qualifications in this area one has to assume that obama knows that he is painfully inadequate in this area. To say that military experience as an officer and as a squadron commander is not relevant only sheds light on obama’s sense of serious inadequacy. Clark—only a Hall High School graduate could be so obnoxious.
Posted by: strangelove | July 1, 2008, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
Dear oil ‘expert’,
Do you have some solution for 21 million barrels of oil consumption per day? Oil conservation would require that we shut down the economy to get us to the 7 million barrells a day that we produce domestically. Maybe we can attach a lot of windmills to 18 wheelers. Or, maybe, you want to rig each car with solar panels. I sure hope you don’t try that in Syracuse. They don’t have much sunshine. Well, hot shot, what is the solution?
Posted by: strangelove | July 1, 2008, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
The immoral acts of your enemy are not a justification for your own immoral acts — they merely make you the same as your enemy. How can we claim to be leaders, fighting for freedom, when all you can claim is that our torture isn’t as bad as their torture? And just as importantly, while there are certainly enemies out there that have no qualms about torturing our men, why would you *invite* this down on our troops, with the same built-in moral justification that you’re using to justify our behavior?
This is a wise sentiment. And it used to be McCain’s sentiment. He knew what a slippery slope it was, and how sliding down it puts our own forces in danger.
In 2000, I would have voted for McCain, in 2004 as well. Back when McCain was the only politician taking a reasoned stance that supported the Iraq war in principle, but disagreed with its execution (before it became popular for Republicans to do so). I was vehemently against the war back then, but I highly respected McCain’s take on it.
McCain has reversed on many things since then, from when he was solidifying his name as a “maverick” to when he was trying to win an election running as a Republican. As I alluded to last post, this doesn’t really bother me as much as it apparently does some people. I guess I realize that no matter what I’m voting for a politician — it’s really a side effect of our electoral system, nearly unavoidable.
On this principle, though, I can’t accept it.
I misspoke earlier, by the way. I said McCain recently voted to allow torture from the CIA. Really, what he did was vote against restricting the CIA. It’s not that he thought that the CIA needed a more lenient standard than the Army Field Manual which was good enough for all other services, he didn’t try to change the standard. It’s that he didn’t feel there needed to be a standard, and thus *oversight*, for what the CIA does at all. Essentially what we’ve had to do up to now — take their word for it. Like when they told us they didn’t have secret prisons in foreign territory? How do you know that they’re sticking to what you would consider to be ‘lesser’ torture?
The Army Field Manual, which I read in 2005 when McCain was proposing it as the standard and I wondered what the standard was, describes briefly, but recommends against aggressive interrogation techniques. Because of anything I said at the top of this post? No. Because it’s ineffective. Because ultimately what you get is what you want to hear. Confirmation bias is almost impossible to avoid, especially when you don’t actually know who the suspect is — the case so often when people are picked up by warlords and turned in for a reward in Afghanistan.
There’s no way, now, I could support McCain. Give me the old McCain back. I’d at least love him to continue working in the Senate. This one can go as far as I care.
Posted by: cb | July 1, 2008, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm
PAUL,
– McCain did the right thing by rejecting the endorsements of televangelists John Hagee and Rod Parsley, and his taking a stand on their outrageous comments, so I do not know where you get the idea that McCain “courted their endorsements”. As to the so called outrageous comments, they pale in comparison to the “God D*** America” comments of Rev. Wright and McCain did not attend any of the aforementioned televangelist’s churches for twenty years like Obama did.
– McCain did not break any campaign finance laws. If any campaign finance laws have been broken it will be Obama who broke them as there is already some questions as to the identity of over a third of Obama’s donors who have false names and social security numbers. Not to mention all the questions still surrounding Rezco’s contributions.
– McCain’s position on ethanol has not changed. McCain is still opposed to subsidies. Given the high cost of gas, McCain is more open to ethanol as it may help bring down the price of gas.
–John McCain believes in nominating judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. John McCain believes Roe vs Wade is a flawed decision that should have been left up to the people to decide and their elected representatives.
– John McCain’s position on drilling and windfall oil taxes have changed due to the fact gasoline prices are so high and unlike Obama, McCain is listening to the people who have loudly said to the politicians drill drill drill. Obama is glad gasoline prices are so high so the poor people Obama purports to care about, are forced out of their cars and onto bicycles. Obama cares nothing about the people and what they want, Obama is in the pocket of the biofuel industry and environmentalists that are supporting his campaign big time.
– McCain understands the complexities of illegal immigration and is listening to his base while still trying to do what is best for the Nation in terms of illegal immigration. Unlike Obama, who fully supports illegal immigration despite the impact it has on the black community via loss of jobs and lower salaries.
– McCain is not lying about a gas tax holiday, Obama and the rest of the Democrats could have easily supported a gas tax holiday and it would be in place now. Democrats don’t care about people, they care about power and don’t want to give any of the peoples money back to them.
– Thursday, March 13, 2008
BUSH TAX CUT VOTE – MCCAIN YES, HILLARY AND OBAMA NO
The Senate voted today on extending the Bush tax cuts which have been credited with many economic boosts among those spurring the economy in the wake of 9/11 and the recession Bush inherited from Clinton.
The Senate vote was 52 – 47. But the most telling votes were those made by the 2008 Presidential candidates. John McCain the GOP nominee voted yes for the extension while Hillary and Obama voted no. The two liberal Democrats tried to claim that their no vote was because the tax cuts benefited the upper middle class and the rich. In other words the usual liberal mantra about the evil rich. Obama and Clinton both promise to reverse Bush’s tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers, but the Democratic budget they’ll be voting for would allow income tax rates to go up on individuals making as little as $31,850 and couples earning $63,700 or more. Not very rich by anyones standards!
So as America decides which candidate really is FOR the American people and allowing Americans to keep their money and not the government. John McCain is the clear winner in this debate!
Posted by: jerry | July 1, 2008, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm
BruhMan, I see your facts on oil in the US and it says to me that the US does have the oil reserves necessary to wean us off of Middle East oil. Oil the Democrats are against drilling for. As to oil shale, once again it’s lack of development is the fault of the Democrats:
The politics of oil shale
Fortune talks to Sens. Orrin Hatch and Wayne Allard about the roadblocks to oil shale production.
By Jon Birger, senior writer
gas_pump_3.ce.03.jpg
With gas at $4 a gallon, development of oil shale in the United States is bogged down in politics.
Special Reportfull coverage
ENERGY FIX
NEW YORK (Fortune) — You’d think this would be oil shale’s moment.
You’d think with gas prices topping $4 and consumers crying uncle, Congress would be moving fast to spur development of a domestic oil resource so vast – 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil shale in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming alone – it could eventually rival the oil fields of Saudi Arabia.
You’d think politicians would be tripping over themselves to arrange photo-ops with Harold Vinegar (whom I profiled in Fortune last November), the brilliant, Brooklyn-born chief scientist at Royal Dutch Shell whose research cracked the code on how to efficiently and cleanly convert oil shale – a rock-like fossil fuel known to geologists as kerogen – into light crude oil.
You’d think all of this, but you’d be wrong.
Last month, the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Committee voted 15-14 to kill a bill that would have ended a one-year moratorium on enacting rules for oil shale development on federal lands (which is where the best oil shale is located). Most maddening of all – at least to someone like myself not steeped in the wacky ways of Washington – the swing vote on the appropriations committee, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., voted with the majority even though she actually opposes the moratorium.
“Sen. Salazar asked me to vote no. I did so at his request,” Landrieu told The Rocky Mountain News. A Landrieu staffer contacted by Fortune doesn’t dispute this, but notes that Landrieu did propose a compromise which Republicans rejected.
Arghh!
She was speaking of U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., who has emerged as the Senate’s leading oil shale opponent. Salazar inserted the aforementioned moratorium into an omnibus spending bill last December, and in May he proposed a new bill that would extend the moratorium another year.
Salazar’s efforts have essentially pulled the rug out from under Shell (RDSA) and other oil companies which have invested many, many millions into oil shale research since the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which established the original framework for commercial leasing of oil shale lands. (Last year, oil shale represented Shell’s single biggest R&D expenditure.)
Salazar says he’s simply trying to slow things down in order to ensure environmental considerations don’t get trampled in the rush to turn western Colorado into a new Prudhoe Bay. But, ironically, his bid to extend the moratorium comes at a time when his fellow Senate Democrats have been blasting Big Oil for not reinvesting enough of their profits into developing new sources of energy.
I recently spoke with Republican U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Wayne Allard of Colorado, the two lawmakers working hardest to end the oil shale moratorium. Here are some excerpts from the interviews:
Fortune: Why do you consider developing oil shale such a high priority?
Sen. Hatch: We have as much oil in oil shale in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado as the rest of the world’s oil combined. Liberals and environmentalists can talk all they want about wind, solar and geothermal – all of which I’m for – but last time I checked, planes, trains, trucks, ships and cars don’t run on electricity. 98% of transportation fuel right now is oil. Ethanol is the only real alternative, and we’re seeing that ethanol has major limitations.
It’s pathetic. Environmentalists are very happy having us dependent on foreign oil. They’re unhappy with us developing our own. What they forget to say is that shipping fuel all the way from the middle east has a big greenhouse gas footprint too.
Fortune: Any hope of changing Sen. Salazar’s mind? After all, he says he’s not opposed to oil shale production in principle.
Sen. Allard: His mind seems pretty set. His argument is, if we delay this, it gives us an opportunity to phase it in gradually. But he’s got it turned around. We need the rules and regulations in place first. When the oil companies go to bid on their leases, they need have some idea what their royalties might be and what their remediation requirements might be [for restoring the land at spent drilling sites].
Fortune: Have you talked to Shell about this?
Sen. Allard: We have, and they’ve indicated a great deal of frustration. They’ve put it this way: Look, we can’t continue to invest millions and millions of dollars in this kind of research without seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Fortune: Sen. Salazar insists he just wants to take things more slowly.
Sen. Hatch: Sen. Salazar and the Colorado governor [Democrat Bill Ritter] say they don’t want it to happen too fast. Well, the existing law that I sponsored [which became part of the 2005 energy act] makes it abundantly clear that each governor gets to decide how quickly developments should move forward in their respective states. [Salazar and Ritter] know that. What they’re really doing is making sure that the governor of Utah and the governor of Wyoming never gets to make that decision for themselves.
Fortune: One of Sen. Salazar’s environmental concerns involves water and the big draw on local water supplies required for oil shale production. Based on my reporting in western Colorado last year, this seems like a legitimate concern. What’s your take on this?
Sen. Hatch: Let’s compare it to ethanol. Corn needs about 1,000 barrels of water for the energy equivalent of a barrel of oil. That’s a crazy amount of water, but it’s worked out alright so far because corn is grown in rainy areas, for the most part. But if you want to increase the amount of ethanol, you’re going to have to go to irrigation, and then there will be major water limits on how much we can afford to grow.
On the other hand, the Department of Energy estimates that oil shale will require three barrels of water for every barrel of oil.
Fortune: Of course, water is a lot scarcer in western Colorado than it is in Iowa.
Sen Hatch: It is, but remember the oil companies are going to use and recycle the water. And while we’re on the environmental impact, let’s talk about land use and wildlife habitat. One acre of corn produces the equivalent of 5 to 7 barrels of oil. One acre of oil shale produces 100,000 to 1 million barrels.
Fortune: With gasoline at $4, why this isn’t this more of a front-and-center issue for consumers and voters?
Sen. Hatch: I’m generally the last guy to lambaste the media, but generally you do not hear these facts. We’re sending $600 billion annually to enemies of our country. If one acre of oil shale produces 1 million barrels of oil, that’s 1 million barrels that we would not be importing from Russia and the Middle East. People are going to go berserk when they find out that all along we had the capacity, within our own borders, to alleviate our dependency in an environmentally friendly way.
Ironically, the local governments in Colorado’s oil shale areas do support oil shale development, but it’s being stopped by the ski-resort elites. A couple months ago, an article came out about how the city of Aspen was being besieged with building applications equating to about $2 million in development a day. Now if those nice, rich people in Aspen really cared about the environment, they might save an acre or two of those beautiful forests they’re building on and support some oil-shale development in the not-so-nearby and not-so-beautiful oil shale areas of Colorado.
Fortune: Has oil shale development always been a partisan issue or is this something new?
Sen. Allard: It is something new. The issue with the Democrats now is they want to cut off any source of carbon. And there are those in the Senate who believe the more expensive you make gasoline, the less driving people do and you force conservation by making driving so expensive people can’t afford it. To top of page
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
General Clark is a retired General. He understand the military and what it takes to lead a military. As a retired general he can say whatever he wants about McCain’s military experience.
I think Obama agrees with Clark’s arguments that McCain’s military experience is being overblown, but the republican sling machine equates this to challenging McCain’s patriotism.
How the hell did Clark’s statement challenge McCain’s patriotism? Of course the republicans would never challenge Barak’s patriotism.
P.S.
Obama – Clark 2008
Clark could help Obama to gain ground on the security issue, which is hurting him in the polls.
Posted by: NickB | July 1, 2008, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
Tim, the above article on the Democrats opposition to developing oil shale is shocking given the high price of gas. I fear if Obama and the Democrats get in power we all will be forced to ride bicycles, eat less food and forget about air conditioning or heating our homes. I just wish more people were aware of this and no one in their right mind would vote for Obama or any Democrat.
Posted by: Ken | July 1, 2008, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
I am at a total lose on what you people are talking about. I am a democrat but how you can say McCain’s 22 years of military service and 26 years of public service do not qualify him to be president. Obama has been in the senate 2 years and ran for president the entire time. Debate what issues you want to but Obama doesn’t have a prayer on experience. Move on to something else.
Posted by: maryintampa | July 1, 2008, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
Oh, and sorry, there’s no magical plan that will make gas cheap. The price is going to go up, opening up new sources won’t change it. Because the price is defined by the futures market, and they’ve already taken a lot of things into account. Like that even as we keep opening up these new reserves, the price of getting to that oil increases. The reason all that shale oil isn’t being drilled already is because the cost of getting that oil is still less than the going rate. By the time it becomes economical, it’s because gas is already much more expensive. So the price is going to remain fairly stable, as in stably increasing.
Eventually, affordable gas will be gone entirely. Personally, I’d much rather keep as much easy to acquire oil around as possible for when we’re gagging for any oil at all, rather than tap it now in a meaningless gesture to fight the trend in price.
Posted by: cb | July 1, 2008, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
BruhMan, Alaska’s and Florida’s Governors are for drilling for oil in their respective States and the majority of the people of California are for off shore drilling. So if McCain is elected and enough of the GOP gets elected you can be assured that there will be drilling as the people are demanding. However, if Obama and the Democrats gain more power as Obama has already told us you can forget about drilling, more refineries and nuclear power since Obama has already told us. “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK…. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.”
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
I don’t know why no one gets it.This is not about more oil. This is about less oil, renewable energy, alternative fuels, greenhouse gases and global warming. The technology and resources are ready and available to us. It is time to debate these issues and not off shore drilling which will not show any benefits for years and will pollute the oceans.
Posted by: maryintampa | July 1, 2008, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
Dr. Phillip Butler is a decorated Navy combat veteran pilot who was a POW for the five years that McCain was a prisoner at the same camp and for three years before he arrived. He was awarded two purple hearts, two legion of merit, two bronze stars and two silver stars. He, like McCain and 95% if the other prisoners was tortured. He has known McCain since they were both at the Naval Academy. In this article, he gives some much needed inside perspective on John McCain during those years and since. Dr. Butler retired from the Navy in 1981. Among other things, he says, “POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.” Also, John McCain “has a quick and explosive temper. . . quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button.” This article appeared in the publication, “Today In the Military” on March 27, 2008 Here’s the link:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html
Posted by: karela | July 1, 2008, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
BruhMan, The US was in a recession when Bush took office. Look it up. Yet,despite 9/11 and Katrina, Bush’s tax cuts and economic policies have resulted in relatively a low unemployment rate, inflation under control and low interests rates. In addition, the US has not had another 9/11 attack. So maybe things are not as bad as the main stream media wants you to believe. High gas and food prices and the collapse of the housing market can all the laid at the feet of the Democrats. Obama and the Democrats have said no to drilling and fostered loan policies that made loan companies hand out a lot of risky loans in the name affirmative action. As to the impact of drilling on prices, Obama is not being truthful as oil engineers have said we could start getting oil out of the ground in as little as two years and the US has more oil than all of the Middle East combined.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
All this name calling against Obama is a prime example of how the faux Democrats and Republicans have nothing better to do.
Gen. Wesley Clark is not a part of the Obama campaign, he’s an Obama supporter expressing a valid point. Just because McCain was a POW doesn’t by default qualify him to be president. Although the time he spent in Vietnam under those extreme circumstances should be commended, he shouldn’t be immune from criticisms on his foreign policies.
And this lame claim that somehow Clark’s comments are Obama’s fault is insane!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 1, 2008, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
Look, let me try and make this simple. I was a military officer during the Vietnam War. Experience as a career officer commanding a large air squadron is executive and military experience. What does Obama have in the way of military or executive experience? What has he in the way of ANY relevant experience to being commander in chief and chief executive officer of the federal government? Obama supporters—how about answering that if you can.
Posted by: strangelove | July 1, 2008, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
When Clark was a hillary supporter he was arguing that hillary’s experience as first lady made her more qualified to be commander in chief than McCain’s experience in the military.
Posted by: strangelove | July 1, 2008, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
What did the unpatriotical man Obama do in the service for OUR country???????????
Posted by: Dennis | July 1, 2008, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
BruhMan, Sorry, facts are facts and the US was in a mild recession when Bush took office. Again, after, 9/11 and Katrina the US economy has fared pretty well all things considered. The main problems with the economy are due to the Democrats including high gas prices,high food prices and the bad housing market. Facts are facts and name calling won’t change anything. fyi see tge below web site for the actual data if you do not believe me. The article begins:August 18, 2006
The 2001 recession revisited
With revised data, when did the last recession begin?
In a recent post, Greg Mankiw cites Hamilton and Chauvet in support of his view that a good argument could be made that the recession of 2001 actually began in 2000. Mankiw writes:
“Back in 2004, Michael Mandel of Businessweek gave me grief for saying that the 2001 recession began in late 2000, rather than at the official NBER date of March 2001. My view (and the view of the nonpartisan CEA staff) was that the data were substantially revised after the NBER committee made their call, and the March 2001 date no longer seemed right in light of the revised data.”
http://www.econbrowser.com/archives/2006/08/the_2001_recess.html
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
WHY don’t we all just fess up and admit that Obama could very well be the Beast or the Man of Perdition we are told about in the Bible. His campain tactics certainly tells us so.
Posted by: Dennis | July 1, 2008, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Obama really needs to go. He is simply a crook and really nothing more, he ain’t even an intelligent crook. Seen him back to Illinois, they like crooked politicians.
Posted by: annoyingrabbit | July 1, 2008, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
BruhMan, Again, given 9/11 and Katrina, all things considered the economy is in pretty good shape and would be a lot better if not for the backward policies of the Democrats who are the main reason for high gas and food prices and the bad housing market. If Obama gets into office, expect more backward policies from the Democrats. No to drilling. No to refineries. No to nuclear power. Yes to higher taxes. Yes to more government regulation. Yes to defeat in Iraq and hello to more death, war, destruction and 9/11s
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
Tim,
You rock Dude!!!
Posted by: Dennis | July 1, 2008, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
BruhMan, and you think higher taxes, more government regulation, a defeat in Iraq and saying no to utilizing the great wealth and equity that oil would provide to the value of the dollar is the answer? I don’t think so.
Posted by: tim | July 1, 2008, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm
BruhMan, Unfortunately for the Nation, the Democrats still had the 60 votes necessary to block President Bush’s proposals to drill for oil here as well as a number of other economic policies of President Bush that would have been beneficial. Thank goodness, President Bush was able to get his tax cuts passed which Obama will over turn if Obama is elected.
Again, if Obama and the Democrats take over expect, a lower standard of living, higher taxes, high unemployment, a defeat in Iraq, more war, destruction and death and more 9/11s. That is the type of change you can expect from the Obama and the Democrats and yes, I do believe the Democrats are all in it for power. The top down power of the dead hand of government that will choke the life out of all of us if given half a chance.
Posted by: tim | July 2, 2008, 12:10 am 12:10 am
I am very comfortable with General Clark’s assesment of McCain’s qualifications to make top level, split second war decisions. At least Clark’s military experience is at or above McCain’s. At least the both made it back unlike thousands of others that didn’t. Let’s move on!!
Posted by: Mary E. Belardo | July 2, 2008, 12:13 am 12:13 am
tim,
So, you mean there are Republicans that are against dtilling, too? What a shocker. I told you, both sides are playing you like a fiddle, and blaming the other.
That laundry list is not based on any fact whatsoever, and you know it.
And, Republicans are in it for “Lve of Country?” That’s ridiculous!!!…Good night, sir…and good luck!!!
Posted by: BruhMan | July 2, 2008, 12:15 am 12:15 am
Obama needs to go plain and simple…I can’t believe he has have Clark fight his battles for him against an old man.
Posted by: stopkickingmeoff | July 2, 2008, 12:15 am 12:15 am
BruhMan, Go talk to the Cubans and Chinese who are about to drill sideways to get the oil off the coast of Florida if we don’t get there first. Again, Obama supporters would have us believe there is no oil in the US when all of the credible geologists say the US has more oil than all of the Middle East combined.
The real reason Obama supporters are against drilling for oil is that they rather China and Cuba get to the oil first. That’s because Obama says “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,”.No, No No, Obama says, he won’t allow that since Obama and the Democrats would rather we all start riding bicycles, eat less food and sweat and shiver a lot in our homes because if Obama get elected he will have his finger on all our thermostats.
Posted by: tim | July 2, 2008, 12:26 am 12:26 am
HEY, PEOPLE. This had nothing to do with Obama! Clark said pretty much the exact same thing when he as a Clinotn supporter. Did Obama make him do that too? Hello?
Posted by: jock59801 | July 2, 2008, 12:26 am 12:26 am
tim – That’s quite a string of paranoid delusions you got going there. Do you really believe that is what liberals want? Is that what O’Reilly and Hannity tell you?
Posted by: jock59801 | July 2, 2008, 12:31 am 12:31 am
BruhMan, and Obama’s God D*** America Pastor Wright who Obama listened to for twenty years makes you think Obama loves America? I don’t think so.
Posted by: tim | July 2, 2008, 12:32 am 12:32 am
Oh, and tim? China is not drilling of the Florida coast. Cheney actually admitted he lied about that one.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 2, 2008, 12:32 am 12:32 am
jock59801, name one “paranoid delusion” that is not true.
– Lower Standard of Living.
Obama and the Democrats have refused to drill for more oil, build new refineries and are against nuclear power. Alternative energy such as wind and solar cannot replace the energy derived from oil. So what is Obama’s solution? Well he has already told you and I say it it not paranoid to say that someone who says “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,” Obama said. wants us all to lower our standard of living.
– Higher taxes
Obama has stated that he will over turn Bush’s tax cuts and will raise income taxes, payroll taxes, corporate taxes and dividend taxes.
– Job loses and high unemployment
Higher corporate taxes and dividend taxes will dry up capital and thus investment. Businesses will be forced to lay off, close down or move to Ireland for example along with the jobs.
— A defeat in Iraq will allow Al Qaeda and Iran to regain control over Iraq and Iraq’s large oil reserves will give Al Qaeda and Iran the opportunity and means to raise havoc in the Middle East (more war death and destruction) and attack the US and attack us hard. Thinking that Iran and Al Qaeda will not attack the US if given the opportunity is the true “paranoid delusion” of the far left and Obama kool aide drinkers.
Posted by: tim | July 2, 2008, 12:44 am 12:44 am
please,
respect English.
General Clark praised Senator McCain’s military experience.
but he also told the truth.
General Clark is a hero.
Posted by: beaumont | July 2, 2008, 12:46 am 12:46 am
BruhMan.
I was going to thank you for your service in the Marines and for helping us from getting hit again OVER HERE. But, I realized that you do not sound like any Marine I have ever known. I hope that I am wrong about you. Others have been exposed on this site.
Posted by: Temagami | July 2, 2008, 1:05 am 1:05 am
tim – Al Qaeda could not possibly take over Iraq, they don’t have the numbers or the support. And Al Qaeda and Iran are enemies. McCain also kept trying to claim that Iran was helping Al Qaeda, until Lieberman had to whisper over his shoulder that Al Qaeda are Sunni. LOL.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 2, 2008, 1:44 am 1:44 am
tim – Many economists seem to think that Obama’s middle-Class tax cut will beBigger than McCain’s:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25133125/
And we need to repeal Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy in order to remain solvent.
Remember that at the time McCain said that he could not “in good conscience” vote for Bush’s tax cuts. Of course that was before he ran for President and decided he was all for them. I’m not sure what happened to his “good conscience” in the mean time.
Posted by: jock59801 | July 2, 2008, 1:49 am 1:49 am
I, too, agree with Wesley Clark: Being a war hero does not qualify McCain to be President of the United States of America. The country does not need another president with an axe to grind: Remember George Bush on Saddam he nearly killed my daddy? George Bush used his position to settle a personal vendatta and went as far a lying to the American people to get their support; now five years (and counting) later look where we are? SUFFERING!!!!!!!!!!
John McCain is also part of that axis of evil arrangement, that’s why he was happy to stand-by these past four years and support George Bush. Now Mccain wants to continue taking the country down the path of destruction.
AMERICANS WILL SAY A LOUD ‘NO’!! TO JOHN MCCAIN THIS FALL
Posted by: exatlantic | July 2, 2008, 1:49 am 1:49 am
Stranglove: I can answer your question with one simple question
Look, let me try and make this simple. What did George Bush have in the way of military or executive experience? What had he in the way of ANY relevant experience to being commander in chief and chief executive officer of the federal government? Stranglove and McCain supporters—how about answering that if you can. Mccain supported Bush and McCain wants to continue nearly all of Bush’s policies.
Howzat?
Posted by: exatlantic | July 2, 2008, 1:55 am 1:55 am
Hopefully, Clark will rust slowly Obama’s supposed charisma and we all pray that this rust will eat away his voters, swaying to MCCain for common sense. The death of the common sense will be buried along with Obama.
Posted by: asb | July 2, 2008, 3:49 am 3:49 am
“I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” …….Having been a weapons specialist in Vietnam servicing F4 Phantom fighter planes, I can attest to the bravery of those pilots. Those planes had to be inspected every time upon returning from a flight mission because of all the shrapnel and ground fire they took.
McCain flew 23 combat flights before being shot down and Clarks comment about riding around in a fighter makes it sound like it was no big deal.
McCain doesn’t use his service time to get votes, it is on record what he did. The Obama campaign has lost this Independent vote when his supporters mock the sacrifice our military people make during war.
While we are at it, how does Obama’s experience as a community activist and one year in the senate, qualify him for president?
Posted by: Be Independent | July 2, 2008, 7:18 am 7:18 am
“I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” …….Having been a weapons specialist in Vietnam servicing F4 Phantom fighter planes, I can attest to the bravery of those pilots. Those planes had to be inspected every time upon returning from a flight mission because of all the shrapnel and ground fire they took.
McCain flew 23 combat flights before being shot down and Clarks comment about riding around in a fighter makes it sound like it was no big deal.
McCain doesn’t use his service time to get votes, it is on record what he did. The Obama campaign has lost this Independent vote when his supporters mock the sacrifice our military people make during war.
While we are at it, how does Obama’s experience as a community activist and one year in the senate, qualify him for president?
Posted by: Be Independent | July 2, 2008, 7:19 am 7:19 am
Obama isn’t smart…I’ve listen to him talk without the teleprompter…how he ever graduated and got a law degree is beyond me. Obama is manipulative, and given his upbringing it is no surprise. His handlers might be smart—they are the ones telling him to say, well atleast when Obama wasn’t copying off Hilliary in the “debates.”
Posted by: chattyway | July 2, 2008, 7:41 am 7:41 am
The quicker America decides to have a divorce of “the left from the right” and we form seperate nations the happier we will be.
Divorces happen all the time. Why can’t left divorce right in America?
Posted by: Landser | July 2, 2008, 7:49 am 7:49 am
Being a War Hero may not make McCain qualified for President by itself, but it sure makes him much more qualified than Obama the ChiTown manipulative politician.
Posted by: chattyway | July 2, 2008, 7:52 am 7:52 am
When Obama’s pastor problems first erupted, Obama was very slow out of the gait to temper them. He had to be told “this is a big deal.” For someone claiming to have such good judgment, for this to be the fourth day this is in the news and Obama to be so blase about it speaks volumes. Either he isn’t too bright or the person who had to tell him before that “this is a big deal” is on vacation right now. Clark keeps digging a deeper hole and Obama is falling deeper in it with him. Can’t wait to see the new gallup poles in the next day or two.
Posted by: No longer a Dem | July 2, 2008, 7:53 am 7:53 am
People, before you judge General Clark’s comments, You need to read the whole interview. He was answering a question. Even if he wasn’t, his comments were correct. McCain has no executive experience from the military. General Clark does. The fact McCain was shot down makes him no more qualified to be president then you or me. It makes him a hero and thats it. Like Senator Webb said, we should separate service from politics. If a man is born without a foot, but has his complete right mind, meaning he can’t serve in the military, Does that mean he can’t be president. No. And serving doesn’t neccasary mean you should be president. Like I said of the GOP before, If you spit into the wind, it going to hit you in the face.
Posted by: JayAndersonJr | July 2, 2008, 8:06 am 8:06 am
I didn’t think Obama’s candidacy would start imploding before the convention. Hillary must have figured that one out-she’s waiting in the wings. Team Obama with Jim (wearing his son’s military boots) Webb and Wesley (Hillary’s time as first lady qualifies her to be president) Clark are swift boating their own candidate.
Posted by: Team Obama's Crazies | July 2, 2008, 8:25 am 8:25 am
Military experience DOES NOT automatically qualify someone for the presidency. Why would anyone think that it does? The military is a career, just like teaching, the priesthood, or being a doctor. As we all know, there are some really great ones and some really awful ones in each profession. Just taking up space in the military doesn’t qualify you to lead the greatest nation. For those saying that Obama hasn’t served – wake up. Just because someone hasn’t put on a uniform doesn’t mean they haven’t served their country. Working for the disadvantaged, working to make things better for children, elderly,etc – that’s serving. I’ve been involved with the Red Cross for 17 years – I serve my country. McCain has conducted himself in and out of the military in a less than ethical way. I don’t feel he has the sound and sane decision making ability that our next president will need. McCain knows nothing about the economy, he fails at any sort of diplomacy, and aside from that – he’s freakin’ nuts. Obama may have fewer years in the senate, but he displays a wisdom that McCain has yet to acquire. Quite frankly, Obama wasn’t my first choice – but I will happily and confidently pull the lever for him to keep McCain out of the oval office.
Posted by: Antonia | July 2, 2008, 8:39 am 8:39 am
What’s the big deal about pulling out of Iraq? We didn’t win in Korea…we didn’t win in Viet Nam….recognize this for the mistake that it is and get out. It’s a false war waged by an idiot president. Meanwhile, Osama Bin Laden is free to scheme. None of the 9-11 hijackers were Iraqi, there were no weapons of mass destruction, and Saddam is dead. Al Qaeda wasn’t in Iraq until we destabilized the country. People trot out that tired old “but Saddam was a bad man” line. He was, no doubt about it. Kim Jung Il makes Saddam look like a girl scout, but Bush just took North Korea off the “bad” list. Unbelievable. I guess we don’t get oil from North Korea. Maybe we could spend those trillions of dollars we’re dumping in Iraq every day on better things….security at home, education, health care, or taking care of the thousands and thousands of disabled vets and fatherless families this fiasco has created. I’m from a military family – my Dad retired from the Army and my brother from the Marine Corps. I support our troops – but I will NEVER support sending them on a fool’s mission to satisfy a personal grudge. That’s unforgivable. McCain wants war even more than Bush did, keep his finger away from the button. I agree with the posters here who call him crazy.
Posted by: Rocky | July 2, 2008, 9:02 am 9:02 am
Swiftboating was questioning the honestly and integrity of the candidate and the candidate’s war record. Clark has honored McCain’s service but questions how that applies to the job as president. Even if we write off a few of McCain’s years of experience, he has many years to spare.
Posted by: X marks the spot | July 2, 2008, 9:35 am 9:35 am
It’s amazing how remarkably PATHETIC a sense of deduction some folks have on this board.
Obama is not “approving” of Clark’s comment. His rejection still stands. What he is saying is that he doesn’t think Clark said it with the intent of attacking McCains character, which is true.
You cons talk about the erosion of dialogue due to political correctness, yet you come back with this false indignation every time somebody says something that isn’t glowingly positive about someones’ military service…
…unless of course, that someone is a democrat running for office, in which case you can’t hit low enough.
In the context of the interviewers’ question, Clark was spot on.
Posted by: RobSoLF | July 2, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am
McCain obviously was not staying in the same prison camp as Hogan’s Heroes and he had to bear a horrible personal burden there but Clark is right about his military service.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | July 2, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am
and for the record Mccain alone accounts for 1.8% (5/271) of the A4s lost by the Navy in Vietnam
Posted by: Jason | July 2, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Good Lord,
When did “the truth” stop being an absolute defense.
General Wesley Clark merely stated the truth and, I might add, the obvious.
The more damning question to ask about Sen. McCain’s military “heroics” is how 5 years as a POW may have forever affected your psyche, temperament and world view and whether such a person poses any special risk as the Commander of the most military might the world has ever seen.
Posted by: shelgirl | July 2, 2008, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Oh my,
Me thinks they protesteth too much.
Is it possible that McCain’s “getting caught” and ending up a prisoner who needed rescuing isn’t much of a military record of distinction to run on! Why is allowing your plane to get shot down so heroic. I would like to have some information on the mission McCain was on in which the plane was shot down.
They are protesting too much and making me think that where there is smoke there is fire. Maybe what we have here is a narrative. I mean, is every POW some heroic figure specially qualified to run the country or is it just McCain because of something he did that was truly remarkable.
By the way, the enemy did treat McCain with kid gloves because they knew who his father was so his camp days surely involved Tea and Chess just like his captor (endorser) claimed on the BBC.
I use to respect McCain, but at this point my respect is getting harder and harder to hold on to.
Posted by: shelgirl | July 2, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
After being periodically slapped around for “three or four days” by his captors who wanted military information from him, McCain called for an officer on his fourth day of captivity. He told the officer, “O.K., I’ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.” -U.S. News and World Report, May 14, 1973 article written by former POW John McCain
Posted by: Jason | July 2, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
It’s funny how McCain’s time in service is in question, when Barack hasn’t even served in the boy scouts, let alone the armed forces.
Posted by: Eric | July 2, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Mccain’s father and grandfather were admirals and he graduated at the bottom of his class in Annapolis and turned out to be a reckless pilot. It’s quite clear the only way he became a naval aviator was due to his father and grandfather’s accomplishments. Those who know, know that earning those wings requires the recruit to graduate at the very top of his class. Mccain was a flunkie at the Academy and his path to politics is reminicent of GWB.
General Clark is right, just because you were a POW doesn’t automatically qualify you to become CIC, even though as Americans, we should honor your service to this country.
Posted by: eddie nyc | July 2, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
McCain is not a “war hero”, he is a “war survivor”. His actions were not heroic. Ask the men that were imprisoned with him – they’re not campaigning for him. He gave up troop positions, planned sorties, secret ops and more in exchange for preferential treatment. He played chess, drank tea, and received perks that POWs who refused to give info did not receive. Tran Trong Duyet was the head of the Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi during the Vietnam war. We know it as the Hanoi Hilton. He was in charge of the prison during the POW years of McCain. Duyet is 75-years-old now and retired. He talked with the BBC recently and spoke affectionately of John McCain. He said he was his friend and that if he was an American, he would vote for him. Interesting relationship.
Posted by: Randi | July 2, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
I do not see any problem in Clark’s comments about “John McSame Bush.” The General has a constitutional right to speak him mind freely. End of story.
Posted by: ekanem | July 2, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
These are John McCain’s own words spoken on msnbc.com:
“I didn’t really love America until I was deprived of her company.”
See the video for yourself at:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/
Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.
Posted by: caliguy55 | July 2, 2008, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
it is impossible for obama to win in November and he has only himself, his wife, his hateful colleagues and his racist, sexist, arrogant, ignorant and naive supporters to blame…..of course, they will all try to blame anyone else for such failure, but that will only exacerbate their problems in life due to their inability to take responsibility for their own poor judgment and bad behavior
Posted by: chris | Jul 1, 2008 5:47:10 PM
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Gee, Chris, guess you do very little reading and a log of blogging. Obviously you do NOT KNOW that Senator Obama has very high support from people who plan on going to college, are in college, have bachelor degrees, masters degrees, and PHDs, and people who have good jobs. Hilliary attracted the people with highschool education or less, the hardworking White Americans, and the blue collar workers (who most likely have a only a highschool diploma or less?). Judging from these facts, I would say the intelligent, informed people are supporting Senator Obama. There are also the smart people who recognize McCain will only prolong the Bush-type of governance for at least another four years, something that will further destroy our country. I want to lift my country up and not tear it down further. How about you and others like yourself??
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Rocky…care to explain what isn’t informed exactly? I didn’t think so. We all know it is true…if you are going to be COMMANDER IN CHIEF of the military, you should have military experience. Obama has no military experience well unless you call befriending terrorists as “experience.” Obama needs to go…we are getting ready to go to war with Iran and the last thing we need is a terrorist sympathesizer in the White House lying to us like Obama does.
Posted by: chattyway
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Chattyway, do you think before you utter your foolishness? OR are you downright foolish?? Yes, the Bush administration is preparing for war with Iran, and guess what? Senator McCain is the one that said, “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran!!” It was Mr. Black, one of McCain’s main stratagists who claimed “another attack in U.S. soil would benefit McCain”. So, when you put all three of these statements, it looks like GWB and his administration, McCain, and Black are setting of the United States of America for another vicious attack by the terrorists. It is called “baiting our enemies”. Attacks by terrorists and other enemies are not a game and our leaders should now bait our enemies by making such statements. I hope and pray fervently Iran and our other enemies DO NOT TAKE THE BAIT!!! The rest of the country should do the same!!
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
had better jump on this one quickly as this may be a test of his response time. He can point out that not only was he a prisoner-of-war, he has much more relative experience than Obama.
Posted by: Susan
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Susan, McCain is also an old man, 25 years older than Obaman, soon to be 26 years older than Obama! Senator Obama was just a baby when McCain was 25 years old! Look where Senator Obama is at age 46! Where was McCain at age 46? I would say Senator Obama has accomplished much, much more in his 46 years years than McCain at had at the same age of 46. Yes, he had joined the Navy…only because his grandaddy and daddy had been admirals and most likely used their “Navy power” to get him into the Navy. McCain graduated #5 from the BOTTOM of his class, would that be a D minus?? McCain is not a bright or intellecual person; he is a conartist and NOT very truthful at all. He is using his being shot down and POW experiences as a basis for getting elected. Have any of us heard him talk about his ACTUAL Navy Service from him? I don’t think so, as he has never talked about it; it has all been about being shot down and being a POW. And even then, he does not give the details. Perhaps he can explain WHY her returned to his target which he had already bombed?? Perhaps he can explan WHY her was returning there, flying low and slow?? To my knowledge, the pilot returns to base immediately after accomplishing the mission given. Why didn’t McCain do that?? Prior to this mission, he had already been told he would NEVER make Admiral because he had brought shame to his father and grandfather, the Navy, and his country (I would venture to say McCain’s actual daily service was far from stellar). Did Captain McCain return to the target because HE KNEW he would automatically get promoted while in POW status?? Guess what? He DID GET PROMOTED!! HOWEVER, HE NEVER MADE ADMIRAL!! Many of you need to acquaint yourselves with the real McCain.
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Thinking – THAT PARTICULAR GI BILL WAS TERRIBLE. I APPLAUD MCCAIN FOR NOT VOTING FOR IT. IF YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE YOU WOULD AGREE. MCCAIN’S MILITARY EXPERIENCE WAS A EXAMPLE OF HOW HE ARRIVED AT DECICION.
Posted by: Temagami
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Temagami, have you read “that particular GI bill”? And JUSY WHY didn’t McCain vote it? Was it the entire bill? Was it a single item, or several? Please help us out here!
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
No they aren’t STUPID enough to do the Libeling and SLANDERING of McCain THEIRSELVES. THey are allowing CLARK to do it FOR THEM. And as for OBAMA, I will respect HIM when HE SERVES THIS COUNTRY in the MILITARY, the same as McCain HAS!
Posted by: debrarae
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Debrarae, have you SERVED in the military?? What branch? Where were you stationed?? Were you an officer or enlisted? What was your grade/rank? Did you gen an honorable discharge, or a general discharge? Or a dishonorable discharge? How long did you serve?? Why didn’t McCain ever make even a One Star General with 20 years in service?? Why was he told by his commander that he would NEVER be an admiral? I’ll tell you, because he had shamed his grandfather and father’ surname, McCain, both were admirals), he had shamed his unit, the Navy, and the United States!!! (From learning this information, I can only conclude McCain’s service was far less than stellar. Look it up, you’ll find it!! Anyone ever notice McCain NEVER talks about his actual service??? All he talks about his Viet Nam experience are he got shot down and was a POW. Think about it folks! Just what is McCain hiding??
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
No they aren’t STUPID enough to do the Libeling and SLANDERING of McCain THEIRSELVES. THey are allowing CLARK to do it FOR THEM. And as for OBAMA, I will respect HIM when HE SERVES THIS COUNTRY in the MILITARY, the same as McCain HAS!
Posted by: debrarae
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Debrarae, have you SERVED in the military?? What branch? Where were you stationed?? Were you an officer or enlisted? What was your grade/rank? Did you gen an honorable discharge, or a general discharge? Or a dishonorable discharge? How long did you serve?? Why didn’t McCain ever make even a One Star General with 20 years in service?? Why was he told by his commander that he would NEVER be an admiral? I’ll tell you, because he had shamed his grandfather and father’ surname, McCain, both were admirals), he had shamed his unit, the Navy, and the United States!!! (From learning this information, I can only conclude McCain’s service was far less than stellar and his conduct was below standard. Look it up, you’ll find it!! Anyone ever notice McCain NEVER talks about his actual service??? All he talks about his Viet Nam experience are he got shot down and was a POW. Think about it folks! Just what is McCain hiding??
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
WHY don’t we all just fess up and admit that Obama could very well be the Beast or the Man of Perdition we are told about in the Bible. His campain tactics certainly tells us so.
Posted by: Dennis
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Senator Obama could also be God’s will and answer to keep America from falling. Since you mention the “Bible”, you would also know that God does choose certain people to do His work for Him here on earth and it doesn’t mean only pastors, priests, rabbies, etc. Do you remember reading how he sent his ONLY begotten son to save our souls from sin?? Remember how Jesus was rejected and crucified? Since that time, God has not sent Jesus back to earth, he has not sent the Messiah (although Clinton supporters DID call Senator Obama the Messiah). God has sent others with the wherewithall and the talents to do great things for this country and the world! Look at the astronaughts, they are very unique in their field. Look at the founder of Pennicillin. Look at the heart surgeons and brain surgeons who have saved countless lives. I believe Senator Obama falls into this category of chosen people to lead our country and our citizens into a better and more prosperous and a better humanity. Right now, everything seems to be chaotic in how we are seen by other world leaders, the poor are poorer, the middleclass are poor, and the only ones that seem to be getting wealthier are the top five percent—people like the Clintons, large corporation CEOS, etc. I believe God wants better for America, don’t you??
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
General (4 Star) Clark is NOT part of Senator Obama’s campaign, he is a supporter like the rest of us. What he says, which, by the way, I agree, has nothing directly to do with Senator Obama or his campaign. Just like the rest of the citizenry, and those on these blogs, he has the FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO VOICE HIS OPINION. Isn’t that what you all are doing here?? And you guys not only lie about Senator Omama, you actually SLANDER him. So, it comes down to: I can say whatever I want about a candidate (Obama), I can lie, I can distort, I can slander, I can call him him vicious names and accuse him of vicious deeds, but bygolly, General Clark cannot say anything about a candidate (McCain)even if it is the truth!! Isn’t that double standards that you are trying to impose on those who disagree with McCain?? You have Freedom of Speech, but those who disagree with you and McCain do NOT?? Guess this is not the United States our forefathers had in mind. They wanted ALL OF US to have freedom of speech, not just the Obama haters.
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
These are John McCain’s own words spoken on msnbc.com:
“I didn’t really love America until I was deprived of her company.”
See the video for yourself at:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/
Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.
Posted by: caliguy55 | Jul 2, 2008 3:10:17 PM
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This should be sent to Cindi McCain since she cannot seem to let go of Michelle’s comment, “….For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country….” By the way, neither can McCain and his campaign. What hypocrites!! Guess McCain is telling us he never really loved his country until he became a POW. And if he really didn’t love his country, then it stands to reason he has never been proud of her until he became a POW.
Posted by: NinaK | July 2, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
NinaK.
No, it was the section of the bill that would reward newer members at the expense of the older members – which McCain felt would discourage re-enlistments. Like many bills, there are good and not so good points, but the media does not do a very good job in analyzing the finer points – so it often turns into a politican football as in McCain’s case.
Posted by: Temagami | July 2, 2008, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
As a Rep and a McCain supporter, I would encourage all the Obama bloggers to continue to knock McCain’s service record. Besides defying logic, there is mounting evidence to suggest a major backlash mounting on the issue in favor of McCain. My guess is that since the issue highlights the fact that Obama has never served in the military, he probably wishes for it to disappear.
Posted by: Temagami | July 2, 2008, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Wasn’t General Clark for Hillary before he was for BHO? Clark is a self-serving nutcase anyway. Head on back to Arkansas with the rest of your pals, Wes!
Posted by: Long Johnson | July 6, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am