McCain: Editorials On Gen. Wesley Clark's Attack

"McCain's qualifications do not come from being shot down. They come from a career in military and foreign affairs in which McCain displayed an uncommon strength of character and developed a sound judgment in those fields, which are so critical to the United States in this dangerous world." -- The Union Leader

"Sometimes in politics you just can't have it both ways - well, you can, but then you run the risk of having no one believe anything you say." -- The Boston Herald

Clark On McCain: Keep Talking, General
Editorial
Union Leader
July 1, 2008

Here is how retired Gen. Wesley Clark chose to peddle Barack Obama for President over John McCain:

"(McCain) hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron. I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become President."

Hasn't held executive responsibility? Let's see, Obama's executive responsibilities have included what? Right. The answer is: nothing. And thank you, Gen. Clark, for pointing out that John McCain commanded the largest fighter squadron in the U.S. Navy. He didn't just command it; he turned it around.

"Although plagued by fatal accidents in the past, the squadron had no fatalities under his command . . . and won its first meritorious unit citation. Mr. McCain's success attracted notice among the admirals in Washington," The New York Times reported in 2000.

McCain's qualifications do not come from being shot down. They come from a career in military and foreign affairs in which McCain displayed an uncommon strength of character and developed a sound judgment in those fields, which are so critical to the United States in this dangerous world.

His opponent, a career lawyer and politician, has shown that his own judgment in those areas is naive and ill-considered. Clark highlights those differences every time he seeks to denigrate McCain's service.

Read The Union Leader Editorial

Words Vs. Reality About Patriotism
Editorial
Boston Herald July 1, 2008

Sometimes in politics you just can't have it both ways - well, you can, but then you run the risk of having no one believe anything you say.

So on the eve of a major July 4th week speech on patriotism by Sen. Barack Obama, one of his surrogates, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, questioned the premise that Sen. John McCain's military service qualified him to be commander in chief.

You'd think anyone connected to the Obama campaign just wouldn't want to go there, right? But you'd be wrong.

"In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," Clark said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions."
Moderator Bob Schieffer noted that Obama had no military experience.

"Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied.

So at a time when Obama hoped to put behind him questions about his patriotism - even as a flag pin is now a permanent fixture on his lapel - he was forced to address the dust-up created by Clark's comments.

And he did yesterday.

"Beyond a loyalty to America's ideals, beyond a willingness to dissent on behalf of those ideals, I also believe that patriotism must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice - to give up something we value on behalf of a larger cause. . . . 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. "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."

Well, we're not sure how the "both sides" reference applies here. Only one presidential candidate has a record of military service and of sacrifice. And only one side has attempted to disparage that record - often, in the case of Obama supporters in the blogosphere, in the most scurrilous fashion.

Apart from crossing Wes Clark's name off his list of vice presidential contenders, what else does Barack Obama intend to do to silence the loonies on the left who just can't seem to control their own worst impulses?

Read The Boston Herald Editorial