6/29/08: General Wesley Clark on CBS's Face the Nation
Submitted by Kat on June 29, 2008 - 1:02pm.
Direct link to Quicktime
Direct link to MP3 (audio only)
UPDATED with Transcript
Bob Schieffer: With us now from Little Rock, Arkansas Retired General Wesley Clark. He was for Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Once Hillary was out of it, he announced that he was supporting Barack Obama. And let's get right to it here, General. You heard what Senator Lieberman said. He said that Barack Obama is simply more ready to be President than, than Barack Obama. (sic)
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think Bar- I think Joe has it exactly backwards here. I think being President is, is about having good judgment. It's about the ability to communicate. As one of the great Presidential historians Richard Newsted said, "The greatest power of the Presidency is the power to persuade." And what Barack Obama brings is incredible communication skills, proven judgment. You look at his meteoric rise in politics, and you see a guy who deals with people well, who understands issues, who brings people together and who has good judgment in moving forward. And I think what we need to do, Bob, is we need to stop talking about the old politics of left and right, and we need to pull together and move the country forward. And I think that's what Barack Obama will do for America.
Bob Schieffer: Well you, you went so far as to say that you thought John McCain was, quote, and these are your words, "untested and untried," And I must say I, I had to read that twice, because you're talking about somebody who was a prisoner of war. He was a squadron commander of the largest squadron in the Navy. He's been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for lo these many years. How can you say that John McCain is un- untested and untried? General?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents, and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in Air- in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, 'I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle it-'
Bob Schieffer: Well-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: ' -it publicly.' He hasn't made those calls, Bob.
Bob Schieffer: Well, well, General, maybe-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: So-
Bob Schieffer: Could I just interrupt you. If-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Sure.
Bob Schieffer: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.
Bob Schieffer: Really?!
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But Barack is not, he is not running on the fact that he has made these national security pronouncements. He's running on his other strengths. He's running on the strengths of character, on the strengths of his communication skills, on the strengths of his judgment. And those are qualities that we seek in our national leadership.
Bob Schieffer: Well, let me ask you this. Senator Obama announced yesterday that he's going to Europe and to the Middle East. Most people think that he'll probably stop off in Iraq where he hasn't been in more than two years. Why now?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think this is a good opportunity. It's a window of time. The Convention is late in the calendar this year, and he's got the window of time to go overseas, meet with foreign leaders. You know, we were meeting with him the other day and as he said he doesn't want to count his chickens before he, before they hatch. But he recognizes this country is in such a plight, both at home and abroad that no one can contemplate taking the office of the Presidency without having some very good ideas about what needs to be done from the get-go. There's not a learning period in this job. The next President's going to have to step right into the job. He's going to have to have the policies there. And I think Barack is taking a, a very sensible view of this by going abroad and meeting firsthand the leaders at this critical moment in, in times of America's needs abroad.
Bob Schieffer: General, what do you think would be the impact, let's say on Iran, on the neighborhood around Iraq if in fact Senator Obama is elected and he does announce that he's going to bring back the troops on a specific time schedule? As Senator Lieberman said, he's totally discounting things that could happen along the way. Would he follow that schedule no matter what?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think Barack Obama is discounting things that have happened along the way. I think the critique is more like this, Bob, that the Bush administration and Joe Lieberman in the forefront have from the beginning relied excessively on military force as the answer to all the nation's security problems. And what Barack Obama understands is that military force may have to be used as a last resort, but it's not the first resort. So, let's take the case of Iraq. This administration went to a war it didn't really have to fight. Barack Obama called it like it was at the time in a speech early on before we went into Iraq. And once there, the administration relied excessively on the men and women in uniform. It failed to put in place the overarching diplomatic strategy and the regional strategy that was necessary to deal with Iraq's neighbors. It more or less invited Iranian incursions by threatening that Ira- Iran and Syria were next on the hit list in military actions and, and efforts in the region without having an effective strategy in the region. So, when we talk about troop withdrawals from Iraq, yes, I think the major muscle movement for the United States needs to be less reliance on military power and more reliance on all the other tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy. So, it's within that vein that Barack Obama is talking about pulling troops back from Iraq. It doesn't mean that he's not going to be sensitive to other actions in the region. He's going to be much more sensitive to those actions than the kind of mechanistic, militaristic response that John McCain has habitually given. What I can foresee-
Bob Schieffer: Could I ask-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -from an Obama campaign is a regional strategy that does include dialog with all of Iraq's neighbors and in which the military component is one part of an overarching strategy to protect American interests.
Bob Schieffer: Do you think that Barack Obama's going to put Hillary Clinton on the ticket? Would that be a good thing, General?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'd love to see Hillary Clinton on that ticket, but- I have a lot of respect for Hillary. I've known her for a long time. I think she's an outstanding person. But I think that's a decision that, that Barack Obama himself is going to have to make, and I'm sure he's weighing that decision.
Bob Schieffer: Alright. Well, General, thank you so much for being with us this morning.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you.
Bob Schieffer: Hope we can talk to you again along the way....
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you, Bob.
If you haven't voted yet, here's the link!
Now that I see the video, I see he said "for America" not "as President."
A Clark supporter on another forum just made the observation that there seemed a twinkle in Wes's eye when the subject of vp was addressed...
"but".... "...and I'm sure he's weighing that decision."
I thought I detected it also...but wouldn't want to read in or anything
*twinkle*twinkle*
:)
Wes was great! As per usual.
Where does HE get off interrupting General Clark????
I used the FTN feedback form.
It was interesting to hear General Wesley Clark dispute the commonly accepted notion that John McCain has special training or capability, by virtue of being a prisoner of war, to serve as President of the United States. This notion has too readily been repeated by media pundits and journalists. His legislative record does not reflect the myth of a champion of the military.
John McCain opposed legislation expanding GI benefits to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, skipped the vote on it, then skipped voting on the supplemental budget paying for it. Yes, McCain opposed the GI Bill that passed, the bipartisan Webb-Hagel GI Bill, pushing a version that favored career military over veterans, as desired by President Bush. He skipped the vote on the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, lauded by Veterans groups for its overwhelming 75-22 vote and as "a historic victory for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans." McCain skipped the vote on the spending bill, which passed by an even more overwhelming 92 to 6.
Now, we know he doesn't know the price of gas, something else he has had a lot to say about; we know he doesn't remember to pay his taxes, so fiscal responsibility is not his long suit; but isn't he supposed to know something about the military and war veterans?
The public needs to hear more about John McCain's legislative record related to the military and less about his own military service. When he voted to go to war in Iraq, putting our soldiers in harm's way for a pack of lies, he showed a failure of judgment of such epic proportion and disastrous consequence that he should be too ashamed to think he can lead the country anywhere or act as a credible commander in chief any time .
At minimum, McCain has to know, when he claims credit for new GI benefits, that he did not support the legislation that provided those benefits for our veterans. Let's have some straight talk out of the "Straight Talk Express" and the media, too.
Thank you.
---------------------
I am asking you to come together and make sure Barack Obama is our next president. This is a critical mission. - Wes Clark
n/t
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
are purposely mischaracterizing what WKC said.
Here's the link.....
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11425.html
it's also posted over at "Hot Headlines".
Time to rally the troops!
"I guess we can see from the fact that you've got Lieberman on the front page which side you're on. It's General Wesley Clark, by the way; there is no "e" in Clark. If you're going to be biased, you might want to hide it a little bit by at least spelling the other side's names correctly."
If you click through to the Lieberman video, you'll see Wes's name is also spelled wrong there in addition to on the Face the Nation hompeage.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/ftn/main3460.shtml
We learn. We change. That's progress. If we don't do that, well, we're GWB.
Wes was badly short-changed. Lieberman got 11 minutes of airtime to Wes's 7. That's a long time in a half-hour show.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
which I forgot to include on my memory tie list lol.
I think overall the show was leaning more on Sen. Lieberman and Sen. McCain–making them look good.
General Clark Says McCain Oversold Navy Experience
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aXcOoughoRFQ&refer=politics
The experiences of a mediocre to poor Naval Fighter Pilot Captain DO NOT equate to anything necessary to run this country. Especially one who is about the mental equivalent of Chimpy.
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
It now reads: "Clark hits McCain's military credentials"
myDD:
Gen. Wesley Clark Nails McCain on Face The Nation
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/6/29/163315/535
and
dKos
Saluting Gen. Wesley Clar
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/29/16299/5511/316/543797
MyDD's comments are much more negative than those at Kos regarding Clark's comments. We'll see tomorrow what the MSM has to say. Keep your knives sharp.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Funny...Lots of Hillary people I know have abandaned MyDD along with Kos, for the same reason.
So the PUMAs aren't willing to join in a McCain-thrash if it helps Obama? Pity...
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
clearly the majority of Hillary supporters are not PUMA sympathizers, Stan
I was only making a point as to why PUMAs might not be sympathetic to Wes,
who was NOT thrashing McCain, but rather pointing out the fact that his military career did not make him qualified for the presidency as McCain would have everyone believe...
huge leaps again Stan?
correct me if I'm wrong
edit: ah! but how they DO love Wes at Kos
another Clark diary
Clark: McCain No Expert! Where Is The MSM?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/29/21124/9721/220/543893
Sybil, all I did was make an observation and ask a question. Huge leaps? What the hell are you talking about?
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
By the way, today's reactions at MyDD, in two different diaries, are much more positive than yesterday's.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
and all I can say, I didn't believe what Sen. Lieberman said... to put it plainly, great salesperson. He used fear tactic and bringing back 9-11 (which at this point should be left alone and not misused anymore).
Well, Gen. Clark was ready for Sen. Lieberman, and I am glad someone had to put things into perspective and did a great job walking on the fine line.
I guess experience is not included anymore, what else are we going to narrow it down to? Which I think it's pretty worrisome...
Not sure how Sen. Obama is going to handle national security but I hope he chooses a very good advisor, and I hope it's going to be Gen. Clark or is he already consulting Sen. Obama on that?
General Clark was introduced by CBS as one of Obama's chief foreign policy advisors. That surprised me, but I hope he's got Barack's ear...
long time no "see". Glad you're here again!
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
LIEberman made the point to essentially say that appointing 2 justices to the Supreme Court was a trivial matter - that the next 4 years of the presidency was much more important than a DECADES-long appointment to the Court. Unbelievable!
I have read several of the blogs about Clark's appearance on Face the Nation, and particulary the comment about McCain being shot down from an airplane is not a qualification for president. Every blog I have seen implies that Clark just came out with that statement spontaneously when talking about McCain. The context of his remark does not support this inference. When Clark was talking about McCain's lack of executive experience and policymaking in wartime decisions, Bob Schieffer said that Barack Obama does not have these experiences, and in particular he noted that Obama has not "ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-" Only then did Clark say that being shot down does not qualify one to be president. Clark was not belittling McCain at all. Rather, he was refuting Schieffer's suggestion that being shot done in a war plane somehow related to national security qualifications for president. Moreover, his response was simple common sense, and certainly not a cheap shot as many in the blogosphere suggest.
But here we go again. Let them come at Clark, Please. He's doing a valuable service for the Democrats once again.
Wesley Clark assails McCain's credentials...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/29/america/campaign.php
Retired general Wesley Clarke, right, is considered a possible Democratic vice presidential candidate. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
Democrat with military background assails McCain's credentials
By Brian Knowlton
Published: June 29, 2008
WASHINGTON: "With Senator Barack Obama planning to visit the Middle East and Europe in an apparent effort to burnish his foreign policy credentials, the credentials of his likely presidential rival, Senator John McCain, came under sharp attack Sunday from a man considered a possible Democratic vice presidential candidate.
The retired general Wesley Clark said McCain had not "held executive responsibility" and had not commanded troops in wartime.
McCain's experience in Vietnam, where he was a prisoner of war for five years, has seemed at times almost to grant him invulnerability to criticism of his security background. But on Sunday he was assailed by a fellow military man, a highly decorated one who was once the NATO supreme commander.
McCain frequently points out that he led "the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy," but Clark said on CBS television that that was not enough to support a claim to the presidency.
"He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall" as a wartime commander, the general said on CBS. Clark is mentioned as a possible Obama running mate, although he originally supported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton..."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/clark_mccain_experiance/2008/06/29/108401.html
Gen. Wesley Clark: McCain Lacks Command Experience
Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:00 PM
"Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate now supporting Barack Obama, said Sunday John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief.
Underscoring during a national television appearance a position he has been expressing for several weeks, Clark said performing heroic military service is not a substitute for gaining command experience.
"In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.
"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn't held executive responsibility," Clark said. "That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded _ that wasn't a wartime squadron."
Moderator Bob Schieffer, who raised the issue by citing similar remarks Clark has made previously, noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied..."
is actually reasonably fair. Puts the "hasn't been shot down" comment in context and even makes sure it highlights the fact Clark is talking about a lack of command experience, not "slamming McCain's military record" blah, blah, blah.
And it notes that Clark has been expressing this position for several weeks.
Given it's normally a wingnut leaning source, I think that's an encouraging sign.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
saw a report over on DailyKos this morning that Obama may be leaving Wes to dangle in the wind on this one...will see how this plays out today.
As I type, this morning's crew of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC has been criticizing Wes Clark for his McCain comments on Face the Nation. Andrea Mitchell said his comments were "dumb" and that meant he wouldn't be on the short list for VP. I just sent the show the e-mail below:
"I agree 100% with Gen. Wes Clark regarding his comments on John McCain. Wes Clark just told the obvious truth. McCain's being a brave prisoner of war does not qualify him to be president. There were many brave prisoners of war. Does that mean you can put their names in a hat and pick out anyone to be President? No. Therefore, I completely disagree with Andrea Mitchell that Clark's comment was "dumb." Instead, it was very smart and courageous. Somebody has to have the guts to state the obvious, regardless of the silly, negative reactions of the commentating press, who would rather stir up meaningless controversy than discuss the issues in depth. Good for Wes Clark, a stand-up guy who has the credentials and the courage to speak the truth!"
Not only were the MoJo heads (even Buchanan, who should be smarter), trashing WKC's comments--clearly taking them out of context, and with no comprehension--but Robert Gibbs threw Clark under the bus--Clark is Obama's greatest gift re McCain--but Gibbs doesn't get it. Idiots and wimps, imo.
and McCain person Dvis almost accused Clark of swiftboating his man.
I truly, truly hope the General does not back down on this. He is very, very right.
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
night (E. Steven Collins is a long time Obama supporter as well as a being a Democratic radio talk show host):
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/29/cnr.04.html
CNN NEWSROOM
Two Medical Helicopters Collided in Midair; A Respected Military Leader Dissing John McCain's Military Record; Barack Obama Too Conservative? Two Medical Helicopters Collided in Midair; Condi Rice Left South Korea but the Riots Still There; North Pole Reportedly Melting; Fueling Station for Hydrogen Cars
Aired June 29, 2008 - 22:00 ET
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: "All right. There's a new story that's coming in to us tonight that's no doubt going to reverberate for days, if not weeks. Here it is. A respected military leader dissing, some might say, swift-boating John McCain's military record.
Retired General Wesley Clark is a Barack Obama supporter we should note, and has even been mentioned by some as a possible VP. He held firm on CBS this morning that McCain's military service does not qualify the senator to be president. Here's what happened when Clark was questioned about that comment that he's made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), OBAMA SUPPORTER: I'll have to say Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Republican strategist Renee Amore is joining us. Democrat and radio talk show host E. Steven Collins have become fixers for us here. How about it, guys? Was he right to make a comment like that?
RENEE AMOORE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Absolutely not, as far as I'm concerned, Rick. I mean, it didn't make sense to me at all. What has Obama really done?
SANCHEZ: But the question is, regardless of what Obama has done -- Steven, I'll take it to you. Was it disparaging in and of itself?
E. STEVEN COLLINS, DEMOCRAT/RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: He shouldn't have said it. I mean, I was at the National Constitution Center when the senator was here. And one of the biggest rounds of applause he got was when a person there stood up and said to him that they saluted him for his service to this country.
We all know how incredible his service has been and I think Barack Obama will distance it. I don't know why he actually said it. He is a respected retired general. And I think the real point he was making was, does the whole notion that because the senator has this war experience, somehow earn him special points to being an expert in foreign affairs and qualify him to be commander-in- chief.
I think that's the central issue countering this discussion that Barack Obama doesn't have the same kind of experience.
SANCHEZ: How about it, Renee?
AMOORE: No. I just think he wanted to downplay what the senator has done. And I think it's important for people to know what the senator has done. If people are aware of what he has done. You even said it as a big time Democrat.
You know, that he is to be respected when he was here in Philadelphia. People really applauded that particular piece for us. His war service and what he's done and how he's done it. So I definitely think he wanted to make it like it was not important.
COLLINS: But it still doesn't make him an expert in foreign policy.
AMOORE: But he's not saying he's an expert.
(CROSSTALK)
AMOORE: He understands it more. He understands it more than Barack Obama. I mean, he has not been in any situation.
COLLINS: I don't agree.
AMOORE: He has not told, you know, people when to bomb or not bomb, or when to go or not go. And that's what he used. That's what Wesley used.
SANCHEZ: Quick question, yes or no, before we go. Does this make Wesley Clark less likely to be a VP for Barack Obama?
AMOORE: He won't be a VP for Barack Obama.
COLLINS: I think Wesley Clark is not the issue. The issue is -- is Barack Obama able to create the kind of honesty forward -- foreign policy that's necessary and had all tough issues. What we can really look at is the continued support by Senator McCain for a very unnecessary and unpopular war that's costing us millions of dollars.
SANCHEZ: We are going to leave it there because now you're getting into your talking point.
AMOORE: He sure is.
SANCHEZ: I won't let you do that here.
AMOORE: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Steven, thanks so much..."
Lets start with the fact that the CNN transcript is wrong. The transcript, which you copied accurately, states:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), OBAMA SUPPORTER: I'll have to say Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
The first statement was not made by Clark, that was a comment/question from the CBS moderator. Clark's response is identified in the transcript as an "unidentified male."
Hopefully CNN showed the undoctored video when this was aired but even if they did that short sound bite removes all context and twists the meaning of the statement.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
This clip is exactly what I've been posting all over The Internets to counteract the out-of-context soundbite that everyone is responding to.
instead of trying to really defend him which is the main point that I was trying to make:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/29/cnr.04.html
CNN NEWSROOM
Two Medical Helicopters Collided in Midair; A Respected Military Leader Dissing John McCain's Military Record; Barack Obama Too Conservative? Two Medical Helicopters Collided in Midair; Condi Rice Left South Korea but the Riots Still There; North Pole Reportedly Melting; Fueling Station for Hydrogen Cars
Aired June 29, 2008 - 22:00 ET
E. STEVEN COLLINS, DEMOCRAT/RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: "He shouldn't have said it. I mean, I was at the National Constitution Center when the senator was here. And one of the biggest rounds of applause he got was when a person there stood up and said to him that they saluted him for his service to this country.
We all know how incredible his service has been and I think Barack Obama will distance it. I don't know why he actually said it. He is a respected retired general..."
Of course, CNN and everyone else should accurately quote Gen. Clark in context but what else can you expect from an overall biased mainstream media that has unfairly trashed both Hillary and Gen. Clark whenever they could?
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15872
The biased media that did a hit job on Hillary also did a hit job on Gen. Clark!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on June 24, 2008 - 2:38am.
John McCain, like Barack Obama, is also a "media darling" who many in the biased mainstream media love because of all the access that he gives to them!
There is a very good reason why John McCain is called "Teflon John" by Dan Abrams:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dA23mjiNQ
Phill Donahue: on Senator John McCain (Teflon John Seg) (8:26)
Added: April 08, 2008
April 07, 2008
MSNBC Dan Abrams
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/02/the-verdict-teflon-john/
The Verdict: Teflon John
By: Nicole Belle on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 PM - PDT
"Get the feeling that Dan Abrams reads the blogs? On Tuesday’s Verdict, Abrams introduced a new recurring segment: Teflon John, documenting all the ways that Republican presidential candidate John McCain gets a free ride from the mainstream media..."
Thanks, and I agree with you completely. I was disgusted by Robert Gibbs wimpy response and obvious lack of understanding of the value and importance of Wes Clark's support. In fact, I immediately e-mailed Obama's campaign and expressed my disappointment with this e-mail:
"I am very disappointed in your Communications Director Robert Gibbs' comments on "Morning Joe" because he did not back up Wes Clark's very accurate comments on John McCain's not being qualified to be president just because he got shot down during the Viet Nam War. Gibbs' distancing himself from Wes Clark is typical of Democrats "wimping out" every time it is necessary to take a stand against media manipulation and scurrilous attacks from the Republicans.
Instead of distancing yourselves from Wes Clark, who is the Democrat with the most meaningful military and foreign policy credentials, the Obama campaign should be treasuring and making the most of Wes Clark's support of your candidate. Wes Clark is obviously the only person who can fill the gaps in Barack Obama's resume`.
Get smart. Be like Wes Clark and speak the truth instead of pandering to the press that is out to get you no matter what you say. You are just playing into the hands of the Republicans and the media when your people act as submissively as Robert Gibbs did."
Gibbs' response was typical of the Democrats' constantly backing down every time the press says "Boo!" I am a registered Democrat, but I am constantly frustrated by the Democrats tentative demeanor in the face of assaults by the press. The Republicans are shameless, but the press rarely takes them to task for their aggressive behavior.
I have had MSNBC on since 6AM to see if they let up on this manufactured controversy. They are totally driving it into the ground and repeatedly using it as an excuse to pile on against Wes Clark as the VP choice. MSNBC, owned by Microsoft and General Electric, has no desire to see a Demcocratic administration. They apparently realize that Wes Clark is the only one who can fill in every gap in Barack Obama's resume` and want to eliminate Clark, who would be strong as the VP choice, through this meaningless controversy.
I would recommend that others contact the Obama campaign and the DNC to voice their disappointment over Gibbs' remarks.
should put to rest the notion that Wes is the VP choice. He's being used by the Obama campaign for a specific purpose. And he's never been to Bilderburg.
objecting to Gibb's statement is the very first thing I did this morning,
as an Obama/Clark '08 advocate
In his speech that was just broadcast, Obama just made a veiled criticism of Wes Clark, saying all people have to respect everyone's military service, including supporters of both campaigns, "full stop." This is ridiculous because Wes Clark never demeaned McCain's overall service. He just pointed out that McCain's service was not so all-encompassing that it qualifies him to be President.
Now an Obama spokesperson was just reported as saying Obama "rejects" Clark's comments. I was not an Obama supporter during the primaries, but I have been trying to "buck up" and support him now for the sake of winning the election in the fall. Obama's bowing to pressure in spite of Wes Clark's clearly justified comments, shows lack of backbone on Obama's part.
The next time Obama's campaign asks me for a campaign contribution, I will inform them of the very sizeable amount of money I contributed to Wes Clark's primary campaign in 2004 and that I do not intend to contribute to a candidate that does not value Wes Clark.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91KGP580&show_article=1
Obama: I will never question others' patriotism
Jun 30 12:37 PM US/Eastern
By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press Writer
"Obama also sought to tamp down controversy surrounding comments over the weekend from a supporter. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark said in a television appearance that the Vietnam War-era military service of John McCain, Obama's Republican opponent, does not necessarily qualify him to be commander in chief.
McCain was a fighter pilot who was captured and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years.
"Obama said that patriotism "must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice" and sought to distance himself from Clark's remarks without mentioning them.
"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."
Gen. Clark was NOT questioning McCain's patriotism BUT rather his qualifications to be commander in chief based on his military and his Senate service which he is running very strongly on!
I think that both Clark and Obama have done what they needed to do. From what I've seen so far (not first-hand, yet), Obama's "veiled criticism" is pretty mild.
I wish I knew Clark's schedule for today, wondering if he'll be asked to expand on yesterday's comments on any of the afternoon talk shows.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
in my opinion by clarifying the context of his comments which is that he was NOT questioning McCain's patriotism BUT rather his qualifications to be commander in chief based on his military and his Senate service which he is running very strongly on!
IF Obama is throwing Gen. Clark under the bus for something that the biased media is accusing him of which he very clearly did NOT do because it is politically convenient for him at the moment, then I will definitely NOT be happy!
I look forward to seeing how this plays out in the news cycle for the rest of the day!
It never fails to amaze me how the press gets away with inventing controversies where none exist. I blame the DNC and the Obama campaign for being complete cowards and kowtowing to the media when they should be "blasting" the media for distorting Clark's comments.
People really need to protest to the DNC and Obama campaign over this.
I've kept my mouth shut for a while, but this is disgusting.
Gen. Clark is the best the Democratic Party has and they're willing to throw him away like this?
Maybe Mrs. Clark was right in the beginning.
And it is disgusting....
"She hopes to open shadowed eyes on a different world...." Robert Smith, borrowed from Penelope Farmer
Obama has officially thrown Clark under the bus. According to CNN, a statement from Obama's Bill Burton says that Obama "rejects" Clark's comments. We'll probably from this point forward hear much more about the "rejection" than about what Clark actually said and its context.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
which I have compiled credible documentation of:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15872
The biased media that did a hit job on Hillary also did a hit job on Gen. Clark!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on June 24, 2008 - 2:38am.
So I am definitely not surprised for a moment to "hear much more about the "rejection" than about what Clark actually said and its context."
Unfortunately I am also not surprised to see Obama throw Gen. Clark under the bus because it is politically convenient for him at the moment. That is the exact same thing which he did to Jeremiah Wright and to the Trinity United Church of Christ when they were no longer politically convenient!
Obama also flip-flopped on campaign finance, being willing to debate McCain any time any place, gun control, FISA, and the definite promises that he made back in 2004 and in 2006:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Feingold_criticizes_Obama.html
June 19, 2008
Categories: Barack Obama
Feingold criticizes Obama
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15840
Obama first challenged McCain to debate so Obama needs be willing to debate now!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on June 19, 2008 - 1:55am.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Obama Flip-Flops on D.C. Gun Case, TODAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wu9jE1MnAE (1:32)
http://pol.moveon.org/immunity/080621obama.html
"Last year, after phone calls from MoveOn members and others, Obama went so far as to vow to "support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."4 We need him to honor that promise.
Can you call Senator Obama today and tell him you're counting on him to keep his word? Ask him to block any compromise that includes immunity for phone companies that helped Bush break the law..."
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/10648
TRANSCRIPT: Obama Promised one year ago Today NOT to run for President in 2008!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on January 22, 2007 - 2:23pm.
Please see this new post for an analysis of the situation:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15941
CNN is now reporting that Obama "rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark"
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on June 30, 2008 - 1:36pm.
my concerns - and so far, with one or two exceptions, they've not done a very good job at all.
Now this.
Until now, I figured I would vote for Obama, and possibly even support him if he or his supporters could satisfactorily deal with my concerns.
But this is just plain unacceptable. Within minutes of being criticized by the McCain campaign, they caved and threw an outstanding and hard working Progressive/Democrat/American/Soldier/Human under the bus rather than justifiably calling bs on the msm. It strikes me as incredibly poor judgment, especially considering O's idiotic initial defense of "Uncle" Jeremiah Wright (to mention just one example).
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
Wes was scheduled to speak in NC, but suddenly got a call to fly to Washington State and appear with Kerry. According to Clarkies who attended, Clark got on the stage and took on the swift-boaters. The crowd went wild....then....
Kerry's spokesman issued a statement saying, "Wes Clark did not speak for John Kerry".
Of course we all know how Kerry's wish-washy campaign turned out...
Obama has thrown Wes under the bus. I'd be willing to bet O didn't even watch or read what Wes actually said in response to a question asked of him, just as his campaign took what Bill Clinton said in SC about Jesse Jackson out of context. If Hillary had been the nominee, this experience question would have been moot and Wes would not have been put in this position.
Obama's nomination has now damaged Wes. This is exactly what I'd hoped to never see happen. So much for hope.
But I'm pissed off enough that I'm going to. Wes has been saying exactly this for weeks now and Obama continues to put him out there to say it. And now he denounces it??? What a sleaze. Either that or his campaign is completely incompetent and hasn't been noticing what Wes has been saying. I will not vote for this person.
We learn. We change. That's progress. If we don't do that, well, we're GWB.
(I hesitate since we can't really necessarily trust what the MSM broadcasts without hearing it directly), then this would confirm why some of us have been uneasy about the Obama "movement".
I'll have more to say if I hear an accurate quote directly from the Obama campaign or Obama himself...
You can find the links on Kos.
We learn. We change. That's progress. If we don't do that, well, we're GWB.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark"
===
That makes it official. I'm voting for McCain. Not so much a vote for McCain as a vote against the DNC and the spineless POS that they've selected as their nominee.
I could vote for someone else, but then that wouldn't really count in expressing my displeasure with the DNC.
McCain may be wrong on a lot of things, but at least he has a spine and doesn't bail out on those who are in battle with him.
That's what I'm going to do. Wes was talking about why voting for McCain was a bad idea yesterday. Voting for McCain is not the answer to O throwing Wes under the bus.
...they don't accept write-ins here
Can't vote for Nader since I totally disagree with his socialist bent on things.
In many ways I'm a Libertarian (fiscal conservative, socially tolerant), but I just can't vote for Barr.
A vote for McCain gets the most done in achieving the destruction of the Democratic party as it currently exists which is what it deserves.
Cynthia McKinney is the candidate. You can vote for a black woman for president. Since Texas will go for McCain, you don't need to help him get elected.
But I don't think there's any law that says I have to vote on the top of the ticket.
We learn. We change. That's progress. If we don't do that, well, we're GWB.
you're supporting? Like most dems he has no spine, as well as a lot of other things. He is lecturing GENERAL WESLEY CLARK on patriotism? I hope Wes tells him to "Kiss my ass." This defines a new order of "throwing someone under the bus."
From Yahoo:
"Obama also sought to tamp down controversy surrounding comments over the weekend from a supporter. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark said in a television appearance that the Vietnam War-era military service of John McCain, Obama's Republican opponent, does not necessarily qualify him to be commander in chief.
McCain was a fighter pilot who was captured and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years.
Obama said that patriotism "must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice" and sought to distance himself from Clark's remarks without mentioning them.
"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."
The comment drew loud applause.
At a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa., McCain was asked about Clark's comments.
"I think that that kind of thing is unnecessary," McCain said. "I'm proud of my record of service, I have plenty of friends, leaders who will attest to that.
"The important thing is if that's the kind of campaign Senator Obama and his surrogates and supporters want to engage in, I understand that. But it doesn't reduce the price of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer. Doesn't make any American stay in their home who's at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges Americans have in keeping their jobs, homes and supporting their families."
Separately, in a statement, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said, "As he's said many times before, Sen. Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
Great appearance- Looked terrific, with Wes at the top of his game. So presidential & the best spokesperson for the true national defense & real security interests of America in the world, respected by all sides.
Excellent remarks against McCain & the neo-con crew which Wes has been fighting, sometimes it felt single-handedly since long before this war.
If I were any Dem nominee, Wes Clark is exactly the man I would want at my right hand. He has the insight & analysis & creative problem-solving skills that have been tested & tried by long & difficult service.
Nobody does it better!
Thank you General Clark!