The Wesley Clark "Scandal:" Democrats Get Sucked Into ....
Submitted by Kat on July 5, 2008 - 5:11pm.
The Wesley Clark "Scandal:" Democrats Get Sucked Into the Same Old Republican Trap
Andy Ostroy | July 5, 2008 | The Ostroy Report and The Huffington Post
General Wesley Clark created a tempest in a teapot during an appearance last Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation. Here's what the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe told host Bob Schieffer about the GOP's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain, when discussing his military record as relating to his quest for the presidency:
..."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.....He hasn't made the calls......I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."
Now here's what a key McCain surrogate, retired Col. George "Bud" Day, told reporters afterwards:
"This backhanded slap against John as not being a worthy warrior because he just got shot down is one of the more surprising insults in my military history."
But just exactly where is this major diss that Day is so sanctimoniously condemning? Where exactly is the part about McCain not being a "worthy warrior?" Don't waste your time looking, because it's not there. It's simply another "If you're against the war you're against the troops" framing job from the "do as I say, not as I do" crowd. We should remind Day of his own appearances in the morally-repugnant 2004 Swift Boat ads that attacked the military record of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry. "My view is he basically will go down in history sometime as the Benedict Arnold of 1971," the good patriotic colonel said of Kerry at the time.
In the wake of Clark's comments, Democrats immediately fell back into familiar patterns of subjugation and appeasement. The party's presumptive nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, was quick to throw Clark under the bus:
"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 inartful about Sen. McCain I don't think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night," he said in Zanesville. He then went on, as he's done so many times lately, to lavish such effusive praise on McCain and his military record that he could be on the Arizona Senator's payroll.
It's one thing when Republicans twist and distort the truth, but when Democrats do it to themselves, as Obama did this week, it's a mystery that's only explained by the party's gargantuan inability (unless your name is Clinton) to successfully fight back against the right-wing attack machine.
Here's what Obama should've said in defense of Clark:
"I stand behind Gen. Wesley Clark and agree that while my opponent's military record is indeed honorable and courageous, it does not in and of itself qualify him to be president of the United States or commander-in-chief. The right-wing's attempt to distort the General's very clear point is just another example of the Republican Party's desperate need, at any cost, to distract Americans from the harsh truths about the war, the economy and the fact that voters overwhelmingly are signaling they they want change in Washington come November."
Instead, Obama gave us another incredibly frustrating "I voted for the war before I voted against it" gaffe. He gave us his version of Kerry's embarrassing inability to fight the Swift Boat attacks. In what could've been a very seminal moment, Obama donned the familiar wuss-suit and once again demonstrated that Democrats just can't play rough.
You can bet your ass that if the situation were reversed, and it was Obama being attacked by the McCain camp, not only would McCain fail to publicly rebuke his surrogate, but he'd likely pile on for some cheap shots of his own. Why then do Democrats always have to take the higher ground? Why on Earth would Obama feel so compelled to condemn a loyal surrogate like Clark for something he didn't even say? It was as if he wanted so badly to appease McCain and his supporters that he forgot he's in the midst of a firce battle for the presidency. And it was one of those awfully frustrating Kumbaya moments that Democrats are unfortunately famous for. Moments that can ultimately kill an election.
In the past couple of weeks Obama has reversed course on a number of key issues in a centrist ploy to out-McCain McCain. Be careful, Barack, that and a few more episodes in the wuss-suit and you'll be waking up empty-handed November 5th.
...the "rank and file" are backing Wes up on this. Contrasts nicely with the deafening silence of Dem "leadership"
“No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her self.” - Susan B. Anthony, 1872
comment, that I haven't already said right?
Oh, what the hell...so I'll be gratuitous...
So, again, Dem Leadership...just where the hell are you on this? While we all agree disparaging a veteran's service is dispicable, why the hell won't you stick up for Wes' service, both to you, and to the country - and especially when the swiftboat groupies come out and say stupid (and untrue) things like "...well his last command was less than stellar..."
Less than stellar? He won!! And he managed not to get any American troops killed too!
"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
To the extent that something called "the Democratic leadership" even exists, they seem much more worried about pissing off Republicans than they are pissing off their own base. That turns out to be a lose-lose proposition. They're not going to win very many Republicans over, and they lose the very people who put them there.
Tom Peters used to tell a story about a major appliance manufacturer. A defect in one of its products had surfaced. The engineers looked at the risk of leaving the defect in place, the accountants figured out the cost of a fix, and the marketing people started developing the spin. They had concluded that it would be too costly to recall the product and fix them, and besides, not very many people would experience the problem. So they held a meeting with the CEO to outline their plans. It was a short meeting. "We have a defective product? Find them and fix them."
We need that kind of spinless spine in our leaders.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
==============================
Here's what Obama should've said in defense of Clark:
"I stand behind Gen. Wesley Clark and agree that while my opponent's military record is indeed honorable and courageous, it does not in and of itself qualify him to be president of the United States or commander-in-chief. The right-wing's attempt to distort the General's very clear point is just another example of the Republican Party's desperate need, at any cost, to distract Americans from the harsh truths about the war, the economy and the fact that voters overwhelmingly are signaling they they want change in Washington come November."
==============================
Now how hard is that? ^^
What incalculable risk lies inherent in a SIMPLE statement such as the above...? One that any intelligent and conscionable person, let alone a noted orator, could readily draft and deliver in but a few brief moments. It's even short enough to memorize. Fits into any busy schedule and shows respect, class and recognition and appreciation for those who are fending for you.
How hard is that?
can never say.
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
Not asking to bash, just haven't seen anything reported.
John 11:35
about Senator Clinton since the great "Unity" event. Kind of like -- Senator Who? Huh? Ya mean there was someone else running for the Dem nomination this year?
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16015#comment-314506
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
but I think she said she's on vacation. You should be asking, how many of the dem senators have said anything? Cripes, how many politicians, period? But if o is claiming to take over the party, then it's solely his responsiblity to make the CORRECT reply and not put the onus on someone else. The fact is, he's not much of a "leader."
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb
But I just wonder why she's even thought of at
all?? Why would she have a responsibility here?
It just concerns me that some people (and I don't
know about you) seem to want to compare her still
with Barack Obama to, I don't know, give him an
excuse for his failure?? Make it her fault
somehow that he wimped out?? A very strange
phenomenon to me, this frequent invoking of
Clinton. It doesn't matter what Clinton does
anymore. Obama has no one but himself to rely
on or to blame. It's all his now. And he's
not doing too well, in my opinion. But it has
nothing to do with Hillary. It's only Barack now.
TESTIMONIALS: Former Admirals, Generals and Senior Defense Officials on Why They Support Hillary Clinton to be the Next Commander-in-Chief
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Wes Clark: McCain Doesn't Have the Right Kind of Military Experience To Be Commander-in-Chief [Byron York]
On a just-finished conference call in which retired military leaders endorsed Hillary Clinton to be commander in chief, retired General Wesley Clark said John McCain's military experience is not the right kind of experience to command the nation's armed forces:
"In the national security business, the question is, do you have — when you have served in uniform, do you really have the relevant experience for making the decisions at the top that have to be made? Everybody admires John McCain's service as a fighter pilot, his courage as a prisoner of war. There's no issue there. He's a great man and an honorable man. But having served as a fighter pilot — and I know my experience as a company commander in Vietnam — that doesn’t prepare you to be commander-in-chief in terms of dealing with the national strategic issues that are involved. It may give you a feeling for what the troops are going through in the process, but it doesn't give you the experience first hand of the national strategic issues.
If you look at what Hillary Clinton has done during her time as the First Lady of the United States, her travel to 80 countries, her representing the U.S. abroad, plus her years in the Senate, I think she's the most experienced and capable person in the race, not only for representing am abroad, but for dealing with the tough issues of national security."
So you can see, Wes has been saying this for a very long time. The only difference in this one is he didn't mention him having been shot down. I'll look for a bit to see if I can find any audio of the call. No luck so far, only snippets.
SOURCE: The Corner
ANOTHER SOURCE (NOT Clark Friendly)WITH MORE CONTENT of the call: Pat Dollard
that punk or poser, whichever you prefer dissed WKC precisely because he was a high profile Clinton surrogate & loyalist, I think it is quite appropriate for the Clinton camp to stay mum right now.
And personally um I don't see them actually eagerly rushing to his defense considering the O! side pushed the fake racism meme against the best Dem pres we've had in living memory & trashed Bill simply to get to Hillary. Just like thinking he dealt WKC under the bus for similar reasons (to elminate a perceived threat) but in reality, Obama dealt away his chief potential ace thorough his own prideful ignorance. What a piteous fool.
I hear he's already looking into booking the Brandenburg Gate. He's bigger than The Beatles. (He thinks.)
I had hoped that Obama would support Clark. When he didn't I had hoped that other prominent Democrats, like Kerry, would support Clark. So far, mostly disappointment.
However, I think Hillary deserves a pass on this. She would probably be accused of interfering in the campaign (by the media), so it would be difficult for her to say anything.
On the other hand, it still would be nice if she does speak up. She can show Obama how it's done.
My guess is we won't see as much as a glimpse of her until the convention. Then she'll have to lie throught her teeth in supporting O' and his VP pick. Most likely Bayh.
I have come to like Evan Bayh more than I did a few months ago. I had very little exposure to him before this primary. That being said, that would be a senate seat loss in Indiana, much harder to get a GOP Governor to replace a Dem seat with a Dem.
I don't think he'd make too many Hillary supporters happy by choosing a woman.
When one of our senators (Republican) died last year, our governor (Democrat) was required by state statute to appoint another Republican.
Don't know about Indiana, but in my state the new senator for the vacated seat is appointed by the Governor in power and it does not have to be the same party as the one who vacated.
In Colorado, in case of a vacancy of a Senator, the state Central Committee of the party of the departed Senator constitutes itself as the Nominating Committee and appoints the replacement, guranteeing party continuity until the next regular election (even-numbered year).
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Sunday Talk Shows:
ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos"
Sen Joe Lieberman, CT
Sen Jack Reed, RI
frmr Rep Bob Barr, Libertarian presidential nominee
CBS "Face the Nation"
Sen John Kerry, MA
Sen Lindsey Graham, SC
CNN "Late Edition"
A special 10 yr anniversary edition
C-Span "Newsmakers"
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters
"Fox News w/Chris Wallace"
Fred Barnes
Mara Liasson, NPR
Bill Kristol
Juan Williams, NPR
NBC "Meet the Press":
Will not air - Wimbledon tennis coverage
No, he won't. He may not even be asked, but if he is, he can't question McCain's qualifications to be President based on his military experience without questioning his own qualifications to be President based on his own Viet Nam years.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
It costs Kerry nothing to defend Clark and would be very helpful to Clark and the Democratic party. Let's hope he does. Wes had his back in 2004, it's payback time.
but I have a feeling it will be another "dream on" moment.
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
I've been comparing Obama to Kerry for a while
now. Actually, he doesn't even have the class
that Kerry did. Which wasn't much. Thanks, Kat.