General Wesley Clark on ABC's Good Morning America
July 1. 2008
transcript by Reg NYC
Robin Roberts: As you know the McCain and Obama camps are divided on most things, but they have agreed on one, that the comment made by retired General Wesley Clark was out of line, a comment he is not backing down from. General Clark joins us now live from Little Rock, Arkansas for a morning exclusive. General, thank you very much for joining us-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, thanks Diane for-
Robin Roberts: -this morning.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -giving me a chance to make sure Americans understand that as a retired serviceman, someone who came home from Vietnam on a stretcher, someone who spent 38 years in uniform, someone who's worked his way up through the ranks of the United States Armed Forces, I would never disv- discredit anyone who chose to wear the uniform. I fully respect John McCain and his service, and I said so repeatedly. My point is that there's a difference in preparing yourself for the highest office in the land depending on which levels you've served at in the Armed Forces. John McCain as a young officer demonstrated courage and character, but the service as President is about judgement. And the experience that he had as a fighter pilot isn't the same as having been at the highest levels of the military and having to make- work with the President and other heads of state and make those kinds of life or death decisions about national strategic issues.
Robin Roberts: W-we'll go on with that. And first of all, I want to let you know you're talking to Robin. Diane and I look and sound-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Oh, I'm so sorry.
Robin Roberts: -very much alike, but just separated at birth.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I couldn't-
Robin Roberts: Separated at birth, but just wanted to make sure-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm sorry.
(laughter in the studio)
Robin Roberts: But, but minor, minor. I understand what you're saying, General, but someone who's had the experience that Senator McCain has had, if you're Commander in Chief and you're sending soldiers into war, having that kind of experience, isn't it better than having no experience at all in the military?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think it depends on how you use that experience and what your judgement is. And so, what I've seen is that- and I'm supporting Barack Obama, as I've said, because I think he's shown superior judgement. And I don't want to get into a critique here on John McCain's judgement, but what I do want to say is I think it's a matter of judgement. If you've learned from the experience and your judgement is proved out, then that's well and good, but if you've had the experience and your judgement still doesn't give you the best decisions for national security... And so, my point is I hope the American people will discriminate between someone's early experiences and the kind of judgement they've taken away from those experiences.
Robin Roberts: Want to play for you S- as you can imagine, Senator McCl- McCain was, was quick to respond and, and this is what he said yesterday:
John McCain (on tape): That's the kind of campaign that Senator Obama and his surrogates and his supporters want to gauge, I understand that, but it doesn't reduce the price of a gallon of gas by one penny.
Robin Roberts: General Clark-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well-
Robin Roberts: -do you feel like that you owe Senator McCain an apology?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, Robin, I want to say first that Senator Obama had nothing to do with this. These are comments that I was asked about several months ago in terms of me as a retired military officer assessing John McCain's qualifications. And so, I was on the Sunday interview show, the interviewer brought them up. He actually asked me the question. He's the one who stated it "climbed into an airplane and got shot down." All I did was directly respond to the question. So, I'm very sorry that this has distracted from the message of patriotism that Senator Obama wants to put out, but I want to make very clear that as a Democrat and as a former Army officer I fully respect Senator McCain and all others who've served and especially now on this Fourth of July. I think, you know, our country's achieved its independence because men and will- women were willing to sacrifice for it, and I honor every one of our veterans and those who are service today.
Robin Roberts: General, you have been thought to be on the short list to be Senator Obama's running mate. Do you feel that you deserve to still be on that list? Do you think comments like this-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I don't know anything .... Look, I don't know anything about it. All I know is that, you know, I've, I served 38 years in uniform. I'm proud of my service, and I was asked to give my opinion about professional qualifications based on my experience. And I've served at both levels. I was a junior officer. I did come back from Vietnam on a stretcher. And I served as a commander at the highest levels. I worked with heads of state, heads of government and with heads of armed forces in the Balkans and in the Kosova campaign. So, I have some appreciation for both levels of command and the qualities it takes at the top, and I simply say it's a matter of judgement. Experience? Yes, it's important. It shows character and, and courage, but on the other hand there are other ways to show character and courage than by having been in the Armed Forces. So, I think what the American people really want in a President is a man with good judgement, or a woman with good judgement.
Robin Roberts: General Wesley Clark, thank you very much for your time this morning.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you. Thank you very much. Pleasure to-
