Clark: McCain not Qualified to be President

Gen. Wesley Clark, acting as a surrogate for Barack Obama’s campaign, invoked John McCain’s military service against him in one of the more personal attacks on the Republican presidential nominee this election cycle. 

After saying, "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 added that these experiences in no way qualify McCain to be president in his view:

“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 the Navy that he commanded — that wasn't a wartime squadron,” Clark said.

“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), also on CBS, was equally uncharitable towards Obama’s record on foreign policy as he continued to distance himself from his former party.

“Sen. Obama, unfortunately, like a lot of the Democratic leadership, continues to take a position that we ought to withdraw ... even though the new policy is working,” said Lieberman. “If we had done what Sen. Obama asked us to do for the last couple of years, today Iran and Al Qaeda would be in control of Iraq. It would be a terrible defeat for us and our allies in the Middle East and throughout the world.”

SENATOR BOB DOLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2008

SENATOR BOB DOLE STATEMENT

ON GENERAL WESLEY CLARK REMARKS

On CBS’s “Face the Nation” (June 29, 2008), General Wesley Clark (Ret.) called Republican presidential candidate John McCain “untested and untried,” claimed that Senator McCain had no “executive responsibility,” belittled his leadership of a Naval unit because it “wasn’t a wartime squadron,” and stated, “I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”  Senator Bob Dole issued the following statement:

“The attack by General Wesley Clark on Senator John McCain’s war record and qualifications for the presidency is beyond comprehension.  Clark’s absurd remarks signal further erosion in our nation’s political discourse.  He should have stayed in bed Sunday morning.

It’s unfortunate that a former General who ran for the presidency on his own war record thinks it appropriate to attack a distinguished veteran and former prisoner-of-war in this way.  Senator McCain’s entire life has been devoted to public service.  His achievement and experience constitute unparalleled qualification for America’s highest office.”

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Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, said that Clark's statement was "beyond comprehension" and his "absurd remarks signal further erosion in our nation’s political discourse.  He should have stayed in bed Sunday morning.

     "It’s unfortunate that a former general who ran for the presidency on his own war record thinks it appropriate to attack a distinguished veteran and former prisoner-of-war in this way.  Sen. McCain’s entire life has been devoted to public service.  His achievement and experience constitute unparalleled qualification for America’s highest office." 

This year, we're facing the most important election in a generation. As Americans, we must ask ourselves which candidate will bring about the change our country so desperately needs. In my opinion, Barack Obama is the only candidate with the judgment to move our country forward.

The disastrous consequences of George W. Bush's poor judgment over these last 7 1/2 years are all too apparent. Now, John McCain is offering 4 more years of Bush -- while Barack Obama offers the change in direction our country so desperately needs.

Barack had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq before it began, and he is ready to bring our troops home and end the occupation of Iraq in a responsible way. John McCain has said that American troops should be willing to stay in Iraq for 100 years.