The Democrats new tactic: Attack McCain's Military Service - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

yeahYeah · 06-30-2008, 06:59 AM

Democrat with military background assails McCain's credentials - International Herald Tribune

Quote:

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.

Some on left target McCain's war record - Ben Smith - Politico.com

Quote:

Lt. Cdr. John S. McCain III limps down ramp for a welcome as he arrives at Clark Air Base in The Philippines, March 14, 1973 from captivity in Hanoi.
Photo: AP

The highest voltage third rail of this presidential campaign may not be race, sex, or age, but Senator John McCain's military service.

McCain's campaign Sunday issued a pair of outraged statements after retired general and Barack Obama supporter Wesley Clark said he didn't think that McCain’s service as a fighter pilot and prisoner of war was relevant to running the country. Obama has consistently praised McCain's service, and called him "a genuine American hero."

But farther to the left—and among some of McCain's conservative enemies as well—harsher attacks are circulating. Critics have accused McCain of war crimes for bombing targets in Hanoi in the 1960s. Sunday, a widely read liberal blog accused McCain of "disloyalty" during his captivity in Vietnam for his coerced participation in propaganda films and interviews after he’d been tortured.

"A lot of people don't know… that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity," wrote Americablog's John Aravosis. "Putting that bit of disloyalty aside, what exactly is McCain's military experience that prepares him for being commander in chief?"

Are they this stupid? The party running a guy who has zippo military experience is going after a guy who spent 5+ years in the Hanoi Hilton? Have they gone mad?

Micky · 06-30-2008, 07:08 AM

"The retired general Wesley Clark said McCain had not "held executive responsibility" and had not commanded troops in wartime."

So, exactly what executive responsibility has Obama had? And, what troops has he ever commanded?

yeahYeah · 06-30-2008, 07:13 AM

My point exactly...how can one of Obama's disciple go on the air and attack McCain when Obama himself has never held a gun.

bigun · 06-30-2008, 07:13 AM

Check out Clarks military record, He's no boy scout and has been a little too cozy with Hillary for quite a while.

**Powerman** · 06-30-2008, 07:27 AM

Wtf???

Brickboy240 · 06-30-2008, 08:43 AM

Wasn't Wesley Clark FIRED by Bill Clinton?

Why could Wesley Clark have ANY credibility or the gall to comment on McCains' military record?

Amazing...but not above the left who is doing whatever it takes to smear and win an election.

- Brickboy240

bigun · 06-30-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Wasn't Wesley Clark FIRED by Bill Clinton?

Why could Wesley Clark have ANY credibility or the gall to comment on McCains' military record?

Amazing...but not above the left who is doing whatever it takes to smear and win an election.

- Brickboy240

He was removed from his post and asked to retire. A fellow NATO commander described him as grossly incompetent and to save Clinton the embarassment of a public firing ala Truman/MacAurthur he quietly moved aside. And has been a military advisor to the Clintons ever since. He has aspirations of a high appointment or possibly running for office himself. If Obama gets elected expect to see a lot of him.

Green Man · 06-30-2008, 12:27 PM

Attacking John Kerry's military record helped Republicans win in 2004, so Democrats are trying the same thing in 2008.

yeahYeah · 06-30-2008, 12:29 PM

The difference is that Kerry spoke ill of the military, undermined it, hung with Fonda...McCain didn't.

Green Man · 06-30-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeahYeah

The difference is that Kerry spoke ill of the military, undermined it, hung with Fonda...McCain didn't.

No one cares about the differences. If it worked in 2004, there is a chance it could work in 2008.

06-30-2008, 07:08 AM	#2
Micky XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 115	"The retired general Wesley Clark said McCain had not "held executive responsibility" and had not commanded troops in wartime." So, exactly what executive responsibility has Obama had? And, what troops has he ever commanded? __________________ http://www.mccreaoutdoors.com

06-30-2008, 07:13 AM	#3
yeahYeah XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vegas Posts: 5,186	My point exactly...how can one of Obama's disciple go on the air and attack McCain when Obama himself has never held a gun. __________________ MOΛΩN ΛABÉ Beware the fury of a patient man. - John Dryden

06-30-2008, 07:13 AM	#4
bigun XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 2,557	Check out Clarks military record, He's no boy scout and has been a little too cozy with Hillary for quite a while. __________________ Remington Rand 1911A1, Kimber Pro CDP 2, Kimber Custom Target, Ruger mark2 Govt model with Bushnell Holo site, Beretta 92D 9mm, Kahr K-40, Coming soon Kimber Warrior or Springfield Operator.

06-30-2008, 07:27 AM	#5
Powerman XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,451	Wtf??? __________________ XD-45 service Springer Trigger job TFOs Coal... Improving our lives one degree at a time.

06-30-2008, 08:43 AM	#6
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 8,974	Wasn't Wesley Clark FIRED by Bill Clinton? Why could Wesley Clark have ANY credibility or the gall to comment on McCains' military record? Amazing...but not above the left who is doing whatever it takes to smear and win an election. - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick!

06-30-2008, 12:27 PM	#8
Green Man XDTalk Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 44	Attacking John Kerry's military record helped Republicans win in 2004, so Democrats are trying the same thing in 2008.

06-30-2008, 12:29 PM	#9
yeahYeah XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vegas Posts: 5,186	The difference is that Kerry spoke ill of the military, undermined it, hung with Fonda...McCain didn't. __________________ MOΛΩN ΛABÉ Beware the fury of a patient man. - John Dryden

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