I heard this Wesley Clark clip on the radio today, and it was so stunning I actually turned to the radio with this face.
Schieffer: How can you say that John McCain is untested and untried? General?
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 publicly.' He hasn't made those calls, Bob.
Seriously. Upside down face.
Posted by Sarah at June 30, 2008 03:50 PM | TrackBackI am wondering whom Clark is trying to describe....according to him none, Obama isn't qualified either...nor Clinton...neither was Reagan...wait...Clark would be qualified....ahhh...I get it now...
Posted by: CaliValleyGirl at June 30, 2008 04:27 PMClark has a penchant for wearing turtlenecks under his sport coats.
That, to me, is a disqualifier for any office right there.
On the other hand, I think that this means Clark is out of the VP race and things are hinging on Tony McPeak.
The media didn't seem to mind when McPeak commented that McCain had gotten fat since his POW days.
Posted by: airforcewife at June 30, 2008 06:24 PMUpside down face with a "What The WHAT?!" thrown
in...
If you read his whole interview, you'll see that Clark also says that also makes Obama unqualified in that sense to run as well, but that Mccain is running on the basis of his military experience, Obama isn't.
Posted by: jp at July 1, 2008 05:47 AMjp -- But McCain's also been in Congress since 19dickity4 while Obama's been there for five minutes. If the crux is that he has no "executive responsibility," then explain how Obama has more.
Also, being in a leadership-type position among POWs, keeping morale up, etc, that counts for something in my book.
Posted by: Sarah at July 1, 2008 08:28 AM