CNN

Clark is right, but he should not have said it.

John in Binghamton :

Clarke was tossed, by the US into NATO, where he destroyed Bosnia. He couldn't command a NATO division. The worst of the worst.

The only thing evident in these posts is that there are those who look at the candidate by their ideals and those who look at them by their accomplishments. That being said of course General Clark was right and Mr Obama was correct in his statment. Mr Obama merely disavowed what General Clark said because of what he believed to be a blanket statement that if taken out of context would be labeled on all veterans. I thank Mr Obama for standing up and recognizing the accomplishments of ALL veterans. We should not diminish the efforts of our servicemen for political gains and THAT is the message that Mr Obama is presenting ... PERIOD! He is not caving to any pressure to denounce General Clarks statement but speaking up for his belief that our fighting forces are to be commended and respected accordingly. Whereas Mr McCain has at every turn fought for legislation to demoralize servicemembers and take the focus off of the critical issues that affect the American people. As far as Mr Obama being an "empty suit" well, until you walk a mile in his shoes then formulate your opinions but said opinions will be empty and without merit.

God Bless America and our fighting forces!

I love the consistent theme conservatives are trying to push - that Obama has others do his dirty work. Are you kidding me? This happens every single election cycle, supporters of candidates talk and speak their minds. You cannot attach every single thing supporters say directly to the candidate.

Remember the Swift Boat ads in '04 and how Bush said he had nothing to do with it. Or in '00 when he said he had nothing to do with all the attacks on McCain. Or, right now, McCain and his team tries to say they have nothing to do with the bounds of false claims and lies out there about Obama.

It's the SAME thing. Obama should be no more to blame for what people who support him say (although I still don't see what was wrong with Clark's comments) than Bush or McCain. It's called politics folks. Grow up. And stop trying to act like "your" candidate doesn't do the same thing!

McCain should apologize for criticizing Jimmy Carter so sharply this past few weeks. What the H.... is he thinking. Carter isn't running for office and he is a WWII Navy Veteran, has served his country nobly in many ways as well as after his presidency. McCain says he supports fellow veterans and servicemen but in the last election he stood by and didn't say a thing when Bush attack dogs lied about Kerry's Navy service. Now McCain attacks Carter. Band of Brothers, indeed!

Apparentley the road to the White House will be paved with flattened Obama supporters who have been thrown under the bus.
It's starting to get crowded under there.

don't fall fro this.

clark was pre-approved. this was market tested for donations from moveon.org.

general clark was fired by president clinton for risky behavior and poor judgment was almost starting a real war with the russians over what was essentially a ; 'family feud' in the BALKANS.

i am an no MCEMPTY fan but clark is a conniving stupid little man.

Obama has a lot of explaining to do to Americans.
Please ask him what his beliefs about Black Liberation Theology means to Americans.

After all the attacks on the Clintons and then all of Obama's apologies, only a fool would believe that this is not just what Obama had planned. Someone (Clark) insults and demeans, Obama then denounces and apologises, and keeps his hands clean. Well Obama needs to tell his opponents in his Senate race-the ones he had disqualified because he didn't like their petitions. I am sure they see him for the dirty politician that he is. He is unqualified to be Commander in Chief. I am not so sure he is qualified to be a Senator. His speeches do not impress me.

Clarke was auditioning for vice president attack dog, and just got sprayed with a hose. Jim Webb's stock just went up.

John McCain may've been a tough guy back in 'Nam, but he's sure turned into a big baby now.

Wes Clark was fully within his rights to question whether experience as a POW equates to experience leading a global military effort.

The fake outrage and cries of "I'm a war hero!" from the McCain campaign are really undignified and disappointing.

di from ri: Senator Obama was given the democratic primary by the superdelegates and garnered the # of votes he received primarily because of his race. Does that sound candid and blunt? So what's the problem? I mean, Obama himself said it was true. I think you need to stop thinking in only one direction.

Another snafu for Obama. Have someone else say it then denounce it. He is a suit, without plans, without details, without experience, without real knowledge about real issues.

Democrat for McCain

Fear mongerer !
Is it just you or is your entire family smart like you?You are one of a kind.You should consider freezing this brain of yours.

I agree with Shelly in Illinois, I would not have apologized for General Clark's comments because he was correct. Just because you put on a uniform and was a POW does not mean you have qualifications to be President. We tend to let the republicans get us focused on Commander-in-Chief ONLY qualifications but being President is a lot more than just the head military guy or woman.

Senator McCain and his surrogates have been putting out disinformation and/or supporting disinformation on Senator Obama. Senator McCain has been around Washington politics for a long time and has shown nothing for it. Now, all of a sudden, he is the man to lead America out of this dismal moment. Yeah, whatever!

I find this a "cheap shot" by Gen. Wesley Clark. Could it be an Army/Navy thing? There is not a soul in this Nation that is willing to say that being a POW makes one experienced enough to be President. A Navy Officer and a long-standing Senator, on the other hand, certainly look good on the resume'. I'd say his military background is superior to President Jack Kennedy's...and his Senatorial experience also. I've lost a little respect for Gen. Wesley Clark, U.S.A.

McCain isn't even qualified to be the greeter at your local Wal Mart So debating wether he's qualified to be president really shouldn't even be open for discussion.

I think what he said was correct. They should Swift Boat him the same way that the GOP did John Kerry. Just because McCain served in the military does not mean he knows anything about National Security. Attack his record. Let McCain prove his experience. I read in a blog over the weekend that a McCain supporter said McCain should not be attacked on this issue because he served in the military and was a POW! Nonsense! Kerry served in the military, and look what they did to him. NOW who is flip-flopping! Why is it okay to attack Kerry's war credentials and not McCains? They are both war vets and should be honored for their bravery, but that is it.

I want McCain to show me his experience with national security. Being a war vet and POW is not experience.

Shelly in IL

Well said!!!

Funny how we are talking about Vietnam, America's second biggest military blunder.

Knowing how to use a computer doesn't necessarily make you the most qualified person to design one. Why does Obama need to reject General Clarks comments? We need a democratic candidate who is willing to say, yes I appreciate the contributions of all our servicemen, but, no, I don't think being a POW in anyway automatically qualifies you to be in command of our military.

What makes Mc Crappy a war hero.....is it the getting shot down or the POW stuff that makes him a war hero.......or is it that he is an ex POw that has become a senator in a Arizona.....the only state that did not support MLK holiday........I am just curious.....I probably will vote for Obama......but I need to figure out why I am not voting for Mc Cain before election day

I am an Obama supporter but I disagree with his position on General Clark's statement. I hope that Obama will stop apologizing for the truth.

General Clrak is right in his statements about McCain. Where was the outrage when John Kerry and Max Cleelan's military service was questioned.

CNN, how is it that you don't even include the most controversial remark Clark made which was:

When Schieffer noted Obama has not had wartime experiences, Clark said: “Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.”

mccain is a loser anyway!

A semi-smart move by Obama to reject Clark's statement-however, he only did it after McCain called him on it.

Meanwhile, Obama continues to pull the wool over his supporters' eyes when it comes to the Iraq War. Check out Obama's agreement with Bush in this must-see video on on Youtube, titled :

The Iraq war video Barack Obama does not want you to see!!

Clark's comments are illogical. Obama is wise to reject. According to Clark, only some military commanders are qualified to be commander-in-chief. Even a lot of generals have never commanded a war squad. So even many generals are not qualified to be the commander-in-chief. What is the logics? You have to command a war squad to be qualified to be the commander-in-chief? According to Clark, Neither Obama nor McCain is qualified.

I think this is a mistake by the Obama's campain to expand his campain too fast.

More of Obama Camp's tiresome game played throughout primary, I see. Send a "supporter" out to make some offensive and below the belt remark, let the media report it over and over again, and then send Obama out to refute.

McCain '08.

Being a prisoner of war doesnt qualify you to be president. It qualifies you to survive in gitmo

Those who have seen a little talk too much about being prisoners of war, but those who have seen a great deal in wars cannot find words to describe what they have been through. General Clark’s words of wisdom about war cannot only aggravate fools.
May life smile at you General Clark, you are my hero.

If it was all about military leadership experience then one of our greatest presidents would have been Ulysses S. Grant.

How long until America figures it out? It's not about experience, it's about JUDGMENT.

Todd: Actually, working at Walmart while going to college would indeed put you on the track, if you were so motivated, to running the company. Much more so than someone who had no idea what the heck Walmart did or how they did it and though you didn't mean for this to happen, is a perfect analogy for why McCain IS ready to run the country (after all he's been "working at Walmart" at progressively higher levels for many years) and why Obama isn't (He got into "Walmart" only because he knew someone and not because he could do the job and doesn't have a clue as to how the "company" works.). I want to thank you for proving the case for McCain and against your own candidate. Next time you take that gun out, check really closely as to which direction the barrel is pointed in.

Obama didn't owe McSame an apology, he owes Wesley Clark one. All General Clark did is tell the truth, something foreign in this society. As a retired General I think Wesely Clark is right to question McSame's executive experience. Just because he was a POW doesn't mean he shouldn't be held to the high standards as anyone else.

Have we all forgotten when Wesley Clark paraded top military men on stage and emphaticially declared that only Hillary Clinton was fit to be the next commander in chief and Obama was NOT..!!!
This man has been bamboozled by the Obama hype and in the process lost integrity and credibility.
Isn't that what Obama does best , get's his surrogates to do the dirty work and a day or two later he tells us that he doesn't agree with whatever was said or done.
Obama is a phoney and an empty suit , but very good at using and then discarding people.

I am not an Obama supporter– or even an Obama fan, for that matter– but I must say, I am pleased to see that the Senator is walking the walk on his pledge to avoid these sorts of attacks. It speaks well of him.

mcbush will have us in ww lll,before the election is here.joe lieberman is planning terrorist attack on us.

i want to add a few words regarding John McCain's service and his period of time in prison. I honor his service and sacrifice, however, I am ashamed of his exportation of the Vietnam war and his time as a POW. I find it reprehensible he is referred to as a 'hero'... he did not save any lives, as so many of my friends and shipmates did.. he was shot down while flying...HEROS save the lives of others, he is a SURVIVOR, NOT a HERO -OK... and he, I am sure, suffered greatly, and he should be honored for his service, BUT he lived to USE his imprisonment as a POLITICAL TOOL, which has become the norm today...General Clarke's views are shared by many of my Vietnam era vets who lost 57,000+ of their TRUE heros.

I hate this tightrope we all have to walk. No one, least of all me, wants to disparage John McCain's past service.....but that was then, this is now. We are hiring a leader, now.

There was a time, 4 years ago, when I might have said McCain was a leader, but not today. If we were debating whether we are going to award a medal for past service, McCain wins. However, our decision is whether we are going to rely on this person's ability to lead and inspire and do what need to get done and say what needs to be said to the persons who need to hear it. The McCain that I hear today cannot. He is so tight on cash and short of supporters that he has to promise everything to every right wing cause just to field a team. He cannot afford independence. And that is a shame.

Obama is an unknown quantity. Personable, to be sure. Energetic, to be sure. And he can deliver a speech like no recent candidate amd frankly, I like that. I do have very deep concerns about the racial rhetoric that he only recently found so upsetting after listening to it for so many years without a word of complaint. But, I have listened to Obama's speeches, even those he gave years ago, and can find no hint of that kind of vindictiveness in any of them.

He is trying to engage, without pandering, to those in his party who felt alienated during the primary, and that is a good indication of his personal attitude toward reconciliation. He is moving toward the center, maybe more than I am comfortable with, to try to speak to the needs of the nation, not just those who agree with him, so that is a positive as well.

Between the two choices, Obama's current behavior speaks best for his qualifications for president. Past behavior of both candidates having been duly considered and weighted, and pending any stunning revealation that alters my opinion, I will vote for Obama.

I agree with RENEA... a lot of hypocrisy going on, and the media doesn't say a word! Its all about trying bring Obama down... he has to explain everything, even if he didn't state it! McCain on the other hand has so many shady things to answer... He is not mentally, morally or professionally ready to be a president. He has no leadership skills, you can tell when he tries to make sense when he speaks in public and he changes his opinion according to the audience he is talking to at that time. McCain is unqualified to lead a troop of Boy Scouts – he doesn't know east from west, north from south, Shia from Sunni, Vicky from Cindy, lobbyists from citizens. We don't need an old angry cowboy who sadly suffers of war and torture flashbacks. McCain is not right in the head... ask anyone who has worked with in Washington about that!

Screw you, McSame/GOP. Grow up. I hate how the politicians are spinning experiences in their lives (or lack thereof, HILLARY) as wisdom. Honestly, both candidates for President this year are lacking in so many areas...but get over it. This is who we have to choose from. Just decide which 3 or so issues are important to you this year and go with the candidate that best represents those. Simple as that. No one is perfect...

Only idiots can believe what Obamas' said, they keep CHEATING American for what they want, they keep CHANGING for the presidency.
IS THAT WHAT THEY CALL "CHANGE" FOR AMERICAN???

What the heck was wrong with what General Clark said?? How was that the "lowest form of politics"?? Ridiculous. There was nothing personal about what Clark said. Clark has had executive responsibility both with the US military and heading NATO and was pointing out that McCain's experience does not provide executive experience. It's actually a straightforward, non-personal observation.

Geesh, I don't like dirty politics myself, but it seems lately, from crybaby Clinton to now crybaby McCain that certain camps this political season are extremely sensitive. Things said about Obama have dwarfed anything said about McCain or Clinton.

We need to grow up and be able to understand the difference between negative personal and false attacks versus observation. Nothing Clark said was a personal attack and nothing he said was false.

This is why BTW Obama will probably win. I'm on the fence myself, but candidates who whine and are weak and reactive never win. It's why Clinton lost and now Obama has McCain crying on the ropes.

I don't get it. What does war experience have to do with management of a countries government? It makes more sense to advertise "I managed a little league baseball team" than it does to advertise "I spent x years in a POW camp". What does that have to do with ANYTHING?

Actually, my advice to McCain is to stop beginning every one of your speeches with "I was in a war...". Honestly, people aren't happy with war and it's making him look like the title "warmonger" is true.

Republican voting Obama

Clark, you have been swift-boated out by Obama. Get a life!

the country needs some one to lead us out of the mess of the last 12 years of r .the dems need to stand up and tell the truth like clark .

Why is Barack always held responsible for other people's comments and opinions ?? Geez!! Clark was right just because Mccain was a POW doesn't qualify him for president. Plus he is old and way too out of touch

I really wish Obama hadn't rejected this statement. I didn't see anything wrong with what Clark said. It wasn't anything more than what we all think about McCain. You shouldn't be apologizing for anything that is said by others unless it's something you asked them to say.
Considering what the Republicans have said about Obama and did in past elections I'm sure they have/will say much worse about Obama.

No where in clark's comments did he disrespect McCain. He said that he honored McCain's service and considered him to be a hero. However, McCain served in the military and did not lead troops. Serving in the military does not equate experience in foreign policy. If serving in the military is required to be president, Kerry would have won the last election. Second, people are outraged by clark's comments to McCain. Where was the outrage when Kerry was swiftboated and his military record was called to question? The hypcoricy amazes me.

It is a shame that American can't say what is true anymore. How is beeing a soldier makes one a commander in chief when you have not command any position in millitery before been shut down?

Maccain can't win on any issue either, he doesn't know enough about economy and Americans need someone who will create jobs.

Am still surprised that some republicans are still using Hillary Clinton name in a nagective manner. I don't know the reason behind this, but if it is to devide democrats? They should think again. Hillary is a srtong supporter of Obama presidency so do Bill and all the notable leaders that have initially supporter Hillary is nomination bid.

So, Republiacn do not use Hillary's name to stage your fight against Obama.
Democratic party is not dumb, we know those behind causing trouble by portraying that they Hillary's fans to instigate bitterness among democrats.

Please stop the devision, blog for republican if you are a republican and blog for democrats if you a democrats.

You know Maccain has no chance of winning the fall election, so they are trying to devide democrats against each other. I trust true democrats.
God Bless Americans and save Obama.

As a retired U.S. Marine who served from 1969 to 1991. living through both Vietnam and the first Gulf War, I feel comfortable in agreeing with General Clark. Although Sen. McCain should be praised for his sacrifice, being a POW doesn't qualify him for the highest office in the land. Furthermore, the leadership roles that he played in both the military and the senate are, at most, comparable to a "senior management" position. John Kerry got "swift-boated" out of an election. Al Gore's Vietnam service was totally ignored, while George Bush's service record is at best qustionable. And what was done to triple amputee Vietnam vet Max Cleland was the worst kind of gutter politics. So the belly aching coming from the McCain camp is, in my opinion, overly dramatic.

Clark is right and Obama should not reject it. Too much has been said and overrated about McCain's military experience. Yes he was a prisoner of war and he served his country very proudly, is that enough to make you a president?NO,No,NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor uneducated Americans like ERIKA, KS talk about McCain's experience without understanding what his "experience" is. If you think GW Bush alone got us into the "mess" we are in then you have been asleep over the last 5 years!

Why is it Barack Obama never speaks about God. After all this is the
United States and our country is based on 'IN GOD WE TRUST'. If
Barack Obama can not find the time to speak of God in his speaches
why should this man be elected president. I am sure he is probably a fine person however I find it offending to our country that you would elect a person who can not let the citizens of the United States know that he is a God believing man. If a person is now willing to stand up for God, how could you expect them to do anything for this country in a prosperous way. Another thing, why is it you always hear about his grandparents and not so much about his parents. Just to set the record straight, it doesn't matter if the person is african american or caucasian as long as we have a straight forward honest leader. All the dirt will come out in the wash. Seems to me, the negative of anyone can never be trutfully answered and so a mistake was made, admit it. I do hope this is published as I have sent in many comments before this one and they are not seen.
May the best man win. God has already won.

If being serving in the military and getting locked up makes one capable of being president, shouldn't our next president come straight from Ft Levenworth?

Wow, Obama is throwing another supporter under the bus. Ah well, same old tired politics as usual.

. This war over words is getting out of hand why should any one walk away from what one military man thinks about another . If the McCain efforts is to twist every word then ladiies and gents you better hold on it going to be a bumping reide till NOV.

The General was asked a question by Bob Shieffer on Face The Nation. He answered it honestly and truthfully on the fly. Clark didn't attack McCain. He didn't lie.

He stated an unspoken truth that many American's held.

There is nothing for Barack to repudiate.

Indepedent voters though should contrast the way Barack managed this "little dust up" to that of McCain on the subject of 527 political action committees.

REmember McCain said " I can't be referee for the [527 gorups ... i.e. swiftboaters]. What he was saying was that he had no authority nor intent to influence people that would violate his stated principles for the campaign.

Obama, on the other hand, had enough leadership influence such that MOVEON.org said that it would follow the wishes of Obama and not run 527 ads.

Which of these two candidates has the right stuff?

I believe this speaks to the issue of LEADERSHIP capabilitie and MORAL FOUNDATION.

Clark is correct. The ONLY thing McCain is running on is being a prisoner of war. While we all respect him for that, his record as
a republican, supporting all decisions that have gotten our
country into the worse mess it has ever been in are what
voters need to be looking at.
And "my friends" Bush, cheny and the war mongers are now
setting us up for WW111. They are planning on Israel attacking
Iran and the U,S. supporting them. Then because Russia will
support Iran. Heaven help us.

Under the bus you go Mr clark, wow must be crowded their with all of obama's casualties.

Having been a POW does NOT qualify McCain to be president.

Pay attention people!

Of course he will try to deflect the whole patriotism issue. When he doesn't have any he sure as heck can't point to anyone else. This man is such a flip flopping salesman. Toss in his wife's comments and then just watch the Republicans tear him apart. This will be the first time in 30 years I have voted for a Republican. We can live through 4 more years of a bad Republican the country could not take 4 years of a worse Obama. To all the party leaders who tried to shove this liar down our throats...talk to us when the election is over and you are crying for us to come back and save it once again from the super liberals who destroyed it the first time around.

I'm so tired of Obama and McCain being held responsible for what everyone else says. If a person were to be held responsible for whatever else says then ever other statement would be rejected. Stop the insanity!!!!!

But on another note, McCain is a hypocrite. His campaign will cry foul for Clark's statements but not reject Lieberman’s or Blacks statements. So please...just stop already.

Reply to Ross in MD: "What Clark said was factually obvious. How is flying a plane a credential to be President? I think the Republicans are grasping at straws."

Exactly. Bush flew jet fighter planes too, sort of, in that TX ANG draft dodging champagne unit. Look how well that skill set carried over & applied toward being a successful POTUS.

But in this day and age, criticizing our sainted faultless military and its veterans in any way, shape, or form is strictly taboo, unless you happen to be talking about a Democrat who fought in a war and then turned against it. Then it's OK to be viciously 'Swiftboated' and hounded into obscurity.

Interesting to note now that the Army published it's detailed study on how and why the Iraq war went South after the invasion, how thoroughly FUBAR it was. That also happens to vindicate everything Obama and other war critics said from the get-go. Oops, 4100 dead. Our bad. Oh well.

The upshot of this episode is, if Wes Clark was ever on Obama's VP short list, he ain't now. I'm still rooting for Jim Webb for VP.

why question past? Past is a buried corpse? only perverts dig it.. You are what you are now and if u are committed u can become what u are...the key is to commit and enroll others in what we all are going to get by it.

Old politics never leaves LOL.. thinks takes more than 3-4 generations i think?

Being a POW is not a qualification for being President. There were many POW's does that mean they are all qualified to be President?

This is TOOO reminiscent of what he did to Senator Clinton....try and take the high road while your surrogates crawl in the muck, then claim you don't have anything to do with it!

What....does Senator Obama think all voters are stupid?????

He can talk about unity while twisting the arms of those around him...but that is not change...that is what politicians have been doing for years. Unfortunately, I am a Democrat that ALWAYS votes for the best person, not the party. Senator Obama better START detailing his policies and how he is going to pay for them. I'm tired of the crap he and his campaign keeps dishing out.

How fast did Wesley Clark become a "military adviser" for Obama when he was a strong supporter of Hillary only 3 weeks ago?!?!

I think I can strike Wesley Clark off the Obama V.P. list now.

Correct me if I am wrong here, but doesn't Clark know something about military service??? Doesn't Clark know something about commanding an army? Didn't he used to do something like that being a general and all???

McCain should shut his mouth when a general speaks about military service. He is out of his league.

Clark was right!
Obama needs to stop listening to the spin of the neo-cons.
We need to go after the right as hard as they went after John Kerry.
I wish Obama had some advisors with a little moxie.
Quit backing down from these guys, it is making us all sick.

why isn't anyone concerned that mccain won't be able to run his country because he was a pow.

i have many relatives in the armed forces and war is mentally and physically draining.

this man was held captive, there is no telling what kind of psychological problems he has. we know he has a fiery temper, what else could be lingering?

.
And Obama served in the US senate for 1 1/2 years before announcing thet he was running for president.

Let's see when McCain was in his 20's he was serving his country and was a POW.

Obama stated that when he was in his 20's that he was smoking dope! Those were Obama's words.

Lete's see, 1 served his country and the other smoked dope.

Hmmmm

It is such a hard decission.

.

John McCain spent five years as a prisoner of war. General Clark is a life long military officer who rose to the rank of general and was NATO commander. According to the McCain campaign, this does not give the general the authority to actually question McCains 'extensive' millitary expertise. Let John McCain prove his 'executive' experience instead of milking his prison years with his flag waving phoniness. How would you like a commander in chief, who at a rally last year was 'jokingly' singing 'Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran' to the tune of a Beach Boys song. Don't you see the the similarities between 'W' and Mc Cain? Both are from influential families, both were party types when young, both were poor students but the family name secured graduation and both used their family name to get into politics because they had no other talents.

If made in response to some attempt by McCain or his supporters to present McCain's military service and POW experience as somehow making him more qualified to be president, then Clark's remarks were entirely appropriate. But if Clark just pulled them out of his hat as a reason to consider McCain "unqualified" they were probably uncalled for even though they are factually correct, and not of much help to Obama, who doesn't really have any particular advantage over McCain in this area of experience..

After waiting way too long to see what, if any, fallout there would be and finally recognizing that it was strongly against himself and his buddy Mr. Clark's statements, Mr. Obama decides to comment instead of taking the immediate high road. I see the McCain camp has already gotten used to Obama's same old garbage type of dirty politics. Good for them! Of course Obama supporters will support this dirt. So much for unity and change.

General Clark's comments are completely fair and logical. Also, he was very respectful to Senator McCain in how he phrased it. It's disappointing how both the McCain and Obama camps are handling this ... Just more games.

There goes Clark's VP chance..lol

McInsane has no chance- his ways are out of date, so he and his mindless republican followers make issues out of non-issues.

Guess what, McSame's ability to crash five plans and get captured, along with giving up military information to the enemy for better treatment, does NOT make him qualified to be the President.

The fact that he is an American-hating republican should be reason enough.

AND PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED THIS MAN FOR OBAMA'S VP. KINDA SAD THAT HE HAD TO SCREW THAT ONE UP

Now "experts" can't even make statements in their expert opinions anymore. Why did Clark's statements have to be rejected. He is a high ranking general. If anyone knows what represents "commander service", it would be a guy like him.

I'm disapointed that Barack rejected.

There are more serious things going on in the world right now and worse comments being made by McCains EMPLOYEES as opposed to regular supporters.

Please I have being hoping that somebody ask Senator McCain why being shot down in Vietnam and being a prisoner for several years gives you experience to be a commander of troops he has never command troops or anything

I interpreted Clark's comments as a response to those who attack Obama as having no executive experience – sort of a 'well if it comes down to it neither do you'.

I'm going to get really disappointed in this campaign really quickly if it degenerates into expectations that the candidates have to make public statements denying third party comments simply because someone on the other side complained about how someone really must be a surrogate. If they want to start playing that game, neither one is going to be doing anything *but* that.

Clark was right.

Regardless of what McCain says and how Obama wishes to soften Gen. Clark's words, Gen. Clark is 120% correct. While it is laudable to have a war hero like McCain among us, his personal experiences do not make him a great potential commander-in-chief! Beware of the Truth Squad and remember too what they did to John Kerry. McCain has approved of them because he hopes they do for him what they did for Bush. Bud Day et al. are racists pure and simple who would rather die a thousand deaths than see an African-American in the White House. So while it is very fine for Obama to take the high road once again, I hope he will not eliminate Gen. Wesley Clark from consideration in his cabinet or even as VP because he spoke and continues to speak the truth!

Obama nailed it, respect and value McCain's service. Period. I do not think it is a shame, it's been what Obama has been saying all along. I think Clark took it upon himself to launch this attack, mostly because I remember how much of a horrid interview this guy gives. When he ran for president he was completely clueless as to what the right thing to say was or how to say it. He may have the military know how but not a great guy for the morning talk shows.

I'm not sure I get it. What's wrong with Clark saying he respects McCain's military service, but that being a POW is not in itself a qualification to be President? I'd say that's true.

Hasn't General Clark also earned the right to say what he wants as a high ranking member of the military and a respected veteran and hero? I'm disappointed in the McCain campaigh for making General Clark a target. Certainly he is a better judge of who possesses executive decision making on military issues then some McCain flunky! Shame on McCain for always putting his sevice out there but then making it an issue if anyone dares to say that this isn't enough for him to be President. Sorry but you just don't get it both ways.

=== CLARK SERVES CLARK ===
We only know that Clark show loyality to one person – himself.

Obama is weak and throw everybody under the bus quickly. I like Obama but I am starting to believe that Obama is a fraud. Why can he stand for somethign?

RENEA,
You almost got it right but you forgot Obama is a Marxist and a friend of mad bombers.

Hey Ross, how is being a community organaizer is a credential to be President?

Obama never ceases to amaze me. Rising above the false rhetoric I see on these message boards, I would clearly like to say I find his responses to be refreshingly honest, well thought out, and respectful. I would surprised if many of his advisaries eventually feel a lot of respect for him. Unlike Hillary who took every opportunity she had to cast as negative a light as possible on her adversary, Obama repeatedly treated her with respect, dignity and fairness. No I am not drinking the kool-aid, but just like this dialogue, instead of piling on McCain and using this at an attemp for political gain, he instead rejects it flatly and speaks to all of us the importance and need to always treat those who have made the greatest sacrifice in protecting our country and way of life with the respect they deserve. Well said Obama, I am so proud of you.

This is the problem (1 of many ) that the United States has and that is they are a bunch of war mongers. Your entire history is from war, with other countries and with itself. When will the madness stop? must we always be at war to run this country? (I think not) it would be more beneficial for us as a nation to sit down and try to understand our percieved enemy instead of launching war against them because in the end they are going to hit back. Countries are much like individuals, they don't like anyone to impose their will upon them so instead of approving billions of dollars to pursue war why not approve billions of dollars for peace.

General Clark is absolutely right! I'm tired of people acting like McCain is somehow entitled to the Presidency because he had his arms broken. That sucks for him, but I've gone through some bad stuff too, I guess I deserve to be Secretary of State....oh wait, I have no executive experience. Kind of like McCain.

Being shot out of the sky doesn't make you a good President.

the dems need to grow a back bone. please stand up for yourselves

Senator Obama needs to get it together and stop apologizing. The statement is true...get a backbone man stick up for yourself and the Democratic party. McCain would not have backed down from this statement and furthermore he flat-out called you a lier because you opted out of public financing.

Stop aplogizing man, you can't please everyone.

The media has lost so much credibility already, this doesn't surprise me. They are taking a true statement and turning it into an insult. It wasn't. Unbelievable. How come some people can be smeared into the dirt, but others cannot speak candidly. That's what Gen. Clarke's statement was-candid and blunt. What is the problem? Sen. Obama shouldn't have backed down. The media pundits and hosts have too much power over eveyrthing. I'm sick of them all. They're allowed to destroy people they don't like, but kiss up sickening to ones that are on the 'good' list – for the moment.

Senator Obama,

How can you bring people together when you keep rejecting people when they say things you don't like? There is some truth to what General Wesley Clark say? He didn't question John McCain's patriotism? He just said being a prisoner of war does not gives one the qualification to be commander in chief. Senator McCain is the one who makes jokes about 'Bomb bomb bomb Iran', at least I hope that is a joke. Bombing a country is a serious matter, and he makes a joke out of it.

I am still a supporter of you, but I must say, I am a bit disappointed by your response. If you feel you must defend Senator John McCain, you too must find a way to defend General Wesley Clark. General Wesley Clark actually has the executive experience in exercising a war, making decisions that affecting life and death, and he just expressed his views, and it's unfortunate that you choose to reject him in favor of defending Senator John McCain.

Would you please stop w/ this denoucing and rejecting stuff? If you are to bring the people in this country together – how does denouncing and rejecting people help your cause?

I don't see that General Clark's comment was in any way showing lack of respect for Senator McCain's service to his country. McCain's service to this country has never been disputed, however General Clark has a right, as an American citizen and voter to express his personal opinion...as we all do. while I honor John McCain for his service to our country, he seems to play on his being a POW in attempt to gain sympathy votes, for all he went through. Too bad he wasn't as loyal to his first wife and ditched her after her serious accident for his current rich wife. Now there is integrity for you.

I understand why Obama said what he said; however, I have to agree with General Clark. Just because a person was a POW doesn't give them the authority on national security or to be president of the United States.

being a half term senator and a community organizer qualifies Obama to be the president(god/king) but captain of a fighter squadron and over 25 years in congress isn't enough for McCain. I must be missing something here. Oh, he running against Obama, that means he must be evil or he wouldn't dare to challenge Obama's godgiven right to be president(god/king). The terrible slurs against McCain and his wife are the same tactics that Obama ran against Clinton and her husband. Its the same tactics of divisiveness that won Bush his presidency. This is the new politics of hope. Thats why I left the dem party, PUMA. McCain/Clinton 08

I think McCain is a little over the top when he claims that his experience as a prisoner of war is enough to qualify him to be president. Sure, he probably understands the life of a POW as well or better than anybody else in public life, but there's more to the job of president than that!

When exactly did John McCain say that being a POW would make him a better president? I never heard him say it. What makes Obama and his supporters think that Obama is more qualified to be commander in chief?

Being a POW does not, on its own, make one qualified. With that said, it is certainly more than what Senator Obama has in this area which is absolutely nothing.

One poster mentioned that working at Walmart doesn't qualify him to run the company. I agree, but it does make one more qualified than someone who has never held a job.

This story did not even mention the actual quote Clark said regarding McCain being shot down. A little liberal bias maybe?

The nerve of Obama supporters to question MCain's ability to lead. What has Obama shown in terms of exective leadership or bipartisan initiative? He has given speeches about change, but all he's done really is change his mind ...about NAFTA, the schedule of troop withdrawals in Iraq ( note that from "immediate withdrawal", he has now been using "responsible withdrawal"); public funding for campaign; AIPAC; capital gains tax... who knows whatever else will come to light. I can foresee that his next political move will be to give an elegant speech about the virtues of flip-flopping; and the media will hail this as the best speech given so far in the campaign. Give me a break!

THE TRUTH SQUAD – geez, get real....too bad Obama feels it is necessary to distance himself from Clark, because Clark is right – just because McBush flew a plane, was in service, was a POW and has traveled – THAT makes him qualified to be President and an expert in foreign affairs – if that's all it takes, then tens of thousands of veterans are qualified – what it takes is DIPLOMACY and a willingness to TALK to people – not McBUsh and MCBully them into compliance – which never, ever works! Obama has all the right instincts to serve and to convince and to affect world peace. Just wait until his upcoming trip – watch BBCAmerica – the world is waiting for him!

I understand why Obama said what he said; however, I have to agree with General Clark. Just because a person was a POW does give them the authority on national security or to be president of the United States.

There was no need to reject those statements. As an Obama supporter, I am totally tired of rejecting statements. Obama should not have to be held to such a high level. This is sad. I guess my mother told me correctly when I was a young boy. She said, "Son, as a black male you HAVE to be twice as good in order to be considered equal". Just sad.

Obama has about as much experience to be President as a dog catcher. Period!

It's not that it qualifies him to be President but it does give him an insight on WAR that no one eles can bring to the table. So if he becomes President and the flashbacks start getting to him maybe he will make a better decision as far as IRAQ is concerned. I've been there it doesn't qualify me to be President but I sure know that I would think twice about sending troops somewhere to die unless I they have a dang good reason to be there.

Clark was right. there is nothing to repudiate. Being a POW while honorable is not enough to be president.

It is sad when someone can't state the truth bc it offends McCain. That is crazy. McCain has talked about how even his own father wasn't proud of him for caving under torture. People have a right to question his record if he is going to hide behind it.

I'm so tired of people being attacked when they actually speak the truth and don't blow politically correct smoke up our derrieres. While I feel bad for McCain and him becoming a POW during the Vietnam War, it has nothing to do with executive experience as far as the military is concerned.

If you're going to have people in the Swift Boat campaign try to bring down Kerry's lack of military executive leadership, then you have to give the same consideration to McCain unfortunately.

This extreme PC society that we are becoming is very dangerous and very irresponsible.

General Clark, the last time I checked, Senator Obama has not held "executive responsibility" either. Unless for some unknown reason you count a few years as a US Senator and another few years in the Illinois State House, teaching Con Law, as executive experience.

Senator Obama does not need to feel responsible for what other people say about anything. He only needs to provide his own opinions, and not worry about which pastor said what, or which general said what.

I will say that I do agree that getting shot down and being a POW, while an honorable thing to have on your resume, does NOT qualify you automatically for President. If that were the case, maybe some of our YOUNGER military personnel should be running, instead of someone that might kick the bucket at any time.

If McCain did not have this POW/fighter pilot on his resume, please tell me what would make him more qualified against Obama for anything. He cannot even keep illegals out of his own state, nor keep FLDS folks from collecting welfare in their baby factories.

Ok. So, McCain doesn't have "executive" experience. Neither does Obama. Obama supporters are hypocrites to say this about McCain. McCain has been around the block a time or two. More than Obama. I'll take experience, thank you very much. We're going to need real action, not just talk of "change" to get us out of the mess that Bush created.

heh, i like how Obama and McCain have spokesmen speak for them... honestly why not do the talking yourself? if you're such great candidates (which neither of them are) why not speak for yourselves? Don't be sucked in by words or likability, please listen to the issues and see who's better. One very charismatic and likable leader was behind one of the most evil atrocities that humanity has ever seen. These squabble of words only makes this election even more disgraceful than it already is. I swear, if Reagan were alive and endorsed someone, that person he endorsed would be the republican nominee in a heartbeat, and i know it would not have been McCain.

Clark is correct. Just read the transcript of the interview carefully and pay no attention to the editorials. He is right.

It is the same as saying that being the son a former president did not by itself qualify George W. to be a president.

You need more than just been a POW to be a good president and that fact does not diminish McCain's sacrifice.

McCain and his apologists are a bunch of big babies. I've yet to hear a convincing explanation of how a horrible and traumatic experience like being a POW prepares one to be president. My grandpa was a POW, and I loved him very dearly. But in all honesty, he would have been a pretty lousy president.

As someone who will vote for Obama in November but who has become very disenchanted by Obama's recent statements and positions, all I can say is that Clark was right. And Obama should be ashamed of himself for caving to ridiculous pressure from the John McBush campaign.

The McCain campaign is trying to have its cake & eat it, too....if I were Barack, I'd not comment when being baited.
Any Navy pilot who loses 5 Navy planes, three of which were a direct result of incompetence, should NEVER be in a position of leadership, so General Clark is NOT way off base here....that doesn't even mention McCain's serious character flaw....a repeat adulterer!!!

Finally, someone with enough backbone to utter the truth. He is not knocking McCain's military service. He is simply pointing out that sitting out the war in a POW camp does not give him the experience needed to be President. It certainly does not give him any more experience in security matters than Obama. Also, the McCain camp should remember that Bush and his cronies actually swiftboated him and tried to make light of his military service, something that Clark is NOT doing. Clark is doing nothing more than telling the truth. Maybe if there were more of that, we wouldn't be in such dire trouble.

How many times is Obama going to have to renounce the truth to get elected? Sad.
"The truth? Young man, you can't handle the truth."
Bombing innocent civilians, aiding and abetting the enemy, divorcing your wife for convenience. That makes you qualified to be what? Mr. McCain – speak up.......
We don't hear you.

The thing here is that what Clark said is true. Why does being shot down and spending as a prisoner of war make you presidential? Obviously it does not. The press however fails to see this. Thank you Gen Clark for saying waht the media types won't.

"So McLame says this the lowest form of politics and then he suggests that Obama was behind the statement? Is that just a wee bit contradictory?

Anyways, all McLame does is repeat a thounsand times that he was a POW when his military service is brought up. Even when it has nothing to do with question. Does this mean that McLame thinks that only former POW's are able to make "straight" decisions?

When is this guy going to stop using scripted answers! I appreciate what has given my country, but I am sorry to say this, he is 100% lame."

What's the problem with Clark's comment?? Military service, even as a POW, does not in fact qualify anyone to serve as Commander-in-Chief, much less President. Yes, John McCain served his country honorably but, Clark's comment did not dispute that stature. If someone said that owning a baseball team didn't qualify W as CEO of America, they would have been spot on!

Could we please not let either of these campaigns dissolve completely into the ridiculous!

Let me see: It ok for Mccain to link Obama as the candidate of Hamas,Revard Wright , Future terror attacks,not liking the Constitution and the Elitist candidate! All of those things are signs of respect and truth coming from the Mccain camp!

It is obvious Obama had Gen Clark go out on Sunday and attack McCain to set up his "Patriotism"speach for today.

Obama is one smart cookie. McCain and the Republican Party better start figuring this out quick.

As to Clark – he has been looking for a job in any Democrat administration and will go out and say anything about anyone to get one.

He did this for the other loser he backed the unhonerable Senetor Kerry who lied about the men he served with and trashed the U S Medals he was awarded under false pretenses.

I don't need a speech on "Patriotism" from a guy who refused to place his hand over his heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was been recited or who quit wearing a U.S. Flag pin until he couldn't take the heat any more.

The candidate of change? Obama is proving by the day that he is just another slick politician and his Chicago creds are showing.

If we extrapolate from McCain's position then anyone who has been a prisoner of war is qualified to be commander in chief, right? So then why not have the RNC find a younger POW and make him the presumptive Republican nominee? After all, any POW is qualified, right? Give me a break.

I don't see anything wrong with Clark's statement. It's true. Being shot down or being a war hero absolutely DOES NOT qualify him to be President. His military service was magnicent, and all of us as Americans appreciate his great sacrifice. But that just does not qualify him to be Commander in Chief. There are more requirements for President which he does not possess.....such as good judgement, even temperament, understanding the economy, etc. Understanding Foreign Policy does not qualify him for the Presidency!!!

Many years ago I had a conversation with a woman whose husband had been a pilot in the U.S. Airforce and had been shot down and captured in Vietnam. He had spent six (6) years in prison, including the so-called Hanoi Hilton. When I told her how proud I was of his service and that I was sure he would be made a General, she shook her head. "No," she said with a sad smile. "He will never be considered." When I asked why, given that her husband had never broken, remained in the military, and was one of the healthiest - mentally and physically - men I knew, she said: "Because he was out of the political loop too long." I did not understand what she meant: until I read General Clark's comments about Senator McCain. Sadly, I believe General Clark was accurately reflecting a shameful reality about promotion, politics and warfare that has little to do with this current campaign and everything to do with the service Senator McCain so nobly served while defending this country.

This is getting crazy!!!!! Black's statement gets a mild rebuke from McCain but when General Clark, a former NATO commander, says that McCain's military experience did not meet executive responsibility, he throws a hissy-fit?! Can we say hypocrit?!?! Especially when what Gen. Clark said was true! No one can take anything away from McCain's service record but nothing about it is strong enough to say that it is presidential. And for those who rightly point out that Obama does not have military experience, I would also point out that Barack is not running for president based on muilitary service as McCain is.

CNN's handling of this story is despicable. Back in 2004 when the Swiftboaters where spreading lies about John Kerry's war record, CNN repeated those lies as if they had some merit.

Where were all the pearl clutching pundits when the Democrat's service was being attacked? I don't remember ever seeing Rick Sanchez rush to John Kerry's defense - even when chickenhawk Republicans mocked John Kerry by wearing purple heart bandaids.

But in this instance we don't even have a swiftboat-style attack, because Gen. Clark DID NOT attack McCain's service and nothing in his statement was untrue. He made a fair point that's worthy of discussion instead of all this phony outrage from McCain's BBQ eating supporters in the media.

This is so stupid. this has nothing do with how barack will run the country. and this complety takes away from what his speech today was about. Good ole mainstream media favoring the war hero john mccain. i wonder how long this will be a story? i bet longer than charlie black, longer than norquist and longer than lieberman.

That is Obama's politic trick, a typical chicago's-dirty politics..

How many times will Obama have to reject his supporters' remarks?

This is a weekly occurrence. Maybe CNN can create a special column for this?

What exactly was wrong with what Clark said? He didn't devalue McCain's service in any way. I think Obama was wrong to disown this statement. (But I'm still voting for him, of course.)

Don't care who wins they are all the same.

Obama people.....If Clark is correct about McCain not having executive experience.....then I guess that really leaves Barak out in the cold.

Just a thought. Guess we get to choose from two inexperienced neophytes.

Clark was absolutely right about McCain!~ His war experience was not in a leadership role- the opposite was true!

Unfortunately, McCain spent the war years as a prisoner.
He is an American hero- but, this does not give him the experience as a military leader!

McCain claims spending the war years as a prisoner- gives him military leadership- it does not!

He, along with many others, suffered as prisoners- and they are to be honored. McCain does not have the right to exploit this event- in to something it was not. He has our sympathy, along with so many others.

Clark got it right!!!

Sitting in a racist church in Chicago and having criminals and terrorists supporters does not make you a better candidate, Senator Obama.
And when I hear such inapproiate remarks from one of Obama's supporters, I believe it reflects on his judgment.

IF WE ANALYZED WHAT OBAMA TRULY ACCEPTED, PURSUANT TO THE LUNATIC FRINGE SUPPORTER AND WOULD BE CABINET MEMBERS OF HIS ARE SPEWING, YOU'D HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT HE'S SURROUNDED BY MORONS. CHANGE IN WASHINGTON UNDER OBAMA? YEAH, RIGHT

Being in the military does NOT make you "better" than any other person that has not served. How can someone compare armed services as a career and someone that helps the homeless as a career? Both equally have purpose.

General Clark spoke very accurately. Being a solder doesn't automatically qualify you to be Commander-In-Chief. His statement in no way made negative darts at McCain. From what I gleaned from General Clarks interview, he was simply making an observation as an Experienced Military Leader commenting about a position that he is fully qualified to comment on. If he (General) can't make that type of observation, then who can – no military experience commander in chief President George Bush!!!!!

I would appreciate it if retired General Wesley(Ashley Wilkes) Clark
would inform me of the " executive responsibiliyy" that the obama has had that qualifies him for the oval office. What a freeking idiot.

Thank you general clark for stating the truth. But it should be mentioned that Obama cannot afford to agree with you yet.... A lot of potential voters might get negative opinions of Sen. Obama if he were to come off as not recognizing the sacrafices made by his opponent for the country

ok so wats gona hapen if obama chooses clark fr vp grandpa wont be able to attack clark. so lf my guess is right l wait to see who is the loser on this one.

Obama said McCain doesn't care about the families in Iraq when McCain's own son 19 year old son served in Iraq.

I find it hilarious that Obama's supporters say that McCain has no experience. They should not bw talking about a candidate and his experience when their own has FOUR YEARS of national experience, FOUR YEARS. If anyone is not qualified, it's Barack Obama. He doesn't hve a quarter of the experience that McCain has, and suddenly he's more qualified?

Why is it you never hear Barack Obama speak about God. God is the
backbone of this world and mankind. Our country is based on
"IN GOD WE TRUST".

Senator Hussein's response is why flying a FIGHTER plane with the American emblem sets McCain and the republicans aside from make-believe presidential seal.

Its crazy how MCsame left clerk and started attacking OBAMA over what clerk said and after OBAMA had publicly rejected the statement...if this man dont even know how to play a simple politics then he probably will be a very bad commander in chief....
OBAMA THE VOTE !!!!

OBAMA HAS ALMOST ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO BE COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF HARDEES.

THE DEMS NEED TO UNLEASH THEIR 527 ATTACK DOGS TO DISCREDIT McCAIN"S SO-CALLED HEROIC RECORD.

GETTING KNOCKED OUT IN A FIGHT DOES NOT MAKE YOU WORLD CHAMPION...WHY SHOULD GETTING SHOT DOWN AND CAPTURED BE ANY DIFFERENT????

McSAME SPONSORED THE SWIFT BOAT VETERANS THAT SMEARED JOHN KERRY, WHY SHOULDN't DEMS RETALIATE????

THIS rejection was a mistake on Obama's part, because Gen. Clark was absolutely correct! I'm telling you, the republicans are slowly making Obama look "weak" when at their every criticism and demand of a rejection, he capitulates! As an Obama supporter, I'm completely disappointed in Obama's repudiation of this great American, Gen. Clark, whose instincts and insight I truly respect! I certainly hope the Gen. Clark doesn't take offense (as he should) and leave Obama's campaign. Obama needs to stop allowing McCain to push his buttons!

Gen Clark spoke the truth whether John McCain's military experience qualified him to be commander in chief at lease John McCain has Some military experience, Sen McCain is one of the few preisdent canidate that has been to war and live to talk about. Go Obama

I love how McCain leaps like a rabit pit bull at any slightly negative comment by the Obama camp but has YET to denounce the racists, the bigots and the anti-Muslim rhetoric pouring from his supporters. Pot calling kettle, you're black.

I think that millitary service alone even if you are a prisoner of war does not qualify you to be a president. So I do agree on that much. McCain so upset.

I like this. Get him to say it so it's out there, then reject it. A typical Chicago politician at work.

Surprise me just once, Obama, that's all I ask, once.

Black people do not read and this is why they don't know anything about McCain and his many years in the Senate. Heck, they barely know anything about their own candidate besides the fact that he is black.

Change we can believe in? Yeah right! Looks like the same old DC crap to me.

The comments made by Clark were out of jealousy. He could not get the nom ination for the Democratic party so he had to try and bring down a man who also served proudly because he could not take the fact he was not the better man.

As for all of you who challenge that just because McCain was in the military and this doesn't make him qualified to lead you apparently have never serve in our honorable military and are the same liberals who are causing this great nation to decay from within.

I'm sorry to hear that Senator Obama apologized for General Clark's remarks. General Clark is right. I served 23 years in the Army and am a Viet Nam Veteran but I sure am not qualified to be Commander in Chief.

One Time I Put A Band Aid On A Scratch My Son Had. . . . It Didnt Qualify Me For Brain Surgery! Mccain Lacks Judgement! I Will Choose That Over His Experiences In War! Mccain Cries Foul When It Comes To His War Experience! But He Gonna Get The Swift Boat! A Real Hero Would Not Vote Against Our Troops On Every Issue Meaningful To Them! Mccain Is No Hero In My Book!

Are the prisoners at Guantanamo getting mlitiary expertise? Are they becoming foreign policy experts due to their incarceration?

Obviously NOT.

General Clark did NOT criticize McCain's patriotism. He called his POW experience "heroic".

The point he made is TRUE. Being a POW does NOT translate to military or foreign policy expertise. McCain should use other parts of his resume if he wants credit for those.

Wesley Clark is a 4 star general, one of only 12 in the country. He is a genuine war hero, a man who was badly wounded in battle but still bravely lead his men.

If anyone is ENTITLED to have an opinion about McCain and the appropriate role of "POW" in his resume for Commander in Chief, it is General Clark.

Good, he rejected the statement. But he should not say anything more, especially since McCain never said anything more about Black's statement. And McCain is paying Black, but Barack is not paying Clark.

Obama 08

CLARK IS RIGHT. Audy Murphy was also not inherently qualified to dictate foreign policy. I salute their service, but facts is facts.

Even though I'm an Obama supporter, I don't agree with him here. Just because someone was in the military doesn't mean they are the most qualified for president. Technically, no one is experienced enough to be president. Many of our best presidents weren't in the military...

1. FDR
2. Lincoln
3. Teddy Roosevelt

In fact, some military veterans were horrible...

1. Harry Truman (2nd term)
2. McKinley
3. Franklin Pierce

Let's not pull the POW card or the "I'm a veteran" here. That won't work.

Obama '08

Fired by Bill Clinton because of his incompetence in Bosnia; despised by his contemporaries because of his egotism and lack of integrity; considered a boor by the NATO staff. What a list of accomplishments for this poor excuse of a grunt and he's criticizing a man who is a respected hero by millions of veterans. I know of not one military man or woman, officer or enlisted, that respects Wesley Clark and I know of not one military man or woman, officer or enlisted, who doesn't hold John McCain in the highest esteem.

And another thing. This was a MAJOR speach on the general subject of Patriotism! Why dig this completely unconsequential statement out of that – and report NOTHING ELSE!

CNN – your pro-neocon bias is showing.

Clark is now and has for some time been nothing more than a partisan hack. He does however have tremendous command of the surrogate clown in Obama's camp. What he said made no sense due primarily to the fact that based on logical presuppositions the office of President of the United States requires a combination of qualifications. There is not one thing a person can accomplish that ipso-facto solely qualifies that person for President.

Why is everyone acting like McCain can NEVER be criticized as a soldier, but Kerry was DOGGED by the republicans in the 2004 election about his?

C'mon Weasley...you are the only General that had to cry to Bill to get your 4th star...you are not vice-presidential material..WEASLEY

TWO ROARING LIONS WITHOUT MANES.
OBAMA WILL DISGRACE AMERICA. HOW DO THESE PEOPLE GET SO STUPID???

Hey Political Analysts at CNN: You can scratch Wesley Clark's name from Obama's VP short list.

John in Ohio said:
McCain really was a terrible pilot. On the other hand, Clark was a terrible general.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The DIFFERENCE is Clark 'WAS' a General, who held a COMMAND.

Capton/Pilot --– GENERAL

huge difference.

On November 29, 2002 on CNN’s Late Edition, Sen. McCain said, "We’re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. We may have to take out buildings, but we’re not going to have a bloodletting of trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies....I don’t think it’s easy, but I believe that we can win an overwhelming victory in a very short period of time."
In contrast, Obama made a prominent speech around the same time, October 2, 2002, in which he said, "But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. "I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al-Qaeda." Obama correctly foresaw the consequences of the biggest foreign policy blunder in American history. McCain won't even support vets after the bloodletting? Which candidate do you think is more "naive on foreign policy and not as qualified to lead the military?"

McSame should be thanking Wesley Clark for his comments as it gives his pathetic campaign something talk about besides his flip flopping on the issues.

McCain was just unlucky. He got shot down. He wasn't even in as much danger as the guys on the ground getting their limbs shot off. Being a prisoner of war does not make him a hero nor does it qualify him to be president. So he should stop using this misfortune to set himself apart as a leader. He has no more experience in keeping us safe as Sen. Obama

While McCain may have heroic history.....he doesn't have the type of experience that would make him singularly qualified for"Commander in Chief."

If this type of pettiness continues, I am not going to watch,read or listen to anything else. I will just vote with what I feel now...

What's happened that people aren't allowed to state an opinion any more? We're more interested in who should repudiate what, than whether the content has any merit.

The point was, does military experience, in itself, qualify someone (anyone) to be president? Well, does it? If it does, than McCain is qualified, ans so is every other person who ever wore a uniform. If it doesn't, McCain may still be qualified, just not for that reason.

This is not as complex and conspiratorial as everyone is making it out to be.

I think the "lowest form of politics" is the McCain campaign turning around and saying they don't know how much Obama had to do with this statement. They turned an honest and observatory statement into political gain. Shame on them. I used to like McCain...
Clark is totally correct–our soldiers have our utmost respect and gratitude, but being in the terrible situation of POW does not make you qualified to serve as president.

Obama is a fraud. Doing everthing he can to get elected.

"Change that works for him"

There is no doubt that McCain has courage, and is a war hero because of what he experienced as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. He should be respected for that. He has also been a Senator for a long time, and should be respected for that, as well.

Neither of those positive attributes necessarily qualify him to be president. His military service shows that he wasn't advanced as quickly as he should have been (that's death on a military career, and shows that your commanding officer has doubts about your ability to lead).

Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the Supreme Commander of the European Theater in World War II was an excellent general. He was a very marginal president.

Good military service does not equate to being a good president. Being in the Senate does not automatically validate you for president, either. Hillary tried the "I have more experience" ploy. It didn't work. McCain should think about other ways to make himself look like the one who is most qualified....

"Our enemies will test the new president early," Lieberman told CBS Sunday. "Remember that the truck bombing of the World Trade Center happened in the first year of the Clinton administration. 9/11 happened in the first year of the Bush administration" Lieberman

is this what we can expect from John McCain? this is the worst form of politics. this is a dis service to our nation and belittles the memory of all hose who died on 9/11...

republican scare tactics and no i dont trust McCain to protect pour Nation. i dont trust anyone who would stoop so low as to encourage another attack... it is a pity the only things they know how to do is pander to fear and ignorance.

stop these fools now before we have WWIII
shame shame shame...

That's pathetic that McCain can't except a rejection of Clark's comments when just a day before his campaign had been calling on Obama to reject them. Instead he chose to take advantage of it for political gain. Given his current poll numbers, I see why he's so desparate.

Does this mean that every person who has ever worn a military uniform for the U.S. is qualified to be President?

if the Republicans could actually find something REAL to pretend to be outraged about.....

(a few suggestions...)

Bin-ladin is still uncaptured
The Taliban is now resurgent
The World Trade Center has not been re-built
Gas is more than $4 per gallon
Oil companies are receiving HISTORY MAKING profits
THIS June is the worst economically since 1930
Joblessness is STAGGERING
AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES !!!
AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR HEALTHCARE!!!
AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR EMPLOYMENT TO OVERSEAS!!
WAR-RECESSION-INFLATION-CORRUPTION-NO CONSTITUTION!!!

but hey.... some former General points out Mccain was a p.o.w. but never had a COMMAND... so... HE'S a bad guy... let's all be OUTRAGED!....

Well, i can understand why Obama rejected Clark's comments, although they were no more than the truth. And I mean no disrespect to McCain, but he tries to capitalize too much on his prisioner of war experience. There are and have been many others, only not so vocal.

Why reject the remarks? They're true and echo what an apparent number of americans feel. Why is he been idolized? Was he so offended when the right was smearing Kerrys service? McCain is a hypocrit. His military service and pow status is admired, but does not qualify him to be president. He volunteered – he's just another C- legacy admission – kind of like GWBush. I don't think Obama should reject the statement as Gen Clark was right on the money. Why does america have a problem with electing someone with intelligence?

Obama continues to behave in a most presidential manner. His presidency is going to be great for America. Obama in '08!

Obama rejected the comment because he is not ignorant like his supporters are!!

Please take note: this article is not about the war, the economy, global warming, human rights, or anything else that actually effects us, as a general population.

This report is about two people, who happen to be running for office, trying to make fun of each other. Only, it's not about them making fun of each other, and how petty it is for them to do so: it is them making fun of each other.

Is this what we pay the media for? I can see two people in a flame war on any internet forum. Please keep that to yourselves, we aren't interested ("we" being those of us old enough to vote).

So the Obama supporters agree that McCain's military service does not qualify him to set national security policies.

I wonder then how Obama does qualify to set national security policies.

How much military experience does Obama have?

Just wondering.

This is the same strategy that the Obama campaign used so effectively during the primary contest. Have a surrogate accuse the Clinton's of racism...or worse.

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To LET HILLARY PAY HER OWN DEBTS

Lets stop feuling the hate please!!!! Sure what you say may have some ring of truth to it... but keep it to yourself.

TO HATERS ON BOTH SIDES, ESPECIALLY YOU PUMA PUNKS:
DO NOT RUIN MY GRANDMOTHER'S AND UNBORN KIDS CHANCE OF GETTING CHANGE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO CAST A SELFISH PROTEST VOTE, OR CONTINUE TO SPEW HATE AGAINST HILLARY!!!!! THIS IS NONSENSE AND YOU ALL NEED TO GROW UP!!!

OBAMA/CLINTON 08!!!

I wasn in the infantry, so can I be on the Joint Chiefs?

Obama, you need to more explicitly apologize and point out that McCain has honorably served our country and that every American should be proud and honored by his service, and more importantly that McCain is more than qualified to be president! And you need to convince Clark to apologize as well. The issue is not whether McCain is qualified or not, he is. The issue is that his policies would more or less continue the failed Bush policies, while Obama will end the war an move America in a better direction. So while McCain is qualified to be president, Obama will make a far better president!

Obama, do not allow your surrogates to question McCain's service or executive experience, or any other personal attack, this will only backfire. Attack his policies and explain why your are better. Keep it about the issues. This will ensure president Obama in 2008.

Obama SHOULD NOT have condemned those remarks. It just makes him look weak. The GOP will always try to kick the Dems around with this kind of false 'Scandal'. It's time for the Dems to get a spine!!

Another LAME excuse from Obama!!

He just sends HIS cronies out there to make statements that he cas disavowe. Like Rev Wright, Rev. Pfeagler, Rizo, and others. It is just a SHELL GAME.

So much for having the HONORABLE campaign that he talked about having.

He said that "words are not important", yes but honesty and integrety are, and Obama has neither!

McCain is indeed a war hero, an experienced legislator and an all-around decent person. does that make him presidential material? I think not due to the other options available. Don't get me wrong: I do not support Obama either. His wishy washy efforts to turn oratory into reality are unproven and his race card of declaring himself black when he is just as much white is unsettling. We have had a proven, capable, intelligent candidate with 8 years' worth of White House experience from day one in Hillary Clinton. She has a track record of working for ALL Americans and is ELECTABLE. The GOP's base is split between McCain and the wannabes. Obama's chances are dependent upon Clinton's supporters selling out for second best. I say let the person best qualified to bring our country out of Bushdom is Clinton and she can be elected as a write-in. Write her in – she can win!

What Clark said was factually obvious. How is flying a plane a credential to be President? I think the Republicans are grasping at straws.

Mr. Clark is merely stating the truth.

Clark is right on the this issue because being a prisoner or a vet does not qualify anyone, including Senator McCain, to be commander In Chief.

the Republicans are trying to paint Obama as not being qualitied because he is not a vet and the Democrates should push back on the issue. People in the country better wake up and realize the U.S can no longer be the bully of the world and start to recognize how much it is costing the country to keep the huge military industrial complex. Ike warned the country this issue over 50 years ago and the people have yet to wake up.

This country has big problems that will only be resolved through cooperation with other countries. Bush and the republicans printed so much money to pay for the Irag war the U.S is in debt up to its eyes. We, the citizen better be ready for some lean years becuase we have to pay off this dept.

So McLame says this the lowest form of politics and then he suggests that Obama was behind the statement? Is that just a wee bit contradictory?

Anyways, all McLame does is repeat a thounsand times that he was a POW when his military service is brought up. Even when it has nothing to do with question. Does this mean that McLame thinks that only former POW's are able to make "straight" decisions?

When is this guy going to stop using scripted answers! I appreciate what has given my country, but I am sorry to say this, he is 100% lame.

Clark's comments were NOTHING compared to Liberman's fear-mongering comments.

Where's McCain's disavowal of Liberman, CNN?

Obama is a good sport. Now we need McCain to reject the ridiculous comment from Lieberman today about there being a terrorist attack in 2009. That was unfounded and frankly insulting to our intelligence. It was much worse than Clark's comment.

I agree with Clark in general.
On a related and larger point...I have always found it interesting how the soldier that gets shot or injured or caught becomes a hero, and you never hear about the guy who successfully completed his mission without injury. It's kind of like rewarding failure. How much more of a failure can you be as a pilot to get shot down, then get caught, then not be able to escape for 5 years. I'm not trying to slam McCain. He obviously did a lot more than I ever did, but let's call those that succeeded in their missions the real heroes.

Jonathan, I so agree with you. If congress didn't vote money for the war there'd be none. I agree we have to keep up with Afghanistan which is reverting to its old ways, but we elected democrats to end the republican Iraq war and it's just as much a democrat war now. I'm utterly furious. My friends and I won't give any more money to the democrats. I don't know what else to do except vote EVERYBODY out of office and start over again with a bunch of neophytes, but the world is a dangerous place to do that. Suggestions?

MSM June 30th, 2008 1:35 pm ET
I served a year in Iraq, I don't think my service automatically makes me more qualified to be president than anyone else. Its what I do with the experience.

Become a POW for 5 years, have a Senate career since 1987, and be a senior ranking member on the Armed Services committee and then see how you feel. You only served in Iraq and so did I. How about you list his other qualifications Private!!

OK HERE IT IS CLARK WAS WRONG FOR DEVALUEING MCCAINS SEVICE BY SAYING HIS FIGHTER SQUADRON WAS NOT A WAR TIME SQUADRON , SO WHAT IF HIS SQUADRON WAS NOT A WAR FIGHTING SQUADRON THAT DIDNT STOP IT FROM GETTING SHOT AT, AND HIM GETTING SHOT DOWN. CLARK IS RIGHT OFCOURSE IT DOESNT QUALIFY YOU TO BE PRESIDENT BUT CLARK WAS WRONG TO TRY AND MINIMIZE MCCAINS SERVICE BY SPEAKING IN SUCH A TONE OF DISRESPECT, THEREBY MARGINALIZING HIS SERVICE. OBAMA SPOKE UP FOR MCCAIN TODAY BY SAYING NO ONE SHOULD DEVALUE ANYONES SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
OBAMA WAS OFCOURSE REFERRING TO CLARK. TO MY FELLOW OBAMA SUPPORTERS WHO ARE DEFENDING CLARK TAKE A QUE FROM OUR NEXT PRESIDENT THAT THIS WAS WRONG.

OBAMA O8

rick davis knows very well that Sen.Obama had nothing to do with
Wesley Clark statement that was a respones to a statement by a talk show host that Sen.Obama had no executive experience either
and had never ridden in a fighter and had never been shot down.
then Gen.Clark responded.Let us all get over the petty polictics
and stop these news pundits from making the news and
start reporting the news Iraq war nothing on the new services
talk shows host they like to bring up dirt or controverserial statements.

What exactly did Gen. Clark say that is so bad? For that matter, considering the current commander-in-chief's near utter lack of practical military experience, why is such experience even considered important any more?

Ok, General Clarke's comments were fine, but to middle america, you can't say that kind of stuff. It's stupid but people think that being a POW means something about how to run a country. It doesn't. It does, however, mean that you have unbreakable personal fortitude.

I like Obama, but he's got to start getting out of this silly stuff and start campaigning for real. I like that he's got his war room all set up, but how's that energy policy going?

Let's all get off the spin cycle and start talking about solutions to issues.

McCains prisoner time in the Vietnam war has no bearing on him running the country. He is as dumb as Bush, and has equally poor judgment plus a hot temper. Just what we need for 4 more years.

Funny how I said the same thing about McCain in a comment a week ago but the CNN moderators didn't post the comment. So much for free speech in Sickle & Hammer America. Anyway its the truth that
McCain is a media fabricated hero. To be a hero he would have needed to free the pow's not just be one. Being captured by the enemy doesn't make you a hero it just means you got caught or in his case shot down. Thousands of men were captured in nam that doesn't make them qualified to be president. Now if CNN can report when McCain will get those 30 tapes from the pentagon of his days a a pow he had removed from the public on TV for all to see would be nice. But they wont cause they work for AIPAC just like these shame candidates do.

We all honor McCain's military service....but....:
John McCain was a young pilot during the Vietnam War who was shot down over Hanoi and became a prisoner of war and was released 5 years later. That's it. We must all honor that service.

As for experience to be commander-in-chief of the US Forces, McCain does not have much of that experience. That's it. Objectively, we must all recognize and realize that inexperience or lack therof.

That does not come across as anything to apologize for. Wesley Clark was not being offensive towards and/or attacking McCain, but merely stating the facts. Obama has no reason to reject General Wesley Clark's truthful comments. Let us all get real here.

BK, your crticism of Obama is really grasping at straws. He has said every which way but loose that he respects McCain's patriotism. I on the other hand do not believe because he was captured that alone qualifies him to lead the entire free world as sometimes he and others want to convince we Americans of. I feel sorry for him but I don't think he is a leader. I sometimes get the impression that he is very angry over his loss of years and loss of physical mobility inflicted upon him at the hands of his enemies and I am afraid it will cloud his judgment when it comes to dealing with them. Will he try to seek some sort of revenge as Bush did regarding threats made against his father? Will he plunge us into many wars with many nations because he has post-traumatic stress syndrome? These are my fears. They should also be the concerns of many Americans.

Obama and his supporters just whine and cry about everything.

Get to the ISSUES Owannabe. Start with the truth. Make your flunkies stop with the lies. If you can't guide your flunkies, how can you guide a whole nation?

If Obama put Clark up to those statements, then I guess McCain paid the guys in Florida to vandalize cars in protest against Obama.

People grow up!!!! Stop blaming Obama for someone else's comments.

I agree with General's Clark's statement. I do not see how serving in the military gives you a green light to the White House. John McSame and his people are out there making comments about Obama's patriotism and they do not apologies, even though they are blantant lies and they expect the Obama camp to apolgies when someone speaks the truth. I don't get it. John McSame is now insisting that Obama can not be trusted because of his reversal on Campaign Financing. What abot all on John McSame reversals on policy (ie Bush's Tax Cuts, Offshore Drilling and Immigration Reform).

Gen. Clark is correct about McCain. As a Retired commanding General in charge, he is the person to directly criticize McCain. He knows what he is talking about. What McCain did to his crippled ex-wife and children once he met the Heiress is sad. How can we say that he will not give up on the U.S. as he did his family.

Obama "O8"

To Scott L.

Did you even listen to the speech???? Or did you allready have talking points that you chose to stick to, and ignorantly ignore what the man had to say.

If you couldn't come away from this speech with some understanding or something, then you are what Obama calls a Patriot.... but I call you an IDIOT

Obama/Clinton 08!!

Obama, keep it real and let no one tread or trumple on what you stand for. Gobama!!

McCain is a whiner! He and his campaign staff can dish it out but can't take when someone says something, even the truth, about McBush! General Clark's comments are right on target! He didn't disparge McShame; he spoke the truth. He emphasized that McCain's military service and POW experience have nothing to do with his ability to serve as Commander-in-Chief. They simply don't equate. If McFlipflop and his campaign staff compalin about those facts, they have seen nothing yet. The really good stuff about McDofuss and Cindy will be coming out after the GOP convention. That's a fact.

Tactical damage control for what I believe to be a planned technically correct statement by Clark.

McCain's service needs to be honored, but not venerated. Net gain for Obama.

Scott, get over it man.
Accept it that Obama is half-black or blacker than you.

Why does Obama keep surrounding himself with these people who are good at making divisive comments?

There are a lot of problems in America right now. It seems that, to John McCain, the most important problem that America has is questioning his, 'Presidential qualifications based on POW status.'
I would not invite this clown called Bozo McClown to my children's parties.

Come on Obama! What Clark said is 110% true.

If you get into a car accident (not your fault) and crippled, does that experience gives you the skills needed to run a big car company?. Abosultely not! The only thing you can do talk about how to avoid the car accident you had. That's it.

I am Obama supporters and I am starting to get ticked off by Obama's behaviour on issues like this. What is he worried about? The old man is running around and telling people that Obmama is not qualified to be president because he wasn't shot down by the enemy. The old man isn't fair to your records. Then why should you?

No executive knowledge, His rich wifes beer money,a prisoner
of war,so what !
Who cared about my late Brothers 2nd infantry division in
the Korean war ?
My Brother would not have worn his heroism on his sleeve either.
General Clark is right. McCain is wrong for our computer literate
society. Don't trust anyone who is not computer savvy that
is where the next war will be.

Just like the Obama camp to smear a war hero who has more political exper. in his little toe and about the same for there candidate on exper. for running a military. Wes Clark is a has been Gen. and not that good of one . His politics was just as bad. Just one more sorry of a supporter for Barack Obama . Hide behind the lies from your supporter's Obamaie your political campaign and future are almost at end . Once you lose the Presidential race hopefully we can get you out of IL. politics forever.

Obama needs to stop preaching, he is not martin luther king. Say what you mean obama, stop being so politically correct. Stand up, be strong. Mccain's military service does not qualify him in any regard. the comments made by Mr. Clark needed to be said. Wesley Clark couldn't be any more dead on. Obama seems to be falling into the same trap in which Mccain has fallen. They both seem to be pandering to what people might want to hear instead of saying what they will actually do when in office.

I disagree with Obama here. There is no reason to reject that comment. The republicans are just throwing out distractions. The more we humor them, the more we'll see.

Clark is 100% right!

Clark was NOT questioning McCains patriotism or military service nor was he devaluing it. What he simply stated was that McCain experience as a prisoner of war did not ALONE provide the necessary experience to set the country's national security policies. This is a statement of truth and fact. I served for 22 years active duty, served in VietNam, but that does not qualify me to be commander in chief. Obama distancing himself from this comment is just more silly politics. I agree with Clark, and I would also add that McCain serving in the senate for all these years also DOES NOT qualify him to be commander in chief. McCain is a bit looney, he can not make up his mind as to what he believes or thinks. His continued flip flop is worse than Hillary's, much worse so much that I find it amazing. What McCain as well as Obama needs to do is prove to the American people that their individual life experiences, leadership, integrity, honesty, ability to reason, negocitate, communicate, ...ect most qualify them to be the President of the US. I personally question McCains mental stability, as well as his over all abilities. Is McCain showing signs of diminished mental capacity due to his age and the level of stress he has had on him through out his life? That is the formost question in my mind.

I think General Clark's comments have some validity to them. You can understand somethings by serving, but being a POW only gets you so much insight and crediblity. I think that there needs to be a greater emphasis on his time in the Senate and which commitees he served. Those would be a better guide.

To Scott L: Obama rejected Wright and Farrakhan at different points during the primaries.

No one is knocking or demeaning McCain's service to the US, nor his time spent as a POW. Gen. Clark stated his opinion. One that I share. I think Camp Obama makes a mis-step here. Why apologize for Clark. Clark is not part of Camp Obama. Or could he be part of it in the future?

I think the problem here is that McCain in running to be Commander-In-Chief, not President of the United States. They are not one and the same. C-I-C is just one duty of the President, not the sole duty.

J-Mac's POW experience gives him an edge over Obama to be C-I-C. But, as Clark pointed out, does that experience translate into expertise in the numerous other duties of the President.

Ain't it a great country? YOu get 2.3 GPA, you are the last one in NAVY school, you get shot at by militants with small guns, and spend 5 years in Hanoi Hilton, you ditch your wife and marry into beer wealth and hot woman, and now you are ready for commander in chief?

OBAMA / BIDEN - ENOUGH SAID

Obama Supporter from FL: Excellent proof-reading skills. Maybe CNN can hire you, not only for your proof-reading skills but to add a political ticker that states something postive about Obama...SINCE they never do, but it's okay, we will win ANYWAY!!!!!

CLARK IS RIGHT.

I don't for a moment think Obama needed to even comment on Clark's statement other than to say that Mr. Clark is entitled to his opinion. I happen to agree that although McCain was indeed a prisoner of war during the Viet Nam conflict, that alone DOES NOT make him any more qualified for the office of President of the United States than anyone else. I have read books by former presidents; does that make me qualified? Both Obama and McCain are now Senators. McCain unfortunately has prior baggage which makes him supremely UNQUALIFIED in my book to run this country. All you have to do is google his name to see the racist choices he made during his office holding years in the state of Arizona.

I'm sorry Obama rejected Clark's statement. I've asked this many times myself. Why is McCain any more qualified because he was a POW? Clark is right on.
Obama 08

Many of us found Charlie Black's statement to be distasteful, but it was in fact a true statement. Just like McCain and his supporters may find Clark's statement to be distasteful, but it is in fact a true statement. The Republicans had no problem trashing John Kerry's military service, but nobody better question John McCain's? Bit of a double standard in play here.

Right, Obama? Feed your surrogates vitriol and then denounce it to pretend that you take the high ground. Obama, you are the great obfuscating pretender and typical old time politician!

This disgusted former Democrat will vote for Mccain 08!

LET HILLARY PAY HER OWN DEBTS OFF

SHE SHOULDNT'VE BEEN SO STUBBORN TO STAY IN THE RACE!

Good grief, when is it going to end. Obama needs to step up to the plate and stop being afraid to insult this or that group. Clark was spot-on when he made those comments. McCain needs to become current. Yes, thank you for your service...now show us how you are qualified to be president and commander in-chief. Stop falling back on the handy excuse/experience to limit discussion and criticism. The issues that matter are what this country is facing now, not what has happened in the past.

I am glad that Obama appologized, I didn't think he would. What I don't understand is how Obama supporters can say that McCain doesn't have the experience to be President. If McCain doesn't, than Obama certianly doesn't. Can you please explain to me how you think Obama is more qualified or experienced than McCain? Serving in the senate DOES qualify as experience, serving in the military DOES count as experience. This isn't a slight at Obama just a fact, McCain has more than Obama. Now you can argue that experience doens't matter or that you disagree with his policies, but you can't argue that Obama is more experienced.

Obama shouldn't feel pressured to denounce Clark's comment. Clark was clear about the fact that he has a lot of respect for McCain's service, but he does not feel that being a POW qualifies one as an expert on national security. He speaks the truth–no need to apologize. I have to laugh at the faux indignation of the Republicans when I think of the swiftboat garbage that was used to dicredit Kerry in 2004!

Clark is a big mouth and will say anything. He was the biggest

brown noser in the U.S. Army. This was told to me by one of his

fellow Colonels.

Just because the McCain camp is pretending to be outraged at the Clark comment, doesn't mean that Clark said anything wrong. Read the quote again, and you will see that his comment is true. Serving in the military does not make you qualified to be President. We can still honor the service, but we are not required to reward someone the Presidency. It takes judgment, intelligence, and a strong moral fiber – all things that Obama possesses and McCain seems to be lacking.

I served in both the first Gulf War and in the second. I am retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army and I do not feel that my experience has qualified me to be President of the United States. If everyone who reads this post thinks of all their relatives and friends who have ever served honorably in the military, and rather or not that person is qualified to be President .

Clark was NOT questioning McCains patriotism or military service nor was he devaluing it. What he simply stated was that McCain experience as a prisoner of war did not ALONE provide the necessary experience to set the country's national security policies. This is a statement of truth and fact. I served for 22 years active duty, served in VietNam, but that does not qualify me to be commander in chief. Obama distancing himself from this comment is just more silly politics. I agree with Clark, and I would also add that McCain serving in the senate for all these years also DOES NOT qualify him to be commander in chief. McCain is a bit looney, he can not make up his mind as to what he believes or thinks. His continued flip flop is worse than Hillary's, much worse so much that I find it amazing. I personally question McCains mental stability, as well as his over all abilities. Is McCain showing signs of diminished mental capacity due to his age and the level of stress he has had on him through out his life? That is the formost question in my mind.

Sounds like Mr. Clark has a lot of free time on his hands to be sitting around and thinking up these tid-bits.

I think our local WAl-Mart is hiring greeters.

I support Obama but General Clark should have never made the comments he made. This elections needs to be about the issues facing this country not personal attacks. McCain's history as a POW doesn't factor into my choice, however it should NEVER be devalued for political gain. I am glad the Obama campaign has rejected Clark's statements.

Obama is a fool and we already are begining to hate him over here in the UK.

How much more room is there under the bus? Obama has thrown his grandmother, his pastor, and now General Clark. Who's next?

MCCAIN ISN'T SMART ENOUGH TO RUN THIS COUNTRY LETS FACE IT. OBAMA IS BRIGHT AND THAT YOU CAN'T OVERLOOK THAT. MCCAIN BARELY MADE IT OUT OF FLIGHTS SCHOOL. AND ONLY GOT IN BECAUSE OF HIS DADDY .

SURE, I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO PAY OFF MY DEBTS TOO...HILLARY GOT INTO IT -LET HER DIG HERSELF OUT OF IT.

HILLARY HAS TO PAY FOR HER STUBBORNESS !

This comment is taken by commentators as a tiger would take a piece of raw meat. They are salivating at the thought of something to chew on all day long.

The grater offence is how pundits will spin this statement, he stated a fact.

In Iraq many have suffered all kind of evils, that is the present concern.

It takes sound judgement to be president, not so called 'experience', case in point – gwb has 'experience'.

Clark is right, he tell the truth, why Obama reject it?

As an eight year Navy veteran I value McCain's experience but I don't think it makes him a better candidate than Obama. We need Obama to change things in our contry we cannot continue the way we are and must adapt to the new world. Obama has the vision and enthusiasm we need. VOTE Obama!!

This guy is a joke.

THE CLARK and OBAMA SHOW was a PLANT..........

You can't see that?

Politics as usual here. The only change going on is that OBAMA will change his mind on something else by week end.

Who needs to be catered to this week?????? Someone put his speech together so he can pander.

We all know Clark was telling the truth, but it was in poor taste to have him say it now. Someone else could have brought it up other than Clark. Barack needs to stop denouncing statements that are in fact true.

Why anyone thinks that being a private in the military is qualification to commander in chief is beyond me. Fact is neither of them has held executive positions and have only been advisory or legislative. So what? Doesn't stop either of them from having good judgement on world affairs.

And yet, isn't Clark kind of right? What does military experience actually have to do with being the President? If someone has military experience during, say, Vietnam, we can't know that their judgment about future military conflicts wouldn't be just as clouded as someone with no experience in war. And anyway, this is what advisors and a strong cabinet are for.

Sadly, Obama has to cover his butt everytime someone attacks McCain because the press is so in love with that geriatric. McCain is simply too jumbled in his positions, and, frankly, too old to lead this country. He certainly doesn't represent me, at 30. I think it's time for the Baby-Boomers to step aside and let the qualified youth take control.

dont apologize for clarks comments!he spoke the truth.mccain is no hero!he surrendered!dont cowtow to fearmongers!wesley clark knows more about honor and patriotism than either candidate,and he tells the truth.i support you ,barack,but,remember,wesley clark ,is the REAL patriot,and you dont have to surrender your principals,just to appease the center.

I love Obama,but why is he apologizing? Clark was RIGHT!!!!! MCcains service to this country is admirable,but it does not qualify him to be president.
He's just a "old" man trying to fulfill a dream. He's forgetful,and doddering as many 70 year old men are. His time has come and gone!
BTW he did cheat on his first wife with the "Barbie doll" heiress. He admits that himself!

I totally agree with General Clark; McCain's service to this country is to be respected. However; that service does not automatically qualify him to be President. There is nothing wrong with that statement. General Clark, himself; has been in a command position and knows that McCain hasn't......The Bottom-Line is that it's true.

Obama should not distance himself from this because of the Republicans precious little feelings. McCain and his surrogates attack Obama and his wife everytime they get a chance and McCain does not distance himself.....he said "I cannot be the referee to these attacks"..............doesn't matter that they were on his behalf.

So McCain go whine to someone that doesn't know any better!!!! A number of us Veterans think your reliance on your service to give you a boost in this election is very SUSPECT!!!!!!!

Damage control. How does it feel, Obama cultists? Having to back away from your supporters' comments? Still want to attack McCain for Black's remarks?

Of course you do.

BK June 30th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

"Obama rejects it after he sent Clark out there to say it. Obama is a fraud and an empty suit."

So did Mccain send Charlie Black "out there" to say that it would be to his candidates advantage if the US was attacked by terrorists again? Since you attribute every thing a surrogates says to the candidate, are you just as furious with Mccain as you seem to be with Obama?

The comments came in an interview on CBS Sunday when Clark suggested McCain's experience as a prisoner of war did not alone provide the necessary experience to set the country's national security policies.

"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. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility," said Clark, a former NATO commander who campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

Doesn't any of you listen or read the comments you choose to question?
Wesley Clark never questioned the patriotism of John McCaain.
He stated that being captured and held as a prisoner of war did not in itself qualify him to become the president of our Country.

What a wimp McCain is. Every time somebody says something critical of him he runs to him mommy.... i.e.... the media. If elected, he will face every form of criticism in the job. If he isn't tough enough to handle the criticism of a single critic, what make him think he is strong enough to be President. Grow up, McFLYBOY. Hilary was tough, Obama is tough, but you are a crybaby. Go hide in one of your 13 homes.

I agree Senator Obama a one term Senator is a empty suit. I also believe he will lead for the most absent Senator in votes in history. I would complain more but I do not live in his home state.

Clark was correct and there was no need for any apology on Obama's campaigns part. McCain's has been making his military service a big issue and questioning Obama's qualifications for Commander in Chief. So McCain should not be suprised if his own so called qualifications come into question.

The poor McCain camp is really having a problem coming up with a real issue to complain about. McCain's service in Vietnam was nothing stellar ... surviving as a prisoner of war is indeed a heroic accomplishment, but getting shot down while bombing innocent bystanders below is not heroic nor does it show the kind of judgement needed to be president!

If McCain accuses Obama of something, it is ok – If one of Obama's supporters says the same thing about McCain, Obama has to apologize! Go figure.

Soldier's objectives:

1. Kill the enemy.
2. Don't get caught.

I say we retroactively court-martial McCain for failure to achieve military objectives.

Since when do Americans hail FAILURES as heroes?

It seems like every day this guy is rejecting some comments made by his supporters; While I somewhat agree with what Clark said, he has no business saying it in the modern political climate, due to the fact that everyone takes anything said grossly out of proportion. If this guy is elected president, I only hope he surrounds himself better people for the sake of this country.

I for one could care less if the vast majority of American's consider John McCain a war hero, but I don't understand how they can do so based solely on the fact that he was a P.O.W. I salute and honor his service to this country but that alone does not make him qualified to be Commander in Chief. He's basing a large part of his campaign on his military experience but none of that was in an executive role. Nonetheless, I'd rather see Obama run a "clean" campaign and wait for McCain to strike first similar to how he ran the primary. Obama and Clinton were running a very clean campaign until the 3am commercial that helped her survive Super Tuesday. Unfortunately for her, winning that battle really cost her the war. The mudslinging began and it was Obama who oftentimes appeared as the "victim" and he was forced to respond. Now, I think he has to be careful not to be too aggressive on McCain because Obama can't afford to lose sympathy votes. Don't let McCain take the high road. He's too weak on other issues that matter for Obama to let him off the hook. If Obama sticks to the issues, there's no way McCain can beat him!

Obama rejects Clark but NOT Farrakhan or Wright until there is public outcry?

HUH???????

Where's Charlie Black....Why is it that Obama has to reject and we are still waiting for follow up for McCain on Charlie......DOUBLE STANDARD!!!!

It will be a grevious mistake if Americans missed the chance of electing OBAMA.He is the real deal because he is not ready to demonise his opponent in the name of politics.OBAMA show them,politics is about issues.
Welldone President OBAMA

Boy the Obama camp sure came back fast with the rejection especially after Barack gave his big patriotism speech what could they do. LOL

That because he is now talking to a group that supports veterans. Tomorrow he might be against MCcain's service because is talking to a group who question it...obama the man of change...from one speech to another...he's for it.

yes. Obama did this during his campaign he had someone smear the clintons and then say no, no..

when he was in trouble, they marched out old white men who were former Chairmen to say he is the man.

blah! blah!

hillaryisourchoice.com

Look, there are truths and there are interpretations.

Saying thta McCain never held an executive positin is a truth. Therefore you cannot claim this is the lowest form of politics.

The lowest form of politics is interpreting something like claiming that you cannot trust someone.

Kinda like what McCain is doing to Obama daily. That is the lowest form of politics.

Guess we can take him off the VP list.

Clark was respectful and factual in his comments about McCain. And he's right. So what's so offensive about what he said???!!

First of all, I dont understand what the "bad" statement was....is it up there in that article......is it bad now to just state a fact...and who the heck apologizes for such a thing.....

Is Obama saying being a prisoner of war does qulify McCain to be Commander and Chief? Why is it when someone else makes a comment, especially when the comment comes from a general!
He did not say McCain couldn't handle the job, just that being a POW doesn't qualify someone to for the job.
This is shaping up to be a year of "none of the above"- too much whining and too much of every word being commented on! Our president needs to be strong- Where's Hillary?

Barack HUSSEIN Obama is this the kind of people you surround yoursef with? Your true feeling (anti-American) are coming out.

Barack Hussein Obama is an arrogant lying snake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

General Clark is right.

Guess it was Clark's time to get thrown under the bus...man it is getting crowded under there!

he can dish it but he can't take it.

Clark was right, he wasn't attacking McCain, and I agree with him 100%. But Obama's attempts to stay positive and above attack politics is inspiring. Maybe change can really happen... I'm cynical, but hopeful.

Wesley Clark was 100% RIGHT!

Obama's surrogates sow this crap, yet Obama is devoid of substance. Joe Biden offered to bail Obama out by stating he will accept VP in order to bring sorely needed national security experience to this nothing ticket. While Joe may help plug the gap on national security, who will plug all the other gaps. And, what if all these plugs fail? Who will be held accountable since Obama is clueless on any of the issues.

Some republicans, obviously are incapable of any serious reasoning. What does being a war veteran has to do with being a good president? In that case, Kerry would have being elected instead of re-electing Bush... He had a bigger and better military record than Bush. Why did republicans didn't consider that during the last elections? How convenient... Being president has to do with being a good manager (not McCain), being a good leader (not McCain), having good criteria and common sense (not McCain again), good innovative ideas (not McCain!), and having a good team, with experienced people in all areas (like for example Gen. Clark in the military sector). Having been to war and killing people does not make you smarter or necessarily more patriotic than other Americans. Contrary to that, killing other human beings usually produces serious mental issues... that's why so many valuable soldiers sadly end up at the psychiatrist's office when they come back... Yes, you have to respect war veterans but not elevate them to some sort of sanctity or give them ultra-patriot status. That is just a stupid myth! Some people fall so easily for cheap pseudo-patriotism blackmailing from the republicans. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO WAR, I HAVE NOT KILLED ANYONE and I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AS MUCH OR EVEN MORE AS ANY OTHER RESPECTED WAR VETERAN... SO MUCH THAT I WILL NOT HESITATE TO DEFEND IT, IF NEEDED. Not haven't fought in a war doesn't make me less patriotic, that's just lame reasoning! By the way, there are thousands of other war veterans much, much more capable than McCain, but that has nothing to do with a presidential race! Lets not militarize something as important as picking the next US president. General Clark is absolutely right and he just said what so many are afraid to say. McCain was never considered a "brilliant" during his military service... every one knows that! Obama is being "diplomatic' on this issue, since it is such a sensitive topic for most Americans, particularly for the ones that don't have clear what it takes to be a great president. For real change... go OBAMA '08

I am beginning to wonder just how smart Obama and his advisers are! When one of Obama's supporters mades a remark that is considered "politically unpopular" or "inappropriate", Obama immediately puts down the supporter - who is currently General Clark. While I think Clark is technically correct, that's just my opinion. What's happened to free speech in this country? Clark is entitled to his opinions as is anyone else. All Obama has to do is state, "I wouldn't say what Clark has said (or I don't agree with Clark's statement), but Clark is entitled to his opinion. This cycle of stupid politics of putting down supporters because they make unpopular comments is getting totally ridiculous. I won't vote for a Republican again, because George W. Bush and company have cured that, but because of all these stupid put downs of Obamas supporters, I have serious doubts about voting for him.

All of you people who disparage Senator McCain and the hellacious conditions he lived under for five years–for this country are shameful. Is it not possible to believe in Senator Obama and not belittle McCain. You should all read David Foster Wallace's (a great novelist and consummate liberal's) essay entitled Up Simba. Wallace explains fully why someone who is not in awe of Senator McCain did is merely a partisan hack.

QUESTION: While if Obama didn't question it let me question it....Does McCain military experience qualifies him to be commander-in-chief??
ANSWER: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's carry on CNN

General Clark has every right to voice his opinions, and I agree with his statement. At last, a courageous Democrat.

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!

The "lowest form of politics" is spreading false fears.

Ok, seriously, to begin with, Clark has some very good points. I would be more sympathetic towards McCain if he weren't spending the campaign criticizing Obama at every opportunity with the most bogus claims (Obama is naive, etc.). Then, of course, when Clark comes along with a legitimate claim, McCain cries foul. Besides, Clark did not question McCain's devotion to his country or his credentials; merely, however, he questioned the relevance of McCain's experience to being president, which is a legitimate concern.
Obama '08

Another one under the bus. Guess that lets out Clark for VP.

It's not just the fact that McCain's plane was shot down, resulting in McCain spending 5 years in a prison camp ... it's the fact that McCain, being the son of an Admiral, could have gotten early release ... but, being a man of 'real character', McCain chose to spend addition years as a prisoner, in order to be fair to his fellow prisoners. This depth of character, honor, and commitment to America is what separates John McCain by a country mile from weak men, who are all talk, like Barrack Obama, or Wesley Clark.

I agree with Gen. Clark 110%. Having been a prisoner of war, having fought in a war does not necessarily qualifies you to be President !

Call it whatever you like. I believe that Senator McCain was a war hero but just because he was it doesn't necessarily qualify him anymore than Senator Obama to lead this country. What about RayRay who was a war hero, does he qualify to be President?

Just because I babysat my niece for a summer doesn't make me a mother either

If John McCain doesn't have what it takes to lead this country, then why on earth, would Nobama have what it takes. A junior senator who was a community oraganizer. Oh yeah, that'll do it. GIBE ME A BREAK. Just go home and take that clown back to Chicago where he belongs.
PUMA-PAC

I do not know why obama has to reject Clarks comment I do not see any wrong with it he was telling the truth, why is Mccain offended by it.

obama has enough experience to be commander and chief

Interesting how the Clark scab and his patriotic speech are one after another...........................................

SETUP............................................

Politics as usual. Obama said he would not question anothers patriotism. I wonder why? Because he does not want the lack of his questioned.

OBAMA is a NOVELTY beinf pushed by the left for thier own agenda. How sad for us and the OBAMAs

Clark was right...
but man what great character Obama has...

wish McCain was as eloquent when Black said McCain would do great if there was an attack on US soil...

go Obama

Clark for VP!!!

Of course he does- after it has been said and the damage has been done.

This is the exact same trick he used to demolish HRC.

Get others to attack, then come and reject it after it is too late- like calling for HRC to drop out. Then Obama says, oh I think she can run as long as she wants.

Yeah, right.

Sleaze bucket

Obama rejects it after he sent Clark out there to say it. Obama is a fraud and an empty suit.

Now McCain needs to reject Liebermans comments that America will be attacked next year after McCain sent joey boy out there to say it.

As a Republican, I thank you, Senator Obama.

Another problem with Mr. Change, he thinks he can disinfect words and deeds that are controversial or reflect on him negatively. He has done this more than once. How is this guy ever going to lead a country, deal with the military, the Iraq War, the Taliban, the economy, the crime and whatever crisis emerge over the next several years if he's always worried about cleaning himself. It really irked me when he was with Hillary Clinton in "Unity" having the gall to patrionize not just Hillary Clinton, but all women about how women can do anything, while he prances and claps his way into the nomination. What a phony.

Don't elevate your qualifications General Clark at the expense of diminimizing McCain service to his country....we have politicians for that. When you have walked a mile in McCain shoes, then you can make a statement.

this is b.s. Clark says something that is true and the right wing nut jobs and media pressure obama to reject it. Yet Lieberman can come out and say that America will be attacked in 2009 and that is just fine and dandy? Ridiculous

Oh come on!!! Go with a General's opinion over that of a captian. Clark is right! McCain aint no General Washington, hes no General grant, he was a peon in the army who could not do his job right. If he had been a better soldier he would not have been captured. Lets go Obama, get in the game. They aint gonna be as nice to you.

We have seen this Obama trick before.

Have a supporter attack.

Then come out and pretend to disagree.

That way you inflict damage without soiling your hypocritical hands.

Mccain is not qualified to be president, being POW does not qualify you to be a president, if this was the case every body who served in the army will be qualified to be president. Mccain is a warmonger, Unqualified, not smart and third term of Bush.

Clark was right. And the only thing McCain has done is war, war and more war. I want someone who can relate to the American family!!! Who cares about health care, education, social security–not just the wealthy!!! Go Obama!!

Obama rocks!!! His speech was great.

I agree with Gen. Clarks comments though.

My husband has been in the military for 22 years and still is..Doesn't qualify him to be president.

Really I am completely with Tony, what is a fuss in this. Is it wrong to ask someonewhat experience they have in managing a war, if they just served as a soldier in the war. Under no circumstances I am underminig what sacrifices McCain did and I am sure Gen.Clark also never denied it. Being a supporter of Obama, i think this is a loss to him. If he cannot ask questions to a fellow competitor in his own land about his experience in one filed, how is he going to question more hostile crowds like Iran?

All of America knowsMcCain is a war hero as well as a long time senator, NEITHER of which qualify him for the US presidency.

why must everything be so politically correct these days? clark said it like it was – that yes, mccain is a war hero, and no, that does not qualify him uncategorically go be president.

why is mccain even insulted? is anyone who has ever been a prisoner of war automatically capable of leading the country? clark never questioned mccain's patriotism or heroism; why are the republicans twisting his words to make a simple observation an attack on mccain's person?

fyi: there are plenty of former war heroes who go on to become tyrannical leaders.

Can someone explain how military service automatically qualifies you to be President?

Same old tricks from Obama that he used to trash and gut HRC:

first play the race card.
then get your surrogates out there to destroy your opponent.
then later come out and say you don't agree.

Meanwhile, the damage is done.

You do not fool me.

tony, Princeton, NJ June 30th, 2008 1:30 pm ET

I just don't understand all this fury with what Wes Clark said. Factually, what Clark said is absolutely true. If Mccain is offended by that remark, so be it.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

McCain never said the his "experience as a prisoner of war did not alone provide the necessary experience to set the country's national security policies" that is what is the matter.

Clark is a idiot. Senator McCain ran the largest aviation squad. in the Navy when he was released in Vietnam and was a captain in the navy. He was also being considered to get a promotion of admiral, but he instead left the Navy to run for Congress.

Given that McCain's qualifications are an order of magnitude better thgan Obama's, Obama has no choice but to condemn Clark. If McCain isn't qualified, then no way Obama is. It would seem that Obama should invest in a new military advisor. A general who was fired would seem to be a bad choice.

the gen clark was right it's up.to mccain to prove to the american people that he has that commander in chief experience this too low for the mac camp to go after barrack after one of his surrogate telling people the truth.

So, what McCain is saying is that every soldier who's been captured and realeased is qualified to be commander in chief? I've been in two wars, and I can tell you some of us can't even run a chicken coop.

I served a year in Iraq, I don't think my service automatically makes me more qualified to be president than anyone else. Its what I do with the experience.

This is why I love Barack Obama!!!
He has the ability to really touch the American people with his words.
NOBODY,,,, YOU MCCAIN SUPPORTERS AND PUMA PUNKS (RUSH LIMBAUGHS PUMA PUNKS) CANNOT DENY THAT THIS SPEECH WAS EXCELLENT. IF YOU DO DENY THAT.... THAN YOU ARE REALLY NOTHING BUT A DUMM RACIST ANYWAYS!!! BUT YOU ARE STILL A PATRIOT!

I do also appreciate the fact that he went after Move On.org's comments about General Petraus. As a die hard liberal myself, I detested MoveOn's "General Betray Us" comments. That being said THIS GUY IS AMAZING!!! VOTE FOR HIM!!!

OBAMA/CLINTON 08!!!

I don't see anything wrong with Clark's comments. He basically called out McCain on his big trumpeting song of "war hero". War Hero he is MOST CERTAINLY. McCain is a war hero. But, does that qualify you to hold the highest office in the land? I don't really think so. Think about it. The President of the United States is a civilian position. For a reason too. Our founding fathers were smart dudes. Have a citizen lead the nation. Not a religious leader. Not a soldier. A citizen. Brilliant. Anyway, Clark is a retired General folks. He can pretty much say whatever he wants in regards to the military, because he knows what he's talking about. The real qualifications we should be talking about is voting records. How has McCain voted in regards to veterans, the environment, the war? These are bigger indicators of leadership skills. See for yourself at votesmart.org. You can search the entire voting records of both candidates to see who you align with best.

It's disgusting that some people still think like neanderthals but it's true. Can't stand the fact that a Black man is more educated (Constitutional Law Scholar from Harvard) than you and speaks more intelligently than you. And BTW no one is ever prepared to be president, it takes sound judgement. We all saw how so called 'experienced' people (gwb) have ruined our country so that whole 'experience theory is out the window.

They only wanted his apology to throw in their own sly remarks, they think their so clever, wait until november we'll see how clever they are when a wave of blue teach's them a lesson.

WE HONOR ALL OUR SOLDIERS SERVICE, BUT CLARK

IS 100% CORRECT. THAT IN ITSELF DOES NOT QUALIFY

MCBUSH AS COMMANDER & CHIEF. SINCE HE IS ALWAYS

WRAPPING HIS DISHONEST BEHAVIOR IN THAT SERVICE,

WHY HE HAS NEVER RELEASED HIS SERVICE RECORD.

I am tired of the candidates having to reject every comment that any supporter makes just because it might upset someone.

Grow up, people.

At my workplace, when someone says something that might hurt my feelings, I don't run up to their boss and ask them to apologize for their employees remarks. This is ridiculous.

And why is it that every Republican can say that Obama is not qualified in 50 different ways and that's fine, but heaven forbid anyone question "Teflon John".

Nice way to accept the apology from the McCain camp. "It's not enough!! We'll wait and see if we can find something else to be offended by!"

Notice how Obama "never goes negative"?

He just gets his supporters to do the damage and wage the attacks for him.

Then he can pretend to disagree- to look good.

He is a con man and we have seen this one-two punch before.

It is how he savaged Hillary, while pretending to be a nice guy.

Don't fall for it again.

"Responding to the Obma campaign's rejection of Clark's comments, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said, "We've learned we need to wait and see what Senator Obama actually does, rather than take him at his word."

Can't the characters in the McCain campaign be civil for once. Sen. Obama continuously tries to respect him and his service to receive nothing in return. I am so sick of the arrogance of the Republican party.

Clark's comments were taken out of context. Before he criticized McCain for not commanding a "wartime" unit...Wesley went out of his way to give McCain a lot of praise for his service.

All Clark was trying to say is that McCain was never a wartime commander and that didn't translate to any special significance that he was more qualified to be President than Obama.

I agree with Clark wholeheartedly. Exhibiting a pronounced inability to dodge anti-aircraft fire doesn't qualify you to be president.

Obama is wrong in trying to admonish General Clark. The General was correct in saying that being a prisoner of war does make one qualified to be Commander in Chief. I am sorry McCain was captured and tortured, but that in itself does not make him qualified to be our President. Tie that in with the fact that he cannot make a stand on any issue and stick to it.

the gen clark was right it up.to mccain to prove to the american people that he has that commander in chief experience this too low for the mac camp to got after barrack after one of his surrogate telling people the truth.

Obama, thanks for rejecting Washington politics. Carry go.

mind showing proof BK? Of course not, Clark merely said his opinion on the matter.

Obama has just displayed some great character by saying that! He could have agreed with it, but he refuses to get sucked into the GOP 'Hate Machine'

Obama is slick.

Using the same playbook that stole the nomination.

Get your people out there to do the damage and make the nasty comments and do the attacking.

Then say that you don't agree.

Such propaganda tactics are transparent to all but the cult followers.

And what exactly is the Obma campaign, CNN? Is there a candidate for president named Obma?

Ok...so this statement is unacceptable by McCain, but he still has that creep Charlie Black on his payroll that basically hopes more Americans die in a terrorist attack? Shouldn't that be the "lowest form of politics" as well, or does it just apply to people who aren't supporting his campaign? McCain is such a hypocrite and a liar.

MCCAIN'S SERVICE IS NO GREATER THAN FORMER PRES. JIMMY CARTER'S SERVICE AND MCCAIN OWES PRES. CARTER AN APOLOGY. CLARK ISN'T RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, MCCAIN IS.

Wow!!! What are all those Obama backers going to say now after they have been bagged on Mccain service. I would say that you do the same that many have been telling Hillary backer to do and that is take the lead from the person you support.

I doubt that most will but that is good. It just shows both your faces to more people.

Can someone explain what is so wrong with what General Clark has said? He did not dishonor MCain's service or his sacrifices as a POW; all he said is just being a POW does not make one to be more qualified to be a CIC.

Thing is, what did Gen. Clark say that was not TRUE? It is sad that future PRESIDENT Obama has to side-step and apologize to everyone for everything anyone says that is in support of him (Obama), trying to be deferential to other candidates, everyone from HRC to John McCain...Obama is too accomodating to these folks! Comes a time when one fights fire with fire and I think that if McCain is going to hurl accusations about Obama's credibility or trustworthiness, than a true statement by a retired military GENERAL should be fair enough...again, especially because it is TRUE...Fight on, Obama!!
Obama '08 and '12
YES WE CAN!!!

He's absolutely right.

McCain really was a terrible pilot. On the other hand, Clark was a terrible general.

Obama is a coward. He has avoided debating McCain since wrapping up the nomination. He just sends his pathetic lackies out to do his dirty work and then sits back and says I have nothing to do with it. This is the man who the Obama lovers think is going to change things for the better. Unbelievable how stupid, uneducated, and desperate people have become. BUT BY THE RULES OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, HE WILL HAVE TO FACE MCCAIN THREE TIMES. THAT WILL BE THE END OF THE OBAMA LEAD AND THE END OF HIS CHANCES TO WIN. Think about it people, he first refuses to debate McCain and then says ok I will debate when the fewest people would be watching (on July 4th). COWARD

McCain seems to talk from both sides and like when trying to have it both ways when they criticize Obama as not having Commander in Chief experience and yet take offense when it is pointed out that McCain really doesn't either. Rightful credit is always given him for being a POW and all but the only extensive real experience he has is as a Senator and with Washington as usual – exactly what we desire to get away from. It seems ridiculous to cry foul when the truth is pointed out (that their experience, while different, is pretty equal) especially after criticizing the opponent – who is really trying to be an elitist?

Being a POW does NOT qualify you to be President. Sorry. It makes you unfortunate. I especially don't want a former POW as my President because he probably has PTSD and snaps and screams at people and stuff.

Most unfortunate picture of Obama ever.

OBAMA>>>>>>>>

CLARKS COMMENTS SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS TALKING FOR THE GOP>>>>>

Everything he accused McCain of, looks like he was talking about you.

No Experience. No Leadership and not Turst Worthy.

Can Brian Rogers give us a break, they asked for a rejection, BHO has

done that, now they said they have to wait cos they can't take his word, t

hey are making me sickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk to the stomach

Same exact strategy Obama used against Hillary.

Get your supporters out there to say the nasty....

Then come and pretend to rise above it by saying you don't agree.

Meanwhile the damage gets done, and the great Obama gets to keep his hands clean.

We saw this all before....

Get your people to do the dirty work of destroying your opponent for you.

"I know that General Clark is not an isolated incident but I have no way of knowing how much involvement Sen. Obama has in that issue," he told reporters. "I know he has mischaracterized some of my statements in the past including our involvement in Iraq but I'll let the American people decide about that. "

McWar – what a joke. Obama should just say that he respects Clark's right to a learned, 4 star, opinion – and it's up to the American people to decide if they agree or not.

Blah! Blah! Blah! We all know Clark spoke about the subject in the same manner as the BO camp does every day, full of hate for everyone who doesn't see things their way, and on and onl Could NEVER UNITE THIS COUNTRY.

Clark is right.

First of all, General Clark made a true statement. Senator John McCain's service to this country was and is heroic and respectable, but in no way does it qualify him to be the president.

Second of all, Senator Joe Lieberman's statement that there will be another terrorist attack in 2009 is much, much worse than anything General Clark said.

Where is McCain's repudiation of this statement?

Nothing about a fear-monger like McLame qualifies him to be POTUS.

He needs to stop with his buddies sending fear.

No More Wars !!!!!!!!

John McCain has no experience in foreign affairs. I worked for walmart when I was going to college, that doesn't give me experience to run the company.

I just don't understand all this fury with what Wes Clark said. Factually, what Clark said is absolutely true. If Mccain is offended by that remark, so be it.

Obama rejects it after he sent Clark out there to say it. Obama is a fraud and an empty suit.

DEMOCRATS HAND BUSH ANOTHER 163 BILLION DOLLARS IN WAR WE VOTED THEM INTO POWER TO STOP! AND DESPITE THE CONTINUED EVIDENCE OF REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION, THE DEMS JUST KEEP LYING TO US ALL MAKING THEM NO DIFFERENT THEN THE IDIOTS WHO GOT US INTO THIS MESS!

McCain and his supporters just whine and cry about everything.

Get to the ISSUES McWarmonger. Stop with the fear. Make your flunkies stop with the fear. If you can't guide your flunkies, how can you guide a whole nation?

I bet it pained you to do this. You cant stand having your image tarnished.

All of America know McCain is a war hero as well as a long time senator, both of which qualify him for the US presidency.

Clark was right though. McCain does not have executive experience . His war record has nothing to do with his ability (or Lack thereof in this case) to be Commander in Chief.

Obama rules! He speaks I feel empowered. McCain speaks and I fall asleep zzzzzzzzz