July 1, 2008
Posted: 03:45 PM ET

From
Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark appears on Tuesday's 'The Situation Room.'
Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark appears on Tuesday's 'The Situation Room.'

(CNN) — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, appearing on CNN's "The Situation Room" Tuesday, continued to press the argument that John McCain is not suited to be commander-in-chief, and took aim at the Arizona senator's "judgment."

"I've never said anything to dishonor John McCain … I like him. But I will say this, that when it comes to being President of the United States, it's about judgment," Clark told CNN's John Roberts. "And I've seen stronger judgment from Barack Obama, despite the fact that he doesn't have military experience than I've seen from John McCain despite all his worldly travels.

"To me, this is about, and I hope the American people will make the decision based on judgment," he added.

Clark also criticized Orson Swindle, a McCain surrogate and former Vietnam POW, who blasted Clark's record as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.

"I don't know Orson. I'm sure he's an outstanding man and did a great job in uniform. He doesn't know me either," said Clark.

"But I did in my last command as the head of the forces in NATO, lead the forces of NATO in the fight to stop ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. We did win a war. We bombed for 78 days … we did it without the loss of a single American soldier … We did it with a combination of diplomacy and force," he said.

Clark also discussed his support in 2004 for John Kerry, namely on his military experience, and how it differs from McCain's.

"John McCain basically served honorably while in uniform, he did everything the country could have asked," Clark told CNN. "What John Kerry did is John Kerry got out of the uniform and took a judgment, a judgment I didn't agree with at the time, but he had the moral courage to stand up for himself and oppose the conflict in Vietnam.”

Filed under: John McCain • Wesley Clark


EricTexas   July 1st, 2008 9:04 pm ET

I agree, Talk about bad Judgment, McCain’s latest announcement free trade with Columbia with all the things wrong with this country right now, he’s talking about free trade with a country that exports more drugs than any other. McCain get a clue !!!!

McCain is like going on a date with someone that only talks about himself. And has nothing else to offer the American than people than his war record.
Were happy for Ya Great Job, Lets move on. Your war record isn’t going to help you with your people skills. Or leading this country.

A Post 9/11 Navy Veteran   July 1st, 2008 8:50 pm ET

You guys keep on talking. I am an Obama supporter and I strongly agree with Gen.Clark. It don't seem like I will be out the Navy for long because I will end up getting recalled for the Iran war that is next. Are my fellow citizens in the United States so foolish to not realize that the government is eyeing Iran next, KNOWING our military is already torn and broken down already? You people talk so much garbage, you all will be right beside me in UNIFORM when I get recalled, because I know for a FACT, that if we go to war with Iran due to the unstable GOP idiots that only care about their OWN cash, THERE WILL BE A DRAFT, YOU JUST WAIT!!!!!!!! You PUMA people, you just go on ahead and vote for McCain, and your children 18 years and older, as well as you if you are in the age range, you will be my shipmate for sure. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE!!! THIS IS NO TIME FOR FOOLISH PRIDE!!!!! That "Free Trade" crap that McCain is touting, you know why he is pushing for it???!!! Because he is going to need some countries to "back" us and let us borrow money from when we go to Iran because the United States will be BROKE!!!!! So you people go ahead and vote for McCain and those countries will practially own the United States and we will end begging England to take control of our country again, the very country we fought for, but our governement will be so run down there will be no other option, so go ahead and vote for him, I will be waiting for you guys on the messdecks.

Liquidity   July 1st, 2008 8:49 pm ET

Being a general, particularly one evidently retired from final command (Read Clark's Wikepedia biography as a start) for undisclosed reasons of character, qualifies you by experience as a general, nothing more, nothing less. And in my book the only President of particular distinction selected from the ranks of generals was George Washington. Decades spent in the military, however laudibly spent, creates a narrowness of view. One might remember this when considering that Wesley Clark has run (unsuccessfully) for President and is presently trying to attach himself to Obama's coat tails in the VEEP slot.

Two aspects of military service, particularly in wartime and particularly in combat and particularly at the level of junior command, are incredibly important preparation for the Presidency however.

The first is having the responsibility to give and actually having given orders to people you know which result can and have resulted in their death and a visceral understanding of the price that is paid. If you have touched them in life and smelled them in death, and had to write the letter to the wife or mother, so much the better. Decades later in the oval office the price paid by those ordered to combat will never be an abstraction and always at the forefront of awareness.

The second is that those in the military receiving their orders know the difference between a CIC that has been there and one that has not. In combat, obeying orders means doing your duty to the best of your ability when you are scared as hell. It is a lot easier to do so recognizing the source of the order is asking you to do anything he hasn't one himself. That does not make the orders good ones. It does, however, make them respected. And respect lives in the gut.

So the bottom line is that McCain's experience gives him the trust of street credibility within the ranks of the military. And that credibility is far more important with those actually doing any fighting than it is to the generals.

On its own, this dimension neither firmly qualifies nor firmly disqualifies for the Presidency. But CIC is one of the President's most important roles, military experience does matter; McCain has it; Obama doesn't.

mark   July 1st, 2008 8:46 pm ET

Did anyone else notice lil's post? She is a teacher??? She can't even write a legitimate sentence.

Now I know why the country is falling apart, if our teachers are so illiterate and poorly educated, what happens to the students.

Chris Lee   July 1st, 2008 8:44 pm ET

Are we looking for someone to run a war or someone to end one?
Are we looking for someone to start a war or avoid one?
Take your pick.

Poby Zop   July 1st, 2008 8:41 pm ET

Lets see, CNN, must stand for….. Clinton News Network!
I think I'll go back to the truth-Fox!

Doyle - MI   July 1st, 2008 8:41 pm ET

Go General Clark.

Herman in LA   July 1st, 2008 8:40 pm ET

What's new…

tigerakabj   July 1st, 2008 8:38 pm ET

Go get McSenile Clark! If McCain wants to run on "military experience," then his entire record of his "military experience' needs to be thoroughly examined, just like anyone who would be applying for a job.

McCain talks war this and war that, and that is it. And I too agree that it is about judgment. Even though Obama never served in the military, he had great judgment to know and speak out agasint the EXACT outcomes of the Iraq war, whereas McCain did not (he was on of the main drum beaters).

They twisted Kerry's war record, so McCain's should be no different.

And furthermore, Clinton did not serve. Yet he was a hecka lot better than Bush could ever be. McCain thinks national security is his strong point. In those debates, Obama is going to make him and the rest of America see otherwise. Obama 2008!

Marcia   July 1st, 2008 8:38 pm ET

I can't believe how the media – and the Obama campaign, for that matter – are going along with this willful distortion of Clark's original remarks. He didn't disrespect McCain's service record or his suffering as a POW at all. He only said that McCain didn't have the kind of service record that's relevant to being President – AND HE DOESN'T! He served honorably. But he is also a career Navy guy who was NEVER going to make Admiral. It's only executive military experience that makes one man more qualified than another as commander in chief. That's what Clark was pointing out.

James   July 1st, 2008 8:37 pm ET

What did Clark said that is not true?What about McCain followers like Sean Hannity using the airways trushing Barak Obama day and night with personal and hatefilled messages and McCain did nothing.
And now when Clark opened his mouth McCain is feeling the heat.Give me a break.

RaferJanders   July 1st, 2008 8:36 pm ET

Wow rusty I guess you know General Clark, McShame would not have gotten the name "SongBird" if he did not Collaborate with the North Viets, Not to mention the Angry Little troll was not even born in the United States, General Clark is good people, But how would you know, You ever serve? Just another Chicken Hawk Neo Con,
Rangers Lead the Way

Yup   July 1st, 2008 8:35 pm ET

I don't like Clark, but gotta admit in this case he's 100% right

Former GOP   July 1st, 2008 8:30 pm ET

I agree with Gen Wesley Clark 100%.
Gen Clark can ask that question because he
Has served in the Military as well. It would be a strange questions coming form
Obama. But Gen Clark he can speck to McCain claims that because he was a POW he would make a better President.
The real problem is McCain and the rest of his people don’t like the fact that a Gen of the armed focused Called him out because he is trying to legitimize himself as the best person for the job because he was in a war and was a POW!

Truth   July 1st, 2008 8:27 pm ET

Great leader…

Obama need to stop rejecting the truth to please McCain. This will not stop the republicans from attacking him…
Let Clark attack the only claimed advantage of McCain:
Many years of experience but poor judgement…McCain vote and support for the Iraq war should disqualify him from becoming president.
Obama need strong advisor who will support attacking McCain on his false leadership experience. We don't like weak leaders
Obama, you either be strong or we will vote for Barr.

Art, San Diego,CA   July 1st, 2008 8:27 pm ET

General Clark's comments are shameful. He is a former upper level military bureaucrat who will apparently say anything to curry favor. This will backfire on Senator Obama. Nothing is gained from attacking the military record of someone who served our country sacrificially. I am saddened, but not surprised. No real reformer ever came out of Chicago.

mark   July 1st, 2008 8:24 pm ET

Someone remind me how it's the Republicans who are the nasty, mean spirited, attack dog, mud slinging party?

It seems for months and months, that's all the Dems do is speak nasty, attack and throw barbs, at each other and at their opponents.

McCain has demonstrated he has the better judgement, and character through out this primary season, and the pressure and challenge has brought out the true and worst parts of the Obama and the Obamaites.

So Please someone remind me why everyone says the Repubs are the nasty ones. I see it quite the opposite.

PS: I'm an independant, swear no allegiance to a party, I vote for who I think will do the better job.

WISDOM   July 1st, 2008 8:21 pm ET

I agree 100% with General Clark. Nobody is doubting McCain's honorable service to this nation, but that alone doesn't make him a better leader. In fact, I rather trust younger and less experience, but honest man over older man with life time of rotten experience who ditched his wife and kids over a younger and rich girl. You know who I'm talking about: John Mccain is the one who ditched his wife and kids over then a rich young girl, Cindy.

Now, how can you trust a man like McCain as your president? He is now criticizing Obama for changing his mind on Public Campaign Financing issue? What a hypocrite he is….

Michele Hussein, Oregon   July 1st, 2008 8:20 pm ET

So the bottom line is that Clark hurt McCain's feelings right where it counts the most to him (McCain).

What is the difference between what Clark said and what the McCain camp has attempted by trying to discredit Clark? Even their efforts to denigrate Clark's service is backfiring ……

saga for Obama   July 1st, 2008 8:16 pm ET

hmmmm…is it true that McCain is being backed by members of KKK and other white supremacist terrorist? after reading some of these comments….i would say so.
blah blah Wright…
yadda yadda Farrakhan
yippidy yippidy Rezko….

how a bout KEATING 5…that was a McCain OJ
what about womanizing…. them some morals for ya
kinda lovin that war in afgan. and Iraq…so what a few people die? right?
oh yeah gotta love the ENRON buddies
how a bout the senile paranoia? "oh he talked about me…Barack can you please cut him loose?" whaa whaa whaa…john mccain..

get real

Ken   July 1st, 2008 8:16 pm ET

This article makes me laugh. What's even more funny is the fact that most of you agree. Talk about lack in judgment. Does Westley Clark knows Obama, the man that he now works for and endorsed? I don't see McCain befriend a racist like Rev. Wright. I don't see McCain befriend an anti-America extremist like William Eyres. Talk about a lack in judgment. Wake up people.

Tim   July 1st, 2008 8:15 pm ET

General Clark should keep his comments to himself.

M.S. Indiana   July 1st, 2008 8:13 pm ET

Alf Z, FL., and when it comes to 2 old white guys, Ron Paul got my Vote…
McCain stands for nothing that our Republican party stands for…
he is just an other Bush wanna bee…

After all there are millions of people who have served in the military, think we can pick a better person from there then old old ways of doing things…

And dear McCain cant even take a stance, tell me where he have not flip flopped… Tomorrow he will properly promote peace in the middle east and no more wars against the Muslims…

sarah   July 1st, 2008 8:11 pm ET

yeah clark,, sitting in a church exposing your children to racist, anti american rants on a regular basis is great judgement. calling bill and hillary clinton racists, really great judgement. using drugs excellent judgement. someone should definately question your judgement and your sanity.

Cynthia   July 1st, 2008 8:11 pm ET

I agree with Clark 100%

susie   July 1st, 2008 8:07 pm ET

If McCain is so bad…. why did John Kerry want him to be his running mate back in 2004?

Please someone tell me what Obama is going to change — oh wait, he is going to turn the USA into a socialist state.

If you want BIG govenment and a 50% tax rate —- vote OBAMA!

Lynn   July 1st, 2008 8:06 pm ET

I adore Wesley Clark and I think he would have been a great VP if we could change the Presidential choice. I hate to see him put someone down for their military service. John McCain was a POW for 5 years. What this man had to go thru. I am not a fan of McCain or Obama but I think McCain should be thank for his service.

Clinton, no, wait, McCain Supporter   July 1st, 2008 8:04 pm ET

I say Mike, Syracuse, NY, is the smartest guy on this blog.

joe   July 1st, 2008 8:02 pm ET

What about McCain's making 30 plus propaganda tapes for North Viet-Nam? Everyone turns a blind eye to issues like this. All the heros in war are dead. Suprising that he, of all people, would support bush's efforts to torture soldiers. The media has failed this population , the same people whose tax dollars are funding this madness. Likewise the courts, who refused to explain what the right of redress means! Clearly the people in power have ignored the will of the people! Is this majority rule? Is 70% not a majority? Is this democracy? Are 950 lies not enough to prompt congress to act? What has to happen before the taxpayer says, no more?

joe   July 1st, 2008 8:00 pm ET

What about McCain's making 30 plus propaganda tapes for North Viet-Nam? Everyone turns a blind eye to issues like this. All the heros in war are dead. Suprising that he, of all people, would support bush's efforts to torture soldiers. The media has failed this population , the same people whose tax dollars are funding this madness. Likewise the courts, who refused to explain what the right of redress means! Clearly the people in power have ignored the will of the people! Is this this majority rule? Is 70% not a majority? Is this democracy? Are 950 lies not enough to prompt congress to act? What has to happen before the taxpayer says, no more?

alvin, canada   July 1st, 2008 8:00 pm ET

McCain`s spiritual guide Rod Parsely who also preaches hatred for muslims and

Jim Hagee who also preaches hatred for catholics shows the kind of judgment McCain has. Thats why it took him 3months to come out and denounce those extremists.

Catherine   July 1st, 2008 7:59 pm ET

Thank You General Clark! John McCain because you were a prisoner of War does not buy you a ticket to the White House! We as Americans, Love and Honor our Veterans, but you should at least be able raise your arms above your shoulders! I would have voted for General Clark! America, remember when Hurricane Katrina was going on? President Bush flew over Louisana to take McCain a cake for his birthday! McCain please be mindful that SENTAOR OBAMA has some American War Wounds! My grandfather, father, brothers, and so on THEY WERE VETS ! Also, Michelle Obama you rock ! I would love to see Sen. and Cindy McCain spend a day as an African AMERICAN!!! O they're rich I wish Air Force One would deliver OUR VETS SOME FOOD … sorry I had to spell check

Vanessa   July 1st, 2008 7:59 pm ET

What Clarke is saying is true. We can't just say, contest over, POW wins! No more than we can say, contest over, the black guy wins. We have to look at their records, their positions, their policy ideas. McCain doesn't have new ideas. New challenges, a new global economy, new environmental problems, new debt, requires new ideas. Thank you for your service Sen. McCain but Obama '08!!

Ironic   July 1st, 2008 7:59 pm ET

This is ironic. The general who champion the School of the Americas, which has been condemned by many international rights group for training thugs and murderous, is now the poster boy of the political left? Not only that he is cheered for insulting McCain career and the thousand of like officer and enlisted men who have severed in like capacity wither in the Navy, Air Force or Army as not being in a real leadership position. A squadron commander or carrier air group commander, or senior enlisted, has tremendous responsibility in what is the equivalent to running a mid-size airlines with the added responsibility of life and death of sending men into harms way with the possibility of collateral damage as he discovered in Kosovo when one of his errant bomber hit and killed Chinese Journalist. Apparently he does not remember that fiasco, for which his superiors and George Tenant took the blame. I am sure he no sleepless nights over that decision or what impact it had on the pilots who carried out the mission. What his comment does reveal, is a West point ring thumping think Green mentality that the only true protectors of the country are in the Army's armor and infantry units. The Air Force and Navy is just a tax service to carry the true fighting force of the US into battle.

Annette, Washington, DC   July 1st, 2008 7:58 pm ET

Given the comment was made by a General ( leader of a command of soldiers) seems to me whether Rep or Demo…it's his opinion.

Jimmie   July 1st, 2008 7:55 pm ET

How did Wesley Clark get his position as a general? Did he get it by the sweat of his brow or did he just happenn to know the right people at the right time? His low-grade comment about McCain should have been left unsaid from a man in such a high caliber position. No one made a comment regarding McCain's POW status qualifying him to be a president. It ranks in the same category as Geraldine Ferraro making the comment that Obama would not be where he is at today had he not been a black man. Comments that are meant to hurt and demean the person they are spoken against.

The front runners, McCain and Obama, can expect many more degoratory things to be said about them from now until election day. The Clinton machine did their upmost best to bring Obama down, but it backfired on them.

I am not surprised at the things that are being said about McCain by a supposedly upstanding retired general. I don't base my decision on who to vote for based on what someone else has to say about a particular candidate. .

I, like many others, am undecided as to whom I plan to vote for in November. I need more input on the issues that are affecting our daily lives. High cost of fuel, high cost of food, closing down of automobile plants putting many people out of work, the critical situation with the housing market, drilling for more oil, making America self-sufficient, again and countless number of other issues are the only things that plague my mind.

Geradine Ferraro is a big laugh to me, she made a comment that Obama would not be where he is today had he not been a black man. That is a very racist comment, however, she has since changed her mind and have decided to support Obama, only because she is a Democrat. How in the world did this woman ever get into politics to begin with?

Catherine   July 1st, 2008 7:50 pm ET

Thank You General Clark! John McCain because you were a prisoner of War does not buy you a ticket to the White House! We as American Love and Honor of our Veterans, but you should at least be able raise your arms above your shoulds! I would have voted for General Clark, America remember when Hurrican Katrina was going on President Bush flew over Louisana to take McCain a cake for his birthday! McCain please be mindful that SENTAOR OBAMA has some American War Wounds! My grandfather, father, brothers, and so on THEY WERE VETS ! And Michelle Obama you rock ! I would love to see Sen and Cindy McCain send a day as a african AMERICAN! Othey're rich I wish Air Force One would deliver OUR VETS SOME FOOD

Gen. Wes is right   July 1st, 2008 7:48 pm ET

SAYING THAT BEING CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY IS AN INDICATION OF QUALIFICATION FOR PRESIDENT IS LIKE SAYING THAT PLAYING IN THE NFL QUALIFIES ONE TO BECOME THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NFL.

no mccain   July 1st, 2008 7:44 pm ET

i agree with you,gen.clark
obama 08

Detroit   July 1st, 2008 7:44 pm ET

Gen. Clark was so bad he was fired the former CIC Clinton. Now he tried to redeemed his honor by doing the foot-soldier work for an undecisive and double-standard Obama who called to fire shock jock Don Imus but defended the terrorists-loving and white-hating Rev. Wright. It shows how low Gen. Clark has fallen.

Serge the DEM   July 1st, 2008 7:42 pm ET

C from Texas… Clark was a 4-Star General who led a successful campaign in Kosovo, with ZERO American casualties… I and many fellow americans DO care what he thinks. So should you!

CB   July 1st, 2008 7:35 pm ET

I love this guy. Gen. Clark, at least there is one man willing to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may!

Food For Thought   July 1st, 2008 7:34 pm ET

In this episode of "JOhn McCain said what?"…..

In February 2003, the Arizona Republican said "Absolutely not," when asked whether "military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief."

It might be a nice thing, but I absolutely don't believe that it's necessary."

I rest my case…Mr. Clark move on with your life we see your point now, thank u for stating what McCain himself said.

Obama '08

Mr. MFIC   July 1st, 2008 7:33 pm ET

I am baffled that General Clark could possibly believe that a candidate who has served only 143 weeks in the senate with 26 of those campaigning for nomination and presidency has got what it is going to take to run this country.

Clark has been watching too much of The View and Oprah.

T   July 1st, 2008 7:32 pm ET

Who is this guy????? General Clark?????? When did this nobody's comments amount to a small hill of beans? Com' on CNN, at least get someone who is respected!!!!

AdamT   July 1st, 2008 7:32 pm ET

Zig, im quite sure that you will be glad to know that America has awaken from her terrible slumber as record numbers a preparing to race for the polls. I really wish people would STOP with the lemming mentality and look at the facts that are there for all to see without speculation. The republican party had their chance to make good on all the promises they made , not once but twice was the current administration GIVEN the opportunity to make a positive impact on all americans and the world and they FAILED! You dont have to go far to see the impact they made, all yo have to do is LOOK!!!!!!

GoodForHim   July 1st, 2008 7:30 pm ET

KiloWhiskey what on earth would you know about going to church with that name???? I suspect nada, nunca, nil.

tc   July 1st, 2008 7:30 pm ET

Obama has it right quote "Clark just 'somebody on a cable show". Now that is good judgement because "Gen" Clark is really nothing.

Straight Talk - Ohio   July 1st, 2008 7:29 pm ET

Gen. Clark responded to a DIRECT QUESTION that:

a) included the comment about McCain's record (Clark did not just come up with this on his own); and
b) made it sound as though Obama was at a disadvantage for not having been a POW

Gen. Clark said nothing to discredit service, only that McCain, who is running on his military credentials, has no leadership experience

This is completely different than the Swift Boat inciddent, in which compensated surrogates questioned a solider's record. Gen. Clark acknowledges and praises McCain's record, but merely points out that it does not make him fit to be President.

Mike in Sac   July 1st, 2008 7:28 pm ET

Oh and I am a vet and think he is wrong on just about every issue facing the military. Clark is speaking the truth and raising up to question McCain's judgement. If it is so strong then he has nothing to worry about it. The reality is that it isn't so hot and he is scared.

Keep speaking up Clark. As a vet you represent those of us vets that don't support Bush and McCain. We need your voice heard.

AND   July 1st, 2008 7:28 pm ET

So what????? Is this still news??? Only on CNN. How about the issues, the war, the gas, the food, the jobs, the stocks, anything…no CNN is wasting time trying to resurrect stories about Obama and the Clintons. Who the heck cares? If Hillary's supporters choose McCain over Obama they would had done that if he was PERFECT!!!! It wouldn't matter, they are mad because Obama won, plan and simple and those that didn't get over it, would have never gotten over it. If Obama appoints Hillary as his VP, they still wouldn't vote for him, because they would have never voted for him even if he was PERFECT, duh, that is Obama's reality, he knows it, we know it…we know the history here, but at least some of us are trying to make a better more unbiased, unbigoted future. NOW CNN needs to do the same, get over the Clintons and report the issues that effect our pockets.

California Gold   July 1st, 2008 7:27 pm ET

So what. Why the outrage. Why calling a 4 star general of the United States military a "looser". General Clark is entitled to his opinion and doesn't insult anyone in the process. Zig….Please try to corral your temper tantrum grade school name calling conduct.

From what I've seen of most humans we are all guilty of exercising poor judgment at one time or another.

Big Deal!

Mike in Sac   July 1st, 2008 7:25 pm ET

Keating five, not supporting the GI bill, wants off-shore drilling, supports torture even though he was tortured, called Bush's tax cuts irresponsible and now wants them permanent, proposed campaign finance reform but now refuses to accept it and has lobbyists running his campaign, voted against requiring adequate time between rotations for troops, said swiftboating was wrong and now has them working for his campaign, is out selling free trade while ignoring the concerns of those it put out of work…

The list goes on in a displaying a lack of judgement that is truly appalling. This man is not fit to be President!

Col. Ted Cory (ret)   July 1st, 2008 7:24 pm ET

Clark is nothing in the military community. As a General in the military community he is not well respected at all. He was given a nick name of General Weasel. The “war” he spoke about was at 30,000 feet per Pres Clinton’s orders to keep it that high as to cause no casualties, which is OK. No ground troops were used. Only aircraft. Like the report just released about the Iraqi war, a review of the war later revealed 47% of the targets were missed and another 37% were dummy targets set up by the enemy that looked real due to the altitude. Artillery targets that were hit were nothing more that 2 tires and a telephone pole So, 84% of the targets were nothing or missed due to the attitude limits placed on the pilots. Nice job general. Wasted a whole lot of money. In fact the only stealth fighter loss ever was under his watch. Nice job. The Iraqi theater was fiercer and no stealth aircraft were lost. Both in Gulf war 1 & 2. He is just a political jockey that is trying to set himself up. Like every body says, General Weasel.

Every Wilson   July 1st, 2008 7:24 pm ET

If General Wesley Clark was not qualified to be president based on his Military Record. Why is McCain using his military record of experience to persuade the American people that this gives him credibility and experience to be commander in chief. Are the America being duped again! It reminds me of Bushs reasons for invading Iraq, pure unadulterated Bull Dukkey!

Tony, Miami   July 1st, 2008 7:21 pm ET

McRough temper your temper and admit General Clark is just telling the truth.

Maxine   July 1st, 2008 7:20 pm ET

Clark is right Mccain don'nt have the Judgement to lead this country and Clark hold your ground because who do John Mccain think he is We the people need to know what is John Mccain experience on National Securtiy Clark you go after John Mccain,

Former GOP   July 1st, 2008 7:20 pm ET

I agree with Gen Wesley Clark 100%.
He never said one thing about McCain Horne.
What he said was just because you were in the military and you are a POW does not mean you will make a good President. You can wrap you car around a tree brake every bone in your body after you recover does not mean now you can be a doctor! McCain said that he would be better because he was in a war and because he was a POW and he understands what it means to suffer for your country. Well I’m sorry Mr. McCain. Everything you went through mean that you served your country well Period! The fact that you can’t use a computer and or a Blackberry, or even a cell phone tells me that you are not up with the times. So NO McCain no way!

Mitan, morgan Hill, Ca   July 1st, 2008 7:20 pm ET

Mr. Clark is right about his comments on Mr. McCain. One does not become CEO of a company because he/she worked at that given place. You have to earn your stripes to become the CEO/President. It's good to see that some people have PRINCIPLES and they standby that. Media also need to stress this point and it is media's job as a journalists (Media's job is to speak truth NOT just selling air time).

Mr. D   July 1st, 2008 7:16 pm ET

Why do people keep lumping McCain in with Bush. If you look at McCain’s voting record in the senate the man has voted with the Democrats and Obama “when Obama even votes” almost more than with his own party. As for managing the war that’s all on Bush, McCain has been one of the biggest critics own how this administration has executed the war in Iraq. Clark saying that Obama has better judgment than McCain had me rolling on the floor. Obama surrounds himself with criminals and racists. Who in their right mind can call that the actions of someone with good judgment? Open your eyes America and see Obama for he is a pandering, power hungry and self serving politician who will do nothing to bring hope and change to this country.

ottonomous maximus   July 1st, 2008 7:14 pm ET

Obama/Clark 08!

Jimmie - Las Vegas   July 1st, 2008 7:13 pm ET

With all due respect, how in the world do you think General Wesley Clark got to his position? He got there by not what he knows, but who he knows. So where does Clark get off the hook saying that just because McCain was a POW does not qualify him to be a president. Whoever said that in the first place? No one said anything about McCain's POW status qualifying him to run for the office of the presidency. McCain, like any other candidate feels they have the qualifications based on "issues" not what happened in their personal lives.

And, Clark has no experience at being a vice president, either. He should remain with the military – that's what he knows and does best. Just because he is a general does not qualify him to be VP.

Tammy - KCMO   July 1st, 2008 7:10 pm ET

Clark, don't back down from your statements. They are true and if the Republican's can't handle hearing it – TOO BAD!
I would like to see Barack and the DNC back you up on this one. It's time to give back a little of what the Republicans constantly dish out. Only difference is that you are telling the truth and the Republicans do nothing but lie.

Hillary-ious   July 1st, 2008 7:09 pm ET

McCain's response on this is way off base. Clark's comments are not "sad", they are right on the money. Getting shot down, captured and held prisoner does not make you any more qualified to be president than anybody else. Unless our president has to do his job from a POW camp, it has no bearing on qualification or suitablity for the presidency.

Now, I do respect John McCain, and I honor his service, but there is only so far you can stretch the accolades for being a war hero. McCain and his tooting of his own POW horn is beginning to seem more and more like Rudy Giuliani who just couldn't resist bringing up 9/11. When a candidate starts doing that, tooting their own horn about one specific accomplishment or achievement, then it starts to seem like they are completely lacking in any other qualities. In this case, get over it McCain. We all know you are a war hero. Nice job, now let it go. We are not hiring someone to survive a POW camp, we are looking for a president. Anyone who saw or read the transcript of the interview of Wesley Clark knows that he was not trying to smear McCain or denegrate his record. In fact, he went out of his way to praise McCain. He simply was stating that we need to be concerned about real issues and qualifications. There are far too many important things going on in the world for the Repblicans, or anyone for that matter, to start trying to obfuscate the real issues with this feigned offense at harmless comments. Clark was right, McCain seems like a sissy to be making such a big deal of it. Does John McCain really feel that his POW experience is his best qulification to be president?

ms. sims   July 1st, 2008 7:09 pm ET

Judgement is the key…GWB has experience but horrible judgement and look where we are as a country. If McCain was offering something different from Bush like he used to, maybe he would have more success with his campaign. You can't run your whole campaign on the fact that your are the best candidate b/c you were a POW then cry when somebody asks questions about it.

John in Iowa   July 1st, 2008 7:08 pm ET

Sounds to me like a jealous ex-general who couldn't anyone to vote for him. It also sounds like a man who spent a career in the Army and accomplished nothing. O, it is, it's Wesley Clark!

EDW   July 1st, 2008 7:06 pm ET

Clark is not an Obama staffer, and Chicago did not sanction his statement; in fact, Clark supported Hillary Clinton until the bitter end.

Aida   July 1st, 2008 7:01 pm ET

Well said Clark. I agree with every word you said. I have been questioning it all this time and finally, someone qualifed said it. I don't understand why they made Obama apologize?

John, Catholic   July 1st, 2008 6:59 pm ET

I have said it before and I will say it again. I am not a woman, I am not blue collar, and I am not a soldier. I am the only son so I am one of the last to be drafted.

Any of the people who fall into any of those groups who want to support McCain are inviting more suffering on themselves. I say all the power too you. You get what you wanted and I hope you revel in it.

When I was little I got grounded and sent to my room a lot for hours even days. It was punishment, it was torture!! I did not talk though because I was no snitch. Fee free to mail me my medal of devotion and patriotism. Do not forget to include my presidential seal and key to the white house.

Michael   July 1st, 2008 6:57 pm ET

Gen. Clark is the one lacking judgment, he has just lost both my support and my respect.

Dwayne L, OH   July 1st, 2008 6:57 pm ET

He lacks judgement because he often has senior moments. He should eat more blue berry's. :-)

Patrick   July 1st, 2008 6:57 pm ET

Hey Michelle from Indiana,

What have you ever done to question McCain like that? I bet you've never been tortured by one of our enemies year after year with the only chance of it stopping if you sign something they throw in front of you. I wish that you would get captured by one of our enemies now so that you can feel the pain that McCain went through; then you would be speaking a different tune.

slim   July 1st, 2008 6:53 pm ET

ha ha ha even obama said this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Patrick   July 1st, 2008 6:50 pm ET

He never states just how McCain lacks judgement. What he's talking about is that he wants a shot at being VP so he's smearing McCain to get in Obama's good graces. What a partisan hag.

Rob in Sacramento   July 1st, 2008 6:49 pm ET

military experience, hardly qualifies a person to be a leader of anything. McCain was not a combat command officer has he been a leader in civilian life for the veterans he supposes to represent. in fact this man has voted against helping veterans at every step on the grounds of 'costs'; a consideration not applied to bailing out his good buddy Keating or his criminal advisers from Enron. the 'BS Express' would rather spew inane, elderly prattle like Obama being the candidate of Hamas or todays gem about the Supreme Court's ruling on child rape sentences than engage in substance. this is not the conduct of an honorable man capable of leadership, war hero or not. its more the behavior of a washed out has been who couldnt face a draft dodger & win in 2000.

al   July 1st, 2008 6:48 pm ET

*************************************

YEAH. TELL IT LIKE IT IS. CLARK.
JUDGEMENT. WHOS GOING TO PROVIDE BETTER JUDGEMENT.
STOP THE MADNESS. VOTE OBAMA.

John D. Sludge   July 1st, 2008 6:48 pm ET

SOMEBODY TELL CLARK WE WON THE WAR IN VIETNAM SO HE CAN STOP PICKIN' FLOWERS NOW AND GET A REAL JOB

Tex   July 1st, 2008 6:47 pm ET

I agree that Sen. McCain's military service does not make him any more qualified than Sen Obama. Gen. (Ret) Clark's service does not make him anymore qualified for the position.

Gen Clark is minimizing Sen McCain's military service. A retired general is no more qualified to be president than any other that has served in the armed forces.

I believe in the total person concept. Look at the whole person, morally and ethically. Look at the candidates credentials and his service to country, whether it be in the military, senate, state or local community. by looking at the whole person, you will be able to determine who has the best judgment.

DS from Wisconsin   July 1st, 2008 6:43 pm ET

Reading through some of these comments, anyone who says that this war we are in is unneccessary is an idiot. Just to get the facts straight, there was actually a reason for us going into Iraq and Afghanistan. Terrorism was and still is spreading all across the middle east while at the same time, Iran and North Korea are building nuclear weapons. Iraq and Afghanistan are some of the weaker countries that are involved in terrorism. They have been taken out first to try and contain the terrorism. The terrorists aren't going to stop doing their work so they must be contained by any means necessary. People who are against the war are just ignorant to what the future might possibly hold for us. Start reading up on history and maybe you'll understand what is going on around you. Those of you who are uneducated should look into what is actually going on in this world and think twice for who you are going to vote for in a few months.

Thomas   July 1st, 2008 6:42 pm ET

Democrats are such self-righteous, self-entitled fools that it is comical. Hey kids, come live in the real world.

Independent-woman-4-Obama   July 1st, 2008 6:41 pm ET

I AGREE WITH GEN. CLARK! WHY? Because with ALL of his experience and the wisdom that should come from it……… McCain VOTED for the war, BELIEVED Bush's lies! How is that judgement????

And what has that POOR JUDGEMENT NETTED THE U.S.?

A NATIONAL DEBT OF $10 TRILLION…….. COME ON RIGHT-WINGERS
EXCUSE THIS!

$1.38 BILLION BEING SPENT DAILY IN IRAQ!

MORE YOUNG TROOPS DYING, 30K MAIMED & MANY, TOO MANY, COMING HOME TO COMMIT SUICIDE!

HOW CAN ANYONE VOTE FOR MCCAIN?

Foreign observer   July 1st, 2008 6:38 pm ET

All Clark says is true. There are several European foreign ministers who strongly doubt the jugdement of McCain. His temper on Russia, his fear when it´s about social justice and his adaptation towards traditional Republican views characterize McCain as the wrong men for the new time.

M in SD   July 1st, 2008 6:38 pm ET

I love the way Clark is managing this. This is just like the Bush machine going after people for nothing. If Clark did want to attack McCain's service there is plenty to go after. He isn't caving and he shouldn't.

Clark for VP!

Donna   July 1st, 2008 6:34 pm ET

This is what not important (July 1st, 2008 4:38 pm ET) said:

"Is this the same Wesley Clark that was involved in the Kosovo war? Yeah I still remember how NATO bombed Kosovo."

NATO Supreme Commander, General Wesley Clark , fought against ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. It sounds like to me, you would not want President/General Dwight D. Eisenhower (also a former NATO Supreme Commander) to fight against one Adolf Hilter to stop genocide.

Josh, CA   July 1st, 2008 6:33 pm ET

Gen. Clark is educating the "uneducated" bunch and keeps opening people's eyes.

Bravo Gen. Clark!

eloise   July 1st, 2008 6:29 pm ET

Listen up: Ask General Clark about what he did in the Vietnam War? How about all that lying about the number of enemy dead?? Your listening to Pres. Johnson & then letting down the troops?? For all you younger Clark backers – look up your history before you back this man. He may have 'fixed' his image since then, but he was a disgrace then.

Upon Further Review,Texas   July 1st, 2008 6:29 pm ET

Warriors rarely make good politcians.Warriors use bullets and politcians use lies.

Marj from South Carolina   July 1st, 2008 6:29 pm ET

For a grown man who claims to be a war hero, McCain sure sounds like a big cry baby to me!

Donna   July 1st, 2008 6:28 pm ET

The only General Clark did was to educate those who have not served, in the military, what the command structure in the military was, is, and forever will be.

Shame on those who question General Clark's intigrity and his service to this county. Furthermore, General Clark has the background to discuss economic issues (without any advisors), Senator McCain can't.

Ilona Hussein, Proud Canadian!   July 1st, 2008 6:28 pm ET

JUDGEMENT

This is so true GOOD JUDGEMENT SHOULD BE VERY CLOSE TO BEING THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA, (If not the number one) FOR BEING COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

Please tell me, why so many McCain supporters think that he is qualified to be COMMANDER IN CHIEF! And please DON'T tell me that JOHN McCAIN HAS DEMONSTRATED SOUND JUDGEMENT, because we all know where JOHN McCAIN'S SOUND JUDGEMENT has taken him today………YES HIS SOUND JUDGEMENT has taken him TO COLOMBIA TO OUTSOURCE MORE U.S. JOBS.

Now folks, please tell me that you are HAPPY with JOHN McCAIN'S JUDGEMENT!

Marj from South Carolina   July 1st, 2008 6:27 pm ET

Clark is absolutely right. McCain has served his country well but that does not serve as qualifications to become its President. McCain should quit whining! For such an old man, he needs to grow up and quit complaining. He should campaign on the issues as he promised he would. Same thing goes for Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman.

vern-anaheim,ca   July 1st, 2008 6:27 pm ET

gen.clark is more than qualifed to make comments about john mccains military service.he was the leader nato and i know he had greater resonsibilities than mccain had but i agree that i respect sen. mccains military service but being a pow doesn't qualify him to be commander in chief

Alf Z, FL.   July 1st, 2008 6:25 pm ET

If Obama was a white first term senator, would we be talking about him? No! Hillary is the best qualified candidate! As she & Edwards stated, McCain would be ready on day one to be commander in chief. They both left out Obama!!!!

Sorry guys, if it's not Hillary, my vote is for McCain; experience and a long moderate voting record, not a tax and liberal nut case (are we going to overlook his drug use?).

Btw, Obama votes primarily as present, what's that all about; present for what, coffee? A candidate of change, change what, his ties?

Rob   July 1st, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Tony, the Vietnam war was not against the Soviets! Haha typical of an uneducated McCain supporter to still be living in the McCarthy era. Most of these people who try to say Obama's judgement is bad because of his preacher and so on need to get with the program. Wright said a few controversial things, as do most preachers. He, however, did not vote to send thousands of our boys, including several of my friends, over to fight an unjust war and die thinking that they were defending the USA when in fact they were spreading seeds of anti-US hatred all over the world. If people convince themselves of all these negative things being rumored about Obama that have NO grounds just as a way to make themselves feel better about not electing a guy because he has a middle eastern sounding name, my confidence in America's intelligence will dwindle severely (not that its not already at strikingly low point)

Marie in Tampa   July 1st, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Sharon Minnesota, you're sooooo wrong. Reverend Wright hasn't engaged/supported any activity that unnecessarily kills dozens of thousands of people. I would prefer dozens of Jeremiah Wright's than one Bush or one McCain who authorized this stupid, illegal and immoral war.

Obama's judgment is better than McCain's…without a shadow of a doubt.

Tony Rogers   July 1st, 2008 6:22 pm ET

Yes General Clark,

I am happy that someone is not afraid of telling the truth and does not let this media system define America's thoughts. The American people do not see out of the same lenses as the media no matter how much they think we do. McCain is not qualified and he is the person who continues to run on fear and war. He is the one who touts his war experience as the differentiator between him other candidates. He has continuously attacked Obama on his lack of experience and knowledge. That’s fine but now what is wrong with challenging his perceived strengths? This is good for the country. Let's all talk and listen because we certainly need a new leader. And General Clark is more then qualified to question McCain.

Tony Rogers

USA-NC-08   July 1st, 2008 6:22 pm ET

The Democratic Party is sinking to a new low (and there I thought that you could not get lower than the Michigan "arrangement"). This is just disgusting. Now they attack our soldiers and heroes (yes: being tortured in the name of your country makes you a hero!). For those of us that do not serve, honoring our military men and women is one of the purest ways we can show our patriotism. They put their lives at risk for us. Things like this prove that I made the right decision when I switched to Independent in early June.

BIFF, BIFFINGTON...   July 1st, 2008 6:17 pm ET

ALL the people who bring up the saaaamme TALKING points on EEVERY topic….

geez.. give it a rest….

example… headline: "Barack Obama likes Apple Pie and Chevrolet"

responses: b-b-but did he like them when he was friends with WRIGHT for 20 years.. and … and… um.. REZKO…. yeah.. and uh.. MUSLIMS DON'T "EAT" APPLE PIE… but i saw him do a TERRORIST FIST BUMP before he drove off in his chevy!

people in this country are stupid, and most of these haters are paid to smear lies… PERIOD

John, Catholic   July 1st, 2008 6:17 pm ET

LUIS BARRETO

Do not lump Catholics in with Evangelicals. It is offensive to both for completely different reasons that I will not go into.

Scott from VA   July 1st, 2008 6:17 pm ET

The folks praising Clark for attacking McCain with a very clever kind of "swiftboating" should be ashamed of themselves. So, what makes Clark an expert on anything related to being President. He is nothing more than an Obama hack who is spreading a message that Obama kinda, sorta disavows, but doesn't really. Just more Obama dishonesty in his campaign.

Tina, NC   July 1st, 2008 6:15 pm ET

Now McBush is whining about how Obama and Sen. Jim Webb are coordinating an attack again him.
———————————————————————————————–
"On MSNBC last night, Webb told McCain that he should "calm down" with the use of his military service in the campaign, adding that it was time to "get the politics out of the military."
Now the McCain campaign is responding to Webb, arguing that Webb's comments prove that Obama "can't control his surrogate operation." McCain spokesperson Brian Rogers sends us this:

If you didn't think this was a coordinated attack on John McCain's credentials before, it's clear now that it is. Barack Obama's surrogates are telling the McCain campaign to "calm down" about attacks on his military record? Seriously? Now somehow Wes Clark's attacks are John McCain's fault? It's absurd. If Barack Obama can't control his own surrogate operation, how can he be trusted to run the country?
———————————————————————————————
The Republicans are so petty. I'll tell you one thing, I don't want someone as President who constantly whines and crys every time somebody says something bad about them. If McBush thinks he's getting questioned now what does he think will happen if he's elected.

btw, the MSM is in so in bed with McBush it's sickening!

mitchell hussein martin   July 1st, 2008 6:14 pm ET

his judgement was lost when he was in captivity.anyone's judgement should be questionable,if they have been tortured.it does something to one's mentality when you have been broken.

Teddy   July 1st, 2008 6:13 pm ET

General Clark, yes, he did not lose an American soldier in that conflict. But how many serbs have you killed? Many of those Serbs were civilians. You almost bombed Serb into the stone age. The U.S. could just use a few nuclear bombs to wipe out Iraq from the map and will not suffer any casualties during the process. Therefore, winning the war without the loss of a single American soldier does mean it is a great war. I do not think the war against Serbs was moral. Because of war, the Serbians will hate Americans for generations to come. Because of American intervention, the Serbians have lost the birth place of their civilization.

You should go to retire and enjoy your military pension. I do not think Obama will select you as a vice President candidate.

Eli   July 1st, 2008 6:11 pm ET

Wesley Clark said nothing negative about McCain's military service nor his patriotism. He merely responded to a specific statement about how riding in a plane and being shot down does not qualify anyone to be president. That is a fact.

People who take that to mean anything negative about the military or McCain's heroism need to question their mental capacity.

Elizabeth   July 1st, 2008 6:11 pm ET

If this is the best that the right winged media can throw out to try and hurt the Obama campaign, try again. Clark's words were sensible and anyone who is going to be herded like a brainless animal off the edge of a cliff like the flimsy one they've constructed here is too weak-minded to make an informed decision anyway.

Tony   July 1st, 2008 6:07 pm ET

"Clark is Wright"! How right it is Bukky. Gen. Clark was so bad he was fired and dismissed by Pres. Clinton.

Karen, Missouri   July 1st, 2008 6:07 pm ET

Wesley Clark only said what I've been thinking for a year now. McCain gets up-tight whenever anyone remotely says anything related to his service. McCain is full of himself. What crybaby McCain is.

Last Honest Man   July 1st, 2008 6:06 pm ET

What an Idiot! Obama biggest issue to most logical people is his judgment.

Nova from NV   July 1st, 2008 6:06 pm ET

I know there is one Ralf Nuder fool running around in these blogs. Voting for Ralf Nuder is a through away vote.

Wesley Clark should go back to what he does best, nothing. He criticized McCain without even looking at John's accomplishments. Last time Obama supporters were asked about Obama's accomplishments, they were dumb-founded on national TV. Just do a youtube search on Obama accomplishments.

No Bush/McCain   July 1st, 2008 6:04 pm ET

BE GONE McCAIN—–YESTERDAY!

Dems be dopes   July 1st, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Some experience in the military is better than no experience in the military, especally if you plan on leading the military.

How many times did McCain get fired in the military?

How many times did Clark get fired in the military?

How many past and present general officers trust McCain?

How many past and present general officers trust Clark?

Getting shot down does not qualify anyone to be CIC, neither does voting "present" when a decision must be made.

Foreign observer   July 1st, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Honor the men having suffered in war but look for what is important today. Jobs, infrastructure, end of war, unity, end of racial distractions, education, alliance with friendly nations to face the todays threats.

Sarah, Louisville KY   July 1st, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Clark hit the nail on the head. The only defense that the republicans have is that Obama "lacks experience". Experience isn't the equivalent of judgement, and McCain (and um..Bush!) is the prime example of that.

Other than the experience factor, all that the GOP lovers can bash Obama with is that he is friends with "terrorists" and "America haters." Really? I feel like I'm reading a tabloid when that rubbish starts up.

Clark IS Correct   July 1st, 2008 6:02 pm ET

Clark is correct and Obama needs to give him a high five for watching his back.

Richard   July 1st, 2008 6:02 pm ET

Obama has no judgment. McCain is by far the better candidate.

Edward Loizeaux, Los Altos, California   July 1st, 2008 5:59 pm ET

Experience at being a uniformed Army officer does not qualify one to be the SecDef to which Clark obviously aspires. Politicizing the military and "running" for SecDef are not in this nation's best interest.

Jeb   July 1st, 2008 5:58 pm ET

I'll take judgment over experience any day.
McCain is known for his temper, which might cloud his judgment.

Obama strikes me as someone who is of sound mind.

bob in L.A.   July 1st, 2008 5:57 pm ET

Good for you General Clark! keep up the good work!
Maybe you and Hillary should run as a team and end this nonsense!

dave   July 1st, 2008 5:57 pm ET

I think this General is confused, it is Obama who has had so much issue with Judgement…. Too many skeletons have come out of Obama's closets.

I will be voting for McCain

McCain=the draft   July 1st, 2008 5:56 pm ET

You go, Wes Clark!
Finally, someone is speaking the truth.

sn   July 1st, 2008 5:55 pm ET

Gen. Clark is right! If you watch the ENTIRE interview you will realize that he was very respectful of McCains past.

Leave to the GOP tp twist it!

Zig, viet nam vet - Pennsylvania   July 1st, 2008 5:54 pm ET

Let me get this – general looser clark supported coward kerry's military service for his run for president in 2004 because after 3 months and a couple of scratches, kerry came home and denounced the war and betrayed his fellow servicemen and hung out with traitors like hanoi jane.
It's a shame McCain didn't have that choice! He was too busy being tortured for our freedom. The closest thing Obama got to a bomb is Bill Ares. Wake up America!!!!!

Femi   July 1st, 2008 5:54 pm ET

Whether POW or not,nothing will get McCain elected except if God has decided to punish Americans for another four more years. Without that, Obama is the ordained President. We are tired of war, we are tired of unfiltered Free trade, we are tired of skyrocketing gas prices, we tired of tax credit to the wealthy, we tired of the Washington lobbists, we are tired of health insurance to only the healthy, we are tired of exportation of American jobs, we are tired of losing our homes, we are tired of failed foreign policies. WE ARE TIRED OF GOP, WE ARE TIRED OF REPUBLICAN PARTY, MCCAIN, DON'T YOU GET THE MESSAGE- WE ARE TIRED OF YOU.
Femi Obama 08

chris in va   July 1st, 2008 5:53 pm ET

Perhaps some of the posters who tout McCain's "war experience/record " should visit the Veterans Against McCain web site and hear his fellow POW's profess their views on this subject.

kcmookie   July 1st, 2008 5:53 pm ET

Gene…….WELL SAID! I completely agree and cannot understand why more and more people do not see it! THank you for your post and thnak you General Clark for calling a spade a spade.

steinway   July 1st, 2008 5:52 pm ET

Not for nothing – at this juncture it seems more like Mr. Clark lacks judgement.

I sure Barry would like Clark to take his foot out of both their mouths.

Joseph, Los Angeles California   July 1st, 2008 5:51 pm ET

Clark is right. Why should he back down from telling the truth. What he said about McCain was not dishonorable; it was honest… and what's wrong with honesty?

Rolf McEwen   July 1st, 2008 5:50 pm ET

"To me, this is about, and I hope the American people will make the decision based on judgment," he added. — I hope Mr. Clark actually spoke more accurately than this, or one might bring into question his judgment.

Jimmy P - Chicago   July 1st, 2008 5:49 pm ET

This man was essentially an idiot of a commander, totally disrespected by his NATO peers. Who cares what this liberal says! He's one of those that wear the uniform but are afraid to fight, why bother Wesley?

Kyko   July 1st, 2008 5:49 pm ET

Wisdom knows when to boast.
You are a hero and a man of character.
May God bless you, General Clark, our next Vice President.

Michael Ray Thompson   July 1st, 2008 5:48 pm ET

Hey, Wesley Clark, Get out of the spotlife. You are a loser. You lost to John Kerry in 2004 and you lost to Barak Obama in 2008. You won't be successful in causing a great American hero, John McCain to lose to Barak Obama.

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:46 pm ET

I found the following blurb on one of "McCain Sealed Military Records" sites – scarey as hell, if you ask me. Check it out for yourselves.

McCain undoubtedly has serious health issues to face up to if he intends to be a "straight talker" and win the Republican nomination and Presidency. His history of nasty, recurring cancer and the absolute blackout of that cancer's prognosis; His age PLUS his overall poor diet and absolute lack of exercise, his refusal to disclose his auto-immune arthritis syndrome… And now this pesky Syphilis thing. Which won't go away any time soon. John McCain knows why, and so do three so-called "doctors" who routinely chuckled off our soldiers' symptoms of syphilis back in the day.

Paul Johnson   July 1st, 2008 5:45 pm ET

I'm glad someone recognizes that McCain's war experience and that as a POW has probably bolstered his patriotism but not his ability to make strategic judgements. Obviously getting hit by lightning doesn't make someone a better meteorologist.

Aspire   July 1st, 2008 5:45 pm ET

Where was Clark's judgment when he backed Hillary first?

Nicole in NE   July 1st, 2008 5:45 pm ET

Can someone please explain to me why Obama is asked to reject Clark's statements but McCain is not asked to reject his supporters questioning Clark's service, Black and Liberamans about terrorist attacks?

Why is everyone missing this point? McCain says Obama can't lead his surrogates – what does that say about McCain?

Also, why can't people just say what they mean and not everyone reject this and reject that, this IS America right?

cevans, tx   July 1st, 2008 5:44 pm ET

What ever happened to "FREEDOM OF SPEECH". Why do we always have defend what we say. An opinion is just that, an opinion. I do agree that Senator Obama apologizes to much. The General is only telling the truth. Just because of McCain's military history does not automatically make him worthy of being the Commanding Chief. It is what it is. McCain is Bush number three (3). We the people can't afford that.

Maybe the General should be running for President!!

PG in Las Vegas   July 1st, 2008 5:44 pm ET

Barry in Las Vegas: You are doing too much gambling and drinking to much liquor. Go back to the casinos where you came out of.

Clark is 100% right. Obama will make a better/greater commander in chief than McClown!

KiloWhiskey   July 1st, 2008 5:44 pm ET

And he likes Obama's judgement vis-a-vis his church memebership and choice of pastor? Oh come on!

jason   July 1st, 2008 5:43 pm ET

I do wonder how well Obama would continue to do if he suddenly started calling out republicans on their crap – in non-pc terms.

john   July 1st, 2008 5:43 pm ET

Please keep your mouth running Clark and McCain will keep going higher and higher in the polls and win with a landslide.

MK   July 1st, 2008 5:42 pm ET

Gen. Clark, himself a military man, knows that military or POW experience is not enough to make a person a good commander-in-chief.

Still Waiting for Something other than Rev Wright's sound Bite that is racist in the 20 years Sharon Minnesota loves to bring up   July 1st, 2008 5:42 pm ET

Clark is still correct. No matter how you cut it. Even Gen Clark is waiting to see another Sermon from Rev Wright's 20 years of being a racist.

Everyone keeps talking about 20 years, but we've seen ONE 3 minute soundbite from well over a Thousand Sermons in those 20 years.

SHARON MINNESOTA, YOU ARE HYSTERICAL.

Femi   July 1st, 2008 5:42 pm ET

I just don't understand the controversy behind Clark's comment about McCain. Are the Press men looking for things to help get McCain elected or what? Bill Cinton was not a war hero when he was elected President of America. Till today his record remains unbeatable. I don't think, Bush- current President ever fight any war. He only by misjudgement dragged American soldiers to unwarranted war. When does POW become a requirement for office of the President? Press be fair to Americans, this does not call for any horror. If you want to help McCain, declare your support openly rather than pretending, then we will know we have another formidable group to campaign against. By judgement, McCain is not qualify to be American President, Period!
Obama Femi 08

xddy4u   July 1st, 2008 5:40 pm ET

Clark is the man. He's not playing the waiting game for VP. He's going after it loud and clear. Now here's a man that actually ran defensive operations. If I was Obama, I'd take a second look at Clark.
Obama/Clark 08

ChicagoJosh   July 1st, 2008 5:39 pm ET

Sharon in Minnesota…

What are the real issues?? Is it a REAL issue which christian church the president belongs to, or is it a REAL issue how many american soldiers die in vain???

I guess thats the difference between me and you.

Pat from Chico, CA   July 1st, 2008 5:39 pm ET

I've admired Mr. Clark for years. What a disappointment to learn that he's just a shill. The type of campaigning he's engaging in was scummy four years ago, when John Kerry was the target. And it's even scummier now. What happened to the "new" politics Senator Obama promised? Shame, shame, shame.

lil   July 1st, 2008 5:37 pm ET

Concerned Teacher,
Dont waste your time explaining it they want listen.
These people dont read they just believe what ever the snipet of news
say and what they want to believe. They watch fox news and post their comments here on the cnn blog thats why its so unfair to only play snipet of what people say in interviews or in speeches.

charles   July 1st, 2008 5:37 pm ET

The only reason McCain got as far as he did is because his daddy was a high ranking navy officer.
I have a lot more respect for Clark than McCain.

chris in va   July 1st, 2008 5:37 pm ET

McCain sold out his fellow POW's the same way he is getting a head start on selling out the USA to the Mexicans and Columbians. McCain, Hero-No! Traitor-YES!

Chuck, Democrats United We Stand   July 1st, 2008 5:36 pm ET

Ditto General Clark, tripple ditto. You keep going there, I agree 100%.

Bukky   July 1st, 2008 5:35 pm ET

I need a bumper sticker that says "Clark Is Wright" The repubs need to stop calling foul everytime someone makes a point.

William   July 1st, 2008 5:35 pm ET

He is using his surrogates to do his dirty laundry like he did to Hillary. His surrogate even went to the extent of demeaning Bill Clinton to term him a racist. This guy from South side Chicago will go to any extent to show his followers that he is Mr.Clean with a blank slate. Ask any of his gullibe youths to name one acheivement of his in the Senate. His gullible too will have a blank face to answer this question.Clark should ask his master why did he sit in a radical church listening to his spiritual advisors radical speeches for the last 20 years. It talks about his masters judgement and character.

Lori Mueller   July 1st, 2008 5:35 pm ET

Hey, C form Texas, I was interested in what it was John Kerry was trading?

Lori Mueller   July 1st, 2008 5:34 pm ET

Go General Clark! The fear of the corporate media and the rebublicans is showing (again)! In fact, Clark should be at the top of the ticket if you ask me!

The Lady   July 1st, 2008 5:33 pm ET

True that, True that.

DJ, LA, CA   July 1st, 2008 5:32 pm ET

Scoreboard: Clinton with General Clark lost 0 American troops on the ground. Bush lost 4,000 + KIA plus 10,000 severely wounded. I think Clark put McBush in his place.

George   July 1st, 2008 5:32 pm ET

Did he say Stronger judgement????

Rezko
Wright
Farakan
Voting Present
Flip Flop on many items
and so much more

Wow. Is he delusional

Mike, Syracuse, NY   July 1st, 2008 5:31 pm ET

The NATO action in Kosovo wasn't a war. there were no US ground troops involved. We bombed people who had no air defenses to speak of. The only way the pilots would have had casualties is if they forgot to fill up before taking off and ran out of gas. The two situations are not remotely comparable.

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:31 pm ET

CNN – can you not open McCains military records. That will answer all the questions.

Come on CNN – push to get the military records un-sealed. By the way – WHY are they sealed? Something incriminating in them?

No Investigative Journalists at CNN?

HTA   July 1st, 2008 5:31 pm ET

He might make a great Secretary of Defense.

Gene   July 1st, 2008 5:30 pm ET

I totally back Clark up in his statements. He's dead on, and articulate. He's not being offensive, and not backing down from his statements. He just states facts, and McCain's camp is in a whirl wind trying to deal with it. Personally.. I'd take someone with sound judgment over experience any day. Look where all this experience has gotten us in the last 7 years.

I have a question for all you McCain supporters who keep claiming that Obama is an empty suit. Every time something gets thrown at Obama… he stands up.. faces it, discusses it, and actually has the guts to bring it out in the open. Every time something gets thrown at McCain… he talks about how it's not fair, dirty, uncalled for.. but then he never actually addresses the issues… he just stamps his feet and lashes out and carefully avoids the subject which is brought up. How can you vote for someone who throws out dirt daily, yet can't handle anything being thrown back at him? I mean… he's a military officer, but he's got absolutely no spine.

Why doesn't McCain stand up and say "Gen Clark… I consider my experience as a POW to be experience that qualifies me as the next president because…."?

The answer is because he can't. Because McCain knows that everything the general says is true. And rather than just saying to the public "He's right..that doesn't qualify me… but this is what does…", he just cries foul and avoids the question.

You all should take a look at how Ron Paul tore him apart. Now, I'm not a supporter of Ron Paul.. but in the repub's primary debates… Ron kept exposing McCain over and over, and not letting him get away with any of the BS that McCain was trying to throw out… He had McCain stumbling and bumbling.. like a caged animal who had no escape.

Slider   July 1st, 2008 5:29 pm ET

"THE WHOLE MCBUSH STRATEGY IS JUST SMOKING MIRRORS.!!!!!!!"

Um…that's "smoke and mirrors", Dem-tard.

As for Clark, he has obviously not taken the advice of General Sheldon, at the behest of Cohen, about him showing his face on television again.

As for Obama, he has now congratulated gays on marrying recently; even though he doesn't believe in gay marriage.

Yep. Obama is gonna make a fine CIC; just ask the General that was relieved after his many snafus were no longer tolerable: and by the Clinton administration no less.

george   July 1st, 2008 5:27 pm ET

Clark is on the money. I see no discrediting of John McCain in his comments. Here come the swiftboaters again discrediting the reputation of Democrats who have served honoraly in the military just like they did John Kerry in 2004. How many elections Republicans are going to fight on wars, and that they are most capable to defend us? Come on let's fight a war on health care, energy, the mortgage crisis, and other pocket book issues. We want a President who can fight this war at home and shows real leadership around the world so that trillions of dollars don't have to be dumped abroad, thousands of lives don't have to die or be maimed. Yeah, we need great judgement on those issues and that's why Clark is right. Experience doesn't mean you have the best judgement.

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:27 pm ET

Didn't McCain lose a lot of planes and set a ship or two on fire?

Johnny   July 1st, 2008 5:25 pm ET

THE GENERAL IS RIGHT!!!!

Isn't it funny how we accept prescriptions from a 25 year old doctor but quick to dismiss a man of General Wesley Clark's wealth of experience. We should be learning from him especially on this subject matter.

He spoke because he saw the GOP trying to con us again.

Bingo, Alaabama   July 1st, 2008 5:25 pm ET

Clark is an unfortunate combination of ignorance and arrogance and, quite possibly, the most despised senior US military officer in the last 20 years. His gross micromismanagement of operations in Kosovo (where, by the way, we still have a US military presence where we have absolutely no US national interests) has become a case study in professional military education of how not to command in war. I would gladly follow McCain to hell and back with confidence that we would return with victory and honor. I would not follow Clark into the latrine.

Rusty, Portland   July 1st, 2008 5:25 pm ET

Does OBAMA think he's fooling anybody by sending out these hacks like Clark to make statements debasing McCain and then saying he doesn't agree with them—-does Obama think we are stupid? Probably, but people are slowing catching on—

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:25 pm ET

Rusty – McShame survived by "singing" what they wanted to knows. And he was favored because of daddy and grand-daddy – put that in your pot pipe and smoke it.

drlung   July 1st, 2008 5:24 pm ET

combined with jim webb's comments today this is obviously part of an obama campaign strategy. denigrate what john mccain's service means and thereby equalize the ground between obama and mccain in a a major area of obama vulnerability. it's smart, slick and nasty, exactly what we have become accustomed to from obama. just ask bill clinton

Jayson   July 1st, 2008 5:24 pm ET

All one has to do is look at Obamas friends to see who clearly lacks judgement. Obama also lacks the judgement to bother voting yay or nay on bills which was what he was elected to do by his constituents. What good does it do his constituents to have the person elected to represent them show up and vote present??

C from Texas   July 1st, 2008 5:24 pm ET

And this is the guy that supported the trader John Kerry. Does it not surprise you that he slams McCain because he supports Obama? Get real people.

Obama has no experience what so ever with military operations, so how can he make a judgment call on a military operation? wait he'll take the advice of his advisor's……like Gen. Clark, now there's something to think about. Clark is just a wan-a-be President nothing more. Who really cares what he thinks.

McCain '08

susie   July 1st, 2008 5:24 pm ET

Wasn't clark fired when he was the commander of NATO.

Now he "thrown under the bus" by Obama.

Obama's judgement – he was a member of an American hating church for 20 years and didn't realize what was being preached.

He and his wife donated thousands to that church and sat there and listened to Rev. Wright preach hatred towards America and make racist statements.

Dan Dent   July 1st, 2008 5:22 pm ET

John Kennedy was a War Hero and saved the lives of his fellow
PT Boat Crew this shows guts and leadership, I would submit
that McCain has the same.

Tony   July 1st, 2008 5:22 pm ET

Who do you trust to hunt for Osama? Obama or MaCain.

jc   July 1st, 2008 5:20 pm ET

What an impressive "new politics" being displayed by Obama's campaign. Repeated attacks against his opponents (Hillary and now McCain) by his surrogates and when anyone has the audacity to say anything about Obama, his campaign labels it as typical Washington politics trying to smear him instead of focusing on the issues.

New politics, my behind.

Rusty, Portland   July 1st, 2008 5:19 pm ET

Clark is a woos just like Obama—Clark would never have survived 5 years in Vietnam as a POW—Obama would have been crying "mommy"
in about 2 minutes—

JFK   July 1st, 2008 5:19 pm ET

While McCain is not my favored choice, I have more concern over Obama's lack of foreign policy experience. I am not convinced he is better choice dealing with the rest of the world.

Nando, Florida   July 1st, 2008 5:18 pm ET

I agree with Gen Clarke

Susan from Scotts Valley   July 1st, 2008 5:17 pm ET

Barry – You seem to be well-read on the subject of Obama. Then how about reading that voting Present is a very common practice in the Illinois state senate to voice an opinion. It was part of their way of doing things. The fact that it is foreign to you doesn't make it wrong. And as far as the Senate, how many votes has McCain been absent for?

tim from mn   July 1st, 2008 5:17 pm ET

Thank you General! If anyone can question McCain on this it is you & you're doing the right thing.

IRAQ WAR VETS FOR OBAMA 08!!!

Rob indetroit   July 1st, 2008 5:16 pm ET

why is it okay for Sen. mccain's people to sling mud at Sen. Obama , but not okay for Obama's people to do the same.

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:16 pm ET

Hey CNN

Open McCains military records. That will answer all the questions.

Come on CNN – push to get the military records un-sealed. By the way – WHY are they sealed? Something incriminating in them?

No Investigative Journalists at CNN?

Women In California For Obama   July 1st, 2008 5:15 pm ET

Go Gen. Clark! I'm glad this is coming from one of his own "a white man". McWar has TRIED to turn down his nose on Obama and disrespected him constantly. While his military record is much to be respected-this is about being president. McCain lacks ALL the essential criteria needed for this job. Now, I am just waiting for Obama to come out and apologize for this statement too. How long is he going to keep acting like a puppet? Someone else talks and he takes the blame. There is nothing wrong with Gen. Clark's statement. Every bit of it is true. McCain's theory is…do unto others… For the first time in this campaign McCain is "bothered" and doesn't know how to deal with it. It's okay when Obama is taking the heat but don't touch him. He has been dealt a blow and he can't deal with it. He's upset and his surrogates because this is the platform they were planning to run on and it has blown up in their faces. Keep up the good work Gen. Clark.

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 5:15 pm ET

Open McCains military records. That will answer all the questions.

Come on CNN – push to get the military records un-sealed. By the way – WHY are they sealed? Something incriminating in them?

No Investigative Journalists at CNN?

Jill   July 1st, 2008 5:14 pm ET

General Clark is right. What is the media's problem?

David   July 1st, 2008 5:13 pm ET

I love Gen. Clark. I don't believe the media knows how to handle someone who speak his/her mind. We have grown to comfortable with saying what you think people want to hear. Tell it like it is. I grew up in the south. We believed in telling it. If feelings get hurt, so be it. At least you know you didn't keep it inside. That's one reason people are having all the health problems here in America. The truth shall make you free.

Sound Judgement over experience   July 1st, 2008 5:13 pm ET

John Mccain's judgment:
Keating 5
Against GI bill
Against Women's equal pay
For, then against immigration reform
Gas Tax Holiday (not endorsed by one economist)
Voted for Iraq war
For 100 yr presence in Iraq
45 new nuclear plants with no means of getting rid of their waste
Cold War foreign policy
Drilling off our coasts….

Obama Women   July 1st, 2008 5:12 pm ET

No one can trust McBush—-Definitely not women!

Kevin in Dallas   July 1st, 2008 5:12 pm ET

Clark says Obama's shown better judgement than McCain when it comes to being the Commander-in-Chief. Yet he fails to show any examples of that judgement. So what is his claim based on? I don't mean to call him a liar, I'm just saying I've learned my lesson on taking people in politics at their word.

Susan from Scotts Valley   July 1st, 2008 5:12 pm ET

Clark is absolutely right. It does come down to judgment. A lot of great presidents didn't have military service. It's not a pre-requisite, nor should it be. And it doesn't mean just because you had this experience you're going to be a great president.

mark   July 1st, 2008 5:11 pm ET

I cannot understand why Clarc's comments draw so much attention???

He praised McCain but righfully doubted if being a prisoner helps you being a good president.

James, SC   July 1st, 2008 5:11 pm ET

The main reason why the republicans are up in arms about this issue is: McCain's POW experience is the core focus and sale point of his campaign. Proving that the two are NOT related proves that McCain is full of hot air.

webster208   July 1st, 2008 5:11 pm ET

Yeah right. Everyone Obama and his supporters disagree with lacks judgment. They used this on Hillary, and democrats who do not know any better came away thinking that she was selfish and pandering. The Obama campaign even succeeded in making Bill Clinton come out as racist. Will this work in the general election? Who will believe that McCain lacks judgment, especially when this is said to support Obama who has neither experience nor judgment.? Democrats seem to think that everyone is as gullible as they are.

CMS   July 1st, 2008 5:11 pm ET

If McCain doesnt have executive leadership experience or judgement, exactly how much does Obama have? (McCain spent more time as a POW than Obama has been a Senator! Something to think about…) Clark should know all about judgement given he was fired as NATO commander for "integrity" reasons. Obama certainly has great judgement with the people he keeps company with – Ayers, Rezko, Wright, Clark, etc.

Tera Patrick   July 1st, 2008 5:11 pm ET

CNN -

You can distinguish yourselves versus FOX, MSNBC and others by making sure the public understands the General's comments by consuming just 7 seconds more of air time … Run Bob Schieffer's question before you try to insert a SOUND BITE of General Clark.

1st Ammendment rights come with responsibilities … in this case, you are responsible to make sure the comments are accurately interpreted.

I and other Americans have tired of media outlets that strive to be as provacative as possible.

General Clarks comments were smack down the middle of the road. Anyone who watched the FACE THE NATION interview would know that. If CNN can't spend an additional 7 SECONDS to make sure the public get's the correct tone, you're becoming like the AOL website or the National Enquier

Ardnuas   July 1st, 2008 5:10 pm ET

I TOTALLY agree with Wes Clark…… Thank you for saying it!!!

Vote Nader   July 1st, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Joe in NJ July 1st, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Except for his vote on the war (which he touts over and over and over and over) Obama has never been in a position to show judgement. All he has are opinions which are quite different.

———————————————————————————————–

That vote does not exist. The only votes we can base his judgement towards the war on are the continual votes he made to support the war financially. Kinda goes against his anti-war "stance", doesn't it?

VotePact

** Nader/Gonzalez 2008 **

Not fooled by fools   July 1st, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Realistic July 1st, 2008 4:40 pm ET

"With Obama's sitting in an America-hating, racist church for 20 years along with his relationships with gangsters and thugs, don't try and sell me on Obama's judgment!"

Is this all you've got – maybe you and the rezko goober postig above should pair up – together maybe you could share a live brain cell. Move on, the rest of the country has.

Silo   July 1st, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Gen. Clark is very right, and he is the only one qualified to make that bold truth, and he will not chicken out to apologize for ,it cos it is the truth.
You always see John McCain talk about military and terrorist, and Alqaida and less emphasis on the ecenomy as if that i9s all the duty of the C-in C requires and he is best qualified. After all , I am not surprised he said he does not know anything about the economy. I wonder how he emerge as presidential candidate for the GOP. Is he their best ?

Jody Reno, Nevada   July 1st, 2008 5:08 pm ET

I once considered Clark a good possibility for VP, but after his latest comments, I wouldn't support him for Dog Catcher.

I may not like McCains position on many issues, but his qualifications to be Commander in Chief far outweigh Obama's credentials, or lack thereof, his inexperience and gutter-judgement.

Obama hung his hat on the judgement issue but his acceptance and continued participation in the church that Wright presided over shows a HUGE indicator of Obama's poor judgement.

I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I will not vote for Obama, so John, you're my boy…

I'll bet you anything, had I said this about Obama, I too would be labeled a racist!

Jay   July 1st, 2008 5:08 pm ET

Hello Mr. Vice President.

Go Barak and Michelle Obama!   July 1st, 2008 5:07 pm ET

i asked myself this basic question not long ago..my answer to was what makes this qualify as well. but what irks me is that everytime someone questions something that is TRUTH.. my candidate is always coming out and apologizing or rejecting or denouncing this or that! dont apologize for the truth..does he(McCain't) apologize when they try to portray Obama as an absolute wet-behind-the-eyes-loser?..they question his patriotism, his religion, his heritage, even whether the man is black or white enough!!!!.. and someone questions whether McCain's only foreign policy expirience is being a POW qualifies him for presidency?..geez..we are getting soft!.. and this blatant ability of McCain't to not have to face tough questions or his "shady" past not coming into play is pissing me off!

If not Hillary....then McCain   July 1st, 2008 5:07 pm ET

Now isn't that rich…..Clark saying McCain does not have judgement! He had the good judgement to stay away from the likes of Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers.

He has the good judgement to revise his stance on drilling…this is not a flip flop, because the circumstances have changed, therefore, the stance needed to be revisited.

He has the good judgement to truely run a positive campaign, and not have his "surrogates" out there lying about Obama.

He has the good judgement to accept public financing although the RNC is way ahead of DNC in fundraising and monies on hand.

Obama is not only an empty suit, he is a spineless, transparent, jellyfish.

Patrick, Indianapolis   July 1st, 2008 5:06 pm ET

Senile OLD McFlipFlop not only lacks judgement he lacks the mental acuity needed to be President. Senile OLD McFlipFlop has a diminished mental ability. He's too OLD and Senile. Senile OLD McFlipFlop can't handle the mental rigors of the job because he is so OLD.

Not fooled by distractions.   July 1st, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Gen Clark is right.

BTW, why is mccains service such a highlight…he served over 30 years ago…isn't there anything more pertinent in his recent history to brag about?

Gen Clark was right to question his judgement – I wish the MSM would follow suit. A little scrutiny of McCain would be nice – he's just like any other candidate his past should be scrutinized it's not off limits.

Joe P   July 1st, 2008 5:05 pm ET

Clark is a respected General who has lived a long and exemplary life. His opinion is valid.

We need sound judgement that stems from reason and logic and weighing intelligence and listening to all sides– not "conviction" as we've had with our last President. We do not need any more followers surrounding themselves with yes-men of only the same opinion, or with lobbyists and cronies and special-interests.

We need the cold, hard truth whether we like it or not from a diverse minded leader. This is not a black or white world, it is one made up of a million shades of Grey.

NC4Obama   July 1st, 2008 5:05 pm ET

General Clark is right about McCain. He is not trashing his military experience, he is saying he doesn't have the judgment.

MJC   July 1st, 2008 5:04 pm ET

Clark you said nothing wrong. When Obama tried to even mention anything about the Military…..McCain got very angry and brought up the fact that Obama never served. Now that you have someone like Clark making a "True" statement, they can't attack his service. He should not apologize. Obama and Clark both praised McCain's service……but that should not be the only thing that qualify's you to be President.

Obama supporter from the UK   July 1st, 2008 5:03 pm ET

You go Clark!!! never afraid of the truth, keep saying it and we will surely prevail. getting shot down from a fighter jet does not qualify you to be a commander in chief no matter how honourable your actions were. go home Mccain and read your grandchilidren bed time stories
"Obama 08″

Liz Reuben   July 1st, 2008 5:03 pm ET

I applaud Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark. Clark did not question Sen. McCain's patriotism. Ret. Gen. Clark actually applauded McCain's patriotism. What Clark questioned was McCain's qualifications to be president; two separate and distinctly different issues.

Sen. McCain has time and time again flat out called Obama inexperienced. Someone has finally stepped up and is calling Sen. McCain's qualifications, or the lack of them, into question, not his patriotism. As Americans we have a right to know this.

I applaud Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark for having the graciousness and tact to say it. He is simply saying what many Americans have already been thinking.

soy   July 1st, 2008 5:03 pm ET

how any one in their right mind can read and hear what this man said about McCain and draw a conclusion that he was attacking McCain's military service is a testament of the horrible state of the education we have in this nation at the K-12 level. General Clark I'm happy you held your ground. I'm against the actions taken by the Obama campaign in denouncing Gen Clark on this topic but I think they let the fear of coming off as anti-military to the people in uniform and their families get the best of them.

Raymond Duke   July 1st, 2008 5:03 pm ET

Wesley Clark can't fool and old retired soldier of twenty years with his B.S. I don't particularily like McCain and would had preffered another canidate but I will give him credit for his service to this country and for his experience. I guess on the other hand I have to give Obama credit for being a community organizer in the black community and for making hate speeches through his own lips and his wife and pastore and friends. Clark can make all the crap statements he wants to make . He almost in Kosvo started ww111 with the russians but thank good a foriegn officer told him where to stick it. After twenty years in the army i can tell you that to be a general you are recommended and then approved by the senate. In other words you have to be a politician butt kisser to get the star. I also know that all them thirty medals that our boy james was bragging about has usually been given to him for something that occurred somewhere in a unit that preformed the action. Most of the time these generals are like where they are now "in the safe protected green Zone".

Concerned teacher   July 1st, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Clarke wasn't discrediting his service or hero status, he was just saying that it doesn't qualify him to be the president. Listen to the whole interview. It seems pretty obvious.

Eric-PA   July 1st, 2008 5:01 pm ET

I'm glad Clark brought up th word judgement. We can talk about Obama's judgement to sit in a racist church for 20 years and to make friends with terrorists (the weather underground).

Phong Nguyen   July 1st, 2008 5:01 pm ET

People can also question General Clark's judgment in judging S. McCain's military experience!!!

jrzshor   July 1st, 2008 5:01 pm ET

is' easy to send in the planes. only the bad guys get killed.

Proud American   July 1st, 2008 5:01 pm ET

Clark (unlike McCain) you are a wise man.
Obama/Clark 08

Mary M, Houston, TX   July 1st, 2008 5:01 pm ET

I think this whole thing is laughable. Obama's been in the senate for less than 3 years. What has he done to prove to Clark that he has "stronger judgement". Ridiculous.

On top of that, Obama has distanced himself from Clark since he made these statements about McCain.

Clark is obviously getting caught up in partisan bullcrap.

And, for the record, I'm not voting for Obama OR McCain.

Marcus E. Anderson all for Obama 08   July 1st, 2008 5:00 pm ET

time for Sen Obama to distance himself from the honorable General Clark. Whil Gen Clark is entitled to his opinion this is a presidential election and the Mcsame and Puma Clinton fakr Democrats will jump all over this and use this as a way to undermine Sen Obamas positive and forward thinking campaign.

all you Puma Clinton/Mcsame supportes and PAC supporters and Bigots keep your foul derrogatory comments to yourself we are done with the blog hate.

From 2000-2008 America was bushed from 2008-2016 we will clear the bush.

Obama 08

GG NYC   July 1st, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Listen, I believe Gen. Clark is right too. But, he has to shut up and get out of the spotlight!! He is only making it worse, and giving the talking heads an excuse to continue talking about this…it does not help Obama or the Dems. Gen. Clark, you had your two minutes of spotlight, now let it shine where it should — on Barack Obama. Otherwise we will be discussing the military records of the candidates — NOT a topic favorable to Barack — instead of his policies and strengths. How is this not obvious?

Common Sense   July 1st, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Clark is right on one thing, Obama has better judgement. Unfortunately, he is comparing Obama to himself. Clark, as NATO commander, made poor judgements that lead to many Albania refugees to die. But that is besides the point.

The point is, at what point does Obama tell Clark to stop talking? The more Clark brings up the military, the more exposes Obama to his lack of military and foreign experience. Tack on Webbs comment today about McCain needing to "calm down" regarding his military experience (after Kerry and Webb both ran their own campaigns based on their own Military history), they are doing the Obama campaign more harm than good.

Undecided NJ   July 1st, 2008 4:59 pm ET

One more thing. Obama needs to build a large lead quickly as he has the momentum right now. If he loses the momentum, it will not be easy to regain. Maybe townhall meetings with McCain and early debates should not be taken off the table.

vw   July 1st, 2008 4:59 pm ET

I respectfully disagree with your comments, General Clark.
Who lacks judgment? Of course it is Obama.
If Obama has stronger judgement, how can you tell he chose a paster (who hates USA) for his own and his family for more than 20 years? how can you tell he selected a long-term friend who keep bribing him with real estate (land and house)? how can you tell us he repudiated his paster and his closest friend just for the presidency?
Clark, please act as a General with your own brain, not only a slaughter hired by someone.

Gus   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

I didn't hear anything about Bill Clintons Command experience when running for president, nor am I hearing anything about Obamas. Obama's never been in the Military, and while McCain was doing his duty fighting a war for his country Bill was running around Europe protesting the war. Making a personal decision to drop bombs on other human beings is a Command Decision that McCain had to make. The only things Bill and Obama ever dropped was in the toilet bowl.

brianr   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Everything Clark just said here was reasonable. All this fuss about Clark 'swiftboating' McCain is pure nonsense. What it will do though is take Clark out of the running for VP now.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Anyone that followed Bush's failed policies lacks good judgement.

Lois Ayres   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

He also lacks:

Iraq exit plan
A domestic agenda
2008 voting record
Charisma
Hair

asas   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

yes clark is right mccains is a fraud

Michelle, Indiana   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Wesley Clark is right on the money with his statements. McCain does lack judgment. Though wait a few weeks and McCain's positions will all change again so you're never quite sure where he stands on any issue.

Will McCain protect America the way he protected military information as a POW?

From the article written by McCain in May 1973 for US News & World Report –

I think it was on the fourth day that two guards came in, instead of one. One of them pulled back the blanket to show the other guard my injury……..I said, “O.K., I’ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.”

They took me up into one of the interrogation rooms, and for the next 12 hours we wrote and rewrote. The North Vietnamese interrogator, who was pretty stupid, wrote the final confession, and I signed it. It was in their language, and spoke about black crimes, and other generalities.

This is the Military Code of Conduct
The Code: Consisting of six articles in simple language, the United States Military Code of Conduct orders American military personnel to resist capture at all cost and if captured; to attempt to escape, to give the enemy no information other than name, rank, serial number and date of birth, to take charge if senior, to obey orders of the seniors, to accept no favors from the enemy and to make no written or oral statements disloyal to the United States.

I don’t know about any of you, but this kind of protection and judgment I can do without.

McCain admonishes Obama for wanting to talk to the Iranian government, but he himself collaborated with the enemy with whom we were at war. Isn’t what he did much worse than just talking to someone with whom we are trying to prevent going to war?

Swampy   July 1st, 2008 4:58 pm ET

It is somewhere between a prediction and a hope of mine that Wesley Clark will be the next Vice President of the United States. He's brave, capable and outspoken, and he can help Barack Obama get votes in many swing states. What more can you ask for in a running mate?

sherry   July 1st, 2008 4:57 pm ET

I totally agree
He may have ptsd
We know he has a temper and sure doesnt think to highly of women , you can see that in the way he treats his wife.
Hes a confused old man and needs to go home and relax and enjoy his twilight years

Tony   July 1st, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Situation room shows low judgement when you invite Gen. Clark on the show to display his poor judgement about Sen McCain who is braver and fought in a real war against the superpower Soviet at the time as opposed to the general who fought as the Goliath against people with small rifles. Gen. Clark has no claim to be good general. Any average soldier can win that war. His poor judgement was his evaluation of Sen. Obama's experience and plans for this country which he has none.

Terrence (Winsotn Salem, NC)   July 1st, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Bea-

I agree. One thing Obama is doing that I'm not liking is "apologizing" even when he didn't mess up. He apologizes too much for other people. I support him 100% but he really needs to take the kiddy gloves off. He didn't say anything about McCain so there was no need to denounce Clark's comments. McCain doesn't seem to dismiss Rush or Hannity. Grow some balls, O. You have my vote, but stop letting them force an apology.

Obama 08

asas   July 1st, 2008 4:56 pm ET

his right mccains is a fraud with his whole carrer. Clar is the only one that can tell mccains stupuid mistakes. obama 08!!!

MOVE ON !!!!!   July 1st, 2008 4:56 pm ET

CNN………I've never said anything to dishonor John McCain … I like him. But I will say this, that when it comes to being President of the United States, it's about judgment," Clark told CNN's John Roberts. "And I've seen stronger judgment from Barack Obama, despite the fact that he doesn't have military experience than I've seen from John McCain despite all his worldly travels………..CNN Mr Clark ……….is not going to back down …………PLEASE move on to the ECONOMY ISSUES!!!!

Undecided NJ   July 1st, 2008 4:56 pm ET

A few more Wesley Clarks and McCain is home free. I would like to vote for Obama because he is brown (black/white), but his policies so far leave me underwhelmed. I need him to speak up about the change he wants to bring about. I am not voting for blind change. I also think that NJ will be in play this year. It is a good feeling to finally have one's vote count for something.

Donna   July 1st, 2008 4:55 pm ET

I am glad that Clark is not backing down from his words..the Republicans need to learn how to deal with criticism since they love to dish it out!!!!

Billy Jones   July 1st, 2008 4:54 pm ET

No one has forgotten that you so want to be president yourself but were defeated early on just a few years ago. You can't stand the thought of some usurping military experience besting you…

cd   July 1st, 2008 4:53 pm ET

How in the world does Wesley know Obama's judgment is better than McCain's? Who died and made him king? His opinions mean nothing in this election. It's beyond my imagination why Obama supporters cannot see through the smoke screen. If he wins in November, make your peace with God, the One and only true God! Obama can't save you! He'll destroy you!

Change   July 1st, 2008 4:53 pm ET

What will Mc Cain tell Mugabe of Zimbabwe when both live in the past (Veitnum war, Chimurenga war) that is where they both lay their leadership qualities, interesting isn't it.

Naomi, Texas   July 1st, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Right On Gen Clark! I encourage you to excercise your right to tell it like it is = free speech. You are really just saying what some of your colleagues wish they had the guts to say out loud!

Akinola - Houston   July 1st, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Gotta love that!

Clarke/Obama – 08 (Not a typo!)

JR   July 1st, 2008 4:52 pm ET

Spoken by a true true democrat. But I'm an independent and Clark's comment made me so angry I will stay at home or vote for McCain. Why doesn't Clark ask someone who disagrees about his leadership of NATO. Cause, like Kerry, he boasts without truth!

susie   July 1st, 2008 4:52 pm ET

John Kerry, Democrat, voted for the war too.

PD Thomas   July 1st, 2008 4:52 pm ET

Go Gen. Clark. Finally someone has said it. Just because you served does not make you a master. Just because i can boil eggs i cannot call myself a master chef and because he served in the military and was a POW does not make him a perfect Commander in Chief. To throw out 'less than stellar' was best they could do to retaliate, but Gen. Clark be sure to ALWAYS let the facts stand on their own but let us knoww what the facts are!!

Jaun   July 1st, 2008 4:52 pm ET

GOOD FOR YOU GENERAL. MCCAIN NEED TO KNOW THAT FIGHTING A WAR DOES NOT PUT HIM IN THE POSITION TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF…WE NEED GOOD JUDGEMENT…ENERGY AND DURABILITY…MCCAIN NEED A ROCKING CHAIR.

Tim Hutchins   July 1st, 2008 4:51 pm ET

What you mean, Clark, is that because McCain is a republican, he has no judgement?

Debby   July 1st, 2008 4:51 pm ET

Gosh this guy should shut up already he isn't doing his party any favors by ranting on and on about McCain especially being a retired Gen. No one is saying McCain is qualified to be President from just his experience in Vietnam. He has had years in the Senate so Clark looks like an idiot making these stupid comments.

Matt in NC   July 1st, 2008 4:51 pm ET

I always admired Wesely Clark and he would have made a great VP pick if he had kept his mouth shut about McCain's POW experience. But he might be a great guy to needle him from the sidelines, no way he can be considered now…

Sully   July 1st, 2008 4:51 pm ET

I smell backlash!

EXPERTS HAVE EXPERT OPINIONS   July 1st, 2008 4:51 pm ET

General Clark's is an expert opinion in the field about which he commented. Dismissing his comments is disrespecting his level of service to this country. Stop it!

David Goldman   July 1st, 2008 4:50 pm ET

THE WHOLE MCBUSH STRATEGY IS JUST

SMOKING MIRRORS.!!!!!!!

HIS POLICY, BY HIS OWN WORDS, NOTHING BUT THE

FAILED POLICIES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

HE KNOWS HE CAN'T GET ELECTED WITH THAT, SO HE TURNS

ON THE SLEAZE MACHINE. MAKE THE OTHER GUY LOOK

BAD & SLIP IN THE DOOR. IT WORKED FOR BUSH.

WHY NOT FOR MCBUSH???

McCain 2008   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

"And I've seen stronger judgment from Barack Obama…."

Amazing what political hacks like Clark will come up with….. where exactly did Obama exhibit such strong judgement…. as a state senator, or is it when he said he would raise taxes or increase the size of government? America doesn't need a tax and spend liberal like Obama. I am sorry Wesley, but a call by Obama for bigger government with a heavier tax burden is not synonymous with strong judgement.

McCain is going to rock Obama in November

Judgment?   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

You gotta be kidding me! Obama has judgment and McCain doesn't? Now we know who's getting paid with all that money Obama's getting after his twisted "judgment" to opt out of public campaign financing. How about truth and integrity? But what would you know about that, Clark, you bitter old has-been.

Anton   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Talk about judgment…Obama's choice of worship and his minister for the last 20 years…and then dumps both…

Ex AF Pilot, FL   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

I served under him and I remember his words as we were getting ready for a bombing run. "Men, if we fail it will not be because of you, it will be because I failed you. Go hit them where it hurts but by god return to me safely or I will be on the ground looking under every darn rock for you and I promise you that enemy out there will not be able to recover after I am done destroying their country looking for those under my command, I would rather lose my job than lose anyone in this room, now go get them!"

I've never heard of the vietnam POW who said we failed in Kosovo but is he really qualified to insult the General???

Phil, FL   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

McCain was an incompetent peon riding on his family's coat-tails – you tell 'em Clark.

We don't need another loser in the WH. The last 8 years has been too much already.

Obama 08

elmer kirts   July 1st, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Clark is about one step ahead of Jane Fonda

Vote Nader   July 1st, 2008 4:48 pm ET

Judgement Scale:

Sen. McCain > Sen. Obama
Rep. Barr > Sen. McCain
Cynthia McKinney > Rep. Barr
Ralph Nader > Cynthia McKinney

So the American people should vote Nader.

VotePact

** Nader/Gonzalez 2008 **

CT voter   July 1st, 2008 4:48 pm ET

This man is a hero! And his record is amazing, without loosing a single life he won the war they had, this is someone we should be looking up to not questioning! I didn't know of his service's to our country but I admire and commend them, thank you sir!

canada   July 1st, 2008 4:48 pm ET

thank you for telling the true Gen. Clark.. The whole world is praying for obama because we know that he would have a better judgment.

Bob Indianapolis, IN   July 1st, 2008 4:47 pm ET

This is pretty obvious! When you need AIPAC tool Joe Lieberman to tell you the the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite, it's time to leave foreign policy to someone more intelligent than the current fool on the hill wrapped in his bubble….

Mike, Syracuse, NY   July 1st, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Clark couldn't get any traction attacking McCain's military record, so now he moves on to judgement. Well, McCain didn't 'push' the war, he voted along with a bipartisan majority of the Senate (including Clinton) to authorize the war. Rumsfeld bungled the implementation, so we are where we are. McCain (and senior military commanders) argued for more troops for a long time before the surge finally was implemented. Guess what? McCain's JUDGEMENT was correct. the surge is working. Obama wants to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by abandoning all that's been done. What's that say about HIS judgement?

aware   July 1st, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Give it up Clark. You are just digging the hole deeper! :(

It is the obfuscating Obama who lacks judgment in friends, pastors, follow-up on his original Iraq war speech, his voting record, his primary debates, his flip-flops, his pandering…and his surrogates! :)

bill for barack   July 1st, 2008 4:46 pm ET

He may be blunt, but Wes Clark is honest …..and he's right.

J   July 1st, 2008 4:46 pm ET

This is a man with a respectable military record AND a respectable attitude.

Match that "Truth Squad", just give it a shot for once

John in Ohio   July 1st, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Clark is exactly right, and should get more support for it. We, and I'm speaking as an Iraq veteran here, really need to stop fetishizing military service.

If our nation was a tinpot military dictatorship then military experience might matter. If we were selecting a Caesar instead of electing a President, military experience might matter. I'd rather have someone without military experience (which Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt didn't have either) then somebody with it. I want somebody who has the judgment to put the right military people in the right military positions, not somebody who is supermilitaristic and tries to run it all himself.

NC voter   July 1st, 2008 4:44 pm ET

HA HA HA!
Keep it up laughing boy! The more you talk, the more time Obama has to waste back peddling!
Anybody but Obama '08

Earl   July 1st, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Stick to your guns and don't let the "Swiftboat" BS win.

""SWIFTBOAT IN REVERSE"….how does it feel McDay?…you just swing whichever the wind blows.

Senility is McWars attribute….he can't remember anything he said yesterday.

Don't let them push you around Wesley…my money is on you.

Did Rove crawl out from under a rock to put McDay on the front page after he changed all the old fossils depends?

Not working this time guys….the war in Vietnam is over….get over it….MCWAR AND DAY ARE HASBEENS.

Dr.Mimi De La Cruz   July 1st, 2008 4:44 pm ET

WHAT IS THERE TO THINK ABOUT?

IF THESE GUYS ARE SO GREAT, WHY ARE THEY SUCH

DISMAL FALIOURS AT EVERY THING THEY ARE DOING

EXCEPT MAKING MONEY FOR THE SELVES ?

BUSH, CHANEY & MCBUSH HAVE DONE A HORRIBLE

JOB THUS FAR. THEY ALSO WANT A 100.00 YEARS, PER

MCBUSH'S OWN MOUTH, NOT MINE, TO GET IT DON.

YOU LIKE THE RESULTS————-VOTE MCBUSH

YOU DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS—VOTE OBAMA.

Leah DiMarco, Texas   July 1st, 2008 4:44 pm ET

You go get'em General Clark.
We are with you on this one!
Don't ever back down and stand your ground.
Keep on telling the truth – we don't want a Bush third term.

Obama/Sebelius '08
Obama/Clark '08

judy, Wisconsin   July 1st, 2008 4:43 pm ET

Clark's calm and credible interview on Cnn won't stop the so called "truth squad" from trashing him. I'm glad he stood by his statements–they were right on!

James Nelson   July 1st, 2008 4:43 pm ET

Kudos to General Clark for speaking his mind, making an excellent point and sticking to his guns despite all the windy bloviation from rightwing gasbags and their mainstream media shills.

McCain DOES lack judgement and, more importantly, the temperament to be President. I'd prefer the man with his finger on the nuclear button NOT to have an uncontrollable anger management problem, if you don't mind.

Mark   July 1st, 2008 4:42 pm ET

Shame on you, Wes. The Democrat puppet-masters pushing Obama down our throats, have got you too! McCain 08, Hillary 2012

adam   July 1st, 2008 4:42 pm ET

McCain's camp took a comment about his leadership and morphed it into a comment on his service and in so doing, found it somehow ok to question anothers service.

Phil Newton Murphy, Oregon   July 1st, 2008 4:42 pm ET

Clark is speaking from what he knows as a General in charge of a major military campaign.

The fact that McCain has embraced the neocon nightmare vision of endless Middle East war shows that he lacks no judgement at all. He is sticking to the Bush game plan that has killed thousands of our young and wasted a TRILLION of our our dollars.

What fool would vote for more of that?

Republican for Obama   July 1st, 2008 4:41 pm ET

McCain ended up a POW because he didn't know how to get out at the right time, and was a bit lacking when it came to being a pilot. He will make the same mistake this time, and has already indicated in words (100 years, doesn' matter when they come home) that he intends to keep on killing our children.
He lacks judgement for certain. The man can brag about his POW days until the cows come home. It doesn't change the fact that the POW episode, is in fact PROOF that he is not FIT to be our President. It took him 31 years to like our country? WOW, I don't call that patriotic, I would say he was close to treason during some of his months serving in Vietnam. POW or not, his words and actions during that time were NOT very american.

Realistic   July 1st, 2008 4:40 pm ET

With Obama's sitting in an America-hating, racist church for 20 years along with his relationships with gangsters and thugs, don't try and sell me on Obama's judgment!

LUIS BARRETO   July 1st, 2008 4:40 pm ET

SHAME ON YOU ,/ NOT THRUSTWORTHY TO ANYBODY NEITHER CATHOLICS OR EVANGELICALS, YOU ARE A BUFFOON//////

The Weatherman   July 1st, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Bombing the Yugoslavia back into the stone age is not genius. Someone had to rebuild and it took much longer. This put a huge financial strain on our Europeian allies which affects us downstream.

General Clark is giving a bad example since the enemy was not funded by terrorists and donations from the entire middle east. He's comparing apples to oranges for those who are not well read.

Nova from NV   July 1st, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Pretty funny coming from somebody who has never worked in a bi-partisan group or in congress. How about Obama's judgment when it comes to his ties with convicted felon Rezko? Or about Obama's judgment when he decides to listen to Rev. Write for thirty years?

James, SC   July 1st, 2008 4:39 pm ET

So far our most outstanding leaders have been men who never served in the military. Also, some of our worst leaders served in the military. As a Vet. I realize that military leadership DOES NOT always translate to civilian leadership. Military leadership requires subordinates to follow commands. Civilian leadership requires getting people to agree. John McCain can't get his folks to agree, so how does his military experiences translate to becoming President?

He speaks as though we the voters owe the Presidency to him because he was a POW.

Monica for Obama in Indiana   July 1st, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Thank you General Clark, for saying what you did and for not backing down. I believe the majority of the Nation, will know exactly who to vote for.

GO get um, Obama

Sharon Minnesota   July 1st, 2008 4:39 pm ET

No, Mr. Clark, it's Barack Obama who is sorely lacking in judgment. Remember, it took him 20 years to figure out J. Wright was a radical black liberation, racist preacher and then several more months to leave his congregation after a racist priest made a total fool of himself.
And, he still hasn't really disavowed himself of that sick theology, just wanted to protect that church from media scrutiny.

That, would be some real lack of judgment among many other incidences we have seen these last few months during the Democratic primary battle.

Don't forget, with all the political propaganda by the media promoting Barack Obama pressuring the electorate, it's real easy to get confused about the issues.

JC   July 1st, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Senator Obama will have my vote, but I sure hope he isn't "compelled" by his handlers, or even the far right, to speak out against these latest comments from Gen. Clark.

Can't anyone voice an honest opinion anymore?

Bob   July 1st, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Can anyone explain how anything Obama has done in his life prepares him for the job. NOTHING! He has no experience and all his friends and preachers are terrorists or terrorist supporters. What is this man hiding.

not important   July 1st, 2008 4:38 pm ET

Is this the same Wesley Clark that was involved in the Kosovo war? Yeah I still remember how NATO bombed Kosovo.

Joe in NJ   July 1st, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Except for his vote on the war (which he touts over and over and over and over) Obama has never been in a position to show judgement. All he has are opinions which are quite different.

Dan   July 1st, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Yeah, Obama had great judgement being friends with Rev. Wright and the rest of the crew for 20 years! Are you kidding me?

Mike Jones   July 1st, 2008 4:35 pm ET

Bravo, General Clark. Stick to your guns. Someone needs to address McCain's "experience".

Matt--NE   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

Clark is a Tool, and a Fool, just like Obama.

Funny how the left tried to claim Kerry's military service was worthy of him being president, but now, their obvious hatred of anything military is showing in their hatred for McCain.

Enlightened Voter   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

Exactly! And it takes judgment to run the country, not so called 'experience' which gwb had and look where that got us.

NObama   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

I am sure that Clark was a fine general and brought considerable experience and thought to his military decisions. Obviously, he doesn't do the same as a civilian.

CITIZENS FOR TRUTH   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

MCBUSH IS A GERIATRIC VERSION OF BUSH.

GENERAL CLARK CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL,SWIFT,

SCALPEL PRECISE, NOT FOR PROFIT, WAR, WITHOUT

THE LOSE OF A SINGLE US LIFE OR OUR ECONOMY.

YOU CAN NOT ASK FOR A BETTER JUDGE OF WHO

IS BEST QUALIFIED TO LEAD THIS NATION'S & ITS

FOREIGN POLICY OR THE TWO WARS WE ARE IN,

THAN GENERAL CLARK. THIS MES THAT WE ARE IN HAS

BEEN MISMANAGED IN ANY WAY ONE CAN IMAGINE &

WOULD CONTINUE TO BE, IF MCSLEAZO GOT ELECTED.

Barry In Las Vegas   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

Obama has better judgement than McCain?

Here is a guy who as a state senator ducked 60 key votes by voting "present" instead of taking a position.

As a U S Senator, he isn't even doing that – he just doesn't vote if he thinks the bill before the Senate will be used against him in the campaign. He is simply "absent."

The only "judgement" the American public has seen Obama exercise is his judgement to duck and hide when it comes to voting on an issue that requires taking a position and leadership.

Reality   July 1st, 2008 4:34 pm ET

McCain has no judgement !!!!!!!!!! He goes in which ever way the wind blows. Out of touch and SUPER OLD !!

RC   July 1st, 2008 4:33 pm ET

I am really starting to like Clark a lot. He says it like it is.

Eleven Bravo   July 1st, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Take it to 'em, Wes!

The truth must REALLY hurt, judging by all of the crying going on

CCharles   July 1st, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Clark's a smart guy – he didn't say anything that we didn't already know – and a perfectly legitimate argument that military valor does not make one better poised to be President.

It's deplorable that McCain's supporters are now attacking Gen Clark to undermine his very valid position.

Alex   July 1st, 2008 4:32 pm ET

The republicand don't want to admit it, their sense that this guy has 100 years of experience is enough. I could have 1000 years of experience but it doesn't mean I make wise decisions and have good judgement, it is person to person.

ANGIE   July 1st, 2008 4:31 pm ET

i agree gen clarke mccain does lack judgement

Saad from NJ   July 1st, 2008 4:31 pm ET

What Clark is saying is not necessarily wrong but the way he is saying it is wrong. It is indeed a fact that being in the military and its experience 'alone' does not qualify a person for being the President. It is a combination of many things/experiences/achievements/knowledge which qualify a person for the President's job.

We are who we are today because our system of checks and balances along with our economic prosperity got us there. That said, a good hold on the economy and its concepts and principals, in my opinion, come before military experience. We have military which is fully functional and fully capable for military related needs. I know we have Federal Reserve too for the economic related needs but still…. if our economy is not in-place and hurting, so will our military due to lack of resources.

So, my point is that Clark is not necessarily saying the wrong things, he is saying it in a wrong way.

Reality Check Richmond Virginia   July 1st, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Clark is 100% correct. He isn't coming down on McCains miltary record, he is coming down on his judgement, where he would stand on the important issues of the day………I mean McCain touts his own judgement all the time, which is fine, he is trying to get elected. Unfortunately he keeps coming down on the wrong side of almost every issue, which to me shows a lack of judgement, so I won't be voting for him. period.

Get a grip Clark.   July 1st, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Keep making it up as you go Clark. We know you support Obama because he is the nomonee from your party, period, end of story. Please stop making stupid arguments as to why you support him. You talk in circles and look like a fool.

saga for Obama   July 1st, 2008 4:30 pm ET

i just watched this interview and i agree with Gen. Clark…
he said nothing wrong, he even went as far to say that he likes Sen. McCain but Obama is the better candidate. it is about judgment, McCain seemed to be to reactionary and showed bad judgment in having one of his minions attack Gen. Clark about Clarks record.
bring peace to the region without a single U.S. casualty.
McCain has showed very bad judgment and poor character in not coming out against comments made by Lieberman. He has not released his military records as of yet…i think that action might have been more prudent than just attacking Mr. Clark. if McCains only form of response to critics is attack then i hope America does choose Obama…

Eric   July 1st, 2008 4:29 pm ET

So, let me get this straight…

We should listen to and trust people that are leading us in a reprehensible and poorly managed war (Bush, McCain, Petraeus)…

But, people like Wesley Clark who lead us during a successful and bloodless military engagement should be ignored and discredited.

Many years of experience fighting in a war is NOT good.

A few years of figuring out how to not be in a war IS good.

Think about it America, and decide who has a better grasp on what is best for our military and our country.

Obama '08!

Anonymous   July 1st, 2008 4:29 pm ET

Keep making it up as you go Clark. We know you support Obama because he is the nomonee from your party, period, end of story. Please stop making stupid arguments as to why you support him. You talk in circles and look like a fool.

No McCain!   July 1st, 2008 4:28 pm ET

Wesley Clark is very, very smart. Too bad 45 PERCENT OF THE NATION can't see that.

Obama '08!

No Obama   July 1st, 2008 4:28 pm ET

CNN the most sickest name in News!!

SickandTired   July 1st, 2008 4:27 pm ET

Can this be said any clearer? McCain lacks judgement. POINT BLANK.

Man From Atlantis   July 1st, 2008 4:27 pm ET

He's just keeping it real. Truth hurts. Deal with it. I've been naked before, but that doesn't make me a porn star.

Winthorp   July 1st, 2008 4:26 pm ET

Yeah, go Wesley Clark! You tell it. It is absolutely shameful that McCain made Obama apologize for what is the TRUTH!!

Obama/Clark '08/ '12

Linda from Prescott AZ   July 1st, 2008 4:25 pm ET

Well said General Clark.

Jerry   July 1st, 2008 4:25 pm ET

General Clark is right, McCain has the judgement of a fat cat, take his position on trade, if he thinks it is helping the US workers all you have to do is look at the trade deficit. With a deficit of over 700 Billion how in the hell can anyone say that free trade is good for the US

Andre' of Maryland   July 1st, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Clark is right!!!

John McCain pushed for this unnecessary war that has help hurt our economy and kill so many soldiers. His leadership lead us into this disaster and if elected he would keep us there.

It is time to turn the page on this ideal that being a member of service provides you everything needed to be President. I would much rather my President to be smart and intelligent on far more other things than war. Especially in today's global economy.

McCain is a relict of the past….it's time to step into the future.

Bea   July 1st, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Gen. Clark is qualified to make the comments he made. Now the republicans will try to discredit him. I admire him for not backing down or apologizing.

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