Wesley Clark Wrongly Assaulted for Telling Truth on McCain

Clark is standing behind his comments, per Ben Smith of Politico:

In a statement to reporters, retired General Wes Clark repeats that McCain is a "hero" but also reiterates his point that McCain's service didn't give him "executive experience":

There are many important issues in this Presidential election, clearly one of the most important issues is national security and keeping the American people safe. In my opinion, protecting the American people is the most important duty of our next President. I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. I would never dishonor the service of someone who chose to wear the uniform for our nation.

John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed - he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Clark_wont_back_down.html

hear, hear!

McCain's already proven himself to this country, something Obama has yet to do. You guys can sluff off McCain's bona fides all you want. I suspect it's your only way out.

I don't believe that Clark's comments were inflamed by the media. In simple terms, all he said was military service does not automatically prepare someone to be the leader of our country. He mentioned, as examples, that he would not have had experience wrestling with national policy and go-to-war decisions. I have no problem with what he said. He said it respectfully and even stated he honored Sen McCain's service.

I just don't know what he expected to gain by making this statement, though. Surely he knew that there would be a quick response from the Republicans. He may not have expected the negative response generated by the Democrats, however. His own party is feeding on him as if he were an appetizer at happy hour.

All this negative press, which will have a small impact on the Democratic party, could have been avoided. After all, what purpose could his comment have served to make? McCain could very easily counter that his service in uniform, combined with his many years in the Senate, gives him all that is needed to succeed in office. I just can't fathom what Wesley Clark hoped to gain by making a comment that could so easily be dismissed and countered. Basically, all he did was stir up a hornets nest for no real purpose.

This again shows the shallowness of a candidacy when easily refuted slander is part and parcel for their course of action. Weak in character, weak in facts and weak in successes. is this the pattern for Obama's campaign? Wright, Mali, Pflaeger, Michelle, Clark, does it ever end? Silly talk, dishonest rhetoric, continual changing of core values and principals. it's all adding up to real dysfunction and a shocking display of amatuerish and boorish publicity. i feel like i'm viewing a high school or college level election