MyDD :: Foreign Policy Experience is NOT being a POW.

Foreign Policy Experience is NOT being a POW.

by TruthMatters, Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 07:51:01 AM EST

ok, thats it watching Morning Joe and I just want to slap him, he is absolutely FLABBERGASTED at Gen. Clark saying that McCain is untest in Foreign Policy, you want to know what Joe's big explain of McCain foreign policy experience?

he was locked away and beating for 5 years.

listen I honor McCain service, that man is a hero, but being beaten up for 5 years does not teach you now to negoiate with others, being beaten up for 5 years does not teach you how diplomatic situations are handled. being beaten up for 5 years doesn't even teach you how you resolve a POW situation.

Yes GOPers if your ONLY reason for telling me that McCain has foreign policy is because he was locked away, I hope you are ready to say EVERY POW has the necessary Foreign Policy experience to be President.

the GOP always does this, the oh you are questioning a POW you are not patrotic, this belief that because McCain was a POW he is above criticism on his Foreign Policy experience is nonsense.

the man was tortured and he should be the first to tell us how ineffective torture was, infact McCain 2000 did just that, McCain 2008 not so much

so yes the GOP and America better understand this now McCain being a POW deserves repesct, the man should be honored, the man is a solider.

but the man does NOT get a pass on his foreign policy creditials ESPECIALLY if the GOP will just try and hide behind his POW status. because thats not enough for me to say you have to foreign policy experience to be president. and the more they try and play this up, the more I wonder is that it? is his POW status the ONLY reason I should believe he has foreign policy experience to be president?

Tags: John McCain, Barack Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 8 Comments :: Post a Comment

Exactly! (none / 0)

I was watching the same thing and sent off an email to the show.

How the Hell does being a POW make you an expert in foreign policy? What the Hell does that have to do with anything General Clark said?

Joe is being an idiot.

by DaveDial on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 08:21:19 AM EST

I agree (2.00 / 1)

A lot of people don't want to go there, but Gen. Clark is exactly the right man. Foreign policy experience is a product of consideration of foreign affairs in a considered political context, not while held in a POW camp or, for that matter, living overseas as a child. All of those lend SOME credibility to the candidate, but they say nothing about knowledge of, say, Iran or China or Pakistan.

Ironically enough, Barack Obama's short Senatorial career has resulted in more significant Foreign Policy achievement (Obama-Lugar on nukes, an law on Congo) than McCain has ever done. All McCain has done is publicly endorse the neo-con Iraq strategy; but he was a hardly an integral player in developing that atrocious approach for the Bush Administration. For him it was about American power and honor, not strategic considerations.

by elrod on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 08:34:22 AM EST

Don't go there... (2.00 / 1)

I'm with the camp that doesn't want to go there. If you've ever read in any detail just what McCain had to endure as part of his service to the country, it's impossible not to have profound respect for him. You can rationally argue that doesn't mean anything in terms of his foreign policy experience, but you won't win the argument emotionally on that subject. Regardless of intent, it will be perceived to belittle his experience and the rational argument is bound to fail.

The way to win is to focus on Obama's achievements and goals on Iraq rather than to seem to belittle McCain's POW experience.

by fsm on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 10:44:46 AM EST

Thank you for saying that! (2.00 / 1)

by suzieg on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:22:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey TruthMatters (none / 0)

Glad you did this diary....I saw the same segment and actually thought Clark (and the Obama campaign, I'm guessing) was brilliant. It's reminiscent of Rove's attack on Kerry's war hero status in 2004 and evokes all sorts of Overton Window strategies.

Most folks who've written of this have missed these points.

by ksh on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:19:33 AM EST

Re: Foreign Policy Experience is NOT being a POW. (none / 0)

Jessica Lynch was a POW right? hmmmmmmmm

so with her foreign policy cred she can be the POTUS ???

"How long have I been at this, like five weeks?" -Simple Sarah 08'

by wellinformed on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:34:04 AM EST

Do go there. (none / 0)

Go there over and over again. Go there until the point has been hammered in. And while you're there, don't forget to point out that McCain's support for the Military Commissions Act means he's ok with future POW's being treated the same miserable unjust way.

by Mobar on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:14:05 PM EST

Re: Foreign Policy Experience is NOT being a POW. (none / 0)

Sounds like Rudy's 9/11 argument. Reusable and Rehashable in any circumstance.
"The reason I am running for President is because I was a POW for 5 yrs goddammit!"

by ozeki saketini on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:52:08 PM EST

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