Well, this never would have happened had General Clark not persisted in his remarks about whether John McCain's military experience qualifies him to be president. Today, on his "Straight Talk Express" plane, a reporter actually asked McCain how his experience qualifies him to be president and McCain turned visibly angry in response (man, I wish there was video, but I suspect we'd have seen it by now...)

From ABC News's Political Radar:

McCain bristled at the comments on "Face the Nation" last weekend by an Obama supporter, retired general Wesley Clark, who belittled the relevance of McCain's wartime experience as a qualification for the Presidency.

"I think it's up to Sen. Obama now not only to repudiate him but to cut him loose," McCain said.

McCain became visibly angry when I asked him to explain how his Vietnam experience prepared him for the Presidency.

"Please," he said, recoiling back in his seat in distaste at the very question.

"Puhh-leeeease." Sorry, Senator, not off limits any longer.

Oh, and here comes the obligatory rescue from his wingmen...

McCain allies Sen. Lindsey Graham stepped in to rescue him. Graham expressed admiration for McCain's stance on the treatment of detainees in US custody.

"That to me is a classic example of how his military experience helped him shape public policy in a way no other senator could have done,'' Graham said.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, also traveling on the trip, expressed admiration for McCain's wartime service as well.

Hmm, odd that Graham would choose to cite that as an example considering McCain actually voted against banning waterboarding. But what's a little inconsistency among friends?

And then finally there is the requisite McCain "composing himself" moment:

McCain then collected himself and apologized for his initial reaction.

"I kind of reacted the way I did because I have a reluctance to talk about my experiences," he said, noting that he has huge admiration for the "heroes" who served with him in the POW camp and said the experience taught him to love the U.S. because he missed it so much.

"I am always reluctant to talk about these things," McCain said.

Reluctant? Is he kidding? He's been shamelessly exploiting his POW status in television ads since last fall, not to mention his entire political career.

Paul Waldman of Media Matters debunks the myth that McCain is somehow too modest to discuss that part of his life over at HuffPo. On the contrary:

There's a myth out there that the McCain campaign and the media have cooperated to create. It says that John McCain is reluctant to exploit his Vietnam POW story for political advantage, so modest and full of integrity is he. We've seen this repeated again and again, not just by McCain and his supporters but by reporters who ought to know better.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

From the first time he ran for Congress in 1982 up to the present day, McCain has made his POW story the centerpiece of his entire political career. The key moment of that 1982 campaign was when he responded to his opponent's (absolutely true) accusation that McCain was a carpetbagger by saying, "As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi." At every point since, it has been the deft use of this tool that has brought McCain renewed attention or won him a key victory.

It was an unlikely transition but it's appearing as though, because of General Clark's persistence, the media, wanting to take the story to the next level, could possibly turn from agitator to ally on this issue. If more diligent reporters do continue to ask McCain for an actual answer to the question, McCain had better come up with a response other than anger.

Usually when Democrats get in hot water with the media, whether mis-interpreted or not, the instinct is to immediately apologize and slink away. Sometimes that is called for. In Wesley Clark's case, it is not, and I am thrilled to see him sticking to his guns.

Yesterday at the height of the pearl clutching by the media, General Clark released this statement to clarify his position:

"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.

He then went on ABC this morning to further address the comments, which resulted in the headline and story below. It's rare to see things like this written about Democrats:

Gen. Clark won't back off critique of McCain

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark rejected suggestions he apologize Tuesday for saying John McCain's medal-winning military service does not qualify him for the White House. Elaborating, Clark said a president must have judgment, not merely courage and character. [...]

Despite criticism from Republicans, Clark declined to back down in an interview Tuesday morning with ABC. "The experience that he had as a fighter pilot isn't the same as having been at the highest levels of the military and having to make ... life or death decisions about national, strategic issues," he said.

The only apology he would give...was to Barack Obama:

Asked whether he felt he owed McCain an apology, Clark responded, "I'm very sorry that this has distracted from the message of patriotism that Sen. Obama wants to put out."

The McCain campaign is, not surprisingly, trying to make hay of this and is now trying to bait Senator Obama into apologizing, the implication being that Clark's comments actually came from Obama, via the transitive property, I suppose. Obama today refused to do any such thing and in fact wouldn't even concede that General Clark owed John McCain an apology. His response to the question was perfect -- it turned the question back on the questioner and in a presidential and slightly disgusted tone, made it clear that this was not the sort of issue he should be spending his time on.

Watch it:

A friend I spoke with last night said he wished Clark would shut it as he feared it was only playing into McCain's hands by raising an issue that treads on McCain-friendly terrain. Personally, I'm glad Clark has taken on what is widely considered hallowed ground and the third rail (choose your metaphor...) Clark was uniquely equipped to deliver this message and while people's instinct may be to shirk away from the suggestion that McCain's service is anything but perfect preparation to be commander in chief, the conversation that Clark has initiated has allowed people to really think about the validity of the premise for the first time and actually question it.  

Way to go, General. Continue to stand strong. We have your back.

Update [2008-7-1 23:49:12 by Todd Beeton]:Sign the VoteVets petition to let General Clark know you have his back.

Here are some of my favorite quotes about Wes Clark that I accumulated during the 04 campaign.  I don't have citations for them but google should point you in the right direction.

"Major Clark is one of the most outstanding officers of his grade in the U.S. Army...an officer of impeccable character with a rare blend of personal qualities and professional attributes which uniquely qualify him as a soldier-scholar. While he has the intellectual grasp of world affairs attained only by the top scholars in the field, he projects soldierly qualities of strength, character, leadership, and above all an unyielding sense of personal responsibility. It is this sense of responsibility which clearly sets him apart from his contemporaries. [He] has the intellectual, moral and physical stamina, coupled with an unrelenting quest for excellence, which insures the completion of every task to near perfection. Major Clark's earnestness, sincerity of purpose and absolute dedication convey a moral force in his work which gives him a significant voice in this headquarters..."

-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., July 19, 1978

"[Clark] seems to be preoccupied, and I'm quoting now, with building legitimacy, with exhausting all diplomatic remedies...  So I think General Clark simply doesn't want to see us use military force and he has thrown out as many reasons as he can develop to that but the bottom line is he just doesn't want to take action. He wants to wait."

Richard Perle, Iraq war-mongerer, before congress Sept. 26, 2002

"Just when the world is being dragged into the death spiral of an unending cycle of violence by a vision-less, coldblooded collection of think-tank warriors goose-stepping their way into the new millennium with a stunning lack of respect for human rights, the environment, or international law, along comes a man with the proven credentials of intelligence, integrity, and courage singularly equipped by his spirit and experience to lead us out of this mess. Don't listen to what the lying liars say about him; listen to what he says. Wesley Clark is a prayer answered."

Peace,
Kris Kristofferson

"There are two stars in the Democratic Party -- Hillary and Wes Clark."

Bill Clinton

My favorite:

"Nothing is more American; nothing is more patriotic than speaking out, questioning authority and holding your leaders accountable."

Wes Clark

"You will determine whether rage or reason guides the United States in the struggle to come. You will choose whether we are known for revenge or compassion. You will choose whether we, too, will kill in the name of God, or whether in His name, we can find a higher civilization and a better means of settling our differences"

Wes Clark

Pardon the short diary, but I wanted to raise an idea u on the flagpole and see if anybody saluted it (with the caveat that I'm not sure if I ascribe to it myself).

First we have Wes Clark, offering a fairly harmless comment that the McCain people are smart enough to realize can be blown out of proportion among the media. One wonders if Obama's quick denunciation of Clark (which, incidentally, has got to decrease the incentive for high-profile Obama supporters to put themselves out there into the media for scrutiny, given that Obama was so quick on the trigger to condemn him, but I digress...), didn't fire off some kind of light bulb over the head of the McCain team.

Because now we have the same yarn being spun about Jim Webb. Given that both have been suggested to be potential running mates, is it possible that there's a real intention from the McCain campaign to use what strikes me as a genuine weakness from Obama (the hyper-quickness to distance himself from anyone who comes anywhere near the question of McCain's service and its relevance to the debate) to drive the decision over Obama's running mate? Do they agree with the many pundits and observers who have suggested that the dustup has removed Clark from the veep list, and are now going after the next high-profile name on the list with military cred, hoping to push Obama into distancing himself from Webb as well (and in the process, knocking him out of contention)?

I'm not saying I'm convinced this is a conscious strategy....yet... I'm jus' sayin', is all...

Good:

It's also nice to see that at least one other military man is coming to Clark's defense and in fact is joining Clark's questioning of McCain's inflated claims to commander in chief credentials. I'll quote liberally from Lt. General Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.) because it's such a sweet smackdown, but you've really got to read the whole thing (I've bolded my favorite line):

As a retired military officer and a soldier who served his country for over thirty years, I can tell you that there's nothing in what Wes Clark said with which I disagree. He has not only stated the facts, he knows something about them. John McCain was a prisoner of war, an officer who served as a squadron commander, and has been and is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. John McCain can put his service to country up against anyone's. But General Clark has served also -- and with great courage: he was wounded four times in Vietnam -- and like John McCain, he has met and seen the enemy.

Is what Wesley Clark said true? Let's check some other facts: John McCain made claims about progress in security by walking through the streets of Baghdad. But as I recall, he was protected by at least a platoon of American soldiers and helicopters lying overhead. In matters of national security, as General Clark pointed out, "it's a matter of understanding risk," and it's "gauging your opponents;" and it's also a "matter of being held accountable."

So I too honor John McCain. And, like General Clark, I acknowledge his sacrifice for his country. But being a prisoner of the Vietnamese and serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee does not automatically qualify one for the position of Commander-in-Chief -- understanding risks, gauging your opponents and being held accountable does. We must end this glib obeisance to sacrifice and ask deeper questions: is a man who sings "bomb, bomb, bomb ... bomb, bomb Iran" a man who understands risks? Is a man who says that we must keep our troops in Iraq until we achieve an ill-defined "victory" really know how to gauge America's opponents. If we want to hold people accountable, then let's stand behind my friend Wes Clark -- and hold John McCain accountable for what he's said.

And for good measure, how's this for a parting shot:

Oh, and one more thing: today President Bush signed the GI Bill -- which Senator Barack Obama has unstintingly supported. The bill will spend $63 billion over ten years for increased college aid for military service members and veterans who served after September 11, 2001. Good judgment?

John McCain opposed it.

In response to a direct leading question, Gen. Clark told the truth - - being shot down, held prisoner and tortured makes you a hero but doesn't prepare you to be president.  D'uh.

Within 24 hours, Obama condemns Clark.  Of course, "by condemning Clark's line of argument, the Obama camp is strengthening the McCain camp's ability to suggest that his POW bio does make him more qualified to be president than Obama is. "
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsm emo.com/2008/06/obama_campaign_condemns_ wes_cl.php

Matt Stoller at www.openleft.com nailed it today.

Today is the day that our weak nominee smeared a 4 star General who came out to surrogate for him.

Not only Gen. Clark but Moveon.org today. Don't forget the 527's that he decided to dismantle two weeks. They are all gone now.

Our nominee is relying on a 'sophisticated nuanced' strategy that he hopes with a 30% turnout inrease in AA's will carry him to victory in November. That is it folks.

Turnout Turnout Turnout.

I want a leader with spine and balls and knows how to fight.
Today Obama decided that he would rather smear Gen. Clark than cover for him.
Hillary would never have apologized. Never. She is strong.

Obama has proved to me today that he is weak.

Ah, Wesley Clark, who is about to win the CQ contest for VP, having defeated McCaskill, Bayh, Edwards, Rendell (who defeated Clinton), and is beating Biden in the finals. Nope. Not gonna happen.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark."

Update [2008-6-30 13:50:55 by Jerome Armstrong]: Obama also made reference to MoveOn in his "patriotism" speech today. The Hill says he criticized them for the Sept '07 ad, saying:

This is the silly season of politics by Obama. In a sense, it's bi-polar. On the one hand, he's come out of the primary with an energized base and flush with funding from progressives that will mobilize in numbers and tonnage of money, but on the otherhand he's getting terrible advice to make symbolic gestures of defiance toward those same progressive issues and groups in order "to move to the center" for the GE.

This is the part where "untested" comes in for Obama. In a real sense, it's his first general election ever. It's all new territory for him to be up against a competitive Republican. He has no experience upon which to draw, and relies upon advice of "those who have been there" for his every move. Well, for Democrats, "those who have been there" have been doing this same one-trick pony move for quite a few presidential elections, with one slim majority in the last 40 years to show for it. This isn't a 'center' election, it's a realignment one of base politics-- that's the opportunity he's blowing coming out of '06 with the progressive wind to his back.

And yea, I don't think that Clinton would be making these rookie mistakes, so there. But also, I don't see how Obama can possibly lose this election, so there too.