I understand wanting to run an up and up campaign. But, sir, you do not have to run from everything a surrogate says about your opponent especially when it is true.I was watching Bob Schieffer's interview with Wes Clark when he stated flying fighters and getting shot down did not qualify one to be commander-in-chief. Quite frankly, I agree.
Do not confuse heroism and patriotism with qualification. There is a huge difference. McCain's tenure as squadron leader, of which he touts as his experience and lasted one year, with Clark's leadership record there is no comparison. Clark is not running for President. Been there, done that. As several of his peers found out, being outspoken and truthful in today's military can endanger one's career.
But the leadership of the squadron is not the issue here. It's the fact that he was shot down, because he disobeyed an order, and endured five years as a prisoner of war. Brave? Absolutely. An inspiration to his men? Absolutely. If you believe Hillary Clinton was prepared and ready to go as commander-in-chief on day one you might buy into McCain's claim. That doesn't change the dubiousness of the reality.
Mr. Obama, if you're going to run from every "negative" the McCain camp claims, that's all you'll be doing. There is no doubt that McCain loves his country. There are, however, extenuating circumstances in the molding of the man.
They should not be discredited just because the McCain camp takes offense. Any more than you should ignore them when they patronize call you by calling you naive and inexperienced. You are neither anymore than he is everything he claims.
If you're going to be the new kind of leader we so desperately need, firm up your stand - on FISA and on McCain. You'll never get the bully pulpit if you can be bullied. Nor will you deserve it.
10 comments:
Ive popped over for ya autograph ;) - its always pretty handy to have famous people on ones 'maties list'....
x
I most sincerly do NOT mean to put down McCain's past.. I sure the heck couldn't do it... but I wonder.... was he as brave as he was... because of who his father and grandfather were, and he didn't want to come back and answer to them. for being less?
Kind of like you rather have the teacher chew you out, than tell your folks?
marmitetoasty, I'll oblige before you lose interest! LOL!
Word Tosser,
Finally someone has the nerve to hit the nail on the head. Thanks for doing so!
The political campaign waters were slimed by the Swift-boating of John Kerry. My guess is that Obama doesn't want to be perceived as being party to a similar slime job.
Slime begets slime begets efforts not to be part of the slime.
Ray, true but he needs to watch the balance between hard truths and perceived slime. No easy task. The opposition would have him nasty, naive and unpatriotic or weak. Not an enviable position.
What General Clark spoke is an easy truth, not a hard truth. War heroism doesn't qualify a person to be president. The hard truth is that one can speak that easy truth and still have high regard for the courage of the soldier, in this case, McCain.
But, what I just said is too clearheaded for the slimy waters of political discourse, the waters Obabma must do his best navigate.
I like this thread on your blog, btw.
Ray,
Thanks. It isn't often I actually get something going. That's usually left to HBO. But I thoroughly enjoy it when I do. Thanks for joining in!
General Clark had no problem defending his own comments on CNN. But there is one matter that I'll have to hand to Senator Obama, he is on shaky enough ground given his name, race, lack of military experience... and now the NRA thinks they should shoot at him with a series of ads. Senator Obama as a Christian is extremely generous to McCain's pitiful whining. That has to be what I can like about the man. Love even your enemy... But McCain and his surrogates don't make use of the same "Christian" morality. Instead it is whine, whine, whine at every presumed slight. At some point, McCain needs to explain why he whines so much and still expects to be president.
JEH,
Who has an audience large enough to make a difference that will ask that question?
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