Unbelievable. Wesley Clark just destroys the media narrative that being a prisoner of war is somehow the “experience” necessary to be Commander in Chief, much to the dumbfounding of host Bob Schieffer. It’s a fantastic appearance–much like this earlier one that Jesse at GroupNews recounts:
The media simply couldn’t argue the POINT, which Clark made clear without saying word one directly about them to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear, that they have been lazy goof offs who are brutally biased for McCain, against Obama, and are not doing their damn jobs. Or they would already have reported this obviously well-grounded assessment/interpretation about McCain’s national security ability — “Largely Untested and Untried” — over which Clark was taking them to school. They couldn’t argue the actual point. It was that clear, that obvious, that elegant a takedown. In effect, Clark’s hit on McCain took out two targets with one shot.
So how does CNN characterize this tête-à-tête? That Wesley Clark was SWIFTBOATING John McCain!
Rick Sanchez’s lead-in to his next segment just now on CNN:
“Wesley Clark tried to Swiftboat John McCain today.”
I’m liveblogging. He goes on to say:
“It will reverberate for weeks. Wes Clark tried to diss McCain’s military record, that his service doesn’t qualify him to be president.”
Rick Sanchez is mad.
No, not mad…just a huge partisan hack. Now that “swift-boating” has entered the vernacular, let us remember that the original SwiftBoat Veterans for “Truth” were for the most part neither in their hope to take down Kerry’s candidacy. Has Wesley Clark in some way made any untrue allegations in saying that being a POW and a non-combat era fighter pilot does not necessarily qualify you for the highest elected office in the land?
Iraq veteran and political activist Rafael Noboa adds his 2 cents here.
No Trackbacks To “Wesley Clark on Face the Nation: CNN accuses Clark of “Swiftboating”“
Add Sanchez’s name to the list.
Clark is doing well here.
He is a war criminal. Please don’t forget that.
But George H.W. Bush was a fighter pilot who got shot down.
George W. Bush was a fighter pilot who didn’t go into combat, thereby avoiding being shot down…. Certainly, when 7,000 Air Force members died in combat, GWB did not volunteer.
The Right does believe that being a lousy fighter pilot qualifies you for the Presidency.
I’ll be glad to see someone other than McBush in the WH this January.
Swiftboat the Hell out of ”em.
Then get rid of the Bush appeasing networks.
There’s your reich-wing MSM at work. It’s perfectly fine a bash a true war hero when they are a Democrat, but it’s reprehensible to talk about McGrampa’s failings as a naval avaitor.
Apparently an intelligent discussion of facts are not allowed. Afterall, having had an incurious joker for President these past 7 1/2 years has dumbed down the media as well as the American people.
The only way this nation will wake up and smell the coffee is if we have another four years of strife and warfare. I guarantee that if the dems take the whitehouse and congress come next January, everyone will just start bitching about how bad they are.
Wesley’s was a fantastic comment on the complicity of the media in prepetuating a falsehood. One cannot gain experience simply by having worn the uniform or else you could have a galley line cook running on “military command experience”. A person who graduates in the BOTTOM 99% of their class and uses their parents’ pull to get themselves prime positions that they don’t deserve aren’t fit to be President. I mean, haven’t we done this before?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Presidency is Not a Mercy Fuck.
So the MSM is admitting that “swiftboating” means lying about a person’s service in the military?
Questioning how going into a service where killing is the main job of things (even with rules of engagement, the object of war is kill the enemy so he doesn’t kill us) qualifies one for the Presidency is not swift-boating. Questioning how someone could get into that job and then go AWOL and never brought to trial according to the UMCJ is also important. Kerry served in Vietnam, whereas Dubya was in violation of the UMCJ. So, conservatives look to con men, liars as heroes. But then what can you expect from a movement that sees Iran as its boogeyman while simultaneously seeing Oliver North as a hero?
Being a drunken, draft dogging member of the Texas Air National Guard does not qualify anyone to be President either.
Wes Clark a war criminal? really. hmmm. And to think he stopped all that killing in Sarajevo and the surrounding areas.
But this isn’t the topic. He was right to say McCain getting himself shot down isn’t a qualification for being President.
That’s not swiftboating. That’s the truth. Where were these twits when they DID swiftboat Kerry.(Crickets chirping)(and still chirping to this day)
Rick Sanchez shows his true colors here. But we all knew that.
The fact that Clark was in the military at the same time as McCain, tells me he has a lot of connections that go way back. He has access to the opinions of men who served next to McCain.
Sooner or later. It will come out. The fake outrage is what will be hard to deal with.
I’m not sure I follow a lot of the commentary here. I think the point is that one’s experience as a fighter pilot or as a POW do not necessarily prepare one for the role of President of the United States.
I don’t see how that is “swiftboating” anyone, nor is it even disrespecting anyone.
MSNBC has their bloomers in a twist over this, this morning too. This is like the lead up to the invasion of Iraq. If you questioned that you were called a traitor. Now if you question McCain’s military service they are trying to make that same assertion.
McCain is not beyond criticism and what General Clark said is the truth. Getting shot down in war does not give you a free pass to be president.
I guess we could shrug our shoulders and say Who Cares? The media is comprised of individuals who prostitute any ethics of journalistic integrity for their chance at the gold ring of a network anchor position and they still pander to the bush administration and will continue to do so until they see the wind has changed. Then look for them to switch their position immediately. Can only hope that those in charge next year have a long memory. You could shrug and say who cares, however, since the majority of intellectual middle America (meaning those who can read and have most of their teeth and have moved out of the trailer park) gets their news from the major networks reporting agencies, then this can’t be so easily dismissed. It must be fought, and do not expect any help from the media in publicizing the factual background. They are too enthralled with sticking their heads further up. Wesley Clark need to keep speaking out.
You know there is a lot more to being a President than just being a POW and being shot down as General Clark indicated. Many people that served in various other wars can make those same claims. McCain lacks in the other skills necessary to be President. The powers of persuation, judgement, wisdom, steadfastness in his decisions, etc. are what McCain lacks and what the country needs most.
Schieffer’s astonished “Really!?” when Clark suggests that getting shot down in a fighter jet is not experience for the presidency is pathetic.
Schieffer is not as bad as most on the tube these days, but jesus that’s fricken stupid.
The president is not a mattel action figure. I’ll go further. Rescuing babies from a burning building is not experience that helps you be a better president. Leading a team of sled dogs through a blizzard to get the serum through is not presidential experience.
The president is NOT Harrison Ford on Air Force One. He is NOT a bullshit action figure. Get that through your heads, press, and then we won’t have to deal with the embarrassing idiocy of a president flying in a fighter jet to a ship just off the shore, wearing a huge codpiece in his pants.
GROW THE FUCK UP, media.
Who the fuck is Rick Sanchez? Anyone who automatically equates military or POW experience with the ability to make intelligent decisions or serve as POTUS, or senator, or rep or mayor is a fool. Just look at Franks, Myers and others and the monumental fuck ups they planned and did not plan for.
One thing I have noticed is McCranky’s grandstanding about his military experience every friggin chance he gets.
If the douche bags who murdered thousands of our citizens are all but ignored, and these numbnuts invade Iraq and now are stepping up activities in Iran, what does that tell you about what their real priorities are:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06.....#215;8Ll1w
why don’t they refute what he has said with fact rather than just terming it “swift boating.” I’m damned mad and I won’t take it anymore.
If Clark was “swiftboating” mccain, he would’ve claimed to be a wingman or a prisoner in close proximity with mccain’s “heroics.”
That’s what the swiftboaters claimed with Kerry, although military documents showed them to be no where in the vicinity, and in some cases within the region but a too great a distance to make the claims they were making. Basically proving them to be liars.
Now other swiftboaters are suing to regain their reputations that they felt was lost by this reichwing propaganda group in 2004.
I didn’t see the CNN story, but I did catch Mika Brzezinski over at MSNBC just a few minutes ago. Please put that shameful video up! I was yelling at my TV more than I ever have. Some of these people are just plain retarded. She kept saying that Clarke was attacking his military record, which is FALSE! He praised his service to his country, and merely went on to say that being a POW doesn’t give you superior insight on foriegn policy matters. They are trying to turn Clarke into a crazy Rev. Wright type person that Obama needs to distance himself from. The BS is so strong I can’t even write anymore!
Rick Sanchez is the dipshit who demonstrated what it feels like to get tasered, and afterwards said “it’s hurts!”
Seems like not being a wrong-way mccain, and not being shot down would be a better qualifier.
Geraldo @ 9:
Best comment of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Boatright
I have never seen you here before, but from your post I’ll infer that you are awake with your eyes open, sober and not a republiscum.
McInsane’s experience in chasing woman while his wife is home with the kids is probably what his fellow republiscums admire in him, especially the ones that have been caught with their pants down!
pissed off patricia @ 15:
Not to mention McCain signing anti American propaganda.
I’m guessing a lot of vets and present members of the military would agree with what General Clark said. I know my husband who is a vet sure did. He was watching the show yesterday when Clark made his comments. He was livid that Bob Schieffer (sp?) acted so offended by Clark’s remarks.
Additionally, since boosh has no real war-time experience, and is additionally a deserter, is the MSM now claiming he’s not qualified for office?
I’d say no s**t Sherlock, but not for that reason.
Btw, when you get shot down over enemy territory after bombing civilians, isn’t that termed a failure?
I mean the goal is to return to base unscathed.
Am I wrong?
Jeff @ 22:
I just did something I seldom do in the morning. I shut my tv off due to the bs coming from Mika today. I couldn’t take it any more and it was making me so fu*king angry.
I’m not fond of Clark’s political views for the most part, but he is correct in saying that being locked up in a cell for 5 years doesn’t automatically make you presidential material. The reality is that McSame’s military career was undistinguished outside of his decision to remain with his comrades as a POW.
MCSame has this personna as a kindly old man who doesn’t really have anything bad to say about anyone. Oh yes, he was a war hero as well. He doesn’t promore either openly, he allows his staff and supporters to do that. No temper, a former POW, a Crack Navy Pilot. This all needs to be debunked. He needs to be provoked until he shows that infamous temper. We need to see how he would react with his finger on the button. Bring that temper out and say goodbye to any chances of the presidency that he harbors.
And you want a swift boat attack, you’re being accused by our wonderful media anyway, then find those who served with him in the service and those who were incarcerated with him in Hanoi, find them and get statements from them. Make the revelations so appealing that the media will pick up on it. And they will do just that, because their mission is not to promote the the truth or what is right (although in this case they will be doing just that), their mission is now and always has been about ratings.
Actually, placing people who are psychologically scarred in charge of the
countrylunatic asylum is ideal. We can finally feel like one big nutty family while we have fun tearing the world a new asshole.Seeing this clip reminds me that I did the right thing in cancelling the cable and giving the teevee the heave ho three years ago. It looked like Shieffer was absolutely dumbfounded at the idea that Gen. Clark doesn’t worship at the alter of McRambo’s HEROISM. Where the **** were these bampots when Kerry was being dissed? Oh yeah, they were busy helping Shrubya hide his AWOL records…It’s Obama vs. McHero/RNC/ProfitMedia
I just watched the video, and laughed at the part where Schieffer is surprised that Clarke doesn’t agree that getting shot down in a plane qualifies as experience in national security!
Andrea Mitchell was all aghast over Clark’s comments too. She said he had gone too far and this would backfire on the Obama campaign.
First of all this isn’t swiftboating, this is simply saying that just because he was shot down doesn’t mean that he has what it takes to be president. Just like a policeman shot in the line of duty doesn’t necessarily have everything it takes to be president either.
When you look at his resume outside getting shot down he’s a minor league George Bush. He got into the academy because of daddy, graduated because of daddy, had a very mediocre military career. Has never shown any interest in or capacity for grasp of issues, and has always slid on the path of least resistance.
This is just another legacy brat that is in position because of careful media manipulation. The biggest difference between bush and Krusty? Krusty is mentally unbalanced.
If McGrampa ever does a “mission accomplished” carrier landing/photo-op, there is a significant chance he’ll crash the plane.
(hussien)moondancer @ 38:
He was also a very cooperative POW who frequently and willing submitted the enemy.
Wesley Clark is more of a “War Hero” than McCain will ever be. Clark was wounded in combat and refused to leave his men. And in doing so, won the battle and saved the lives on many of his men.
I could be wrong about this, but doesn’t that qualify more as a “War Hero” than someone getting shot down, and signing anti American propaganda?
Mickxotic @ 35:
When the swiftboaters were smacking Kerry, all these stations were showing the swiftboater’s ads over and over for free, as they discussed Kerry’s story. I dare say they got more free ad time than time they had to pay for.
34 PassedPawn Says: Actually, placing people who are psychologically scarred in charge of the country lunatic asylum is ideal. We can finally feel like one big nutty family while we have fun tearing the world a new asshole.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Hey! I’m a retired firefighter. I was seriously injured in the line of duty. Is it my turn to be POTUS yet? sheesh….
What the HELL?
Getting shot out of the sky doesn’t qualify you to be President?
Is Clark inside his mind?
If Wesley Clark wasn’t a retired general they’d never get passed a lack of military credentials.
Full press Corporate Media Swiftboating and Clark will never be asked on again.
ok, McCain’s war experience may not be needed as a qualification but at least he traveled —- that has got to count for something. The other guy is planning his first trip to Europe — so at least you gotta say McCain is better traveled than obama — whose travel experience is similar to bush’s(before he got elected, that is) —- nada.
The news media is incapable of critical thinking. I suppose these are the same people that booed Ron Paul at the Republican debates.
What F-ing children!
I was really hoping Clarke would be Obama’s VP, but now he’ll be thrown to the lions for not blindly following McSame’s twisted logic.