Remember the dust-up a few weeks ago, when Clark called McCain on his Commander-in-Chief credentials and Obama backed away? Clark has been a scarcity on the MSM circuit ever since.
Was that a trial balloon?
This guy makes an excellent point:
Wasn't Wes Clark right? Following Bush strategist Karl Rove's practice of attacking an opponent's strength, retired general Wesley Clark went after McCain's readiness to be commander in chief. "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark said.
Instead of rejecting Clark's words, Obama should've said the general is entitled to his views. Fact is, McCain has no special preparation to be commander in chief. The Naval Academy? He finished 894th in a class of 899.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/17/campaign_musings/ Yes - McCain finished 89th in his class at the Naval Academy and crashed a few planes. Clark - graduated from West Point as VALEDICTORIAN and many years later (after being wounded in Vietnam) went on to command NATO's European theater with great success.
If anyone has the right to question McCain's qualificiations, it's Clark and he WAS right in what he said. McCain's military career did not give him executive experience or commander-in-cheif experience.
A few little-known facts about Wes Clark that I find interesting:
1. During his time at West Point, participated heavily in debate.
2. Wrote a thesis as a student at the Commander and General Staff College that was the precursor to the Powell Doctrine.
3. Appointed White House fellow to the office of Management and Budget - one of 14 out of 2307 applicants.
4. Approval has been granted for the construction of a new street to be named "General Clark Court" in Virginia Beach, Virginia
For anyone not familiar with Clark's biography, please go here and watch "American Son":
http://securingamerica.com/taxonomy/term/31Of course there are negatives to anyone on the list for VP and if Clark is picked, we will hear about them. But that's the case for anyone. I think Clark's positives would outweight any negatives. Remember - he's already run for president, so there shouldn't be anything in the closet that hasn't already been brought to light. He's also been working his butt off via WesPac to get Democrats elected in local races. He was just here in Texas campaiging for Rick Noriega (Cornyn's opponent). He is a giant advocate of the grassroots.
The more I think of it, Clark fits the Obama campaign MO perfectly and ideologically, he and Obama are very much alike.
As far as his 'attacks' on McCain's qualifications as Commander-in-Chief...McCain must be attacked on this because it's his only strength. Clark is the ONLY person who can get away with it. Of course the Goopers will cry and the MSM will fuss, but they certainly can't say Clark doesn't have the experience to know what he's talking about.