With Democrats united, smear campaign begins in earnest
Now that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are standing side by side, the Democratic attack machine is moving full steam ahead against John McCain.
On yesterday’s Face the Nation, retired army General Wesley Clark attacked John McCain’s record, criticizing the senator’s decision-making and executive leadership experience. After giving lip service to McCain’s military service and former POW status, Clark continued his assault, suggesting that McCain’s command of the U.S. Navy’s largest attack aircraft squadron didn’t amount to leadership experience because the assignment occurred during peacetime.
Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer interrupted Clark in disbelief, reminding the Democratic pundit that Obama not only lacked evidence of any of the skills and experiences that Clark had claimed were necessary for a president, but also had not served in combat, let alone been shot down and taken prisoner.
Clark quickly retorted, “Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.”
Deliberately overlooking McCain’s years of leadership in the military, in business, and in the Senate, Clark concluded his diatribe with an attempt to tie the presumptive GOP nominee to President Bush’s foreign policy, which Clark has consistently opposed. The retired general lamented the use of “military power”, and criticized the use of strong rhetoric against state sponsors of terrorism like Iran and Syria.
Once again, the Democrats have reminded the world that their answer to international terrorism is talk, not action. What’s more, in order to cover their candidate’s glaring lack of experience in any matter of foreign policy, they’ve brought out the same character assassins we’ve seen in election years past. Obviously, it’s business as usual for the Democratic spin doctors.
If this is Barack Obama’s idea of change, who does he think he’s fooling?
*** UPDATE ***
Admiral Leighton Smith, USN (Ret.) has issued a statement in response to the comments made by General Wesley Clark, USA (Ret.) on Face the Nation yesterday morning.
“If Barack Obama wants to question John McCain’s service to his country, he should have the guts to do it himself and not hide behind his campaign surrogates. If he expects the American people to believe his pledges about a new kind of politics, Barack Obama has a responsibility to condemn these attacks.”
McCain later made this statement when asked by reporters about General Clark’s remarks:
“I think that kind of thing is unnecessary. I’m proud of my record of service, and I have plenty of friends and leaders who will attest to that. The important thing is that if that’s the kind of campaign that Senator Obama and his surrogates and his supporters want to wage, I understand that, but it doesn’t reduce the price of a gallon of gas by one penny. It doesn’t achieve our energy independence, make it come any closer. It doesn’t help an American stay in their home who are at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn’t do anything to address the challenges that Americans have in keeping their jobs, their homes and supporting their families. So, I intend to, in this campaign, to discuss the challenges we face, things like the Lexington Project and many other proposals and ideas and a plan of action I have to help the families of this nation.”