MEMO TO WES CLARK: SHUT UP
June 30th, 2008, 1:09 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Lehr
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.
Okay, count Wes Clark off the list of potential Obama Vice Presidential candidates. Fast-forward to about 1:30 into this interview, where you’ll hear him say of McCain “I don’t think getting your plane shot down is a qualification for President of the United States.”
I’ve had enough of this from both parties. This whole “that’s not enough,” “he’s not qualified” folderol gets us nowhere in solving the nation’s problems. As far as I’m concerned, the moment a person swears an oath to defend this country at the risk of their own life, they are automatically qualified to be President.
But that’s a qualification, not a requirement. That’s what’s great about this country, & why someone who chooses not to serve deserves an equal shot.
Both candidates are qualified to be president. Let’s start talking about where they want to take the country, not whether they’re up to the job. The primaries settled that question.
Barack Obama should repudiate the comments Clark made above as soon as is possible, and refrain from having Clark be his advocate in the future.
UPDATE: Obama addressed the issue in his speech on patriotism in Independence, Missouri (of which more later) thusly:
“For those who have fought under the flag of this nation – for the young veterans I meet when I visit Walter Reed; for those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country – no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary.
And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides.“
UPDATE #2: McCain addresses the issue today in Pennsylvania at a news conference:
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.
