July 1, 2008
Obama’s Clark Catastrophe (Stuart Roy)
Early in any well-run campaign, they strategically try out a few jabs at the opponent. Sometimes it’s designed to figure how they will respond to particular issues. Sometimes it’s to introduce an issue so when they utilize the same controversy later in the campaign, when voters are actually paying attention, it does not appear to be out of left field. But most often these hits are introduced to generate headlines, quotes and other useful materials that can be utilized late in the campaign in TV advertising, Web ads and direct-mail pieces. The advocacy pieces will carry the newspaper headlines and therefore contain the credibility that goes along with it. It allows the campaign to show in their ads that they are not the ones introducing the attack — they're simply amplifying what the media has already said.
This week’s controversy over former general-turned-very-average-political hack Wesley Clark — a staunch supporter of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) — encompasses all of the above elements. On Sunday, Clark took to the airwaves to nastily (and stupidly) rip war veteran Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Among his ill-thought-out lines was his point that McCain commanded a squadron that “wasn’t a wartime squadron." Remember that McCain was a prisoner of war in the most vile Viet Cong camps for five and half years. He refused to be used as a propaganda device for the enemy, unlike, say, Obama political contributor Jane Fonda. Today Sen. Jim Webb (D–Va.) reignited the controversy by going down the same feeble path.
The pressure group MoveOn (also a recipient of Jane Fonda dough) has also jumped into the controversy with a so-called online petition supporting Clark’s comments. It is really just an attempt at fundraising, the only thing this group does well. MoveOn is the same organization that stirred up a stink last year by slandering an honorable military figure, Iraq surge mastermind Gen. David Petraeus, by running an ad claiming he was a traitor to the United States. Every significant Democratic political figure in the presidential race at the time of the ad denounced the group's effort.
This early attack on McCain’s military service is in the Clinton campaign mode of attacking your opponent where you are the weakest. It is also an attempt to “Swift-Boat” McCain. In true ham-handed political fashion, Obama is trying to win today’s battle with yesterday’s tactics. Ultimately, this poorly thought-out line of attack won’t lead to credible headlines for Obama ads in the fall. It won’t lead to usable insight on how McCain will respond to these types of shots later in the campaign. It has only led to a patriotic embarrassment for Obama on the eve of the nation’s most patriotic holiday and another example of Obama as a typical politician rather than, as he claims, an example of the politics of hope.
However, smart, strategic and artful are not the hallmarks of Obama’s attack campaign. Remember his attempts to hit McCain on the age issue, where he claimed McCain had “lost his bearings"?
Obama would do well to remember his political “allies” are good publicity-seekers and fundraisers but less-than-brilliant political strategists.
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This was a particularly nasty exercise by the Obama campaign: send a surrogate to attack the opponents strong point, denounce the acceptability of such tactics without denouncing the surrogate, when the opponent feebly responds that he is proud of his strong point, send another surrogate to say that even mentioning the strong point is unseemly. Politics of change? Nah, just the South Side politics of duplicity.
Now I don't have to be nice and I won't be. This was a nasty tactic, but Obama also isn't nice, he is a very smooth liar, and he beat Hillary at her own game. It's particularly ironic that this terrorist-in-training would even dare to get anywhere near McCain's military record. Do we want a Commander-in-Chief named "Hussein" in the middle of the war on terror? I think not. Do we want the friend of two notorious terrorists as Commander-in-Chief in the middle of the war on terror? I think not. Do we want a Commander-in-Chief whose foreign policy advisers advocate policies that would lead to the destruction of Israel while he falsely claims he is for undivided Jerusalem? Do we want one that last year introduced legislation to take all combat troops out of Iraq by March 2008 which would lead to genocide that was prevented by the surge that McCain advocated? Do we want one who sat and listened to his mad pastor denounce America as if it's the cause of all of mankind's problems? No, no, and no. This SOB has no business being anywhere near power. If you trust him, ask yourself: why??? Has he done anything to earn your trust? What if is just a smooth and charismatic liar as I say, with plans to destroy the United States instead of a Messiah that appeared out of nowhere and with no record of not to become the leading presidential candidate. What if???
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
The people who endorsed those comments are nothing but bottom feeding pond scum. What a disgrace. Obama is just another slick lying little creep who is endorsed and adored by other slick political types. Jim Webb should be ashamed of himself. Wesley Clark is beyond shame. They all fit in with that Obama creed, "This is the first time in my adult life I'm proud of my country." These people are nothing but pure slime.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 1, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
Mr. Roy ~
I believe some of what you say in your piece. However two points bother me. Wesley Clark has repeated "THE" soundbite over and over again in other venues. This was no mistake. Obama was well aware of his Clarks' views. This has become a 3-day news item, maybe 4 or 5 days, who knows…
What's is a pattern -every week Obama needs a controverial news item to gather attention and momentum. This was strategic, and the media played it out for him as always.
…All McCain needs is to be himself. He will keep his word… (Someting Peggy Noonan recently commented in her piece). I agree. McCain will maintaing a clean campaign, while the opposition tries to discredit him… He will take the high road…
Is it not a wild co-incidence that this very week on the Hill Blog people are tearing down McCains military record.
If there is something The Hill can do to block out such low lives - it would be most appreciated.
The second point I differ with you is your comment implying Hillary Clinton's people are responible for the military negativity… You quickly forget how many times the Obama created artificial racist controvercies each time Bill Clinton opened his mouth. These false racist attacked began when Sen Biden applied a lovely compliment to Sen Obama. The Obama jumped ugly on that compliment because Biden said …Obama was young, articulate and clean… Obama's reaction was "Jesse Jackson, shirley Chiisholm, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpoton gave voice …, and no one would call them inarticulate". ( NY Times 1-31-08 - Adam Nagourney - Article Title: "Biden Unwraps His Bid for '08 With Oops!" Anyone who know anything about Sen Biden, knows the majority of his own constituency are minorities. He has not a racist bone in his entire body, and neither do the Clinton's.
One more point… Obama CAN control his team, how is he gonna deal with the world leaders? He needs a better game plan, because racism-card and the military-card, and the agism-card wont impress bad-ass people like … "well you now who". I will leave it at that.
Comment by JFK-HRC — July 1, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
Continues to boggle my mind what a difference 4 years can make to the neoconservatives. No wonder it is so confusing to be a neocon.
1996: Bob Dole is a war hero! Clinton is a draft dodger! WORSHIP THE WAR HERO!
2000: Forget the war! Ignore the potential Vietnam-era AWOL-ness of our candidate, and his complete lack of foreign policy knowledge! He's got integrity!
2004: So what your candidate actually fought and was injured in the same war during which our candidate was so very much NOT AWOL! We mock his service and question the legitimacy of his injuries! Have a purple band-aid to wear at our convention!
2008: Only a certified war hero can lead this country! WORSHIP THE WAR HERO
Comment by Dwayne Mac — July 1, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
RE: # 3: Sorry, The NY TIMES article cited in # 3 was actually dated January 31, 2007—- NOT —- 2008, if anyone is checking it out.
Comment by JFK-HRC — July 1, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
Stuart;
It is you that is the hack. General Clark basically said something that should have been said a long time ago. Flying fighters and getting shot down doesn't give you the qualifications to be president of the US. You haven't pointed to one thing that states otherwise. Where have you shown us his judgement on teh war in Iraq? What about his intervention with a man that cost teh US tax payers close to a billion dollars. In case you have forgotten, the Keating 5 is still relevent. A recent NYT's article basically stated that he hadn't learn his lession. Also, what is it about being shot down and captured that makes you a hero? You stated that McCain wasn't being used as a proproganda device like Jane Fonda. Obviously you are mistaken. John McCain helped teh Vietnamees governmetn produce over 30 films and recorded anti-american messages for them. It is telling that when you went on your rant that you failed to note that. To refresh your and the gang's memory here is a short list of what McCain did while captured. Some of this was written by McCain himself.
Here is a link:
http://www.usvetdsp.com/mcainmdl.htm
And here:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd59.htm
Just you in teh media want to portray McCain as a hero and a straight talker, teh reality is that the hero image is made up and once you, the fawning media, get use to it and start asking legitimate questions, I guess we ordinary citizens will have to do it for you.
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 1, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
Hardly anything Obama gang does these days is surprising. Just like Saddam Hussein used poison gas against his own people, Barrack Hussein is not far behind, just more polished with media on his side. If he gets to the White House, things would get ugly. The Nation of Islam gangs together with MoveOn.org thugs would tear opponents to pieces using verbal as well as physical violence. Anything one says against his initiatives as President would be considered racist, bigoted and the scare tactics his team would threaten would silence most critics for good. He needs to be stopped whatever the cost.
Comment by Metamucil — July 1, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
No, he is not a "pure" Marxist but look how much he is liked by them and how they congregate on his website. It's a thing of beauty!
Obama Site Urges Revolution Against U.S., Reporter Aaron Klein Says
http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=4894
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
Does crashing four planes (which he wouldn't have gotten to fly if his daddy wasn't an Admiral) really qualify him to be commander in chief? Why is McCain's war record still hidden? Why is it beyond question or comment? I think it would be enlightening and informative to discuss the details of his sevice.
Comment by | — July 1, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
Wow - where were all you guys when other American war vets were being trashed by the chicken hawks like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh? Actually the current administration is so full of chicken hawks who were talking smack about Dem Veterans I couldn't list them all here. They certainly said nastier stuff about vets like Kerry, Cleland, Murtha, Webb, etc… Than what Clark said.
Wesley Clark himself has a very distinguished military record. All these guys have had their patriotism questioned by republican chicken hawks and what did you have to say then? Crickets. Granted, Democratic Vets are tougher and don't start crying quite as easy but … damn.
What Clark said wasn't even an attack, I mean gimme a break. He’s right. If getting shot down and held prisoner is a qualifier for POTUS. How did all these chicken hawks that wouldn’t fight when their country needed them get into the White House?
Democrats certainly weathered FAR nastier personal attacks from republicans but as usual there has to be a double standard in order for the right wing to compete. It was republican 'operative's' who wrote the book on how to smear decorated American war vets. "Swift boating" is and has been a STANDARD republican tactic. Bud Day, the founder of the swift boat liars is now on McCain's payroll bringing his usual brand of filth slinging. McCain actually HIRED that guy. And now he starts crying if somebody on the left even MENTIONS his own war record.
This double standard, hypocritical, lying horseshit is exactly why the republicans are getting their asses handed to them in elections all over America. It’s exactly why they’re going to lose the White House.
Comment by Jeff — July 1, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
"Millions of Muslims who might otherwise have taken an indifferent view toward US politics are enthusiastically tuning into the elections to watch a black man with Muslim heritage compete to become president of the United States."
"The unexpected nomination of a candidate with Muslim roots by the American people carries an obvious symbolic value. Many embrace this as a harbinger of solidarity between Americans and the Muslim world."
http://dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=14772
Talk about a Manchurian candidate! And a "life-long Christian" at that.
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Obama can stop this coordinated attack against integrity of a 71-year old war hero who went through 6 years of hell with a single phone call, but he chooses not because it suits him at this moment. For those shm**ks donating online for "hope" and "change" this is an illustration of things to come. What does this man want? Civil war in our country?
Comment by Misha — July 1, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Christians not buying the fake: Obama unmasked.
http://560wind.townhall.com/news/religion/2008/06/30/obama_is_no_joshua;_denies_uniqueness_of_christ,_hell
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
McCain was used to promote Viet Cong propaganda, in fact he did it so well ( to avoid physical pain)that he was known as the songbird. He crashed five planes and killed over a hundred soldiers in one of them. He eventually gets shot down and captured for 5 years and this makes him a war hero? The young man who just got our nations highest honor for diving on a grenade is a war hero. If McCain was not the admiral's son he wld have nver gotten a second chance to crash a plane. Your distortion of the facts show a desparation to avoid the issues that plague our country, the sad thing is that it will prbly work. If this country votes a 71 year old man to lead it into the next generation then we deserve what we get.
Comment by robbe p — July 1, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
Ah, it's SOOO difficult to dispel misconceptions about Obama, it's all in the brain wiring you know!
nytimes.com/2008/06/27/opinion/27aamodt.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Igor;
Instead of your usual rant, tell us why McCain would be good for the country. We could all use a good laugh.
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 1, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE THEIR SHARE OF BIGOTS! LISTEN TO THE CANDIDATES,NOT THEIR FLUNKIES!
Comment by Frank Elkins — July 1, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Would anything like this happen if the traitorous Obama managed to pass his legislation to withdraw from Iraq by March 2008?
http://news.bbremovec.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7482307.stm
Baghdad sees tentative rebirth
By Nicholas Witchell
BBC News, Baghdad
Market in central Baghdad - 22/05/2008
Shops and markets in Baghdad are seeing an upturn in business
The streets of Baghdad are back in business. The teashops are busy. The shops and markets are bustling.
After years when there seemed to be no end to the city's trauma, people are feeling more confident.
Why, even property prices in Baghdad are rising. According to one estate agent we spoke to, they have doubled in the past four months.
Yes, things are better in Baghdad.
Comment by Igor R. — July 1, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
Can anyone tell me what, precisely, was wrong with Gen Clark's comments?
Getting shot down in 'Nam and even being a POW doesn't qualify anyone for being President any more than being a crap student at Yale and dodging the same war did.
Why all the bellyaching from the McCain camp? Because his "war record" is the only thing he's got - he's wrong on the issues, wrong on Iraq, wrong, wrong, wrong - and he knows it.
It's like in Airplane!:
Striker: You know I haven't been able to get near a plane since since the war. Even if I could, they wouldn't hire
me because of my war record.
Elaine: Your war record? You're the only one keeping that alive, for everyone else, its ancient history.
Striker: You expect me to believe that?
Elaine: It's the truth. What's hurt you the most is your record since the war. Different cities, different jobs and not one of them shows you can accept any real responsibility.
McCain = Striker, except instead of different cities and different jobs, it's ever-changing positions on things like the Iraq, campaign finance (e.g., breaking them every day of this campaign, still going), torture, abortion…
McCain's answer to every challenge of his ideas and positions is, "But I was a war hero!"
Yes, thank you for your service. Now tell me why you can't decide if you are now for torture when you were against it before, and why you CONTINUE to break campaign finance laws and dodge taxes on your California home.
Comment by Ed — July 1, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
And what would Wesley (sleeze) Clark have to say about JFK who ran on his war record. Didn't he lose his PT boat 109 to the Japaneese in WW II? What was his claim to fame except his daddy's money. That would of course be Joe P. Kennedy the bootlegger.
Comment by Got Bless U.S. — July 2, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Jeff, spot on.
Igor is a good example of a neocon chicken hawk. Igor posts all these paranoid neocon rants about all these terrorists the world-over and he won't go join the 'good fight'. You are a chicken hawk Igor, and a water carrier for the worst president in our history. Igor has shown his hatred toward all things Americana and now he can't figure out why know one agrees with him when he tells us Obama is the second coming of Marx. It's nearly a laugh but really a cry.
Comment by Dwayne Mac — July 2, 2008 @ 10:22 am
"I guess my question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we’ve got to work on, that that would be a top priority of mine?" Obama said, responding to a reporter who asked the candidate why he hadn’t called on Wesley Clark to apologize for his remarks yesterday. "I’m happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran, but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like Gen. Clark said something that was inartful about Sen. McCain I don’t think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night."
Comment by SmartyBritches — July 2, 2008 @ 10:28 am
I noted earlier on that MCcinsane would only be able to run on his military record for so long, and now we are seeing it. It's about time the spotlight was put on it. He's not the only POW we have in this country, and that's not a reason for president. General or something maybe, but not a president. The republicans have boosted someone who has been in war because they plan to continue the war. The only problem is, No one else wants to continue the war with them.
Comment by yvonne — July 2, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Yvonne, Smarty and Dwayne Mac;
Good posts everyone!
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 2, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Dwayne, your post is only remarkable for how unashamed you feel in posting something that has been said a million times on DailyKos about anyone who doesn't agree that Iraq is a total disaster, and must remain unquestionably so.
"Igor has shown his hatred toward all things Americana" is a pathetic, third-grade style attempt to get back at me for insisting that Obama is anti-American. It has no basis in fact (all things, wow!) and is similar to "You are stupid!" /"No you are." exchange one can expect ot see on a playground.
Comment by Igor R. — July 2, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
To all of you wingnuts;
When McCain was shot down and captured, his duty was to give his name rank and serial number but instead he did interviews that were picked up by Arm Forces Radio. One of his transcripts is highlighted here;
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/declassified_2nhan_dan_interview_11_09_1967.pdf
This interview was doneless than a month after he was captured. Also here is what Col. David Hackworth had to said about McCain and his medals:
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_hacker_2.htm
Col. Hackworth was one of the most decorated combat veteran in the US Military. Are that hyperventing is going to hurt some of you one day but don't let the truth stop you.
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 2, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Hey Igor
That is such terrific news you've brought us about the wonderful, rosy, and enchanted land of Iraq! I'm sure you'll be vacationing there this summer. Though, I heard it's still kind of tough to get the full package vacation with flights, rental car, and 4 star hotel online though. I can't imagine why. You’d think there would be a huge variety of vacation packages.
Here's an insider tip, call any US Army recruiter and they'll fix you up. Don't forget your Hawaiian shirt and sunscreen! NO FU#*%@ING CAMERA'S!!!!
Comment by Jeff — July 2, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Jeff is the man!
Comment by Princess Stevie — July 2, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
It's amazing how these liberals love to put down the troops by attacking anyone who mentions things in Iraq are improving. Total scum!
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 2, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
On Iraq, the recent report states that 15 out of 18 benchmarks were successfully met by Iraqis together with American support. Sometimes, I wonder how many successful benchmarks were met by Pelosy/Reid team that was elected on the premise of "change, new direction, and hope". Note, that these Democratic lawmakers are operating in comfortable, secure offices, limos, private planes, etc.
Comment by Misha — July 2, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
On "riding a plane" comment by Wes Clarke. Notice that this scum didn't want to even give McCain credit for skills and courage needed to operate a high-performance aircraft from the deck of a carrier. What kind of airplane can Barrack handle? That in amusement park on a roller coaster? That's called "riding a plane", Wes.
Comment by Misha — July 2, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
It's so nice to see all the crazed libs claiming that the only way for someone to state something about the improving situation in Iraq (or even to post an article from a major news organization) is to follow it up by enlisting to fight there or go on vacation there. A genocide has been avoided in spite of Sen. Obama's best efforts and all they can suggest is that I somehow remove myself from here and go there. It's no paradise there, it's just a lot more peaceful then when Obama claimed that the only way out is to leave immediately or when Harry Reid claimed the war was lost. You libs can never admit anything that's contrary to your fundamentally held beliefs, like "Bush always fails" or "American armed forces are evil" or "America is evil". Your boy Obama knows nothing about anything but community organizing and Saul Alinsky's tactics. This Marxist shouldn't even be allowed to talk about anything serious because he has no judgment, only style. And you idiots can't wait until Bernardine Dorn, the wife of Obama's friend, the terrorist Bill Aers, is invited to the White House to talk about her personal idol, Charles Manson. Yes, Obama's friend, and the wife of another friend, besides being a terrorist, openly admires a crazed mass murderer. Yet she held fundraisers for Obama in her house. That's change we can believe in!
Comment by Igor R. — July 2, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
Since all of you dittoheads are hyperventing about Wes Clark, an ABC reporter asked McCain teh same question and this was his reaction;
http://technorati.com/posts/dLQoDDpo5Ta1zLHGHXyCX%2F9l4mFVEQmOaW0YW84GNbM%3D?sub=D6Bx%2BO5n5304DfpXCZooRQnU9FAzEnHeV8QcjFsY0MQ%3D
If he is going to get angry over a softball question, then we are going to have to look further into if he is really the hero he claims.
Comment by Mike Coleman — July 3, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Clark has always been a wild card and solely interested in his own political agenda. You can be sure his comments were screened first by Obama's campaign before he took that tact. You don't get to Clark's level without knowing how to juggle the political football.
Clark is just plain out-to-lunch with his comments. Management is much different than leadership. As I retired from the Navy I had a VP I interviewed with tell me "I can teach you to manage, what you bring to the table I can't buy and that's leadership." Leadership is Obama's huge weakness. Let me see, Obama was a community organizer, a civil rights attorney, a professor and a rookie senator. Who has he led? No One! He has ZERO leadership experience. If he hasn't even led a small group of people, how can we possibly expect him to become a leader and lead a country overnight?
McCain's leadership is a matter of public record. A retired Navy Captain and Naval Aviator, he spent six years as a POW with routine torture and was even offered early repatriation because of his father. He turned it down! He said the only way he would go is if everyone who arrived earlier than him went as well! Leadership under the harshest conditions. He was the commanding officer of a training squadron (VA-174) with over 1000 personnel and turned it around to win their first major unit award - leadership. Regardless if it's wartime or not, you don't become CO without proven leadership ability.
McCain knows first hand what our troops are experiencing. Obama doesn't have a clue.
Obama can't even begin to think he can go toe-to-toe with McCain on the leadership topic.
At least McCain finished his career without being forced to resign. Clark I do believe was asked to leave his tour at SACEUR early. Always a cover for being fired in the military.
Clark has his own agenda with his public goals in civilian life — "to earn $40 million in the business world to let him practice philanthropy, to become a adjunct professor, and to become a professional golfer."
Just the guy you want "helping" your campaign.
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 9, 2008 @ 9:47 am
And BTW…look at how well Clark did helping out the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Not a guy I'd want helping me if I were running. His quotes are right from the Kerry play book.
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 9, 2008 @ 10:09 am