OH PUHHLEEEEEEEZZZE!!!!  BS You guys!  That is not the issue!!!!!

What does the Truth Squad have to say about John McCain proposing to Cindy and her $$ before he ended his first marriage to a woman who had the audacity to be in a physically disfiguring accident while he was in Nam? What does it say about his flip flop on torture? What does it say about calling Cindy a c*nt? What does it say about her back taxes owed to San Diego county?

You know what?  I find that the media is and Mika Bresinki this morning are a bit disingenuous. . .  

"I don't understand why he's doing this'.  

When McCain made all of these "gaffes" earlier on he was given a pass because 'oh he's been 'defined' already', 'he's been around a long time,' 'that can't be what he meant'.  And you guys gave him a pass!  We have a saying in the Caribbean:
"When people show you who they are, believe them."  

Isn't it entirely POSSIBLE that McCain has changed?  Isn't it entirely POSSIBLE that after being demonized for so long within the GOP and especially in 2000, a reality check with his personal ambitions to be president made him realize that his only hope would be to tow the line??  
Would it be too much to at least SAY, you guys, that he is NO LONGER 'THE MAVERICK'????  
His record proves that he hasn't been the Maverick for more than 8 years!!

And like McCain isn't General Clark a Hero as Well?!

Hasn't he EARNED his RIGHT TO SPEAK?!

But oh, it's a problem because he's backing the 'exotic' guy with the 'funny name' and more importantly, he's backing the guy whom YOU GUYS have have a bit of a problem DEFINING for the PUBLIC.  Oh how altruistic of you guys but frankly:  The American people can make up their own minds!  I really miss Tim Russert and some of the others that are now gone from the national spotlight because you reporters nowadays need to go back to school to learn objectivity!!  

Always going for the salient sound bite, truncating an intelligent, nuanced answer to fit into your little slots and in the process distorting it into something completely unrecognizable in meaning, context and content!  The problems we face today CANNOT be summed up in SOUND BITES and CLIPS!

You are doing this country a great disservice because unlike myself who might have the acumen and good sense to do some background reading and research to read and or watch a event uncut and in it's entirety(thank god for C-span and the internet) most people are too busy with how hard it is to make a living nowadays to do what I do: to make a concerted effort to stay REALLY informed.  So they get their updates on the Fly grabbing and going taking your little tainted, mutated tidbits assuming them to be objective and truthful and in the process you poison them.  When that picture came out with Obama in traditional Kenyan Garb came out, you guys knew who he was, you did your research, but yet every other second there you were blaring that picture across newspapers and web pages and on TV.  Is it any wonder that people STILL THINK he's a Muslim???!  You guys HELPED!!  You KNEW that it wasn't  true but it was so sensational, it got the ratings up, it got you so many hits on your websites, made you bundles of money . . . but you tarnish the image of not just the man but also a whole group or extremely patriotic Muslim Americans as if it is a bad thing to be a Muslim.  Nobody knew who he was but you in the media knew, but you chose to 'innocently' say 'oh have you seen this picture?'

I'm totally disgusted with your sometimes racist coverage of an otherwise decent human being, and ardent patriot and a true altruist!

After 2004 and how Kerry was treated...these statements mean absolutely nothing coming from spineless Republicans. I bet these guys had their purple hear band-aids at the 04 convention. Go away.

What's wrong with what Clark said? Serving in the military doesn't automatically qualify you to be POTUS. I don't see how he was attacking McCain's record. He was just saying it's not an automatic qualifier.

Hopefully this thing works itself out of the news cycle quickly. I thought '04 would be the last election about Vietnam. Maybe not.

Obama put this to rest in his speech today so let's be more than one sided / pro-McCain here First read.

Gen. Wesley Clark was wrong to denigrate John McCain.  Shame on him.

Typical McCain/Bush tactic.  Lash out as those who comment on you and try to turn a legitimate comments into a personal attack.  What Clark said was not an attack on McCain's war record or his service record, it was a comment on what kind of experience makes you ready to be a leader.

I am growing more & more disgusted with the media's coverage of the 2 candidates.Why is it that no one questions John McCain 100 year war campaign? It's awfully sad that a former general(Wes Clark) who has no obligation to do any reporting at all  had to call McCain on his experience.Especially when we get 2 or 3 days of scrutiny about flagpins & campaign finance.Didn't Scott McClellan call into question the media's oversight to scrutinize Bush's WMD theory & the choice to go to war in Iraq?Instead you guys are trying to beat up the general who has the same if not more experience than John McCain himself.Shouldn't we as americans question John McCain's experience or motive for that matter especially in the face of 100 years as he proposed!

Why is it that McCain, much more so that Obama, surrogates generally don't respond directly to the issue.  They seem to try to take the reader/listener off course.  Warner didn't address the specific service qualifications he went to a new subject, i.e. John McCains opinion about how Iraq is being handled.  Just tells me there is some truth in the original statements to which they were responding.

Blah, blah, blah.

This sounds a little like Black's comment that McCain would be helped by a terrorist attack — something most people believe, though you shouldn't say it out loud.

Black's assertion is dubious, though, considering another attack would mean the Republicans failed to protect us.

McCain has not been in a commander-in-chief position. Obviously, Obama hasn't, either — but he at least had the foresight to see the Iraq War was wrong.

And what was your response when John Kerry was swiftboated??  Was his military record not called into question in a way that was much more blatant and disrespectful??

Wes Clark did not, I repeat did not, denouce or discount John McCain's military service.  He merely pointed out that there is no logical connectiong between his military service and his ability to be the CIC.  The presence of a military record does not do that.  There are plenty of CEOs who haven't been in the military but they may have more leadership qualities/experience to run the country.

Let's respect John McCain's military record for what it is, a part of his life but its not the end-all be-all for leadership ability.  

For goodness sake, quit the whining!!!!  I'm so tired of these feigned "I'm so offended" reactions by our candidates.  Suck it up, both of you, and play the game.

Day added that, “no one who fought in Vietnam would question McCain’s credentials.” The group argued that McCain’s success in commanding the Attack Squadron Sixty-Five (VA-65) in Vietnam has given him the leadership experience to “assess risk” and make informed foreign policy decisions.

***********************************************

I beg your pardon, Col. Day, but you're a bold faced liar! These Vietnam Vets definitely have a problem with McCain's credentials, as well as, his corrupt agenda!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g

Throw Wesley Clark under the bus without further ado. He is not expressing the message Barack just gave in Independence Missouri.. we do not question the service and sacrifice of a veteran.

Exactly what did General Clark say that was factually incorrect?

And will ANY REPORTER ask McCain why it was okay to attack Kerry's record but not attack his record......or lack of one?

We all honor and respect Senator McCain for his sacrifices in Vietnam.  

But how does being shot down on your first mission and then being tortured for many years qualify one to be President?  

His PTSD and the potential for a real life Manchurian Candidate should lead sentient voters to vote Democratic in 2008.  

This time do something smart and vote for your wallet, vote for the economy, vote for the environment, vote for jobs, vote for America!  

Vote for the smartest candidate in the race, a real leader (and no that's not McCain, who graduated at the very bottom of his class -- not by a long shot)

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.  

Mr Montenauro - you do realize that Col. Bud Day is part of the infamous Swift Boat Veterans group that slimed John Kerry - maybe you should ask the McCain camp if they really agree with anything that Mr Day said about Kerry.

Are you First Read guys going to point out that Clark wasn't attacking McCain's military service?  He was disputing the notion that McCain's military service qualifies him to be President.  Big, big difference.

It is obvious that the tactic of the BO campaign is to trash experience whenever possible.  They are trying to make the argument that there is no experience that can be a relevant to being president.  They used this tactic successfully against HRC and are now attempting to do the same to JMcC.  This is because their own candidate lacks experience in so many areas.  His resume is one of being a politician, or working with politicians.  Has he ever run a business?  Has he ever failed and learned from his mistakes?  Does his experience as a child living in a foreign country match McCain's 5 years as an adult POW?  As someone who is a little older I do not buy these judgment vs experience arguments as BO has not done very much so far, and seems to think that we are still living in 2002 when he made his "judgment" speech.  I to thought it was a stupid idea to invade in Iraq, however, I think to leave now would also be a mistake.  As myself and BO are 1 for 1 in judgment calls why is his judgment any better than mine now that I disagree.  To reverse the question exactly what executive experience has BO got that is relevant to being president?  Please don't tell he ran his primary campaign really well.  If that was the case then every elected official has executive experience by the fact that they win their campaign.

If Orson is so concerned about low-information voters getting the wrong impression from rumor and innuendo, why does he not rail against the machine that continues to lie about Obama unabated?

McCain will never suffer as much through the distorted dissemination of record and character as Obama.

yeah... and John Kerry who was under fire while swift boating up a river deserved what he got too, right John?  

McCluck couldn't pilot a plane to save his life... I wonder what the media would say if Obama took a page out of John's book and say-- hey, a guy that beat the hell out of POWs and probably killed numerous others wants McCain to be president. (ala McCain's reference to Hamas and Obama)

I have to agree with Mr. Clark.  Military service didn't qualify John Kerry for president, and I don't think it qualifies John McCain for the presidency either.
There's no doubt that he suffered, but it doesn't make him presidential.

I also think it's too late to save McCain's reputation.

Clarked did not discredit McCain's service. I agree with Clark that McCain's service does not make him more qualified to be the commander-in-chief than Obama. MaCain is overselling his virtues. Clark spoke the truth.

Well, Col. Day and others, plenty of Vietnam vets have commented on the War Gnomes service; it's not all good, and there are questions.  Just because a fireman is a fireman doesn't make him a hero, just like being in the military doesn't give hero status.  Sorry boys but this How dare you crap doesn't cut it.  McCain has done so little for the poor and most needy during his political career I could care less what he did in the military and I'm a vet.  

'... “no one who fought in Vietnam would question McCain’s credentials.” The group argued...'


Funny, Republicans questioned John Kerry's credentials

...And John McCain said NOTHING !!

Some hero


John McCain, more of the same

John McCain, Endless War

To make a comment that young people in this country are not familiar with Vietnam is a sad commentary on our education system. A perfect follow up question for Mr. Orson would be “With the death of approximately 60,000 US soldiers in a war that divided this county...why would young people not have learned about this in school?” “What are you saying about the educational system in this country?”

All is hub bub about McFossil is totally ridiculous. HE'S the one touting his "experience". Being a POW DOES NOT give you ANY creditentials EXCEPT POW. Period. There's nothing wrong in what Wes Clark said. Everyone is getting their undies in a knot over THIS? Pleeeze. Aren't there BIGGER issues separating McFossil and Obama? McFossil would LIKE this to continue because he can't stand up to Obama on any other issue; so let's not give this to him. Drop it.
I'd like him to have a mental evaulation. Being tortured has GOT to leave some damage, don't you think? Appareently it makes you not remember to pay your taxes in California. Come on McFossil. Pay your taxes!

Where were these "truth squads" when Kerry was being smeared on his record at Vietnam?

I agree that these types of comments have no place in politics, and Obama has come out and stated time and again that he honors McCain's service.  

If John McCain's record cannot stand up to scrutiny, then he shouldn't be running for President. The American people will not be swept into another war with alot of made-for-TV-BS about "experience".

Wesley Clark is qualified to review John McCain's military experience and he called the way he saw it. He called it the way it is. Get used to it.

It is amusing that the very same people who "vet" Senator Obama with such relish are so sensitive when their turn comes. Time to toughen up Senator McCain. Your time out of the spotlight is OVER.

P.S.  To donna:  Thanks for the kind words - I enjoy your posts as well! I am not a lawyer, I am a married mother of two working as a store manager. :)

Good. It's time for McCain to fight back against the surogates that Obama sends out to bash him.  Also, I've said before and will say again, we cannot afford to allow people to start bashing people's service. With Vietnam, it started out that people were tolerant of the war then anti-war sentiment started growing. The next thing you know returning veterans were treated like criminals. My friend, on his way home from Vietnam, was in uniform and boarded a plane. Two girls spit on him.  Is that what you youngsters want for YOUR friends that are now serving YOUR country. If you don't stop these ignorant attacks on McCain's service, be prepared for the same for your friends.  And, my God bless my friends and cousin that died in Vietnam.

This is laughable.. but enjoyable because its nice to see the republicans having to spend so much time defending McCains' supposed strong suit..

I mean i find it laughable as a veteran as well because if McCain was a Captain then that meant that he followed orders from above just like all the other officers in his squadron..

He didn't provide direction.. He was told what to do and then passed the info down to his subordinates.. Whereas General Clark was dealing from an executive level.. He would have been ADVISING the president at the time.. Now if McCain came from that type of background then okay I could give him EXTREMELY high marks for his military service having relevance on his abilitiy to lead our military.. But since that is not the case then I don't think his military service is relevant as a qualification for president. Its not like he was the top leader of the U.S. Navy, that would make a difference.. So to say that he is more qualified that Obama is just truly ridiculous.

Why didn't these indignant republicans that believe it is wrong to attack military service stand up for Senator Kerry when he was unjustly maligned and attacked?  They are just a bunch of hypocrits that did the same thing to Senator Kerry's service.  
How does it feel to have to take your own medicine?

I will not listen to anytning a republican says until an offical public apology is extended to Senator Kerry.

It's curious to me that four years ago the Dems nominated Kerry and promoted him based on  his military service.  Now, Dems somehow see it's wrong to mention McCain's service?  Hypocrites!

I can't understand how a tactical, operational level Navy command would qualify a person to be commander in chief, not to mention expert in other presidential issues. Much is made of McCain's refusal to accept early repatriation, but the Code of Conduct for POWs specifically prohibits accepting such.

I can't understand how a tactical, operational level Navy command would qualify a person to be commander in chief, not to mention expert in other presidential issues. Much is made of McCain's refusal to accept early repatriation, but the Code of Conduct for POWs specifically prohibits accepting such.

The Republicans and their Swift Boat surrogates for Bush certainly had no problem "spreading rumors on the integrity" of Sen. John Kerry. Bush and his crowd were totally silent during that back door smear campaign.  It's equally "inconceivable" that anyone (re: Swift Boaters and the Republicans) would take a shot at Sen. Kerry's military experience.  But then of course the Republicans did the same to Senator Max Cleland, a Vietnam vet and multiple amputee. They have no shame.  

This could resonate with "working class" voters as below the belt. Ya- the "bitter", "bible-clinging" "gun-toting" kind of voters, obama is already struggling with. He sure better bring out the AAs in Nov!

truth hurts! eh

Manchurian candidate.

"Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Col. Bud Day, USAF (Ret.), Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, USMC (Ret.), Lt. Commander Carl Smith, USNR (Ret.) and McCain spokesman Brian Rogers responded in a conference call to Gen. Wesley Clark’s (Ret.) most recent attack on McCain’s military experience."
-----------------------------------------------

Clark did NOT attack McCain's military experience. What in the world is wrong with you that you would help the Republicans spread this lie?

Too bad his truth squad is employed by a swiftboater.

Clark did not attack McCains record.  He just stated facts... Facts that we all KNOW are true.  Just because he flew a plan and was shot down soes not mean he is owed the presidency.  If so, a lot of others should be in line before McCain.  Go to youtube and find information about the REAL McCain POW record from POWs that served at the same time.  He in not the hero you think he is.  "Check it out for yourself..."

Whether the younger generation remembers Viet Nam or not has zero to do with McCain's qualifications. A retired 4 star genaral, head of NATO and a war hero has called McCains military credentials into question and, for some reason, this seems to be off-limits.  I just don't get it. Commader in Chief credentials is what he is running on.  Why can they not be brought into question?

I am a Marine Corp Viet Nam veteran and have a vivid recollection of the war. I can't imagine the unbearable pain the Senator suffered while a POW. Any man who served in combat (in any war) has suffered.  We don't talk about it and it does not qualify any one of us to be President.

For the McCain campaign to sat that Clark’s remarks were another example where “his words don’t match up with how he is running his campaign.” is wrong.  Obama did not say it, a surrogate did.  He is going to distance himself from them (incoreectly I believe).

His service is admirable.  His patriotism unquestioned.  He is still not the best candidate to be President.

Look everybody. It is for we the voters to decide whether Senator McCain's experience as a poor pilot qualifies him to be POTUS, or not.

I know that most of the electorate are nothing if distracted, usually, but this is no run of the mill GE. Not this time.

People are hurting on so many fronts. They are paying attention this time around. Have faith in our fellow Americans. The polls give us every reason to trust that our citizenry are getting it right. They neither need, nor want Obama, or Clark to trash McCain.

Obama respects the voters. He believes we will make the logical decision, without his going all foul about it.

All who stand back and criticize McCain's military record should be very, very careful. Especially those of you doing it from the computer in your parent's basement! This topic is off limits. You all tout your guy as "inspirational" and a beacon of "hope" and "change", TIME TO WALK THE WALK!
Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI
****

Oh grow up.  Your blind devotion is so pathetic and sad that it doesnt even deserve attention.  Fact is, McCain was a mediocre officer and passable pilot at best.  The man graduated bottom of his class, crashed 3 times and ejected twice BEFORE entering combat, was a womanizer and heavey drinker.  Just because you cant handle something doesnt make it off limits.  Suck it up.  

Look up Clarks records and compare it to McCains before you throw your undying devotion behind someone because you are bitter.

Look, it was a terrible thing what Gen. Clark said.  I don't think that is how the Obama campaign feels about McCain.  Likewise, I think that Mr. Black's (from the McCain campaign) comments were blown way out of proportion.  But the response to this statement by Gen. Clark is not new to the GOP brand.  They are blowing this topic out of proportion, they blew what Kerry said about getting stuck in Iraq way out of proportion and the stupid MoveOn reference to Gen. Petraeus as a traitor was also blown out of proportion--as a means of avoiding the real issue, the Iraq War, that he had come to testify about.

I guess that's just politics, but I'm just asking, aren't BOTH of these candidates supposed to be beyond that?

I hope it does "weigh in on those who do not know better."  Maybe we'll start hearing of the REAL McCain, who should have been kicked out of school (only his influential daddy kept him there) and graduated at the bottom of his class, screw-ups on ship that cost the lives of many, and how he avoided torture by becoming the "songbird" for his captors.

We're ready for the swift-boating of his military career, and there's far more to tell than there was for John Kerry (that isn't fabricated, anyway).

Keep his rep clean??????  You've got McCain's peeps yelling "baby mama", whispering Obama's middle name Hussein like he's Al Quaeda's secretary, and McCain himself more or less calling Obama a snot nosed kid.....TOO late:  Yes, most of us weren't alive during Vietnam........I was hit by a drunk driver a while back and spent some considerable time in hospital.  Does that qualify me to be Commissioner of Highways??????

The group argued that McCain’s success in commanding the Attack Squadron Sixty-Five (VA-65) in Vietnam has given him the leadership experience to “assess risk” and make informed foreign policy decisions.
*****

So every squadron commander out there should be president?  We dont need someone who's 'experience' is to follow orders of where to drop a bomb.  And why should Obama condemn someone elses attack on McCain?  I dont see the old coot doing the same.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):