GOOD FOR GEN. WESLEY CLARK, PART II

Despite the wingnut inspired uproar, Gen. Clark has not backed away from his perfectly reasonable statements about McCain's wartime experiences. I note that the McWAR campaign has held not one but two conference calls with reporters to attack Clark and I take that as a sign he realizes that Clark attacked one of his strengths.


Gen. Clark won't back off critique of McCain
Jul 1, 9:38 PM (ET)
By DAVID ESPO

WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Gen. Wesley Clark rejected suggestions he apologize Tuesday for saying John McCain's medal-winning military service does not qualify him for the White House. Elaborating, Clark said a president must have judgment, not merely courage and character.

...Clark declined to back down in an interview Tuesday morning with ABC. "The experience that he had as a fighter pilot isn't the same as having been at the highest levels of the military and having to make ... life or death decisions about national, strategic issues," he said.

...in a National Public Radio interview, Clark was asked about his statements in 2004 that Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, had "heard the thump of enemy mortars. He's seen the flash of tracers" and could lead in a time of war.

"I think that you can always cite a candidate's service in the armed forces as a testimony to his character and his courage. But I don't think early service justifies moving away from looking at a candidate's judgment," he replied.