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Obama: For Denouncing Clark Before He Was Against It?

July 01, 2008 7:22 PM

FROM GUEST-BLOGGER RICK KLEIN, from ABC's The Note.

Per ABC's Sunlen Miller, Sen. Barack Obama said the following at a press availability in Zanesville, Ohio this afternoon: “I think in at least one publication [it] was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago.”

That’s an interesting response -- one that might have surprised members of Obama’s own press staff. When reporters (this one included) contacted the Obama campaign Monday morning to ask about his response to Wesley Clark’s comments, they were told to watch the speech.

And the response might have surprised Obama himself -- Monday Obama, at least.

This was the question asked Monday by a reporter from ABC’s Kansas City affiliate, KMBC: "Yesterday Wesley Clark, on ‘Face the Nation,’ said because John McCain got shot down that doesn't make him a leader. That seems to be violating the very rule you talked about today about questioning the military service of anybody."

Obama's answer: "Well, which is why I was very clear that General Clark's remarks don't reflect my beliefs. I have consistently said that John McCain is a genuine American hero and his service deserves to be honored."

To recap: Monday Obama was "very clear General Clark's remarks don't reflect my beliefs." Tuesday was cloudier: His comments were not in response to what General Clark said.

Tuesday Obama also said that while Clark’s comments were "inartful," they were not in the same ballpark as the Swift Boat attacks on Sen. John Kerry.

"I don’t think that General Clark you know had the same intent as the Swift Boat ads that we saw four years ago -- I reject that analogy," Obama said.

This is what Obama actually said, in his speech in Independence, Mo.: "For those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country -- no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary."

"Let me also add that no one should ever devalue [military] service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides," Obama continued. "We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform. Period -- full stop."

After the speech, campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued this statement: "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark."

Taking Obama up on his offer to have his staff confirm details of his speech, I contacted the Obama campaign Tuesday to find out if those last two sentences were added to the speech with Clark in mind. I’ll let you know when I get a response.

I did get this more generic response from an Obama spokesman: "This is a speech he's been working on for some time, and as he has said numerous times before, Senator Obama respects and honors John McCain’s service to his country and wanted to recognize that in his remarks on patriotism in America."

Obama has been consistent in honoring McCain -- but less so in his message on Clark.

What changed between Monday and Tuesday? For one thing, the liberal blogosphere rallied to Clark’s defense (and against the mainstream media).

But you don't have to get into motivations to reach another conclusion: Obama's hints of waffling on whether he wants to denounce Clark or go easy on him seems certain to keep this in the ether for another day.

McCain dialed up the pressure Tuesday afternoon: "I think it's up to Sen. Obama now to not only repudiate him, but to cut him loose," he told reporters on board his campaign plane en route to Colombia, per ABC’s Bret Hovell.

-- Rick Klein

July 1, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (86)

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Too much is made of the POW story. McCain is not running on his experience as a POW. He's running on his record in politics, his issues and character. Vote for him if you agree with his positions and like his character. I do, so I'm voting McCain.

Posted by: Juju | Jul 2, 2008 2:32:13 PM

444444444444444444444

Democrats should pressure McCain to release his psychiatric records. Americans want to know if their potential president has military service related PTSD post trumatic stress disorder. Which would help explain his ill temper/temper tantrums. Perhaps he visualize people questioning him as the enemy/viet cong? Therefore making him snap. He might also see the Iraq war and possible war with Iran as a way to revenge and vindicate himself for being captured and held as a POW. Which is why he doesn't want to leave Iraq until it is won. Even though his definition is utterly impossible in the foreseeable future. No question it is a fair question.

Posted by: Merri | Jul 4, 2008 4:43:11 PM

Golly gee wiz, how long will it take Senator Obama to disassociate himself with General Clark? It took him months to finally do it with his pastor so what is he afraid of?

Posted by: Visnovsky | Jul 3, 2008 10:59:00 AM

This is all political BS. Clark fully honored McCain's military service and personal sacrifice. But when asked a direct question by a talking head, he said it didn't quatlify McCain to be president. A true statement. What on earth is there for Obama to back away from?

Fact is, this is more about manufactured outrage by a GOP that does NOT want to see an Obama/Clark ticket. Clark's the one getting "swiftboated" here.

Posted by: Retired LTC | Jul 2, 2008 7:20:59 PM


General Wesley Clarke was FIRED as a military man. He has no credibility. He should keep his mouth shut and Obama should pick better people to speak for him.

Posted by: Mary | Jul 2, 2008 6:07:58 PM

Too much is made of the POW story. McCain is not running on his experience as a POW. He's running on his record in politics, his issues and character. Vote for him if you agree with his positions and like his character. I do, so I'm voting McCain.

Posted by: Juju | Jul 2, 2008 2:32:13 PM

As opposed to those that did not go directly to the battlefield and risk their lives such as Bush, Cheney, etc, and others that were able to rise through the top ranks and avoid direct battle exposure, McCain has more of an ability to have compassion, understanding the human cost of war and the toll that it takes from his POW and veteran experience. Mr. Clark's argument that being able to craft a better strategic/intellectual tactical plan as he is claiming superior skill in doing, shows a real immaturity in the level of decision making that he is hoping to contribute in. I'm sure that there is no shortage of highly trained military experts that have military tactical planning experience,likewise according to the same argument Rumsfeld should be even more qualified than everyone put together to be the next president of the United States. However the value in McCain is in making the final decision, having more of a heart to understand what we are all getting into and all the more reluctant to go to war, once given the technical information that is readily obtained by mainy Pentagon trained officials.

Posted by: Joshua Friedman | Jul 2, 2008 1:47:28 PM

Well, every day,or so it seems,Obama flip/flops,or
doesn’t exactly practise what he preach’s,here Obama
has a dubious home loan, below market rate!

So,while some homeowners,and the housing loan industry
stuggle to get a solution,Barack Obama gets special
treatment and a lower rate deal, as the rest of the
Americans are losing their homes,and others a higher
loan rate!

Is this the Hope and Change Obama’s talking about,
a lower rate for Obama and a higher rate from the
rest of the voting Americans in home loans!

This example by Obama, most be what Liberals call
the caring and the compassionate Left!!!!

Posted by: canopfor | Jul 2, 2008 1:33:09 PM

Don't worry about overseas sir.

Welsh PR guru’s at heart of Obama campaign by Martin Shipton, Western Mail.

Maesteg-born Steve Morgan will be in charge of foreign media relations when the Democratic Party holds its week-long Convention in Denver, Colorado, next month. It is there Senator Obama will be officially confirmed as the Democratic challenger to contest the presidency with Republican nominee John McCain.

Posted by: Yeil Raven | Jul 2, 2008 1:02:50 PM

McCain did sacrifice his body during the war but Clark is right.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Jul 2, 2008 12:21:35 PM

The Judy Collins song -- Both Sides Now -- is REALLY funny! I quite enjoyed it -- too bad it's so true.

Posted by: Beth | Jul 2, 2008 12:01:04 PM

"Wow! All this knit picking is so rediculous. It has nothing to do with the price of gas or putting food on the table or with health care."

How's it going at the outsourced Obama blogger mill overseas? Still struggling with written English I see.

(Obama has paid bloggers overseas so he can have posters round the clock. Problem is they tend to mispell words and have poor grammar)

Posted by: geevill | Jul 2, 2008 10:31:53 AM

no len,

I want to put in my order for 8.

that is 4 for the cars in my driveway i can't afford to drive,

and four to put on the bikes.

Posted by: w | Jul 2, 2008 9:48:33 AM

Is it too early to start selling the bumper stickers that say

I Voted For The Other Woman.

?

Posted by: len | Jul 2, 2008 9:23:19 AM

I am way tired of the expectation that we all need to genuflect at the altar of McCain's sacrifice. Many presidential candidates and Presidents (G.H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, George McGovern) served and sacrificed. None of them exploited their service as shamelessly as McCain has.

Instead of exalting his own sacrifice and questioning the patriotism and/or judgement of anyone who questions it, I'd rather he come up with a plan for stopping the sacrifices that he and Bush are eagerly subjecting young American men and women to in Iraq. A stupid, ideologues' war...sold by lies...prosecuted with incompetence...while the real enemy reconstitutes and gains strength.

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Jul 2, 2008 9:21:54 AM

"To recap: Monday Obama was "very clear General Clark's remarks don't reflect my beliefs." Tuesday was cloudier: His comments were not in response to what General Clark said."

Obama would have been a marvelous stanza for Judy Collins.

"I speak of things from both sides now
From up and down
And still somehow
It's gulible voters I recall
They really don't know life
At all......."

Posted by: drjohn | Jul 2, 2008 8:59:43 AM

He of shifting positions and very few convictions...

Posted by: Vnd | Jul 2, 2008 8:59:34 AM

Isn't it funny how this "new politics" of Obama allows all these Democrats to take shots at McCain's military service?

Posted by: drjohn | Jul 2, 2008 8:55:27 AM

I think BO should hire a stenographer to follow him around. Then he could just have his words repeated back to himself before he changes a story, position, etc. It's gotta be really hard to track that stuff on your own when you're spinning stuff constantly.

Posted by: FishMonger | Jul 2, 2008 8:44:17 AM

Obama is a dummy..............plain and simple. I don't know how he got a law degree, but I find it very embarrassing for all attorneys now have their names smeared for Obama. Attorney's are supposed to be intelligent and Obama isn't.

Posted by: chattyway | Jul 2, 2008 8:43:40 AM

Rob, get your facts right on General Clark before you shoot your mouth off again. He was fired for putting the safety of his troops and success of his mission ahead of PR in his leadership in Kosovo.

Posted by: Charlene Whitney | Jul 2, 2008 8:35:38 AM

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