Here we go a-freaking-gain. I am and have always been a loyal Democrat, but i just don't see how so many Democratic leaders think this is a sensible line of attack. I mean, this makes no sense whatsoever. We will win on issues like the economy. There is no need for these senseless attacks against McCain's military service.

Beer's comment is almost lower than Clark's, if that's possible. To claim that McCain's 5 years as POW, his "isolation" left him sadly limited, is ridiculous. #1) Where was Obama in those years? He was a kid. Why not say Obama's years as a kid during the ENTIRE Vietnam conflict left HIM sadly limited. #2) What a bummer it was that McCain got caught, and tortured. How shortsighted of him to not be thinking of the bigger picture--and eventual run for the white house. Did McCain not "catch up" ever? He can read, he can study, he can learn what he missed. Too bad the Vietcong didn't have cable back then, then all the POWs could have remained well informed.

What a joke this guy Beers is! No wonder Kerry lost so badly. No wonder the Democrats have lost their soul...they've ALL drunk the kool-aid! They will say anything to discredit a man who served his country and prop up a puppet who only serves himself.

Kevin – I completely agree with you. I am an independent who plans to vote for Obama. But I see no need no reason what of ever to attack McCain on this.

bcpchrnn1: It was OK to attack John Kerry in 2004 but not OK to attack McCain now!!!!!! They all served in the army.

I want to know about Obama's patriotism!! Will he even say/hand over heart the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America? How can he be President if he won't or can't?

Senator Chuck Hagel made exactly the same comments a few days ago. He distinguished the service of army "grunts" who experienced the day to day fighting, with the experience of POWs and pilots. If you are going to criticize Beers then you need to criticize a Republican senator, Hagel, as well.

McCain and Kerry were in the NAVY. Kerry was in Viet Nam for 4 months, McCain was a prisoner for 5 years.
Obama by his own admittance in his book was busy using drugs and probably selling them at the time McCain was being tortured.
Isn't Obama special?
I would suggest Obama followers bother to get an answer as to what CHANGE is going to mean to their wallets, and our country.

Any veteran that votes for anyone on the left is a fool. Denigrate a vet's service, next will be your benefits. Like him or not - you better vote conservative to save your benefits and your reputations.

Typical Obama. He pays lip service to the high road while he sends his thugish minions out to the low road. God forbid the Messiah does his own dirty work.

I am going to disagree with some of the dems on here and say taht i would agree that attacking mccain on serving or his patriotism would be a big mistake such as they did with kerry,

however,

it is completely valid to point out that he has a skewed view of what goes on during war time since he was shot down on his first run.

and to those that say he oculd have gotten let go early because of who his dad was, thats right he could have chose that, but can you imagine the beating his father would have given him had he done that... his father would have been ruined..

hell maybe mccain was like.. hell yes let me out my dads an admiral...

and his dads oh hell no you dont, you stay put little spud.

Also, by his own omissions, Hussein would not and is not eligible for military service - so he can talk patriotism all he wants because he can never walk the walk. And, if he (because of his drug use and dealings) can't walk the walk, I have a problem with him commanding those that do.

Lets see. McCain after three years of getting tortured refused to leave his troops behind. McCain saved the life of a comrade. McCain lead his comrades in prayers. McCain was on the tip of the of the spear during the cuban missile crisis. McCain was on the front lines of the cuban missile crisis. McCain lead a squandron of troops. Now look at Obama's experience. Obama was a street organizer who experimented with drugs. Obama got a sweetheart land deal from rezko. 20 years in wright's church. A close friendship with Father Pfleger. How Obama is the nominee of a major party is unfathomable.

McCain's own 19 year old son just came back from Iraq.

McCain has another son set to graduate from the navy academy.

McCain is against a draft.

McCain voted against keeping our troops in lebanon.

McCain is for more troop cuts from petreaus.

McCain wants to turn over the areas to the iraqis and have them deal with the insurgency and bring our troops home.

McCain is a navy man from the silent generation.

McCain hates war.

bhradon: McCain was on his 23rd sortie over Vietnam, not his "first run." Get your facts straight. And if you truly believe his father would have "beat him" if he accepted an offer of early release from his captors, then you are truly a moron.

Ever hear of Henry Ford you uneducated types? Hire a professtional to get the job done and leave the strategery (that's right, strategery) to the big thinkers.

bhrandon: Have you ever served? Has your family? Doubt it. I'm a military wife whose husband is an Army captain, and I'm also a daughter whose father was a Navy pilot. You, sir, have no clue what you're talking about. McCain refused an early release unless and until the other American POWs were released before him. Leave the military opinions to people who have a clue.

what about Obama's massive drug use? Does that explain this statement today?

"The young soldier who first spoke about the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib - he is a patriot. Recognizing a wrong being committed in this country's name; insisting that we deliver on the promise of our Constitution"

This is Obama's definiton of a patriot? A terrorist coddler. just like Ayres or Wright. Terrorists do not have constitutional rights either. Obama wants to do away with the second amendment and grant the rights to terrorists.

Here we go again! Even when one faces facts and tells the truth, one is accused of "attacking". Actually, it it best to face the truth now and not forced to face the consequences later. No one says that being in the military is a requirement to be president. what is true is that while McSame was a pow, he did not face the divisiveness and turmoil in the US. If he was here, he would not be that ready to start or to continue a war. Sure, we appreciate his service to the country, but let us also be grateful to the other million who had served, is serving and had died for our country. We should be careful about how we heap all the appreciation and gratitude on just one man, rather than the masses who had done just as much or more than McCain. However, we should not just elect him just because he was in the forces. We lost to VN too, didn't we? We do not want to leave Iraq the same way, flying out in helicopters from the roof of an embassy. Let us withdraw as soon as possible in an orderly fashion and not with our tails between our legs. We must avoid another war at all costs, and with Lieberman egging this administration on, we can only see the horrors of an extended war if led by McSame.

Hate Bush? Fine. Not on board The Straight Talk Express? OK. But do we really want the Democrats running Congress while also holding court at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? DEM leadership is incompetent.

I'm confident that they (Dems) will find a way to screw up an election by all rights they should win hands-down.

John McCain has reason to be proud of his service. That seems not to be a contention.

General Clark's point, however, is well taken.

Having served valiantly, or even somewhat valiantly in other cases, does not suggest the readiness for the presidency of the United States. Further, General Clark's specific point, that McCain's having served and having been taken captive and having survived, while laudable, do not suggest that Mr. McCain has a leadership grasp in a military context.

Were it otherwise, I am certain we could produce many fine ex-military people who valiantly served, survived incarceration, even abuse, and have a strong grasp of, say, economics (which Mr. McCain allows that he has not,) whou would likewise not have had the leadership experience in the military context to be a sound commander-in-chief.

As niceness is not a factor, neither is one's military service as a predisposition for leadership. It is temperament, intellect, a grasp of what needs to be done, and perhaps most f all, thoughtfulness, in the literal sense. My studied view is that I might want Mr. McCain in a prison cell with me but that I would prefer to have Mr. Obama protecting my nation's interests, interest that go far beyond military matters

Obama is a disgrace. Obama said McCain didn't care about the families of troops serving in Iraq.

It is McCain who has visited the troops at walter reed unannounced dozens of times.

Obama goes and has to announce it to get publicity.

McCain's are one of those families. McCain's own 19 year old son just came back from Iraq. His wife had to wear a cell phone attached to her wrist the whole time.

Obama then blamed McCain for the floods when McCain wanted to give the levees top priority. Obama is the one who wanted the levees to have the same priority as a museum in mississippi.