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McCain: Obama Should Cut Wesley Clark Loose.

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July 01, 2008 7:29 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: John McCain, taking questions from reporters aboard his Straight Talk Express: The Airplane Edition, said it was time for the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama to cut retired Gen. Wesley Clark loose.

"I think it's up to Sen. Obama now to not only repudiate him, but to cut him loose," McCain said to a small group of reporters somewhere between Indianapolis, IN, and Cartagena, Colombia.

For two days, the Obama campaign has been off message, forced to manage the fallout surrounding comments Clark made about McCain's war service in a broadcast interview Sunday. The highly regarded former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO said of McCain, whose plane was shot down and was later held captive in Vietnam, "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."

Onboard his plane Tuesday, McCain was asked if Obama -- who did reject Clark's comments on Monday --had done enough to repudiate the general. He didn't take the bait. "That's up to others to decide," said McCain. "I'm not going to worry about the comments General Clark made."

He implied that Clark's comments were a distraction, saying they didn't help solve the economic woes of the United States.

The wide ranging media avail was divided into 2 parts because of space concerns. About half of the 20 members of press traveling with the campaign joined McCain at a time in an area on the plane specifically designed for the flying press conference.

July 1, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (658)

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Poor John. Poor, Poor John

In February 2003, McCain said "Absolutely not," when asked whether "military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief."

Posted by: Thinking | Jul 1, 2008 8:04:55 PM

Clark is a horses ass and arrogant like Obama, so anything this loser says is meaningless

Posted by: john | Jul 1, 2008 8:04:59 PM

Jock98015 is one of these guys who likes to pretend to be other people so he can embarass then by insulting people. He might be the same one who has done this to me twice before, ot he could just be another lonely internet teenager who thinks he is too clever for his own good.

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 1, 2008 8:06:01 PM

The reason the Obama camp constantly resorts to these childish smears is that that's all they have, don't you folks understand? That's it. They have nothing else to go with.

Meanwhile, McCain can make real substantive attacks on Obama's ever changing positions, and all the other genuine negative things about Obama. You don't see McCain making these snarky little comments about Obama because he's above all that, and he doesn't need to do it anyway. He has too much real ammo to use against Obama to need to resort to that nonsense.

Posted by: EyeDoc | Jul 1, 2008 8:06:58 PM

Barack needs to cut the American people loose.....by leaving.

Got Hope? NOPE!

PUMA!

Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | Jul 1, 2008 8:07:59 PM

"Obama's mother lived her entire life as an atheist who denies God and Jesus Christ. Disgusting. "..........

Well Obama did not believe in god until after he became a politician and discovered he could get a lot of votes out of the church. Rev Wright probably did not bother him because he was there for the votes and not for spirituality. Same now he is chasing other religions for votes not for his beliefs. He knows if he can get a $5 donation the person will later vote for him instead of realizing that he made a mistake. People do not want to admit they made a mistake.

Posted by: DemocratNoMore2 | Jul 1, 2008 8:08:03 PM

I think it's time for the McCain camp to cut McCain loose.

Posted by: El_Pajaro | Jul 1, 2008 8:08:47 PM

im not voting for an antiamerican, crypto muslim no matter what and neither will the american people. watch, you'll learn a lesson taught by the silent majority that elected nixon and reagan and bush.

Posted by: ron | Jul 1, 2008 8:09:36 PM

ABC, when I come to the "comment" sections of your website there seem to be 2 different versions. I take it that one is the news stories and the other (like this format) is for opinions and editorials. You claim that Senator McCain "said it was time for the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama to cut retired Gen. Wesley Clark loose" but you don't even offer his quote. I understand that the more agitated you get your readers, the more likely they are to visit multiple times thus creating more ad revenue and using headlines and statements like these are a good way to drive traffic but please keep a sense of honest reporting and lay off the sensationalism. You will be more respected.

Posted by: TSnow27604 | Jul 1, 2008 8:10:14 PM

This is sad...our country was founded with separation of church and state in mind. Why are we making religious beliefs the center of political agendas? This is wrong. There's a comment above that calls Obama's grandmother "disgusting" for being an atheist. Are you kidding? Our country is supposed to be okay with any belief, or lack of. This is what has made our country become completely self centered and out of sync with the rest of the world. And no...McCain is not qualified to be president just because he is a war hero. History has proved that many times.

Posted by: ignorance_intolerant | Jul 1, 2008 8:10:23 PM

I don't think anyone here would turn down a couple of million dollars if they had the chance to become "rich." I find it so interesting that so many financially unfortunate Democrats resent wealthy Republicans, but don't utter a peep about wealthy Dems. You may be surprised to realize that all Republicans aren't rich. Some of us are poor or middle class who just happen to think that the ideals of the Republican Party are better for this country that the Socialist-leaning ideals of the Democratic Party. Gee, I like to keep as much of the money I make as possible. How strange! Conversely, you must realize all Democrats aren't earning under $30,000 a year. To insult or resent people who have money is stupid and myopic. As I said, if someone stood there with a milion dollars, would you turn it down? Grow up!

Posted by: Lisa Again | Jul 1, 2008 8:11:06 PM

IS CHARLIE BLACK STILL ON McCAIN'S CAMPAIGN?! YES HE IS. IT IS CHARLIE BLACK WHO SAID THAT JOHN McCAIN WOULD BENEFIT FROM A TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICA. THIS MAN CHARLIE BLACK IS STILL ON JOHN McCAIN'S CAMPAIGN.

Posted by: Denise | Jul 1, 2008 8:13:08 PM

McCain can take 5 years of torture in a POW camp but he can't stand a criticism?

If you're going to run on your 'hero' POW status (and there are many, many more soldiers than downed airmen who endured just as much, Mr. McCain), be ready to get it critiqued. Your people did it to Kerry in '04. They invited this to be visited upon your campaign. Stop whining. Deal with it, answer the question General Clark posed: Why does being a POW make you more QUALIFIED to be president than Senator Obama?

This soldier would like to know, Senator McCain.

Posted by: Soldier | Jul 1, 2008 8:13:28 PM

Yes Lisa Again, your right. Democrats shouldn't bash people that are wealthy just because they are wealthy. Personally, my economic situation is very healthy. However, I don't think I should get more tax breaks than someone that makes 50k per year just because it's not fair for me to pay more taxes. That's the problem. Everyone should contribute the same percentage without more tax loopholes for the rich. You and I both know that's not fair.

Posted by: ignorance_intolerant | Jul 1, 2008 8:14:54 PM

Obama, Dreams From My Father

"I will stand with the Muslims"

Posted by: Muslim Supporter | Jul 1, 2008 8:16:55 PM

The person who should be cut loose is McCain's adviser Charlie Black. After what he said about using terror-attacks for the campaign - I'm shocked that Charlie Black is still on McCain's campaign. Charlie Black's comments were an outrage because they show how the McCain campaign thinks in dirty terms - Charlie Black wants to use the deaths of Americans for the GOP'S BENEFIT! What's up with that? We cannot be planning to use violence against Americans - to help a campaign! It's so sad that the McCain campaign has kept Charlie Black on this long - it was an outrage and Charlie Black must GO.

Posted by: Allen | Jul 1, 2008 8:17:24 PM

As soon as McCain explains what Clark was supposed to have done wrong, he can explain why Obama should "cut him loose."

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 1, 2008 8:18:33 PM

People, the choice is very simple. Do you want to continue four more years of Bush? I can't imagine why so many people STILL want to vote for what hasn't worked. McCain and Bush are not that different. PLEASE read up on that. I agree that Obama might not be the absolutely best candidate possible. If Al Gore were running I'd vote for him, but I still think he's better than McCain. By far. SMARTER TOO.

Posted by: ignorance_intolerant | Jul 1, 2008 8:19:44 PM

because I love my son and want what is best for him, I will continue to support Senator Clinton because she is the only candidate who is capable of being the best President that he deserves and that all our children, our troops and our Nation desperately need right now.....if you're comfortable with supporting a lesser candidate (mccain/obama), then that's on you.....

Posted by: chris | Jul 1, 2008 8:19:46 PM

Muslim Supporter - Not only is that quote completely inaccurate, it is from the wrong book. LOL. You can't even lie right!

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 1, 2008 8:19:58 PM

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