Posted on 07/02/2008 12:22:12 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
As of today, Sen. Barack Obama is about halfway through his "patriotism theme week" message cycle. As of 2008, Sen. John McCain is about seven-ninths through his patriotism theme life cycle. I guess that is the difference between the new politics and the old patriotism.
The Obama campaign launched its new politics patriotism week last Sunday, with retired Gen. Wes "Speichellecker" Clark smearing John McCain's war record -- even to the point of the former general saying that "riding" in a fighter plane and getting shot down are not qualifications for being president. Well, in fact, McCain wasn't riding, of course. He was the pilot in his 23rd mission over heavily defended enemy territory when he was shot down by a Soviet missile. But when Wes "Camera Hound" Clark goes on a mission, he always aims low.
This is the same Gen. Clark who, while leading the bombing campaign against Serbia from his desk, was reprimanded by President Clinton's secretary of defense, William Cohen, to get his "f------ face off the TV. No more briefings, period. That's it." During that bombing campaign, Gen. Clark didn't even go along for the "ride."
And it is the same general who was removed prematurely from his European command on the following explanation of then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Hugh Sheldon: "The reason he came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues." This is the man who the Obama campaign -- which is above politics as usual -- sent out to smear a genuine war hero. Of course, after 24 hours, Obama disassociated himself from his surrogate's smear attack. This is becoming a pattern of Obama's new politics. Wes Clark is the seventh prominent Obama supporter to disparage Sen. McCain's military service. Obama is beginning to reveal Nixonian political instincts.
But Wes Clark is right. Merely being a war hero is not qualification for the presidency, although it is a hell of a start when compared with those of us who never served in uniform. And the more than five years as a prisoner of war with constant torture that McCain suffered through is also not qualification for being president -- even when compared with Obama's tough seven years of service at Columbia undergraduate and Harvard Law School.
But just maybe, the strength of character and the wisdom of knowing what really matters in life that young John McCain formed on the anvil of his captivity -- just maybe, those attributes are the beginnings of qualifications for leading the rest of us through a dangerous, morally ambiguous world. And when a man so formed then dedicates the next 30 years of his life to studying and leading from the United States Senate on national security issues, perhaps then we have the makings of a man fit to be president.
The test for Sen. Obama in this campaign will not be whether he can fly a jet fighter under enemy fire as well as McCain did or whether he can put up with torture in as manly a fashion as McCain sustained for more than five years or whether he can go through his life not being able to raise his arms to his shoulders because his body was broken by the Commie torturers. Obama, just as most of us, has been spared facing such tests and perhaps been found wanting -- as many of us surely would be.
So far, Obama has faced less taxing tests, such as whether to wear a flag lapel pin. So far, he has scored an incomplete after three tries. First he decided to wear a pin. Then he thought better of it and announced that he no longer would wear the pin, explaining: "You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11 -- particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security -- I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that'll be a testimony to my patriotism."
Then on his third try, during the heated climax to his primary campaign, he started wearing the pin again, I suppose as -- in his previous words -- "a substitute for true patriotism." Hard to know for sure what his calculations are on this vital matter. But that he does calculate constantly whether to wear the pin or not, there can be no doubt. The demands of patriotism are sometimes hard to know. What's a patriot to do? Life can be hard, very hard, out on the old campaign trail.
Please note: I am not questioning his patriotism. Many patriotic people -- including me -- never have worn a flag lapel pin. (We have to be so careful these days because Obama is offended more easily than a convent-schooled virgin. I am stocking up on eggshells to walk on for the duration of the campaign.)
Anyway, John McCain had it easier over the North Vietnamese skies. He didn't have to decide about such things. He was required to wear his dog tags -- evidence of his patriotism. Some people get all the breaks.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
BTTT
Repeat:
“Guys like Webb, Kerry and Clark can talk about their prior valor in the foxholes and that is great and commendable but and there is a huge but..as so could General Benidict Arnold and Marshall Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain point to bravery and service to country.
Can you really trust a guy like Webb who says look at me I'm a good Republican and then acting through opportunism says hey look at me I'm now a good liberal Democrat who hates Republicans?
The answer should be absolutely not.
I would sooner trust Kim Jong ILL than a turn coat.
At least with Kim there's no deception factor to consider, you know he is lying.”
Further comment:
The destructive,calculating actions of these liberal Democrats though some might be considered hero's in times past, have shown their ignorance of what it takes to be a real hero in after military life.
My older brother is my hero, never told him that but he is.
My brother was always my hero for going to Nam 69-70 as a 30 year old 147 pound soaking wet Navy medic for the Marines and surviving.
Unlike Webb, Kerry and Clark he seldom talks about his time in country, being out numbered and over run the second night in a God forsaken village, the death of friends or how he became 100% diabled for life.
Just my lowly opinion but these left wing opportunist Democrats can go piss on an electric fence for all I care and take Obama with them.
Thanks for the opportunity to rant.
The friend I had at work who supported Obama has become silent altogether on politics. I think he's disgusted and doesn't want to hear anything about this. It's NOT GOOD for Obama and really makes him look like the first class scumbag that he truly is inside.
Your Brother and I have traveled some common trails...
To this day, I have not met even one Veteran that would vote for that marxist, racist, slimeball Obama!
On the other hand, I haven’t yet met ANYONE that admits they would vote for the undercover muslim!
One piece of incorrect info in this article:
John McCain did NOT fly a fighter jet over North Vietnam. He was not an F-4 Phantom pilot, he flew an A-4 Skyhawk; small, underpowered, underarmed, light bomber.
As for the Great UNifier and UNiter Obama, he does not deserve consideration for any office as far as I am concerned.
Note to Obama supporters: I will not denigrate your service Messer’s Webb, Harkin, Kerry or Clark to our country but give me a physical break and quite using that worn out phrase of saying, “I respect his or her service to the country”.
No Liberals, You Do Not Respect Anything EXCEPT trying to give yourself a sleazy self-aggrandizing excuse to run down a former military man who does not agree with you.
Heck, one of you guys who served in Viet Nam, came home and threw his medals over a wall and denounced his country, another wrote a sleazy perverted book and opportunely switched party allegiances, yet another claimed to have real air combat experience and another tried to idiotically start World War Three by attacking a few Russians and had to leave his overseas command because his brown nose keep sticking to used toilet paper.
I wonder if you four Obama supporters would know of whom I speak.
http://wais.stanford.edu/Individuals/individual_generalclark.htm
http://www.militarycorruption.com/wesleyclark4.htm
http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2008/07/looking_at_wesley_clark.html
Jusst a homerun for Blankley! Excellent!
That is like a politician saying I support the troops but not the war.
The fact is that people like Kerry, the Clinton's and weasel face Obama hate the military and always have. The most sickening thing I saw while Bill Clinton was president was his laying a wreath on the tomb of the Unknowns.
+1
Correct. Military service is not a qualification for president. It is one factor that I consider.
The real issue here is how Senator McCain is using his service. He, unlike Kerry, uses it as a part of his resume. Here's the difference between Senator McCain and goofy J Effin Kerry: Senator McCain would never salute a crowd and report for duty.
Democrats have always been known for pushing a program or a principle by using obvious victims, who, because of their victim status, could not be refuted for fear of appearing mean-spirited or insensitive.
The retired old lady who roamed the highways of Iowa collecting cans, as a voice for health care, in Gore’s campaign. Argue with her and you’re callous to her plight.
Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother of a brave soldier killed in the war on terror.
Legions of people denied health care, as voices for fairness in health care.
Children injured in automobile accidents, women harassed at work for less pay, muslims discriminated against, a drooling, mumbling Michael J. Fox as the voice for killing embryos for their stem cells, etc. Argue with them, and you’re lower than a snake’s belly.
And so on. Unless you’re a republican.
Though he wouldn’t allow it, McCain could easily be portrayed as such a victim, the voice for freedom, national security, a strong defense, and a determination to win. If he were a Democrat, he’d be the unending story of victimhood, day after day. Refute him and you’re a commie rat.
But, as a republican, the democrats have no qualms about trashing such an obvious candidate for victimhood, and in the most classless ways.
Re: Wesley Clark
IIRC, it was Clark who in the Democrat primaries for 2004 disparaged Jon Carry as merely a lieutenant??
Anyone else recall that moment? It seems that Clark’s proposed requirement for a future President should be that the candidate must have served in a strategic position of command, which conveniently rules out everyone in the current and recent field of candidates except...... Wesley Clark.
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