Two posts ago I noted some questionable comments from Wesley Clark on John McCain. That report was deeply misleading, because it removed the question that prompted Clark's statement:
CLARK: He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, "I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not, do you want to take the risk, what about your reputation, how do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made those calls, Bob.
SCHIEFFER: Can I just interrupt you? I have to say, Barack Obama hasn't had any of these experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down.
CLARK: I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.
My original source -- Politico through Yahoo News edited the quote to make Clark sound like an asshole. It was Schieffer's stupid question that led directly to Clark's clumsy answer.
I like Shieffer, but this whole episode looks like another case of a reporter doing his best to get somebody to say something negative. Sigh. On the other hand, I'd say Shieffer's remark was only half-stupid, and Clark stupidly addressed only the stupid half.
By 1:04 PM
, atNot that it makes much difference one way or the other but I think it's interesting that Clark graduated first in his class at West Point while McCain was third from the bottom at the Naval Academy. (Tho if my father were reading this he might suggest those are pretty equivalent.)
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