Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

McCain's War Record Now Fair Game

Pro-Obama retired general Clark turns up volume on whispers

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2008 12:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – Wesley Clark's answer to a question on Face the Nation yesterday has exposed a simmering campaign issue, Politico reports: whether John McCain’s Vietnam ordeal translates to relevant experience for the presidency. "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," said Clark, a Barack Obama supporter.

Obama has consistently praised McCain as a hero, but the comment by one of his highest-profile surrogates inflamed McCain supporters and bloggers across the political spectrum. Pundits on both the farther left and the far right have already raised the issue, Politico notes. And Vietnam-era antiwar activist Tom Hayden rose to McCain's defense, writing in an email, "I know and like McCain."

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

This Oct 26 1967, file photo provided by the Library of Congress shows Navy fighter pilot John McCain, center, being captured by Vietnamese civilians. (AP Photo)

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Gen. Wes Clark on Face the Nation June 29, 2008. (videocafeblog)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

McCain Launches Preemptive Strike on Hayworth

Campaign gets aggressive early against conservative challenger

(NEWSER) - John McCain is pulling no punches in an offensive against primary challenger JD Hayworth, whom he hopes to shut down before Hayworth's campaign even begins. McCain has rallied his troops to file complaints with the FEC about Hayworth’s radio program, which they allege he was using to campaign in violation of federal rules. And for good measure, McCain took out an ad against Hayworth on his own station. More»

Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

(NEWSER) - Both presidential candidates are bucking tradition and remaining on the offensive in the last days of the election—a time when campaigns usually back off and focus on positive messages, the Washington Post reports. Barack Obama is spinning Dick Cheney’s endorsement of John McCain as a troubling indication of a possible Bush redux, and McCain’s newest robocalls feature Hillary Clinton’s primary season attacks on Obama. More»

Mac's Tactics Time-Tested ... But This Ain't the Time

'Tinny and trivial' attacks are too small, and in any case too late, in momentous election

(NEWSER) - Any day now, John McCain will mock John Kerry for flip-flopping. Or maybe go with George H.W.’s “Read my lips, no new taxes,” pledge, even Eisenhower’s “I shall go to Korea.” What he won’t do is offer anything new, because all year he’s “seemed intent on fighting the last war, or rather, waging the last campaign,” Scot Lehigh writes in the Boston Globe. More»

Mac Should Muzzle Staffers, Drop Robocalls, Talk Security

Remind voters why they admired him: Kristol

(NEWSER) - William Kristol has some advice for John McCain: “When you’re in a hole, stop digging.” In a recent poll, 64% of respondents said they believe McCain spends more time attacking Barack Obama than making his own case. The senator ought to pull his negative ads, robocalls, and mailers, “muzzle the campaign,” and make his own case, Kristol writes in the New York Times. That case in a nutshell: Security, security, security. More»

Don't Question McCain's 'Nam Heroism

Mac was an inspiration to fellow POWs

(NEWSER) - There’s plenty wrong with John McCain, but questions about his heroism in Vietnam just don’t stand up, biographer Matt Welch writes in the LA Times. McCain “gave great strength to his fellow POWs,” and “unless you think that inspiring your fellow prisoners to resist and cope with unbelievable acts of torture isn't heroic, then ‘hero,’ at least, is one description McCain deserves.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

McCain's War Record Now Fair Game