The Sad State Of Hissy Fit Politics

I know it's almost become a cliche to say that the worst thing about such and such Republican brouhaha is the hypocrisy, but it is. Four years ago every conservative in America claimed that, since John Kerry made his war service the "centerpiece" of his campaign that it was completely justified to attack it. He actually didn't, and while his service was a component of the campaign it didn't compel the conservative noise machine to lie about it. But that was their argument.

Fast forward four years, McCain actually is making his POW status a centerpiece of his campaign, and now it's completely beyond the pale for any Democrat to even so much as whisper about John McCain's war record. Never mind that Wes Clark was completely factual, anything he said would have been construed as an "attack." They flip on this every four years with Timex-like precision.

Continues to boggle my mind what a difference 4 years can make to the conservatives.
1996: Bob Dole is a war hero! Clinton is a draft dodger! WORSHIP THE WAR HERO!

2000: Forget the war! Ignore the potential Vietnam-era AWOL-ness of our candidate, and his complete lack of foreign policy knowledge! He's got integrity!

2004: So what your candidate actually fought and was injured in the same war during which our candidate was so very much NOT AWOL! We mock his service and question the legitimacy of his injuries! Have a purple band-aid to wear at our convention!

2008: Only a certified war hero can lead this country! WORSHIP THE WAR HERO!

All Clark did was question the premise of McCain's campaign that his war service alone makes him somehow more qualified to serve as President. And make no mistake, John McCain has explicitly said the exact same thing.

McCain Said Military Service "Absolutely" Didn't Make Someone Better Equipped To Be President. During an interview with National Journal, John McCain was asked if "military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief." McCain said, "Absolutely not. History shows that some of our greatest leaders have had little or no military experience- Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Harry Truman was in the artillery in World War I, which was magnificent. Ronald Reagan did most of his active duty in the studio lots in California. It might be a nice thing, but I absolutely don't believe that it's necessary. [National Journal, 2/15/03; emphasis added]

McCain: "I've Never Believed That Lack Of Military Service Disqualifies One From Occupying" The Oval Office. In an address to the American Legion in 1999, John McCain said, "I believe that military service is the most honorable endeavor an American may undertake. But I've never believed that lack of military service disqualifies one from occupying positions of political leadership or as Commander and Chief. In America, the people are sovereign, and they decide who is and is not qualified to lead us." [McCain Speech to the American Legion, 9/7/99]

The fact that they used one of the Swift Boat Liars to defend McCain on this thing just brings it all full circle.

The only thing we can count on here is that Clark himself won't back off his comments.

There are many important issues in this Presidential election, clearly one of the most important issues is national security and keeping the American people safe. In my opinion, protecting the American people is the most important duty of our next President. I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. I would never dishonor the service of someone who chose to wear the uniform for our nation.

John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed - he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues.

Democrats are idiots not to get behind this guy. They muted Paul Hackett and now they're in the process of muting Wes Clark. What a bunch of tools.