Sort of. He never really did anything heroic. He was just a POW.

No. McCain has problems and failings just like the rest of us. He’s human. But to denigrate his military service just to win an election is just wrong, just like it was wrong with the Swift Boaters did it to Kerry.

I wonder what other Pows think. No one has heard anything about them since vietnam ended and what the ones that were captured with him. Do we know anything about them. I agree with that McCain has not been tested during war time. And only reason he given command over a troop company was because of his father.

So to say he commanded this huge military group and it was not during war time, we don’t know what his ability or skills are. When engaged in war, being in command over any section is very different than when nothing is going on.

As qualification for the presidency–yes, his military history is overrated. On the other hand, his political career easily qualifies him as a candidate.

Still, his war hero persona makes him a true sentimental favorite and Americans love sentiment. But rationality reminds of us of the disconnect between being a POW and a qualified US President.

No, John McCains credentials aren’t overrated it’s the credentials of other brave men and women that are underrated.

Jack
One of the toughest jobs there is , taking off and landing jets from the deck of an Essex class aircraft carrier. after which getting shot down and then taken prisoner, thrown in prison and tortured. Would you say John McCains military credentials are overrated. I dont think so.

Having been in the military gives McCain a perspective that Obama doesn’t have, but it in no way makes him more qualified than Obama to be president. Some of our greatest presidents never served in the military. And Clark was right about the fact that McCain never had “command” or “executive” experience in the Navy at a level that would have prepared him to be president.

John McCain has never claimed to have been an admiral. I am appalled that the Obama campaign is taking the same tack that George W. Bush took toward John McCain’s military record during his campaign for the presidency. Seems Obama is a lot like Bush!!!

Jack,

Yes. He was a POW for five years I believe and he did talk in the end. I do not want to marginalize his service but he was no Rambo.

Jack,I don’t think John McCain’s service record is any more over rated,than Senator Obama’s lack service of any kind is underated,miltary and in the congress’I think Obama’s lack of service is much more important!

It’s hard to tell. Hundreds of pages of his military record seem to be “missing.” They may be hiding with Nixon’s twenty minutes of audio tape, all those White House emails and those socks my clothes dryer keeps eating.

Senator McCain deserves respect for his service - as did John Kerry in 2004 - but having been a prisoner-of-war does not, in and of itself, make a person any more or less qualified to be president. If anything, it raises questions in my mind about any history McCain might have with PTSD. He has a reputation as a hot head and might not have the temperment to be this country’s leader.

This is not a duplicvate - I am continually getting responses duplicate detected.

McCain’s military credentials are not overrated but military credentials are not particularly good for being President. Military people are necessary and generally good citizens. The millitary life - espcially for military childern who go into th service - is a far cry from the avrage life experience. For one thing, scraping to make aliving is not a factor, health care is not a factor, retirement is not a factor. Miltary people are out of touch with US life.

No! I am a strong Obama supporter, but I DON’T think John McCain’s military credentials are overrated. He, and a whole lot of others from that same war and other wars, are true heroes. Their service should not be portrayed as less for political advantage. I felt that way about John Kerry and the way he was swiftboated, and I feel that way about McCain.

Joe
Missouri

Yes Jack, they are overrated. I served 23 years in the U.S.Army including service in Viet Nam but that doesn’t qualify me to be Commander in Chief. It does qualify me to state unequivoclly that McCain’s attitude toward the war in Iraq, that never should have started is way off the mark. Sure he was a POW but others came back in body bags or so badly wounded that their lives were changed forever. McCain should get off his soap box and work to end the war in Iraq which was started because Bush wanted to finish what his father didn’t get done.

McCain put his life on the line during one war…Obama is putting his life on the line just running for president. Both in service to our country.

I don’t see anything about a couple of broken arms that qualifies him to be POTUS.

I think the fact that he finished in the bottom 1% of his class says he probably isn’t smart enough to be President.

Come to think of it, how did he get in the Naval Academy? Did his daddy buy it for him?

I don’t like war - don’t like war-mongers or fear-mongers - and that’s all that seems to come out of his mouth and the mouths of his surrogates.

He should be disqualified - fear is a form of terrorism.

Thanks

I have often thought that Mccain was the guy in the place at the time right time or wrong. Nevertheless, he was there. He did his job. He did it well. Now had he been foretold that he would be caputured and undergo torture, I wonder if he would sign up for the job. He is a great American, worthy of celebration, but we should remember, he was only doing his job. However, That does not make him the the final authority on military operations, and we ought to remember that.

My father served in WWII…..would that have qualified him to be President? No. He was serving at Pearl Harbor in 1941….would that have qualified him to be President? No.
General Clark has NEVER demeaned McCain’s service. He was only pointing out (and he phrased it kindlier that I) that a flyboy who happened to end up a POW does not QUALIFY - ANYONE - to be President. If that were the case, all POWs should run for the office.
Good grief. I haven’t seen this many pairs of panties in a wad since someone suggested that Bush really ISN’T the Second Coming for crying out loud.

John McCain served his country courageously, was shot down over Vietnam, and became a POW; however, that may not make him the most qualified candidate to be President. Turns out he was wrong in supporting the invasion of Iraq, which has become our nation’s greatest foreign policy blunder.

Ed Reed
Port Aransas, TX

ABSOLUTELY! War Hero? He fly off an aircraft carrier after a breakfast of steak and eggs and returned to have steak for dinner. On his 23rd bombing mission he got shot down and became a POW for 5 1/2 years. Yes he endured a lot. Had he actually been on the ground in Vietnam and been captured he would have been shot in the head. Being a POW seems to be a better option. To be a hero you have to DO something, not be a victim of circumstances.

PS: I served on the ground in Vietnam.

Jack, Senator McCain is a war hero, so if he is talking about the subject of being a prisoner of war and torture, then he is without a doubt an expert and we should always yield to him on that subject. But when it comes to strategy, I don’t know if he is better or worse than Senator Obama in that regard. I mean, Senator Kerry was a decorated war hero, but the Republicans swiftboated him at every turn.

Yes they are overrated. I respect his service. In all due respect though, his service is way overraated. After he was captured he did what the military directs its people to do. Actually I get tired of hearing about it.

What happened to him in Vietnam will play perfectly into the mindset of the while male swing voters, who will ultimately decide the Electoral College as they always do. It’s the archtypical HERO story, and it will not matter whether it is adequate preparation to be Commander in Chief or not - it will sell!!

Wesley Clark committed an appalling gaffe yesterday with his denigrating comment about McCain’s service. This will come back to bite Obama over and over this Fall - it’s about how it looked and sounded more than whether or not it was valid. The damage is done, they can’t take it back now.

When all your military credentials indicate is that you surrendered and were a POW you have to consider them overrated with no importance whatsoever to being President of the U.S.

The President has to rely on the advice he gets from his current commanders and top advisers. You know like Bush did with Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz. The same types McCain will have to rely on if he ever got elected in November.

I’ve no idea why being a PRISONER of the enemy for 5 or more years qualifies one as being a hero? Audie Murphy was a hero - he took control of a bad situation and saved lives. McCain was shot down and captured. To my way of thinking that makes him rather inept.

McCain is better qualified to be a Navy bigwig and influence national security that way, than he is to deal with serious domestic problems. It seems we think in terms of the President doing it all, rather than allowing
a government of the people. George W Bush outrageously abused executive power to a point where he stifled Congress and the will of Americans. I fear McCain will do the same thing.

Of course they are. Clark asked a serious legimate question. Does being a military man make you automatically qualified for Commander in Chief? Hero or no hero, the answer is not necessarily. Good judgement, the right values, ability to move people and provide the kind of leadership that allows you to listen to folks and change your mind based on what those folks are saying. (Unlike Cheney’s”"so”" when asked what about the 68% of Americans opposed to the war in Iraq.)

Jack,

I wouldn’t say his credentials are overrated. However, serving in the military doesn’t automatically mean that you are more qualified to be President or have better judgment on issues of foreign and defense policy.

Mike
Baltimore, MD

YES, his military service is overrated.

He served..great!
He was shot down…sorry!
He was a POW…sorry!
He returned home..wonderful.

BUT that still does not make him presidential material.

I am a veteran and I am sick of hearing about his POW status. If that was a criteria to being President, then only POWs should be considered.

Get off it already. Let’s deal with the real issues. His being a POW is not going to get the gas prices down, health care for millions, the economy fixed or the war over.

If it’s all about the military experience, maybe he should be the Secretary of State or a military liason….and not president.

Can he make executive decisions? That’s all I want to know.

YES YES YES.! Even though it was unfortunate for John McCain to have been shot down and endured a POW camp, it still doesn’t qualify him for president. He acts as though no one dare question his military service…why? He should undergo the same scrutiny that anyone else running must go through.

McCain’s military credentials are certainly not over rated. But his intelligence and ability to govern certainly are.

The Republicans have a lot of nerve treating McCains service record as a sacred cow after what they did to John Kerry. McCains valor and character are not being disputed, but how does his experience relate to being commander-in-chief or being an expert on national security? After the second World War, the guy who ran for president was the Supreme Commander of all allied forces in Europe. Even JFK was a PT boat commander, and he only claimed to have courage. Bob Dole had a purple heart and a permanent injury. GW was only in the pretend division of the Air National Guard. So I guess the bar keeps getting reset lower and lower. McCain is not Stormin’ Norman, or Colin Powell, or even Wesly Clark. His academic record at the academy was abysmal, his career involved sacrifice, but does make him any more special tha all the others who served.

Jack,

Being a soldier does not give one the ability to lead a nation in war. What we have here is more political hog wash. Lets get out of the Iraq War, kill Bin Laden, and build our country on honest hardworking values.

Joe from St Louis,MO

He is a veteran and a hero as were all the others who served. He loves this country and that qualifies him. He’s honest and that I’m afraid is exactly what hurts him. He tells it like it is unlike his counterpart. The truth hurts and we can’t handle it. Enough said.
Reading your readers comments I can’t believe one of them said he was just a POW. that scares me when the younger people feel that way. I pray it’s not many that do.

McSame was a war hero because of his conduct during his captivity. This service in no way qualifies him for the presidency, nor does it in any way enhance his desirablity as commander-in-shief. . However, it does shed a brilliant light on his character. Too bad his political history - that of backing (his worst enemy) W - DOES disqualify him from srving this country as a political leader. His abyssmal ignorance of socio-economics isn’t helping his electioneering either. In short, his self-proclaimed, overrated military “credentials” are probably his best side.

John MacCain’s military credentials are fairly rated.

It is his foreign affairs experience that is questionable. How much international diplomatic experience does he have?

Senator McCain is a war hero and should be honored for such along with others also captured. Not having access to his military records no one can judge his military crendentials as being over rated or not. They do not qualify him to be president under any circumstances.

This is all apples and oranges isn’t it? McCain is a hero, but he’s a hero because of what he endured, not what he acheived. Other being able to lord it over Obama, I’m not sure what skills it transfers to holding the office of President. If the American people thought military service was so essential, they would have dropped AWOL Bush for distinguished veteran John Kerry in 2004.

John McCain’s war record is not overrated. What is overrated is the idea that service in the military is qualification enough to handle national security and foreign affairs. If that were the case, my three years, seven months and two days (13 months in South Viet Nam, 1968-69) in the US Armey qualify me to be president. I even got better grades in college.

McCain is the media’s darling. His military record refer back to the time he ran against Bush. See the charges that were made back then. Now that’s what I’m talking about. War Hero my butt.

Being a navy pilot and a POW does not qualify you for commander in chief. Wes Clark was absolutely right when he said that.

Mr. Cafferty, In one word. Yes.

Jesse
Duluth MN

Jack - they are EXTREMELY overrated. When did he ever hold a major military position which allowed him to make pivotal decisions…..never. This doesn’t take away from the fact that he served proudly, just that his experience shouldn’t unfairly qualify him as an experienced military “leader” when technically that wasn’t the case.

Sen. McCain’s record of service is to be admired. There are few men who would do what he did as a POW. He is certainly an honorable man. That said, we have one group to look to when we discuss devaluing military service and that is the Swiftboaters from 2004. They told the electorate that military service didn’t matter. That it was okay not to serve your country honorably and then attack the service of those who could have gotten a “pass” on military service but chose not to exercise that option. The Swiftboaters taught us that the value of anyone’s military service should be questioned - they made it practically patriotic to do so. I do not feel Sen. McCain’s military service is overrated in the same way I did not feel that Sen. Kerry’s was either. While he will not get my vote in November, I admire his strength, character and record of service to our country.

Ann
New Hampshire

All due respect to Senator McCain, being a naval aviator and POW are NOT prerequisites for becoming commander in chief. So much hype is being generated by conservatives who believe “war heroes” should immediately qualify them to become the most powerful office-holder in the land. General Clark was right on target.

Definitely. McCain didn’t actually do anything heroic. He got shot down, caught and imprisoned. He endured incarceration and torture.

Don’t misunderstand. What he went through was horrible, but it doesn’t make him a hero. If anything it makes him a victim. It might also explain why there is so much rage in the man. There was nothing exemplary in his service record and just being in the military or being a POW doesn’t make you one. You have to do something heroic to earn the title of hero. Gandhi, Mandela, Mother Theresa and Jesus are all heroes.

I think the whole GOP is too hawkish. Seems their first resort is always violence and threats.

Anyone who served in the military and didn’t dishonor himself or the country should be lauded and treated with some degree of deference. However, sometimes we feel like we can’t even dispute McCain on foreign policy because of his military service. He was never in a leadership position and, indeed, ended his career on a down note. He may be a hero for serving, but others may have taken more heroic actions, like Jim Webb.

No, Jack. He is a true hero who has given so much for his country. With close communication with military leaders in the middle east and elsewhere, including within our country, he would be a fine Commander-In-Chief.

Much overrated! Wesley Clark is absolutely right. I’m glad he said it.

No more than Obama’s lack of military experience has been underrated and understated.

kerry diehl
grosse ile, mi

Jack, i think Wes Clark was right on , being a POW does not make you presidential material . I don’t know if his military service has been overrated( he has), because I was not there, but to hear John McBush talk he was the only POW in that war.There were thousands that did not even come home in that war and this one also.How many of John McBush’s VP candidates have even been in the service , lot a lone served in a war. After all they will only be a heart beat away from the oval office and if John McBush holds service as a litmus test non of his VP’s pass.

Connie from Indiana

Questioning McCain’s military credentials is disgusting.The question is not how complex his duties were,but how did he serve.And lets compare his record to some of the big names.As far as I know,he volunteered,which Obama could have done but didn’t,he accepted his mission,which neither Bush nor Cheney did as they both worked hard to avoid combat,refused to betray or criticise his country or fellow soldiers which resulted in his being kept as a prisoner longer than most,which Obama continually does in his sermons as does General Clark.McCain has more military qualifications than the rest put together.

Hi Jack,

Over-rated!! Probably. But I’d rather have a President who served our country and understands war than one who didn’t choose to serve and whose knowledge of war comes from a textbook.

McCain’s service should be respected. Our past is always with us, so whatever he did and didn’t do is something he has to live with. I do honor all of our military service people and McCain is no different. However, I hope he doesn’t wear POW on his forehead believing that will bring him votes. It won’t get mine!!

Happy Birthday America!!!!

As a veteran I have great respect for Sen. Mccain’s service but Gen. Clark has a vaild point. Being captured and held prisoner does’nt automatically make you a great military leader. So much has been made about Sen. Obama’s “lack of experience.” What combat command experience can John McCain document? As a POW he was basically a non-combatant. The tactic of vilifying anyone who does’nt accept Sen. McCain’s ability to lead as an “article of faith” as unpatriotic, has played out. If Michelle Obama is fair game, then McCain’s leadership credibility should stand the test of public examination as well. Lon

Overrated?.. YES!

McCain needs to stop referring to his 5 1/2 years in a POW camp.

He tries to cherry pick his career. Why doesn’t the press do it’s job and examine his activities of the other 17 years of his military service?
Explain how a man can come back, get returned to flight status in 1974 and then receive full disability in 1981?

There is a lot there that you guys are not telling. The American people are watching you, just as much as the candidates.

Harry
Ky.

Jack,
While I don’t think McCain’s military service is overrated, I also don’t think it automatically qualifies him to be president. it’s not the only thing one should consider when deciding whether to vote for him. His service ABSOLUTELY should not be denigrated by his opponents or their mouthpieces.
The man put life and limb at risk in service of his country; he will always have my respect and appreciation. and when it comes to speaking about the cost of war and policies around torture, he will always have my attention. He’s earned it.
Whether Gen. Clark’s statement about McCain was accurate or not, he sounded very disrespectful, and he (Clark) lost some of my respect for himself.

While Sentor McCain served honorably in the military, I don’t think it qualifies him to be a better President than Senator Obama. What about the RayRay ’s, John’s and Robert’s (you see where I’m going with this) of the U.S. who served honorably, were POWs, etc. doesn’t qualify them to be President in more than it does Senator McCain.

Well Jack,

Some may say Patton was a great general.
But do they think he woul’d have been a great president?
If you don’t know how balance a budget, How’s your war record gonna help? I like to answer a question with a question. How bout you?

Clearwater, FL

He will be unqualified until he releases the rest of his military records. What is he hiding? By refusing he is adopting another Bush policy. Would he be a “don’t ask, don’t tell” kind of leader?

As a candidate for office as well as a “communications expert,” of course he has what we call “fluff” or “puffery” going on in his campaign, we all do. we play up our weaknesses and evrything else to add points to the score board. so the fact that senator McCain spent time in prison is a plus. american politics, gotta love it.

nope not over rated at all and gen. clark should stop being disrespectful of a man who has dedicated himself to the service of his country. apparantly gen clark thinks being a community organizer and a HALF-TERM senator makes one more qualified to be president.

Jack,

General(note -General) Clark was right on. Unfairly, the right-wingers, swift-boaters, and the Grand (Oil) Party did the same thing to John Kerry. Now those same people are complaining that John McShame
is getting the same treatment. We appreciate McShame’s military service. It was probably honorable. But he is not the only one who has been a prisoner of war.
It means that everyone who has been one is qualified to be president. This is plain crazy.

General Wes Clark was right to question whether his military experience is relevant to his Presidential aspirations. He was not a General Eisenhower and not even a General Clark. McCain did not make military decisions on that kind of scale. He was a pilot and got shot down and was a POW and finished almost last in his class at the naval academy. I don’t see anything here to qualify a person for the Presidency.

Lets me get this right….We are worrying about McCain’s military record because he went into war and bombed Hanoi? Isn’t that what a soldier does? We have a president who went off on a drunken binge and a V. P. who got 5 deferments but yet we or you the media is making a big deal out of McCains record. Gee what a shame but the GOP snowed over Kerry’s military record also. I guess this is the norm now to see just how low either party can sink during an election.

Jack, John McCain definitely served his country well, but being a POW does not qualify him to be Commander in Chief. I would say that surviving torture must have created post traumatic stress, And that’s definitely something we would not want our president to have.

yes john mccain’s credentials are overrated. spending 5 years in captivity doesn’t make you a war expert, just a war hero. so far all i see of john mccains experience is. yes mr bush, no mr bush, okay mr bush, when mr bush, how mr bush and can i mr bush?

There is a lot more to American than just it’s military. Health care, poverty, jobs, immigration, energy, education, and housing, just to name a few. John McCain is more than qualified to hold any military job available, as Secretary of Defense or Veterans affairs. His service is heroic, as is the service of all Americans in the military, but it does not necessarily make him qualified to tackle all of the other issues facing us.

John McCane’s military service is not overrated if we want to stay in Irac for another 100 years, or if we want to attack Iran. However it has little bearing on the economy and all the other domestic issues he will have to face if elected. There is no doubt McCane is a hero and has buckets of character, but he is applying for the job of leader of the free world, and not merely comander in chief. It’s the economy!

Jack, Why does the media always go along with Senator McCain’s idea that being a POW gave him some kind of military and foreign policy expertise?

Pesonally, I think General Clark is raising a very valid point. We can honor John McCain for his service, and even say, as General Clark did, that he was heroic for enduring a terrible captivity.

Being a POW has absolutely nothing at all to do with the job of being President of the United States.

And as for Clark himself, he is a decorated war hero–and four star general– who has served his country bravely for 30 years. While we Democrats repeatedly express respect for Senator McCain’s service, I would also like to see the Republicans showing the same respect for General Clark.

The more that John McCain keeps bringing up his military experience, the more it opens himself up for attack on it. No one can question McCain’s courage can not be questioned nor can his patriotism, however, his military record is fair game and i would like to see more of it before coming to a final decision one way or the other.

Yes they are overrated. He was a POW. He was never a Commander and so he lacks relevent experience to be a President.

When rating McCain’s military credentials, what should we consider?

His six years in captivity, or the fact that as a naval aviator, he managed to crash FIVE aircraft in 9 years?

His 28 combat service medals or the fact that he saw only 20 hours of combat in Vietnam before bailing out over Hanoi, when many unsung infantrymen on the ground saw over 7000 hours?

Do you think maybe the fact that his father, four star Admiral John Sidney McCain Jr ,was commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater, had anything to do with his exaggerated decorations?

Overstated Jack? That’s an understatement.

By making the President the “commander in chief” of the armed forces the Founders wanted civilian control of the military to avert war more than to wage it. Military experience could indicate that a President would be more likely to seek a military solution to problems rather than a diplomatic one. Thus engaging us in a war that does more damage than good. Sen. McCain seems to be more along those lines as he continues to view military force as the principal weapon in foreign relations. His military experience is not overrated, but it may not be what this country needs for the next four to eight years.

McCain’s credentials are not so much over-rated as immaterial. We seem lately to get our panties in a bunch anytime someone utters an obvious truth. If flying military aircraft qualifies a person to be President, we have a whole AIR FORCE FULL of qualified future Commanders in Chiefs. Not to mention Navy, Marines and George Bush.

My late husband and his two brothers and a brother-in-law all were in World War II. One of his brothers was captured by Japanese and was in a prison camp for over 3 years. The family did not know if he was dead of alive until they finally released the prisoners. Like Senator McCain he had been beaten starved and tortured throughout that time which was horrible. But my husband and his other brother and brother-in-law went on in each of their own separate duties and fought the enemy. As far as being a prisoner of war for the one was terrible human suffering but the other’s were dodging bullets and bombs, watching their buddies being shot and die, crawling on their bellies to protect themselves and sleeping in mud and rain drenched gulley’s and eating canned army food when they had the time. Now who would you guess or say was a true military hero?

I once got a paper cut and didn’t cry out, I think that means I have the credentials to run the Cafferty File. Hand it over, Jack.

Seriously, his war efforts don’t show he can make good decisions about a whole host of issues. It shows he has fortitude. But I’d argue that Bush has a ton of fortitude. Only a man with that kind of perservernce can still make public speeches with an approval rating around 31% and with over half the nation blaming him for many of this country’s problems.

Fortitude aint enough, Jack. But I wouldn’t mind hosting the Cafferty file nonetheless.

I thought a war hero was one that took chances to save the lives of others. Being shot down doesn’t qualify. He’s lucky to be alive, not like most that also served.
Most veterans that were captured will tell you that they have post-traumatic stress, and that alone should disqualify McCain from being president. His temper will attest to that.
Doris
Ojai, California

Jack,

When I was a student I worked in an Exxon gas station. I slipped on an oil spill and broke my tail bone. I should be considered an “Oil Hero” by Exxon and the share holders should elect me the president of Exxon based on my “experience” in Exxon and my sacrifices to this company.

I hope McCain supports me on this one.

Yes the credentials are overated. History has shown us over and over again that just because one fights a military style war does not mean they possess good judgement. It’s not automatic, if it was McCain would have seen this Iraq war mess coming before he voted for it.

Over-rated or not, this is becoming tiresome, and it’s not even July yet! Just about everyone by now must know of McCain’s experiences in the war and most everyone respects his service to his country. O.K. Big deal. Lots of military personnel were POW’s and lots didn’t come home. McCain’s military experience does not make him better at foreign policy or governing our country than anyone else. It’s high time to move on!!

As one of the many Americans who have grown tired of endless cycles of war, most recently unnecessary war, I’m ready for a President who doesn’t need his military experience to prove he is worthy of leading our nation. McCain’s military experience would no doubt make him a good military leader. But, is a good military leader what we need to fix a broken education system, a bad economy, and a national debt that is growing by the second? McCain’s military credentials don’t seem to mean much when considering the issues he will have to deal with if he makes it to the white house.

It is overrated in that there is absolutely no requirement for military service to run or hold any office in the United States. He, like any other man or woman should be commended and honored for their service, but because he served and was a POW has absolutely no bearing on this race whatsoever.

Jack,
I think so, let’s look at his track record on war it isn’t that good, besides being a war hero for getting blown out of the sky. He claims to understand and have a greater knowledge of war than Sen. Obama. Then how in the world can he justify wanting to continue fighting this unjust war in Iraq like the one he was in a hotel for in vietnam…

C.I., New York

With all due respect, his credentials are absolutely overrated. He flew a plane and dropped bombs on Vietnam, was shot down and tortured for 5 years. IM sorry but no where in there do I see any qualification for President.

Chris, Albany NY

I will not judge his service as a military person but a POW for five years does not make him Presidential material. It is his only badge of glory and that war was over decades ago. There were thousands of vets who went through the same things. It looks like his BOMB< BOMB< BOMB IRAN will come to pass also.. WWIII oh goodie just what a 72 year old vet with PTSD and is deaf as a post can handle with ease..God help us all.

McCain has been using his POW history on a constant basis to gain the presidency. It’s almost as if he’s saying — “If you don’t vote for me, you’re un-American.” Military service is military service. It should qualify him to be the most cautious and careful of commanders-in-chief.. that he would be the last person in the world to send soldiers into battle. This is one lesson he has forgotten. His years in Washington and Republican politics have drowned out his military lessons. He is pro war and anti soldier. His continuous votes in the Senate against peace and troop support have disqualified him to be commander in chief. Just ask yourself if McCain was a Democrat - the Republicans would have by now said that he was never a POW and you would have seen a never ending line of POWs trotted out to say John McCain was never a war hero.

Of course, Military decisions made by the president are solely politically motivated and always will be. Until the president is out on the battlefield commanding troops, that’s when I’ll take military experience into my vote. And even then, McCain is far from displaying a dazzling resume.

Democrats repeatedly praise John McCain for his service. Wesley Clark praised him again for it yesterday. When will we hear Republicans praise General Clark for the 30 years of service HE’S given to our country?

A four star general certainly has the right to have his opinion respected. If General Clark says that being a POW is irrelevant to being President, that is an important point to think about.

The media would do well to take off the blinders about him being a POW. That was 30 years ago and is irrelevant to being president. I’m much more concerned about Senator McCain’s reported anger management problems–and whether foreign policy deficiencies\–like his inability to remember the difference between Shia and Sunni despite 8 visits to Iraq–would be a problem for him as president.

The press should look at facts that could affect the candidates’ job performance and not be a PR and spin machine–gettung and reoeatung their daily talking points

Of course. The problem is, nobody dares to talk about it.
McCain was 894th out of 899 in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy. Can this country afford another C- president?
Before getting shut in Vietnam, McCain lost 5 (five) aircrafts. Talking about competence. Give it a little though and think why his Vietnam prison was called “Hilton”. Hint: “a Hilton of prisons”. Why can’t we look at the “hero’s” full military record? Somehow, out of 1000+ pages only 60 are available for public viewing.
Upon returning from Vietnam, McCain abandoned and divorced his first wife after she was disfigured in a car accident. Of course he did an honorable thing and chose Cindy. With Cindy, McCain got his only job of VP of Public Relations in Cindy’s corporation. McCain was courting women long before Hillary lost to Obama.
McCain very much wants this campaign to be “about issues” because his record is disgusting.

Over rated? No. But it does not follow that being a war hero qualifies McCain to be the commander in chief. Wes Clark was right on the money and I agree with him 100 percent.

I agree with General Clark. McCain’s war record and service cannot by itself be a determination of his qualification to be President. If so anyone who was a POW or served in our military would be qualified to be President which is a pretty low bar for such a complex job.

I want to know if John McCain is bright, intelligent and exhibits a level head coupled with sound judgment. In looking at these other requirements McCain falls woefully short.

Please America – no more “C” students in the White House!!

I don’t think most people join the military looking at it as a stepping stone leading to becoming President. It is an experience unique unto itself. Serving in the military may give John McCain valuable insights into needs of our service men and women; that’s all t provides, it affords no other presidential credentials.

Certainly, if military leadership was an important consideration for becoming president, the rather shaky record of non service of our current 2-term president should have precluded his ever being elected in the first place.

Bethesda, Maryland

Simply put, being in uniform or being a POW doesn’t give you executive decision making experience. Sure I respect the man immensly, but being a POW doesn’t give him any more qualification than someone who was a community organizer and it’s about time someone said it

Check back on the propaganda that the Bush people put out on MCCain in 2000 while in the primaries. Talk about denigrating his war record. It made the “swiftboating” of Kerry look small in comparison. So what is good for the Republican part and the way they treated McCain in 2000 must be far game for the Democrats in 2007.

That was over 30 years ago…. Is anyone speaking of the invetigation of McCain shortly after his return… Boy someone needs to clean their glasses… Just because he was caught and imprisoned says nothing about political leasdership or does it…. My uncle was captured myabe he should be president..

Yes. I don’t know how many prisioners of war the U.S has had, but I know Mccain is not the only one. I don’t see any other POW running for president based on their experiences.

Why does it matter? Maybe if he was running against someone that did have executive experience it would. But throwing out any time spent in the military, and just looking at McCain’s time as a legislator, he has more experience than Obama.

Obama would be wise to shy away from attacking anyone’s experience

“overrated?” hum ill wold have said irrelevant, low-blow, meanigfull, bad taste, attack on a hero, and our forces fighting for our freedom around the word. this bad comment r made to try to change shift on McCain that hes not a patriot and a war hero . thank for helping me made my mind up. will vote for McCain in November.

Of course, being shot down and a POW are not sufficient conditions for qualification to become CinC of US Military. Nor are these necssary conditions. That much is a no-brainer.

I can’t say that his experience is overrated because I’m sure it has a firm imprint on his personality and his leadership style. But I do think it’s fair to question if he is actually “sound” with todays challenges with war that are clearly different than when he was in Vietnam. He appears to be clearly in line with Pres. Bush’s policies which have not done our country justice. General Clark is an expert in this area and his expertise allows him to criticize McCain’s positions. General Clark’s opinions should be respected much like McCain’s service to our country. The American people need to listen to what this expert who has all the experience, knowledge and judgement (that McCain often speaks of) to determine what is best for our country in terms of the Iraq war.

Jack by no means are Senator McCain’s military credentials overrated however, they do not qualify him to be Commander In Chief. General Clark said getting shot down does not qualifiy you to be president and that in of itself does seem like a cheap shot, but he was responding to Bob Schieffer saying that Senator Obama had never been shot down suggesting that Senator McCain is more qualified because of his military service which is not the case. As General Clark pointed out you can’t base your candidacy on your military record when that record has no wartime executive experience. I think Gen. Clark was well within bounds with the statement he made as it was afterall quite accurate. By the way Jack, why are we not talking about Senator McCain’s default property taxes. For someone looking to rebound our economy, isn’t that pretty fiscally irresponsible?

I cannot believe this question was even asked. I can think of no greater sacrifice for our country than to proudly serve in uniform and remain in captivity so as not to become a propoganda tool for the enemy. It is abhorrent to me that that service be denigrated by anyone, and I mean anyone. Is being a former POW the only qualification for being POTUS? Of course not, but it does help round out the character of the man who would be our nation’s 44th president. Shame on you, Jack, for this question. Shame on you.

First off, I am a veteran with 24 years of service in USAF. I think we all should respect Sen McCain’s service, including his term at the Hanoi Hilton. We should also respect his father and grandfather; both were High ranking Naval Leaders during times of armed conflict.
Sen McCain continued his naval career following his release from POW status. He commanded the largest training squadron in Navy. But, if he had not been sidetracked for over 5 years in POW, his career may have been more in line with his father/grandfather.
Obama and his follower should not throw stones. Gen Wesley Clark is a disgrace to the uniform. He was fired and relieved of duty, after years of backstabbing, untruths etc. from his job as NATO Commander in Bosnia. So who would take the word of a disgraced General over the actions of a True American Hero? Probably you Jack, and all the other left wing liberals who want to build up a National Welfare State.
PS, it was the Clinton’s who fired Wes, not some Conservative GOP.

The “Hero” designation for John McCain should be measured against the actions of other active war military. First, why is it that most Medal of Honor winners go back to their home town and never enter politics? Secondly, Why is it that most former POW’s never go into politics? The answer is that they they don’t want to soil their accomplishments by being into politics. which leads to the question of why John McCain has had such an interest in running for President. could it be that since he never became an Admiral, he wants to rise to the level of his Father and Grandfather who were four star Admirals? As a Veteran of the Korean War, and an employee of the Navy Department for 20 years, I can attest to the small minds of the Navy Officers who think that their service trumps any service by Civilians who really run the Navy.

Jack,

Overrated or not, I would much rather have the person making the decision to send our troops in harms way, been willing to stand in harms way.

Military experience is one thing and having the necessary qualities to lead the nation is yet another.

As for McCain’s military experience showing his strength of character, how come the media is not reporting the fact that he dumped his wife after returning from war and went for a millionairess 20 years his former ?

Sure, family values and great character. Give me a break.

Senator McCain’s military credentials may be overrated, but he did serve his country during a time of conflict and was willing to pay the ultimate price. I do not think that military service is a good prerequisite for the Presidency, but I think he is more than qualified to competently serve as Commander in Chief during a conflict.

As an Obama Supporter, and a military member I say this;

McCains’ military record and his service should never come in question.
He is a hero, point blank. I do not think that qualifies him on foreign affairs, but it shows his toughness and resoluteness. If that was the case, then PFC Lynch is qualified to be the Secretary of State. I think he should focus more on his Senate record, and his differences with Obama, then what he did in 1965. That wars is old and we have had numerous conflicts since then, but I don’t think people shoul din any way shape or form denigrate a man’s service who spent 5 years in a POW camp!

Yes we respect his suffering as a POW but does that alone qualify him to be President of a country? What about all the detainees at Guantanamo Bay who are strictly speaking Prisoners of war are they potential Presidential material in their countries?just on the notion that they have suffered for their country John McCain is a nice man but nice is not good enough to rectify the wrongs that have been wrought by the Bush administration on the entire world. AND it doesn’t say much for America if a nice elderly ineffective man is considered superior to a vibrant, intelligent young man just because of the colour of his skin because the bottom line is exactly that….RACE.

His military record should have nothing to do with whether or not he’s qualified to be President of the United States. Sure it makes us all warm and fuzzy in the back of our heads because national security and military experience go so well together, but in the end good judgement and intelligence of thought are much more important. Recent statements he’s made on various subjects of national security make me doubt he has either of those two qualities.

Absolutely night. Who is Wesley Clark comparing John McCain to, himself? General Clark is not running for President. John McCain and Brak Obama are and when you compare their records Obama can’t hold a candle to McCain’s when it comes to military service, foreign policy policy and communication with our various Allies around the world. To quote a democratic commentator on one of the news programs Sunday, “Clark should just shut-up.”

Sure McCain should be regarded in the heroic light that he has earned for serving our Country. However, serving in the military does not qualify a person to be president, no matter his rank or responsibilities. McCain should not solely rely on his service to win him this election and should come to terms with the fact that the best man will win this election military background or not.

I don’t believe McCain’s military record should be questioned. He served honorably, at great personal cost, and should be respected for that. His military service, however, has little bearing on the job he’s applying for. McCain was not in a major leadership position in the military. And there are serious doubts about his judgement and his knowlege as pertains to the job of president. So, questioning his military service, no. Questioning his competency as president, definitely. They’re two entirely different things.

Wesley Clark’s comment about John McCain is a clear example of Democrats saying anything to get elected. The Democrats have nothing. They had Bill who was the great philanderer. They had Hillary who was the famous former first lesbian. Now they’ve got a nobody one term Senator who wants to become President. Democrats, quit demeaning Senator McCain.

as a former Naval Aviator who flew off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam era, I want the guy who DIDN’T get shot down running things.

Senator McCain POW has won him enough sympathy and honor. The Presidency goes beyond sympathy and emotions. It’s about good judgement and competence. It absolutely has nothing to do with experience. As such, his POW is overrated.

very much so. I don’t see MCcain doing anything .. If this is the case Congress should be filled with people that served in the military instead we find most of them on the street.,hungry and homeless.

Yes, it’s way overrated. I don’t think Gen. Clark said anything wrong - he only stated the obvious. McCain served in the Navy, was a POW - honorable. Now, move on. I don’t consider his military service a factor in considering him for president. Instead, I look at his conduct. And well, intimating that you hope Fidel Castro dies soon or making up a song about bombing Iran are pretty much disqualifiers for someone wanted to be the leader of this nation. And, being a Navy vet and POW do not erase such serious flaws in his character.

Did being a fighter pilot in WWII help George McGovern in 1972? I was not of voting age back then, but it seems that the same type of “America - right or wrong” voter wasn’t giving McGovern any credit as a potential commander-in-chief. Let’s agree that our next President should be the one whose policies best address the myriad of problems we face at home and abroad. We’ve been so dumbed down by the People Magazine mentality of bizarre personality and biographic litmus tests that we fail to remember that we are essence choosing a proxy to make decisions for us. Who someone opts for as Supreme Court Justice, what bills they will sign or veto, and which nations they seek out as trade and security partners are the keys. Educate yourselves. . .

Absolutely not. Who is Wesley Clark comparing John McCain to, himself? General Clark is not running for President. John McCain and Barak Obama are and when you compare their records Obama can’t hold a candle to McCain’s when it comes to military service, foreign policy policy and communication with our various Allies around the world. To quote a democratic commentator on one of the news programs Sunday, “Clark should just shut-up.”

Clark is absolutly correct. Being shot down and captured as a POW does not in any way qualify an individual to be President. Democrats should not shy away from the facts.

On a different note some of these so called Republican Evangelical pastors should not be holding themself as God. They feel like they have the right to interpret the bible the way that favors their position. They do not have the moral authority to judge any one. Most of them preach hate if you don’t agree with them or look like them. I have never seen in any place in the bible that talks about a White church and a Black church. God, His son and the Holy spirit is neither White or Black. God is Love and he instructs us to love one another as he loved us. OOO is the spititual head of the universe.

Let me get this straight-Obama’s clown Wesley Clark is questioning McCain’s military record and experience to be President. What pray tell is Obama’s experience?? Ghetto loitering with the likes of Bill Ayers, or perhaps listening and bowing at the feet of that preacherman-Wright, who so loves God that he preaches hatred toward whites. Give me a break, Obama and his followers should be ashamed. I am a 57 year old female who is a single parent-I don’t make much money, but I will be voting Republican (McCain) because the LAST thing we need is another inexperienced person in the White House.

Let’s the get media to pressure the MCcain campaign to release his full military service record, just like with the tax returns, be totally transparent about it.

His service should not be underrated, but he did not have a leadership role. In fact, the five miserable years he bravely spent as a prisoner kept him out of touch about what was going on in Viet Nam and how sincere and effective anti-war protests were. I don’t think Clark was denigrating his war record, just what qualifications it gave him. And Obama shouldn’ t be blamed for this. He responded–unlike McCain’s claim that he just can’t do anything about the anti-Obama 527s.

A president is supposed to be intelligent. Not to say that there aren’t intelligent soldiers, but being smart is not a requirement for the army and never was. Oh, not to mention that John McCain finished 894th in his class of 899!!!

I don’t know if McCain’s military credentials are overrated or not.
But it is puzzling to me how he can cozy up to Bush, when he should be calling for Bush’s impeachment for dishonoring the military by instituting torture as a military tactic into the armed forces.

being a prisoner of war does not qualify a person to be president of the united states,does allowing himself to be photographed there constitute abetting the enemy?did he save any lives?did he help anyone try to escape?i would like to see more of john mccains military record and i don’t believe he wants the public to see it,what’s he trying to hide?

Great question, but it’s impossible to answer, because John McCain refuses to sign the military’s Standard Form 180 to release his full military record to the American public. John Kerry was not afraid to sign this form. If Mr. McCain is so proud of his military record, why is he keeping the details sealed from the American people?

It is not an attack to question McCain’s qualifications for the presidency, and that is all Clark did. I am disappointed to see Obama “reject” Clark’s remarks.

It’s obvious that McCain’s military experience has helped him little in the face of today’s economic, environmental, and foreign policy issues. He’s the first to admit, for example, that he’s not knowledgable about the economy. He’s basically just trying to exploit America’s culture of hero worship and its sympathy and support for combat veterans.

Being a POW has nothing to do with qualifications to be commander in chief. Why has the media (you excepted Jack) misrepresented General Clark’s comments to infer that he questioned McCain’s patriotism? General Clark brought up an observation that the media should have been raising for months. Many of us voters have discussed this huge leap by the media that McCain is obviously qualified to be CIC b/c he was a POW 40 years ago!!!

I am curious as to how John McCain received his command position. Most people don’t realize that while you are MIA or POW you continue to be on the promotion list and promoted even though you have not gained the experience that leads to promotion. Therefore, how did he qualify for his command? Rank? Being a POW who survived? What were his evaluations like? Why did he leave the Navy? I am curious because all of the questions above are pertinent to his fitness to be the Commander in chief

First, based on my personal experience in National Security policy and International Security affairs, it doesn’t surprise me whatever Wes Clark says. Overrated, compared to what. His Military career and time in the Senate make his credentials to deal with Military and Foreign Affairs issues than Obama’s.

Yes, if the President’s only job is to be a warlord. But if the goal is peace and prosperity don’t we need someone that can deliver that and not someone merrily running on their military service record.

I don’t see anything derogatory about Clark’s comments. He specifically commends and appreciates McCain’s service and history, but accurately pointed out that none of it necessarily equates to a good candidate for executive decisions or for shaping foreign policies.

You pointed out that he commanded that Navy squadron after his POW experience. It’s also worth mentioning that he never commanded during war time or in a global political climate as heated and delicate as the one which we’re living in now.

Yes. he served in the military just like the others. yes he was a pow and so were others. That doesn’t mean he knows everthing about foreing policy. It just means he doesn’t mind war. and is willing to put other lives on the line for a war that America should not be in, just like Vietnam.

No, Jack, they should not underrate McCain’s military service on a human level. But one must consider whether military prowess is the prime attribute we want in the next president. Will he be more likely to posture for war as the answer to conflict? McCain’s whole major premise on Iraq/Middle East has to do with touting military strategies he would have employed if it were up to him, and trying to prove himself adept, rather than believing in the viability of diplomacy and every other means available to avoid war. An us vs. them guy. I do not trust his lack of evolvement/orientation and actions that follow from them.

This is one conversation McCain is glad to have. Juxtapose McCain’s military record beside Obama’s, and “viola” McCain is president.

Jerry N/Tulsa

Absolutely, Jack!
Actually, no one is disparging McCain’s military record. But, everyone is pointing out exactly what everyone already knows: McCain’s military experience, his POW experience and his hero status have nothing to do with whether it qualifies him to be Commander-in-Chief. All of his military experience, his POW experience and hero status DO NOT EQUATE with the abilty or the intelligence to lead our country as President. History is loaded with examples of American military commanders and heros who were elected President and were horrible Presidents. McCain’s experiences simply don’t qualify him to have the vision, the experience, the abilty or the intelligence to lead.

Thanks,

Glenn

From what I hear his father and grandfather covered up allot for him, but we should not judge mccain on this, but in the same breath we can not say that this will make him a beeter president how. Bush was elected twice. He was elected the second time based on supposed experience. LOOK WHAT HE DID TO US THIS COUNTRY

I think MCcain campaign should release his full military service record, just like with the tax returns, be totally transparent about it. Let the American public be the judge, if Mc Cain is truly a war hero, then there’s nothing to hide.

Jack,
No one should undermine the fact the he was a POW and survived. However, I do not see how this educated him on how to defend America agianst any enemy.

Steve
Laguna Niguel, CA

Why the question, Jack? McCain has no chance of winning the presidency.

In my mind I would say yes; I would like to see the McCain of 2000 running for office rather then the current McCain who seems unable to make up his mind on important issues. Bill Petaluma, CA

Jack,

Credentials are like opinions…everybody has them.

Tiff
Central, SC

I don’t think that is record is overrated and I don’t think Mr. Clark was intending for his comments to demean McCains service to this country. But he is pointing out a truth being a POW doesn’t automatically give you the qualifications to be POTUS, but that has been the McCain camps position. Maybe he should highlight his other qualifications i.e. senate time and not just keep falling back on his POW status. Thank You John McCain for your service to the country!! Now can we hear about the other things you have done SINCE then. I worked at Barnes & Noble doesn’t mean I’m qualified to write a book!

Since he voted for the Iraq war, still thinks it was a good idea to invade Iraq knowing what we know today, and jokes about bombing Iran while he’s not willing to talk with them first, he obviously didn’t learn anything from his military experience. Obama’s good judgement trumps McCain’s military experience.

While being captive for five years must have been a horrible experience, in what way does that make a person qualified to be president of the United States?

Just last week this same guy admitted he had no idea how much a gallon of gas cost. Talk about being out of touch with the problems of the average working stiff…………..