"We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform."

[jefferson_dem]

...and that includes supporters of mine as well. Period. Full stop." (Last part is paraphrased and was not included in prepared text of speech).

- Barack just said this in his address in Independence and I totally agree with him.

Did he just "throw Wes under the bus"?
(I've learned to despise that phrase but put it out there with tongue firmly planted in cheek.)

[NatBurner]

1. it'll be spun that way

just wait

[Diamonique]

2. Yeah they'll spin it that way. But he didn't throw Wes under the bus.

He didn't exactly back Wes up either, though.

[babylonsister]

3. He didn't imo; that was a generic comment that could apply to us all. nt

[yardwork]

4. Very smart campaign move on Obama's part.

I continue to be impressed by how well Obama's campaign maneuvers through things like this. He'll be a hell of a president.

Wes Clark's statement is still out there - point made. Obama's statement distances himself from it "I didn't say it, and I told my supporters not to say it, too." But, it was said.

[kentuck]

10. Bingo!

Right on target. :-)

[yardwork]

13. Awwwww....

[Doctor_J]

5. Grrr... Clark WAS repectful. Once again Big Media influences our campaign.

I hope Gen. Clark doesn't take offense at this. we need him badly.

[Cheap_Trick]

6. doesn't mean we have to elect them, though n/t

[niyad]

11. exactly. I am waiting for the day that military service is not seen as a qualification for sitting

in the people's house.

of course, that will mean a day when foreign policy and the universal mindset isn't all about war and conflict. I don't believe I will hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

[kentuck]

7. I hope Obama appreciates what Wes did for him...

he stuck a balloon in the McCain plans to run as the sole expert on national security. Of course, it is to his advantage to say what he did today. He clarified the comments but the point has already been made. Just as Charlie Black made his comment about if were attacked again that it would be to McCain's advantage and McCain immediately denounced the comments. However, both comments served their political purpose.

[endarkenment]

8. Wes was respectful and I disagree.

We mustn't always express our profund gratitude etc. That sort of uncritical adulation is militaristic bullshit and is a signal of an authoritarian society.

[qwlauren35]

17. It's the principle..

I don't respect anyone who went in an animal, acted like an animal, and came out an animal.

I don't respect anyone who was determined to use a military career as a stepping stone to a double-dipping retirement... as a government contractor.

I don't respect anyone who went in because they like killing.

But for those on the ground, who didn't expect to go, or didn't expect it to be this long, or this messy... but went anyway - they have my full respect.

Each one who went into the military with a sense that they might someday be DEFENDING our country, has my deepest respect.

My father served. My husband served.

Some people think of having a strong military in the sense of high-tech weapons... that you set off from an armchair, never seeing the destruction you do. Those aren't the people I respect.

It's the ones who know that they might get killed, but they go anyway. It's the ones who don't believe in the war, but believe in having taken an oath to serve, and aren't going to run from that oath. I can't help but respect them.

I think it's nice to be a pacifist. But I'm a pragmatist. I want our nation to have men and women who are willing to fight for our freedom. And who understand that they can't afford to just "stand down" every time they disagree with orders. That's not a strong military. Where would it stop? If you refuse to fight in Iraq, would you then decide not to fight somewhere else? Would you refuse to enter a war with our allies, because we're not under attack? Would you refuse to defend Puerto Rico or any other US territory because it's not a state? Would you refuse to defend Hawaii because it's not the mainland?

I can easily condemn the people who ordered this ridiculous war. But I cannot condemn the ones who went over to fight it.

And I don't see that as authoritarian at all.

[Spazito]

9. I don't think he threw General Clark "under the bus" at all...

Obama simply stated he would NOT question McCain's patriotism or his service. General Clark did not question those either, he clearly stated he honored McCain's service but pointed out that in areas of leadership, McCain is untested and untried.

I found the phrasing Obama used to be very interesting and, imo, will now allow the clarification of what Clark REALLY said to come to the fore.

Fascinating chess moves yet again, imo.

[Doctor_J]

12. On Yahoo news, only snip from speech is "I will never question

anyone's patriotism". Big Media's going to make this into an issue.

[dems_rightnow]

14. No, he didn't

General Clark has always made ti clear that he respects anyone's military service. He denies, properly, that it's a qualification for President.

[Overseas]

15. No he did not throw Wes under the bus.

Wes was only saying that military service per se does not qualify someone to be Commander in Chief.

He was not saying we were not grateful for son & grandson of admirals, Captain John Sidney McCain III's, military service.

[peace13]

16. When Obama says this...

We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform...and not kill them needlessly! Than and only then will I listen. So tired of all of this politico posturing. Support the troops! Kim