The fallout from retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark's Sunday comment that "riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down" is not "a qualification to be president," dominated campaign coverage yesterday. In today's coverage, Clark is widely seen as having hurt Sen. Barack Obama by seeming to belittle Sen. John McCain's well known record of service in the Navy and his experience as a POW. Moreover, the controversy distracted media attention from Obama's speech on patriotism.
Last night's network news broadcasts portrayed the controversy as a PR disaster for the Obama campaign. On NBC Nightly News, for example, NBC News political director Chuck Todd said Obama had hoped that his speech yesterday on patriotism would get as much coverage as his March speech on race relations, but the Clark episode overshadowed the long-planned event. Said Todd, "What Wesley Clark did yesterday, whether he meant to or not, whether he was trying to audition to be the number two to show how he can be an attack dog, it ended up stepping on this speech and really causing some political pain for Obama today. Now this speech on patriotism looks like a response rather than him trying to put to rest this idea of whether he's patriotic enough, whether he's American enough."
ABC World News noted that "to this day, [Sen. McCain] can't raise his arms above his shoulders because of injuries he suffered in Vietnam. Shot down in combat and tortured relentlessly for five and half years as a POW. The experience shaped the core of his character. And that makes this comment, by Obama supporter Wesley Clark, especially provocative." Professor Larry Sabato, University of Virginia Center for Politics: "This is almost the equivalent for them of an attack on Obama's race by the McCain side. It's just something you don't do." And the CBS Evening News called Clark's comments "a surprising attack on one of [McCain's] biggest strengths." CBS noted that Sen. Obama "later rejected Clark's comments about McCain, but they certainly got a lot of attention."
The AP notes Obama "rejected" Clark's "suggestion" that Sen. McCain's military experience "didn't necessarily qualify him to be president, as GOP surrogates lined up to label the remarks indecent and disrespectful." The New York Times, meanwhile, reports that a spokesman for Sen. Obama said Obama "honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course, he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark."
McCain surrogates expressed outrage over Clark's words. Fox News' Special Report reported "McCain and his supporters" are "pushing back strongly and, it seems, successfully." McCain was shown saying: "I think that that kind of thing is unnecessary. I'm proud of my record of service." The New York Times calls the McCain camp's defense "unusually sharp and vigorous." Sen. John W. Warner, a former navy secretary and former Armed Services Committee chairman, "said he was 'utterly shocked' at General Clark's comments. And Robert 'Bud' McFarlane, a Vietnam combat veteran who was national security adviser in the Reagan administration, suggested that 'this may be part of a larger gambit.' Mr. McFarlane added, 'If the opposing candidate doesn't really have the experience or knowledge or depth in international affairs, then one approach can be, I suppose, to try to deny that Senator McCain does.'"
Clark Stands By His Comments Clark, appearing on MSNBC's Verdict last night, insisted he "wasn't representing the Obama campaign in anything I said yesterday about John McCain. Those are comments I said for some weeks now and they have been repeated many times. ... I have said that on many occasions, and I think it's an important point, that we understand that this is an issue about the qualifications to be president," but "I want to assure you, I would never, never dis someone's service. ... I came home from Vietnam on a stretcher. I was shot. ... I was in three different hospitals and finally got home and eventually recovered and went on to serve. I think I know a little bit about what it's like to honor men and women who serve in uniform, and I do and I never would dismiss somebody." Later Clark added, "I honor John McCain's character and I said...he's been one of my heroes for a long time. I like John McCain. He's been over to my house and everything."
Liberal Activists Blast McCain's Military Record The Politico notes that "farther to the left -- and among some of McCain's conservative enemies as well -- harsher attacks are circulating. Critics have accused McCain of war crimes for bombing targets in Hanoi in the 1960s. A widely read liberal blog on Sunday accused McCain of 'disloyalty' during his captivity in Vietnam for his coerced participation in propaganda films and interviews after he had been tortured. 'A lot of people don't know...that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity,' wrote Americablog.com's John Aravosis. 'Putting that bit of disloyalty aside, what exactly is McCain's military experience that prepares him for being commander in chief?'" The Politico adds that the newsletter CounterPunch "published in April an article by Doug Valentine headed 'Meet the Real John McCain: North Vietnam's Go-To Collaborator.'"
McCain Forms "Truth Squad" To Fight Back ABC World News said the McCain campaign "unveiled a new truth squad, including, ironically, one of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. ... Bud Day, who famously trashed John Kerry's war record in 2004." Fox News' Special Report played a recording from a yesterday's conference call featuring pro-McCain veterans, including Medal of Honor recipient Col. George "Bud" Day (USAF ret.), who said, "General Clark spent a month in Vietnam. He got badly wounded, evacuated and that was his Vietnam experience. I'd say let's hold the two of them up and see who is most qualified to talk about their experience as a combat officer." The AP, McClatchy and Los Angeles Times also mention Day's role in the conference call.
USA Today, meanwhile, reports McCain "has accepted nearly $70,000 for his presidential campaign from the top donors of the group behind" the Swift Boat ads. McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds "said in an e-mail that McCain accepted the money because the donors are 'interested in supporting (his) agenda of reform, prosperity and peace.'"
The New York Times reports that Sen. Obama "traveled Monday to Independence, Mo., to proclaim his patriotism in an appearance linked to the Fourth of July holiday. He defended Americans' right to differ with the majority, in a speech that traced a history of dissent going back to Jefferson. And he tried yet again to beat back persistent rumors, kept alive by conservative blogs and the rumor mill, that he is less than a true patriot. 'The question of who is or is not a patriot all too often poisons our political debates, in ways that divide us rather than bring us together,' Mr. Obama said. 'We can no longer afford these kinds of divisions.'"
The AP says "Obama forcefully defended his patriotism Monday against anyone who would challenge it," although he "acknowledged occasional 'carelessness' on the topic. But he said that most criticism has been the result 'of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears about who I am and what I stand for.'"
McClatchy reports the Illinois senator "said that today's debate over patriotism was rooted in simplistic caricatures from the 1960s culture wars, and he defined patriotism instead as 'loyalty to America's ideals.' The Los Angeles Times notes that he "wore a flag pin on his lapel, an increasingly common Obama accessory." The Times adds that "in making patriotism a focus, Obama seemed intent on offering skeptical voters reassurance on this score. ... Polls have shown that some Americans believe Obama shares the values of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., a caustic critic of U.S. policies in past sermons." The Washington Post, under the headline "Obama Fiercely Defends His Patriotism," runs a similar report.
The Financial Times says "opinion polls suggest that Mr Obama's biggest challenge is to convince the electorate that he is an authentic American who is also ready to be commander-in-chief" although "one in 10 Americans continue to believe [he] is a Muslim."
Obama Condemns MoveOn's "Petraeus Or Betray Us" Ad The Wall Street Journal says Obama "used the speech to take a swipe at MoveOn.org, the liberal activist group that has been a staunch backer of his campaign since early February. He critiqued the group for launching an ad last year that refers to Gen. David Petraeus as General Betray Us. 'Our politics still seems trapped in these old, threadbare arguments,' Sen. Obama said...'[when] a general providing his best counsel on how to move forward in Iraq was accused of betrayal.'" The Journal notes, "When the ad first launched in September Sen. Obama defended Gen. Petraeus but didn't vote when the Senate approved a measure condemning the ad."
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The Politico reports this morning that in a "surprise to many Republican insiders, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is at the top of the vice presidential prospect list for John McCain. But lack of personal chemistry could derail the pick." "Romney as favorite" is "the hot buzz in Republican circles, and top party advisers said the case is compelling." One of the "chief reasons the Massachusetts governor is looking so attractive is his ability to raise huge amounts of money quickly through his former business partners and from fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons." McCain sources "tell Politico that they believe Romney could raise $50 million in 60 days. One close Romney adviser said it could even be $60 million." Two other "names are in the top tier," former Rep. Rob Portman and Sen. John Thune. The second tier includes former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA); Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL); Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). If McCain is "far behind later this summer, he could do something truly unorthodox such as pick his strong supporter Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), who was the Democrats' vice presidential candidate back in 2000."
The Washington Times, meanwhile, reports former Rep. Rob Portman "does not want to be picked as Sen. John McCain's running mate in the presidential race, but he does want to run for governor of Ohio in 2010. Still, Mr. Portman's name is still being mentioned as one of the top possibilities to round out the McCain ticket."
The Kansas City Star reports, "Ads running in Missouri reintroduce the background of the Democrat, who narrowly bested Hillary Clinton here on Super Tuesday. Obama won the urban areas, but was wiped out in the rural counties. ... At the Memorial Building, Obama hosted a series of meetings that included a fundraiser in part to benefit the Missouri Democratic Party. Before his speech, he holed up for 25 minutes with area Democratic leaders, many of whom backed Clinton. In the group were U.S. Reps. Ike Skelton and Emanuel Cleaver, state Auditor Susan Montee, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and state Sen. Jolie Justus. One theme clearly emerged, Sanders said. 'He wants to compete here. He's going to be in Missouri a lot of times.'"
The Politico reports the National Rifle Association "plans to spend about $40 million on this year's presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted to portraying Barack Obama as a threat to the Second Amendment rights upheld last week by the Supreme Court." Chris Cox, head of the NRA's political arm, said, "Our members understand that if Barack Obama is elected president, and he has support in the Senate to confirm anti-gun Supreme Court nominees, [the District of Columbia v. Heller decision] could be taken away from us in the future."
The New York Times notes this morning that Sen. Obama spoke with former President Bill Clinton, "their first conversation since the combative Democratic presidential primary season ended at the beginning of the month. As Mr. Obama arrived here for a campaign stop, he called Mr. Clinton. The two talked for several minutes and covered a range of issues, aides said, including how Mr. Clinton could help in the fall campaign." The AP reports the "20-minute conversation was the latest step in bringing together the two warring camps," and The Politico quotes Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton saying, "Senator Obama had a terrific conversation with President Clinton and is honored to have his support in this campaign. He has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation's great leaders and most brilliant minds, and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel in the months to come."
Black Lawmakers Who Backed Clinton Face Backlash The New York Times reports Brooklyn's 10th Congressional District, "home to more African-Americans than any other in New York, gave Senator Barack Obama his highest margin of victory in the state. But the district's longtime congressman, Edolphus Towns, did not share his constituency's preference for Mr. Obama. Now some of those voters are pushing to oust him." The "tensions in the district echo those in a handful of races around the country as Democratic incumbents with large African-American constituencies try to soothe resentments and anger incited by their support for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton."
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ABC World News reported "a senior defense official told ABC News there's an increasing likelihood" an Israeli attack on Iran "could come before year's end." Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "was in Israel this weekend for talks dominated by Iran's nuclear program and a senior defense official tells ABC News there are now two red lines that could trigger an Israeli attack. The first: when Iran's Natanz Nuclear Facility is able to produce enough enriched uranium to fuel a nuclear bomb. The latest assessment is that could happen by the end of this year. The second red line: when the Iranian acquires an SA-20 air defense system from Russia. This may also come before year's end." On its website, ABC News quotes the unnamed US official as saying "that if Israel moves closer to military action, he expects to see more exercises like the one conducted in early June."
The Financial Times, meanwhile, reports Kuwait "is drawing up plans to ensure it meets its oil exports if neighbouring Iran closes a sea route that is critical to Gulf oil producers," a senior Kuwaiti official said on Monday.
White House: No Comment On Covert Report The AFP reports the White House "declined to comment Monday" on an article appearing in this week's New Yorker magazine alleging that Congress last year approved $400 million "to ramp up covert operations in Iran to undermine Tehran's leadership."
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports a "former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb." The former undercover agent, "who has been barred by the CIA from using his real name, filed a motion in federal court late Friday asking the government to declassify legal documents describing what he says was a deliberate suppression of findings on Iran that were contrary to agency views at the time."
In a story that is receiving very limited media attention, President Bush yesterday signed a $162 billion war funding measure into law. Fox News' Special Report reported, "It was, his aides said, this President's final victory in the battle to keep the Democratic Congress from using its purse strings to choke off the war in Iraq." NBC Nightly News, the only network newscast to report on the signing, said only that Bush "signed a bill authorizing additional funding for this nation's dual wars, Iraq and Afghanistan -- $162 billion, enough to fund operations into next year. Also in the bill, increased educational benefits for military service members and vets and a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits."
The Washington Times notes White House spokeswoman Dana Perino "called the absence of an Iraq withdrawal timetable" from the bill "a victory," but she "also acknowledged that the president made concessions in signing the bill, which pushed overall spending for 2008 from $2.9 trillion to $3 trillion."
The AP says the bill "gives the next president several months to set Iraq policy after taking office in January -- and spares lawmakers the need to cast more war funding votes closer to Election Day." The Democratic majority "has tried, unsuccessfully, to force troop withdrawals and other limits on Bush's ability to conduct the war."
Webb Says Bush "Blew It" On GI Bill On MSNBC's Countdown, Sen. Jim Webb was asked if he was bothered that yesterday Bush thanked Sen. McCain for his work on the expansion of veterans benefits, even though he was opposed to Webb's legislation. Sen. Webb responded, "I think it's safe to say that there was a good deal of cooperation among Republicans and Democrats it just didn't include the Administration." Webb added, "I think George W. Bush made a real bad mistake today in terms of trying to...show full respect for military service. I think he blew it."
The Financial Times reports, "Iraq on Monday invited foreign companies to bid for contracts developing eight of its oil and gas fields, launching a process that will let big international oil companies back into the country for the first time in more than 30 years." Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani "said the six oilfields being offered for tender were the 'backbone' of Iraq's industry, and hoped foreign investment would help lift output to 4.5m barrels per day by 2013, from 2.5m b/d today."
The Wall Street Journal reports, "While the ministry's announcement was a step toward boosting production and bringing in foreign oil companies to help, many hurdles remain in Iraq's quest to become a major oil-producing country again." The Washington Post reports "the opening" to foreign companies "is likely to cause controversy in a nation wary of Western influence over its largest source of wealth and among foreign critics who say the Bush administration wanted to depose Saddam Hussein to gain greater access to Iraqi oil."
The AP reports that "if Western firms win a dominant role it could feed perceptions that US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein to get at Iraq's natural resources." Similarly, NBC Nightly News reported, "Critics say the possible return of big US oil companies only reinforces the impression that the United States went to war for oil."
The CBS Evening News reported Pentagon officials "announced today they're charging a Saudi with organizing and directing the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Seventeen American sailors were killed in that attack. The suspect, Abdel Rahim al-Nashiri, has been held at Guantanamo Bay for two years. He claims he only confessed after being tortured by US interrogators."
AFP reports, "Arrested in October 2002 in the United Arab Emirates, al-Nashiri spent several years in secret Central Intelligence Agency prisons. The CIA acknowledged in February that he was among suspects subjected to 'waterboarding,' a simulated drowning technique widely considered torture."
The Washington Post reports, "Prosecutors have recommended that Nashiri face the death penalty if convicted. But the Pentagon official in charge of military commissions still must review the evidence and decide which charges to send to trial, if any, and whether Nashiri will face execution." The Wall Street Journal /AP notes that "asked at a Pentagon press conference if evidence obtained from the waterboarding is tainted," Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann, legal adviser to the US military-tribunal system, said "that would be considered at any trial."
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