I’ve already written about Wesley Clark’s controversial appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and I was glad to see that he has continued to appear on national television arguing against McCain’s “foreign policy experience”. However, I have to say that I’m a little shocked that some Republicans have had the gall to call Clark’s statements “swiftboating”. Okay, maybe I’m not that surprised.
“Swiftboating”, as you should already know, is a term that comes from the election of 2004. In the middle of the race between Senator Kerry and President Bush, a mysterious group appeared known as the “Swiftboat Veterans for Truth”. The title was a reference to the swiftboat that Kerry served on during the Vietnam War. As the group began to spread their message, it became clear that they did not favor the Senator from Massachusetts.
Basically, they insulted a war hero’s service. They claimed that Kerry lied to get many of the medals that he received. They questioned his patriotism. And although this group was condemned by those who were smart enough to check the facts, the message spread.
Fast-forward to 2008. Recently, after General Clark made his comments regarding John McCain, several McCain supporters have, in their outrage, called his words “swiftboating”. It’s a story that the media has fallen in love with.
But Clark did not “swiftboat” McCain. Not once did Clark say anything to insult McCain’s service, nor did he call McCain a liar. All he did was point out that McCain’s experiences in Vietnam, though admirable, do not prepare one to be President as McCain often claims. This is Clark’s opinion, which he has the right to share.
Want to see irony? Compare Clark’s praise of McCain’s service to a statement issued by McCain surrogate Orson Swindle:
General Clark probably wouldn’t get that much praise from this group. I can’t speak for them, but we all know that General Clark, as high-ranking as he is, his record in his last command I think was somewhat less than stellar.
That’s an excellent way to call someone out on degridating your guy’s military service.
But my favorite piece of irony has to be the veteran that McCain chose to be part of his “truth squad” (a group that he really doesn’t need). Yeah, he chose Bud Day, former member of the “Swiftboat Veterans for Truth”, a group that McCain once denounced.
What a coincidence!
