Wesley Clark Was Right: Getting Shot Down In Vietnam Doesn’t Qualify You To Be President
But McCain’s experience in Vietnam, and his ability to emerge from that crucible as a successful member of our society, does speak highly of his character.
As David Harsanyi notes:
Setting aside Clark’s ugly delivery, the truth is, getting shot down during a sortie does not qualify anyone to be president (though McCain had never claimed any such thing). Nor does traversing the Vietnamese waterways in a Swift Boat or bombing Serbia from the safety of a command post.
Military service, a valuable character reference for many voters, does not instill candidates with wisdom, a certain ideology, common sense or any extraordinary insight into policy. Take Clark, a man who proves that top-notch combat instincts can often translate into tragically inept political IQ.
Of course, challenging veterans can be risky business. You may be called a chickenhawk. You may be accused of “questioning the patriotism” of your opponent. Or you may just say something stupid.
Personally, I respect McCain for his service to this country in the military. I think he deserves the praise and admiration of all Americans for that service. And while that service informs us as to the quality of McCain’s character, it doesn’t not necessarily mean he’d make a good President.
I think McCain is a good man. I think he’d make a poor President. About the only thing he’s got going for him in this election is that he’d be a better President than Barack Obama.
