Conffederate
Confederate

June 30, 2008

Code Pink Founder: "I Wouldn't Characterize Anybody Who Fought in Vietnam As A War Hero."

This quote was from Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, an organization that gave $600,000 in cash and supplies in "humanitarian aide" to an insurgent-controlled Fallujah several years ago in our current war (the Marines won anyway, which is perhaps why Code Pink is leading the assault against the Marines in Berkeley).

That is just one toxic outburst is a collection of indefensible comments from the radical fringe of the Democratic Party laughably called "progressives" in a series of personal attacks levied at Presidential candidate John McCain and chronicled by Ben Smith in a Politico article.

Prominent progressive blogger John Aravosis attacked McCain for breaking under brutal torture in North Vietnamese prisons, and labeled the unwilling use of McCain in a North Vietnamese propaganda film as "disloyalty." Tellingly, Aravosis has never uttered similar words of disapproval against Jane Fonda, who willingly and famously posed for propaganda photos on North Vietnamese antiaircraft guns that were used to shoot at American pilots like McCain.

Other angry souls associated with MoveOn.org, CounterPunch, the Huffington Post, and Mother Jones also have expressed interest in attacking McCain's military record.

Democrat Wesley Clark—notable for his scarcity of support in the military, notes fighter pilot Lex—also attacked McCain's military experience as an example of poor leadership experience, without, or course, expressing how Obama's thin resume has prepared him to lead anything as consequential as a Cub Scout Troop.

We've known that Barack Obama's base among the radical fringe would bring out some long-seated uglinesses in part of the Democratic Party that makes up his base, but I don't think that anyone could have expected it would come out this soon, this hard, this transparently.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at June 30, 2008 10:13 AM
Comments

These same people claim John Kerry was a war hero.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at June 30, 2008 10:56 AM

"Democrat Wesley Clark ... attacked McCain's military experience as an example of poor leadership experience, without, or course, expressing how Obama's thin resume has prepared him to lead anything as consequential as a Cub Scout Troop."

I notice you're not answering what Clark said about McCain.

"We've known that Barack Obama's base among the radical fringe would bring out some long-seated uglinesses in part of the Democratic Party that makes up his base"

Sure, a general is part of the "radical fringe." And do you want to say "base" again?

Posted by: Kyle1 at June 30, 2008 11:02 AM

Come to think of it, John Kerry was a war hero, wasn't he? That's why T. Boone Pickens won't answer his mail these days ...

Posted by: Kyle1 at June 30, 2008 11:04 AM

Another point for consideration by Capitalist Infidel -- you might want to read the headline of the post you're commenting on.

Okay, dopes. Over and out.

Posted by: Kyle1 at June 30, 2008 11:05 AM
"We don't want the small, timid, slash and burn, negative campaigning of the past." (Josh Hafenbrack, "Obama Barack Obama Calls For New Political Spirit During South Florida Campaign Swing," [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Sun Sentinel, 3/26/07).

Using Obama's standard, does this make Wes Clark large and/or brave ?

Posted by: Neo at June 30, 2008 11:19 AM

Kyle, I guess your reading comprehension skills aren't too good, I said "these people" meaning radical leftists. But then again I wouldn't expect a far left wing military hater such as yourself to understand.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at June 30, 2008 11:49 AM

I know it's hard for some to comprehend even as much as one sentence but it was Ms. Benjamin who made the war hero comment not Wes Clark. And speaking of war heroes - McCain was tortured into making propaganda statments for NV and Kerry voluntarily collaborated with them. Kerry left Vietnam with his phony purple hearts and smeared the US troops and McCain stayed in captivity instead of bypassing other prisoners. Come again about the war hero stuff? But good name calling - it really makes your point.

Posted by: Bandit at June 30, 2008 12:35 PM

Even Fidel Castro saw fit to have Medea - this plague that walks like a human- exiled permanently from Cuba. Why can't we to the same and have her exiled from America??

Hey Kyle I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.

Posted by: Huntress at June 30, 2008 01:10 PM

Bandit:

So you still adhere to the "Swift Boater" view on Kerry. How about both sides admitting that these men served the United States in armed conflict with honor. Unfortunately they were not commanders like Ike or Grant. These men had much larger responsibilities.
I debate Kerry's and McCain's qualifications for SCOTUS based on their specific military service.

Posted by: muffler at June 30, 2008 01:12 PM

There is about as much basis to compare McCain's and Kerry's military service as there is in comparing a blizzard with a snow squall. McCain still feels the effects of torture, and he chose not to abandon his fellow prisoners.

Kerry, on the other hand chose to get out of Vietnam as soon as a loophole let him. Both men served honorably, but McCain was a hero while Kerry was not.

Posted by: James at June 30, 2008 01:35 PM

No, Muffler. No. No Rodney King here. McCain served with Honor, and Kerry did not. That's just a fact.

Posted by: Bill Smith at June 30, 2008 01:37 PM

Thoughts on Kerry and the Winter Soldier convocation he spoke at after returning from Vietnam.

Either the Winter Soldier statements are true or they are not. If they are true, then the events would be described in his SF-180 (which he has promised to release but has not) and would not be consistent with his "Silver Star" service. (Consistent with beliefs of the Swift Boat personnel). If the Winter Soldier events are not true, then he is willing to disgrace his fellow soldiers, and his story is not consistent with "Silver Star" service. Of course, if he would release his records--no problem. If he does not, while not proof of status, it sure sets up a nasty adverse inference agaisnt him

Posted by: Steve at June 30, 2008 03:31 PM

Of course Obama wants to put an end to Patriotism as an issue, because Obama is the one who's patriotism is in question! He conveniently condems questioning patiotism, but where was he when his hatchet men came up with General Betray Us??? Also, why isn't Iraq, or Afganistan on Obama's upcoming itinery? Obama knows he can't compete with McCain on the issue of patriotism, so he's trying to make it a non issue. Obama has no experience, except to listen to God Damn America for 20 years!

Posted by: Howard at June 30, 2008 04:48 PM
but where was he when his hatchet men came up with General Betray Us???

Strangely, he was not present at the vote in the Senate to denounce that ad.

What's even weirder was that just prior to that vote, he voted for a weak Barbara Boxer-led measure.

In other words, he scurried from the room in order to avoid a vote which, either way, could be held against him.

Yeah, that's real leadership, Senator Obama.

Posted by: C-C-G at June 30, 2008 05:01 PM

I fail to see how Wesley Clark's comments are an "attack" on John McCain's military service. It you look at what Clark said he praised McCain's service and called him a hero. Then Clark made the point that serving in the military does not automatically qualify you to be President of the United States. There is nothing there that slams or attacks McCain's service...only his application of such service for use as a prime qualification to be President. To suggest that one cannot make this judgement about McCain's service simply because McCain served, is deeply flawed.

Posted by: Chris at July 1, 2008 11:10 AM

Um, no. Clark did give the pro forma "I honor his service." bromide but reduces McCain's entire war record to crashing two planes and then being shot down. Would someone who reduced Clark's entire military record to his nearly starting WWIII in Kosovo be "honoring" him? Come to think of it, Clark's actual record in service could use a good scrub. The guy is a nut, frankly. But let's not discourage the Clark's and Avarosisi of this world. Their bilious stupidity and cowardice are an asset, on net, so long as they get out. Let the Obamoids defend them. Let's hear Obama on Clark. Let's hear Obama on MoveOn. Let's see if Medea Benjamin, execrable figure that she is, helps Barry with swing votes. Let's hear it all.

Posted by: megapotamus at July 1, 2008 11:21 AM

"But let's not discourage the Clark's and Avarosisi of this world."

I think that should be "Aravoses", no? Or perhaps "Aravosi"?

Posted by: Stoutcat at July 1, 2008 01:25 PM

Chris, that would be a logical position, if General Clark hadn't said in 2004 that Senator Kerry's service qualified him for the Presidency.

In short, what qualifies a Democrat doesn't qualify a Republican, according to General Clark.

Typical lefty double-standard.

Posted by: C-C-G at July 1, 2008 08:38 PM

Stoutcat:

Aravosapod?
Aravoslech?
Aravositude?

Posted by: daveP. at July 1, 2008 11:05 PM