McCain Has the Wrong Military Experience?

Byron York reported over the weekend that on a conference call endorsing Hillary Clinton retired General Wesley Clark said John McCain did not have the right kind of military experience to be Commander and Chief.

Everybody admires John McCain's service as a fighter pilot, his courage as a prisoner of war. There's no issue there. He's a great man and an honorable man. But having served as a fighter pilot — and I know my experience as a company commander in Vietnam — that doesn’t prepare you to be commander-in-chief in terms of dealing with the national strategic issues that are involved. It may give you a feeling for what the troops are going through in the process, but it doesn't give you the experience first hand of the national strategic issues. If you look at what Hillary Clinton has done during her time as the First Lady of the United States, her travel to 80 countries, her representing the U.S. abroad, plus her years in the Senate, I think she's the most experienced and capable person in the race, not only for representing am abroad, but for dealing with the tough issues of national security.

Its one thing to believe Hillary Clinton would make a better President. But to argue that she is more qualified to lead our armed forces because of her experience than John McCain is ridiculous.

As a lawyer, you often work backwards. You have your client’s position and from there you try to come up with the best argument that supports your client’s position. Some arguments are pretty thin. But that’s fine, lawyers are advocates. Starting with the position that Hillary Clinton is more qualified to be Commander and Chief, this may well be the best argument you can make. However, General Clark is not supposed to be an advocate. He is supposed to be, based on his service and experience, an expert on military affairs and foreign policy. But if you are going to argue that 8 years as first lady makes you more qualified to be Commander and Chief than a man who served in the Navy for almost 27 years (including graduating from the Naval Academy, serving as a fighter pilot, a POW for 5 ½ years, and Navy Liaison to the Senate) and who has served in Congress for 26 years (including 21 years on the Senate Armed Services Committee), well you are an advocate. Just remember that the next time General Clark goes on TV as an impartial military expert to criticize President Bush or the War in Iraq. He is an advocate not an expert.