“Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous.”
Thanks for that pearl of wisdom, Senator Tom Harkin
Frankly, I was under the impression that in a time of a war, a military mind might be a good thing. Silly me, its dangerous.
Harkin goes on to tell us John McCain’s true sins. He comes from a military family.
“it’s one thing to have been drafted and served, but another thing when you come from generations of military people and that’s just how you’re steeped, how you’ve learned, how you’ve grown up.”
I don’t understand why, exactly generations of service to your country is now a bad thing, but I guess it is.
The whole thing seems kind of strange coming from Harkin, a man who spent several years in the Navy himself, but I guess the Democratic Party’s strategy this year is going to be demonizing military service, so Harkin is towing the line, even if it makes no sense. Can someone tell me what this even means?
“But now McCain is running for a higher office. He’s running for commander in chief, and our Constitution says that should be a civilian,” Harkin said. “And in some ways, I think it would be nice if that commander in chief had some military background, but I don’t know if they need a whole lot.”
Harkin should go back to riling Howard Dean up and ranting and raving at funerals. He has nothing of value to add to this election.
Tags: John McCain, military, Tom Harkin
May 17, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Except for founding fathers Jefferson, Madison and Monroe all of those who were elected to and served two or more terms as president were previously either governors of military officers. The post Civil War presidents except for Grover Cleveland were military officers. All but McKinley, a brevet major, made general. Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to be born to late to serve in the Civil War, but he was a colonel in the Spanish American war. FDR didn’t serve in uniform in WWI but he was an under secretary of the navy.
May 18, 2008 at 1:02 am
The Commander in Chief must love his country, and as he expects of the men he sends into battle, he too should be willing to die for his country. He must have the committment, wisdom and courage to do everything possible to protect us from our enemies. I think that the best way to fully understand this is to have fought for our country and showed without any doubt that you have these qualities. John McCain has done this. Sad to say, I cannot say this about many of the current leaders in the Democratic Party. Based on what we have learned about their leading presidential candidate, he most certainly does not meet this criteria. Thank God that we have a true patriot like John McCain in this Presidential race.
May 18, 2008 at 8:23 am
What an insane remark that military service is a deteriment to becoming commander-in-chief. Also, it’s a pretty snotty and condescending attitute towards military families, probably the last group of people that should be criticized in a time of war.
May 18, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Tom Harkin Pisses On Four Generations of McCain Family Military Service…
In 2004, Tom Harkin was one of those condemning Navy veterans who served in the same unit as John Kerry for daring to raise questions about his details of his military service, his seditious conduct after his return to the……
May 18, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Odd the one thing that government has an imperative to be directly involved in is the military. Everything after that is in a decending order until it drops off the map at “anything that will get us a vote” mentality. The military because of the unique commitment of its members is the most innovative and thoughtful of all government functions constantly reaccessing its operational capabilities. A far better testing ground for future presidents than anything I could think of including neighborhood community organizing.