It’s about time that someone reminded all of us that “being shot down” does not qualify a candidate on foreign policy… and on national television.

Senator John McCain has repeatedly used his “hero” status as to elevate himself to “expert” on foreign policy.  His supporters have reminded us all of his five years as a POW.  Once again, before the stoning starts let me say that no one is doubting or casting a shadow on Senator McCain’s heroism.

But, it took Wesley Clark to put it in perspective on national television. 

 “He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn’t held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn’t a wartime squadron,” Clark said.

“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”

Thank you, Wesley Clark!  It’s about time someone said it out loud.  In fact, Clark went a little farther than I thought he would in setting the record straight and leveling the playing field. 

On the same program, Senator Joe Lieberman, who apparently is playing the role of McCain’s wing man, made some statements that were misleading. 

 “Sen. Obama, unfortunately, like a lot of the Democratic leadership, continues to take a position that we ought to withdraw … even though the new policy is working,” said Lieberman. “If we had done what Sen. Obama asked us to do for the last couple of years, today Iran and Al Qaeda would be in control of Iraq. It would be a terrible defeat for us and our allies in the Middle East and throughout the world.”

Lieberman continued to say that Obama’s plan is to withdraw from Iraq with a total disregard for the situation on the ground, as if Obama’s withdrawal plan is set in stone.  That’s not what I have heard during the course of the campaign.  I understand that Barack Obama wants to bring our troops home, as we all do.  But, I also understand that he wants to do so responsibly. 

Additionally, Lieberman played the fear card, reminding all of us that the Al Qaeda attacks in our country have come within the first year of the past two new administrations.  The inference is that we can expect another attack sometime in 2009 and that McCain is the man who would be best prepared to handle the situation.  There are those who take exception with McCain’s preparedness.  Among those we would apparently find Wesley Clark.