Glad to see this topic is still going...McGovern: War heroism doesn't make a president

[DogPoundPup]

He was a pilot in World War II, bombing targets in Europe to stop Hitler. But former senator and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern says that didn't qualify him to run the country - and the same goes for GOP presumptive nominee John McCain.

"I don't have any regrets about that," the antiwar Democratic stalwart said in a brief interview yesterday on Capitol Hill. "While bombing is a terrible thing, we smashed Hitler's oil refineries all over Europe."

"But I don't recall ever saying that experience as a bomber pilot equipped me to be very strong on how to run a war, how to command the armed forces," said McGovern, who will turn 86 on July 18.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/07/09/mcgovern_war_heroism_doesnt_make_a_president/

[NattPang]

1. Very good.

Let's see if McCain's base,
the media,
gets all heated up.

[hfojvt]

2. yes, but what you did say was

"Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to run for President in the worst way ... and now I have."

Actually, it seems logical to me that experience as a bomber pilot does give a person an edge in knowing how to run a war and how to command the armed forces. But the job of President is not all about commanding the armed forces and the experience to do so. It is about choices and doing what the people want, or what is best for the people. It's about thousands of public policies and what will be decided on them.

Two examples -

1) make the Bush tax cuts permanent, or eliminate them for people making over $250,000 a year? Which proposal is better for the country? If you think it is the former, you are either very rich, or very badly informed. If you think it is the latter, then you have a reason to vote for Obama, even if you think McCain's military experience somehow makes him more 'qualified'. Further on this example, McCain is lying and saying that Obama's plan will 'raise your taxes' even though that is not true for many, many, many Americans. If you want a President who is more honest, there is another reason to vote for Obama.

2) eliminate the alternative minimum tax or modify it so it does not impact so many middle class tax payers? Which proposal is better for the country? Once again, McCain is proposing something that primarily benifits the rich. 80% of the benefits of McCains plan goto people in the top 10%. Once again, McCain is claiming that a policy that benefits the rich, will benefit the middle class. He's either dishonest or ignorant.

So all the military experience and heroism in the world does not convince me to support a person who proposes policies that benefit the rich and that he promotes with lies. If you are in Kansas City and want to get to LA, you get on the bus that's going to LA, you don't get on a bus that's going to New York City, just because that bus has a more experienced driver. It's about the destination, not the driver.

[JI7]

3. he defended Clark also