Gen. Clark says Obama had no part in his comments on McCain

WASHINGTON -- Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark said Democrat Barack Obama played no part in remarks he made about Republican John McCain's qualifications to be president that have been sharply criticized by the Republican candidate's supporters.

"Sen. Obama had nothing to do with this," Clark said Tuesday in an interview with ABC television. "I'm very sorry this has distracted from the message of patriotism that Sen. Obama wants to put out, but I want to make very clear that as a Democrat and a former Army officer I fully respect Sen. McCain and all others who served, especially now on this Fourth of July."

The dustup began on CBS television Sunday when Clark, the former supreme commander of NATO under Bill Clinton, said McCain's military service was not the same as executive experience. McCain, a former Navy fighter pilot, was shot down over Hanoi and held prisoner by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam war.

Several McCain supporters in Congress have criticized Clark's remarks as disrespectful of McCain's service.

Clark said Tuesday his point was that there is a difference between fighting in a war and high-level military decision-making.

"All I know is I served 38 years in uniform. I'm proud of my service and I was asked to give my opinion about professional qualifications based on my experience," Clark said. "I served at both levels -- I was a junior officer, I did come back from Vietnam on a stretcher -- and I served as a commander at the highest levels ....

"So I have some appreciation for both levels of command and the qualities it takes at the top. I simply say it's a matter of judgment -- experience, yes, it's important. It shows character and courage, but on the other hand there are other ways to show character and courage."

On Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."