Obama decries attacks on his love of country
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Flanked by American flags, Barack Obama forcefully defended his patriotism yesterday against anyone who would challenge it, declaring he wouldn't stand for persistent rumors questioning his loyalty and aimed at sinking his presidential campaign.
However, he was forced to interrupt the launch of a week of Fourth of July-related events - in Harry Truman's old hometown - to respond to Republican rival John McCain's complaint that it was actually Obama and his campaign who were wrongly questioning the importance of McCain's military service.
McCain said that "that kind of thing is unnecessary," and the Obama camp agreed. Obama praised McCain's service, and the Democratic candidate's spokesman rejected remarks made Sunday by a prominent supporter, retired general Wesley Clark, who said McCain's years as a Vietnam War fighter pilot and prisoner of war did not necessarily qualify him to be commander in chief.
As for his own patriotism, Obama said he chose yesterday's topic in part because of questions raised during the presidential race so far, though he had always considered his love of country a given, in fact, his inspiration for running for office.
"I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign, and I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine," he pledged to cheers from a crowd of a few hundred people at the Truman Memorial Building.
Obama plans to spend all week in the run-up to the July Fourth holiday Friday focusing on American values - choosing a different theme each day and traveling to a mix of battleground states, including Missouri, Ohio, and Colorado, and traditional Republican strongholds such as North Dakota and Montana. On Friday, his wife and two children are to campaign at his side.
Obama didn't explicitly mention Clark's remarks, but he attempted to distance himself from them. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the candidate "rejects yesterday's statement."
Shortly after, Obama repudiated the remarks himself.
Patriotism "must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice," he said. "For those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country - no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary."
"Let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides," he said to loud applause.
Several McCain supporters spoke out yesterday against Clark's comments. Led by John Warner, Republican of Virginia, who serves with McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain's defenders blasted Clark and sought to reinforce the military reputation of McCain.
"It is inconceivable that anyone would take a shot at Senator McCain's military experience," said Lieutenant Commander Carl Smith, who served with McCain in the Navy. "General Clark is way off base on this one."
McCain spokesman Brian Rodgers said Obama's "words don't really match up with the way he is running the campaign."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CNN reported yesterday that the former president and Obama had their first contact - a phone call - since Obama became the presumptive nominee. The two apparently had warm words for each other and they pledged to get together in the near future, the network reported.
Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a close adviser to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, confirmed to the network that Bill Clinton and Obama had "a good conversation." Bill Clinton, McAuliffe said, is at Obama's disposal, and is looking forward to vigorously campaigning for the Illinois senator.
As recently as last week, political journalists and television commentators openly questioned whether the former president was dragging his feet in getting behind Obama, even after his wife gave her full support to Obama in a joint appearance in Unity, N.H., on Friday.
JOSEPH WILLIAMS
