Thank you Mr. Larkin for calling Mr Obama out on tghis issue.

Walter Dorritie

Mr. Larkin's attempt to "Swift-Boat" General Clark won't work - at least it won't with clear-thinking people. General Clark, who served his country with honor and pride gave an opinion - he did not attempt to smear John McCain or disparage McCain's service to our country. On the contrary, General Clark has expressed his respect and admiration of McCain's military service many times, and has NEVER stooped to the kind of scurrilous smear that Larkin attempts in this "letter".

If Mr. Larkin disagrees with the opinion expressed (ie. if Larkin believes that getting shot down is a qualification for the presidency) then he should argue that instead of gratuitously impugning the character of another honorable man who has served his country well. We've had enough of Swift-Boating and Swift-Boaters.

Mr. Larkin's attempts to push Barak Obama into denouncing a respected man because he disagrees with an opinion that the man has expressed is ridiculous. I hope that Senator Obama has the character to withstand this kind of petty, snivelling and continue to keep people around him who disagree and who share their different opinions. Larkin might think it is valuable or necessary to surround himself with "Yes Men", but I am truly hoping that Senator Obama is smarter than that.

When someone says something we disagree with, we have the right - and maybe even the duty - to express it. But Larkin demeans himself when he attempts to smear the man instead of argue the point. Is it because he cannot argue the point? Or is it because he simply wants to grasp what he sees as an opportunity to Swift-Boat a man he sees as a political opponent? Either way, I am disappointed in this response.

The big lie this year is that somehow being shot down and behaving honorably as a POW not only qualify Senator McCain to be President but immunize him from criticism as to qualifications.

They don't.

Unlike the Swiftboating of John Kerry, or Mr. Larkin's assault on the honor of former NATO commander, General Clark, nobody has "dishonored" Senator McCain's military service -- including General Clark.

All Clark said was what is obviously true: that military service does not automatically qualify one to be Commander in Chief.

Jonathan Chase, Cornwall on Hudson

Lets get real people ... anything either side says is meant as a smear .. its all politics!

<<anything either side says is meant as a smear .. its all politics!>>

I disagree with this completely. If one addresses the issues or addresses an opinion expressed - that is NOT a smear. If one attacks a man (or woman's) character instead of addressing the particular issue or opinion then THAT is a SMEAR. There are honorable and valuable ways to debate - character assasination is not one of them; Swift-Boating is not one of them. What Larkin did in his "letter" was an attempt to smear the character of an honorable man (two honorable men, actually). If a person cannot tell when something is a smear, then perhaps he should consider another occupation. And if someone chooses to smear the character of good men, then he should take the heat for choosing those tactics. Larkin may think we are too stupid to notice the difference, but he is wrong. We know, we notice and we will call him on it.

If a person cannot tell when something is a smear, then perhaps he should consider another occupation...I am the one who used these words, not Larkin. I am just a citizen like you who wants to write my own opinion. That's what makes this country great! We can give our opinions -- just like Larkin did.

Ok- so I used the wrong words. I don't think Larkin thinks you are stupid. Obama has "dismissed" the General's comments.

What makes McCain qualified is his service to this country - being a soldier AND being a Senator for years and years - what experience does Obama have?

In response to DP, who wrote:
<<what experience does Obama have?>>

This thread is not about Obama, but about General Wesley Clark and Larkin's attempt to Smear an honorable man. Yes, I know that Larkin was also trying to smear Obama by association - but Obama has addressed that issue himself adequately and my intention in writing was merely to expose Larkin's tactics - and to denounce them.

I don't desire to stump for any candidate in this venue, so I will not argue Obama's qualifications, except to say that all the potential candidates for the office of president seem to me to meet the qualifications for the position.

However, I do agree with General Clark - that getting shot down and captured is not a qualification for the office of president (which is not saying that McCain is unqualified by any definition of the term).